按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
lost five thousand men at Franklin； and ten thousand in the last three days' operations。 Breckenridge is said to be making for Murfreesboro'。
I think he is in a most excellent place。 Stoneman has nearly wiped out John Morgan's old command； and five days ago entered Bristol。 I did think the best thing to do was to bring the greater part of your army here； and wipe out Lee。 The turn affairs now seem to be taking has shaken me in that opinion。 I doubt whether you may not accomplish more toward that result where you are than if brought here； especially as I am informed； since my arrival in the city； that it would take about two months to get you here with all the other calls there are for ocean transportation。
I want to get your views about what ought to be done； and what can be done。 If you capture the garrison of Savannah； it certainly will compel Lee to detach from Richmond； or give us nearly the whole South。 My own opinion is that Lee is averse to going out of Virginia； and if the cause of the South is lost he wants Richmond to be the last place surrendered。 If he has such views； it may be well to indulge him until we get every thing else in our hands。
Congratulating you and the army again upon the splendid results of your campaign； the like of which is not read of in past history； I subscribe myself； more than ever； if possible； your friend；
U。 S。 GRANT； Lieutenant…General。
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY CITY POINT； VIRGINIA； December 26； 1864。
Major…General W。 T。 SHERMAN； Savannah； Georgia。
GENERAL： Your very interesting letter of the 22d inst。； brought by Major Grey of General Foster's staff； is fast at hand。 As the major starts back at once； I can do no more at present than simply acknowledge its receipt。 The capture of Savannah； with all its immense stores； must tell upon the people of the South。 All well here。 Yours truly；
U。 S。 GRANT； Lieutenant…General。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI SAVANNAH； GEORGIA； December 24； 1864。
Lieutenant…General U。 S。 GRANT； City Point； Virginia。
GENERAL： Your letter of December 18th is just received。 I feel very much gratified at receiving the handsome commendation you pay my army。 I will； in general orders； convey to the officers and men the substance of your note。
I am also pleased that you have modified your former orders； for I feared that the transportation by sea would very much disturb the unity and morale of my army； now so perfect。
The occupation of Savannah； which I have heretofore reported； completes the first part of our game； and fulfills a great part of your instructions； and we are now engaged in dismantling the rebel forts which bear upon the sea…channels； and transferring the heavy ordnance and ammunition to Fort Pulaski and Hilton Head； where they can be mare easily guarded than if left in the city。
The rebel inner lines are well adapted to our purpose； and with slight modifications can be held by a comparatively small force； and in about ten days I expect to be ready to sally forth again。 I feel no doubt whatever as to our future plans。 I have thought them over so long and well that they appear as clear as daylight。 I left Augusta untouched on purpose； because the enemy will be in doubt as to my objective point； after we cross the Savannah River； whether it be Augusta or Charleston； and will naturally divide his forces。 I will then move either on Branchville or Colombia； by any curved line that gives us the best supplies； breaking up in our course as much railroad as possible； then； ignoring Charleston and Augusta both； I would occupy Columbia and Camden； pausing there long enough to observe the effect。 I would then strike for the Charleston & Wilmington Railroad； somewhere between the Santee and Cape Fear Rivers； and； if possible； communicate with the fleet under Admiral Dahlgren （whom I find a most agreeable gentleman； accommodating himself to our wishes and plans）。 Then I would favor an attack on Wilmington； in the belief that Porter and Butler will fail in their present undertaking。 Charleston is now a mere desolated wreck； and is hardly worth the time it would take to starve it out。 Still； I am aware that； historically and politically； much importance is attached to the place； and it may be that； apart from its military importance； both you and the Administration may prefer I should give it more attention； and it would be well for you to give me some general idea on that subject； for otherwise I would treat it as I have expressed； as a point of little importance； after all its railroads leading into the interior have been destroyed or occupied by us。 But； on the hypothesis of ignoring Charleston and taking Wilmington； I would then favor a movement direct on Raleigh。 The game is then up with Lee； unless he comes out of Richmond； avoids you and fights me； in which case I should reckon on your being on his heels。 Now that Hood is used up by Thomas； I feel disposed to bring the matter to an issue as quick as possible。 I feel confident that I can break up the whole railroad system of South Carolina and North Carolina； and be on the Roanoke； either at Raleigh or Weldon； by the time spring fairly opens； and； if you feel confident that you can whip Lee outside of his intrenchments； I feell equally confident that I can handle him in the open country。
One reason why I would ignore Charleston is this： that I believe Hardee will reduce the garrison to a small force； with plenty of provisions； I know that the neck back of Charleston can be made impregnable to assault； and we will hardly have time for siege operations。
I will have to leave in Savannah a garrison； and； if Thomas can spare them； I would like to have all detachments； convalescents； etc。； belonging to these four corps； sent forward at once。 I do not want to cripple Thomas； because I regard his operations as all…important； and I have ordered him to pursue Hood down into Alabama； trusting to the country for supplies。
I reviewed one of my corps to…day； and shall continue to review the whole army。 I do not like to boast； but believe this army has a confidence in itself that makes it almost invincible。 I wish you could run down and see us； it would have a good effect； and show to both armies that they are acting on a common plan。 The weather is now cool and pleasant； and the general health very good。 Your true friend；
W。 T。 SHERMAN Major…General。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD； SAVANNAH； GEORGIA； December 24； 1864。
Major…General H。 W。 HALLECK； Chief…of…Staff； Washington； D。 C。
GENERAL： I had the pleasure of receiving your two letters of the 16th and 18th instant to…day； and feel more than usually flattered by the high encomiums you have passed on our recent campaign； which is now complete by the occupation of Savannah。
I am also very glad that General Grant has changed his mind about embarking my troops for James River； leaving me free to make the broad swath you describe through South and North Carolina； and still more gratified at the news from Thomas； in Tennessee； because it fulfills my plans； which contemplated his being able to dispose of Hood； in case he ventured north o