Sherman and his campaigns; a military biography

Front matter

^^0^

^ - ft IS £>■ -i ol^

Ho, 1

Preface

This history of Sheeman's army is written in tlie 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 Hfetime 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 Geant and Major-General Sheeman ; from the army commanders, Thomas, HowAED, Slocum, and Schofield ; from Major-Generals Logan, Blaie, and Jeffeeson C. Davis; brevet Major-General KiLPATEiCK, brevet Brigadier-General Hickenloopee, of the staff of the lamented McPheeson, 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

Tlie events treated are, in some instances, perhaps too recent for enliglitened and impartial criticism; in others, respect for the hving or for the honored dead, whose memories are yet green, may have imposed reticence or silence upon the hps 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 estabhshing 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.

Chapter I

BEFORE THE WAR. — General Sherman's Ancestry and Birth,— Career AT West Point.— Service in Florida — at Mobile — in Charleston Hae- BOR— 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

CHAPTER n.

AN EXPERIMENT.— Battle of Bull Run.— Appointed Brigadier-General 26

CHAPTER ni.

THE SECESSION JUGGLE IN KENTUCKY.- Kentucky Neutrality. — Sher-

MAN in COJUIAND IN KENTUCKY — AT ST. LOUIS — AT PADUCAH ... 37

CHAPTER IV.

SHILOH.— Battle of Pitsburgh Landing ^

CHAPTER V.

CORINTH.- The Battle of Corinth.- The Evacuation.— Appointed Major- General of Volunteers 60

CHAPTER VI.

MEIVIPHIS.- Repairing Railavays. — In Command at Memphis. — Organization OF Army Corps.— Preparation for the Movement on Vicksburg 71

CHAPTER VII.

THE ATTEMPT ON VICKSBURG.— Sherman's Orders. — The Movement begun. —The NAiY CO-OPERATING. — The ATTACK ON CHICKASAW BLUFFS.—

Failure of ihe Attack. — Change of Commanders 80

CHAPTER VIII.

ARKANSAS POST. — Sherman in Command of the Thirteenth Corps.- The Attack ok Arkansas Post. — Its Surrender 91

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IX.

THE SIEGE AND FALL OF VICKSBURG.— Preparation for the Siege.— Up the Yazoo.— Grand Gulf. — Jackson.— Vicksburg. — The Surrender

CHAPTER X.

THE LULL AFTER VICKSBURG. — The Armies at Rest. — Sherman's Correspondence 119

CHAPTER XI.

TO CHATTANOOGA. — BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE.— The March to Chattanooga. — Change of Commanders. — Lookout Mountain. — Missionary Ridge. — Ringgold 131

CHAPTER Xn.

KNOXVILLE.— Relief.— Re-organizing.— Treatment of the Inhabitants 147

CHAPTER XIII.

THE MERIDIAN RAID.— A New Command.— Polk's Defeat.— Banks's Expedition to Red River. — Grant's Letter to Sherman upon his Promotion 159

CHAPTER XIV.

THE ARMY OF THE CENTRE. — Its Organization and Position. — Sketch OF Generals Thomas and McPhekson, — Organization ok the Army . 169

CHAPTER XV.

BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS.— Tunnel Hill.— Buzzard's-Roost Gap.— Resaca. — Rome. — Kingston. — Allatoona Pass . . , ... . . .183

CHAPTER XVI.

ACROSS THE CHATTAHOOCHEE.— Attack on Kenesaw Mountain.— Death OF Mcpherson 190

CHAPTER XVII.

ATLANTA WON. — Stoneman's Raid on Andeusonville.— Hooker relieved 201

CHAPTER XVIII.

TAKING BREATH.— Removal of Citizens from Atlanta. — Hood's Letter to Sherman. — The Negro Question 219

CHAPTER XIX.

HOOD'S INVASION. — Sketch of General Ransom 241

CONTENTS. 7

CHAPTER XX.

THE COLOKS POINT TO THE SOUTH. — Sketches of Generals Howard, Blair, Slocum, Kilpatrick, and Osterhaus.— Destruction of Atlanta 25a

CHAPTER XXI.

THE LOST AKMT . . ' 273

CHAPTER XXII.

TO THE SEA. — Line of March. — Approach to Savannah .... 279

CHAPTER XXin.

A CHRISTMAS GIFT. — Assault on Fort McAllister. — m keting 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.

NOKTHWARD.— Sketch of General Logan.— Capture OF Columbia . 330

CHAPTER XXVn.

THROUGH SOUTH CAROLINA.— Burning of Columbia. — Destruction of Cotton 339

CHAPTER XXVin.

CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA.— Starting for Golds- BORO'. — Capture of Fokt Fisher and Wilmington 357

CHAPTER XXIX.

TO GOLDSBORO'. — Battle of Bentonsville Wf

CHAPTER XXX.

THE LAST STROKE. — Orders to the Army. — Stoneman's Raid ... 378

8 CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXI.

DAWN.— News of Lee's Sukrendee. — Surhender of General Johnston 388

CHAPTER XXXn.

CORRESPONDENCE DURIl^G THE TRUCE. — Orders to General Stoneman — General Gillmore— General Wilson.— Letters to General Johnston AND FEOii HIM— To Admiral Dahlgren — To General Thomas . . 405

CHAPTER XXXin.

THE REJECTED AGREEMENT. — Secretary Stanton's Nine Reasons.— The Virginia Legislature. — President Lincoln's Policy.— The Truce.— Its Eejection. — General Halleck's Action 417

CHAPTER XXXIV.

HOMEWARD. — The Homeward March. — Arrival at Washington. — The Grand Review.— Sherman's Farewell to his Army 436

CHAPTER XXXV.

DIGRESSIVE.— Newspaper Correspondents. — Railways.— Disloyal Newspapers. — Negro Receotting ,447

CHAPTER XXXVI.

AT HOME.— Sherman's Speeches at Lancaster- Cincinnati— St. Loms 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 4?5