ARMY OF THE OHIO.

Fourth Division, Twenty-third Army Corps—Brigadier-General JACOB AMMEN, commanding.

First Brigade.
(Cumberland Gap, Tennessee.)
Colonel W. Y. Dillard.

34th Kentucky Infantry.

2d N. C. Mounted Infantry.

9th Indiana Infantry.

L, 1st Michigan Light Ar’y.

M, 1st Michigan Light Ar’y.

B, 1st Tenn’see Light Ar’y.

22d Ohio Battery.

11th Tennessee Cavalry.

Second Brigade.
(Knoxville, Tennessee.)
Brigadier-General D. Tillson.

2d East Tennessee Inf’y.

1st Ohio Heavy Artillery.

1st U.S. Col’d Heavy Ar’y.

21st Ohio Battery.

Colvin’s Illinois Battery.

Elgin’s Illinois Battery.

Wilder’s Indiana Battery.

10th Michigan Cavalry.

Third Brigade.
(Loudon, Tennessee.)
Colonel B. P. Runkle.

50th Ohio Infantry.

1st Tennessee Infantry.

11th Kentucky Infantry.

27th Kentucky Infantry.

4th Tennessee Infantry.

Henshaw’s Illinois Battery.

14th Illinois Cavalry.

NOTE.—The 91st Indiana, 50th Ohio, 1st Tennessee, and the 11th and 27th Kentucky, of this command, were ordered to join the army in the field, May 17, 1864.

District of Kentucky, or Fifth Division, Twenty-third Army Corps—Brigadier-General S. G. BURBRIDGE, commanding.

FIRST DIVISION.

Brigadier-General E. H. HOBSON, commanding.

First Brigade.
Colonel S. Brown.

39th Kent’y Mounted Inf’y.

11th Michigan Cavalry.

14th Kentucky Infantry.

Second Brigade.
Colonel C. J. True.

40th Kent’y Mounted Inf’y.

12th Ohio Cavalry.

13th Kentucky Cavalry.

Third Brigade.
Colonel C. S. Hanson.

37th Kent’y Mounted Inf’y.

52d Kent’y Mounted Inf’y.

FOURTH BRIGADE.

Colonel J. M. BROWN, commanding.

30th Kentucky Mounted Infantry.

45th Kentucky Mounted Infantry.

47th Kentucky Infantry.

49th Kentucky Infantry.

1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery.

SECOND DIVISION.

Brigadier-General HUGH EWING, commanding.

First Brigade.
Lieutenant-Colonel
T. B. Fairleigh.

77th Co., 2d Battalion, V. R. C.

56th Co., 2d Battalion, V. R. C.

40th Co., 2d Battalion, V. R. C.

D, 23d Regiment, V. R. C.

48th Kentucky Infantry.

2d Ohio Heavy Artillery (det.).

20th Kentucky Infantry.

27th Kentucky Infantry.

Second Brigade.
Colonel C. Maxwell.

26th Kentucky Infantry.

35th Kentucky Infantry. (mounted).

2d Ohio Heavy Artillery (det.).

Newport Barracks, Kentucky—Captain CHARLES SMITH, commanding.
Permanent party.

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, October 23, 1875.

General W. T. SHERMAN, United States Army, St. Louis, Missouri.

GENERAL: I read in a paper yesterday that you were bringing out a second edition of your “Memoirs.” If this be so, permit me to correct a few errors in your first edition in regard to your march through Georgia, which, though of no moment to you in comparison with your grand operations, are pertinent to the truth of history, and to me in connection with it.

On page 665, second volume, you say, “But these hastily retreated east across the Oconee River, leaving a good bridge, which we promptly secured.”

