Theybeggedhard，butIreiteratedtheorder，andcouldhardlyhelplaughingattheirsteppingsogingerlyalongtheroad，whereitwassupposedsunkentorpedoesmightexplodeateachstep，buttheyfoundnoothertorpedoestillnearFortMcAllister。ThatnightwereachedPooler’sStation，eightmilesfromSavannah，andduringthenexttwodays，December9thand10th，theseveralcorpsreachedthedefensesofSavannah——theFourteenthCorpsontheleft，touchingtheriver;theTwentiethCorpsnext;thentheSeventeenth;andtheFifteenthontheextremeright;thuscompletelyinvestingthecity。
Wishingtoreconnoitretheplaceinperson，IrodeforwardbytheLouisvilleroad，intoadensewoodofoak，pine，andcypress，leftthehorses，andwalkeddowntotherailroad—track，ataplacewheretherewasaside—track，andacutaboutfourfeetdeep。Fromthatpointtherailroadwasstraight，leadingintoSavannah，andabouteighthundredyardsoffwerearebelparapetandbattery。Icouldseethecannoneerspreparingtofire，andcautionedtheofficersnearmetoscatter，aswewouldlikelyattractashot。VerysoonI
sawthewhitepuffofsmoke，and，watchingclose，caughtsightoftheballasitroseinitsflight，and，findingitcomingprettystraight，Isteppedashortdistancetooneside，butnoticedanegroverynearmeintheactofcrossingthetrackatrightangles。Someonecalledtohimtolookout;but，beforethepoorfellowunderstoodhisdanger，theball（athirty—two—poundroundshot）strucktheground，androseinitsfirstricochet，caughtthenegroundertherightjaw，andliterallycarriedawayhishead，scatteringbloodandbrainsabout。Asoldierclosebyspreadanovercoatoverthebody，andweallconcludedtogetoutofthatrailroad—cut。Meantime，GeneralMower’sdivisionoftheSeven—
teenthCorpshadcrossedthecanaltotherightoftheLouisvilleroad，andhadfoundthelineofparapetcontinuous;soatSavannahwehadagainrunupagainsttheoldfamiliarparapet，withitsdeepditches，canals，andbayous，fullofwater;anditlookedasthoughanothersiegewasinevitable。IaccordinglymadeacamporbivouacneartheLouisvilleroad，aboutfivemilesfromSavannah，andproceededtoinvesttheplaceclosely，pushingforwardreconnoissancesateveryavailablepoint。
AssoonasitwasdemonstratedthatSavannahwaswellfortified，withagoodgarrison，commandedbyGeneralWilliamJ。Hardee，acompetentsoldier，Isawthatthefirststepwastoopencommunicationwithourfleet，supposedtobewaitingforuswithsuppliesandclothinginOssabawSound。
GeneralHowardhad，somenightspreviously，sentoneofhisbestscouts，CaptainDuncan，withtwomen，inacanoe，todriftpastFortMcAllister，andtoconveytothefleetaknowledgeofourapproach。GeneralKilpatrick’scavalryhadalsobeentransferredtothesouthbankoftheOgeechee，withorderstoopencommunicationwiththefleet。LeavingorderswithGeneralSlocumtopressthesiege，IinstructedGeneralHowardtosendadivisionwithallhisengineerstoGrog’sBridge，fourteenandahalfmilessouthwestfromSavannah，torebuildit。Ontheeveningofthe12thIrodeovermyself，andspentthenightatMr。King’shouse，whereIfoundGeneralHoward，withGeneralHazen’sdivisionoftheFifteenthCorps。Hisengineerswerehardatworkonthebridge，whichtheyfinishedthatnight，andatsunriseHazen’sdivisionpassedover。IgaveGeneralHazen，inperson，hisorderstomarchrapidlydowntherightbankoftheOgeechee，andwithouthesitationtoassaultandcarryFortMcAllisterbystorm。Iknewittobestronginheavyartillery，asagainstanapproachfromthesea，butbelieveditopenandweaktotherear。IexplainedtoGeneralHazen，fully，thatonhisactiondependedthesafetyofthewholearmy，andthesuccessofthecampaign。Kilpatrickhadalreadyfeltthefort，andhadgonefartherdownthecoasttoKilkennyBluff，orSt。Catharine’sSound，where，onthesameday，hehadcommunicationwithavesselbelongingtotheblockadingfleet;but，atthetime，Iwasnotawareofthisfact，andtrustedentirelytoGeneralHazenandhisdivisionofinfantry，theSecondoftheFifteenthCorps，thesameolddivisionwhichIhadcommandedatShilohandVicksburg，inwhichIfeltaspecialprideandconfidence。
