Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-01-13
FOR the Delaware gazette.
NOT ES IN DIXIE.
XXI.
TwEEsIDE, NEAR SAVANNAH, GA, I
Dee. 18th, 1864.

| ~ CcOPtE IL aulOilg Inc s6d-Slu6 OdkS lnaE over
hang the wide, reedy Savannah. This expec
taiion has been fully realized. Since this Pc
traced the twentieth number of these IN otes
one month has elapsed; and how eventful !
What changes have been wrought, what thrill
ling episodes in the chaotic tragedy of war !
From Atlanta to the AtlanticI What march
what journey, what a campaign Euougl
to fill volume, enough to employ pen inf
nitely ADLER than mine.
On the 10th of November, the Army o
Georgia, under the leadership of its own tried
and trusted "Tecumseh, moved out of Allan
ia in four columns. Each column consisted
of an Army Corps, including its artillery ant
trains. The Army was divided in two wings
the right wing consisted of the 18th and It'll
Corps, under Major General Howard, and The
left wing composed of the l4th and goth, un
! der Major General Slocum. These two wing;
diverged from each other at the outset, The
right moving on the McDonough road TO-
wards Macon, and the left on the Decatur roac
toward Augusta.
| The morning of the 18th was cold, hazy
and dull The troops, however, were cheerful
| their hearts buoyant, and their step elastic
The prospect of long, adventurous campaign
stirred their blood and awakened that romantic
love of hazardous exploit which glows in the
bosom Of every veteran soldier. Behind them
lay terribly thrilling scene. The war-scourg-
ed city of Atlanta was enveloped in a fiery
shroud OF smoke and fame. All the railroad
buildings, depots, ware houses, manufactures,
| shops, and public property OF every sort that
might be of value to the enemy, had been fred.
The seethiDg flames communicated themselves
to many of the private dwellings, mostly un-
! occupied, and the greater portion of the town
| thus became prey to the devouring element.
A vast column Of smoke assembled into the
air signifying to the inhabitants more than a
! score of miles away that the former citadel OF
treason in northern Georgia was being guri-
fed by fire. And when the evening fell and
night stretched her dusky mautle around our
camps fiery, Pickering glare overspread the
western sky, pointing out with veDgeful finger
the desolate locality of the once proud Gate
City OF the South.
Our army had swung entirely loose from its
moorings, and was now adrift upon the turbu-
lent sea of rebellion. 1t had nothing to rely
upon but its own inherent strength aud the
help of that God who smiles upon the right
and froWns upon the wrong. All the railroads
for many miles in our rear were utterly de-
stroyed, leaving not a spark of hope for sue
cor or retreat. In our wagons were a thirty
days supply of bread and coffee. What was
| needful beyond this must be obtained from the
country. Whether with these small resources
our vast enterprise should succeed or fail de-
pended solely upon the prowess of the army and
the genius of It's leader.
! The enemy soon became perplexed beyond
measure by our movements. He had sudden
| ly found himself powerless at our feet. His
cavalry hung about our fanks and rear like
groups of spiteful whiffets impatiently watch
ing the movements of an elephant. The rebel
State Governor ordered an immediate levy en-
n0sSe of the able bodied male population of
the State. The rebel Legislature, just con-
vened at Milledgevie, whisked about in its
cushioned seats, not knowing what to do
Rebel Governor Brown directed his militia to
rendezvous at Macon, which seemed to him to
be our objective point. He repaired thither
himself, just in time to find that our movement
towards Macon only leint to cover what
appeared to him descent upon Augusta, by
far the more important city. The Lieutenant
Gouernor countermanded the order of Cover
nor Brown and directed the militia to assemble
at that point. Thus the slender forces of the
enemy became divided and Sherman, with his
magnificent army, moved grandly on betV cen
the two cities, threatening both and hopelea=
severing all communication between them.
The Twentieth Corps moved rapidly out the
Georgia Railroad, destroying the track as it
proceeded The magnitude of The army may
be comPrehended when l say that this single
Corps occupied by troops fully twelve miles
of road when On the march. Calculating that
each Of the other corps occupied quite as much
space, the aggregate length of our vast column,
] while marching, was not less than foTty-eight
miles. 1t often occurred that the vanguard
of the goth Corps marching at o'clock in the
morning would get into camp before the rear
guard had vacated the camp OF the preceding
night. This caused a great deal OF night
marching for the troops that happened to be
III the rear. These night marches have a
We I'd grotesqueness which can scarcely be
adeono, ely described. In the early part OF
he evening the troops while away the tedi-
ono hours bv 81, outing, singing and merry talk.
Tbo ID woods am mountains made 10
echo w, III registering m, elody from loyal throats
But the n zen soon grow slred and sleepy and
the merrim,spt subsidies Ihe column then
moves on in m cody silence. wiisch IS broken
only by the rum bling of wagons anu the rat
tling paraphenralia OF the men. II the nlgnI
is cold fires are kind led along the line OF uaarGh
and its course for miles is marked by the BIZ
zing CLEAN. Finally, differing through the
distant forests, the cheei fnl camp fires are de
scried lighting up hill and valley and overhung
by a smoky canopy. Th9 sight is not unwei-
coined by the weary soldie. ~, grown restlVe
or their coffee and their sleelN
Arrived at Madison, beau uiul village 10
Morgan county, the left wing fiji sd OH from the
railroad and moved toward MI liedgeVllle.-
Great numbers of negpoes, Of all shades, sizes
and ages, now began to accompany the column
The appearance of these poor ere stures as
they wended solemnly along on either SHE the
troops would have adorned the canvas .of a
Hogarth or Vernet Their manner Of carry
ing their baggage and babies, (excuse Ihe al
literation,) is peculiarly their own. The for
mer is usually transported on the head and the
latter on the back of the owner. Sometimes
combination of these two methods would be
seen in the same individual. To the often pre-
pounded query, where are you going?" they
would invariably answer, "don't know, massn,
gwine wild you ALL" There was deep phios-
ophy in this, for il indicated calm, simple
confidence in us and the cause we represented.
/ i