sent from the left wing to his aid. | off, taking a gun and some prisoners.

The need of assistance, however, was
now over. Kilpatrick now joined
the left wing, and covered its flank
when it again advanced.

15

|

He followed the fugitives across the Little Ogeechee to within 8 miles of the city, where he halted, and resumed breaking up the Gulf railroad; King's bridge having been burned by the enemy. No force remained in our front here save the garrison of Fort McAllister. And now Blair's pontoons were laid across the Ogeechee, near Fort Argyle, and the two wings thus substantially united before Savannah.

Slocum had set forward from Louisville "the 20th corps in advanceand had moved down between the Savannah and the Ogeechee; finding the roads mainly of quicksand, coated by a thin crust of firmer sand, which was soon cut through by our trains, rendering their movement barely possible, and requiring miles of ‘corduroy.' At intervals, the Rebels had fallen trees across the roads, but not exactly where they were wanted. The 14th corps had advanced farther to the left, with Kilpatrick still farther east; Sherman's object being still to threaten Augusta and bewilder the enemy as to his purpose. Thus Kilpatrick, supported by Baird, was thrown out again to Waynesboro'; fighting is Wheeler and driving him 8 miles across Briar creek ; while Baird destroyed the Augusta railroad; when the 14th was concen

Sherman, still with Blair, crossed" the Ogeechee near Barton, advancing to Millen;13 Howard, with Wood's and Corse's divisions of the 15th corps, still moving south of the Ogeechee on the old dirt road to Savannah; while Hazen's and John E. Smith's divisions, keeping farther to the right, reached Statesboro'." Hazen had a skirmish here with a regiment of cavalry, which was easily driven; but the roadless swamps were vanquished with more difficulty. Wood threw " over the Ogeechee, by a foot-bridge, Williamson's brigade, which moved down the left bank; while Corse crossed his division on pontoons at Jenks's bridge, some distance below; Rice's brigade, in advance, having a smart skirmish with a Rebel battalion which disputed the passage; losing 5 men and taking 17 prisoners. The right wing now moved down both banks of the river; Osterhaus crossing Cannouchee creek; while Blair encountered" a Rebel force holding an intrenched line, with guns in position and riflepits in front, in a dense swamp, where his men had to wade kneedeep to form line of battle. The enemy were not in great force, how-trated on Jacksonboro', and all moved ever, and were easily driven: two brigades pushing on to the Savannah and Gulf railroad and breaking it; while J. E. Smith's division closed up on Corse's, and Corse pressed on toward Savannah. He was opposed by 600 infantry and 2 guns; but his advance brigade quickly ran them

12 Nov. 30. 13 Dec. 2. 14 Dec. 4. 15 Dec. 6-7.

18

rapidly down Briar creek toward the
Savannah; Baird and Kilpatrick in
the rear, which was now pressed by
Wheeler, with sharp skirmishing, but
with little loss on either side. Gen.
Morgan, in Davis's van, was halted,
near Ebenezer church, a strong field-
work in his front," which seemed to
16
6 Dec. 9. 17 Dec. 1. 18 Dec. 4. 19 Dec. 9.

HAZEN STORMS FORT MCALLISTER.

693

Her gar

be firmly held; but night fell while | gle, McAllister was ours.
he was preparing to attack it, and it
was found empty next morning.
Morgan's and Carlin's divisions en-
camped next day 10 miles from
Savannah; and here the 20th corps
passed them and pushed toward the
city. Thus, on the 10th of Decem-
ber, Savannah was completely be-
leaguered, and the mystery which had
hung over Sherman's march and its
destination dispelled.

rison of 200 surrendered; having 40
or 50 killed and wounded to our 90.
Among the spoils were 22 guns and
much ammunition.