I did not cross the Oconee River, as you state, but moved by rail to the support of General Cobb at Macon, with a company of mounted scouts, one battery of field-artillery, and about five hundred men, composed as you have stated. Before leaving Milledgeville, I ordered the bridge you refer to to be burned; but, on the representation to me by leading citizens that the bridge was essential to the town for supplies, and for a way of escape at the last, and knowing that its destruction would offer but a slight impediment to your well-appointed army, in the absence of all opposition, I revoked the order for its destruction. On arrival at Gordon, I learned that the wires between it and Macon had been cut about twenty minutes before, which caused me to halt, as I apprehended you had anticipated me, and that a portion of your command was in my way. Scouts were sent forward, and about midnight I learned from them and from citizens who came in of the repulse at Macon, and of General G. W. Smith’s affair at Griswold. I was completely cut off from all communication with Macon I knew, and awaited further information and instructions, intrenching meanwhile. None, however, came to me, and learning from my scouts that a force of the enemy, of between four and five thousand, were close upon me, which my few hundreds could not contend with in the flat, open country, I fell back about sunset to the railroad crossing of the Ogeechee River, where a battalion of Confederate troops and a field-battery of Confederate artillery were stationed under command of Major Alfred L. Hartridge, of the Confederate army. The advance of your troops entered Gordon as I left, but failed in its attempt to head and cut me off. On arriving at the Ogeechee I assumed the command of the mixed troops, and spent Monday and Tuesday in strengthening my position at the bridge and at Ball’s Ferry, eight miles below. My force numbered twelve hundred men, all told.

On Wednesday morning, at half-past ten, your advance opened upon me at the bridge, and about 3 P.M. at the ferry below. I held my ground, repulsing every attempt to carry the bridge and the ferry throughout Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, when at dusk I learned that your left wing was closing my rear. In consequence, I withdrew my troops at the ferry, and abandoning the bridge at 1 A.M. Saturday, I fell back toward Millen, passing at Tenille within three miles of Slocum’s advance. While at the bridge I had acquired from my scouts, who examined your columns closely, accurate information of your strength and movements, all of which was telegraphed to General Hardee at Savannah. But so possessed was he with the idea that my reports were exaggerated, and that you were making the best escape you could to the protection of the gunboats at Port Royal or Ossabaw, that my advice with regard to his action was not heeded. He was induced, however, to run up to me at the bridge, arriving Friday evening, but even there and at Tenille, where I had a consultation with him again, he could not comprehend the situation, so prejudiced had his mind become by telegrams from General Bragg at Augusta. At Millen I again halted until a courier from General Wheeler advised me to fall back to the crossing of the Little Ogeechee, as General Kilpatrick was working to get behind me.

At the Little Ogeechee I again took up position until your right wing lapped me, when I fell back. On receiving my telegram to that effect, General Hardee peremptorily ordered me to return to my position at the Little Ogeechee, adding that he would send up four thousand Confederate troops to my assistance. I returned as ordered, although my officers, in a body, protested against it, resumed my abandoned lines, and was reënforced as promised. The troops were disposed to make the best fight against overwhelming odds that could be made, and I grimly awaited the result. Your advance began skirmishing in the morning. In the course of the day General McLaws arrived with orders from General Hardee to relieve me in the command. I rode with McLaws along the lines, explaining my positions and the reasons for them, and the condition of affairs, and, returning to the telegraph station on the line of the railroad, resigned the command and retired to sleep, of which I stood in need. Hardly had I closed my eyes, when a request from General McLaws took me again to the telegraph station. Taking me aside, he told me that he had come up under a total misconception of the state of affairs; that their true condition had not been represented to him, and that under the circumstances he would not take the command, and that I must get out of the scrape. I told him that General Hardee had my telegrams representing Sherman’s force at over seventy thousand men, marching leisurely along; that I had got out of the scrape once, but was sent back with increased numbers to complicate the problem, and that I was truly glad to be relieved from such (in my opinion) unwise operations. He positively refused to continue in command, and immediately returned to Savannah. Skirmishing in front was continuing, and from my advanced line I observed your position and movements to flank my right, the river being fordable, about waist-deep, above. Keeping my own counsel, I waited until eleven o’clock at night, when I sent for the generals of divisions and brigades, explained to them the position, and gave orders for withdrawing immediately and silently. The orders were well executed, and by 2 A.M. I had extricated my men and was in retreat; the cavalry, with a battery of field-artillery, covering it. At daybreak I saw my anticipations realized. You had flanked me, ready to close upon my right wing and rear. Escaping from your troops, I found my retreat embarrassed by an unexpected and dangerous obstruction. Civilians had been sent out from Savannah to burn the bridges in your front, and had commenced by destroying them in my rear, instead of waiting for me to pass. This nearly cost me my artillery, which was only saved by the coolness and energy of the officer in command of it. At about fifteen miles from Savannah my retreat was arrested by orders to take position behind a line of rifle-pits that had been dug there, and to occupy the line between the railroad and the Savannah River. Reconnoitring the position, I returned to my command and began my dispositions, when orders came to me to fall back upon the city, and occupy a line between the Augusta road and the river.

