TohimIgavethegeneralassurancethatnoharmwasdesignedtoanyofthepeopleofSavannahwhowouldremainquietandpeaceable，butthatI
couldgivehimnoguaranteeastohiscotton，foroveritIhadnoabsolutecontrol;andyetstilllaterIreceivedanotefromthewifeofGeneralA。P。Stewart（whocommandedacorpsinHood’sarmy），askingmetocometoseeher。ThisIdid，andfoundhertobeanativeofCincinnati，Ohio，wantingprotection，andwhowasnaturallyanxiousaboutthefateofherhusband，knowntobewithGeneralHood，inTennessee，retreatingbeforeGeneralThomas。I
rememberthatIwasabletoassureherthathehadnotbeenkilledorcaptured，uptothatdate，andthinkthatIadvisedher，insteadofattemptingtogoinpursuitofherhusband，togotoCincinnati，toheruncle，JudgeStorer，thereawaittheissueofevents。
BeforeIhadreachedSavannah，anddaringourstaythere，therebelofficersandnewspapersrepresentedtheconductofthemenofourarmyassimplyinfamous;thatwerespectedneitheragenorsex;
thatweburnedeverythingwecameacross——barns，stables，cotton—gins，andevendwelling—houses;thatweravishedthewomenandkilledthemen，andperpetratedallmannerofoutragesontheinhabitants。ThereforeitstruckmeasstrangethatGeneralsHardeeandSmithshouldcommittheir，familiestoourcustody，andevenbespeakourpersonalcareandattention。Theseofficersknewwellthatthesereportswereexaggeratedintheextreme，andyettacitlyassentedtothesepublications，toarousethedroopingenergiesofthepeopleoftheSouth。
AsthedivisionofMajor—GeneralJohnW。Geary，oftheTwentiethCorps，wasthefirsttoenterSavannah，thatofficerwasappointedtocommandtheplace，ortoactasasortofgovernor。Heverysoonestablishedagoodpolice，maintainedadmirableorder，andI
doubtifSavannah，eitherbeforeorsince，hashadabettergovernmentthanduringourstay。Theguard—mountingsandparades，aswellasthegreaterreviews，becamethedailyresortsoftheladies，tohearthemusicofourexcellentbands;schoolswereopened，andthechurcheseverySundaywerewellfilledwithmostdevoutandrespectfulcongregations;storeswerereopened，andmarketsforprovisions，meat，wood，etc。，wereestablished，sothateachfamily，regardlessofrace，color，oropinion，couldprocureallthenecessariesandevenluxuriesoflife，providedtheyhadmoney。Ofcourse，manyfamilieswereactuallydestituteofthis，andtothesewereissuedstoresfromourownstockofsupplies。I
remembertohavegiventoDr。Arnold，themayor，anorderforthecontentsofalargewarehouseofrice，whichheconfidedtoacommitteeofgentlemen，whowentNorth（toBoston），andsoonreturnedwithoneormorecargoesofflour，hams，sugar，coffee，etc。，forgratuitousdistribution，whichrelievedthemostpressingwantsuntiltherevivaloftradeandbusinessenabledthepeopletoprovideforthemselves。
Alady，whomIhadknowninformeryearsasMissJosephineGoodwin，toldmethat，withabarrelofflourandsomesugarwhichshehadreceivedgratuitouslyfromthecommissary，shehadbakedcakesandpies，inthesaleofwhichsherealizedaprofitoffifty—sixdollars。
MeantimeColonelPoehadreconnoitredandlaidoffnewlinesofparapet，whichwouldenableacomparativelysmallgarrisontoholdtheplace，andaheavydetailofsoldierswasputtoworkthereon;
GeneralsEastonandBeckwithhadorganizedacompletedepotofsupplies;and，thoughvesselsarrivedalmostdailywithmailsendprovisions，wewerehardlyreadytoinitiateanewandhazardouscampaign。IhadnotyetreceivedfromGeneralGrantorGeneralHalleckanymodificationoftheordersofDecember6，1864，toembarkmycommandforVirginiabysea;butonthe2dofJanuary，1865，GeneralJ。G。Barnard，UnitedStatesEngineers，arriveddirectfromGeneralGrant’sheadquarters，bearingthefollowingletter，inthegeneral’sownhandwriting，which，withmyanswer，isheregiven:
