Theenemyhasmadetwodesperateeffortstogetboatsfromabovetothecity，inbothofwhichhehasbeenfoiled—GeneralSlocum（whoseleftflankrestsontheriver）capturingandburningthefirstboat，andinthesecondinstancedrivingbacktwogunboatsandcapturingthesteamerResolute，withsevennavalofficersandacrewoftwenty—fiveseamen。GeneralSlocumoccupiesArgyleIslandandtheupperendofHutchinsonInland，andhasabrigadeontheSouthCarolinashoreopposite，andisveryurgenttopassoneofhiscorpsovertothatshore。But，inviewofthechangeofplanmadenecessarybyyourorderofthe6th，IwillmaintainthingsinstatuquotillIhavegotallmytransportationtotherearandoutoftheway，anduntilIhavesea—transportationforthetroopsyourequireatJamesRiver，whichIwillaccompanyandcommandinperson。Ofcourse，IwillleaveKilpatrick，withhiscavalry（sayfivethousandthreehundred），and，itmaybe，adivisionoftheFifteenthCorps;but，beforedeterminingonthis，ImustseeGeneralFoster，andmayarrangetoshifthisforce（nowoverabovetheCharlestonRailroad，attheheadofBroadRiver）totheOgeeohee，where，incooperationwithKilpatrick’scavalry，hecanbetterthreatentheStateofGeorgiathanfromthedirectionofPortRoyal。Besides，Iwouldmuchprefernottodetachfrommyregularcorpsanyofitsveterandivisions，andwouldevenpreferthatotherlessvaluabletroopsshouldbesenttoreenforceFosterfromsomeotherquarter。Myfourcorps，fullofexperienceandfullofardor，comingtoyouenmasse，equaltosixtythousandfightingmen，willbeareenforcementthatLeecannotdisregard。
Indeed，withmypresentcommand，Ihadexpected，afterreducingSavannah，instantlytomarchtoColumbia，SouthCarolina;thencetoRaleigh，andthencetoreporttoyou。Butthiswouldconsume，itmaybe，sixweeks’timeafterthefallofSavannah;whereas，bysea，IcanprobablyreachyouwithmymenandarmsbeforethemiddleofJanuary。
ImyselfamsomewhatastonishedattheattitudeofthingsinTennessee。IpurposelydelayedatKingstonuntilGeneralThomasassuredmethathewasallready，andmylastdispatchfromhimofthe12thofNovemberwasfullofconfidence，inwhichhepromisedmethathewouldruinHoodifhedaredtoadvancefromFlorence，urgingmetogoahead，andgivemyselfnoconcernaboutHood’sarmyinTennessee。
WhyhedidnotturnonhimatFranklin，aftercheckinganddiscomfitinghim，surpassesmyunderstanding。Indeed，IdonotapproveofhisevacuatingDecatur，butthinkheshouldhaveassumedtheoffensiveagainstHoodfromPulaski，inthedirectionofWaynesburg。
IknowfullwellthatGeneralThomasisslowinmindandinaction;
butheisjudiciousandbraveandthetroopsfeelgreatconfidenceinhim。Istillhopehewillout—manoeuvreanddestroyHood。
AstomattersintheSoutheast，IthinkHardee，inSavannah，hasgoodartillerists，somefiveorsixthousandgoodinfantry，and，itmaybe，amongrelmassofeighttotenthousandmilitia。InallourmarchingthroughGeorgia，hehasnotforcedustouseanythingbutaskirmish—line，thoughatseveralpointshehaderectedfortificationsandtriedtoalarmusbybombasticthreats。InSavannahhehastakenrefugeinalineconstructedbehindswampsandoverflowedrice—fields，extendingfromapointontheSavannahRiveraboutthreemilesabovethecity，aroundbyabranchoftheLittleOgeechee，whichstreamisimpassablefromitssalt—marshesandboggyswamps，crossedonlybynarrowcausewaysorcommoncorduroy—roads。
Theremustbetwenty—fivethousandcitizens，men，women，andchildren，inSavannah，thatmustalsobefed，andhowheistofeedthembeyoudafewdaysIcannotimagine。Iknowthathisrequisitionsforcornontheinteriorcountieswerenotfilled，andweareinpossessionoftherice—fieldsandmills，whichcouldalonebeofservicetohiminthisneighborhood。HecandrawnothingfromSouthCarolina，savefromasmallcornerdowninthesoutheast，andthatbyadisusedwagon—road。Icouldeasilygetpossessionofthis，buthardlydeemitworththeriskofmakingadetachment，whichwouldbeindangerbyitsisolationfromthemainarmy。Ourwholearmyisinfineconditionastohealth，andtheweatherissplendid。ForthatreasonaloneIfeelapersonaldisliketoturningnorthward。IwillkeepLieutenantDunnhereuntilIknowtheresultofmydemandforthesurrenderofSavannah，but，whethersuccessfulornot，shallnotdelaymyexecutionofyourorderofthe6th，whichwilldependaloneuponthetimeitwillrequiretoobtaintransportationbysea。