HavingseenGeneralHazenfairlyoff，accompaniedbyGeneralHoward，IrodewithmystaffdowntheleftbankoftheOgeechee，tenmilestotherice—plantationofaMr。Cheevea，whereGeneralHowardhadestablishedasignal—stationtooverlookthelowerriver，andtowatchforanyvesseloftheblockadingsquadron，whichthenegroesreportedtobeexpectingus，becausetheynightlysentuprockets，anddailydispatchedasteamboatuptheOgeecheeasneartoFortMcAllisterasitwassafe。
Onreachingtherice—millatCheevea’s，Ifoundaguardandacoupleoftwenty—poundParrottgone，ofDeGres’sbattery，whichfiredanoccasionalshottowardFortMcAllister，plainlyseenoverthesalt—marsh，aboutthreemilesdistant。FortMcAllisterhadtherebelflagflying，andoccasionallysentaheavyshotbackacrossthemarshtowherewewere，butotherwiseeverythingabouttheplacelookedaspeaceableandquietasontheSabbath。
Thesignal—officerhadbuiltaplatformontheridge—poleoftherice—mill。Leavingourhorsesbehindthestacksofrice—straw，weallgotontheroofofashedattachedtothemill，wherefromI
couldcommunicatewiththesignal—officerabove，andatthesametimelookouttowardOssabawSound，andacrosstheOgeecheeRiveratFortMcAllister。About2p。m。weobservedsignsofcommotioninthefort，andnoticedoneortwogunsfiredinland，andsomemusket—skirmishinginthewoodscloseby。
ThisbetokenedtheapproachofHazen’sdivision，whichhadbeenanxiouslyexpected，andsoonthereafterthesignal—officerdiscoveredaboutthreemilesabovethefortasignal—flag，withwhichheconversed，andfoundittobelongtoGeneralHazen，whowaspreparingtoassaultthefort，andwantedtoknowifIwerethere。Onbeingassuredofthisfact，andthatIexpectedtheforttobecarriedbeforenight，IreceivedbysignaltheassuranceofGeneralHazenthathewasmakinghispreparations，andwouldsoonattempttheassault。Thesunwasrapidlydeclining，andIwasdreadfullyimpatient。Atthatverymomentsomeonediscoveredafaintcloudofsmoke，andanobjectgliding，asitwere，alongthehorizonabovethetopsofthesedgetowardthesea，whichlittlebylittlegrewtillitwaspronouncedtobethesmoke—stackofasteamercominguptheriver。\"Itmustbeoneofoursquadron！\"
SoontheflagoftheUnitedStateswasplainlyvisible，andourattentionwasdividedbetweenthisapproachingsteamerandtheexpectedassault。Whenthesunwasaboutanhourhigh，anothersignal—messagecamefromGeneralHazenthathewasallready，andI
repliedtogoahead，asafriendlysteamerwasapproachingfrombelow。Soonwemadeoutagroupofofficersonthedeckofthisvessel，signalingwithaflag，\"Whoareyou！\"Theanswerwentbackpromptly，\"GeneralSherman。\"Thenfollowedthequestion，\"IsFortMcAllistertaken？\"\"Notyet，butitwillbeinaminute！\"Almostatthatinstantoftime，wesawHazen’stroopscomeoutofthedarkfringeofwoodsthatencompassedthefort，thelinesdressedasonparade，withcolorsflying，andmovingforwardwithaquick，steadypace。FortMcAllisterwasthenallalive，itsbiggunsbelchingforthdensecloudsofsmoke，whichsoonenvelopedourassaultinglines。Onecolorwentdown，butwasupinamoment。Onthelinesadvanced，faintlyseeninthewhite，sulphuroussmoke;therewasapause，acessationoffire;thesmokeclearedaway，andtheparapetswerebluewithourmen，whofiredtheirmusketsintheair，andshoutedsothatweactuallyheardthem，orfeltthatwedid。FortMcAllisterwastaken，andthegoodnewswasinstantlysentbythesignal—officertoournavyfriendsontheapproachinggunboat，forapointoftimberhadshutoutFortMcAllisterfromtheirview，andtheyhadnotseentheactionatall，butmusthaveheardthecannonading。
Duringtheprogressoftheassault，ourlittlegrouponCheeves’smillhardlybreathed;butnosoonerdidweseeourflagsontheparapetthanIexclaimed，inthelanguageofthepoornegroatCobb’splantation，\"Thisniggerwillhavenosleepthisnight！\"
