Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-19

niticent capture of Fort Doncison, Sher-
man was placed at Paducali, KY, TO
forward troops and supplies. He there
displayed so much ability and energy that
Grant who knew good man when he
saw his work, called for him and placed
him in command of a division in the cam
paign that led up to the battle Of Shiloh or
Pitsburg Landing. That engagement
which took place on April 9Th and 18th,
1869, was the bloodiest ever fought up to
that time on this continent, and Sherman
was one of its foremost heroes.
Sherman services at Shiloh were re-
warded with a commission as major-gen-
eral of volunteers.
He was sent under Halleck to direct the
campaign upon Gorinth, and upon the re-
capituation of the enemy and the surren
der of Memphis, Sherman was placed in
command of the latter point.
In December 1862, Sherman was ordered
to reduce Vicksburg, but owing to the
failure of Grant (who was elsewhere
engaged) to cooperate he was disastr0usly
defeated and relieved from his command.
With the two divisions LETT him Sherman
attacked Fort Hindman, ON the Arkansas
river, and captured 1000 prisoners.
As commander of the Fifteenth Corns
he took part III the siege Of Nicksburg, and
led his men in the last unsuccessful assault.
He was sent TO open the Iazpo river for
Porter's gunboats but failed, but by forced
marches saved the fleet from falling into
Confederate hands. He defeated johnson,
who was Fastening to the relief Of Penn
berton at Nicksbnrg, and captured the city
of Jackson. soon after he was made brig
adier-general In the autumn of 1868
Sherman was hastily summoned to
the relief of Rosecrans, who was
besieged by Bragg, in Chattanooga,
after Chicamauga. He was APP
pointed commander of the. Army Of
Tennessee in October and by a quick
movement Joined Grant at Chattanooga
month later, and with General Thomas
swept across Mission Ridge, driving Bragg
to Georgia. This stroke aided in the saving
of the key TO the west and wrecked the
hopes OF the Confederates from crossing
the Ohio river. In December he whirled
his cavalry to Knoxville saving General
Burnside and his command, From Nicks-
burg he organized a raiding party destroy
ing military stores, railroads and harrass-
ing the enemy generally. With Grant he
held conference at Nashville. Grant rs
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, commanded all the
armies, and Sherman had been appointed
to the command Of all the forces between
the Allegheny Mountains and the Missis-
sippi river. Both men in their memoirs
have limited briefly mt what took place at
their Nashville meeting, speaking, how
ever, with Il guarded secrecy. 1t cannot be
doubted that ii was the most important
and pregnant consultation of commanders
that the war ever knew. They arose from
il with their plans well mapped ont. Grant
was to push for Lee and Richmond, and to
sherman was assigned the task Of destroy
ing the Confederate power in the west by
routing Johnson's army, penetrating the
enemys country from the Mississippi to
the Atlantic coast and smashing his mill
tary resources.
10 perform his great work Sherman
started with 100000 men distributed thus.
The Army Of the Cumberland, General
George II. Thomas the Army of the Ten
nessee General j. b. Mcpherson and the
Army of the Ohio, General j. NJ. Scho-
field. Starting from Chattanooga May 9th,
1864, after a series of battles with John
sons army in which the latter was re-
pulsed at every stand Sherman'S men en-
tered Atlanta in triumph September LIST.
The joy Of north can be recalled by the
older generation, and the famous dispatch
from President Lincoln is likewise a mat
ter within memory's call.
Sherman brought home the realities of
war to the people of Atlanta. He occupied
the city as military centre, driving out
the people and Selling their property as
the army needed it. 10 their circumstances
he answered: WAR is war. You might
as well appeal against the thunder storm
as against the terrible hardships of war.
My orders are not designed to meet the
humanities of the ease, but to prepare for
future struggles, in which millions of good
people outside of Atlanta have deep in
terest. But when peace comes You may
ask me for anything; | will share with you
the last cracker
Sherman's next move was to strike out
from Atlanta and march to the sea, cutting
loose from all vases of supplies, and trust
ing to foragiug ON the country rs he pro-
crossed. 1t was not until November ID,
1861, that Grant gave an unqualified assent
to it, Ten days later all railroads and tele-
graph connection was broken and Sher-
mans army of 10000 men vanished as
utterly from northern knowledge as if he
had been dissipated into thin air. The
Confederate government was in confusion.
Had it known whittier he was marching,
it might have concentrated a formidable
army to oppose him. But it was in igno-
rance, and in its ignorance it scattered its
forces at half dozen points i'll Georgia and
South Carolina,
1t was one Of the events that shine for
ever on the page of military history-this
march of Sherman's from Atlanta to the
sea His army cut swath 30 miles wide
through the heart of Georgia, with Kill
patricks Cavalry playing about its wings,
The army marched 800 miles in "a days,
Sherman's 'bummers' bringing i'll sub
Sistencc enough for each day from the
country. 1t was nearing savannah when
Union vessel was perceived OFF the coast.
Sherman signaled 10 it "lm here" and
this news was the first the north had re-
ce.ved from him for over 40 Gays. That
was u little before Christmas. approaeh-
ing savannah he carried Fort Mca Mister by
assault, and the country was thrilled by
this message from him to President Lin
coin: II beg to present to You as Il Christ
mas gift the city of Savannah, with $50
heavy guns and plenty of ammunition
also about $1,000 bales of cotton.
Patising at Savannah long enough to
retit, Sherman pressed in for the conquest
of the Carolinas and an approach to Rich
mond. He forced Hardee to evacuate
Charleston, which had for four years de
fled all assaults from the sea; Columbia
fell into his hands after the retreating Con
federates set fire To it; the North Carolina
line was crossed, and the enemy was de-
feated in the battle of Ayerasborotigh and
Bentonville
Johnston tried To engage Sherman but
was unable to check him or keep out Of
his clutches, and on April 10Th, 1855, sur
rendered his army to Sherman on the same
termssGrant conceded Lee.
sherman took leave Of his army in an
eloquent special field order of May 30th,
1865, and from June 9th, of that year, to
March Sd, 1869, he was in command Of the
military division of the Mississippi, with
his headquarters at st. Louis. He had
succeeded to the honors of lieutenant
general when the special rank of general
was created for Grant at the close Of the
war, and when Grant became President in
1869 Sherman succeeded him in the full
rank of general, with his headquarters at
Washington. The months between No
yember, 1871, and September, 1872, he
spent in tour Of Europe and the east
where he was everywhere received with
the honors due to his high rank and dis.
tinguished service. He was placed on the
retired list at his own request about three
before he had attained the full age !