The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-02-26

Tin the cut the inward curves show the gen.
erGl line of march OF the TTcHtleth corps, inc
reversed curves that of the Seventeenth corps,
the broken black line that Of the Fourteenth
corps, and the unbr0kCn limo that of tho f1f-
tccnth corps, while tho stars show the pre-
scrihcd range OF the cavalry; but it Ia TO be
motel that Che cavalry swept oves' a large
breadth. and flanking bodies of the infantry
often departed from the main Incl
plaudits OF his countrymen, feeling that
they mi.ht at any moment be turned to
blame. Hood, as anticipated, soon ap-
pcared in Sherman's rear, and began to at
tack the railroad supplying the Union
army.
Sherman cast longing eyes on Mobile
and Savannah-anywhere to shorten his
line of supply. Meanwhile he sent Thomas
back to Chattanooga to look after Hood
and protect his present line from Atlanta
to Louisville lie then conceived the plan
of marching to the sea, there to meet
transports loaded with provisions. Gen.
Grant strongly advised him to turn and
destroy Hood before entering upon his
proposed move.
Sherman replied that if he could hope to
overhaul Hood he would turn against him
with his whole force, but that lie feared
Hood would retreat sOuthwesLward with a
view of drawing him from Georgia. STILL"
said Sherman, IF he attempts to invade
middle Tennessee | will hold Decatur, and
be prepared to move in that direction; but
unless let go of Atlanta my force will not
be equal TO his" Sherman also added in
another dispatch to Giant, "lf Uurn back
now the whole effect OF my campaign will
be lost" Grant replied: 81 10 not see how
you can Withdraw from where you are to
follow up Hood without giving up all we
have gained in territory. say, then, go
on as you propose" SO the great march
was begun.
Sixty thousand men made IA holiday
march over the territory lying between At
lanta and the ocean. Tne mlrch to the
sea- has doubtless done more 50 attach fame
to the mime Of Sherman auGng the masses
than any campaign he p.anunl on cXccut-
ed. There is something in H. 50 different
from the ordinary lead and powder and
blood of war. The men were 50 happy
"Uncie Billy, | guess Grant is waiting
for us ut Richmond" they called out as
Sherman passed them on the march. There
were shots fired, but at shcrp and Chick
| ems; there WIS blood spilled, but it w;l' the
! blood OF November turkeys. IL was jolly,
| FOSTERING, reckless aImy---An army tnHJ
had fou4It for and won the privilege of
rowing at will over the territory that was
laid open to it. In about thirty days the
| advance came to the banks Of Os5Eaw
sound, where frowned Fort MacAlliaLer, but
! Gen. lIuZen's division formed III line and
walked over the parapets with bus little
trouble. Supplies were at hand, sent down
! from the north by sea; the goal was won.
/ Sherman had new and safe means of
supply, and the moral effect of the move
| was tremendous.
! Sherman says in his "McmOirS:" Il con-
| sidercd this march US II means to an end,
and not us an essential act Of war. Still
then, as now, the march to the set was gen
orally regarded rs something cXtrLordina-
ry, something anomalous, something out
! of the usual order Of events; whereas, in
fact, simply moved from Atlanta to S;.-
vannah, us one step in the direction of
Richmond, u movement that had to be
| met aud defeated or the war was neces-
| sarily ut an end"
Finishing the Struggle.
On the first day Of February, lSC5, Sher-
man started with $500 men in pursuit OF