department, is authorized to continue operations, and will be held responsible for the faithful performance of his duties. All members of the different fire companies will continue subject to his orders, and neglect of duty on their part will be duly punished. In case of fire, the provost-marshal of the district will send immediately strong detachments of guards to preserve order in the vicinity. VIII. Those persons connected with the water-works and gas-works of the city will continue to perform their duties as usual. The manager of these works will apply to the provost-marshal of the district in which they are located for sufficient guards for the protection of the works, together with the fuel and other material pertaining to them. IX. All soldiers found within the city limits, absent from their camps without passes from their respective commanders, will be arrested and sent to their commands. X. Capt. Silas Spicer is announced as harbor master of this port, and is invested with full authority for the transaction of business in his department. Office, on Bay, opposite Dayton street. . XI. Citizens desirous of leaving the city to go within the rebel lines will make application at these headquarters. They will be transported to our exterior picket-line. XII. Citizens destitute of provisions can make application at the city store, where they will be supplied upon the order of Doctor Arnold, mayor of the city. 9. XIII. Tattoo will be beaten throughout the city at 8 p. m.; taps at After taps all enlisted men found on the streets who are not on duty, and who have not proper passes, will be arrested by the patrol. Suspicious or disorderly characters will also be arrested after that hour. Care must be taken in carrying out this order not to make improper arrests of citizens who may be attending to their lawful business in an orderly manner. By command of Brig. Gen. John W. Geary, commanding: W. T. FORBES, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, Brig. Gen. J. KILPATRICK, Commanding Cavalry Division: GENERAL: I am very pleased to be able to certify to the eminent services you have performed as a cavalry commander during the present campaign, particularly when operating with my wing of the army. The assistance of deceiving the enemy as to my intention before and after crossing the Ocmulgee River; the bold engagements near Lovejoy's and Macon; the disposition of your forces so as to cover our trains and protect our flanks-in fact, all the duties appertaining to a cavalry officer have during the campaign been completely performed. My gratitude, or rather that of the Government, is due to yourself and your officers for their untiring energy and faithful service. Be pleased so to express it. You have my best wishes for your promotion and other personal interests, and must call upon me ever as a friend without stint. Respectfully and truly, yours, O. O. HOWARD, SPECIAL ORDERS,) HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, I. Bvt. Brig. Gen. M. S. Littlefield, U. S. Volunteers, is hereby temporarily assigned to the command of the District of Hilton Head, Fort Pulaski, Saint Helena, and Tybee Islands, during the absence of Brig. Gen. E. E. Potter. * By command of Maj. Gen. J. G. Foster: W. L. M. BURGER, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. NORTHERN DISTRICT, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH, Capt. W. L. M. BURGER, FIRST SEPARATE BRIGADE, Morris Island, S. C., December 24, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Dept. of the South: CAPTAIN: I have the honor most respectfully to report that nothing of importance has occurred in this district since my last communication. Troops have evidently returned to James Island, and to other parts of the enemy's lines. It is not known in what numbers, as no refugees or deserters have come to our outposts. The enemy has employed during the past week large fatigue parties in completing and repairing his fortifications in our front; he has been particularly busy on James and John's Islands at those points upon which we advanced against them in July last. They are to be seen at work clearing the space in front of their works of brush and undergrowth, and are also repairing the roads in their rear. The last official information which I have received in regard to the operations of our forces in other districts of the department is to the effect that Savannah was evacuated by the enemy on the 20th instant, and that the iron-clad Savannah intended to attempt to make her escape on the following night. I have given the necessary orders for her reception should she succeed in running out and attempt to enter Charleston Harbor. I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. SCHIMMELFENNIG, Brigadier-General, Commanding District. SECRETARY OF WAR, CITY POINT, VA., December 25, 1864-8 p. m. Washington: I have just received General Foster's dispatch announcing the capture of Savannah, with artillery, munitions of war, railroad cars, and cotton. I wish Hardee's 15,000 to 18,000 of a garrison could have been added to the other captures. It is a good thing the way it stands, and the country may well rejoice over it. U. S. GRANT, HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Maj. Gen. M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: In reply to your letter of the 16th [15th] instant I beg to inform you