HEADQUARTERSARMIESOFTHEUNTITEDSTATES
CITYPOINT，VIRGINIA，December27，1864。
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingMilitaryDivisionoftheMississippi。
GENERAL:Beforewritingyoudefiniteinstructionsforthenextcampaign，IwantedtoreceiveyouranswertomyletterwrittenfromWashington。Yourconfidenceinbeingabletomarchupandjointhisarmypleasesme，andIbelieveitcanbedone。TheeffectofsuchacampaignwillbetodisorganizetheSouth，andpreventtheorganizationofnewarmiesfromtheirbrokenfragments。Hoodisnowretreating，withhisarmybrokenanddemoralized。Hislossinmenhasprobablynotbeenfarfromtwentythousand，besidesdeserters。Iftimeisgiven，thefragmentsmaybecollectedtogetherandmanyofthedesertersreassembled。Ifwecan，weshouldacttopreventthis。Yoursparearmy，asitwere，movingasproposed，willdoit。
InadditiontoholdingSavannah，itlookstomethatanintrenchedcampoughttobeheldontherailroadbetweenSavannahandCharleston。YourmovementtowardBranchvillewillprobablyenableFostertoreachthiswithhisownforce。ThiswillgiveusapositionintheSouthfromwhichwecanthreatentheinteriorwithoutmarchingoverlong，narrowcauseways，easilydefended，aswehaveheretoforebeencompelledtodo。CouldnotsuchacampbeestablishedaboutPocotaligoorCoosawhatchie？
Ihavethoughtthat，Hoodbeingsocompletelywipedoutforpresentharm，ImightbringA。J。Smithhere，withfourteentofifteenthousandmen。WiththisincreaseIcouldholdmylines，andmoveoutwithagreaterforcethanLeehas。ItwouldcompelLeetoretainallhispresentforceinthedefensesofRichmondorabandonthementirely。Thislattercontingencyisprobablytheonlydangertotheeasysuccessofyourexpedition。IntheeventyoushouldmeetLee’sarmy，youwouldbecompelledtobeatitorfindthesea—coaSt。Ofcourse，IshallnotletLee’sarmyescapeifIcanhelpit，andwillnotletitgowithoutfollowingtothebestofmyability。
Withoutwaitingfurtherdirections，than，youmaymakeyourpreparationstostartonyournorthernexpeditionwithoutdelay。
BreakuptherailroadsinSouthandNorthCarolina，andjointhearmiesoperatingagainstRichmondassoonasyoucan。Iwillleaveoutallsuggestionsabouttherouteyoushouldtake，knowingthatyourinformation，gaineddailyinthecourseofevents，willbebetterthananythatcanbeobtainednow。
ItmaynotbepossibleforyoutomarchtotherearofPetersburg;
but，failinginthis，youcouldstrikeeitherofthesea—coastportsinNorthCarolinaheldbyus。Fromthereyoucouldtakeshipping。Itwouldbedecidedlypreferable，however，ifyoucouldmarchthewholedistance。
>FromthebestinformationIhave，youwillfindnodifficultyinsupplyingyourarmyuntilyoucrosstheRoanoke。Fromtherehereisbutafewdays’march，andsuppliescouldbecollectedsouthoftherivertobringyouthrough。Ishallestablishcommunicationwithyouthere，bysteamboatandgunboat。Bythismeansyourwantscanbepartiallysupplied。Ishallhopetohearfromyousoon，andtohearyourplan，andaboutthetimeofstarting。
PleaseinstructFostertoholdontoallthepropertyinSavannah，andespeciallythecotton。DonotturnitovertocitizensorTreasuryagents，withoutordersoftheWarDepartment。
Veryrespectfully，yourobedientservant，U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOETHEMISSISSIPPI，INTHEFIELD，NEARSAVANNAH，GEORGIA，January2，1865。
Lieutenant—GeneralU。S。GRANT，CityPoint。
GENERAL:Ihavereceived，bythehandsofGeneralBarnard，yournoteof26thandletterof27thDecember。
IherewithinclosetoyouacopyofaprojetwhichIhavethismorning，instrictconfidence，discussedwithmyimmediatecommanders。
Ishallneed，however，largersuppliesofstores，especiallygrain。