Iwasresolvedtocommunicatewithourfleetthatnight，whichhappenedtobeabeautifulmoonlightone。AtthewharfbelongingtoCheeves’smillwasasmallskiff，thathadbeenusedbyourmeninfishingoringatheringoysters。Iwasthereinaminute，calledforavolunteercrew，whenseveralyoungofficers，NicholsandMerrittamongthenumber;saidtheyweregoodoarsmen，andvolunteeredtopulltheboatdowntoFortMcAllister。GeneralHowardaskedtoaccompanyme;sowetookseatsinthesternoftheboat，andourcrewofofficerspulledoutwithawill。Thetidewassettinginstrong，andtheyhadahardpull，for，thoughthedistancewasbutthreemilesinanair—line，theriverwassocrookedthattheactualdistancewasfullysixmiles。Onthewaydownwepassedthewreckofasteamerwhichhadbeensunksomeyearsbefore，duringanavalattackonFortMcAllister。
Nighthadfairlysetinwhenwediscoveredasoldieronthebeach。
Ihailedhim，andinquiredifheknewwhereGeneralHazenwas。Heansweredthatthegeneralwasatthehouseoftheoverseeroftheplantation（McAllister’s），andthathecouldguidemetoit。Weaccordinglylanded，tiedourboattoadriftlog，andfollowedourguidethroughbushestoaframe—house，standinginagroveoflive—oaks，neararowofnegroquarters。
GeneralHazenwastherewithhisstaff，intheactofgettingsupper;heinvitedustojointhem，whichweacceptedpromptly，forwewerereallyveryhungry。Ofcourse，IcongratulatedHazenmostheartilyonhisbrilliantsuccess，andpraiseditsexecutionveryhighly，asitdeserved，andheexplainedtomemoreindetailtheexactresults。Thefortwasaninclosedwork，anditsland—frontwasinthenatureofabastionandcurtains，withgoodparapet，ditch，fraise，andchevaux—de—frise，madeoutofthelargebranchesoflive—oaks。Luckily，therebelshadleftthelargerandunwieldytrunksontheground，whichservedasagoodcoverfortheskirmish—line，whichcreptbehindtheselogs，andfromthemkepttheartilleristsfromloadingandfiringtheirgunsaccurately。
Theassaulthadbeenmadebythreepartiesinline，onefrombelow，onefromabovethefort，andthethirddirectlyinrear，alongthecapital。Allweresimultaneous，andhadtopassagoodabatisandlineoftorpedoes，whichactuallykilledmoreoftheassailantsthantheheavygunsofthefort，whichgenerallyovershotthemark。
Hazen’sentirelosswasreported，killedandwounded，ninety—two。
Eachpartyreachedtheparapetaboutthesametime，andthegarrisoninside，ofabouttwohundredandfiftymen（aboutfiftyofthemkilledorwounded），wereinhispower。Thecommandingofficer，Major。Anderson，wasatthatmomentaprisoner，andGeneralHazeninvitedhimintotakesupperwithus，whichhedid。
UptothistimeGeneralHazendidnotknowthatagunboatwasintheriverbelowthefort;foritwasshutofffromsightbyapointoftimber，andIwasdeterminedtoboardherthatnight，atwhateverriskorcost，asIwantedsomenewsofwhatwasgoingonintheouterworld。Accordingly，aftersupper，weallwalkeddowntothefort，nearlyamilefromthehousewherewehadbeen，enteredFortMcAllister，heldbyaregimentofHazen’stroops，andthesentinelcautionedustobeverycareful，asthegroundoutsidethefortwasfulloftorpedoes。Indeed，whilewewerethere，atorpedoexploded，tearingtopiecesapoorfellowwhowashuntingforadeadcomrade。Insidethefortlaythedeadastheyhadfallen，andtheycouldhardlybedistinguishedfromtheirlivingcomrades，sleepingsoundlysidebysideinthepalemoonlight。Intheriver，closebythefort，wasagoodyawltiedtoastake，butthetidewashigh，anditrequiredsometimetogetitintothebank;thecommandingofficer，whosenameIcannotrecall，mannedtheboatwithagoodcrewofhismen，and，withGeneralHoward，I
entered，andpulleddown—stream，regardlessofthewarningsofallaboutthetorpedoes。
