The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-06-03

Special Field Orders No. 76.
The general commanding announces to
the armies of Tennessee and Georgia that the
time has come for 10 part. Our work is
done and armed forces no longer detain us
Some of you will be retained in service until
further orders.
Aud now that we are about to separate, to
mingle with the civil world, it becomes q
pleasing duty TO recall to mind the situation
| of national affairs. When but little more
| than year ago We were gathered about the
towering cliffs of Lookout mountain, all the
future was wrapped in doubt and uncertain
ty. The armies had come together from diff
| ferent fields, with separate histories, bound
| by one common cause.-The Union of our
country and the government of our Inherit
ance. There is no need to recall to your
memories Tunnel Hill, with its rocky faced
mountain; and Buzzard's Roost Gar, with
| the ugly forts of Dalton behind. We were
in earnest, and paused not TOR danger and
difficulty, but dashed through Snake Greek
Gap, and fell on Resaca then on to Dallas,
kenesaw; and the heats of summer found US
on the banks of the Chattahoochee, far from
home and dependent a single line for sup
Plies. Again we were not 10 be held back by
any obstacle, and crossed over and fought
four heavy battles for the possession of the
citadel Of Atlanta. That was the crisis Of
ture, bn. sc SOW. ! the problem and destroy
ed Atl.-ata, struck across the state of Geor-
gia, severed all the main arteries OF life TO
our enemy, aud Christmas found US at Saw
annah. Waiting there only long enough TO
hi our wagons, we again began march,
which, for peril, labor, and results, will
, compare with any ever made by an organized
. army. The foods of the Savannah, the
swamps OF the Combahee and Edisto, the
I L. al. a
! quagmires of the Pedee aud Cape Fear riv-
ers, were all passed in midwinter, with It's
floods and rains in the face OF an accumuat
ing enemy and, after the battle OF Averys.
boro and Bentonville, we once more came out
. of the wilderness TO meet our friends al
GOldsbo and even then we only paused
; long enough to reload our wagons, and again
pushed forward to Raleigh and beyond. IN
, nj we met the enemy sueing for peace 10
stead of making war, and Offering to submit
? to the injured laws of his aud our country
: As long as the enemy Was defiant, meu tains
: rivers, swamps, nor hunger, nor cold, haG
checked US but, when he who had fought
, US too hard and persIstently offered submis
. SION, your general thought IL wrong to pursu,
t him further, aud negotiations followed which
o resulted an his surrender.
b How far the operations of this army have
Y contributed to the overthrow Of the rebellion
anu luS pcACc w uON uaNns on us. mus
e be judged by others, not by us but that yO,
+ have done all that men could do, has beer
r admitted by those in authority, and we hav
d right to join in the universal joy that fill
e our land, because the war Is over and ou
IS government stands yiadcatei before TN
O world by the joint action of the voluntee
Il armies OF the United States. To such as re
v main in the military service, your genera
% need only remind you that successes in tn
@ past are due to hard work aud discipline
il aud that the same work aud discipline ar
Y equally important in the future. To such a
It go home he will only say that our favore
country is so grand, so extensive, so dvers
y fed in climate, soil and productions, tina
every man SURELY can find home and eccu
10 pation suited to his taste, and none shout
r yield to the natural tendencies sure to resuI
Of from our past life of excitement and adven
ture. You will be induced to seek new ad
IS vantages abroad but do not Weld to th
- temptation, for it will lead only to death an
J, disappointment.
" Your general now bids you all farewell
IS and in the full belief that as in war you hay
- been good soldiers, 80 in peace you will max
good citizens and if, unfortunately, ne
- war should arise in our country, Sherman
y army will be the first to buckle on the oil
armor, and co ne forth to maintain the 90,
eminent of our inheritance and choice.
By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman
Signed NJ. DAYTON, Asst A G.