upon that city.

While the right was thus closing in upon the rear of The army closes in Savannah, the main body was moving on the peninsula between the two rivers. The weather was very rainy, and the march very difficult. As the coast was neared the surface of the country became flat and swampy. Large ponds or pools were continually met, and the creeks spread out into many miry branches. The roads between the creeks and ponds, though apparently of sand and of a substan tial character, proved to be upon a thin crust, which was soon cut through by the long trains into the deep quicksand below, thus requiring miles of corduroy.

Difficulties of the march near Savannah.

In his report Sherman says, "As we approached Savannah, the country became more marshy and difficult, and more obstructions were met, in the shape of felled trees, where the roads crossed the creeks, swamps, or narrow causeways; but our pioneer companies were well organ ized, and removed the obstructions in an incredibly short time. No opposition from the enemy worth speaking of was encountered until the heads of columns were within 15 miles of Savannah, when all the roads leading to the city were obstructed, more or less, by felled timber, with earth-works and artillery; but these were easily turned, and the enemy driven away."

On the evening of the 10th the advances of the several columns were within from three to eight miles The city is invested, distant from Savannah. The left wing struck

the Savannah and Charleston Railroad where it crosses the Savannah River, and destroyed it thoroughly from that point southward. Some resistance was experienced as the army approached the city, and, as several men were wounded by the explosion of shells and torpedoes buried in the ground, the Confederate prisoners were compelled to remove them. On the 12th the army was so concentrated as to form a semicircle from the Savannah River to the Savannah and Gulf Railroad, the line being about ten miles

long. The extreme left, held by the 20th Corps, was three miles from the city; the extreme right, held by the 15th Corps, was eleven miles distant.

and communica

the fleet.

Already, on the 9th, Captain Duncan and two scouts had been sent from the 15th Corps to penetrate tion opened with through the enemy's lines and communicate with the fleet. This hazardous enterprise they had accomplished, hiding themselves in the riceswamps by day, and paddling down the river by night. They stole past Fort McAllister unobserved, and were picked up by the national gun-boat Flag. They had brought a dispatch from Howard: "We have had perfect success, and the army is in fine spirits." This was the first direct intelligence which had been received from Sherman since his departure from Atlanta.

Sherman now determined to open communication with the fleet through Ossabaw Sound, which forms the mouth of the Ogeechee. This implied the reduction of Fort McAl lister.

chee bridged.

On the evening of the 12th, Hazen's division of the 15th The Great Ogee Corps marched toward the road-bridge over the Great Ogeechee. This had been destroyed by the Confederates; but, though it was 1800 feet in length, a new one was constructed during the night by a battalion of engineer troops under the supervision of Captain Reese. At daybreak on the 13th Hazen was able to march forward toward McAllister.

Fort McAllister was a strong inclosed redoubt, garri Fort McAllister soned by 200 men, and mounting 23 guns en to be reduced. barbette, and 1 mortar. At Cheeves's ricemill a section of a battery was firing at the fort, partly as a diversion, and partly to attract the notice of the fleet. About noon Fort McAllister opened fire inland from three or four guns. From the top of this mill Sherman, by signal, ordered Hazen to carry the fort. He had reached its vicinity at 1 P.M., and deployed his division about the

It is assaulted and carried by Hazen.

place, with both flanks resting upon the river, posting his skirmishers judiciously behind the trunks of trees, the branches of which had been used as abatis. Sherman knew that Hazen would carry the fort at a rush if the thing were possible: the crisis of the battle of Murfrees borough, the midnight passage down the Tennessee River to Wauhatchie, the storming of Missionary Ridge, declared what manner of man he was. He was now about to adorn, with a final victory, the great March to the Sea. The sun was descending behind a grove of water-oaks when Hazen was ready for the assault. Out of the encircling woods came forth a blue line fringed with steel, advancing steadily to the work. Nine regiments were about to make the attack at three points. They entered the battle-smoke and disappeared. Sherman, who, with Howard, was posted at the rice-mill on the opposite bank of the river, watched with anxiety. Soon, however -for the conflict did not last very long-they could see the men discharge their pieces in the air, and hear them shout as they took possession and raised the national flag. Fort McAllister, which had resisted many attacks from the sea, was carried in a few minutes from the land. Hazen reports that, in fifteen minutes after the bugle sounded the forward, the fort was taken. The troops were deployed as thinly as possible, the result being that no man in the assault was struck until they came to close quarters. Then the fighting became desperate and deadly. Just outside the works a line of torpedoes had been placed, many of which were exploded by the tread of the men, who, however, moved on without check, over, under, and through abatis, ditches, palisading, and parapet, driving the Confederates through the fort to their bomb-proofs, at which they still fought, and only succumbed as each man was individually overpowered.

From the signal station at the mill Sherman had looked for two days over the rice-fields and salt marsh in the di

rection of Ossabaw Sound for signs of the fleet. But, while watching the preparations for the assault on the fort, there was discovered in the distance what seemed to be the smoke-stack of a steamer. At the very moment of the assault she was plainly visible below the fort. Her officer signaled, "Have you taken McAllister?" At that moment Hazen was sounding the charge. As soon as the na tional colors were planted on the fort, Sherman and Howard went in a small boat to meet Hazen. Determined to communicate with the fleet that night, Sherman pulled down the river and went on board the steamer. Communications were now established with Admiral

Sherman is in communication with. Dahlgren.

Dahlgren, and arrangements made for siege ordnance to be sent from Hilton Head. On the arrival of these guns a demand was made for the surrender of Savannah. This, Hardee, who was in command of it, refused.

He demands the surrender of Savannah,

In his summons to Hardee, Sherman told him that if he was compelled to assault, or depend upon the slower process of starvation, he should feel justified in resorting to the harshest measures, and should make little effort to restrain his army, which was burning to avenge the great national wrong they imputed to Savannah and other large cities that had been so prominent in dragging the country into civil war. He added: "I inclose you a copy of General Hood's demand for the surrender of the town of Resaca, to be used by you for what it is worth." In his reply Hardee pointed out that the investment was incomplete.

which being re

carry it by assault.

In the mean time reconnoissances from the left flank had shown that it was impracticable to push any fused, he prepares to considerable force across Savannah River, since the enemy held it opposite the city with iron-clad gun-boats, and could destroy any pontoons laid down between Hutchinson's Island and the South Carolina shore, and isolate any force sent over from that flank.