Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-01-24
LINCOLN,S CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
A Reminiscence Of Twenty Years
Ago.

The splendid Christmas present which
was given Abraham Lincoln in 1868 is
thus recalled by the Buffalo Commercial:
On November 30th Sherman's whole
army, accepting one crops had passed the
Ogeechee. This was most skilltul man.
euvre; and now, having destroyed the
principal railways in Georgia over long
distances. Sherman was prepared to
make final conquest of the State.
Moving on seward, the division of
Hazen had a severe skirmish dec. 4th)
at Statesburg, south of Ogeechee. The
Confederates were dispersed. On the
same day Fitzpatrick fought Wheeler on
the railway between Millen and Angus
ia, drove him from his barricades through
Waynesboro, and pushed him eight miles,
while a supporting column of Union in
fantrv, under Baird were tearing up the
railway and destroying bridges. When
Sherman reached Millen, the Union
prisoners had been removed, and he
pushed on amid swamps and sands, with
the city of Savannah, where Hardee
was in command, as his chief object.
Fitzpatrick and Baird covered the rear of
the wing columns between the Ogeechee
and Savannah rivers.
There was some skrimishing, but no
Confederates in force were seen until
within fifteen miles of the city of Savan-
nah. All the roads leading into that
CITY were INSTRUCTED by felled trees,
esrthworks and artillery. These were
turned, and by December 10th the Con-
federates were all driven within their
lines and Savannah was completely be-
leaguered, but the only approaches to 1t
were by five narrow causeways. They
had broken communications, so that no
supplies could be received in Savannah.
Sherman sought to make the Ogeechee
an avenue of supply oceanward for his
army, and to communicate with the Un-
ION fleet outside. The latter was soon
effected. Fort McAlister, near the
mouth of the Ogeechee was in the way
and on the 18th Slocum ordered Gener-
al Hazen to carry it by assault. 1t was q
strong, inclosed redoubt, garrisoned by
2, o men. 1t was carried, and this wa:
the brilliant ending of the march from
Atlanta to the sea. 1t opened to Sher
mans army base ofsupplies. Sherman
communicated with the officers of the
J feet, Admiral Dahlgren in command
and on December 18th he summoned
Hardee to surrender. Hardee refused.
Perceiving the arrangements made t.
; cut off his retreat to Charleston, Harde,
{ secretly withdrew on the dark anC
stormy nightof December Goth, and will
Z fifteen thousand men escaped to tina
: city. The National army took posses
sion of Savannah on December %, 1864
, On the 10Th Sherman wrote to Presiden
Lincoln: IL hey to present to you, as
Christmas gift, the city of Savannah
with $50 heavy guns and plenty of am
. munition and also about % 900 bales o
cotton" The news Of the capture cam
to the fleet "off Charleston" ON the after
e noon of December oath. At about fou
g O'Clock in the afternoon ii was discover
;. ed that the flagship was making sig
. nails" Slowly it was spelled out by tn
colored flags. sherman has taken Ss
:. yannah, and communicated with Admin
d al Dahlgren.' Wild cheers came froT
blue Jackets on each one of abor
thirty vessels stretched on line {
! nearly three miles. Soon the comman,
o "Pass within hail." and then "Repai
i OH board flagship, commanding officers,
was sent to the fleet, and such details {
he had were communicated by "th
senior officer present" Capt. Thomaass-ii
n Patterson ofthe James hdger to IL
e commanding oeeicers. 1t was "a merl
- christmas" there, and also, for the pc
. pie ofthe North, for it closed a gloon
wear