Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-13


 to strengthen his right that Thomas car ried the centre in the afternoon, and de- termined the event of the engagement. By moonlight Bragg's army was in full retreat. Sherman and Hooker pursued the routed army. Sherman turned back on the 29th to take command of the force for the relief of Burnside, besieged at Knoxville. He marched rapidly, the last S4 miles being made in three days. Longstreet was forced to raise his siege and withdraw his army into Virginia.
 Goes Into Winter Quarters.
 Gen. Sherman then returned to Chat winter quarters. Toward the end of January, 1864, he returned to Memphis and Vicksburg, and on Feb. 2 he moved on Meridian, the chief point of supply of the confederate army, and cut off conn munication with it by destroying the railroads in every direction and their property. On March ? Grant had been made lieutenant-general, and on the 18th he assumed command of all the armies of the United States with the purpose of conducting in person the campaign of the Army of the Potomac.
 The Division of the Mississippi.
 On March 12 he assigned Gen. Sh erman to the command of the Division of the -htSS1SSLppl, bAC of the Ohio, the Tennessee, the Cumber- land and the Arkansas, the entire southwestern region, with temporary headquarters at Nashville. On Feb 19 Sherman had received the thanks of Congress for his services in the Chatta- nooga campaign. Assuming his new command about the middle of March, Sherman began it's organization with the view to the spring campaign, which was to be opened against Atlanta, Ga., simultaneously with Grants campaign against Richmond.
 Ths Advance on Atlanta.
 On March he set out from the winter quarters about Chattanooga. Johnston's army, numbering nearly 50,000, was ly- ing about Dalton, ready to oppose him. His force consisted of the armies of the Cumberland, the Tennessee and the Ohio, in all about 99,000 strong. Gen. Johns tons force was increased to about 62, 900, strongly placed behind entrenchments and natural obstacles. After coming up with Johnston at Dalton, on May fl, Sherman forced his retreat step by step, at the expense of several fierce battles, until the confederate army took strong position on the Kenesaw mountain, with it's Hanks contracted so as to cover Mari etta. Both armies fought from behind log parapets until June 27, when Sher- man ordered an attack on the fortified lines, but did not succeed in breaking through. By moving McPherson's army toward the Chattahoochee he compelled Johnston to retire to another entrenched position on the northwest bank of the river, whence he fell back on Atlanta as Sherman began to cross the river.
 The Direct Attack Begun.
 On July F the direct attack on At lanta was begun. Gen. John B. Hood who had succeeded Johnston, pursued a more aggressive policy, and sorties from the city resulted in a number of engage ments around Atlanta, in which the Federal troops were uniformly success. full. Finally Sherman moved with five of his corps, one being left entrenched on the Chattahoochie, on the only re- maining railroad available for the ene- my, and defeated Hood at Jonesboro, occupying his line of supply. On Sept. the enemy evacuated. Sherman s loss since leaving Chattanooga amounte d to 31 ,6S7 men. Hood moved to Nash vile, where he was disastrously defeat ed by Gen. Thomas, sent thither by Sherman in anticipation of Hoods move ment.
 The March to the Sea. Leaving Thomas to defend Tennessee | against Hood, Sherman ran back all his unnecessary supplies to Chattanooga, broke up the railroad destroyed Atlanta, and cutting the telegraph behind him started on Nov. 13 on his triumphant march to the sea.
 Dec. 10 he was before Savannah, hay ing marched 300 miles in 24 days through the heart of Georgia, enjoying i afforded. The defensive works that covered Savannah and blocked Savannah River were taken by assault, and com munications were opened with the fleet which furnished ample supplies to the army.
 Savannah & Christmas Gift.
 In note to President Lincoln on the evacuation of the city, he wrote: "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns plenty of ammunition and 25,000 bales of cotton" On Aug. 12 he had been appointed major general of the United States army and on Jan. 10 he received the thanks of Congress for his triumphal march. In February Sherman left Savannah, making his way through the Salkehatchie swamp, flanked Charles ton, compelled its evacuation, and en tered Columbia on the 17th. He joined Gen. Schofield, who had gone north by steamer and rail, at Goldsboro, as planned, on March 24. Leaving hi! troops there, Sherman visited President Lincoln and Gen. Grant at City Point.
 Lee and Johnston Surrender.
 Lees surrender on April 10 was fol lowed on the 18th by flag of truce sent to Sherman from Gen. Johnston. Cor respondence and interviews followed ant the result was a draugnt of condition of surrender. The proposed basis o agreement included in the terms of cap itulation all the confederate troops re maining in the field as we'll as Johnston army. President Lincoln's assassina tion occurred at this time.
 His Army Reviewed at Washington.
 Preliminary to the disbandment of tn National armies the army of the Potoma and Gen. Sherman's army passed in re view in Washington before Presi dent Johnson, his cabinet and Geu Grant, the former on May 23 am |