Iam，withrespect，etc。，yourobedientservant，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—GeneralUnitedStatesArmy。
Havingconcludedallneedfulpreparations，Irodefrommyheadquarters，ontheplank—road，overtoGeneralSlocum’sheadquarters，ontheMaconroad，andthencedispatched（byflagoftruce）intoSavannah，bythehandsofColonelEwing，inspectorgeneral，ademandforthesurrenderoftheplace。Thefollowinglettersgivetheresult。GeneralHardeerefusedtosurrender，andIthenresolvedtomaketheattempttobreakhislineofdefenseatseveralplaces，trustingthatsomeonewouldsucceed。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOETHEMISSISSIPPI，INTHEFIELD，NEARSAVANNAH，December17，1864。
GeneralWILLIAMJ。HARDEE，commandingConfederateForcesinSavannah。
GENERAL:Youhavedoubtlessobserved，fromyourstationatRosedewthatsea—goingvesselsnowcomethroughOssabawSoundanduptheOgeecheetotherearofmyarmy，givingmeabundantsuppliesofallkinds，andmoreespeciallyheavyordnancenecessaryforthereductionofSavannah。Ihavealreadyreceivedgunsthatcancastheavyanddestructiveshotasfarastheheartofyourcity;also，IhaveforsomedaysheldandcontrolledeveryavenuebywhichthepeopleandgarrisonofSavannahcanbesupplied，andIamthereforejustifiedindemandingthesurrenderofthecityofSavannah，anditsdependentforts，andshallwaitareasonabletimeforyouranswer，beforeopeningwithheavyordnance。Shouldyouentertaintheproposition，Iampreparedtograntliberaltermstotheinhabitantsandgarrison;butshouldIbeforcedtoresorttoassault，ortheslowerandsurerprocessofstarvation，Ishallthenfeeljustifiedinresortingtotheharshestmeasures，andshallmakelittleefforttorestrainmyarmy——burningtoavengethenationalwrongwhichtheyattachtoSavannahandotherlargecitieswhichhavebeensoprominentindraggingourcountryintocivilwar。IincloseyouacopyofGeneralHood’sdemandforthesurrenderofthetownofResaoa，tobeusedbyyouforwhatitisworth。Ihavethehonortobeyourobedientservant，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
HEADQUARTERSDEPARTMENTSOUTHCAROLINA，GEORGIAANDFLORIDA
SAVANNAH，GEORGIA，December17，1864
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingFederalForcesnearSavannah，Georgia。
GENERAL:Ihavetoacknowledgethereceiptofacommunicationfromyouofthisdate，inwhichyoudemand\"thesurrenderofSavannahanditsdependentforts，\"onthegroundthatyou\"havereceivedgunsthatcancastheavyanddestructiveshotintotheheartofthecity，\"andforthefurtherreasonthatyou\"have，forsomedays，heldandcontrolledeveryavenuebywhichthepeopleandgarrisoncanbesupplied。\"Youaddthat，shouldyoube\"forcedtoresorttoassault，ortotheslowerandsurerprocessofstarvation，youwillthenfeeljustifiedinresortingtotheharshestmeasures，andwillmakelittleefforttorestrainyourarmy，\"etc。，etc。Thepositionofyourforces（ahalf—milebeyondtheouterlinefortheland—
defenseofSavannah）is，atthenearestpoint，atleastfourmilesfromtheheartofthecity。Thatandtheinteriorlinearebothintact。
Yourstatementthatyouhave，forsomedays，heldandcontrolledeveryavenuebywhichthepeopleandgarrisoncanbesupplied，isincorrect。Iaminfreeandconstantcommunicationwithmydepartment。
YourdemandforthesurrenderofSavannahanditsdependentfortsisrefused。
Withrespecttothethreatsconveyedintheclosingparagraphsofyourletter（ofwhatmaybeexpectedincaseyourdemandisnotcompliedwith），IhavetosaythatIhavehithertoconductedthemilitaryoperationsintrustedtomydirectioninstrictaccordancewiththerulesofcivilizedwarfare，andIshoulddeeplyregrettheadoptionofanycoursebyyouthatmayforcemetodeviatefromtheminfuture。Ihavethehonortobe，veryrespectfully，yourobedientservant，W。J。HARDEE，Lieutenant—General。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOETHEMISSISSIPPI，INTHEFIELD，NEARSAVANNAH，December18，18648p。m。
