ford in the morning. If your available force be not sufficient for that purpose, you will make use of all the civilians at this post, whether in the service of the Government or otherwise. I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. W. DICKINSON, Capt., 21st U. S. Colored Troops, and Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Col. P. P. BROWN, Jr., Commanding 157th New York Volunteers, Fort Pulaski, Ga.: COLONEL: The attention of the major-general commanding has been called to the publication in the Charleston Courier of a complimentary letter to you, signed by a number of exchanged rebel prisoners of war that had been confined in Fort Pulaski under your charge. Praise from the enemy is the last thing that an officer should seek, or permit to be bestowed upon him. These officers were sent to this department for the purpose of retaliation, and your instructions were to treat them in precisely the same manner that our prisoners of war in the hands of the enemy are treated. If these instructions had been faithfully carried out on your part, as they should have been, very few compliments would have been extended to you by the prisoners. The major-general commanding regrets exceedingly to be obliged to censure an officer for such conduct. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. L. M. BURGER, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Fort Pulaski, Ga., December 12, 1864. Capt. W. L. M. BURGER, Assistant Adjutant-General : CAPTAIN: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of to-day censuring me for failing to carry out the instructions given me with reference to the treatment of the prisoners of war placed under my charge. The instructions mentioned in your communication have failed to reach me, and until the censure reached me today I was not aware of their existence. I would therefore respectfully request that another copy be sent me, that I may know in what particulars I have erred, and be able to make the necessary changes. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, P. P. BROWN, JR., Colonel, Commanding Post. ON BOARD DANDELION, Ossabaw Sound, December 13, 1864-11.50 p.m. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.: (Received 15th.) To-day, at 5 p. m., General Hazen's division of the Fifteenth Corps carried Fort McAllister by assault, capturing its entire garrison and stores. This opened to us Ossabaw Sound, and I pushed down to this gun-boat to communicate with the fleet. Before opening communication we had completely destroyed all the railroads leading into Savannah and invested the city. The left of the army is on the Savannah River, three miles above the city, and the right on the Ogeechee, at King's Bridge. The army is in splendid order, and equal to anything. The weather has been fine, and supplies were abundant. Our march was most agreeable, and we were not at all molested by guerrillas. We reached Savannah three days ago, but owing to Fort McAllister could not communicate; but now that we have McAllister we can go ahead. We have already captured two boats on the Savannah River, and prevented their gun-boats from coming down. I estimate the population of Savannah at 25,000 and the garrison at 15,000; General Hardee commands. We have not lost a wagon on the trip, but have gathered a large supply of negroes, mules, horses, &c., and our teams are in far better condition than when we started. My first duty will be to clear the army of surplus negroes, mules, and horses. We have utterly destroyed over 200 miles of rails, and consumed stores and provisions that were essential to Lee's and Hood's armies. The quick work made with McAllister, the opening of communication with our fleet, and our consequent independence as to supplies, dissipate all their boasted threats to head us off and starve the army. I regard Savannah as already gained. Yours, truly, W. T. SHERMAN, ON BOARD DANDELION, Ossabaw Sound, December 13, 1864-11.50 p. m. General H. W. HALLECK, Washington: To-day, at 5 p. m., General Hazen's division of the Fifteenth Corps carried Fort McAllister by assault, capturing its entire garrison and stores. This opened to us the Ossabaw Sound, and I pulled down to this gun-boat to communicate with the fleet. Before opening communication we had completely destroyed all the railroads leading into Savannah and invested the city. The left is on the Savannah River, three miles above the city, and right on the Ogeechee, at King's Bridge. Were it not for the swamps we could march into the city, but as it is I would have to assault at one or two places over narrow causeways, leading to much loss; whereas in a day or two, with my communica tions restored and the batteries in position within short range of the city, I will demand its surrender. The army is in splendid order, and equal to anything. Weather has been fine, and supplies abundant. Our march was most agreeable, and we were not at all molested by guerrillas. We reached Savannah three days ago, but owing to Fort McAllister we could not communicate; but now we have McAllister we can go ahead. We have already captured two boats in the Savannah River, and prevented their gun-boats from coming down, and, if General Foster will prevent the escape of the garrison of Savannah and its people by land across South Carolina, we will capture all. I estimate the population at 25,000 and the garrison at 15,000; General Hardee commands. We have on hand plenty of meat, salt, and potatoes; all we need is bread, and I have sent to Port Royal for that. We have not lost a wagon on the trip, but have gathered in a large supply of negroes, mules, horses, &c., and our teams are in far better condition than when we started. My first duty will be to clear the army of surplus negroes, mules, and horses, and suppose General Saxton can relieve me of these. I am writing on board a dispatch-boat, down Ossabaw, at midnight, and have to go back to where I left my horse, eight miles up, in a rowboat, and thence fifteen miles over to our lines by daylight, so that I hope this will be accepted as an excuse for this informal letter; but I know you are anxious to hear of our safety and good condition. Full and detailed reports of the events of the past month will be prepared at a more leisure moment, and in the meantime I can only say that I hope by Christmas to be in possession of Savannah, and by the new year to be ready to resume