Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-01-12
Getting into Savannah.


Two or three weeks ago / wrote
about the start OF shern.2a'a army
on the famous march to the sea. 1t
would take too much space to give
the story of the march. but | will
tell briefly how our army got into
Savannah after our arrival.
We stated from Atlanta on the
10th Of November. On the evening
of December Sth, we encamped near
Pooler's station, eight miles west OF
Savannah. The next morning we
started as usual-as if we were that
day to march our prescribed fifteen
miles, which would take us seven
miles beyond the city. We could not
believe that General Hardee would
give up the place without a strug-
gle, though he was letting US march
pretty close to it without much APP
parent objection We knew well
that morning of December 3, ga, that
we must that day see a change in our
program. But we marched with long
swinging strides by the 7th the 9th
and the 5th mile posts with no show
Of opposition II we were to have
change of program it must come soon.
We had no notion that we could keep
up that gait much longer. neither did
we expect to fulfil rebel prophecy by
starving in the wilderness.
While wondering what would come
next we passed the 4-mile post-half
way to town. It had been a saying
with us that so long as there was no
fire on Uncle Billy's" cigar, every
thing was likely to be quiet; but ii
there were fire. We took it as token
of something doing,-if not just then,
before long. When he rode past us
near that 4-mile post we looked for
fire, and saw it--smoke, too Just
ahead OF us was Telfair station, and
as we approached it there came re-
sounding boomi--a cloud of smoke
out of pine woods in front, and
change in our daily program. The
enemy was in a fort not far from US,
and we halted to build a line OF
works. In the meantime, the cannon
in front made the old woods ring
with war music. Little damage was
done however. We went into camp
near by, while plans were made 10
capture Savannah.
The land some miles to the west OF
the city is low-in many places
swsmpy. It was evident that Hardes
with his 10000 troops and a good sup
ny OF artillery was able to make a
streng defense. sherman knew that
oar provisions could net last long,
and that, as the country near by af-
forded very little forage. he must At
once SO dispose his forces about he
city as to prevent Hardee's easy es-
cane: ard then be must undertake to
establish as near BY as possible a
base OF supplies on the coast. A few
miles south Of the Savannah river
the Ogeeehee flows nearly parallel to
It into the Ossabaw sound. The
outI of this river was guarded by
Fort McAllister. II this were taken
--pplies could be brought from the
ysa IN the river to where they could
be req @hed nv our wagon Trains.
Then the question Of rations would be
settled, ard the city could be be
sieged until Hardee must surrender.
IN Sherman's arrangement OF
troops, he put the 14th corps next to
the Savannah river, the goth to their
right. next the nth. and at the ex'
treme right the 18th corps. General
Iazen commanded the second divi-
sion of that corps. 1t was the same
division General sherman had him elf
commanded at Shiloh and Vieksburg,
and he stin took bride in It. To this