GeneralThomashasdefeatedHood，nearNashville，anditishopedthathewillcompletely，crushhisarmy。Breckenridge，atlastaccounts，wastryingtoformajunctionnearMurfreesboro’，but，asThomasisbetweenthem，Breckenridgemusteitherretreatorbedefeated。
GeneralRosecransmadeverybadworkofitinMissouri，allowingPricewithasmallforcetooverruntheStateanddestroymillionsofproperty。
Ordershavebeenissuedforallofficersanddetachmentshavingthreemonthsormoretoserve，torejoinyourarmyviaSavannah。
Thosehavinglessthanthreemonthstoserve，willberetainedbyGeneralThomas。
ShouldyoucaptureCharleston，Ihopethatbysomeaccidenttheplacemaybedestroyed，and，ifalittlesaltshouldbesownuponitssite，itmaypreventthegrowthoffuturecropsofnullificationandsecession。
Yourstruly，H。W。HALLECK，Major—General，Chief—of—Staff。
HEADQUARTERSOFTHEARMY
WASHINGTON，December18，1864。
ToMajor—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingMilitaryDivisionoftheMississippi。
MyDEARGENERAL:Ihavejustreceivedandread，Ineednottellyouwithhowmushgratification，yourlettertoGeneralHalleck。I
congratulateyouandthebraveofficersandmenunderyourcommandonthesuccessfulterminationofyourmostbrilliantcampaign。I
neverhadadoubtoftheresult。WhenapprehensionsforyoursafetywereexpressedbythePresident，Iassuredhimwiththearmyyouhad，andyouincommandofit，therewasnodangerbutyouwouldstrikebottomonsalt—watersomeplace;thatIwouldnotfeelthesamesecurity——infact，wouldnothaveintrustedtheexpeditiontoanyotherlivingcommander。
IthasbeenveryhardworktogetThomastoattackHood。Igavehimthemoatperemptoryorder，andhadstartedtogotheremyself，beforehegotoff。Hehasdonemagnificently，however，sincehestarted。Uptolastnight，fivethousandprisonersandforty—ninepiecesofcapturedartillery，besidesmanywagonsandinnumerablesmall—arms，hadbeenreceivedinNashville。Thisisexclusiveoftheenemy’slossatFranklin，whichamountedtothirteengeneralofficerskilled，wounded，andcaptured。TheenemyprobablylostfivethousandmenatFranklin，andtenthousandinthelastthreedays’operations。BreckenridgeissaidtobemakingforMurfreesboro’。
Ithinkheisinamostexcellentplace。StonemanhasnearlywipedoutJohnMorgan’soldcommand，andfivedaysagoenteredBristol。
Ididthinkthebestthingtodowastobringthegreaterpartofyourarmyhere，andwipeoutLee。Theturnaffairsnowseemtobetakinghasshakenmeinthatopinion。Idoubtwhetheryoumaynotaccomplishmoretowardthatresultwhereyouarethanifbroughthere，especiallyasIaminformed，sincemyarrivalinthecity，thatitwouldtakeabouttwomonthstogetyouherewithalltheothercallsthereareforoceantransportation。
Iwanttogetyourviewsaboutwhatoughttobedone，andwhatcanbedone。IfyoucapturethegarrisonofSavannah，itcertainlywillcompelLeetodetachfromRichmond，orgiveusnearlythewholeSouth。MyownopinionisthatLeeisaversetogoingoutofVirginia，andifthecauseoftheSouthislosthewantsRichmondtobethelastplacesurrendered。Ifhehassuchviews，itmaybewelltoindulgehimuntilwegeteverythingelseinourhands。
Congratulatingyouandthearmyagainuponthesplendidresultsofyourcampaign，thelikeofwhichisnotreadofinpasthistory，I
subscribemyself，morethanever，ifpossible，yourfriend，U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
HEADQUARTERSOFTHEARMY
CITYPOINT，VIRGINIA，December26，1864。
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，Savannah，Georgia。