Lieutenant—GeneralU。S。GRANT，CityPoint，Virginia。
GENERAL:Iwroteyouatlength（byColonelBabcock）onthe16thinstant。AsIthereinexplainedmypurpose，yesterdayImadeademandonGeneralHardeeforthesurrenderofthecityofSavannah，andto—dayreceivedhisanswer——refusing;copiesofbothlettersareherewithinclosed。YouwillnoticethatIclaimthatmylinesarewithineasycannon—rangeoftheheartofSavannah;butGeneralHardeeassertsthatwearefourandahalfmilesdistant。ButI
myselfhavebeentotheintersectionoftheCharlestonandGeorgiaCentralRailroads，andthethree—milepoetisbutafewyardsbeyond，withinthelineofourpickets。Theenemyhasnopicketsoutsideofhisfortifiedline（whichisafullquarterofamilewithinthethree—milepoet），andIhavetheevidenceofMr。R。R。
Cuyler，PresidentoftheGeorgiaCentralRailroad（whowasaprisonerinourhands），thatthemile—postsaremeasuredfromtheExchange，whichisbuttwosquaresbackfromtheriver。Byto—morrowmorningIwillhavesixthirty—poundParrottsinposition，andGeneralHardeewilllearnwhetherIamrightornot。
>Fromtheleftofourline，whichisontheSavannahRiver，thespirescanbeplainlyseen;butthecountryissodenselywoodedwithpineandlive—oak，andliessoflat，thatwecanseenothingfromanyotherportionofourlines。GeneralSlocumfeelsconfidentthathecanmakeasuccessfulassaultatoneortwopointsinfrontofGeneralDavis’s（Fourteenth）corps。AllofGeneralHoward’stroops（therightwing）liebehindtheLittleOgeecbee，andIdoubtifitcanbepassedbytroopsinthefaceofanenemy。Still，wecanmakestrongfeints，andifIcangetasufficientnumberofboats，IshallmakeacooperativedemonstrationupVernonRiverorWassawSound。IshouldlikeverymuchindeedtotakeSavannahbeforecomingtoyou;but，asIwrotetoyoubefore，Iwilldonothingrashorhasty，andwillembarkfortheJamesRiverassoonasGeneralEaston（whoisgonetoPortRoyalforthatpurpose）reportstomethathehasanapproximatenumberofvesselsforthetransportationofthecontemplatedforce。
Ifeareventhiswillcoatmoredelaythanyouanticipate，foralreadythemovementofourtransportsandthegunboatshasrequiredmoretimethanIhadexpected。Wehavehaddensefogs;
therearemoremud—banksintheOgeecheethanwerereported，andtherearenopilotswhatever。AdmiralDahlgrenpromisedtohavethechannelbuoyedandstaked，butitisnotdoneyet。WefindonlysixfeetofwateruptoKing’sBridgeatlowtide，abouttenfeetuptotherice—mill，andsixteentoFortMcAllister。Allthesepointsmaybeusedbyus，andwehaveagood，strongbridgeacrossOgeecheeatKing’s，bywhichourwagonscangotoFortMcAllister，towhichpointIamsendingallwagonsnotabsolutelynecessaryfordailyuse，thenegroes，prisonersofwar，sick，etc。，enrouteforPortRoyal。InrelationtoSavannah，youwillremarkthatGeneralHardeereferstohisstillbeingincommunicationwithhisdepartment。Thislanguagehethoughtwoulddeceiveme;butI
amconfirmedinthebeliefthattheroutetowhichherefers（theUnionPlank—roadontheSouthCarolinashore）isinadequatetofeedhisarmyandthepeopleofSavannah，andGeneralFosterassuresmethathehashisforceonthatveryroad，neartheheadofBroadRiver，sothatcarsnolongerrunbetweenCharlestonandSavannah。
WeholdthisendoftheCharlestonRailroad，andhavedestroyeditfromthethree—milepostbacktothebridge（abouttwelvemiles）。
