The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-05-20


first" Grant again urged Sherman to
destroy Hoods army before thinking of his
march across TO the sea, and the next day
Sherman answered him that Thomas was
strong enough to handle Hood, and that
'the best results would follow the contsm-
plated movement through Georgia." Evil
IDENTIFY this dispatch decided Gen. Grants
mind, tor the I'd of November he tele-
graphed: ''I do not see that you can with
draw from where you are to. follow Hood
without giving up all we have gained in ter
ritory. say, then, 90 on as you propose"
This" says Gen. Sherman, "was the first
time Gen. Grant assented to the march to
che sea, and although many of his warm
friends and admirers insist that he was the
author and protector OF that march, and that
[ simply executed his plans, Gen. Grant has
never, in my opinion, thought so, or said
So" Il have often been asked by well
meaning friends when the thought of that
march first entered my MUD.
knew that an army which had pene-
trated Georgia as far as Atlanta
could not turn back-it must go ahead; but
when. how and where depended OH many
considerations. AS soon as Hood crossed
from Lovejoy's to Palmetto, / saw the move
in my minds eye, and after Jefferson Davis's
spesch ats Palmetto, on September 26, l was
more Pc tive in my conviction, but was in
doubt as to the time and manner" We
think there can be doubt of the fact that the
IN arch to the sea was thoroughly the con-
ception of Sherman and that he believed
| tho success of the march would result in the
/ fall of Richmond. On the 9TH OF November,
| ave days after this dispatch, giving formal
assent, Gen. Grant telegraphed approving
the plans and saying: ~ think everything
| here is favorable now. Great good fortune
attend you. l believe ycu will be emil
nently successful, and az most can only
make march less fruitful than hoped for.
! THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
on the 10th of November, 1864, Sherman
set out upon bis march. His army was
divided into right and left wing under the
command of Generals Howard and Slocum,
and was composed of about 60, 600 men. Most
purge it from non-combatants and sick
men, and every soldier in the ranks was
"well equipped and provided as well az hu-
man foresight could with all thp essentials
! of life, strength and vigorous action" Pro-
visions enough for twenty days and forage
for five were taken. Sherman's description
of the morning when the march bsgan is
| vivid and picturesque: 1--WE stood
upon the very ground wbereon was fought
the bloody battle ot July %. and could see
/ the coIse Of woods where Mcpherson
fell. Behind US lay Atlanta snouldering
and in ruins, the black smoke rising high 10
air and hanging like a pail over the ruined
city" fright before US the FOurteeuth
corps, marching steadily and rapidly with 3
CHEEKY and swinging pace, made light of the
many hundred miles that lay between us
and Richmond. Some band struck up the
anthem of John Brown. The men caught
up the strain, and never before or since have
heard the chorus done with more spirit or
better harmony of time and place. Then we
] turned our horses heads 10 the east. At
7 lanta was soon lost behind the screen OF
trees, and became a thing of the psst.
Around it clings many thought
OF desperate battle of hope and
fear, which now seem like the
memory of o. dream, and have never
seen the place since. The dsy was extremely
beautiful; clear sunlight, with bracing air,
and an unusual feeling of inspiration
seemed to peTvade all mInds-the feeling OF
something TO come, vague and underlined,
still full Of venture and intense interest.
Even the common soldiers caught the inspi-
ration, and many group called out to TDe
as worked my way past them, Uncle Billy,
guess Grant is waiting for US in Richmond.
| Indeed, the general sentiment was that we
were marching for Richmond, where we
should end t..war" "I had no purpose to
march direct TOR Richmond by way of Au-
gusta and Charlottesville, but always did de-
sign to reach the seacOaSt at Savannah or
Port Royal, and even kept in mind the al
Tentative of Pensacola"
THE ROMANCE OF THE MARCH.
General Sherman's style becomes pictur-
ssque and vivid in treating of this march 70
the sea. at Covington the negroes were
simply frantic with joy, ana clustered about
his horse, shouting and praying in their
quaint style, which had peculiar eloquence
that will move stone," and 81 can now
see poor girl in the very ecstacy OF the
Methodist shout, hugging the tsttered ban.
ner OF one Of the regiments and jumping VI
to the feet of Jesus" Then there came an
old, gray haired negro-"about as fine q
head as / ever saw. / askt him if {
understood about the war and its progress
He said that he did that he had been look
ing for the angel of the Lord ever
since he was knee-higb, and, though
we pIoiessed to be fighting fol
was the cause, and our success would be bis
freedom. | asked him if all the negro slave:
comprebended this fact, and he said they
surely did" 1t was hard time with the
plantation of Howell Cobb, the famous
rebel general, when Sherman reached it
He gave orders TO Gen. Davis to spare moth.
ing, and that night the plantation was de-
, stroyed. "StIing in front OF the fire that
evening" says the general, 81 became con.
sciOus that negro with tallow candle in
his hand was scanning my lace closely.
inquired, what DO you want, old man?' He
answered, 'Dey say you is Massa Sherman.
| answered that such was the case, and in
quired what he wanted. He only wanted to
look at me, and kept muttering dis niger
can't sleep dis night There were appeals
from the SOutherners to rouse and defend
their native soil, but Sherman kept march
ing steadily on. "When the soldiers took
Milledgevilie they organized Legisla-
ture OF their own and had merry prauks.
Beauregard called on the Gsorgians TO rise
for the defence of their soil, as he was has
70 f0fra hoFr IL
graphed from Richmond that every citizen
with his gun and every negro with his spade
could do the work of the soldier, and mem,
bers of Congress telegraphed to assail the
} invader in front, flank and rear by night and
; by das, and let him have no rest. At one
point there were tOrp+ does on he roSn. and
} handsome young officers foot WAS blown
to pieces. Sherman formed his prisoners
into advance guard, and mnde them
march at the head of bis column and re-