GENERAL:Yourveryinterestingletterofthe22dinst。，broughtbyMajorGreyofGeneralFoster’sstaff;isfastathand。Asthemajorstartsbackatonce，Icandonomoreatpresentthansimplyacknowledgeitsreceipt。ThecaptureofSavannah，withallitsimmensestores，musttelluponthepeopleoftheSouth。Allwellhere。
Yourstruly，U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
SAVANNAH，GEORGIA，December24，1864。
Lieutenant—GeneralU。S。GRANT，CityPoint，Virginia。
GENERAL:YourletterofDecember18thisjustreceived。Ifeelverymuchgratifiedatreceivingthehandsomecommendationyoupaymyarmy。Iwill，ingeneralorders，conveytotheofficersandmenthesubstanceofyournote。
Iamalsopleasedthatyouhavemodifiedyourformerorders，forI
fearedthatthetransportationbyseawouldverymuchdisturbtheunityandmoraleofmyarmy，nowsoperfect。
TheoccupationofSavannah，whichIhaveheretoforereported，completesthefirstpartofourgame，andfulfillsagreatpartofyourinstructions;andwearenowengagedindismantlingtherebelfortswhichbearuponthesea—channels，andtransferringtheheavyordnanceandammunitiontoFortPulaskiandHiltonHead，wheretheycanbemareeasilyguardedthanifleftinthecity。
Therebelinnerlinesarewelladaptedtoourpurpose，andwithslightmodificationscanbeheldbyacomparativelysmallforce;
andinabouttendaysIexpecttobereadytosallyforthagain。I
feelnodoubtwhateverastoourfutureplans。Ihavethoughtthemoversolongandwellthattheyappearasclearasdaylight。I
leftAugustauntouchedonpurpose，becausetheenemywillbeindoubtastomyobjectivepoint，afterwecrosstheSavannahRiver，whetheritbeAugustaorCharleston，andwillnaturallydividehisforces。IwillthenmoveeitheronBranchvilleorColombia，byanycurvedlinethatgivesusthebestsupplies，breakingupinourcourseasmuchrailroadaspossible;then，ignoringCharlestonandAugustaboth，IwouldoccupyColumbiaandCamden，pausingtherelongenoughtoobservetheeffect。IwouldthenstrikefortheCharleston&WilmingtonRailroad，somewherebetweentheSanteeandCapeFearRivers，and，ifpossible，communicatewiththefleetunderAdmiralDahlgren（whomIfindamostagreeablegentleman，accommodatinghimselftoourwishesandplans）。ThenIwouldfavoranattackonWilmington，inthebeliefthatPorterandButlerwillfailintheirpresentundertaking。Charlestonisnowameredesolatedwreck，andishardlyworththetimeitwouldtaketostarveitout。Still，Iamawarethat，historicallyandpolitically，muchimportanceisattachedtotheplace，anditmaybethat，apartfromitsmilitaryimportance，bothyouandtheAdministrationmaypreferIshouldgiveitmoreattention;anditwouldbewellforyoutogivemesomegeneralideaonthatsubject，forotherwiseIwouldtreatitasIhaveexpressed，asapointoflittleimportance，afterallitsrailroadsleadingintotheinteriorhavebeendestroyedoroccupiedbyus。But，onthehypothesisofignoringCharlestonandtakingWilmington，IwouldthenfavoramovementdirectonRaleigh。ThegameisthenupwithLee，unlesshecomesoutofRichmond，avoidsyouandfightsme;inwhichcaseIshouldreckononyourbeingonhisheels。NowthatHoodisusedupbyThomas，Ifeeldisposedtobringthemattertoanissueasquickaspossible。IfeelconfidentthatIcanbreakupthewholerailroadsystemofSouthCarolinaandNorthCarolina，andbeontheRoanoke，eitheratRaleighorWeldon，bythetimespringfairlyopens;and，ifyoufeelconfidentthatyoucanwhipLeeoutsideofhisintrenchments，IfeellequallyconfidentthatI
canhandlehimintheopencountry。
OnereasonwhyIwouldignoreCharlestonisthis:thatIbelieveHardeewillreducethegarrisontoasmallforce，withplentyofprovisions;IknowthattheneckbackofCharlestoncanbemadeimpregnabletoassault，andwewillhardlyhavetimeforsiegeoperations。