On arriving in Savannah I reported in person at headquarters, and found there General Beauregard, who had come over from Charleston. Making my report to him, in which your strength was included, he threw his hands up and exclaimed: “My God, Harry! what has come over you? You did not use to be so nervous! General Bragg telegraphs me from Augusta that Sherman has not more than twenty-one thousand men with him, that he hardly has eighteen thousand muskets, and is making a hasty retreat for his gunboats, either across Sister’s Ferry to Port Royal, or to Ossabaw.” I replied: “General, I don’t know what reliable sources of information General Bragg may have in Augusta, but General Wheeler and I, who are the only general officers who have been in front of the enemy for the past fifteen days, have both reported that General Sherman has with him a force of more than seventy thousand men, well organized and equipped, marching leisurely, and showing no signs of haste. He cannot cross the Savannah River at Sister’s Ferry, as there is a freshet, and the South Carolina side is flooded for three miles and more beyond it. Believe me, that Savannah is his objective point, and that on Friday night he will invest the city.” My words seemed, unfortunately, to have no weight, and General G. W. Smith recovering from a slight attack of illness, I turned over to him the next day my command, and awaited the inevitable result of your movements.

On Friday morning early, my cousin, Colonel George Gordon, of the Sixtieth Georgia, temporarily attached to headquarters, called upon me in much concern, for he was sincerely attached to me, and expressed great regret at the position I held in the public estimation, saying that scouts had gone seventy miles up the right bank of the Ogeechee without encountering a sign of an enemy, and that I must certainly be mistaken. To which I answered that I was fully aware of the public feeling toward me and was sorry for it, but that I was right and not mistaken, as events would show, and that, though unpleasant, I had to bear like a man present contumely, knowing that I was right; and added: “Mark my words! at 2 P.M. to-day some of Osterhaus’s men will break up the little command of North Carolinians at No. 2, and at nine to-night Savannah will be surrounded. I hear that your uncle, Mr. Cuyler, the President of the Central Railroad, intends leaving by a special train this evening on the Gulf Railroad for Macon. Beg him, from me, not to attempt it, for if he does he will run into Sherman’s lines.” He went, however, and was captured. Learning toward evening that General Beauregard intended to return that night to Charleston by the railroad, I called upon him and urged him not to attempt it, but cross at Screven’s Ferry, below Savannah, and take the road at Hardeeville. My advice, however, was rejected, and he left by rail. Fortunately, the conductor thought there might be some danger, and ran slowly, stopping his train within about a mile of Slocum’s lines. General Beauregard returned to Savannah and crossed at Screven’s Ferry. The next morning revealed to the incredulous that Savannah was invested. The capture of McAllister settled the doubts as to your object completely.

The defense of Savannah should have been made, as I advised at the time, along the line of the Great Ogeechee. There you might have been checked, as my own slight resistance subsequently convinced me. That river passed, however, there was no serious impediment in your way to the sea. And had a strong fight been made there, I question if you could have made your way through the Carolinas unless reënforced strongly at Savannah. At no time was General Hardee in the field with ten thousand men, as you state on page 669, second volume. He was not in the field at all with any troops. And what you state on the same page with regard to McLaws at Ogeechee Church (the Little Ogeechee I call it) I have already explained in this narrative.

In all the incidents of this, my little campaign, I owe whatever merit may attach to them largely to my chief-of-staff, General Capers; and in resistance at the bridge and Ball’s Ferry, to him, and to Major Alfred L. Hartridge, an élève of the Georgia Military Institute, in immediate command of the Confederate troops under me.

If I have been prolix, attribute it to the necessity for explaining, in justice to myself and my family, that which has not yet been understood, until this the first opportunity for explanation has been properly presented to me. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

HENRY C. WAYNE.

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, January, 1865.

Hon. GERRIT SMITH, Peterboro, New York.