Inanticipationofleavingthiscountry，Iamcontinuingthedestructionoftheirrailroads，andatthismomenthavetwodivisionsandthecavalryatworkbreakinguptheGulfRailroadfromtheOgeecheetotheAltamaha;sothat，evenifIdonottakeSavannah，Iwillleaveitinabadway。ButIstillhopethateventswillgivemetimetotakeSavannah，evenifIhavetoassaultwithsomeloss。Iamsatisfiedthat，unlesswetakeit，thegunboatsneverwill，fortheycanmakenoimpressionuponthebatterieswhichguardeveryapproachfromthesea。Ihaveafaintbeliefthat，whenColonelBabcockreachesyou，youwilldelayoperationslongenoughtoenablemetosucceedhere。WithSavannahinourpossession，atsomefuturetimeifnotnow，wecanpunishSouthCarolinaasshedeserves，andasthousandsofthepeopleinGeorgiahopedwewoulddo。IdosincerelybelievethatthewholeUnitedStates，NorthandSouth，wouldrejoicetohavethisarmyturnedlooseonSouthCarolina，todevastatethatStateinthemannerwehavedoneinGeorgia，anditworldhaveadirestandimmediatebearingonyourcampaigninVirginia。
Ihavethehonortobeyourobedientservant，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—GeneralUnitedStatesArmy。
AssoonasthearmyhadreachedSavannah，andhadopenedcommunicationwiththefleet，IendeavoredtoascertainwhathadtranspiredinTennesseesinceourdeparture。Wereceivedourlettersandfilesofnewspapers，whichcontainedfullaccountsofalltheeventsthereuptoaboutthe1stofDecember。Asbeforedescribed，GeneralHoodhadthreefullcorpsofinfantry——S。D。
Lee’s，A。P。Stewart’s，andCheatham’s，atFlorence，Alabama——withForrest’scorpsofcavalry，numberingintheaggregateaboutforty—
fivethousandmen。GeneralThomaswasinNashville，Tennessee，quietlyengagedinreorganizinghisarmyoutofthesomewhatbrokenforcesathisdisposal。Hehadpostedhisonlytworegularcorps，theFourthandTwenty—third，underthegeneralcommandofMajor—
GeneralJ。M。Sohofield，atPulaski，directlyinfrontofFlorence，withthethreebrigadesofcavalry（Hatch，Croxton，andCapron），commandedbyMajor—GeneralWilson，watchingcloselyforHood’sinitiative。
Thisforceaggregatedaboutthirtythousandmen，wasthereforeinferiortotheenemy;andGeneralSchofieldwasinstructed，incasetheenemymadeageneraladvance，tofallbackslowlytowardNashville，fighting，tillheshouldbereenforcedbyGeneralThomasinperson。Hood’smovementwasprobablyhurriedbyreasonofmyadvanceintoGeorgia;foronthe17thhisinfantrycolumnsmarchedfromFlorenceinthedirectionofWaynesboro’，turning，Schofield’spositionatPulaski。Thelatteratoncesenthistrainstotherear，andonthe21stfellbacktoColumbia，Tennessee。GeneralHoodfollowedupthismovement，skirmishedlightlywithSchofieldatColumbia，beganthepassageofDuckRiver，belowthetown，andCheatham’scorpsreachedthevicinityofSpringHill，whitherGeneralSchofieldhadsentGeneralStanley，withtwoofhisdivisions，tocoverthemovementofhistrains。DuringthenightofNovember29thGeneralSchofieldpassedSpringHillwithhistrainsandarmy，andtookpostatFranklin，onthesouthaideofHarpethRiver。GeneralHoodnowattachesseriousblametoGeneralCheathamfornotattackingGeneralSchofieldinflankwhileinmotionatSpringHill，forhewasbivouackedwithineighthundredyardsoftheroadatthetimeofthepassageofourarmy。GeneralSchofieldreachedFranklinonthemorningofNovember30th，andpostedhisarmyinfrontofthetown，wheresomerifle—intrenchmentshadbeenconstructedinadvance。HehadthetwocorpsofStanleyandCox（FourthandTwenty—third），withWilson’scavalryonhisflanks，andsenthistrainsbehindtheHarpeth。
GeneralHoodcloseduponhimthesameday，andassaultedhispositionwithvehemence，atonetimebreakingthelineandwoundingGeneralStanleyseriously;butourmenwereveterans，coolanddetermined，andfoughtmagnificently。Therebelofficersledtheirmeninpersontotheseveralpersistentassaults，continuingthebattlefarintothenight，whentheydrewoff，beatenanddiscomfited。
Theirlosswasverysevere，especiallyingeneralofficers;amongthemGeneralsCleburnandAdams，divisioncommanders。Hood’slossonthatdaywasafterwardascertainedtobe（Thomas’sreport）:
Buriedonthefield，seventeenhundredandfifty;leftinhospitalatFranklin，thirty—eighthundred;andsevenhundredandtwoprisonerscapturedandheld:aggregate，sixthousandtwohundredandfifty—two。GeneralSchofieldslose，reportedofficially，wasonehundredandeighty—ninekilled，onethousandandthirty—threewounded，andelevenhundredandfourprisonersormissing:
