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！
ces along the coast； commanded by Foster； will follow my movement； taking any thing the enemy lets go； or so occupy his attention that he cannot detach all his forces against me。 I feel sure of getting Wilmington； and may be Charleston； and being at Goldsboro'； with its railroads finished back to Morehead City and Wilmington； I can easily take Raleigh； when it seems that Lee must come out。 If Schofield comes to Beaufort； he should be pushed out to Kinston； on the Neuse； and may be Goldsboro' （or； rather； a point on the Wilmington road； south of Goldsboro'）。 It is not necessary to storm Goldsboro'； because it is in a distant region； of no importance in itself； and； if its garrison is forced to draw supplies from its north； it； will be eating up the same stores on which Lee depends for his command。
I have no doubt Hood will bring his army to Augusta。 Canby and Thomas should penetrate Alabama as far as possible； to keep employed at least a part of Hood's army； or； what would accomplish the same thing； Thomas might reoccupy the railroad from Chattanooga forward to the Etowah； viz。； Rome； Kingston； and Allatoona； thereby threatening Georgia。 I know that the Georgia troops are disaffected。 At Savannah I met delegates from several counties of the southwest； who manifested a decidedly hostile spirit to the Confederate cause。 I nursed the feeling as far as possible； and instructed Grower to keep it up。
My left wing must now be at Sister's Ferry； crossing the Savannah River to the east bank。 Slocum has orders to be at Robertsville to…morrow； prepared to move on Barnwell。 Howard is here； all ready to start for the Augusta Railroad at Midway。
We find the enemy on the east aide of the Salkiehatchie； and cavalry in our front； but all give ground on our approach； and seem to be merely watching us。 If we start on Tuesday； in one week we shall be near Orangeburg； having broken up the Augusta road from the Edisto westward twenty or twenty…five miles。 I will be sure that every rail is twisted。 Should we encounter too much opposition near Orangeburg； then I will for a time neglect that branch； and rapidly move on Columbia； and fill up the triangle formed by the Congaree and Wateree （tributaries of the Santee）； breaking up that great centre of the Carolina roads。 Up to that point I feel full confidence； but from there may have to manoeuvre some； and will be guided by the questions of weather and supplies。
You remember we had fine weather last February for our Meridian trip； and my memory of the weather at Charleston is； that February is usually a fine month。 Before the March storms come we should be within striking distance of the coast。 The months of April and May will be the best for operations from Goldsboro' to Raleigh and the Roanoke。 You may rest assured that I will keep my troops well in hand； and； if I get worsted； will aim to make the enemy pay so dearly that you will have less to do。 I know that this trip is necessary； it must be made sooner or later； I am on time； and in the right position for it。 My army is large enough for the purpose； and I ask no reinforcement； but simply wish the utmost activity to be kept up at all other points； so that concentration against me may not be universal。
I suspect that Jeff。 Davis will move heaven and earth to catch me； for success to this column is fatal to his dream of empire。 Richmond is not more vital to his cause than Columbia and the heart of South Carolina。
If Thomas will not move on Selma； order him to occupy Rome； Kingston； and Allatoona； and again threaten Georgia in the direction of Athena。
I think the 〃poor white trash〃 of the South are falling out of their ranks by sickness； desertion； and every available means； but there is a large class of vindictive Southerners who will fight to the last。 The squabbles in Richmond； the howls in Charleston； and the disintegration elsewhere； are all good omens for us； we must not relax one iota； but； on the contrary； pile up our efforts： I world； ere this； have been off； but we had terrific rains； which caught us in motion； and nearly drowned some of the troops in the rice…fields of the Savannah； swept away our causeway （which had been carefully corduroyed）； and made the swamps hereabout mere lakes of slimy mud。 The weather is now good； and I have the army on terra firma。 Supplies； too； came for a long time by daily driblets instead of in bulk； this is now all remedied； and I hope to start on Tuesday。
I will issue instructions to General Foster； based on the reenforcements of North Carolina； but if Schofield come； you had better relieve Foster； who cannot take the field； and needs an operation on his leg。 Let Schofield take command； with his headquarters at Beaufort； North Carolina； and with orders to secure Goldsboro' （with its railroad communication back to Beaufort and Wilmington）。 If Lee lets us get that position； he is gone up。
I will start with my Atlanta army （sixty thousand）； supplied as before； depending on the country for all food in excess of thirty days。 I will have less cattle on the hoof； but I hear of hogs； cows； and calves； in Barnwell and the Colombia districts。 Even here we have found some forage。 Of course； the enemy will carry off and destroy some forage； but I will burn the houses where the people burn their forage； and they will get tired of it。
I must risk Hood； and trust to you to hold Lee or be on his heels if he comes south。 I observe that the enemy has some respect for my name； for they gave up Pocotaligo without a fight when they heard that the attacking force belonged to my army。 I will try and keep up that feeling； which is a real power。 With respect； your friend；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…general commanding。
P。 S。I leave my chief…quartermaster and commissary behind to follow coastwise。 W。 T。 S。
＇Dispatch No。 6。＇
FLAG…STEAMER PHILADELPHIA SAVANNAH RIVER； January 4； 1865。
HON。 GIDEON WELLS； Secretary of the Navy。
SIR： I have already apprised the Department that the army of General Sherman occupied the city of Savannah on the 21st of December。
The rebel army； hardly respectable in numbers or condition； escaped by crossing the river and taking the Union Causeway toward the railroad。
I have walked about the city several times； and can affirm that its tranquillity is undisturbed。 The Union soldiers who are stationed within its limits are as orderly as if they were in New York or Boston。。。。 One effect of the march of General Sherman through Georgia has been to satisfy the people that their credulity has been imposed upon by the lying assertions of the rebel Government； affirming the inability of the United States Government to withstand the armies of rebeldom。 They have seen the old flag of the United States carried by its victorious legions through their State； almost unopposed； and placed in their principal city without a blow。
Since the occupation of the city General Sherman has been occupied in making arrangements for its security after he leaves it for the march that he meditates。 My attention has been directed to such measures of cooperation as the number and quality of my force permit。
On the 2d I arrived here from Charleston； whither； a