Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-11-29
Sherman's Orders to his Army
Liberal ForaSing from the COun-
try Ordered.
ORDERS FOR THE MARCH.

In TIE FIELD, KINGSTON, GA. Nov. 0, lSe4I
Special Field Order, No. 1901
L. For the purpose of military opera
tions this army is divided into two wings,
VIZ: The right wing, Major General Q.
ID. Howard, commanding, the Fifteenth
and Seventeenth Corps; the left wing, Ma
ior-Gen. HI. w. Slocum, commanding, the
Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps.
III. The habitual order of march will be,
whenever practicable, by four roads, as
nearly parallel as possible, and converging
at points hereafter to be indicated in orders.
The cavalry, Brig. Gen. Fitzpatrick COM
manding, will receive special orders from
the Commander-in-Chief.
Ill. There will be no general trains of
supplies, but each corps will have its am
munition and provision train,. distributed
habitually as follows: Behind each regi-
ment should follow one wagon and one am
bulance; behind each brigade should follow
due proportion of ammunition wagons,
provision wagons and ambulances. In case
of danger, each army corps should change
this order of march by having his advance
and rear brigade unincumbered by wheels.
The separate columns will start habitually
at 7 A. NJ, and make about fifteen miles per
day, unless otherwise fixed in orders.
fV. The army will forage literally OIL
the country during the march. To this
end, each brigade commander will organize
good and sufficient foraging party, under
the command of one or more discreet Ofli-
GERS, who Will gather near the route travel
ed 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 the command and
three days forage. Soldiers must not enter
the dwellings of the inhabitants or commit
any trespass; during the halt or camp
they may be permitted to gather turnips,
potatoes and other vegetables, and drive in
stock in front of their camps. To regular
foraging parties must be intrusted the gath
ering of provisions and forage at any dis
tance from the road Travelled. ,Ein
= V. To Army Corps Commanders is in
trusted the power to destroy mills, houses,
cotton gins, &C., and tor them this general
principle is laid down: In districts and
neighborhoods where the army is unmo-
Tested, the destruction of such property
should not be permitted: but should guer-
rillas or bushwhackers molest our march,
or should the inhabitants burn bridges, OBJ
struct roads, or otherwise manifest local
hostility, then Army Corps Commanders
should order and enforce a devastation
more or less relentless, according to the
measure of such hostility.
vi. As tor horses, mules, wagons &c.,N
belonging to the inhabitants, the cavalry
and artillery may appropriate freely and
without limit; discriminating, however, be-
tween the rich, who are usually hostile, and
the poor or industrious, usually neutral or
friendly. Foraging parties may also take
mules or horses to replace the Jaded AMI
mails of their trains, or to serve as pack
mules for the regiments or brigades. In all
foraging, Of whatever kind, the parties en-
gagged will refrain from abusive or threat
in command thinks proper, give written
certificates of the facts, but no receipts; and
thew will endeavor to leave with each family
reasonable portion for their mainten-
VII. Negroes who are able-bodied and
can be of service to the several columns,
NAV be taken along; but each Army Com
mander will bear in mind that the question
of supplies is very important one, and
that his first duty is to see to those who
bear arms.
VIII. The organization at once of agood
pioneer battalion for each corps, composed,
II possible, of negroes, should be attended
to. This battalion should follow the advance
guard. should repair roads, and double
them, If possible, so that the columns will
not be delayed after reaching bad places.
Also, Army Commanders 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 or bad crossings Of
TX. Capt. O. NJ. Poe, Chief Engineer,
will assign to each wing of the army pom
toon train, fully equipped and organized,
and the commanders thereof viii see to It's
being properly protected at all times.
By order of Mai. Gen. w. Il. Sherman.
LIN. DAYTON, Aid-de- Camp.