Thenightwasunusuallybright，andweexpectedtofindthegunboatwithinamileorso;but，afterpullingdowntheriverfullythreemiles，andnotseeingthegunboat，Ibegantothinkshehadturnedandgonebacktothesound;butwekepton，followingthebendsoftheriver，andaboutsixmilesbelowMcAllisterwesawherlight，andsoonwerehailedbythevesselatanchor。Pullingalongside，weannouncedourselves，andwerereceivedwithgreatwarmthandenthusiasmondeckbyhalfadozennavalofficers，amongthemCaptainWilliamson，UnitedStatesNavy。SheprovedtobetheDandelion，atenderoftheregulargunboatFlag，postedatthemouthoftheOgeechee。Allsortsofquestionsweremadeandanswered，andwelearnedthatCaptainDuncanhadsafelyreachedthesquadron，hadcommunicatedthegoodnewsofourapproach，andtheyhadbeenexpectingusforsomedays。TheyexplainedthatAdmiralDahlgrencommandedtheSouth—AtlanticSquadron，whichwasthenengagedinblockadingthecoastfromCharlestonsouth，andwasonhisflag—ship，theHarvestMoon，lyinginWassawSound;thatGeneralJ。G。FosterwasincommandoftheDepartmentoftheSouth，withhisheadquartersatHiltonHead;andthatseveralshipsloadedwithstoresforthearmywerelyinginTybeeRoadsandinPortRoyalSound。FromtheseofficersIalsolearnedthatGeneralGrantwasstillbesiegingPetersburgandRichmond，andthatmattersandthingsgenerallyremainedprettymuchthesameaswhenwehadleftAtlanta。AllthoughtsseemedtohavebeenturnedtousinGeorgia，cutofffromallcommunicationwithourfriends;andtherebelpapershadreportedustobeharassed，defeated，starving，andfleeingforsafetytothecoaSt。Ithenaskedforpenandpaper，andwroteseveralhastynotestoGeneralFoster，AdmiralDahlgren，GeneralGrant，andtheSecretaryofWar，givingingeneraltermstheactualstateofaffairs，thefactofthecaptureofFortMcAllister，andofmydesirethatmeansshouldbetakentoestablishalineofsupplyfromthevesselsinportuptheOgeecheetotherearofthearmy。Asasample，Igiveoneofthesenotes，addressedtotheSecretaryofWar，intendedforpublicationtorelievetheanxietyofourfriendsattheNorthgenerally:
ONBOARDDANDELION，OSSABAWSOUND，December13，1864——11。50p。m。
ToHon。E。M。STANTON，SecretaryofWar，Washington，D。C。:
To—day，at6p。m。，GeneralHazen’sdivisionoftheFifteenthCorpscarriedFortMcAllisterbyassault，capturingitsentiregarrisonandstores。ThisopenedtousOssabawSound，andIpusheddowntothisgunboattocommunicatewiththefleet。BeforeopeningcommunicationwehadcompletelydestroyedalltherailroadsleadingintoSavannah，andinvestedthecity。TheleftofthearmyisontheSavannahRiverthreemilesabovethecity，andtherightontheOgeechee，atKing’sBridge。Thearmyisinsplendidorder，andequaltoanything。Theweatherhasbeenfine，andsupplieswereabundant。Ourmarchwasmostagreeable，andwewerenotatallmolestedbyguerrillas。
WereachedSavannahthreedaysago，but，owingtoFortMcAllister，couldnotcommunicate;but，nowthatwehaveMcAllister，wecangoahead。
WehavealreadycapturedtwoboatsontheSavannahriverandpreventedtheirgunboatsfromcomingdown。
IestimatethepopulationofSavannahattwenty—fivethousand，andthegarrisonatfifteenthousand。GeneralHardeecommands。
Wehavenotlostawagononthetrip;buthavegatheredalargesupplyofnegroes，mules，horses，etc。，andourteamsareinfarbetterconditionthanwhenwestarted。
Myfirstdutywillbetoclearthearmyofsurplusnegroes，mules，andhorses。Wehaveutterlydestroyedovertwohundredmilesofrails，andconsumedstoresandprovisionsthatwereessentialtoLee’sandHood’sarmies。
ThequickworkmadewithMcAllister，theopeningofcommunicationwithourfleet，andourconsequentindependenceastosupplies，dissipatealltheirboastedthreatstoheadusoffandstarvethearmy。
IregardSavannahasalreadygained。
Yourstruly，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
Bythistimethenightwaswelladvanced，andthetidewasrunningebb—strong;soIasked。CaptainWilliamsontotowusupasnearFortMcAllisterashewouldventureforthetorpedoes，ofwhichthenavy—officershadawholesomedread。TheDandelionsteamedupsomethreeorfourmiles，tillthelightsofFortMcAllistercouldbeseen，whensheanchored，andwepulledtothefortinourownboat。
