Front matter
•
MiiiAMMi
.-A»ftfl'-"l4i
Preface
This history of Sherman's army is written in the single interest of truth.
Using the authentic sources of information at our command, we have endeavored to render full and exact justice to all, and to perpetuate no errors that, under the circumstances, it was possible to avoid.
It is hoped that the disadvantages usually attending the publication of a biography during the lifetime of its subject, are to some extent neutralized, in the present instance, by the co-operation in our task of many of those who themselves made the history we propose to recount.
Nevertheless, and in spite of the most friendly offers of material assistance from Lieutenant-General Grant and Major-General Sherman; from the army commanders, Thomas, Howard, Slocum, and Schoeield ; from Major-Generals Logan, Blair, and Jefferson C. Davis; brevet Major-General Kilpatrick, brevet Brigadier-General Hickenlooper, of the staff of the lamented McPherson, and from very many other officers whose names we cannot now give at length, several of whom generously tendered free access to their reports, journals, and private letter-books ; the editors cannot but feel that, on many points of interest, their work is lacking in those details essential to historical completeness, which time alone can supply.
4 PREFACE.
The events treated are, in some instances, perhaps too" recent for enlightened and impartial criticism ; in others, respect for the living or for the honored dead, whose memories are yet green, may have imposed reticence or silence upon the lips of those on whose evidence depends our knowledge of the truth ; in still others, it will probably require the careful collection and severe analysis, in the future, of minute fragments of evidence, to-day widely scattered, neglected, or inaccessible, in order to refute errors now prevalent, but unsuspected.
The editors believe, however, that laboring with a sincere and constant desire to attain correctness, they have, at least, succeeded in establishing the essential outlines which the criticism and controversy, hostile as well as friendly, they cannot hope to escape, and the new testimony that will thereby be elicited, will enable them or their more favored successors to perfect and finish.
CONTENTS,
Chapter I
BEFORE THE "WAR. — General Sherman's Ancestry and Birth.— Career at West Point. — Service in Florida — at Mobile — in Charleston Harbor—in Georgia— in North Carolina— in California. — His Marriage. Service at St. Louis. — His Resignation. — In California. — President of Louisiana State Military Academy. — Re-enters the Army . . 9
MEMPHIS. — Repairing Railways.— In Command at Memphis. — Organization of Army Corps. — Preparation for the Movement on Vicksbuhg 71
Chapter VII
THE ATTEMPT O^- vICKSBURG.— Sherman's Orders. — The Movement begun. — The N jt co-operating. — The Attack on Chickasaw Bluffs. — Failure of ie Attack. — Change of Commanders
CHAPTER VEIL
ARKANSAS POST. — Sherman in Command of the Thirteenth Corps.— The attack on Arkansas Post. — Its Surrender . 91
6 CONTENTS.
THE COLORS POINT TO THE SOUTH. — Sketches of Generals Howard, Blair, Slocum, Kilpatrick, and Osterhaus. — Destruction op Atlanta 25fi
Chapter XXI. The Lost Army 273
CHAPTER XXH.
TO THE SEA. — Line of March. — Approach to Savannah .... 279
CHAPTER XXHI.
A CHRISTMAS GIFT. — Assault on Fort McAllister. — Meeting of Sherman and the Secretary of War. — Thanks of the President . . 291
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE END OF HOOD. — Battle at Franklin. — Victory at Nashville . 301
CHAPTER XXV.
SAVANNAH. — Sherman's Orders respecting the Freedmen. — Duties of a Conquered People 314
CHAPTER XXVI.
NORTHWARD.— Sketch of General Logan.— Capture of Columbia . 330
CHAPTER XXVH.
THROUGH SOUTH CAROLINA.— Burning of Columbia. — Destruction of Cotton 339
CHAPTER XXVIII.
CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA.-Starting for Goldsboro'. — Capture of Fort Fisher and Wilmington 357
CHAPTER XXIX.
TO GOLDSBORO'. — Battle of Bentonsville 3<57
CHAPTER XXX.
THE LAST STROKE. — Orders to the Army. — Stoneman's Raid . . .378
8 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXI.
DAWN. — News of Lee's Surrender. — Surrender of General Johnston
CHAPTER XXXII.
CORRESPONDENCE DURING THE TRUCE. — Orders to General Stoneman —General Gillmore— General "Wilson— Letters to General Johnston and from hoi— To Admiral Dahlgren — To General Thomas . . 405
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE REJECTED AGREEMENT. — Secretary Stanton's Nine Reasons. — The Virginia Legislature. — President Lincoln's Policy. — The Truce. — Its Rejection. — General Halleck's Action 417
CHAPTER XXXT7.
HOMEWARD. — The Homeward March. — Arrival at Washington. — The Grand Review.— Sherman's Farewell to his Army 438
CHAPTER XXXV.
DIGRESSIVE. — Newspaper Correspondents. — Railways.— Disloyal Newspapers. — Negro Recruiting 447
CHAPTER XXXVI.
AT HOME. — Sherman's Speeches at Lancaster — Cincinnati — St. Louis 464
CHAPTER XXXVn.
CONCLUSION. — Sherman's Personal Appearance and Characteristics. — Regard for the Disabled.— Promptness and Decision.— Religious Convictions. — Anderson ville Prisoners.— His Views on Reconstruction 475
The opening of the book is shown; the full text loads in the reader.
Loading the full text…
The end
You’ve reached the end of Sherman and his campaigns : a military biography.