Iwillinclosetoyou，withthis，lettersfromGeneralEaston，quartermaster，andColonelBeckwith，commissaryofsubsistence，settingforthwhatwillberequired，andtrustyouwillforwardthemtoWashingtonwithyoursanction，sothatthenecessarystepsmaybetakenatoncetoenablemetocarryoutthisplanontime。
Iwroteyouveryfullyonthe24th，andhavenothingtoadd。Everythinghereisquiet，andifIcangetthenecessarysuppliesinourwagons，shallbereadytostartatthetimeindicatedinmyprojet（January15th）。But，untilthosesuppliesareinhand，Icandonothing;aftertheyare，Ishallbereadytomovewithgreatrapidity。
IhaveheardoftheaffairatCapeFear。IthasturnedoutasyouwillrememberIexpected。
IhavefurnishedGeneralEastonacopyofthedispatchfromtheSecretaryofWar。Hewillretainpossessionofallcottonhere，andshipitasfastasvesselscanbehadtoNewYork。
IshallimmediatelysendtheSeventeenthCorpsovertoPortRoyal，byboats，tobefurnishedbyAdmiralDahlgrenandGeneralFoster（withoutinterferingwithGeneralEaston’svessels），tomakealodgmentontherailroadatPocotaligo。
GeneralBarnardwillremainwithmeafewdays，andIsendthisbyastaff—officer，whocanreturnononeofthevesselsofthesupply—fleet。Isupposethat，nowthatGeneralButlerhasgotthroughwiththem，youcansparethemtous。
Myreportofrecentoperationsisnearlyready，andwillbesentyouinadayortwo，assoonassomefarthersubordinatereportscomein。
Iam，withgreatrespect，verytruly，yourfriend，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
[Entirelyconfidential]
PROJETFORJANUARY。
1。RightwingtomovemenandartillerybytransportstoheadofBroadRiverandBeaufort;reestablishPortRoyalFerry，andmassthewingatorintheneighborhoodofPocotaligo。
LeftwingandcavalrytoworkslowlyacrossthecausewaytowardHardeeville，toopenaroadbywhichwagonscanreachtheircorpsaboutBroadRiver;also，byarapidmovementoftheleft，tosecureSister’sFerry，andAugustaroadouttoRobertsville。
Inthemeantime，allguns，shot，shell，cotton，etc。，tobemovedtoasafeplace，easytoguard，andprovisionsandwagonsgotreadyforanotherswath，aimingtohaveourarmyinhandabouttheheadofBroadRiver，sayPocotaligo，Robertsville，andCoosawhatchie，bythe15thJanuary。
2。ThewholearmytomovewithloadedwagonsbytheroadsleadinginthedirectionofColumbia，whichaffordthebestchanceofforageandprovisions。HowardtobeatPocotaligobythe15thJanuary，andSlocumtobeatRobertsville，andKilpatrickatornearCoosawhatchieaboutthesamedate。GeneralFosterstroopstooccupySavannah，andgunboatstoprotecttheriversassoonasHowardgetsPocotaligo。
W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
Therefore，onthe2dofJanuary，Iwasauthorizedtomarchwithmyentirearmynorthbyland，andconcludedatoncetosecureafootholdorstarting—pointontheSouthCarolinaside，selectingPocotaligoandHardeevilleasthepointsofrendezvousforthetwowings;butIstillremainedindoubtastothewishesoftheAdministration，whetherIshouldtakeCharlestonenroute，orconfinemywholeattentiontotheincidentaladvantagesofbreakinguptherailwaysofSouthandNorthCarolina，andthegreaterobjectofunitingmyarmywiththatofGeneralGrantbeforeRichmond。