GeneralHowardandIthenwalkeduptotheMcAllisterHouse，wherewefoundGeneralHazenandhisofficersasleeponthefloorofoneoftherooms。Lyingdownonthefloor，Iwassoonfastasleep，butshortlybecameconsciousthatsomeoneintheroomwasinquiringformeamongthesleepers。Callingout，IwastoldthatanofficerofGeneralFostersstaffhadjustarrivedfromasteamboatanchoredbelowMcAllister;thatthegeneralwasextremelyanxioustoseemeonimportantbusiness，butthathewaslamefromanoldMexican—Warwound，andcouldnotpossiblycometome。Iwasextremelywearyfromtheincessantlaborofthedayandnightbefore，butgotup，andagainwalkeddownthesandyroadtoMcAllister，whereIfoundaboatawaitingus，whichcarriedussomethreemilesdowntheriver，tothesteamerW。W。Coit（Ithink），onboardofwhichwefoundGeneralFoster。HehadjustcomefromPortRoyal，expectingtofindAdmiralDahlgreninOssabawSound，and，hearingofthecaptureofFortMcAllister，hehadcomeuptoseeme。HedescribedfullytheconditionofaffairswithhisowncommandinSouthCarolina。
HehadmadeseveralseriouseffortstoeffectalodgmentontherailroadwhichconnectsSavannahwithCharlestonnearPocotaligo，buthadnotsucceededinreachingtherailroaditself，thoughhehadafulldivisionoftroops，stronglyintrenched，nearBroadRiver，withincannon—rangeoftherailroad。Heexplained，moreover，thattherewereatPortRoyalabundantsuppliesofbreadandprovisions，aswellasofclothing，designedforouruse。Westillhadinourwagonsandincampabundanceofmeat，butweneededbread，sugar，andcoffee，anditwasall—importantthatarouteofsupplyshouldatoncebeopened，forwhichpurposetheandandassistanceofthenavywereindispensable。WeaccordinglysteameddowntheOgeecheeRivertoOssabawSound，inhopestomeetAdmiralDahlgren，buthewasnotthere，andwecontinuedonbytheinlandchanneltoWarsawSound，wherewefoundtheHarvestMoon，andAdmiralDahlgren。Iwasnotpersonallyacquaintedwithhimatthetime，buthewassoextremelykindandcourteousthatIwasatonceattractedtohim。Therewasnothinginhispower，hesaid，whichhewouldnotdotoassistus，tomakeourcampaignabsolutelysuccessful。HeundertookatoncetofindvesselsoflightdraughttocarryoursuppliesfromPortRoyaltoCheeves’sMill，ortoGrog’sBridgeabove，whencetheycouldbehauledbywagonstoourseveralcamps;heofferedtoreturnwithmetoFortMcAllister，tosuperintendtheremovalofthetorpedoes，andtorelievemeofallthedetailsofthismostdifficultwork。GeneralFosterthenconcludedtogoontoPortRoyal，tosendbacktoussixhundredthousandrations，andalltherifledgunsofheavycalibre，andammunitiononhand，withwhichIthoughtwecouldreachthecityofSavannah，fromthepositionsalreadysecured。AdmiralDahlgrenthenreturnedwithmeintheHarvestMoontoFortMcAllister。Thisconsumedallofthe14thofDecember;andbythe15thIhadagainreachedCheeves’sMill，wheremyhorseawaitedme，androdeontoGeneralHoward’sheadquartersatAnderson’splantation，ontheplank—road，abouteightmilesbackofSavannah。Ireachedthisplaceaboutnoon，andimmediatelysentorderstomyownhead—
quarters，ontheLouisvilleroad，tohavethembroughtovertotheplank—road，asaplacemorecentralandconvenient;gavewrittennoticetoGeneralsSlocumandHowardofallthestepstaken，andorderedthemtogetreadytoreceivethesiege—guns，toputtheminpositiontobombardSavannah，andtoprepareforthegeneralassault。ThecountrybackofSavannahisverylow，andintersectedwithinnumerablesaltwatercreeks，swamps，andrice—fields。
Fortunatelytheweatherwasgoodandtheroadswerepassable，but，shouldthewinterrainssetin，Iknewthatwewouldbemuchembarrassed。Therefore，heavydetailsofmenwereatonceputtoworktoprepareawharfanddepotatGrog’sBridge，andtheroadsleadingtheretowerecorduroyedinadvance。TheOgeecheeCanalwasalsoclearedoutforuse;andboats，suchaswerecommonontheriverplantations，werecollected，inwhichtofloatstoresfromourproposedbaseontheOgeecheetothepointsmostconvenienttotheseveralcamps。
