The Washington herald., 1914-12-13
SHERMAN FACES FOOD
PROBLEM.
December IL.

December IL.
Fifty years ago today Sherman was re-
building a great bridge over the Ogeechee
River at Kings Plantation. about thirteen
miles southwest OF Savannah. in order
10 send troops to attack Fort McAllister
the next day. The fort was one Of Savan-
nah's chief defenses seaward.
The reduction of the fort. which blocked
navigation on the Ogeechee River. was
OF imperative necessity to the Union
army. Sherman had marched across
Georgia. from Atlanta TO the defenses OF
Savannah. a distance OF about 3O0 miles
by road, with an army of 5000 men. The
problem OF feeding his troops had been
a great one.
However. the richness of the country
through which the army moved had If
fered a temporary solution. Acting un-
der orders issued a few days before the
march began on November IS, the troops
had lived on the country and a veritable
swarm OF foragers had brought in i'm
mense quantities OF supplies. Indeed,
food was so plentiful that the hardtack
In the wagons was untouched.
But now that the march had ended.
and the Federals were face to face with
the Confederates in front of Savannah,
Ine OF nTONlOlnE
came to the fore. The rich plantations
OF the interior, with their fine hams and
stores of bacon, their well-stocked corn
cribs and their broad fields Of ripe
grain were no longer at hand.
The only food available in any quanti-
ty was rice. On every side the Federals
found the great marshes and bOgs set
with il, and for severA. days had en-
deavored to emulate the Chinese. But a
liz a nh
IL was a matter OF utmost urgency to
open communications with the blockad-
ing feet so that supplies might be
brought to the army. II Fort McAllister
doned his outer line and retreated to
could be captured the Federals would
control a great waterway connection
between their army and the feet.
Three Miles from Savannah.
Sherman's foresight in marching upon
Savannah in four columns, three corps
being north OF the Ogeechee River and
a fourth south of it, had forced the Con-
federates to change their plans Of de-
fense and greatly increased the Federal
chances OF success in an attack on the
city's defense.
The defenders of Savannah, numbering
about 1900. were in command of Gen.
W. H. Hardee, a very able officer. II
ndu DGCH IldEutG ; bldll " Alit NiAS
on a line about ten miles to the west
and extending acress the narrow neck Of
land on which the city is built. between
the Savannah and Ogeechee Rivers. SUCH
a line would have covered the Savannah
and Charleston Railroad, which ran west
from Savannah before crossing to the
north bank Of the Savannah River.
Hardee had already placed his troops
IN position when he learned that one of
-.
ing down the south bank Of the OgeeChee
and would turn the left of his defensive
line and perhaps cut. OF his retreat to-
ward Savannah. So he hastily aban-
within three miles Of the city, where he
took up a position of great natural
strength.
The new line was behind a broad belt
of rice swamps that completely blocked
the way down to Savannah. The few
roads coming into the city were built on
narrow causeways across the rice fields,
which, by a series of flood gates and
dams, were flooded to a depth Of from
three to six feet by the waters OF the
Savannah and Ogeechee rivers.
Part Of the Charleston Railroad fell
into the hands of Sherman's army a. II
advanced. and the Confederates were
obliged to communicate with the city OF
Characterization where il was necessary
to obtain supplies, as there was not SUI
hcient within the city to last during a
siege-by way OF Union causeway, which
crossed the swamps north Of the Savan-
nah River and struck the railroad near
Hardeeville, s. C.. fourteen miles to the
north, well beyond the Federal sphere Of
control.
Gen. Hardee was thus assured that he
could be supplied during a siege and find
way of retreat If necessary. So he
settled down to strengthening his works
in preparation for the next move OF Sher-
mans army.
Past McAIIister I'm DugOut.
Having ordered Gen. o. o. Howard.
the Federal right wind. to
rebuild the bridge over the Ogeechee,
at Kings Plantation. which the Con-
federates had partially destroyed. the
Federal commander rode to that place
in person nifty years ago today.
1t was evening when he reached
Kings house. where Howard had taken
up temporary quarters. There he met
Gen. William B. IIazen, commanding
the Second Division OF the Fifteenth
Army Corps (OsterhausD. to whom he
assigned the honor of attacking the
fort the next day.
The engineers were busy at their
work. II was found that the Confed-
crates had left nearly all of the bridge
piling in place. and had DESTROYED only
the superstructure, so that by diligent
laboring all through the night the
bridge was to be finished next morning.
By this time. the commander of the
Federal feet on Savannah. Admiral John
A. Dahlgren. who had been anxiously
awaiting news from Sherman, had been
apprised of his presence near the coast.
Capt william Duncan and two other of
Gen. Towards scouts had padded down
the Ogeechee River In a small dugout
canoe a few days before. Drifting past
Fort McAllister in the night. they had