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certainty。
Three armies had come together from distant fields； with separate histories； yet bound by one common causethe union of our country； and the perpetuation of the Government of our inheritance。 There is no need to recall to your memories Tunnel Hill； with Rocky…Face Mountain and Buzzard…Roost Gap； and the ugly forts of Dalton behind。
We were in earnest； and paused not for danger and diffculty； but dashed through Snake…Creek Gap and fell on Resaca； then on to the Etowah； to Dallas； Kenesaw； and the heats of summer found us on the banks of the Chattahoochee； far from home； and dependent on a single road for supplies。 Again we were not to be held back by any obstacle； and crossed over and fought four hard battles for the possession of the citadel of Atlanta。 That was the crisis of our history。 A doubt still clouded our future； but we solved the problem； destroyed Atlanta； struck boldly across the State of Georgia； severed all the main arteries of life to our enemy； and Christmas found us at Savannah。
Waiting there only long enough to fill our wagons； we again began a march which； for peril； labor； and results； will compare with any ever made by an organized army。 The floods of the Savannah； the swamps of the Combahee and Edisto； the 〃high hills〃 and rocks of the Santee； the flat quagmires of the Pedee and Cape Fear Rivers； were all passed in midwinter； with its floods and rains； in the face of an accumulating enemy； and； after the battles of Averysboro' and Bentonsville； we once more came out of the wilderness； to meet our friends at Goldsboro'。 Even then we paused only long enough to get new clothing； to reload our wagons； again pushed on to Raleigh and beyond； until we met our enemy suing for peace； instead of war； and offering to submit to the injured laws of his and our country。 As long as that enemy was defiant； nor mountains nor rivers； nor swamps； nor hunger； nor cold； had checked us； but when he； who had fought us hard and persistently； offered submission； your general thought it wrong to pursue him farther； and negotiations followed； which resulted； as you all know； in his surrender。
How far the operations of this army contributed to the final overthrow of the Confederacy and the peace which now dawns upon us； must be judged by others； not by us； but that you have done all that men could do has been admitted by those in authority； and we have a right to join in the universal joy that fills our land because the war is over； and our Government stands vindicated before the world by the joint action of the volunteer armies and navy of the United States。
To such as remain in the service； your general need only remind you that success in the past was due to hard work and discipline； and that the same work and discipline are equally important in the future。 To such as go home； he will only say that our favored country is so grand； so extensive； so diversified in climate； soil； and productions； that every man may find a home and occupation suited to his taste； none should yield to the natural impatience sure to result from our past life of excitement and adventure。 You will be invited to seek new adventures abroad； do not yield to the temptation； for it will lead only to death and disappointment。
Your general now bids you farewell； with the full belief that； as in war you have been good soldiers； so in peace you will make good citizens； and if； unfortunately； new war should arise in our country； 〃Sherman's army〃 will be the first to buckle on its old armor； and come forth to defend and maintain the Government of our inheritance。
By order of Major…General W。 T。 Sherman；
L。 M。 DAYTON； Assistant Adjutant…General。
List of the Average Number of Miles marched by the Different Army Corps of the United States Forces under Command of Major…General W。 T。 SHERMAN； United States Army； during his Campaigns： 1863…'64…'65。
4th 14th 15th 16th 17th 20th Corps。 Corps。 Corps。 Corps Corps。 Corps。
Miles： 110 1；586 2；289 508 2；076 1；525
CHAPTER XXV。
CONCLUSIONMILITARY LESSONS OF THE WAR。
Having thus recorded a summary of events； mostly under my own personal supervision； during the years from 1846 to 1865； it seems proper that I should add an opinion of some of the useful military lessons to be derived therefrom。
That civil war； by reason of the existence of slavery； was apprehended by most of the leading statesmen of the half…century preceding its outbreak； is a matter of notoriety。 General Scott told me on my arrival at New York； as early as 1850； that the country was on the eve of civil war； and the Southern politicians openly asserted that it was their。 purpose to accept as a casus belli the election of General Fremont in 1856； but； fortunately or unfortunately； he was beaten by Mr。 Buchanan； which simply postponed its occurrence for four years。 Mr。 Seward had also publicly declared that no government could possibly exist half slave and half free； yet the Government made no military preparation； and the Northern people generally paid no attention； took no warning of its coming； and would not realize its existence till Fort Sumter was fired on by batteries of artillery； handled by declared enemies； from the surrounding islands and from the city of Charleston。
General Bragg； who certainly was a man of intelligence； and who； in early life； ridiculed a thousand times； in my hearing； the threats of the people of South Carolina to secede from the Federal Union； said to me in New Orleans； in February； 1861； that he was convinced that the feeling between the slave and free States had become so embittered that it was better to part in peace； better to part anyhow； and； as a separation was inevitable； that the South should begin at once； because the possibility of a successful effort was yearly lessened by the rapid and increasing inequality between the two sections； from the fact that all the European immigrants were coming to the Northern States and Territories； and none to the Southern。
The slave population m 1860 was near four millions； and the money value thereof not far from twenty…five hundred million dollars。 Now； ignoring the moral side of the question； a cause that endangered so vast a moneyed interest was an adequate cause of anxiety and preparation； and the Northern leaders surely ought to have foreseen the danger and prepared for it。 After the election of Mr。 Lincoln in 1860； there was no concealment of the declaration and preparation for war in the South。 In Louisiana； as I have related； men were openly enlisted； officers were appointed； and war was actually begun； in January； 1861。 The forts at the mouth of the Mississippi were seized； and occupied by garrisons that hauled down the United States flag and hoisted that of the State。 The United States Arsenal at Baton Rouge was captured by New Orleans militia； its garrison ignominiously sent off； and the contents of the arsenal distributed。 These were as much acts of war as was the subsequent firing on Fort Sumter； yet no public notice was taken thereof； and when； months afterward； I came North； I found not one single sign of preparati