IwillhavetoleaveinSavannahagarrison，and，ifThomascansparethem，Iwouldliketohavealldetachments，convalescents，etc。，belongingtothesefourcorps，sentforwardatonce。IdonotwanttocrippleThomas，becauseIregardhisoperationsasall—important，andIhaveorderedhimtopursueHooddownintoAlabama，trustingtothecountryforsupplies。
Ireviewedoneofmycorpsto—day，andshallcontinuetoreviewthewholearmy。Idonotliketoboast，butbelievethisarmyhasaconfidenceinitselfthatmakesitalmostinvincible。Iwishyoucouldrundownandseeus;itwouldhaveagoodeffect，andshowtobotharmiesthattheyareactingonacommonplan。Theweatherisnowcoolandpleasant，andthegeneralhealthverygood。Yourtruefriend，W。T。SHERMANMajor—General。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELD，SAVANNAH，GEORGIA，December24，1864。
Major—GeneralH。W。HALLECK，Chief—of—Staff;Washington，D。C。
GENERAL:Ihadthepleasureofreceivingyourtwolettersofthe16thand18thinstantto—day，andfeelmorethanusuallyflatteredbythehighencomiumsyouhavepassedonourrecentcampaign，whichisnowcompletebytheoccupationofSavannah。
IamalsoverygladthatGeneralGranthaschangedhismindaboutembarkingmytroopsforJamesRiver，leavingmefreetomakethebroadswathyoudescribethroughSouthandNorthCarolina;andstillmoregratifiedatthenewsfromThomas，inTennessee，becauseitfulfillsmyplans，whichcontemplatedhisbeingabletodisposeofHood，incaseheventurednorthoftheTennesseeRiver。So，I
think，onthewhole，IcanchuckleoverJeff。Davis’sdisappointmentinnotturningmyAtlantacampaignintoa\"Moscowdisaster。\"
IhavejustfinishedalonglettertoGeneralGrant，andhaveexplainedtohimthatweareengagedinshiftingourbasefromtheOgeeoheetotheSavannahRiver，dismantlingallthefortsmadebytheenemytobearuponthesalt—waterchannels，transferringtheheavyordnance，etc。，toFortPulaskiandHiltonHead，andinremodelingtheenemy’sinteriorlinestosuitourfutureplansandpurposes。IhavealsolaiddowntheprogrammeforacampaignwhichIcanmakethiswinter，andwhichwillputmeinthespringontheRoanoke，indirectcommunicationwithGeneralGrantonJamesRiver。
Ingeneralterms，myplanistoturnovertoGeneralFosterthecityofSavannah，tosallyforthwithmyarmyresupplied，crosstheSavannah，feignonCharlestonandAugusta，butstrikebetween，breakingenroutetheCharleston&AugustaRailroad，alsoalargepartofthatfromBranchvilleandCamdentowardNorthCarolina，andthenrapidlytomoveforsomepointoftherailroadfromCharlestontoWilmington，betweentheSanteeandCapeFearRivers;then，communicatingwiththefleetintheneighborhoodofGeorgetown，I
wouldturnuponWilmingtonorCharleston，accordingtotheimportanceofeither。IratherpreferWilmington，asaliveplace，overCharleston，whichisdeadandunimportantwhenitsrailroadcommunicationsarebroken。ItakeitforgrantedthatthepresentmovementonWilmingtonwillfail。IfIshoulddeterminetotakeCharleston，Iwouldturnacrossthecountry（whichIhavehuntedovermanyatime）fromSanteetoMountPleasant，throwingonewingonthepeninsulabetweentheAshleyandCooper。Afteraccomplishingoneorotheroftheseends，Iwouldmakeabee—lineforRaleighorWeldon，whenLeeworldbeforcedtocomeoutofRichmond，oracknowledgehimselfbeaten。Hewould，Ithink，bytheuseoftheDanvilleRailroad，throwhimselfrapidlybetweenmeandGrant，leavingRichmondinthehandsofthelatter。Thiswouldnotalarmme，forIhaveanarmywhichIthinkcanmanaenvre，andI
worldforcehimtoattackmeatadisadvantage，alwaysunderthesuppositionthatGrantwouldbeonhisheels;and，iftheworstcometotheworst，IcanfightmywaydowntoAlbermarleSound，orNewbern。