GeneralBarnardremainedwithmeseveraldays，andwasregardedthen，asnow，oneofthefirstengineersoftheage，perfectlycompetenttoadvisemeonthestrategyandobjectsofthenewcampaign。Heexpressedhimselfdelightedwiththehighspiritofthearmy，thestepsalreadytaken，bywhichwehadcapturedSavannah，andhepersonallyinspectedsomeoftheforts，suchasThunderboltandCausten’sBluff，bywhichtheenemyhadsolongheldatbaythewholeofournavy，andhaddefeatedthepreviousattemptsmadeinApril，1862，bythearmyofGeneralGillmore，whichhadbombardedandcapturedFortPulaski，buthadfailedtoreachthecityofSavannah。IthinkGeneralBarnardexpectedmetoinvitehimtoaccompanyusnorthwardinhisofficialcapacity;butColonelPoe，ofmystaff，haddonesowell，andwassoperfectlycompetent，thatIthoughtitunjusttosupersedehimbyaseniorinhisowncorps。IthereforesaidnothingofthistoGeneralBarnard，andsoonafterhereturnedtohispostwithGeneralGrant，atCityPoint，bearinglettersandfullpersonalmessagesofoursituationandwants。
WewereverymUchinwantoflight—draughtsteamersfornavigatingtheshallowwatersofthecoast，sothatittooktheSeventeenthCorpsmorethanaweektotransferfromThunderbolttoBeaufort，SouthCarolina。AdmiralDahlgrenhadsuppliedtheHarvestMoonandthePontiac，andGeneralFostergaveusacoupleofhiredsteamers;
Iwasreallyamusedattheeffectthisshortsea—voyagehadonourmen，mostofwhomhadneverbeforelookedupontheocean。Ofcourse，theywerefitsubjectsforsea—sickness，andafterwardtheybeggedmeneveragaintosendthemtosea，sayingtheywouldrathermarchathousandmilesontheworstroadsoftheSouththantospendasinglenightontheocean。Bythe10thGeneralHowardhadcollectedthebulkoftheSeventeenthCorps（GeneralBlair）onBeaufortIsland，andbeganhismarchforPocotaligo，twenty—fivemilesinland。Theycrossedthechannelbetweentheislandandmain—landduringSaturday，the14thofJanuary，byapontoon—
bridge，andmarchedouttoGarden’sCorners，wheretherewassomelightskirmishing;thenextday，Sunday，theycontinuedontoPocotaligo，findingthestrongfortthereabandoned，andaccordinglymadealodgmentontherailroad，havinglostonlytwoofficersandeightmen。
AboutthesametimeGeneralSlocumcrossedtwodivisionsoftheTwentiethCorpsovertheSavannahRiver，abovethecity，occupiedHardeevillebyonedivisionandPurysburgbyanother。Thus，bythemiddleofJanuary，wehadeffectedalodgmentinSouthCarolina，andwerereadytoresumethemarchnorthward;butwehadnotyetaccumulatedenoughprovisionsandforagetofillthewagons，andothercausesofdelayoccurred，ofwhichIwillmakementionindueorder。
OnthelastdayofDecember，1864，CaptainBreese，UnitedStatesNavy，flag—officertoAdmiralPorter，reachedSavannah，bringingthefirstnewsofGeneralButler’sfailureatFortFisher，andthatthegeneralhadreturnedtoJamesRiverwithhisland—forces，leavingAdmiralPorter’sfleetanchoredoffCapeFear，inthattempestuousseason。CaptainBreesebroughtmealetterfromtheadmiral，datedDecember29th，askingmetosendhimfromSavannahoneofmyolddivisions，withwhichhesaidhewouldmakeshortworkofFortFisher;thathehadalreadybombardedandsilenceditsguns，andthatGeneralButlerhadfailedbecausehewasafraidtoattack，orevengivetheordertoattack，after（asPorterinsisted）thegunsofFortFisherhadbeenactuallysilencedbythenavy。
Iansweredhimpromptlyonthe31stofDecember，thatIproposedtomarchnorthinland，andthatIwouldprefertoleavetherebelgarrisonsonthecoast，insteadofdislodgingandpilingthemupinmyfrontasweprogressed。Fromthechances，asIthenunderstoodthem，IsupposedthatFortFisherwasgarrisonedbyacomparativelysmallforce，whilethewholedivisionofGeneralHokeremainedaboutthecityofWilmington;andthat，ifFortFisherwerecaptured，itwouldleaveGeneralHokefreetojointhelargerforcethatwouldnaturallybecollectedtoopposemyprogressnorthward。