aggregate，twenty—threehundredandtwenty—six。ThenextdayGeneralSchofieldcrossedtheHarpethwithouttrouble，andfellbacktothedefensesofNashville。
MeantimeGeneralThomashadorganizedtheemployeesoftheQuartermaster’sDepartmentintoacorps，commandedbythechief—
quartermaster，GeneralJ。Z。Donaldson，andplacedtheminthefortificationsofNashville，underthegeneraldirectionofMajor—GeneralZ。B。Tower，nowoftheUnitedStatesEngineers。HehadalsoreceivedthetwoveterandivisionsoftheSixteenthCorps，underGeneralA。J。Smith，longabsentandlongexpected;andhehaddrawnfromChattanoogaandDecatur（Alabama）thedivisionsofSteedmanandofR。S。Granger。These，withGeneralSchofieldsarmyandabouttenthousandgoodcavalry，underGeneralJ。H。Wilson，constitutedastrongarmy，capablenotonlyofdefendingNashville，butofbeatingHoodintheopenfield。YetThomasremainedinsideofNashville，seeminglypassive，untilGeneralHoodhadcloseduponhimandhadentrenchedhisposition。
GeneralThomashadfurthermoreheldfasttotherailroadleadingfromNashvilletoChattanooga，leavingstrongguardsatitsprincipalpoints，asatMurfreesboro’，Deckerd，Stevenson，Bridgeport，Whitesides，andChattanooga。AtMurfreesboro’thedivisionofRousseauwasreenforcedandstrengtheneduptoabouteightthousandmen。
Atthattimetheweatherwascoldandsleety，thegroundwascoveredwithiceandsnow，andbothpartiesforatimerestedonthedefensive。ThosemattersstoodatNashville，whilewewereclosingdownonSavannah，intheearlypartofDecember，1864;andthecountry，aswellasGeneralGrant，wasalarmedattheseemingpassiveconductofGeneralThomas;andGeneralGrantatonetimeconsideredthesituationsodangerousthathethoughtofgoingtoNashvilleinperson，butGeneralJohnA。Logan，happeningtobeatCityPoint，wassentouttosupersedeGeneralThomas;luckilyforthelatter，heactedintime，gainedamagnificentvictory，andthusescapedsoterribleafate。
Onthe18thofDecember，atmycampbythesideoftheplank—road，eightmilesbackofSavannah，IreceivedGeneralHardee’sletterdecliningtosurrender，whennothingremainedbuttoassault。Thegroundwasdifficult，and，asallformerassaultshadprovedsobloody，IconcludedtomakeonemoreefforttocompletelysurroundSavannahonallaides，soasfurthertoexciteHardee’sfears，and，incaseofsuccess，tocapturethewholeofhisarmy。Wehadalreadycompletelyinvestedtheplaceonthenorth，west，andsouth，butthereremainedtotheenemy，ontheeast，theuseoftheolddikeorplank—roadleadingintoSouthCarolina，andIknewthatHardeewouldhaveapontoon—bridgeacrosstheriver。Onexaminingmymaps，IthoughtthatthedivisionofJohnP。Hatch，belongingtoGeneralFosterscommand，mightbemovedfromitsthenpositionatBroadRiver，bywater，downtoBluffton，fromwhichitcouldreachthisplank—road，fortifyandholdit——atsomerisk，ofcourse，becauseHardeecouldavailhimselfofhiscentralpositiontofallonthisdetachmentwithhiswholearmy。Ididnotwanttomakeamistakelike\"Ball’sBluff\"atthatperiodofthewar;so，takingoneortwoofmypersonalstaff，IrodebacktoGrog’sBridge，leavingwithGeneralsHowardandSlocun:orderstomakeallpossiblepreparations，butnottoattack，duringmytwoorthreedays’absence;andthereItookaboatforWassawSound，whenceAdmiralDahlgrenconveyedmeinhisownboat（theHarvestMoon）toHiltonHead，whereIrepresentedthemattertoGeneralFoster，andhepromptlyagreedtogivehispersonalattentiontoit。Duringthenightofthe20thwestartedback，thewindblowingstrong，AdmiralDahlgrenorderedthepilotoftheHarvestMoontorunintoTybee，andtoworkhiswaythroughtoWassawSoundandtheOgeecheeRiverbytheRomneyMarshes。Wewerecaughtbyalowtideandstuckinthemud。Afterlaboringsometime，theadmiralorderedouthisbarge;initwepulledthroughthisintricateandshallowchannel，andtowardeveningofDecember21stwediscovered，comingtowardus，atug，calledtheRedLegs，belongingtotheQuarter—