MY DEAR SIR: You have heard, I know, of our occupation of this place, and many of the incidents connected with it must be familiar to you, but there is one which I wish you could have witnessed. I chanced on two or three consecutive days after our arrival to be in General Sherman’s rooms when he was receiving the negroes of the place. Poor creatures! they came to him as their deliverer, and one black preacher told him, like Simeon in the Bible, he had prayed for this day, and all he now wanted was to see Mr. Lincoln. Some of them wanted to kneel before him, but the general would not permit it, and told them they must not kneel to any one but their Maker. To the white rebels, particularly those in high official positions, swelling, as they are apt to do, with their own self-importance, Sherman is not conciliatory. He tells them plainly of their crime and of the penalties which they must expect, and his treatment is the same of those who attempt to shield themselves under the garb of foreign allegiance or foreign official position; but to these humble creatures, overflowing with gratitude to God and to him, he was a different person, all kindness and goodness. He detained them with him, and their simple talk seemed to give him a pleasure which I have not seen him display in his intercourse with those of more pretension. While I was with him a negro recruiting officer came in to exhibit his papers. The general did not encourage him, and the other blacks present at once appealed to the general to know whether they were all liable to be conscripted and carried off, as armed parties were then circulating through the city, seizing every one they could, doubtless to speculate upon the bounties offered by the Government. General Sherman at once dispatched his staff-officers to put a stop to this outrage, and told the negroes that they were now free, that they must look for their living, and that, if they chose to enter the army and fight, they could do so, but should not be compelled to enlist or be treated otherwise than white men were; and that, so far as his feelings were concerned, he would rather for some time yet use them as laborers and pioneers than as soldiers.

You and I, who have been abolitionists of the strictest school for so many years—I since 1834, and you longer—may be permitted to be critical respecting the faith of new converts, and I am willing to take this display of General Sherman’s feelings before the louder professions of many others. Previous to this interview with the blacks, which I witnessed, I had regarded General Sherman as a pro-slavery man—for most of the men I meet are pro-slavery—but since then I have looked upon him as not simply a great man but a good man as well.

I wish you would let your friend Phillips, and others thinking as we do, know these facts, since a man having the ability to do so much good, and having his heart in the right direction, should have all possible encouragement and support. Most affectionately yours,

A. BAIRD.

NOTE.—To this letter Mr. Smith made a prompt reply, expressing great gratification on his part and on that of Mr. Wendell Phillips, to whom he sent the letter, at this exhibition of General Sherman’s feelings. I forwarded Mr. Smith’s reply to General Sherman, and he promptly sent me the following reply:

A. B.

HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
IN THE FIELD, GOLDSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, April 3, 1865

General A. BAIRD, present.

DEAR BAIRD: I thank you for the perusal of Gerrit Smith’s letter. I doubt not he feels the joy he expresses at our progress, because we free the slaves in the same ratio that we manifest the power of our Government.

It seems impossible for citizens to understand us of the old army. In our private circles we may be gentle, kind, and forbearing, but when mutiny and war show their horrid heads we may seem very devils. As to the negro, I know I will do as much to ameliorate his political and social condition as Mr. Gerrit Smith, Wendell Phillips, Greeley, and others who seem to me mere theorists and not practical workers. If the people of the South had stood by the Constitution, I for one would have fought for the protection of the slave property, just as much as for any other kind of property, because the Constitution was a contract, signed, sealed, and delivered, and we had no right to go behind it. The right or wrong of slavery in the abstract had nothing to do with the contract made by our forefathers, for reasons good enough for them, and which we were bound in honor and law to abide by. But when the people and States of the South undertook to save their slave property by themselves breaking the Constitution, they themselves released us of our honorary and legal obligation, and we are free to deal with slavery as we please. They were slaves, but are now free, made so by their former owners breaking the bonds by which their slave property alone could be held.

Slavery as of old in this land is, in my judgment, long since determined, but we live in a busy world, and people won’t be still. No sooner is one point gained than new ones arise, and we find plenty of people contending to make negroes voters, and even, with the legal right and encouragement, to commingle their blood with ours. On these points I think men may honestly differ very widely, and I for one would be slow in going to such extremes. The negro should, of course, be protected in his industry and encouraged to acquire property, knowledge, trade, and every means possible to better his condition, but I think we should all be rather too slow than too fast in extending political rights. These in time will adjust themselves according to the laws of Nature and experience. “Festina lente” is a good old maxim, and we, who have to catch the buffeting of political factions fighting their battles over our shoulders, ought to have a voice in questions which involve prejudices that influence the actions of men quite as much as pure reason.

I believe you and I have practically done more acts of kindness to the negroes of America than all the philanthropists put together; but our acts are quiet and unknown, whereas theirs have been noisy and demonstrative. I do not say this of Gerrit Smith, but of others who make the negro a hobby, and keep their precious persons well out of harm’s way in the bloody struggle they have had their share in making, but not in subduing.

Your friend,

W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.