The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-02
will hear from Thousand sources pretty fair
accounts of our next march.
Yours truly.
W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General


W. 7. SHERMAN, Major-General.
LETTER FROM ADMIRAL DAHLGREN.
souTH-ATLANTIc SQUADRON, FLAGSHIP !
PHILADELPHIA, Charleston, April 20, :
1865.
MAJ. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, commanding
Armies of the Tennessee, Georgia, and
Mississippi.
My DEAR GENERAL: ] was much gratified
by a sight of your handwriting, which has
lust reached me from GoldsboTo'; it was very
suggestive OF past to me, when these regions
were the scene of your operations.
As Won progressed through South Carolina
there was no manifestation of weakness or OF
an intention 10 abandon Charleston until
within few hours OF the fact On the / lth
of February ] was at Stone, and spirited
demonstration was made by Gen. Schimmel-
pfennig and the vessels. He drove the
rebels from their rife-pits in front of the
lines. extending from Fort Pringle, and
pushed them vigorously.
The next day was at Bulls Bay, with a
dozen steamers, among them the finest of the
squadron Gen Potter had twelve to fifteen
hundred men. the object being to carry out
your views We made as much fuss as pos
sible and with better success than / antlcl-
pated. for il seems that the Tebs conceived
Stono TO be a feint, and the real object at
Bulls Bay, supposing from the number OF
steamers and boats, that we had several thou
sand men. Now came an Aid from Gen.
Gilmore at Port Royal, with your cipher
dispatch from Midway, so / steamed down to
Port ROYAL to see him. Next day was spent
in vain efforts to decipher-fnally it was ac-
complished. You thought that the state of
the roads might force you TO turn upon
Charleston; so / went there on the 18th, but
there was no sign yet Of flinching.
Then went to Bulls Bay next day doth,
and found that the troops were not vet ashore,
owing to the difficulties OF shoal water. One
of the gunboats had .contrived to get up
TO within shelling range. and both soldiers
and sailors were working hard. On the
evening of the 10Th steamed down to Stono
TO see how matters were going there. Pass
ing Charleston ] noticed two large fires, well
inside-probably preparing to leave. On the
18th, IN Stono, Tumors were flying about
loose of evacuation. In course of the morn
ing Gen. Schinlmelpfennig telegraphed me,
from Morris Island, that there were symp-
toms Of leaving; that he would again make a
push at Stono. and asked for monitors Gen.
Schimmelpfennig came down In the after
noon, and we met In the Folly Branch, near
SeceSsionville. He WAS sure that the rebs
would be off that night, so he was to assault
them in front, while a monitor and gun
beats stung their flanks both sides. ! also
sent an Aid to order my battery of five IL
inch guns at Cummings Point, to fire
steadily all night on Sullivan's Island, and
two monitors TO close up TO the island for the
same object.
Next morning (1sth) the rascals were found
to be of, and we broke in from all directions,
by Land and water. The main bodies had
left at eight or nine in the evening, leaving
detachments 10 keep UP a fire from the bat
teries. i steamed round quickly, and soon
got into the city, threading the streets with
a. large group of naval Captains who had
joined me-. All Was silent as the grave. No
one 70 9e seen but afew hremen.
No one can question the excellence of your
Judgment in taking the track you did, and i
never had any misgivings, but it was natural
to desire TO 20 into the place with strong
hand, for, If any one spot IN the land was
foremost in the trouble, il was Charleston.
Your campaign was the final blow, grand
in conception, complete in execution; and
now ii Is yours to secure the last army which
rel,eldom possesses. hear of your being in
motion by the 9th and hope that the result
may be all that you wish
fidings OF the murder of the President
have Ust come, and shocked every mind
Can it be that such a resort finds root in any
stratum Of American opinion? Evidently it
has not been the act Of one man, nor of a
mailman. Who have prompted him?
am grateful for your remembrance Of my
boy; the Thought of him is ever nearest to
my heart Generous. brave and noble, as
ever knew him7t to be. that he should close
bls-saoassg -!iae-se- early. even under the ae-
copied conditions Of "a soldiers life. as a son
OF the Union, would have been grief suffi-
Gent for me to bear but that his precious
remains should have been so treated by the
brutes into whose hands they fell. adds even
to the bitterness OF death. / am now await
ing the hour when can pay my last duties
70 his memory.
With my best and sincere wishes. my dear
General, for your success and happiness, /
am, most truly, your friend,
j. A. DAHLGREN.