The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-09-05
Why Sherman Stunned Augusta,
Asgustd Grohiaa

augusta Cnrontcsa.
Why didn't Sherman come to Angus.
ta9
This question has been asked scores Of
times since the winter Of 1864. At that
time everybody thought he would come.
Atlanta had been destroyed and Hood
hurled back on Tennessee in bloody re.
coil. Sherman's victorious troops faced
about and to the tune of "John Browns
body" commenced smashing things" in
Georgia. Farm houses blazed in his
path, and terrible furrov, fcrty miles
wide, was cut in the very heart of Geor.
gie.
The tactical position appeared tc be
Augusta. Next to Richmcnd, Augusta
seemed to be the key Of the Confederacy.
1t lay directly in line Of Carolina, where
it was known Sherman was forcing his
way. It commanded outlets to Savannah
by rail and river, beirs thea as nov the
best distributing point above the sea.
Once in Augusta, Charleston and savau.
nah we're in easy rea:t, snd Columbia in
striking distance.
A short while ago the writer concluded
to sound Gen. Sherman on this tactical
point, and for the purpose of settling o
disputed question and vindicatipg the
truth of history, addressed him an inquiry
couched in no spirit of pique for not
visiting Augusta, bat searching for facts.
The answer is somewhat grim in humor,
but is pretty stern in its conclusions.
Here is the letter.
NEW YoaK, Oct. 81, 1888.
P. 4. &ooaK Esq, Augusta-My Dear
Str: I am just back from visit to my
daughter, who resides at Rosemout, uear
Philadelphia, and find your letter of the
eighteenth. was temporarily attached
as Lieutenant of Third Artillery,
Company B, John R. Vintons, for about
six months in the year l844-forty four
yesrs ago-to the Augusta arsenal. =
The "march to the sea" from Atlanta
was resolved on after Hood had got we'll
on his way to Nashville. then detached
to Gen. Thomas force sufficient to whip
Hood, which he did in December, 1854
very handsomely and conclusively. Still
I had left very respectable army and
resolved to join Grant at Richmond.
The distance was a thousand miles and
prudence dictated base at Savannah or
Port Royal. Our enemy had garrisons
at Macon and Augusta. 7 figured on
both and passed between to Savannah.
Then starting northward the same prob.
lem presented itself at Augusta aud
Charleston. I figured on both but
passed between. I did not want to drive
out their gsrrisons to accumulate ahead
of me at the crossings of the Santee, Ca.
tawba, Pedee, Cape Fear, etc. The mo.
mentI passed Columbia your factories,
powder mills and the old stuff accumula.
ted at Augusta we're lost to the only two
Confederate armies left-in Lees and
Hoods.
SOL you have a military mind, you
will see I made better use of Augusta
than If I had captured it with all it's
stores for which T had no use. I used
Augusta twice as a buffer; its garrison
was just where it helped me.
If the people of Augusta think I slight.
ed them in the winter Of 1864-5 by reason
of personal friendships formed in 1914
they are mistaken; or if they think I
made mistake in strategy let them say
80, and with the Presidents consent, I
think I can send a detachment of hun.
dred thousand or 80 of Sherman Burners
and their descendants who will finish up
the job without charging Uncle Sam a
cent.
The truth is, these incidents come back
to me in humorous vein. Of course,
the civil war should have ended with
Vicksburg and Gettysburg. Every sensible
man on earth must have then seen there
could be but one result. The leaders in
the South took good care not to "die in
the last ditch," and left brave men like
Walker, Adams, Pat Cleburne, etc., to do
that. Yours truly,
w. T. SHERMAN.