The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-06-14
sherman,s Fareven Address.
HEADoU'Rs Mil. DRY. oF MISSISSIPPI, J
In THE FIELD, {


WASHINGTON, D. G. May 30, 1866.
Special Field Orders, No. 76.l
The General Commanding announces
to the Armies of the Tennessee and Geor-
gia that the time has come for us to part,
Our work is done, and armed enemies no
longer defy US. Some of you will go to
your homes, and others will be retained
in service until further orders And now
that We are about to separate to mingle
with the civil world it becomes pleas
ing duty to recall to mind the situation
Of national affairs when but little more
than year ago, gathered about the tow
ering cliffs of Lookout Mountain, and
all the future was wrapt in doubt and un-
certainty. Then armies had come togeth-
er from distant fields with separate his
tories yet bound by one common cause
the Union of our country and the perpet-
uation of the Government Of our inherit
ance. There is no need to recall to your
memories Tunnel Hill, with Rocky Face
Mountain and Buzzard Roost Gap, with
the ugly forts of Dalton behind. We
were in earnest, and paused not for dan
ger and difficulty; but dashed through
Snake Greek Gap and fell on Resacca,
then on the Etowaheth; Dallas, Kenesaw
and the heats of summer found US on the
banks of the Chattahoochee, far from
home and dependant upon a single road
for supplies.
A gain we were not to be held back by
any obstacles, and crossed over and fought
four hard battles for the possession of the
citadel of Atlanta. That was the crisis oi
our history 4 doubt still clouded oul
future, but we solved the problem, anc
destroyed Atlanta, struck boldly across
the State of Georgia, severed all the mair
arteries of life to our enemy, and Christ
mas found us at Savannah. Waiting
there only long enough to fill our wagons
we again began march for peril; labor
and results will compare with any eve1
made by an organized army.
The floods of the Savannah, the swamp
of Cembahee aud Edisto, the high hill
and rocks of the Santee, the fat quag
mires of the Pedee and Cape Fear rivers
were all passed in mid winter, with it
floods and rains, in the face of an accu
mulating enemy,>an after the battles o
/ Aversboro and Bentenville, we once
more came out of the wilderness to NEE
our friends at Goldsboro. Even ther
we paused only long enough to get nes
clothing, to reload our wagons, and agaii
pushed on to Raleigh. and beyond, unit
we met our enemy, sueing for peace in
J stead of war, and offering to submit t.
!, the injured laws of his and our coun
!, try.
AS long as that enemy were defiant, n
mountains, nor rivers, nor swamps, no
, hunger, nor cold had checked US; bu
when he who had fought US hard an
/ persistantly offered submission, you
I General thought it wrong to pursue hir
/ further, and negotiations followed whic
resulted, as you all know, in his surren
: der.
: How far the operations of this arm
, have contributed to the final everthro
of the Cenfederacy, and the peace whic
now dawns on US, must be judged b
others, not by US; but we have right t
:. join in the universal joy that fills ou
land because the war is over' and ou
iGovernment stands yindicated before til
4 world by the joint action of the Volur
: teer Armies of the United States.
: To such as remain in the military SCI
e vice, your General need only remind yo
: that success in the past was due to har
. work and discipline, and that the SAN
: . work and discipline are equally impol
tant in the future. To such as go HON
j he will only say that our favored countr
: is SO grand, SO extensive, so diversified
climate, soil and productions, that ever
!, : man may find home and occupation sui
!, ed to bis taste, and none should yield |
4 the natural impatience sure to result fro
! our past life of excitement and adventur
: you will be inqited to seek new adventur,
T abroad, do not yield to the temptation, fl
! it would lead only to death and disal
! pointment.
Your General now bids you all Far,
= well, with the full belief that as in war yo
y have been good soldiers, so in peace yo
! will be good citizens; and if, unfortunate
ly, new war should arise, in our countr
''Sherman's Army" will be the first
buckle on its old armor and come forth
;. defend and maintain the government
y our inheritance and choice.
By order of Major General
i w. T. SHERMAN.
! L. M. DAYTON, Assistant Adj. &c
: