Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1864-12-29
WAR NEWS.

Wy An NEW ID
Es At last the telegraph brings
us the joyful tidings of the capture
of Savannah, and the success of Sher-
mans most wonderful march through
the heart ofrebeldom. Nothing like
this mastery movement has ever
been seen In the history Of the world
Ithas stamped the name Of Sher-
man with Immortality. Future ages
wiz look with wonder 1on this pro-
dIgI9us Teats uUsTuv uurvH st.s--
gigantic achievements Of the elder
Napoleon pale and become insigiai6-
cant. A short sketch Of the progress
of Sherman's army from the time OF
Atlanta, until it marched into Savan-
nah may prove ofinterest to our rea-
ders, particularly in the country who
may not have access to the daily pa
pers.
The whole distance travelled by
this grand army, was ove- 300 miles.
During this time they met with no
opposition worth naming. Wheeler
attacked division but was soundly
thrashed for his temerity. The .wo
wings of tie army were separated
from each other nearly 40 miles, the
army marching by four roads in par
alell columns, and leaving track that
will be visible for years to come, to
mark the progress of the triumphant
legions, of the North.
Tie line Of march extended
through AZ counties, devastating
them. by the capture Of 1000 priso-
ners, 10000 negroes, $1,000 horses
and about 80 guns. or course the
number of cattle, sheep, hogs. poul-
try, &C., taken and used by the
troops must have been immense, as
it is stated they had Thanksgiving
dinners all the time.
Sherman lost about 500 men as
prisoners by struggling. The whole
number of killed and wounded did
not exceed 500, even after the cap
ture of Fort McAlhster and Savan-
nah. Our army did not lose a single
gun, nor were our cavalry at any
time repulsed.
Over 200 miles of railroad were
destroyed, by twisting the rails in
such manner as to render them
useless.
At Milledgeville the Penitentiary |
"birds'' that Gov. Brown had formed |
into q company, were captured still
wearing the prison uniform. Gen.
Sherman turned them loose upon the
country, so as to give Gov. Brown
the full benefit of their liberty.
Macon could easily have been Ia
ken, but our prisoners having been
removed from 1t, there was nothing
in town justlfying delay, and so
the army passed by.
After arriving near Fort McAlister
Sherman made an examination of it
and decided that 1t could be taken in
twenty minutes. He gave the order,
the boys went at it, and in Is minutes
the Union flag was flying and the
fort was ours. This is a strong
earthwork situated on the Ogeechee
river, 16 miles south from the mouth
of the Savannah. This fort has been
attacked twice by our navai forces
during the war, but without any sue
cess. On the 9th January, 1868,
Capt John Worden with the Monitor
Montauk, bombarded it for six hours,
without effecting breach.
On the Sd of March following, it
was attacked by large naval force,
among which were the Monitors,
Montauk, Passaic, Patepsec and Ma
hant. and gunboats Seneca, Wissa-
hickan and Dawn, with several NOR
tar boats. After raining their shot
and shell upon it for whole day
without doing more than dislodging
gun, the feet drew off down the
river, the rebels coming out on the
parapets and cheering defantly.-
These facts show the vast impor
tAneCof Sherman's movement upon
it and further proves the iuyincible
courage ofhis men in taking it by
storm in Is minutes.
Butthe crowning glory of his mag
nifcent achievement is the capture,
Of Savannah, which took place on the
2lst, inst Hardee skulked away on |,