The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-02
BY WALLACE P. REEn.

By WALLACE r. REED.
1t IS generally believed that General Sher-
man abandoned Atlanta, and marched to the
sea, TO carry out a plan of carnpa; IN mapped
out in his mind months before
The general had not been in Atlanta many
days before he issued an order requiring con-
federate sympathizers to go south, and the
union citizens to go north.
At that time the wealthiest and most proni-
nent union man in the city was Mr.. William
Markham.
When the order was issued commanding the
people to leave the city Mr.. Markham went
the commander and protested.
General" he said, after making his an
peal, "this order will send thousands of limo
cent people out into the world homeless, help
less and starving"
1T is the fortune of war;" replied Sherman,
II must look after the safety
and comfort of my army. Seven of my SOL
diers are worth more to me than seven thou
sand OF your citizens, and tho whole city,"
Mr.. Markham was stunned by this ap-
parrently brutal way of putting it. He
pressed the general TO give his reasons for his
course of action.
81 have three hundred miles Of railway be-
tween me and my base of supplies said the
GRIM soldier. Il must protect this line Of
communication, and it will be difficult to feed
my soldiers You will see that / can
not undertake to feed several thous-
and OF your people, some OF them
enemies, and some of them useless
friends. It is simply question Of self-preser-
walton with me-"
"Then you intend to remain here?" in
CURED MIR. Markham.
"Remain here!" repeated the general.
"That is absolutely settled. l shall hold At
ianta until the war ends.'
A dag or two later General Sherman called
to see him at his residence, and talked more
freely.
My engineers" he said, "areimalzing sur
vey for an inner line Of Notifications running
through the outskirts OF the city. The confed-
crate breast works are too far out, and viii re-
quire 100 many soldiers to man them. When
1 get through, Atlanta viii be as strongly for
titled as Gibrater and just as impregnable."
''4ou are determined TO stay?"
eyes, l told you that the other day The
fall Of Richmond is expected daily When
that occurs Grants, army will march through
the confs der&cy to this point, and
the war will end right here"
During the week the general saw Mr.. Mark
ham several times, and his talk was always of
tina same tenor. Not once did he utter q wo I'd
that indicated purpose to march to Savannah
or any other point. The one idea of holding
Atlanta until Grant joined him seemed to be
uppermost in his mind.
In these conversations the commander was
very cordial Once however, he complained
that Mr. Markham had not aided the union
cause actively enough.
"Iou should have sent me information
through the lines, he blurted out in his blunt
way.
1T would have caused me to lose my life, !"
was the answer.
"You should have risked it," said the
general People camo through the
lines, Mrs. for instance. You could have
sent a message in that way
AS he related these interesting matters of
history the other day, Mr.. Markham grew AMI
mated. His eyes flashed, and he spoke with
emphasis.
''Are you certain that Sherman's march to
the sea was not contemplated by him when he
captured Atlanta %
Nr. Markham paused to consider the ques-
ton.
AZ am reasonably certain,'' he responded.
''The general talked with me apparently with
out reserve. He made every possible prepare
ton to bold the city, and ne seemed to
be confident that Grants army would
capture Richmond in Short time and follow
Lees soldiers through Virginia and the Caro-
1ina's into Georgia.
"W bat caused him TO change his plans, and
20 to the coast, and then northward to meet
EIant?"
81 think that it was the desperate battle at
Altoona. When Hoods men moved around
in his rear he saw that it was
impossible to hold his line Of communication
with his base OF supplies. He could not think
of reIreatiug, and so his only course was to
strike out through Georgia, destroying every
thing in his pathway"
80 his celebrated march was not part of
his original programme, but was an after
thought"
That is my belief, based upon what he
told me, and upon what saw"
The facts stated by Mr.. Markham de-
serve permanent place tn our war
history. They throw new light upon
one OF the most remarkable military move
ments Of the age, and they show how a course
tmperatively dictated by the necessity Of the
situation may afterwards be attributed to the
wonderful foresight of q commander.
The probability is that Hoods march north
ward caused Sherman 20 reyolutionize his plan
of campaign. He gave up his boosted Gibralter,
and proceed to tear out the bowels OF the con-
federacy.