The National tribune., 1902-03-20


| 1 wrote on the margin of the paper
these words:
picked up by one of Sherman's crazy
soldiers, December, 1864, within 10 miles
| of Savannah, after an overland march
from Louisville"
| About this time Sherman rode up, and
stopping his horse within Il few steps of
us he sat there, intently surveying the
outlook, while | debated with the Colon
and Surgeon the prOpriety of handing MIN
| the paper, but none of US had the nerve
to do so.
The circumstance, however, recalled to
us an interesting reminiscence of Sher-
mans first visit to our regiment in 1861,
during the few weeks he had command
of our army in Kentucky. We were busy
drilling when we observed a long, lank
figure, without insignia of rank, mounted
on a sleepy-looking horse, with an old,
well-worn saddle strapped over a faded
common army blanket. He appeared to
be an interested observer Of our evolu-
tions for short time, then approached
the Colonel, made few inquiries, and
rode leisurely away.
"Who was that funny-looking chap?"
we inquired, after drill, and when in
formed that he was Gen. Sherman our
surprise was unbOunded.
A week or two later, when we heard
|
of his exaggerated estimate then consid-
ered) of the number Of men required for
his Department, and the newspapers pro-
nounced him crazy, we looked wise and
said: 1--WE knew it."
INVESTMENT OF SAVANNAH.
On Dec. II our division was moved into
position within four miles of the city, re-
iieving a division Of the Seventeenth
Corps, which moved to our right. The
Twentieth Corps formed on our left, with
its flank resting at the river. Our brigade
occupied the space between the Charles.
ton q Savannah and Georgia Central
Railroads, which joined in one track q
quarter of mile nearer the city.
Savannah was now in plain view, and
also the formidable works which prevent.
ed us from entering the city. These were
only half a mile away from US, and ap
parently well supplied with artillery OF
large and small calber, which forced us
. TO keep clear of the roadway and find
shelter in the dense timber that bordered
it. There our brigade was comparatively
safe, as the trees were so thick that can
non balls could not penetrate and an I'M
passable swamp separated our pckets.
Our first appearance on the scene was
greeted by a solid shot from a large fort
on the Georgia Central Railroad, which
bounded over our regiment, struck th4
road behind us and bounded over th,
18th Ohio. Immediately in our rear. VIZ
bowed our Acknowledgements and prompt
ly stepped into the woods, where it was
safer. Thereafter we kept the roadway
clear of our presence, since a very small
squad was sufficient at any time to "star
the ball rolling"
WalcOtts Division, a quarter Of a mil,
to our right, was not so favorably sit
Tod -.
intrenchments stretching across an oper
field exposed to lively and frequent burst.
OF cannOnadng, which kept our mel
closely under cover. Our artillery was S,
much inferior TO the enemy's in number
and weight that we could offer no effec
tive resistance TO their guns and so had t,
submit patiently to bombardment durin;
the 10 days that we confronted thei
works.
Our division possessed only four fielt
guns, while in front of our division tn,
enemy had 20 mounted, and kept them
selves in good practice with many va
rletles of missiles, such as solid shot, cas-,
shot. grape shot, canister, schrapnel an,
shells. elOngated> and round, percussion
and fuse. This variety kept the affai
from becoming monotonous.
The approaches to the city consisted o
five causeways formed by the two rail
roads and three wagon roads, and thes
could be swept by the enemy's guns. Be
tween these causeways were swamps, in
undated rice fields and irrigating canals
Gen. Davis, however, was so anxiou
to try speedy conclusions with the enem
that he selected four points i'm from a
our corps and urged Gen. Sher,nnD +
permit us TO make All assault. O,he
corps commanders, alsO recommended ia
vorablc points in their front, but Shcr
man Drudently decided TO await the slow
er but less bloody result of starving on
the garrison.
While we Of the Fourteenth and Seven
teenth Corps, occupying the middle Dol
tion of our lines of investment, wer
pushed as close to the enemy's fortifca
tions as the intricate nature of the cOun
try would permit, and submitted supinel
to spasmOdic rounds of variegated sho
and shell, the Fifteenth and Twentiet
Corps were more actively employed. Th
latter. with it's flank on tho Savanoal