IaccordinglyansweredAdmiralPortertothiseffect，decliningtoloanhimtheuseofoneofmydivisions。Itsubsequentlytranspired，however，that，assoonasGeneralButlerreachedCityPoint，GeneralGrantwasunwillingtorestunderasenseoffailure，andaccordinglydispatchedbackthesametroops，reenforcedandcommandedbyGeneralA。H。Terry，who，onthe15thdayofJanuary，successfullyassaultedandcapturedFortFisher，withitsentiregarrison。Afterthewarwasover，aboutthe20thofMay，whenIwasgivingmytestimonybeforetheCongressionalCommitteeontheConductoftheWar，thechairmanofthecommittee，SenatorB。F。Wade，ofOhio，toldmethatGeneralButlerhadbeensummonedbeforethatcommitteeduringthepreviousJanuary，andhadjustfinishedhisdemonstrationtotheirentiresatisfactionthatFortFishercouldnotbecarriedbyassault，whentheyheardthenewsboyinthehallcryingoutan\"extra\"Callinghimin，theyinquiredthenews，andheanswered，\"FortFisherdonetook！\"Ofcourse，theyalllaughed，andnonemoreheartilythanGeneralButlerhimself。
Onthe11thofJanuarytherearrivedatSavannaharevenue—cutter，havingonboardSimeonDraper，Esq。，ofNewYorkCity，theHon。E。
M。Stanton，SecretaryofWar，Quartermaster—GeneralMeigs，Adjutant—GeneralTownsend，andaretinueofcivilians，whohadcomedownfromtheNorthtoregulatethecivilaffairsofSavannah……
IwasinstructedbyMr。StantontotransfertoMr。Draperthecustomhouse，post—office，andsuchotherpublicbuildingsastheseciviliansneededintheexecutionoftheiroffice，andtocausetobedeliveredintotheircustodythecapturedcotton。Thiswasaccomplishedby—
[SpecialFieldOrders，No。10。]
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOETHEMISSISSIPPI，INTHEFIELD，NEARSAVANNAH，GEORGIA，January12，1865。
1。BrevetBrigadier—GeneralEuston，chief—quartermaster，willturnovertoSimeonDraper，Esq。，agentoftheUnitedStatesTreasuryDepartment，allcottonnowinthecityofSavannah，prizeofwar，takinghisreceiptforthesameingross，andreturningforittothequartermaster—generalHewillalsoaffordMr。Draperallthefacilitiesinhispowerinthewayoftransportation，labor，etc。，toenablehimtohandlethecottonwithexpedition。
2。GeneralEustonwillalsoturnovertoMr。Draperthecustom—
house，andsuchotherbuildingsinthecityofSavannahashemayneedintheexecutionofhisoffice。
ByorderofGeneralW。T。Sherman，L。M。DAYTON，Aide—de—Camp。
Uptothistimeallthecottonhadbeencarefullyguarded，withorderstoGeneralEustontoshipitbythereturn—vesselstoNewYork，fortheadjudicationofthenearestprize—court，accompaniedwithinvoicesandallevidenceoftitletoownership。Marks，numbers，andotherfigures，werecarefullypreservedonthebales，sothatthecourtmightknowthehistoryofeachbale。ButMr。
Stanton，whosurelywasanablelawyer，changedallthis，andorderedtheobliterationofallthemarks;sothatnoman，friendorfoe，couldtracehisidenticalcotton。Ithoughtitstrangeatthetime，andthinkitmoresonow;forIamassuredthatclaims，realandfictitious，havebeenprovedupagainstthisidenticalcottonofthreetimesthequantityactuallycaptured，andthatreclamationsontheTreasuryhavebeenallowedformorethantheactualquantitycaptured，viz。，thirty—onethousandbales。
Mr。StantonstaidinSavannahseveraldays，andseemedverycuriousaboutmattersandthingsingeneral。Iwalkedwithhimthroughthecity，especiallythebivouacsoftheseveralregimentsthatoccupiedthevacantsquares，andheseemedparticularlypleasedattheingenuityofthemeninconstructingtheirtemporaryhuts。
Fourofthe\"dog—tents，\"ortentesd’abri，buttonedtogether，servedforaroof，andthesidesweremadeofclapboards，orroughboardsbroughtfromdemolishedhousesorfences。Irememberhismarkedadmirationforthehutofasoldierwhohadmadehisdooroutofahandsomeparlormirror，theglassgoneanditsgiltframeservingforhisdoor。