Ithinkthetimehascomenowwhenweshouldattempttheboldestmoves，andmyexperienceis，thattheyareeasierofexecutionthanmoretimidones，becausetheenemyisdisconcertedbythem——as，forinstance，myrecentcampaign。
Ialsodoubtthewisdomofconcentrationbeyondacertainextent，fortheroadsofthiscountrylimittheamountofmenthatcanbebroughttobearinanyonebattle，andIdonotbelievethatanyonegeneralcanhandlemorethansixtythousandmeninbattle。
Ithinkourcampaignofthelastmonth，aswellaseverystepI
takefromthispointnorthward，isasmuchadirectattackuponLee’sarmyasthoughwewereoperatingwithinthesoundofhisartillery。
IamveryanxiousthatThomasshouldfollowuphissuccesstotheveryutmostpoint。MyorderstohimbeforeIleftKingstonwere，afterbeatingHood，tofollowhimasfarasColumbus，Mississippi，orSelma，Alabama，bothofwhichlieindistrictsofcountrywhicharerichincornandmeat。
Iattachmoreimportancetothesedeepincisionsintotheenemy’scountry，becausethiswardiffersfromEuropeanwarsinthisparticular:wearenotonlyfightinghostilearmies，butahostilepeople，andmustmakeoldandyoung，richandpoor，feelthehardhandofwar，aswellastheirorganizedarmies。IknowthatthisrecentmovementofminethroughGeorgiahashadawonderfuleffectinthisrespect。Thousandswhohadbeendeceivedbytheirlyingnewspaperstobelievethatwewerebeingwhippedallthetimenowrealizethetruth，andhavenoappetiteforarepetitionofthesameexperience。Tobesure，Jeff。Davishashispeopleunderprettygooddiscipline，butIthinkfaithinhimismuchshakeninGeorgia，andbeforewehavedonewithherSouthCarolinawillnotbequitesotempestuous。
IwillbearinmindyourhintastoCharleston，anddonotthink\"salt\"willbenecessary。WhenImove，theFifteenthCorpswillbeontherightoftherightwing，andtheirpositionwillnaturallybringthemintoCharlestonfirst;and，ifyouhavewatchedthehistoryofthatcorps，youwillhaveremarkedthattheygenerallydotheirworkprettywell。Thetruthis，thewholearmyisburningwithaninsatiabledesiretowreakvengeanceuponSouthCarolina。
Ialmosttrembleatherfate，butfeelthatshedeservesallthatseemsinstoreforher。
ManyandmanyapersoninGeorgiaaskedmewhywedidnotgotoSouthCarolina;and，whenIansweredthatwewereenrouteforthatState，theinvariablereplywas，\"Well，ifyouwillmakethosepeoplefeeltheutmostseveritiesofwar，wewillpardonyouforyourdesolationofGeorgia。\"
IlookuponColombiaasquiteasbadasCharleston，andIdoubtifweshallsparethepublicbuildingsthereaswedidatMilledgeville。
IhavebeensobusylatelythatIhavenotyetmademyofficialreport，andIthinkIhadbetterwaituntilIgetmysubordinatereportsbeforeattemptingit，asIamanxioustoexplainclearlynotonlythereasonsforeverystep，buttheamountofexecutiondone，andthisIcannotdountilIgetthesubordinatereports;forwemarchedthewholedistanceinfourormorecolumns，and，ofcourse，Icouldonlybepresentwithone，andgenerallythatoneengagedindestroyingrailroads。Thisworkofdestructionwasperformedbetterthanusual，becauseIhadanengineer—regiment，providedwithclawstotwistthebarsafterbeingheated。Suchbarscanneverbeusedagain，andtheonlywayinwhicharailroadlinecanbereconstructedacrossGeorgiais，tomakeanewroadfromFairbnrnStation（twenty—fourmilessouthwestofAtlanta）toMadison，adistanceofonehundredmiles;and，beforethatcanbedone，IproposetobeontheroadfromAugustatoCharleston，whichisacontinuationofthesame。IfeltsomewhatdisappointedatHardee’sescape，butreallyamnottoblame。Imovedasquicklyaspossibletocloseupthe\"UnionCauseway，\"butinterveningobstaclesweresuchthat，beforeIcouldgettroopsontheroad，Hardeehadslippedout。Still，IknowthatthementhatwereinSavannahwillbelostinameasuretoJeff。Davis，fortheGeorgiatroops，underG。W。Smith，declaredtheywouldnotfightinSouthCarolina，andtheyhavegonenorth，enrouteforAugusta，andI
