Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-07-17
STORY
OF Sherman's s March
Interestingly Told by an
Old Veteran.
Written Immediately
After Campaign.
Impressions Of Captain T. D.
McGilllcuddy.
Tells Of His Varied Experiences
Along the Route.

The following interesting story Of
Sherman's march to the sea was writ.
ten by Capt. u. d. McGillicuddy of
No IL Glen Park place, Cleveland, i'm
mediately after the memorable march.
For many years Captain McGillcuddy
resided in Akron. Thirty-fve years
have passed since Shermans victorious
march, and the impressions that were
jotted down at that time will be of
special interest now to those who par
ticipated in the march.
Headquarters Fiftieth Illinois Infantry
Volunteers, Savannah, Ga, Jan. /,
1865.
One year ago our front wasIlt Chat
tanoogo, ON the banks of the Tennes-
see, and today our front-why, we have
no front south; it's on the flank. We
have pressed south until we are con-
fronted by the Atlantic ocean. Whether
the rebels claim any territory south
of this line or occupy any strong posi-
ton, we have yet to learn. AT any
rate, Sherman, l understand, don't
propose to ''invade" it.
On the 10th day of November, 1864,
our command Fourth division, FIT.
teenth army corps took up its "line
of march" from Rome, Ga, after de-
stroying all the public property that
would be of service to the rebels there.
We passed the Fourteenth corps at
Kingston, Ga, twenty miles south,
who were engaged in the destruction
of railroads and railroad property.
Our duty was to pass through and de-
stroy the towns of Carterville, ALA
toona, Ackworth, Big Shanty and Ma
rietta. The citizens OF these towns
had all gone either. north or south, and
il was not proposed that these places
should be left as rendezvous for guer
rillas and marauders that infested the
country. We arrived at Atlanta on
the 18th of November and the destruc-
tion of railroads was complete to this
place: so mucn so that the State of
Georgia or the Southern Confederacy
cannot repair it. The ties We're all
burned and the rails wound around
the telegraph posts, etc.
Our army was then concentrated.
and 1--WE all felt serious" We had cut
our communication with supplies and
knew the amount on hand. What
difficulties we were to encounter be-
fore reaching another base we knew
not. 1t was to me like the adventurous
on an unknown sea. But
having an abiding confidence in the
genius OF our great leader and the
purity of our cause, we trusted our
fate to the powers that be, fully salts
fed as to the result. Our army left
Ga, on the 10th of Noyem-
ber, IN four columns, the Fourteenth,
Fifteenth. Seventeenth and Twen-
tietll corps. These columns We're sub
divided into columns of divisions, sweep
ing breadth of country at least sew.
enty miles wide with orders to sub
sist. man and beast, on the enemy.
The country south of Atlanta was rich
and abounded with everything the
heart could wish for. The old farmers
(for we saw no young mem We're very
conslderate. They had their sweet po-
tatoes picked and holed for us, their
hogs and beef cattle convenient, and
the boys were not slow In "going for
them" when camping time came, In
fact, TO sum II up in as few words as
possible, we lived l"tlp top"
From Atlanta the destruction of
railroads from Macon to Augusta was
continued. mp to those respective places.
the rebel cavalry to the contrary not