The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-02-24
Our Military Correspond den ce.
FROM GEN. sHERMAN's ARMY.
ID. Qa's IN FIELD, SouTH CARoI1sA


Mr.. CoSvERsE:-I recently had the
privilege OF perusiDg the contents Of one
OF your ouce.familiar paper, which pos
quite privilege 10 me, as it had been
some time since l had heard from the
people Of Geauga County, and the paper
reminded me OF nv birthplace, end the
many pleasant fcenes Of my youth, when
l was one OF The number that composed
the circle around the old family hearth.
stone. Now | am soldier in The 4 S.
A., under the noted General Sherman,
whose skill as a leader to victory has
neverbeen surpassed, il equaled.
Our march through Georgia was one
of the greatest achievements of the war.
and not only in military point Of vie W
was it beneficial, but also. for the health
Of the soldiers in the De par.ment of which
General Sherman is in command. The
access to vegetables removed from our
army the scurvy, which was raging monp
US 10 quite an txreni. J suppose YOU
have, long ere this, received the full par
liculars OF the destruction OF Atlanta, TO-.
gether with those of The raid through
Georgia, 20 il would be useless for me TO
give you the details of tie same. Our
Div. (3I Div, 20h A. C., } lell Savannah
the Cd day Of jan; crossed the Wes,
Branch OF The Savannah River. came 10
the Eas, Branch. and. on account Of the
tide coming in, were compelled 10 wai,
until il went down, and we were until 8
O'Clock at night getting over The rest of
our Brigade. Wen, hack 20 the city and
came over the next day. We laid on The
east side Of The river three days, building
corduroy roads, and guarding pon,oon
bridges ha! our men were putting across.
The 4ih day AT 10 p NJ, we were ordered
to march. Went 6 miles, and pitched
camp on Hardec's plantation. There we
stopped l2 days, waving Tor the rest Of
the Co,rs TO cross the river, and also 10
get clothes and rasions up; after which
we again arched on to Perrysburg.
where we now lay. 25 miles from the
town OF Savannah. The river is very
high, the water overaowipg the road in
our advance and rear, and we are on an
island. The negroes say The high wa.
ter is caused by the melting Of snow on
The mountains near the lie or head OF the
river. l, is said that in l779. Gen. Lincoln
was on the same SCOT when Savannah W. 8
under siege by Gen. Pu!aski,) } with rein
forcements for Gen. Pulaski, and, in the
same month, (January,) he was camped
here. The British held the place at thai.
time, as ! understand. ..'7...... ...
We ha,ea eunboat lying in the river
here;also transport came up and brought
us some ra.ions, which Uncle Sam never
forgels 10 furnish. We have had but
little fighting yet; had three men wound.
ed crossing 'Se river. bul. when we got on
hard land, the rebs skedaddled. as usual
They have sent in two flags Of truce TO
our Div. Commander, Gen. Wa,d. Bat
terry c, lst Ohio, lies in c mp within a
few rods OF my quarters. The boys are
well and in good spirits. wish you would
occasionally send me one Of your papers,
and, if | can be Of any use to you in keep.
ing you posted in regard 10 the move.
men,s Of this Department, will willingly
do so. / suppose you have heard of the
capture OF Fort Fisher. with 100 prison.
ers. and IS pieces Of artillery, done by o.
600 men chosen for the job. I saw the
9th Ohio Vol. Infantry boys, some from
your part of the S,ate,'be boys oi Middle
ield and Burton. They are well. am
indebted TO them for your paper, which
they gave me when last saw them. ...
The boys are getting eager for muss
with the Johnnies. and l expect w. Il.
Sherman will give them chance soon.
Coming through on The raid, we had an
opportunity OF seeing how our prisoners
were treated by them. or where they were
kept, and we drew from the general ap-
pearance Of the locality where they were
kept what their treatment must have been.
This pen was at Mllen, GA. 1t was about
go by 40 rods. The outside wall was
built OF cedar,put down in the ground .and
set like posts close together. Inside was
railing about one rod from the m ain
wall. which ] suppose to have been the
dead line. There was not the least kind
of shelter inside Of the wal! or fence.
The prisoners had dug holes IN the ground
and covered them with sods. Inside of
these holes, they had built their bunks.-
In one OF these holes lay dead Union
soldier. Thus are the brave men who
go on: 10 defend their country used. Who
can stand back and hear OF sush treat.
ment being received from the hands OF
the enemy, by the prisoners taken by
them from us,and not come TO the rescue? ?
The man who can has a harder heart
than have.aud l had supposed mine had
become almost as hard rs Pharaoh's; for
sights OF The dead and wounded have been
quite familiar the past two and hall
years, But let Gen. w. 7. show his army