master’sDepartment，withastaff—officeronboard，bearinglettersfromColonelDaytontomyselfandtheadmiral，reportingthatthecityofSavannahhadbeenfoundevacuatedonthemorningofDecember21st，andwastheninourpossession。GeneralHardeehadcrossedtheSavannahRiverbyapontoon—bridge，carryingoffhismenandlightartillery，blowinguphisiron—cladsandnavy—yard，butleavingforusalltheheavyguns，stores，cotton，railway—
cars，steamboats，andanimmenseamountofpublicandprivateproperty。AdmiralDahlgrenconcludedtogotowardavessel（theSonoma）ofhisblockadingfleet，whichlayatanchornearBeaulieu，andItransferredtotheRedLegs，andhasteneduptheOgeecheeRivertoGrog’sBridge，whenceIrodetomycampthatsamenight。
Itherelearnedthat，earlyonthemorningofDecember21st，theskirmishershaddetectedtheabsenceoftheenemy，andhadoccupiedhislinessimultaneouslyalongtheirwholeextent;buttheleftflank（Slocum），especiallyGeary’sdivisionoftheTwentiethCorps，claimedtohavebeenthefirsttoreachtheheartofthecity。
GeneralsSlocumandHowardmovedtheirheadquartersatonceintothecity，leavingthebulkoftheirtroopsincampsoutside。OnthemorningofDecember22dIfollowedwithmyownheadquarters，androdedownBullStreettothecustom—house，fromtheroofofwhichwehadanextensiveviewoverthecity，theriver，andthevastextentofmarshandrice—fieldsontheSouthCarolinaside。
Thenavy—yard，andthewreckoftheiron—cladramSavannah，werestillsmouldering，butallelselookedquietenough。Turningback，werodetothePulaskiHotel，whichIhadknowninyearslonggone，andfounditkeptbyaVermontmanwithalameleg，whousedtobeaclerkintheSt。LouisHotel，NewOrleans，andIinquiredaboutthecapacityofhishotelforheadquarters。Hewasveryanxioustohaveusforboarders，butIsoonexplainedtohimthatwehadafullmessequipmentalong，andthatwewerenotinthehabitofpayingboard;thatonewingofthebuildingwouldsufficeforouruse，whileIwouldallowhimtokeepanhotelfortheaccommodationofofficersandgentlemenintheremainder。Ithendispatchedanofficertolookaroundforalivery—stablethatcouldaccommodateourhorses，and，whilewaitingthere，anEnglishgentleman，Mr。
CharlesGreen，cameandsaidthathehadafinehousecompletelyfurnished，forwhichhehadnouse，andoffereditasheadquarters。
Heexplained，moreover，thatGeneralHowardhadinformedhim，thedaybefore，thatIwouldwanthishouseforheadquarters。AtfirstIfeltstronglydisinclinedtomakeuseofanyprivatedwelling，lestcomplaintsshouldariseofdamageandloseoffurniture，andsoexpressedmyselftoMr。Green;but，afterridingaboutthecity，andfindinghishousesospacious，soconvenient，withlargeyardandstabling，Iacceptedhisoffer，andoccupiedthathouseduringourstayinSavannah。Heonlyreservedforhimselftheuseofacoupleofroomsabovethedining—room，andwehadallelse，andamostexcellenthouseitwasinallrespects。
IwasdisappointedthatHardeehadescapedwithhisarmy，butonthewholewehadreasontobecontentwiththesubstantialfruitsofvictory。TheSavannahRiverwasfoundtobebadlyobstructedbytorpedoes，andbylogpiersstretchedacrossthechannelbelowthecity，whichpierswerefilledwiththecobblestonesthatformerlypavedthestreets。AdmiralDahlgrenwasextremelyactive，visitedmerepeatedlyinthecity，whilehisfleetstillwatchedCharleston，andalltheavenues，fortheblockade—runnersthatinfestedthecoast，whichwerenotoriouslyownedandmanagedbyEnglishmen，whousedtheislandofNewProvidence（Nassau）asasortofentrepot。Oneofthesesmallblockade—runnerscameintoSavannahafterwewereinfullpossession，andthemasterdidnotdiscoverhismistaketillhecameashoretovisitthecustom—house。
Ofcoarsehisvesselfellaprizetothenavy。Aheavyforcewasatoncesettoworktoremovethetorpedoesandobstructionsinthemainchanneloftheriver，and，fromthattimeforth，Savannahbecamethegreatdepotofsupplyforthetroopsoperatinginthatquarter。
