Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1864-12-02
Shcrmnu'. Orders for the March.

HDQRs MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI
IL TIE FIELD, KINGSTON, GA, Nov, 8, 1864 !
SPECIAL FIELD ORDER No. 120.-
I. For the purpose of military operations this
army is divided into two wings, viz: The right
wing, ajor-General o. o. Howard command
ing, the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps the
left wing, Major-G General II. w. Slocum CON-
manding, the Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps.
II. The habitual order of march will be,
whenever practicable, by four roads, as nearly
parallel as possible, and converging at points
herinafter to be indicated in orders. The cav
airy, Brigadier-General Fitzpatrick commanding,
will receive special orders from the Command
erin Chief.
III. There will be no general trains of sup
plies, but each corps will have its ammunition
and provision train, distributed habitually as
follows: Behind each regiment should follow
one wagon and one ambulance behind each
brigade should follow due proportion of am
muntion wagons, provision wagons and ambu-
lances. In case of danger, each army corps
should change this order OF march by having
his edvance and rear brigade unincumbered by
wheels. The separate columns will start habit.
ually at seven q. m and make about fifteen
miles per day, unless otherwise fixed in orders.
w. The army will forage literally on the
country during the march. To this end each
brigade commander will organize a good and
sufficient toraging party, under the command OF
one or more discreet officers, who will gather
near the route Travelled, corn or forage of any
kind meat of any kind, vegetables, corn meal
or whatever is needed by the command, aiming
at all times to keep in the wagon trains at least
ten days provisions for tie command and three
days forage. Soldiers must not enter the d,oeU-
ings of the inhabitants or commit any trespass
during the halt or a camp they may be permit
ted to gather turnips, potatoes and other veg
etables, and drive in stock in front OF the
camps. To regular foraging parties must be
intrusted the gathering of provisions and forage
at any distance from the road travelled.
V. 10 army corps commanders is intrusted
the power to destroy mills, houses, cotton gins,
etc., and for them this general principle is laid
down: In districts and neighborhoods where
the army is unmolested no destruction of such
property should he permitted; but should
guerrillas or bushwhackers molest our march,
or should the inhabitants burn bridges, obstruct
roads or otherwise manifest local hostility, then
army corps commanders should order and en-
force devastation more or less relentless, dc-
cording to the measure Of such hostility.
vi. AS for horses mules, wagons, &C., be.
longing to the inhabitants, the cavalry and ar.
tillery may appropriate freely and without limit
discriminating however, between the rich, who
are usually hostile, and the poor or Industrious
usually neutral or friendly. Foraging partie.
may also take mules or horses to replace the
jaded animals of their trains, or to serve a,
,ula TO tha HI, T.,
oil foragng, OF whatever kind, the parties en-
gagged will refrain from abusive or threatening
language, and may, when the officer in com
mand thinks proper, give written certificates O.
the facts, but no receipts; and they will endeav
or TO leave with each family reasonable por
ton for their maintenance.
VII. Negroes ichO are able bodied and can b,
Of Se'rice TO the sere,Hl columns, may be taken
along; but each army commander will bear in
mind that the question of supplies is very i'm
portant one, and that the first duty is TO see tC
those who bear arms.
VIII. The organizations at once of goot
pioneer battalion for each corps, composed, i
possible, of negroes, should be attended to-
The bottalion should follow the advance guard
should reppir roads and double them if posi-
BILE, so that the columns would not be deayet
after reaching bad places. Also. army com
manders should study the habit of giving the
artillery and wagons the road, and marching
their troops on one side; and also instruct
their troops TO assist wagons at steep hills oil
bad crossings Of streams.
TX. Captain o. NJ. Poe, Chief Engineer, will
assign to each wing of the army a pontoor
train. Fully equipped and organized, and th'
commanders thereof will see to its being prop
erly protected at all times.
BY order of Maj. Gen. w. T. SHERMAN.
L. NJ. DAYTON, Aid-de-Camp.