havereasontobelievetheNorthCarolinatroopshavegonetoWilmington;inotherwords，theyarescattered。IhavereasontobelievethatBeauregardwaspresentinSavannahatthetimeofitsevacuation，andthinkthatheandHardeearenowinCharleston，makingpreparationsforwhattheysupposewillbemynextstep。
PleasesaytothePresidentthatIhavereceivedhiskindmessage（throughColonelMarkland），andfeelthankfulforhishighfavor。
IfIdisappointhiminthefuture，itshallnotbefromwantofzealorlovetothecause。
>FromyouIexpectafullandfrankcriticismofmyplansforthefuture，whichmayenablemetocorrecterrorsbeforeitistoolate。Idonotwishtoberash，butwanttogivemyrebelfriendsnochancetoaccuseusofwantofenterpriseorcourage。
Assuringyouofmyhighpersonalrespect，Iremain，asever，yourfriend，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
[GeneralOrderNo。3。]
WARDEPARTMENT，ADJUTANTGENERAL’SOFFICE
WASHINGTON，January14，1865。
ThefollowingresolutionoftheSenateandHouseofRepresentativesispublishedtothearmy:
[PUBLICRESOLUTION——No。4。]
JointresolutiontenderingthethanksofthepeopleandofCongresstoMajor—GeneralWilliamT。Sherman，andtheofficersandsoldiersofhiscommand，fortheirgallantconductintheirlatebrilliantmovementthroughGeorgia。
BeitresolvedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentativesoftheUnitedStatesofAmericainCongressassembled，ThatthethanksofthepeopleandoftheCongressoftheUnitedStatesaredueandareherebytenderedtoMajor—GeneralWilliamT。Sherman，andthroughhimtotheofficersandmenunderhiscommand，fortheirgallantryandgoodconductintheirlatecampaignfromChattanoogatoAtlanta，andthetriumphalmarchthencethroughGeorgiatoSavannah，terminatinginthecaptureandoccupationofthatcity;
andthatthePresidentcauseacopyofthisjointresolutiontobeengrossedandforwardedtoMajor—GeneralSherman。
Approved，January10，1865。
ByorderoftheSecretaryofWar，W。A。NICHOLS，AssistantAdjutant—General。
CHAPTERXXII。
SAVANNAHANDPOCOTALIGO。
DECEMBER，1884，ANDJANUARY，1885。
ThecityofSavannahwasanoldplace，andusuallyaccountedahandsomeone。Itshouseswereofbrickorframe，withlargeyards，ornamentedwithshrubberyandflowers;itsstreetsperfectlyregular，crossingeachotheratrightangles;andatmanyoftheintersectionsweresmallinclosuresinthenatureofparks。Thesestreetsandparkswerelinedwiththehandsomestshade—treesofwhichIhaveknowledge，viz。，theWillow—leaflive—oak，evergreensofexquisitebeauty;andthesecertainlyentitledSavannahtoitsreputationasahandsometownmorethanthehouses，which，thoughcomfortable，wouldhardlymakeadisplayonFifthAvenueortheBoulevardHaussmannofParis。Thecitywasbuiltonaplateauofsandaboutfortyfeetabovethelevelofthesea，abuttingagainsttheriver，leavingroomalongitsmarginforastreetofstoresandwarehouses。Thecustomhouse，court—house，post—office，etc。，wereontheplateauabove。InrearofSavannahwasalargepark，withafountain，andbetweenitandthecourt—housewasahandsomemonument，erectedtothememoryofCountPulaski，whofellin1779
intheassaultmadeonthecityatthetimeitwasheldbytheEnglishduringtheRevolutionaryWar。OutsideofSavannahtherewasverylittletointerestastranger，exceptthecemeteryofBonaventura，andtheridealongtheWilmingtonChannelbywayofThunderbolt，wheremightbeseensomegrovesofthemajesticlive—oaktrees，coveredwithgrayandfunerealmoss，whichweretrulysublimeingrandeur，butgloomyafterafewdays’campingunderthem:
