The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1865-06-07


ries, yet bound by one common cause, the union
of our country, and the perpetuation of the Gov
eminent of our inheritance.
There is no need to recall to your memories
Tunnel Hill, with its rocky face mountain, and
Buzzard Roost Gap, with the ugly forts of Dali
ton behind. We were in earnest, and paused
not for danger and difficulty, but dashed through
Snake Creek Gap, and fell on Resaca, then on to
the Etowal to Dallas and Kenesaw, and the heats
of Summer found us on the banks of the Chat
tahoochie, far from home, and dependent on
single road for supplies. . .s
Again we were not to be held back by any OBJ
stacle and crossed over and fought four heavy
battles for the possession of the citadel of Atlanta
that was the crisis of our history A doubt still
clouded our future, but we solved the problem
and destroyed Atlanta, struck boldly across the
State of Georgia. secured all the main arteries Of
life to our enemy and Christmas found us at Sa-
vannah.
Waiting there only long enough to fill our
wagons, we again began our march, which for
peril, labor and results will compare with any
ever made by an organized army; the floods of
the Savannah, the swamps of the Combahee and
Edisto, the high hills and rocks of the Santee,
the fiat quagmires of the Pedee and Cape Fear
rivers were all passed in midwinter with it's
floods and rains, in the face of an accommodating
and Bentonville once came out of the
wilderness to meet our friends at Goldsborough.
b. Even then we paused only long enough to get
new clothing to reload wagons, and again
pushed on to Raleigh, and beyond, until we met
our enemy sueing for peace instead of war, and
offering to submit to the injured laws of his and
our country-as long as that enemy defiant,
nor mountains, nor rivers, nor swamps, nor hun
ger, nor cold had checked u.s. but when he who
had fought us hard and persistently offered sub
mission, your General thought it wrong to pur-
sue him further and negotiations followed
which resulted, as you all know, in his
render.
How far the operations of the army have con-
tributed to the overthrow of the Contederacy to
the peace which now dawns us, must be
judged by others, not by us; but that you have
done all that men could do has been admitted by
those in authority, and we have right to join
in the universal joy that fills the land because
the war is over, and our Government stands
vindicated before the world by the joint action
of the volunteer armies of the United States
To such as remain in the military service your
General would only remind you that successes
In the past are due to hard work and discipline
and that the same work and discipline are equally
important in the future. 81 f1fsE sTaffT lsf8o
Such as go home will only say that our ia
vored country is SO grand, extensive, so diver
slt1ed in climate, soil and productions that every
man can surely find a home and occupation
suited to his tastes and none should yield to the
natural impotence sure to result from our past
life OF excitement and adventure.
You will be invited to seek adventure
abroad; but do not yield to the temptation, for
1t will lead only to death and disappointment.
Your General now bids you all farewell with
the full belief that as in war you have been go ID
soldiers so in peace you will make good citizens,
and if unfortunately new war should arise in
country, Sherman's army will be the first to
buckle on the old armor and come forth to de-
fend and maintain the Government of our inner
itance and choice.
BY order of Major Gen. w. r. SHERMAN