Slocum’swingextendedfromtheSavannahRivertothecanal，andHoward’swingfromthecanaltotheextremeright，alongdowntheLittleOgeechee。Theenemyoccupiednotonlythecityitself，withitslonglineofouterworks，butthemanyfortswhichhadbeenbuilttoguardtheapproachesfromthesea—suchasatBeaulieu，Rosedew，WhiteBluff，Bonaventura，Thunderbolt，Cansten’sBluff，FortsTatnall，Boggs，etc。，etc。IknewthatGeneralHardeecouldnothaveagarrisonstrongenoughforallthesepurposes，andIwasthereforeanxioustobreakhislinesbeforehecouldreceivereenforcementsfromVirginiaorAugusta。GeneralSlocumhadalreadycapturedacoupleofsteamboatstryingtopassdowntheSavannahRiverfromAugusta，andhadestablishedsomeofhismenonArgyleandHutchinsonIslandsabovethecity，andwantedtotransferawholecorpstotheSouthCarolinabank;but，astheenemyhadiron—cladgunboatsintheriver，Ididnotdeemitprudent，becausethesameresultcouldbebetteraccomplishedfromGeneralFosterspositionatBroadRiver。
FortMcAllisterwascapturedasdescribed，lateintheeveningofDecember13th，andbythe16thmanysteamboatshadpassedupashighasKing’sBridge;amongthemonewhichGeneralGranthaddispatchedwiththemailsforthearmy，whichhadaccumulatedsinceourdeparturefromAtlanta，underchargeofColonelA。H。Markland。
Thesemailsweremostwelcometoalltheofficersandsoldiersofthearmy，whichhadbeencutofffromfriendsandtheworldfortwomonths，andthispromptreceiptoflettersfromhomehadanexcellenteffect，makingusfeelthathomewasnear。BythisvesselalsocameLieutenantDune，aide—de—camp，withthefollowingletterofDecember3d，fromGeneralGrant，andonthenextdayColonelBabcock，UnitedStatesEngineers，arrivedwiththeletterofDecember6th，bothofwhichareinGeneralGrant’sownhandwriting，andaregivenentire:
HEADQUARTERSARMIESOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
CITYPOINT，VIRGINIA，December3，1864。
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingArmiesnearSavannah，Georgia。
GENERAL:ThelittleinformationgleanedfromtheSouthernpressindicatingnogreatobstacletoyourprogress，Ihavedirectedyourmails（whichhadbeenpreviouslycollectedinBaltimorebyColonelMarkland，special—agentofthePost—OfficeDepartment）tobesentasfarastheblockadingsquadronoffSavannah，tobeforwardedtoyouassoonasheardfromonthecoast。
Notlikingtorejoicebeforethevictoryisassured，Iabstainfromcongratulatingyouandthoseunderyourcommand，untilbottomhasbeenstruck。Ihaveneverhadafear，however，fortheresult。
SinceyouleftAtlantanoverygreatprogresshasbeenmadehere。
Theenemyhasbeencloselywatched，though，andpreventedfromdetachingagainstyou。Ithinknotonemanhasgonefromhere，exceptsometwelveorfifteenhundreddismountedcavalry。BragghasgonefromWilmington。Iamtryingtotakeadvantageofhisabsencetogetpossessionofthatplace。OwingtosomepreparationsAdmiralPorterandGeneralButleraremakingtoblowupFortFisher（which，whilehopingforthebest，Idonotbelieveaparticlein），thereisadelayingettingthisexpeditionoff。I
hopetheywillbereadytostartbythe7th，andthatBraggwillnothavestartedbackbythattime。
InthisletterIdonotintendtogiveyouanythinglikedirectionsforfutureaction，butwillstateageneralideaIhave，andwillgetyourviewsafteryouhaveestablishedyourselfonthesea—coaSt。WithyourveteranarmyIhopetogetcontroloftheonlytwothroughroutesfromeasttowestpossessedbytheenemybeforethefallofAtlanta。TheconditionwillbefilledbyholdingSavannahandAugusta，orbyholdinganyotherporttotheeastofSavannahandBranchville。IfWilmingtonfalls，aforcefromtherecancooperatewithyou。
ThomashasgotbackintothedefensesofNashville，withHoodcloseuponhim。Decaturhasbeenabandoned，andsohavealltheroads，exceptthemainoneleadingtoChattanoogaPartofthisfallingbackwasundoubtedlynecessary，andallofitmayhavebeen。Itdidnotlookso，however，tome。Inmyopinion，ThomasfaroutnumbersHoodininfantry。IncavalryHoodhastheadvantageinmoraleandnumbers。IhopeyetthatHoodwillbebadlycrippled，ifnotdestroyed。ThegeneralnewsyouwilllearnfromthepapersbetterthanIcangiveit。