Sherman watched till he saw our colors hoisted over the fort, and heard the cheers of the victors as they fired their pieces into the air; when, taking a boat, he went with Howard down to the fort and congratulated Hazen; rowing thence down the Ogeechee till he met the National tug Dandelion, Lt.-Com'r Williamson; who informed him that Capt. Duncan, whom Howard had sent down the Ogeechee in a canoe, to run by the fort and communicate with Foster and Dahlgren, had safely reached them several days before, and that they might be expected here directly.

Foster arrived in the Nemaha during that night; and Sherman met Dahlgren on board the Harvest Moon next day; sending by him to Hilton Head for heavy guns wherewith to bombard the city—those which he had brought through Georgia in his Winter march being in

Hazen was in front of Fort McAllister on our left, and had been exchanging shots with it-hoping thus to attract the attention of our fleet blockading the coast, when Gens. Sherman and Howard rode" to Dr. Cheves's rice-mill to reconnoiter that fort. Kilpatrick had just been sent across the Ogeechee with a like purpose, and to open communication, if possible, with our fleet off the coast. About noon, as the two Generals scanned the fort through their glasses, it was observed to open fire inland from several guns; while Hazen's skirmishers could be discerned approaching it, and the smoke as of a steamer was visible off the mouth of the Ogeechee. A signal from Hazen adequate. When several 30-pounder now imported that he had invested Parrotts had reached him, Sherman the fort. Sherman signaled back formally summoned " Hardee, who that it was important to carry it held the city, and who refused; sugthat day. The steamer signaled that gesting that he was not yet completeshe was sent by Gen. Foster and ly invested. Slocum was now orAdmiral Dahlgren to communicate dered to get the siege-guns into with our army, but was in doubt position, while Sherman started 2 to whether to approach the fort as hos- pay a flying visit to Hilton Head, to tile or friendly. At that moment, arrange with Foster for stopping the Hazen's bugles sounded the charge; exit from Savannah toward Charleswhen his division rushed over tor- ton. Being detained by high and pedoes and abatis, through a shower adverse winds, however, he was met,2 of grape, up to and over the parapet, in one of the inland passages among and, after a brief but desperate strug- the Sea Islands, by an army tug

|

22

23

with the news that Hardee, with a of fodder, had been gathered from force reported at 15,000 men, had the country and issued to our men evacuated the city during the dark and animals; while 5,000 horses and and windy night of the 20th; cross- 4,000 mules had been 'pressed' into ing the Savannah on a pontoon- the National service. Of cotton, bridge, and marching up the cause- 20,000 bales had been burned; while way road toward Charleston. The 25,000 more were captured in Savanmovement had been unsuspected by nah. Of negroes, 10,000 had abjured our pickets; and, when next morn- the delights of bondage to follow the ing broke, Savannah was ours, and National flag; beside thousands more Hardee beyond the reach of pursuit.most of them women and children He had destroyed, under cover of a-who had had been most shamefully heavy fire, which he kept up through driven back by certain of our offithe day and evening of the 20th, the cers" at the crossings of rivers; and Navy Yard, two iron-clads, many pitilessly reconsigned to Slavery, and smaller vessels, and a large quantity thus to their masters' vengeful wrath. of ammunition, ordnance stores, and Sherman made some little atonement supplies of all kinds. His guns he for this cruelty by assigning lands could not even wait to spike, lest his on the Sea Islands, deserted by Rebflight should be detected. As our els, to the Blacks who had followed bombardment had barely commenced, him to the coast. the city was surrendered almost intact; while, of its cotton, a large share had been made over to the Confederacy, and so was an incontestable prize.

