The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1875-06-05
THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
Tne inception of the Historic Movement
picturesque Description of the March,
ana Incidents Vividly Described by the
General.


Picturesque Description of the March,
and Incidents Vividly Described bv the
General.
From General Sherman's Memoirs of the Late War;
The general opinion has been that,
while Gen. Sherman commanded the
army which marched from Atlanta to
Savannah and from thence to Rich
mond, the conception of the plan be-
longs to General Grant. 1t is well that
this question should be decided. In
many respects the march to the sea
stands out from the rebellion as the
most brilliant achievement of the war.
On September II, 1864, General Grant
wrote to Sherman from City Point that
he dld not know exactly what to do with
sherman army, and was disturbed by
the difficulties of applying it, and init
mated that 1t might be well to threaten
Macon and Augusta. To this letter
General Sherman replied, saying he
would not hesitate to cross the state of
Georgia with go, 000G men, hauling some
stores and dependingon the country for
the balance; that "where " million of
people find subsistence my army won't
starve." He did not believe in pene-
.fratlng Georgia without an objective
|
} much good. | can start east, and make
circuit south and back, doing vast
damage to the state, but resulting in no
| permanent good, and by threatening to
J do SO / hold a rod over the Georgians,
who are not over loyal to the south "
| He concludes by advising that Grant s
and Canby's armies should be rein
, forced, and that he should keep Hood
employed, and put his own army in fine
: order for march on Augusta, Column
bia and Charleston. "The possession
of the Savannah river is more fatal to
the possibility of southern independ-
! ence. He may stand the fall of Rich
mond, but not the fall of Georgia y
eff you can whip Lee, and / can march
! to the Atlantic, [ think Uncle Abe will
| give us twenty days absence to see the
young folks" This is the first indica-
ton iii this correspondence of what
afterward became the famous march to
, the sea.
On the 10th of November. 1864, Sher-
J man set out upon his march. His army
was divided into right and left wing,
under the command of Generals Howard
and Slocum, and was composed of about
80, 600 men. Most extraordinary efforts
had been made to purge it from non.
, combatants and sick men, and every
soldier in the ranks was "well equipped
and provided as we'll as human foresight
, could with all the essentials of life
J strength, and vigorous action" Provis.
ions enough for twenty days and forage
/, for five were taken, Sherman's de-
scrlption of the morning when the march
/ began is vivid and picturesque !: owe
: stood upon the very ground WHEREOF
, was fought the bloody battle of July
/ 22d, and could see the copse of wooC
where Mcpherson fell. Behind us lay
Atlanta smouldering and in ruins, tn,
black smoke rising high IN air an(
hanging like pail over the ruined city.
"Right before US the Fourteenth corps
marching steadily and rapidly with I
CHEEKY and swinging pace, made high
of the many hundred miles that lay be
tween us and Richmond. Some bant
struck up the anthem of John Brown
: The men caught up the strain
6 and never before or sine,
have / heard the chorus
done with more spirit or bette,
harmony of time and place. Then W,
turned our horses heads to the east
Atlanta was soon lost behind the screel
t of trees and became thing of the past
Around it clines many a thought o
, desperate battle, of hope and fear
which now seem like the memory of
!, dream, and l have never seen the plac,
' since. The day was extremely beauti
. full; clear sunlight. with bracmg air, anC
!; an unusual feeling of inspiration seemed
L to pervade all minds-the feeling o
something to come vague and unde
fined, still full of venture and intens,
; interest. Even the common soldier
caught the inspiration, and many
group called out to me as / worked m,
way past them, Uncle Billy, / guess
: Grant is waiting for us in Richmond
Indeed the general sentiment was tina
we were marching for Richmond, where
, we should end the war" 81 had TX
purpose to march direct for Richnon(
by way of Augusta and Charlottesville
o but always did design to reach the sea
coast at Savannah or Port Royal, anC
even kept in mind the alternative o
Pensacola.
e Gen. Shermans style becomes pictur
a esque and vivid in treating of this marcl
r to the sea. At Covington the negrOe
+ were simply frantic with JOY, and clus
tered about his horse, shouting an(
: praying in their quaint style, which ha
e peculiar elOquence " that will move
D stone," and 81 can now see poor girl
in the very ecstacy of the Methods
shout, hugging the tattered banner o
: one of the regiments and jumping up t.
! the feet of Jesus" Then there came 81
. old gray-haired negro" about as fiat
=. q head as [ ever saw. l asked him If h,
= understood about the war and it
! progress. He said that he did; that h,
; had been looking for the angel of tn,
. Lord ever since he was knee-high, and
though we protested to be fighting TO
the Union he supposed that slavery wa
the cause, and our success would be hi
d freedom. l asked him if all the negr,
!, slaves comprehended this fact, and b.
= said they surely did" 1t was a hare
: time with the plantation of Howell Cobb
e the famous rebel general, when Sher
man reached it. He gave orders t.
Gen. Davis to spare nothing, and tina
4 night the plantation was destroyed
D "Sitting in front of the fire that even
f ing" says the General, 81 became con
e scious that a negro with tallow candl
in his hand was scanning my fac
closely. [ inquired, What d.
: you want, old man ? He an
= swered, 'Dey say you is Massa Sher
= man. / answered that such was TIL
= case, and inquired what he wanted. H
y only Yanted to look at me and KEEP
= mu.tering dis niger can't sleep di
L night There were appeals from the