New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-30
z gHERMAN IN ATLANTA.
DID HE EXPECT GRANTS ARMY TO MEET
HIM THERE

THE MARCH TO THE SEA SAID TO HAVE BEEN A
NECESSITY AND NOT AN INSPIRATION.
Atlanta Ga Sept Cot IS generally believed mat
ceneraI sherman abandoned Atlanta and marched 10
the sea 10 carry out plan OF campaign mapped OUT IN
his mind months before This view Is favored Dy SONS
war histories but the facts Of the case a.
here do not bear It out. The Generai nan NOV "''n
in Atlanta many days before he issued an oru', re-
ourng Confederate sympathzers to go south ana mo
-, ,,,zene m IN North At that time the weathiesa
and most promInent Union man In the city was Mr.
william Markham He was Northerner, ana MS
sentiments we're we'll known 10 both mo Oonie'Vi"s
and the Fedcrals. He had borne conspicuous par'
in the formal surrender Of the place 10 inc INV au
and they naturally looked TO him for ihiorldo" anu
advice When the order was issued conimahdns ui'
people TO leave the city Mr. hartman went " VI"
commander and pro csted. ,,-
General he said after maldng his appeal ms
order will send thousands OF innocent people OUT io
the world homeless, helpless and starving.
at Is the fortune Of war;" replied sherman. Il
must look after the safety and comfort OF my army
Seven OF my soldiers worth more to me thah seven
thousand Of YOUR citizens and the whole city haVo
400 miles OF railway between me and my osse OK
supplles must protect this line OF communication,
and IL will be difficult to feed my soldiers iou WI.
see that cannot undertake TO feed several oi
your people, some Of them enemies ana some Oh 'no
useless friends. III is Simply quos''o' u ~
aTbon YOU intend to remain here'' inquired Mr.
Markham.
@RemaIn here repeated the General "That Is
| absolutely settled / shall hold Atlanta until tho
ends.'
day or two later General sherman caiied 10 sc'
him at his residence and talked moro freely
| "My engineers he said, are making survey ZOE
an inner line OF Notifications running through mo
outskirts Of the city, The Confederate breast WORKS a'
too far out and Will require too many soldiers 10 man
them. When get through Atlanta will be as strongly
| fortified as Gibraltar, and Just as impregnsoie
| "You arc determined TO stay!'
| eyes I told you that the other day. The fall or
Richmond is expected daily When that occurs Grant
army will march through the ConedeIacy 10 THIS po'
| and the war VIII end right here"
| During the week the General saw Mr. hartman
several times, and his talk always of the Same
| tenor. Not did he utter word that lhdie"tco
a purpose to march to savannah or any other poiht.
The one idea OF holding Atlanta until Grant Ioihoo
him seemed to be uppermost In his MIND
As he related these interesting matters OF history
the other day. Mr.. Markham grew animated HIS eyes
flashed and he spoke with emphasis. lie rccoliec'eu
the events OF mat stirring period If they hS oc-
Cured Yesterday and he never hesfated to recall
| name or date or the words used In CONVERSE
| ton -,
"Are you certain that sherman's march to tho
sea was not contemplated by him wheh nc cap'ufo1
AtlantalD
| "I an reasonably certain he responded Tho
General talked with me apparently without reserve
He made every possible preparation to hold the city,
| and he seemed TO be confident that Grants army
would capture Richmond in short time and foiio"
Lees soldiers through Virginia and the Carollnas
into Georgia.
"What caused him to change his plans, ana go I'd
the coast and then northwarr to meet Grant'
81 think that It was the desperate battle at Altoona
When Hoods men moved around in his rear he saw
that II was Impossible hold his line OF communication
with his base of supplies. lie could not think or
. rereating and so his only was TO strike ou1
through Georgia, destroying everything in his path
! way"
, So his celebrated march was not part OF MS
, | original programme but afterthought"
"That is my belief, based upon what he told me.
, and upon what saw" -,
As the writer looked Mr. Markham, and noted MS
serene appearance, could not resist the temptation
of asking him another question. - III. =.
, Mr. Markham, how much did Sherman's visit to
Atlanta cost your
!" At least STA 600 in buildings alone. | cannot
now estimate the OF the other property tat was
| lost, but It Ted to large sum-
did the Government ever reimburse you!
"No | put In a claim. but IL was year 100 late'
and was told It would take special act of Congress-
| l have taken no further steps, -
! Mr. Markham found General Sherman very ex-
pensve acquain hut in his prosperous and CON
tented old age he seems 10 care very lt,e ABOUT ~
He has made another fortune since those days, anf Isl
perhaps better satisfied with the new Atlanta than he
: was with the old