Meantime，onthe15thand16thofDecember，werefought，infrontofNashville，thegreatbattlesinwhichGeneralThomassonoblyfulfilledhispromisetoruinHood，thedetailsofwhicharefullygiveninhisownofficialreports，long—sincepublished。RumorsofthesegreatvictoriesreachedusatSavannahbypiecemeal，buthisofficialreportcameonthe24thofDecember，withaletterfromGeneralGrant，givingingeneraltermstheeventsuptothe18th，andIwroteatoncethroughmychiefofstaff，GeneralWebster，toGeneralThomas，complimentinghiminthehighestterms。HisbrilliantvictoryatNashvillewasnecessarytomineatSavannahtomakeacompletewhole，andthisfactwasperfectlycomprehendedbyMr。Lincoln，whorecognizeditfullyinhispersonalletterofDecember26th，hereinbeforequotedatlength，andwhichisalsoclaimedatthetime，inmySpecialFieldOrderNo。6，ofJanuary8，1865，heregiven:
（SpecialFieldOrderNo。6。]
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOETHEMISSISSIPPI，INTHEFIELD，NEARSAVANNAH，GEORGIA，January8，1864。
ThegeneralcommandingannouncestothetroopscomposingtheMilitaryDivisionoftheMississippithathehasreceivedfromthePresidentoftheUnitedStates，andfromLieutenant—GeneralGrant，lettersconveyingtheirhighsenseandappreciationofthecampaignjustclosed，resultinginthecaptureofSavannahandthedefeatofHood’sarmyinTennessee。
Inorderthatallmayunderstandtheimportanceofevents，itispropertoreverttothesituationofaffairsinSeptemberlaSt。WeheldAtlanta，acityoflittlevalvetous，butsoimportanttotheenemythatMr。Davis，theheadoftherebelliousfactionintheSouth，visitedhisarmynearPalmetto，andcommandedittoregaintheplaceandalsotoruinanddestroyus，byaseriesofmeasureswhichhethoughtwouldbeeffectual。Thatarmy，byarapidmarch，gainedourrailroadnearBigShanty，andafterwardaboutDalton。
Wepursuedit，butitmovedsorapidlythatwecouldnotovertakeit，andGeneralHoodledhisarmysuccessfullyfarovertowardMississippi，inhopetodecoyusoutofGeorgia。Butwewerenotthustobeledawaybyhim，andpreferredtoleadandcontroleventsourselves。GeneralsThomasandSchofield，commandingthedepartmentstoourrear，returnedtotheirpostsandpreparedtodecoyGeneralHoodintotheirmeshes，whilewecameontocompletetheoriginaljourney。WequietlyanddeliberatelydestroyedAtlanta，andalltherailroadswhichtheenemyhadusedtocarryonwaragainstus，occupiedhisStatecapital，andthencapturedhiscommercialcapital，whichhadbeensostronglyfortifiedfromtheseaastodefyapproachfromthatquarter。AlmostatthemomentofourvictoriousentryintoSavannahcamethewelcomeandexpectednewsthatourcomradesinTennesseehadalsofulfillednoblyandwelltheirpart，haddecoyedGeneralHoodtoNashvilleandthenturnedonhim，defeatinghisarmythoroughly，capturingallhisartillery，greatnumbersofprisoners，andwerestillpursuingthefragmentsdowninAlabama。Socompletessuccessinmilitaryoperations，extendingoverhalfacontinent，isanachievementthatentitlesittoaplaceinthemilitaryhistoryoftheworld。ThearmiesservinginGeorgiaandTennessee，aswellasthelocalgarrisonsofDecatur，Bridgeport，Chattanooga，andMurfreesboro’，arealikeentitledtothecommonhonors，andeachregimentmayinscribeonitscolors，atpleasure，theword\"Savannah\"or\"Nashville。\"Thegeneralcommandingembraces，inthesamegeneralsuccess，theoperationsofthecavalryunderGeneralsStoneman，Burbridge，andGillem，thatpenetratedintoSouthwestVirginia，andparalyzedtheeffortsoftheenemytodisturbthepeaceandsafetyofEastTennessee。Insteadofbeingputonthedefensive，wehaveatallpointsassumedtheboldoffensive，andhavecompletelythwartedthedesignsoftheenemiesofourcountry。
ByorderofMajor—GeneralW。T。Sherman，L。M。DAYTON，Aide—de—Camp。
Hereterminatedthe\"MarchtotheSea，\"andIonlyaddafewletters，selectedoutofmany，toillustratethegeneralfeelingofrejoicingthroughoutthecountryatthetime。IonlyregardedthemarchfromAtlantatoSavannahasa\"shiftofbase，\"asthetransferofastrongarmy，whichhadnoopponent，andhadfinisheditsthenwork，fromtheinteriortoapointonthesea—coast，fromwhichitcouldachieveotherimportantresults。Iconsideredthismarchasameanstoanend，andnotasanessentialactofwar。
