The National tribune., 1886-08-05
sHERMAN,s MARCH.
A comrads RELATES Some InterestIng IneIder


To THE EDITOR Permit an old veteran of
Co. C. 18th H., to bring rail to the campfire
to keep il burning. L was with VIM. Il. Sher-
man from the time he took command of the
Army of the Cumberland till the close Of the
war and / was one of the men detailed to burn
the city of Atlanta. After that job was COM
pleted we broke camp and marched to Milledge-
vile, Ga, where we destroyed the railroad and
telegraph lines by tearing up the rails, burning
ties, heating rails red.hot and eoiling them
around telegraph poles. and getting in some
scientific work generally.
] cannot do justice 10 our commander with
out mentioning some of his exploits. We
marched directly on Augusta, seven miles up
the river, where there was a large force of rebs.
Instead of attacking at this point we suddenly
diverged to the right and marched through
roads made almost impossible by fallen timber
and other debris put there TO impede our pro-
gress, thus forcing the Johnnies to come out
and fight in the open field.
We removed the timber and marched on
Savannah, as that was our objective point. At
every cross-road and bad jam we encountered
the rebs, who planted artillery and gave US
battle on every possible occasion, but notwith-
standing these obstacles we pushed them back
as fast as the nature Of the ground would per-
nit our troops to get into line of battle. The
ground there was low and marshy, and we had
considerable trouble to get into position and
attack the main line Of works outside of Sa-
vannah.
Twill mention one instance of being placed
on picket, with three others, behind a large
tree with orders to fire if the Johnnies COM
menced work ON the Notifications. This was in
belt Of timber on the north side of the canal.
They commenced work that night about IL
o'clock. / asked the officers why they did not
give orders to fire, and they replied that they
did not think it was advisable under the cir
cumstances, as the rebs had a strong force OF
artillery and infantry close at hand l replied
that would fire without orders and did so.
The rebs shouted, "Well done, Yank you did
not get any Of us this timel" At the next
shot our whole line opened and the rebs re-
piled with their whole force for over an hour,
cutting down timber and making things gen.
orally lively. During the fight heard the
movement of wagons and trains in the rebel
rear. Gradually the firing ceased on both
sides and / said / was going into the fort in
front of me if / ever lived to see daylight, and
then laid down and slept as sound as ever did
in my life. In the morning woke up at day
| light and looked toward the rebel camp. Tents
were standing, fires burning, and to all appear
/ ance they were still there. When the Captain
woke up he asked me if / remembered my
promise OF the night before. / told him did
and intended TO keep it. He said / would moi
| 20 far before / would get shot full of holes
shouldered my musket and walked into the
fort without being molested. l found every
indication of hasty retreat-cannon left with
files in the vents so loosely spiked that drew
numbers of them with my fingers. Among the
| tents left standing was one in the form of q
house, which probably belonged to some rebel
officers. Near this tent was q rebel flag
standing with the staff stuck in the ground
took this flag and went up on the parapet
Of the fort and waved it 10 my comrades and
told them TO come on, as there were no rebs
there, but plenty Of plumber. Our boys soOr
swarmed over the parapets like bees from &
hive.-JEssE WARSER, Otter Lake, Mich.