Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-01-24
General Sherman 10 his Armg.

The following order has just been issued
by General Sherman =
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY Division OF
THE MISSISSIPPI, IN THE FIELD, SAvAN-
NAH, Ga, Jan. 8, 1865 Special Field
Orders, No. G.-The General Command
ing announces to the troops composing
the Military Division of the Mississippi,
that he has received from the President
of the United States and from Lieutenant
General Grant letters conveying the high
sense and appreciation of the campaign
just closed, resulting in the capture Of
Savannah and the defeat Of Hoods Army
in Tennessee.
In order that all may understand the
Importance of events, it is proper to revert
to the situation Of affairs in September
last. We held Atlanta, a city of little
value to us, but so important to the enemy
that Mr.. Davis, the head of the rebellious
faction in the South, visited his army
near Palmetto, and commanded it to re-
gain it, as well as 10 ruin and destroy ua
by series of measures which he thought
would be ef1ectna.
That army, by rapid march, first
gained our railroad, near Big Shanty,
and afterwards about Dalton We pur.
sued but it marched so rapidly that we
could not overtake it; and General Hood
led his army successfully far toward Mis-
sissippi, in hopes to decoy us out OF
Georgia. But we were not then to be
led away by him, aAd purposcd to control
and lead events ourselves Generals
Thomas and Schofeld, commanding the
Department to our rear, returned to their
posts, and prepared to decoy General
Hood into their meshes, whilst We came
on TO complete our original journey.
We quietly and deliberately DESTROYED
Atlanta and all the railroad which The
enemy had used to carry on war against
us; occupied his State Capital, and lcn
captured his commercial capital, which
had been so strongly fortified from the sea
as to defy approach from that quarter
Almost at the moment of our victorious
entry into Savannah came the welcome
and expected news that our comrades in
Tennessee had also fulfilled, nobly and
well, their part; had decoyed General
Hood to Nashville, and then turned on
him, Defeating lis army thoroughly, cap.
turing all his artillery. great numbers of
prisoners, and were still pursuing the
fragments down into Alabama. So COM
plete success in military operations, ex
tending over halfa continent, is an achieve
ment that entities it 10 a place in the mil.
itary history of the world
The armies serving in Georgia and
Tennessee, as well as the local garrisons
Of Decatur, Bridgeport, Chattanooga and
Murfreesboro', are alike entitled 10 the
common honor; and each regiment may
inseribe on its colors at pleasure the words
Savannah" or "Nashyille "
The General Commanding embraces in
the same general success the operations of
the cavalry column, under Generals Stone.
man, Burbridge and Gillem, that penc-
trated into Southwest Virginia, and
paralyzed the efforts OF the enemy TO dis.
turb the peace and safety of the people of
East Tennessee. Instead Of being put on
the defensive, we have at all points, as
snmed the bold offensive, and completely
thwarted the designs of the enemies of our
country. BY order of
Major-General w. II. SHERMAN.
(signed) i. W. DAYTON, Aid.de-Camp