The New York herald., 1876-03-10
SEERM ANS MEMOIRS.

HIS OPERATIONS IN FRONT OF sAvANNAH-LEr-
TER FROM LIEUTENANT COLONEL ALEXANDER
R. cHIsoLM, Ex-AIDE-DE-cAMP TO GENERAL
BEAUREGARD.
NKw YORK, March s. 1876.
Having carefully read General Sherman's "Memoirs''
and his report TO the Committee the Conduct of the
War, have taken interest In the comments hercon
which for time have appeared in the press, and,
with your permission, would offer observations
! upon two important historical matters
As point military history it is deserving partic-
uar attention that at Savannah-he end of his march
TO the seaGcneral Sherman lost easy and brilliant
opportunity OF capturing Hardees entire command of
about To- 900 men with that city, He writes (Memors
p. 2S4 that General Slocum ''wantcd to transfer a
whole corps TO the South Carolina bankn of the Sa
vannah River, the object being of Hardce's re-
treat. Az this time Hardecs only line OF retreat was
by Screven's Ferry to causoway the South Caro-
lima bank; he without pontoon bridge or other
means OF getting away, relying only three very
small steamboats, and the only troops no had on the
Carolina bank a small force of light artillery and
Fcrguson's brigade OF Wheeler's cavalry numbering
not more than ], 900 At this time General Beau
regards "Miliiary DIVISION of the Wcstn embraced the
department OF Lieutenant Generals Hood and Tayler
but not that Of Lieutenant General Hardcc although
he had authority TO bring the latter within his CON-
mand either at Hardoe's request or at his
own discretion in emergency. Hc had arrived
in Charleston therefore, December T. with n view OF
saving and concentrating the scattered Confederate
forces In that region for effective action against
Sherman. He elegraphed Hardcc December s) ad-
vising him to hold Savannah long practicable but
under circumstances to risk the garrison and be
ready for withdrawaIto junction with Major General
Samuel Jones at Pocotaligo S. G. At Hardec's urgent
request Beaurcgard went TO Savannah the morning
| OF the 9th Finding no means prepared for the
tingency of evacuation he directed tho immediate
construction of pontoon bridge, with the plantation
fats for ponoons, moorcd by old guns aud car
wheels for anchors, and covered with flooring supplied
by pulling down the wharves and wooden buildings
After giving letter of instructions the plan OF
operations indicating the contingency under which
the should begin, he returned to Charleston
Instructions also given for the best feasible do
fenco of the causcway and road from scrcvens Ferry
On the 14th Hardoe telegraphcd the General stating
the cnomy's movements, his doubts and his desire
IN the emergency TO have ORDERS ard the 18th he
again tcesraphed urging the General 10 return and
determine on the ground The actual time for the move
ment OF evacuation and junction with jones' Beau
regard (whom accompanied) arrived again In Sa-
vannah tho night Of the 10Th, after running the
gauntlet OF Fosters batteries Pocotaigo in n
wagon, so to save the railroad from obstruction by
unlucky shot at his train and making by like con-
vcyance tho distance along which tho railroad md
been broken by sherman near savannah. He found
the pontoon bridge only about third constructed
some Of Whcecrs cavalry having destroyed number
OF rice fats collected, supposing they had been
But the work prosecuted with such vigor
by Chief Engineer Colonel John g. Clarke
/ In person that by daylight of the 10Th the
General found II all but complced--streiching from
the city 10 Hutchnsons Island, which a causeway
built; thence to Pennyworth Island where another
causcway was LAID thence across the Back River a
causcway which led over tho swamps 20 the main land
oil the Carolina bank. Bcauregard ordered the move
mcn TO be made that night, though accident delayed IL
until the night OF tho 20th when by this route-he
only exit from Savannah-Hardce safely with
drawn, with held artillery baggage and stores and the
bridge then destroyed. This was ono OF the hcatest
achievements OF tho war, rIvalling decision, re-
and skill the celebrated Corinth
and Of Morris Island by the same commander
But mcanwhle General Sherman, cautiously leaving
his 60 900 men concentrated on the Georgia bank OF the
! river, had gone person around by the sea to Hilton
Head IN order TO procure the assistance OF Fosters
army Tor the investment OF savannah from tho Caro-
Ina bank. IL is clear that, had Socums suggestion
been adopted or had even the single brigade OF his
corps, which had crossed the river above Savannah,
been vigorously pushed against the thin line OF Con
fcderatc pockets covering this causcway, all escape
! from savannah had been cut OF. General sherman
his mistake too late, and, his letter OF December
"a 1864 he himself TO Hacck :-"I feel some
what disappointed at Hardee's escape but really am
not TO blame. moved as quickly possible to close
up the Union caus"~ay but intervening obstacles
such that, before could get troops the road Har
dec had slipped out" rhc real point is that, disposng
OF an overwhelming force, his movement should have
been prompt and vigorous to the Of Savan-
aud not a voyage to Hutton Head To borrow such
movement from General Foster. As to intervening
Obstacles they consisted OF some light artillery a
very thin line OF that cavalry OF winch, hs letters
he sees III TO write IN the most dsparaging terms In
this case they seem to have sufccd To cover the
treat OF about 10000 men whom he should nave cap
4 turcd.
I To estimate General sherman's error here VIC must
consider that the Confederate troops IN Savannah
formed the only substantial force then nicrposcd and
The bulk OF tho only force atcrward ncrposcd between
him and Grant From military point OF view, there
fore, this failure Of chief importance, and might
have led grieyous consequences, IN tho event OF
bold and rapid concentration OF portion OF Lees
army with the forces then assembling under Beaure-
gard. IN order try n supreme aud decisive blow
( sgnnst sherman and II successful then 10 coucen.
all forces upOn Grant operation which, under
the advantage OF interior lines, Bcaurcgard had sug-
gcstcd TO the government the only chance lett 10
the cOnfedcracy.
General Shermin's report 10 tho Committee on the
Conduct OF War OF hts letters orders &C.
these being he says. the best report he could suD
mt. HIS letters are, indeed an Industrious daily cor
respondcncc ull OF interest 10 the military student
ana those who fought against HIM, ana, from the
date OF "Nicksburg, March T. 1864, ~ 10 st Louis
November II 1865 have all been carefully published
by him, excepting his letters and orders during the
iour days between the date OF "ln the field opposite
Columbia ;. c. February l6 1865, and 'ln the nrld
Wmsboro ;. G., February 2l 1855 tpp s25, 32s OF
Report Why these suppressed In hrs 'Mcinorsp
p 2s'l he states that the burning OF Columbia
during tins four days PERIOD was accidental" Yet.
IN the cotton cases, " transpred that General IN.
Chief Halleck wrote him .-'Shoud You capture
Charleston hope by some accident the Mace may be
destroyed AMI, II ltic salt should bc thrown upon
us site, II may prevent tho growth OF future crops OF
nuilhcIton and seccssion;" and General sherman
replied from savannah. December a. Il will bear in
mnd your hint AS TO Charleston, and do not think
SAT- Will be necessary. When / move the Fifteenth
corps VIII be on the right OF the right wing, and their
position Will bring them naturally CharcstOn first
and you have watched the history OF that corps you
VIII have remarked that they generally DO their work
I pretty we'll The truth IT, the whole army burning
/ with an insatiablc desire wreak vengeance upon
South Carolina almost trcmbc al her late, but feel
that she deserves all that seems IN store for her
| look upon Columbia az quite as bad "a Charles
| ton His army at this date numbered t''Mcmoirs,"
p l72, g. 2O4 men exclusive ofGenera Fosters army