our journey to Raleigh. The whole army is crazy to be turned loose in Carolina; and with the experience of the past thirty days I judge that a month's sojourn in South Carolina would make her less bellicose. The editors in Georgia profess to be indignant at the horrible barbarities of Sherman's army, but I know the people don't want our visit repeated. We have utterly destroyed over 200 miles of railroad, and consumed stores and provisions that were essential to Lee's and Hood's armies. A similar destruction of roads and resources hence to Raleigh would compel General Lee to come out of his intrenched camp. I hope General Thomas has held Hood. My last accounts are of the fight at Franklin, but rebel papers state that Decatur, Ala., has been evacuated. This I regret, though it is not essential to the future. If Hood is making any real progress I would not hesitate to march hence, after taking Savannah, for Montgomery, which would bring him out of Tennessee; but it seems to me that winter is a bad time for him. I will try and see Admiral Dahlgren and General Foster before demanding the surrender of Savannah, which I do not propose to make till my batteries are able to open. The quick work made with McAllister, and the opening communication with our fleet, and consequent independence for supplies, dissipated all their boasted threats to head me off and starve the army. The efforts thus far have been puerile, and I regard Savannah as already gained. Yours, truly, W. T. SHERMAN, SPECIAL ORDERS, Anderson's Plantation, Ga., December 13, 1864. HDQRS. FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, No. 198. I. Brigadier-General Woods, commanding First Division, will cause a rifle-pit to be thrown up along the ridge in the open field on the right and left of the Cemetery battery for at least three regiments of infantry. Brigadier-General Corse, commanding Fourth Division, will continue this line of works to the right for a similar number of troops, selecting for a position the edge of the belt of timber on the right of the buildings in front of his left wing. In case of an attack these works will be occupied at once by the troops of the above-mentioned divisions, the commanders of which will keep the troops necessary for this purpose under daily orders... * By order of Maj. Gen. P. Joseph Osterhaus: F. F. WHITEHEAD, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. C. R. WOODS, Commanding First Division: GENERAL: In order to employ the enemy's attention in our front, and at the same time draw it from Fort McAllister, which BrigadierGeneral Hazen is about attacking, you will push your skirmishers, supported by some regiments, toward the enemy's line as soon as the tide commences to run out. The artillery will open a brisk fire at the same time. The demonstration will assume a menacing attitude during the day by brisk firing, &c. By order of Maj. Gen. P. Joseph Osterhaus: F. F. WHITEHEAD, Assistant Adjutant-General. (Same to General Corse, commanding Fourth Division.) HDQRS. DEPARTMENT AN ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, Little Ogeechee, ne Savannah, Ga., December 13, 1864. Maj. Gen. F. P. BLAIR, Commanding Seventeen.h Army Corps: The major-general commanding directs me to say that, at General Sherman's request, he has gone with him to-day down to Cheves' Mill, to witness the attack of General Hazen's division on Fort McAllister. He desires you to occupy the attention of the enemy as much as possible during the day. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Same to Major-General Osterhaus.) SAML. L. TAGGART, HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. A. BAIRD, Commanding Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps: The general commanding directs that you detail a brigade as guard and escort to a foraging train, which is ordered to start at 7 a. m. tomorrow, from a point on the Milledgeville road near your headquarters, for the purpose of procuring subsistence for the animals of the corps. The train will go out about eight miles, but it will not be necessary for the whole brigade to march more than four miles, a smaller guard being dispatched to guard the trains the whole distance, the remainder being held as a support. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. C. MCCLURG, Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff. General SLOCUM: KING'S BRIDGE, December 13, 1864–8 a. m. I have your report, or note, of last night 8 p. m., and think you can make good use of that boat. Don't attempt too much, for a failure of any kind will lead to a reaction; but if the people of Savannah discover us gaining little by little, but surely, it will have a strong effect. The bridge here is now done and is a considerable affair, and Hazen is passing over. I think Fort McAllister, too, will be found a strong work, and, therefore, I depend on another point which is being examined. Forage, &c., is more plentiful over here, but still it is limited. I cannot imagine what the fleet is about; they may be off on some special errand, or may be expecting us elsewhere. I will go to a point where I can see all the Ogeechee country and Ossabaw Sound. I will be home to-night, or in the course of the night. Yours, truly, W. T. SHERMAN, HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Maj. Gen. H. W. SLOCUM, Commanding, &c.: DEAR GENERAL: Take a good big drink, a long breath, and then yell like the devil. The fort was carried at 4.30 p. m., the assault lasting but fifteen minutes. The general signaled from this side to the fleet and got answers, and vessels were seen coming up the sound when Colonel Ewing left. I am, general, yours, &c., L. M. DAYTON, Col. WILLIAM HAWLEY, HEADQUARTERS TWENTIETH CORPS, Commanding Third Wisconsin : COLONEL: The general commanding the corps directs that you have all the boats in your charge, or in that of Colonel Bloodgood, on this side of the river by 8 a. m. to-morrow, and in readiness to cross troops. The whole of Colonel Carman's brigade will cross. The general will be there in person. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. J. W. GEARY, HEADQUARTERS TWENTIETH CORPS, Commanding Second Division: GENERAL: The general commanding directs that you seize all the boats in the river near your line, and not allow any persons to cross to the island except under your direction. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, |