WithinanhouroftakingupmyquartersinMr。Green’shouse，Mr。
A。G。Browne，ofSalem，Massachusetts，UnitedStatesTreasuryagentfortheDepartmentoftheSouth，madehisappearancetoclaimpossession，inthenameoftheTreasuryDepartment，ofallcapturedcotton，rice，buildings，etc。Havinguseforthesearticlesourselves，andhavingfairlyearnedthem，Ididnotfeelinclinedtosurrenderpossession，andexplainedtohimthatthequartermasterandcommissarycouldmanagethemmoretomylikingthanhe;butIagreed，aftertheproperinventorieshadbeenprepared，ifthereremainedanythingforwhichwehadnospecialuse，Iwouldturnitovertohim。Itwasthenknownthatinthewarehouseswerestoredatleasttwentyfivethousandbalesofcotton，andinthefortsonehundredandfiftylarge，heavysea—coastguns:althoughafterward，onamorecarefulcount，thereprovedtobemorethantwohundredandfiftysea—coastorsiegeguns，andthirty—onethousandbalesofcotton。AtthatinterviewMr。Browne，whowasashrewd，cleverYankee，toldmethatavesselwasonthepointofstartingforOldPointComfort，and，ifshehadgoodweatheroffCapeHatteras，wouldreachFortressMonroebyChristmas—day，andhesuggestedthatImightmakeittheoccasionofsendingawelcomeChristmasgifttothePresident，Mr。Lincoln，whopeculiarlyenjoyedsuchpleasantry。Iaccordinglysatdownandwroteonaslipofpaper，tobeleftatthetelegraph—officeatFortressMonroefortransmission，thefollowing:
SAVANNAHGEORGIA，December22，1884。
ToHisExcellencyPresidentLincoln，Washington，D。C。:
IbegtopresentyouasaChristmas—giftthecityofSavannah，withonehundredandfiftyheavygunsandplentyofammunition，alsoabouttwentyfivethousandbalesofcotton。
W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
ThismessageactuallyreachedhimonChristmas—eve，wasextensivelypublishedinthenewspapers，andmademanyahouseholdunusuallyhappyonthatfestiveday;anditwasintheanswertothisdispatchthatMr。LincolnwrotemetheletterofDecember28th，alreadygiven，beginningwiththewords，\"many，manythanks，\"etc。，whichhesentatthehandsofGeneralJohnA。Logan，whohappenedtobeinWashington，andwascomingtoSavannah，torejoinhiscommand。
Onthe23dofDecemberweremadethefollowinggeneralordersforthedispositionofthetroopsinandaboutSavannah:
EspecialFieldOrderNo。139。]
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOETHEMISSISSIPPI，INTHEFIELD，NEARSAVANNAH，GEORGIA，December23，1864。
Savannah，beingnowinourpossession，theriverpartiallyclearedout，andmeasureshavingbeentakentoremoveallobstructions，willatoncebemadeagranddepotforfutureoperations:
1。Thechief—quartermaster，GeneralEuston，will，aftergivingthenecessaryorderstouchingthetransportsinOgeecheeRiverandOasabawSound，comeinpersontoSavannah，andtakepossessionofallpublicbuildings，vacantstorerooms，warehouses，etc。，thatmaybenoworhereafterneededforanydepartmentofthearmy。NorentswillbepaidbytheGovernmentoftheUnitedStatesduringthewar，andallbuildingsmustbedistributedaccordingtotheaccustomedratesoftheQuartermaster’sDepartment，asthoughtheywerepublicproperty。
2。Thechiefcommissaryofsubsistence，ColonelA。Beckwith，willtransferthegranddepotofthearmytothecityofSavannah，securepossessionoftheneedfulbuildingsandoffices，andgivethenecessaryorders，totheendthatthearmymaybesuppliedabundantlyandwell。