that I have referred the same to Brig. Gen. L. C. Easton, my chief quartermaster, who will report fully to you in respect to all matters within his department connected with our recent march. As you say, my marches have demonstrated the great truth that armies, even of vast magnitude, are not tied down to bases. In almost any quarter of the South armies of from 30,000 to 50,000 may safely march, sure to find near their route forage of some kind or other for their animals. It is a physical impossibility to supply an army with forage, and you do perfectly right in demanding that each army should provide itself with long forage and a large proportion of its grain. In the interior of Georgia we found an abundance of the best kind of corn and fodder, and even here on the sea-board we find an abundance of rice in the straw, which our animals eat with avidity and seem to like. It will not be long before I shall sally forth again, and I feel no uneasiness whatever on the score of forage. You may use my name in any circular addressed to the quartermasters of the army to the effect that every part of the southern country will support their animals by a judicious system of foraging. More animals are lost to your department whilst standing idle, hitched to their wagons, than during the long and seemingly hard marches into the interior. I beg to assure you that all my armies have been abundantly supplied by your department, and I am sometimes amazed at the magnitude of its operations. I think I have personally aided your department more than any general officer in the service, by drawing liberally from the enemy, thereby injuring him financially, and to the same extent helping ourselves, and you may always rely upon my cordially co-operating with any system you may establish. General Easton is now endeavoring to reduce to a system of accountability our captures; but so long as we keep our trains and animals well up, and prevent as far as possible the appropriation of public property to private use, I take it for granted you will-pardon any mere departure from the established rules of accountability. I want nothing in the way of horses or transportation, and would merely ask from time to time some few artillery horses of a size and weight which cannot be found in this country; at present we need none, as I do not propose to increase my artillery arm; but as I have 400 or 500 miles more to march before spring, it might be prudent to reserve for us 400 or 500 good artillery horses. If my cavalry cannot remount itself in the country it may go afoot. Thanking you for your many expressions of confidence and respect, I am, as ever, your friend and servant, W. T. SHERMAN, SAVANNAH, GA., December 25, 1864. Rev. Mr. WYNN, Methodist Clergyman : SIR: Have the kindness to receive and aid your Christian brother George W. Pepper, chaplain Eightieth Ohio Infantry, giving him such facilities for services in your church as will not interrupt your own. Respectfully, yours, O. O. HOWARD, have recommended to General Sherman to use this place as a transportation depot, and in an interview with him last night understood him to say that he would do so. What glorious news all round! Yours, respectfully and truly, CHAS. O. BOUTELLE. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, December 26, 1864. MY DEAR GENERAL SHERMAN: Many, many thanks for your Christmas gift, the capture of Savannah. When you were about leaving Atlanta for the Atlantic coast, I was anxious, if not fearful; but feeling that you were the better judge, and remembering that "nothing risked, nothing gained," I did not interfere. Now, the undertaking being a success, the honor is all yours; for I believe none of us went further than to acquiesce. And taking the work of General Thomas into the count, as it should be taken, it is indeed a great success. Not only does it afford the obvious and immediate military advantages, but, in showing to the world that your army could be divided, putting the stronger part to an important new service, and yet leaving enough to vanquish the old opposing force of the whole-Hood's army-it brings those who sat in darkness to see a great light. But what next? I suppose it will be safer if I leave General Grant and yourself to decide. Please make my grateful acknowledgments to your whole army, officers and men. Yours, very truly, A. LINCOLN. WAR DEPARTMENT, Lieutenant-General GRANT, City Point: I wish you a merry Christmas, if not too late, and thank you for the Savannah news. It is a sore disappointment that Hardee was able to get off his 15,000 from Sherman's 60,000. It looks like protracting the war while their armies continue to escape. I hope you will give immediate instructions to seize and hold the cotton. All sorts of schemes will be got up to hold it under sham titles of British and other private claimants; they should all be disregarded; and it ought not to be turned over to any Treasury agent, but held by military authority until a special order of the Department is given for the transfer. Sherman has been nominated for major-general. EDWIN M. STANTON, HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, City Point, Va., December 26, 1864. Savannah, Ga.: GENERAL: Your very interesting letter of the 22d instant, brought by the hands of Major Gray, of General Foster's staff, is just at hand. *See Special Field Orders, No. 6, p. 16. |