Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-12-02
Sherman's Orders for the
March,
UpQRs. MILITARY DIV. OF THE
Mississippi, in the Field, King
sion, Ca. Nov. 2, I-6I.

Special Field Order No. 120.-I. For
the purpose of military operations this
ARMY Is divided into two wings, viz: The
right wing. Major General o. q. Howard
commanding, the 18th aud Eth Corp> :;
the left wing. Map & General II. w Slocum
commanding, the lith and Goth Corps
II. The habtua order of march Will be
whenever practicable b. four roads, us
nearly parallel as possible, and conycrgins
at points hereafter tn be indicated in or
ders. The cavalry, @adicr-Gcneral
Fitzpatrick commanding. Will receive spec
ial orders from the Comnanderin.C hief.
HI. There viii be no general trains of
supplies but each corps will have its am
munitiou and provision train. distributed
habiuaily as follows: Behind each rcgi-
mcut should follow one wagon and one
ambulance behind each brigade should
follow due proportion of ammunition
wagons and ambulances. In case of dan
ger, each army corps should change this
order of march by having his advance and
rear brigade unincunbered by wheels
/ The separate columns will start habitua "
at Z a. H., and make about 10 miles per
day. unless otherwise fixed in orders.
". The army will forage literally on
he country during the march. To this
end. each brigade commander will organize
a good and sufficient fsraging party, under
| the command Of one or more discreet off,
GERS, who will gather near the route trav-
eled, corn or forage of any kind, meat of
any kind, vegetables, corn meal, or what.
ever is needed by the csmmand aiming
at all times to keep in the wagon trains at
+ least ten days Prori,jon .Jor The command
and three days forage. Soldiers must not
enter The Dwellings, of the inhabitants or
commit any trespass during the halt or a
camp they may be permitted to gather tur-
nips, potatoes and other vegetables, and
drive in stock III front of their camps. To
regular foraging parties must be intrusted
the gathering OF provisions and forage at
any distance from the road travelled.
V. To army corps commandments intrust-
ed the power 10 destroy mills, houses, cot
principle is laid down: In districts and
neighborhoods where the army is unmo-
Tested, no destruction of such property
should be permitted; but shonld guerrillas
or bushwhackcrs modest our march, or
should the inhabitants burn bridges, OBJ
struct roads or otherwise manifest local
hostility, then army corps commanders
should order and enforce deras,ion more
or less relentless, according TO the measure
/ Of such hosGtuy.
! VI. As for horses, mules, wagons, &C.,
belonging TO the inhabitants, the cavalry
and artillery may appropriate freely and
without limit discriminating, however,
between the rich. who are usually hostile.
and the poor or industrious, usually neu-
trail or friendly. Foraging parties may
also take mules or horses TO replace the
faded animals of their trains. or to serve
as pack mules for the regiments or brig
AIDES. In all foraging, of whatever kind,
the parties engaged will refrain from abus-
i've or threatening language. and may,
when the officer in command thinks prop
er, give written certificates of the facts,
but 10 receipts /; and they will endeavOr to
leave with each family a reasonable pOr-
ton for their maintenance.
VII. Negroes uho are dbte-bodied and
can be Of service 10 the several columns may
be taken along; but each army command
er will bear in mind that the question of
supplies is very important one, and one
that his first duty is to see to those that
bear arms.
VIII. The organization at once Of a
good pioneer battalion for each corps, COM
posed. if possible, of negroes. should be
attended to. This battalion should follow
the advance guard. should repair roads
and double them il possible. so that the
columns will not be delayed after reaching
bad places. Also, army commanders
should study the habit of giving the artill-
cry 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 streams.
TX. capt. o, VI. Poe, Chief Engineer,
viii assign 70 each wing OF the army a pom