The National tribune., 1900-06-28
THREE MONTHS WITH SHERMAN.
Steady Soldering for the 18th Ohio in the
Last Period of the War.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The first
time that / got a good look at Gen. Sner-
man was in May, 1864, at Buzzards
Roost, on the Atlanta campaign. Our
brigade was the Second of the Second Di-
vision, Fourteenth Corps, commanded by
Gen. John NJ. Palmer, late Senator from
Illinois.
We were ordered to charge very steep
ridge, which was held by the enemy. We
went in on the double-quick and took the
ridge, with a small loss on our side. the
rebels falling back to their works in the
gap and in full view of us, but not near
enough to do any execution with our
rifles.
We were not long on the ridge when
Sherman came up with a single officer,
both on foot, as it was impossible for a
horse to climb the steep ridge. Our COM
pany "a, 18th Ohio was on the extreme
right of the line, where there was full
view of the rebel line. The rebel sharp
shooters were shooting at us and rather
close for comfort. Gen. Sherman did not
seem to notice what danger he was in,
but took his feld-glasses and examined
the rebel works as cOolly as if the rebels
were not there. | remember Col. Warner,
of our regiment, going up and salutinS
Gen. Sherman. and saying that it was too
dangerous a place for him, and that We
could not spare him if he should get shot.
Sherman answered him:
"Oh, never mind me. II l get shot
there are plenty to take my place." And
moved off to another part of the line.
l remember on another occasion when
he came up where our regiment was. 1t
was at the Chattahoochie River, this side
of Atlanta. We were in the second line,
the first line being hotly engaged with the
rebels, who were disputing the crossing
of the river. When the wounded were
being brought back and passed through
our ranks Sherman was standing back of
us, smoking a cigar. He took the cigar
out of his mouth and looked at the wound
ed. Poor fellows" he said; then mount
ed his horse and rode off with one or two
officers to another part of the field.
1t was not long after that Atlanta fell.
We took a rest OF a few days, then had
to retrace our steps after Hood in north
ern Alabama. We drove him across the
Tennessee River and returned to Atlanta,
having destroyed all the railroad between
Chattanooga and Atlanta.
1t was not long after this, right after
the Presidential election of November,
1864, that we took up the line of march
on that memorable march to the sea. We
were in light marching order. The army
consisted of four corps-FOurteenth and
Twentieth on the left, the Fifteenth and
Seventeenth on the right. with Fitzpatrick
on the fanks | think there were about
100000 men of all branches of the serv-
ice. None of us knew where we We're
going, only that we were headed for the
South.
AS we bid farewell to Atlanta we lookei
behind and saw it in smoke and flames
Who set it aiire? We knew not, and
some cared less. One thing l know-the
rebels did set it atire. 1t was of no use
to us at that time, as we had left it and
were on the march through Georgia to its
fair city, Savannah on the sea.
My readers must know that on leaving
Atlanta we only took five days rations
with us. After that was exhausted then
we lived off of the country. If any army
ever went on picnic think We had one
Milk and honey, sweet potatoes, yams as
large as a peck measure, chickens, tur-
keys, pigs, beef, everything that we want
ed was ours. The people would hide
everything they could, but the soldiers,
with the aid of the negroes, would fin!
the hidden property.
We met with only slight resistance
while on the march to the sea until We
reached Savannah, in December follow.
ing.
We were only about 30 days reach
ing Savannah. When we arrived there
we found the rebels, under command of
Hardee, well fortified. Part of our army
took the rebel fort. McAllister, which
opened communication with our fleet
Hardee only held the city a short time,
when he left and gave us peaceful pos
session of Savannah, with its stores of
rice and cotton.
Sherman telegraphed President Lincoln