Afterallbecomesquiet，androadsbecomesobadupherethatthereislikelytobeaweekortwowhennothingcanbedone，Iwillrundownthecoasttoseeyou。Ifyoudesireit，IwillaskMrs。
Shermantogowithme。
Yourstruly，U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
HEADQUARTERSOFTHEARMIESOFTHEUNITEDSTATES。
CITYPOINT，VIRGINIA，December6，1864。
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingMilitaryDivisionoftheMississippiGENERAL:OnreflectionsincesendingmyletterbythehandsofLieutenantDunn，IhaveconcludedthatthemostimportantoperationtowardclosingouttherebellionwillbetocloseoutLeeandhisarmy。
YouhavenowdestroyedtheroadsoftheSouthsothatitwillprobablytakethemthreemonthswithoutinterruptiontoreestablishathroughlinefromeasttoweSt。InthattimeIthinkthejobherewillbeeffectuallycompleted。
Myideanowisthatyouestablishabaseonthesea—coast，fortifyandleaveinitallyourartilleryandcavalry，andenoughinfantrytoprotectthem，andatthesametimesothreatentheinteriorthatthemilitiaoftheSouthwillhavetobekeptathome。Withthebalanceofyourcommandcomeherebywaterwithalldispatch。
Selectyourselftheofficertoleaveincommand，butyouIwantinperson。UnlessyouseeobjectionstothisplanwhichIcannotsee，useeveryvesselgoingtoyouforpurposesoftransportation。
HoodhasThomascloseinNashville。IhavesaidallIcantoforcehimtoattack，withoutgivingthepositiveorderuntilto—day。
To—day，however，Icouldstanditnolonger，andgavetheorderwithoutanyreserve。Ithinkthebattlewilltakeplaceto—morrow。
TheresultwillprobablybeknowninNewYorkbeforeColonelBabcock（thebearerofthis）willleaveit。ColonelBabcockwillgiveyoufullinformationofalloperationsnowinprogress。
Veryrespectfullyyourobedientservant，U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
Thecontentsoftheselettersgavemegreatuneasiness，forIhadsetmyheartonthecaptureofSavannah，whichIbelievedtobepracticable，andtobenear;formetoembarkforVirginiabyseawassocompleteachangefromwhatIhadsupposedwouldbethecourseofeventsthatIwasverymuchconcerned。Isupposed，asamatterofcourse，thatafleetofvesselswouldsoonpourin，readytoconveythearmytoVirginia，andasGeneralGrant’sorderscontemplatedmyleavingthecavalry，trains，andartillery，behind，IjudgedFortMcAllistertobethebestplaceforthepurpose，andsentmychief—engineer，ColonelPoe，tothatfort，toreconnoitretheground，andtoprepareitsoastomakeafortifiedcamplargeenoughtoaccommodatethevastherdofmulesandhorsesthatwouldthusbeleftbehind。Andassometimemightberequiredtocollectthenecessaryshipping，whichIestimatedatlittlelessthanahundredsteamersandsailing—vessels，Ideterminedtopushoperations，inhopestosecurethecity;ofSavannahbeforethenecessaryfleetcouldbeavailable。AlltheseideasaregiveninmyanswertoGeneralGrant’sletters（datedDecember16，1864）
herewith，whichisalittlemorefullthantheoneprintedinthereportoftheCommitteeontheConductoftheWar，becauseinthatcopyIomittedthematterconcerningGeneralThomas，whichnowneednolongerbewithheld:
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOETHEMISSISSIPPI，INTHEFIELD，NEARSAVANNAH，December16，1864。
Lieutenant—GeneralU。S。GRANT，Commander—in—Chief，CityPoint，Virginia。
GENERAL:Ireceived，daybeforeyesterday，atthehandsofLieutenantDunn，yourletterofDecember8d，andlastnight，atthehandsofColonelBabcock，thatofDecember6th。IhadpreviouslymadeyouahastyscrawlfromthetugboatDandelion，inOgeecheeRiver，advisingyouthatthearmyhadreachedthesea—coast，destroyingalltherailroadsacrosstheStateofGeorgia，investingcloselythecityofSavannah，andhadmadeconnectionwiththefleet。
Sincewritingthatnote，IhaveinpersonmetandconferredwithGeneralFosterandAdmiralDahlgren，andmadeallthearrangementswhichweredeemedessentialforreducingthecityofSavannahtoourpossession。But，sincethereceiptofyoursofthe6th，IhaveinitiatedmeasureslookingprincipallytocomingtoyouwithfiftyorSixtythousandinfantry，andincidentallytocaptureSavannah，iftimewillallow。
