The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-11-09
THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
Interesting "reminiscences Of Eighteen
Years Ago.
IHrie,, for the National Tribune ByJ 3. BB5Orrnel

>
Memory becomes clouded and the vision
grows dim after the lapse of nearly eighteen
years, stiIl the incidents and events Of the day
and night with the Third division Of cavalry
Immediately preceding Sherman'S March "
are still as fresh in my mind as if they occurred
but yesterday.
On the 18th of November, 1864. the Third
division of cavalry. commanded by General
Judson Fitzpatrick, was composed as follows:
First brigade, commanded by Brevct Eriga-
der General Thos. J. Jordan: Ninth cnhsT-
vania. Second Kentucky, Third Kentucky,
Third Indiana. and Eighth Indiana.
Second brigade, commanded by Brcvet BFiga-
aier-(icneral s. d. Atkins: Ninety-second Hi
nois, Tenth Ohio. Ninth Ohio First Ohio squad
ron. Ninth Michigan, and Tenth Wisconsin
battery.
Third brigade, commanded by Colonel Geo
E. Spencer: Fifth Kentucky, Fifth Ohio and
First Alabama.
The division was at this time stationed at
Marietta Ga, beautiful, quaint old town Of
about 5000 inhabitants. The day in question
was extremely beautiful,-clcar sunlight, With
bracing air and the night cool and frosty An
unusual feeling seemed to pervade our CANA
feeling of something about to take place, still
vague and underlined, yet full of hope ana in
tense interest.
Marietta is situated on the Chattanooga and
Atlanta Railroad. about thirty miles north Of
the latter place On the north, in the distance
stands Kcnesaw Mountain. and to the west
and northwest can also be seen the Lost and
Pine Mountains Around these and Marietta
during the past summers campaign there's had
been twenty-six days of hard and constant
battle. 1t was now ten days since our return
from the pursuit of General Hoods army, then
in our rear: we had passed and repasScd over
many of the old battle grounds; the break OF
over twcnty-miles that Hoods army had made
in the railroad and telegraph lines bad been re-
paired and communications opened trains Of
cars were hourly whirling by. carrying to the
rear immense amounts of stores which had
accumulated at Atlanta and along the railroad
OF the seven corps that originally composed
General Sherman's army, four had returned
and were grouped in and about Atlanta, while
General Thomas with the others had been
sent back to watch Hoods movements. A por-
ton of the cavalry had been dismOuntcd and
sent back, and their serviceable horses turned
over to the Third division. Paymasters had
been sent down, and the army paid. State
commissioners had been appointed and sent to
the front to convey such sums of money as the
soldiers and officers desired to send home. The
sick and wounded at Atlanta and along the
road had been sent back TO Chattanooga, and
such supplies as were needed sent promptly
forward. The most extraordinary efforts had
been made to purge the army of non-cOmbatants
and of sick men, and TO have our wagons loaded
with good supply of ammunition, provisions,
and limited amount of forage
Thus, at this time, an army of sixtv-fve
Thousand veterans. able bodied, experienced
soldiers, stood detached, well armed, equipped,
and provided-as far as human foresight could
with all the essentials of life, strength, and
for vigorous action. On the sth of November
General Sherman, by special feld-order, in
formed the Fourteenth, Fifteenth Seventeenth,
and Twentieth Corps, and also the Third divis-
ion of cavalry, that they had been organized
into an army for a special purpose, well known
TO the War Department and to General Grant,
and that il was only sufficient for the officers
and soldiers to know that it involved depart
ure from our present base, and a long and diff
cult march TO a new one; that all the chances
Of war had been considered and provided for,
as far as human sagacity could. All that he
asked of his officers and soldiers was to main
tain that discipline patience, and courage which
had characterized them in the past; that he
hoped through them tostrike blow at our enemy
that would have material effect in producing
what all so much desired, their complete over
throw. Various were the surnlises as to where
we were going, for none of us even pretended
TO know; only one thing was certain, it in
volved a departure and a long and difficult
march; Of this we were assured. The enemy!
1t could certainly not be Hoods army, then at
Florence, Alabama for we had but Just returned
after three weeks chase, without being able
even to overtake or engage him in battle no.
surely not; and yet it seemed like a strange
event-two hostile armies to be.marchiug in
opposite directions each in the full belief that it
was achieving final and conclusive result in
the great war. No! it must be Richmond. the
rebel capital, though full thousand miles Of
hostile country intcryoned, and that-for better
or for worse-was to end the war Some said
Charleston, others Mobile, while few thought
Savannah was to be our first point Of dcstina-
ton. Varied as were our coniectures. we all
felt confident Old Billy" would bring us out
all right.
On the 18th the railroad and telegraph com
lnunications with the rear wore broken, and
Shcrmans army stood detached from all friends,
dependent on its own resources and supplies.
All the detachments were ordered to march
rapidly for Atlanta, breaking up the railroad
en- route.
During the past week our division had made
the most active preparations. All details on
extra duty had been relieved and sent to their
commands. A special order was made for the
total destruction of all unserviceable arrns-apd
equipments which the division inspector should
condemn as worthless. This order hclpcd
especially company commqnders who were
behind during the summer in their ordnance
returns: these were burned at each companv's
headquarters, together with all company and
individual surplus baggage.
Having thus briefly referred to some of the
events preceding the march, / will now close
by relating some Of the incidents of the day
and night before our departure.
The cool, frosty air Of that memorable morn
ing gave the busles clear, distinct sound at
reveille which sent back an echo from the dis
tant hills we answered 10 nearly our last roll
call AT Merietta. Our last letter had been sealed
and was well on its way TO the dear ones at
home. fhe morning was devoted ia noIicirry ,,,,