S。Thechief—engineer，CaptainPoe，willatoncedirectwhichoftheenemy’sfortsaretoberetainedforouruse，andwhichdismantledanddestroyed。Thechiefordnance—officer，CaptainBaylor，willinlikemannertakepossessionofallpropertypertainingtohisdepartmentcapturedfromtheenemy，andcausethesametobecollectedandconveyedtopointsofsecurity;alltheheavycoast—gunswillbedismountedandcarriedtoFortPulaski。
4。Thetroops，forthepresent，willbegroupedaboutthecityofSavannah，lookingtoconvenienceofcamps;GeneralSlocumtakingfromtheSavannahRiveraroundtotheseven—milepostontheCanal，andGeneralHowardthencetothesea;GeneralKilpatrickwillholdKing’sBridgeuntilFortMcAllisterisdismantled，andthetroopswithdrawnfromthesouthsideoftheOgeechee，whenhewilltakepostaboutAnderson’splantation，ontheplank—road，andpicketalltheroadsleadingfromthenorthandwest。
5。GeneralHowardwillkeepasmallguardatFortsRosedale，Beaulieu，Wimberley，Thunderbolt，andBonaventnra，andhewillcausethatshoreandSkidawayIslandtobeexaminedveryclosely，withaviewtofindingmanyendconvenientpointsfortheembarkationoftroopsandwagonsonseagoingvessels。
ByorderofMajor—GeneralW。T。Sherman，L。M。DAYTON，Aide—de—Camp。
[SpecialFieldOrderNo。143。]
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOETHEMISSISSIPPI，INTHEFIELD，NEARSAVANNAH，GEORGIA，December26，1864。
ThecityofSavannahandsurroundingcountrywillbeheldasamilitarypost，andadaptedtofuturemilitaryuses，but，asitcontainsapopulationofsometwentythousandpeople，whomustbeprovidedfor，andasothercitizensmaycome，itinpropertolaydowncertaingeneralprinciples，thatallwithinitsmilitaryjurisdictionmayunderstandtheirrelativedutiesandobligations。
1。Duringwar，themilitaryissuperiortocivilauthority，and，whereinterestsclash，thecivilmustgiveway;yet，wherethereisnoconflict，everyencouragementshouldbegiventowell—disposedandpeacefulinhabitantstoresumetheirusualpursuits。Familiesshouldbedisturbedaslittleaspossibleintheirresidences，andtradesmenallowedthefreeuseoftheirshops，tools，etc。;
churches，schools，andallplacesofamusementandrecreation，shouldbeencouraged，andstreetsandroadsmadeperfectlysafetopersonsintheirpursuits。Passesshouldnotbeexactedwithinthelineofouterpickets，butifanypersonshallabusetheseprivilegesbycommunicatingwiththeenemy，ordoinganyactofhostilitytotheGovernmentoftheUnitedStaten，heorshewillbepunishedwiththeutmostrigorofthelaw。Commercewiththeouterworldwillberesumedtoanextentcommensuratewiththewantsofthecitizens，governedbytherestrictionsandrulesoftheTreasuryDepartment。
2。Thechiefquartermasterandcommissaryofthearmymaygivesuitableemploymenttothepeople，whiteandblack，ortransportthemtosuchpointsastheymaychoosewhereemploymentcanbehad;
andmayextendtemporaryreliefinthewayofprovisionsandvacanthousestotheworthyandneedy，untilsuchtimeastheycanhelpthemselves。Theywillselectfirstthebuildingsforthenecessaryusesofthearmy;next，asufficientnumberofstores，tobeturnedovertotheTreasuryagentfortrade—stores。Allvacantstore—
housesordwellings，andallbuildingsbelongingtoabsentrebels，willbeconstruedandusedasbelongingtotheUnitedStates，untilsuchtimeastheirtitlescanbesettledbythecourtsoftheUnitedStates。