Still，then，asnow，themarchtotheseawasgenerallyregardedassomethingextraordinary，somethinganomalous，somethingoutoftheusualorderofevents;whereas，infact，IsimplymovedfromAtlantatoSavannah，asonestepinthedirectionofRichmond，amovementthathadtobemetanddefeated，orthewarwasnecessarilyatanend。
WereItoexpressmymeasureoftherelativeimportanceofthemarchtothesea，andofthatfromSavannahnorthward，Iwouldplacetheformeratone，andthelatteratten，orthemaximum。
Inowclosethislongchapterbygivingatabularstatementofthelossesduringthemarch，andthenumberofprisonerscaptured。Thepropertycapturedconsistedofhorsesandmulesbythethousand，andofquantitiesofsubsistencestoresthataggregateverylarge，butmaybemeasuredwithsufficientaccuracybyassumingthatsixty—fivethousandmenobtainedabundantfoodforaboutfortydays，andthirty—fivethousandanimalswerefedforalikeperiod，soastoreachSavannahinsplendidfleshandcondition。IalsoaddafewofthemoreimportantlettersthatpassedbetweenGeneralsGrant，Halleck，andmyself，whichillustrateouropinionsatthatstageofthewar:
STATEMENTOFCASUALTIESANDPRISONERSCAPTUREDBYTHEARMYINTHE
FIELD，CAMPAIGNOFGEORGIA。
KilledWoundedMissingCapturedOfficers/MenOfficers/MenOfficers/MenOfficers/Men1093244041277771，261
HEADQUARTERSOFTHEARMY
WASHINGTON，December16，1864
Major—GeneralSHERMAN（viaHiltonHead）。
GENERAL:Lieutenant—GeneralGrantinformsmethat，inhislastdispatchsenttoyou，hesuggestedthetransferofyourinfantrytoRichmond。Henowwishesmetosaythatyouwillretainyourentireforce，atleastforthepresent，and，withsuchassistanceasmaybegivenyoubyGeneralFosterandAdmiralDahlgren，operatefromsuchbaseasyoumayestablishonthecoaSt。GeneralFosterwillobeysuchinstructionsasmaybegivenbyyou。
ShouldyouhavecapturedSavannah，itisthoughtthatbytransferringthewater—batteriestothelandsidethatplacemaybemadeagooddepotandbaseofoperationsonAugusta，Branchville，orCharleston。IfSavannahshouldnotbecaptured，orifcapturedandnotdeemedsuitableforthispurpose，perhapsBeaufortwouldserveasadepot。AstherebelshaveprobablyremovedtheirmostvaluablepropertyfromAugusta，perhapsBranchvillewouldbethemostimportantpointatwhichtostrikeinordertoseverallconnectionbetweenVirginiaandtheSouthwesternRailroad。
GeneralGrant’swishes，however，are，thatthiswholematterofyourfutureactionsshouldbeentirelylefttoyourdiscretion。
Wecansendyoufromhereanumberofcompletebatteriesoffield—
artillery，withorwithouthorses，asyoumaydesire;also，assoonasGeneralThomascansparethem，allthefragments，convalescents，andfurloughedmenofyourarmy。ItisreportedthatThomasdefeatedHoodyesterday，nearNashville，butwehavenoparticularsnorofficialreports，telegraphiccommunicationbeinginterruptedbyaheavystorm。
OurlastadvisesfromyouwasGeneralHoward’snote，announcinghisapproachtoSavannah。Yourstruly，H。W。HALLECK，Major—General，Chief—of—Staff。
HEADQUARTERSOFTHEARMY
WASHINGTON，December18，1864。
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，Savannah（viaHiltonHead）。
MyDEARGENERAL:Yoursofthe13th，byMajorAnderson，isjustreceived。Icongratulateyouonyoursplendidsuccess，andshallverysoonexpecttohearofthecrowningworkofyourcampaign——thecaptureofSavannah。Yourmarchwillstandoutprominentlyasthegreatoneofthisgreatwar。WhenSavannahfalls，thenforanotherwideswaththroughthecentreoftheConfederacy。ButIwillnotanticipate。GeneralGrantisexpectedherethismorning，andwillprobablywriteyouhisownviews。
Idonotlearnfromyourletter，orfromMajorAnderson，thatyouareinwantofanythingwhichwehavenotprovidedatHiltonHead。
Thinkingitprobablethatyoumightwantmorefield—artillery，I
hadpreparedseveralbatteries，butthegreatdifficultyofforaginghorsesonthesea—coastwillpreventoursendinganyunlessyouactuallyneedthem。Thehay—cropthisyearisshort，andtheQuartermaster’sDepartmenthasgreatdifficultyinprocuringasupplyforouranimals。