Hetalkedtomeagreatdealaboutthenegroes，theformerslaves，andItoldhimofmanyinterestingincidents，illustratingtheirsimplecharacterandfaithinourarmsandprogress。HeinquiredparticularlyaboutGeneralJeff。C。Davis，who，hesaid，wasaDemocrat，andhostiletothenegro。IassuredhimthatGeneralDaviswasanexcellentsoldier，andIdidnotbelievehehadanyhostilitytothenegro;thatinourarmywehadnonegrosoldiers，and，asarule，wepreferredwhitesoldiers，butthatweemployedalargeforceofthemasservants，teamsters，andpioneers，whohadrenderedadmirableservice。HethenshowedmeanewspaperaccountofGeneralDavistakinguphispontoon—bridgeacrossEbenezerCreek，leavingsleepingnegromen，women，andchildren，ontheotherside，tobeslaughteredbyWheeler’scavalry。Ihadheardsucharumor，andadvisedMr。Stanton，beforebecomingprejudiced，toallowmetosendforGeneralDavis，whichhedid，andGeneralDavisexplainedthemattertohisentiresatisfaction。Thetruthwas，that，asweapproachedtheseaboard，thefreedmenindroves，oldandyoung，followedtheseveralcolumnstoreachaplaceofsafety。ItsohappenedthatGeneralDaviesrouteintoSavannahfollowedwhatwasknownasthe\"River—road，\"andhehadtomakeconstantuseofhispontoon—train—theheadofhiscolumnreachingsomedeep，impassablecreekbeforetherearwasfairlyoveranother。Hehadoccasionallytousethepontoonsbothdayandnight。Ontheoccasionreferredto，thebridgewastakenupfromEbenezerCreekwhilesomeofthecamp—followersremainedasleeponthefartherside，andthesewerepickedupbyWheeler’scavalry。
Someofthem，intheirfright，weredrownedintryingtoswimover，andothersmayhavebeencruellykilledbyWheeler’smen，butthiswasameresupposition。Atallevents，thesamethingmighthaveresultedtoGeneralHoward，ortoanyotherofthemanymosthumanecommanderswhofilledthearmy。GeneralJeff。C。Daviswasstrictlyasoldier，anddoubtlesshatedtohavehiswagonsandcolumnsencumberedbythesepoornegroes，forwhomweallfeltsympathy，butasympathyofadifferentsortfromthatofMr。
Stanton，whichwasnotofpurehumanity，butofpolitics。Thenegroquestionwasbeginningtoloomupamongthepoliticaleventualitiesoftheday，andmanyforesawthatnotonlywouldtheslavessecuretheirfreedom，butthattheywouldalsohavevotes。
Ididnotdreamofsucharesultthen，butknewthatslavery，assuch，wasdeadforever，anddidnotsupposethattheformerslaveswouldbesuddenly，withoutpreparation，manufacturedintovoters，equaltoallothers，politicallyandsocially。Mr。Stantonseemeddesirousofcomingintocontactwiththenegroestoconferwiththem，andheaskedmetoarrangeaninterviewforhim。I
accordinglysentoutandinvitedthemostintelligentofthenegroes，mostlyBaptistandMethodistpreachers，tocometomyroomstomeettheSecretaryofWar。Twentyresponded，andwerereceivedinmyroomup—stairsinMr。Green’shouse，whereMr。
StantonandAdjutant—GeneralTownsendtookdowntheconversationintheformofquestionsandanswers。Eachofthetwentygavehisnameandpartialhistory，andthenselectedGarrisonFrazierastheirspokesman:
FirstQuestion。StatewhatyourunderstandingisinregardtotheactsofCongressandPresidentLincoln’sproclamationtouchingthecoloredpeopleintherebelStates？
Answer。SofarasIunderstandPresidentLincoln’sproclamationtotherebelStates，itis，thatiftheywilllaydowntheirarmsandsubmittothelawsoftheUnitedStates，beforethe1stofJanuary，1863，allshouldbewell;butiftheydidnot，thenalltheslavesintheSouthernStatesshouldbefree，henceforthandforever。
ThatiswhatIunderstood。
SecondQuestion。Statewhatyouunderstandbyslavery，andthefreedomthatwastobegivenbythePresident’sproclamation？