We had lost, in that march of 255 miles, which was substantially the conquest of Georgia, six weeks' time and 567 men; whereof 63 were killed, 245 wounded, and 159 missing. To offset these, we had taken 1,328 prisoners and 167 guns. Our ammunition expended was inconsiderable; while our 65,000 men and 10,000 horses had lived generously off a State wherein our captives in thousands had died of virtual starvation and kindred agonies because (as was alleged) their captors were unable to subsist them. Aside from sheep, swine, fowls, sweet potatoes, and rice, whereof they had found an abundance, 13,000 beeves, 160,000 bushels of corn, and over 5,000 tons

The merit of Sherman's achievement is dwarfed to vulgar appreciation by circumstances which should rather exalt it. It is true that Hood's movement on Nashville had withdrawn the main obstacle from his path; yet it was still possible to have confronted him on the Oconee, and then on the Ogeechee, with 30,000 men, one-third of them mounted; and thus have compelled him to repeated concentrations, assaults, and flank marches, which might have exhausted his food if not his munitions, and left him helpless while encircled by foes and vast stretches of inhospitable swamps and forests. The country, which yielded bounteous subsistence to an army covering a breadth of 40 miles and advancing from 10 to 20 miles per day, would have proved utterly inadequate in the face of a foe able to detain him a week at each considerable river and drive in or cut

24 Gen. Jeff. C. Davis appears to have been prominent in this inhumanity.

DANA'S, DAVIDSON'S AND GRIERSON'S RAIDS.

off his foraging parties; forcing back Rebel force which it defeated, after his cavalry on his infantry. Georgia an obstinate fight; destroying several

train, taking 500 prisoners, and dis- | intrenched on Honey hill, covering persing the force at Egypt. Among Grahamsville and the railroad. Astheir killed was Gen. Gholson.

saulting this, he was stoutly fought and worsted, recoiling at nightfall; having suffered a loss of 746 in killed, wounded, and missing.

30

Making feints in different directions, Grierson now moved southwestward; striking the Mississippi Central at Winona, and tearing it up Foster now threw two brigades, for miles on either hand; while the under Gen. E. E. Potter, across the 4th Iowa pushed south to Bankston, Coosawhatchie to Devaux Neck, bedestroying there Confederate cloth tween the two branches of Broad and shoe factories. Grierson moved river, whence Potter advanced and from Winona to Benton; where Col. seized " a position within cannon-shot | Osband engaged and defeated Col. of the railroad, which he fortified and Wood's Rebel cavalry. The expedi- held, while the rest of Foster's movtion made its way thence to Vicks- able column was brought up to his burg with 500 prisoners, 800 beeves, support. Here, Foster received"1 his and 1,000 negroes; having destroyed first news of Sherman's appearance immense amounts of Rebel property, before Savannah, and proceeded at most of it of great military value, in- once to the Ogeechee to meet him. cluding 95 cars, 300 wagons, 30 full By Sherman's direction, he held on warehouses, &c., with a total loss of to his position; and, after Hardee had 27 killed, 93 wounded, 7 missing. fled past to Charleston, he occupied Among its prisoners were 100 who without resistance the Rebel works at had been recruited from among our Pocotaligo, and at the railroad crossmen famishing in Rebel prison-camps, ings of the Coosawhatchie and Tulliwho had taken this course to save finny. Gen. Foster was preparing their lives. to operate, under Sherman's orders, against Charleston, when he was relieved-because of his suffering from an unhealed wound-by Gen. Gillmore.

Gen. Foster, commanding on the Sea Islands, being directed by Gen. Halleck to make a demonstration inland in behalf of Gen. Sherman, who was expected near Pocotaligo at the end of November, was enabled to spare from his various garrisons but 5,000 men for this service. At the head of this force, he ascended Broad river on steamboats, landing " at Boyd's Neck; immediately pushing out Gen. J. P. Hatch to seize the Charleston and Savannah railroad near Grahamsville. Hatch, missing the way, failed to reach the railroad that day, and was confronted, next morning, by a strong Rebel force up the Savannah to Sister's ferry,

29

Gen. Sherman remained over a month at Savannah, resting and refitting his army preparatory to further and more arduous efforts. He had intended to resume his advance on the 15th of January, 1865; at which time, accordingly, the 17th corps, Gen. F. P. Blair, was taken by water around by Hilton Head to Pocotaligo, whence it menaced Charleston; as the left wing, Gen. Slocum, with Kilpatrick's cavalry, moved