AtthetimewecarriedFortMcAllisterbyassaultsohandsomely，withitstwenty—twogunsandentiregarrison，Iwashardlyaware。
ofitsimportance;but，sincepassingdowntheriverwithGeneralFosterandupwithAdmiralDahlgren，IrealizehowadmirablyadaptedareOssabawSoundandOgeecheeRivertosupplyanarmyoperatingagainstSavannah。SeagoingvesselscaneasilycometoKing’sBridge，apointonOgeecheeRiver，fourteenandahalfmilesduewestofSavannah，fromwhichpointwehaveroadsleadingtoallourcamps。Thecountryislowandsandy，andcutupwithmarshes，whichinwetweatherwillbeverybad，butwehavebeensofavoredwithweatherthattheyareallnowcomparativelygood，andheavydetailsareconstantlyemployedindouble—corduroyingthemarshes，sothatIhavenofearsevenofbadweather。Fortunately，also，byliberalandjudiciousforaging，wereachedthesea—coastabundantlysuppliedwithforageandprovisions，needingnothingonarrivalexceptbread。OfthiswestartedfromAtlanta，withfromeighttotwentydays’supplypercorpsandsomeofthetroopsonlyhadoneday’sissueofbreadduringthetripofthirtydays;yettheydidnotwant，forsweet—potatoeswereveryabundant，aswellascorn—meal，andoursoldierstooktothemnaturally。Westartedwithaboutfivethousandheadofcattle，andarrivedwithovertenthousand，ofcourseconsumingmostlyturkeys，chickens，sheep，hogs，andthecattleofthecountry。Astoourmulesandhorses，weleftAtlantawithabouttwenty—fivehundredwagons，manyofwhichweredrawnbymuleswhichhadnotrecoveredfromtheChattanoogastarvation，allofwhichwerereplaced，thepoormulesshot，andourtransportationisnowinsuperbcondition。IhavenodoubttheStateofGeorgiahaslost，byouroperations，fifteenthousandfirst—ratemules。Astohorses，Kilpatrickcollectedallhisremounts，anditlookstome，inridingalongourcolumns，asthougheveryofficerhadthreeorfourledhorses，andeachregimentseemstobefollowedbyatleastfiftynegroesandfoot—soresoldiers，ridingonhorsesandmules。Thecustomwasforeachbrigadetosendoutdailyaforaging—partyofaboutfiftymen，onfoot，whoinvariablyreturnedmounted，withseveralwagonsloadedwithpoultry，potatoes，etc。，andasthearmyiscomposedofaboutfortybrigades，youcanestimateapproximatelythenumberofhorsescollected。Greatnumbersofthesewereshotbymyorder，becauseofthedisorganizingeffectonourinfantryofhavingtoomanyidlersmounted。GeneralEustonisnowengagedincollectingstatisticsonthissubject，butIknowtheGovernmentwillneverrceivefallaccountsofourcaptures，althoughtheresultaimedatwasfullyattained，viz。，todepriveourenemyofthem。AlltheseanimalsIwillhavesenttoPortRoyal，orcollectedbehindFortMcAllister，tobeusedbyGeneralSaxtoninhisfarmingoperations，orbytheQuartermaster’sDepartment，aftertheyaresystematicallyaccountedfor。WhileGeneralEastoniscollectingtransportationformytroopstoJamesRiver，IwillthrowtoPortRoyalIslandallourmeansoftransportationIcan，andcollecttherestnearFortMcAllister，coveredbytheOgeeeheeRiverandintrenchmentstobeerected，andforwhichCaptainPoe，mychief—engineer，isnowreconnoitringtheground，butinthemeantimewillactasIhavebegun，asthoughthecityofSavannahweremyobjective:namely，thetroopswillcontinuetoinvestSavannahclosely，makingattacksandfeintswhereverwehavefairgroundtostandupon，andIwillplacesomethirty—poundParrotts，whichIhavegotfromGeneralFoster，inposition，nearenoughtoreachthecentreofthecity，andthenwilldemanditssurrender。IfGeneralHardeeisalarmed，orfearsstarvation，hemaysurrender;otherwiseIwillbombardthecity，butnotriskthelivesofourmenbyassaultsacrossthenarrowcauseways，bywhichaloneIcannowreachit。
IfIhadtime，Savannah，withallitsdependentfortifications，wouldsurelyfallintoourpossession，forweholdallitsavenuesofsupply。