Answer。Slaveryisreceivingbyirresistiblepowertheworkofanotherman，andnotbyhisconsent。Thefreedom，asIunderstandit，promisedbytheproclamation，istakingusfromundertheyokeofbondageandplacinguswherewecanreapthefruitofourownlabor，andtakecareofourselvesandassisttheGovernmentinmaintainingourfreedom。
FourthQuestion。Stateinwhatmanneryouwouldratherlive—
—whetherscatteredamongthewhites，orincoloniesbyyourselves？
Answer。Iwouldprefertolivebyourselves，forthereisaprejudiceagainstusintheSouththatwilltakeyearstogetover;
butIdonotknowthatIcananswerformybrethren。
（AllbutMr。Lynch，amissionaryfromtheNorth，agreedwithFrazier，buthethoughttheyoughttolivetogether，alongwiththewhites。）
EighthQuestion。Iftherebelleadersweretoarmtheslaves，whatwouldbeitseffect？
Answer。Ithinktheywouldfightaslongastheywerebeforethe\"bayonet，\"andjustassoonastheycouldgetawaytheywoulddesert，inmyopinion。
TenthQuestion。DoyouunderstandthemodeofenlistmentofcoloredpersonsintherebelStatesbyStateagents，undertheactofCongress;ifyea，whatisyourunderstanding？
Answer。Myunderstandingis，thatcoloredpersonsenlistedbyStateagentsareenlistedassubstitutes，andgivecredittotheStateanddonotswellthearmy，becauseeveryblackmanenlistedbyaStateagentleavesawhitemanathome;andalsothatlargerbountiesaregiven，orpromised，bytheStateagentsthanaregivenbytheUnitedStates。Thegreatobjectshouldbetopushthroughthisrebelliontheshortestway;andthereseemstobesomethingwantingintheenlistmentbyStateagents，foritdon’tstrengthenthearmy，buttakesoneawayforeverycoloredmanenlisted。
EleventhQuestion。Statewhat，inyouropinion，isthebestwaytoenlistcoloredmenassoldiers？
Answer。Ithink，sir，thatallcompulsoryoperationsshouldbeputastopto。Theministerswouldtalktothem，andtheyoungmenwouldenliSt。ItismyopinionthatitworldbefarbetterfortheStateagentstostayathomeandtheenlistmentsbemadefortheUnitedStatesunderthedirectionofGeneralSherman。
UptothistimeIwaspresent，and，onMr。Stanton’sintimatingthathewantedtoasksomequestionsaffectingme，Iwithdrew，andthenheputthetwelfthandlastquestionTwelfthQuestion。StatewhatisthefeelingofthecoloredpeopletowardGeneralSherman，andhowfardotheyregardhissentimentsandactionsasfriendlytotheirrightsandinterests，orotherwise。
Answer。WelookeduponGeneralSherman，priortohisarrival，asaman，intheprovidenceofGod，speciallysetaparttoaccomplishthiswork，andweunanimouslyfeltinexpressiblegratitudetohim，lookinguponhimasamanwhoshouldbehonoredforthefaithfulperformanceofhisduty。Someofuscalleduponhimimmediatelyuponhisarrival，anditisprobablehedidnotmeetthesecretarywithmorecourtesythanhedidus。Hisconductanddeportmenttowarduscharacterizedhimasafriendandgentleman。WehaveconfidenceinGeneralSherman，andthinkwhatconcernsuscouldnotbeinbetterhands。Thisisouropinionnow，fromtheshortacquaintanceandintercoursewehavehad。
ItcertainlywasastrangefactthatthegreatWarSecretaryshouldhavecatechizednegroesconcerningthecharacterofageneralwhohadcommandedahundredthousandmeninbattle，hadcapturedcitiesconductedsixty—fivethousandmensuccessfullyacrossfourhundredmilesofhostileterritory，andhadjustbroughttensofthousandsoffreedmentoaplaceofsecurity;butbecauseIhadnotloadeddownmyarmybyotherhundredsofthousandsofpoornegroes，Iwasconstruedbyothersashostiletotheblackrace。IhadreceivedfromGeneralHalleck，atWashington，aletterwarningmethattherewerecertaininfluentialpartiesnearthePresidentwhoweretorturinghimwithsuspicionsofmyfidelitytohimandhisnegropolicy;butIshallalwaysbelievethatMr。Lincoln，thoughacivilian，knewbetter，andappreciatedmymotivesandcharacter。