8。TheMayorandCityCouncilofSavannahwillcontinuetoexercisetheirfunctions，andwill，inconcertwiththecommandingofficerofthepostandthechief—quartermaster，seethatthefire—companiesarekeptinorganization，thestreetscleanedandlighted，andkeepupagoodunderstandingbetweenthecitizensandsoldiers。Theywillascertainandreporttothechiefcommissaryofsubsistence，assoonaspossible，thenamesandnumberofworthyfamiliesthatneedassistanceandsupport。Themayorwillforthwithgivepublicnoticethatthetimehascomewhenallmustchoosetheircourse，viz。，remainwithinourlines，andconductthemselvesasgoodcitizens，ordepartinpeace。HewillascertainthenamesofallwhochoosetoleaveSavannah，andreporttheirnamesandresidencetothechief—quartermaster，thatmeasuresmaybetakentotransportthembeyondourlines。
4。NotmorethantwonewspaperswillbepublishedinSavannah;
theireditorsandproprietorswillbeheldtothestrictestaccountability，andwillbepunishedseverely，inpersonandproperty，foranylibelouspublication，mischievousmatter，prematurenews，exaggeratedstatements，oranycommentswhateverupontheactsoftheconstitutedauthorities;theywillbeheldaccountableforsucharticles，eventhoughcopiedfromotherpapers。
ByorderofMajor—GeneralW。T。Sherman，L。M。DAYTON，Aide—de—Camp。
ItwasestimatedthattherewereabouttwentythousandinhabitantsinSavannah，allofwhomhadparticipatedmoreorlessinthewar，andhadnospecialclaimstoourfavor，butIregardedthewarasrapidlydrawingtoaclose，anditwasbecomingapoliticalquestionastowhatwastobedonewiththepeopleoftheSouth，bothwhiteandblack，whenthewarwasactuallyover。IconcludedtogivethemtheoptiontoremainortojointheirfriendsinCharlestonorAugusta，andsoannouncedingeneralorders。Themayor，Dr。Arnold，wascompletely\"subjugated，\"and，afterconsultingwithhim，IauthorizedhimtoassemblehisCityCounciltotakechargegenerallyoftheinterestsofthepeople;butwarnedallwhoremainedthattheymustbestrictlysubordinatetothemilitarylaw，andtotheinterestsoftheGeneralGovernment。
Abouttwohundredpersona，mostlythefamiliesofmenintheConfederatearmy，preparedtofollowthefortunesoftheirhusbandsandfathers，andtheseweresentinasteamboatunderaflagoftruce，inchargeofmyaideCaptainAudenried，toCharlestonharbor，andtheredeliveredtoanofficeroftheConfederatearmy。
ButthegreatbulkoftheinhabitantschosetoremaininSavannah，generallybehavedwithpropriety，andgoodsocialrelationsatoncearosebetweenthemandthearmy。ShortlyafterouroccupationofSavannah，aladywasannouncedatmyheadquartersbytheorderlyorsentinelatthefront—door，whowasusheredintotheparlor，andprovedtobethewifeofGeneralG。W。Smith，whomIhadknownabout1850，whenSmithwasondutyatWestPoint。ShewasanativeofNewLondon，Connecticut，andveryhandsome。Shebeganherinterviewbypresentingmealetterfromherhusband，whothencommandedadivisionoftheGeorgiamilitiaintherebelarmy，whichhadjustquittedSavannah，whichletterbegan，\"DEARSHERMAN:
Thefortunesofwar，etc—。，compelmetoleavemywifeinSavannah，andIbegforheryourcourteousprotection，\"etc。，etc。I
inquiredwhereshelived，andifanybodywastroublingher。Shesaidshewasboardingwithaladywhosehusbandhad，inlikemannerwithherown，goneoffwithHardee’sarmy;thatapartofthehousehadbeentakenfortheuseofMajor—GeneralWard，ofKentucky;thatherlandladywasapproachingherconfinement，andwasnervousatthenoisewhichtheyoungerstaff—officersmadeatnight;etc。I
explainedtoherthatIcouldgivebutlittlepersonalattentiontosuchmatters，andreferredhertoGeneralSlocum，whosetroopsoccupiedthecity。Iafterwardvisitedherhouse，andsaw，personally，thatshehadnoreasontocomplain。ShortlyafterwardMr。Hardee，amerchantofSavannah，cametomeandpresentedaletterfromhisbrother，thegeneral，tothesameeffect，allegingthathisbrotherwasacivilian，hadnevertakenuparms，andaskedofmeprotectionforhisfamily，hiscotton，etc。