ThoughthisletterofGeneralHalleckhasalwaysbeentreatedbymeasconfidential，Inowinsertithereatlength:
HEADQUARTERSOFTHEARMY
WASHINGTON，D。C。，December30，1864。
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，Savannah。
MYDEARGENERAL:Itakethelibertyofcallingyourattention，inthisprivateandfriendlyway，toamatterwhichmaypossiblyhereafterbeofmoreimportancetoyouthaneitherofusmaynowanticipate。
WhilealmosteveryoneispraisingyourgreatmarchthroughGeorgia，andthecaptureofSavannah，thereisacertainclasshavingnowgreatinfluencewiththePresident，andveryprobablyanticipatingstillmoreonachangeofcabinet，whoaredecidedlydisposedtomakeapointagainstyou。Imeaninregardto\"inevitableSambo。\"Theysaythatyouhavemanifestedanalmostcriminaldisliketothenegro，andthatyouarenotwillingtocarryoutthewishesoftheGovernmentinregardtohim，butrepulsehimwithcontempt！TheysayyoumighthavebroughtwithyoutoSavannahmorethanfiftythousand，thusstrippingGeorgiaofthatnumberoflaborers，andopeningaroadbywhichasmanymorecouldhaveescapedfromtheirmasters;butthat，insteadofthis，youdrovethemfromyourranks，preventedtheirfollowingyoubycuttingthebridgesinyourrear，andthuscausedthemassacreoflargenumbersbyWheeler’scavalry。
TothosewhoknowyouasIdo，suchaccusationwillpassastheidlewinds，forwepresumethatyoudiscouragedthenegroesfromfollowingyoubecauseyouhadnotthemeansofsupportingthem，andfearedtheymightseriouslyembarrassyourmarch。Butthereareothers，andamongthemsomeinhighauthority，whothinkorpretendtothinkotherwise，andtheyaredecidedlydisposedtomakeapointagainstyou。
Idonotwritethistoinduceyoutoconciliatethisclassofmenbydoinganythingwhichyoudonotdeemrightandproper，andfortheinterestoftheGovernmentandthecountry;butsimplytocallyourattentiontocertainthingswhichareviewedheresomewhatdifferentlythanfromyourstand—point。Iwillexplainasbrieflyaspossible:
Someherethinkthat，inviewofthescarcityoflaborintheSouth，andtheprobabilitythatapart，atleast，oftheable—
bodiedslaveswillbecalledintothemilitaryserviceoftherebels，itisofthegreatestimportancetoopenoutletsbywhichtheseslavescanescapeintoourlines，andtheysaythattherouteyouhavepassedovershouldbemadetherouteofescape，andSavannahthegreatplaneofrefuge。These，Iknow，aretheviewsofsomeoftheleadingmenintheAdministration，andtheynowexpressdissatisfactionthatyoudidnotcarrythemoutinyourgreatraid。
NowthatyouareinpossessionofSavannah，andtherecanbenofurtherfearsaboutsupplies，woulditnotbepossibleforyoutoreopentheseavenuesofescapeforthenegroes，withoutinterferingwithyourmilitaryoperations？Couldnotsuchescapedslavesfindatleastapartialsupplyoffoodintherice—fieldsaboutSavannah，andcottonplantationsonthecoast？
Imerelythrowoutthesesuggestions。IknowthatsuchacoursewouldbeapprovedbytheGovernment，andIbelievethatamanifestationonyourpartofadesiretobringtheslaveswithinourlineswilldomuchtosilenceyouropponents。Youwillappreciatemymotivesinwritingthisprivateletter。
Yourstruly，H。W。HALLECK。
ThereisnodoubtthatMr。Stanton，whenhereachedSavannah，sharedthesethoughts，butluckilythenegroesthemselvesconvincedhimthathewasinerror，andthattheyunderstoodtheirowninterestsfarbetterthandidthemeninWashington，whotriedtomakepoliticalcapitaloutofthisnegroquestion。TheideathatsuchmenshouldhavebeenpermittedtohangaroundMr。Lincoln，totorturehislifebysuspicionsoftheofficerswhoweretoilingwiththesinglepurposetobringthewartoasuccessfulend，andtherebytoliberateallslaves，isafairillustrationoftheinfluencesthatpoisonapoliticalcapital。