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Savannah Ga. Jan. 2nd 1865 Dear Friend; I take this opportunity to write you a few lines and let you know that I am safe and sound here in Savannah. Of course you have heard all about General Sherman's march from Atlanta to this city so there isn't much use of my trying to give you a description of it. Each Corps marched on a different road so I don't know anything about any other corps than the 20th. We left Atlanta on the 15th of Nov. and marched along the Atlanta to Augusta R.R as far as Madison tearing up and burning the R.R. track as we went along. We left the R.R. at Madison and went to Milledgeville on the Macon Augusta R.R. From there we went to Millen destroying the track as we went along. From Millen we went directly to Savannah where we arrived on Saturday Dec. 10th. Not exactly in Savannah but within three miles because they had some pretty strong forts three miles from town. The next morning (sunday) the 2nd division drove the Rebel skirmishers inside of their forts and commenced throwing up breastworks close to the Rebel Forts. They shelled us as hard as they could but that didn't stop us from building breastworks right under their noses. There was a road running parallel to the Rebel works and about 40 rods from them. We charged up and got into the ditch by the side of the road. By lying flat in the ditch we were out of danger from the Rebel shells. There were 8 large cannon, some of the 64 pounders at the fort and by the way they let the shells into us was a caution, but by lying low they nearly all passed over our heads and burst into our breastworks that proved to be proved against Rebel shells. The right of the Rebel works was on a bank of the Savannah River. The river bank being very low they had a deep ditch dug from the river to the fort. The ditch being full of water their was no use for us to take the fort by charging. We lay in front of the fort for 10 days, The Rebels amusing themselves every day by throwing shells at us, but they only hurt about 30 of us during all this time. Their gunners had to be very careful because our sharpshooters was sure to put a hole in any Rebel head that should show its self. Our sharp shooters did more damage to them, than their shelling done to us. On the night of the 20th some of the pickets in front of us thought they saw some of the Rebels leaving, and at 3 in the morning we were ordered to go over to the fort. Over we went and not a Johney was to be found. We made to go over the ditch and into the fort. We found 8 large cannon and all the ammunition. We then started for Savannah, two companies of regiment going in advance of us as skirmishers. We got nearly to the city when we met a Major with a flag of truce. We got into the city just at daybreak. The last of them were going out of town just as we came in. The advance captured some of their rear guard. Our Brigades having been the first to enter the town we were sent to patrol the streets and guard the city. We were the first to enter Atlanta and the first to enter Savannah. as a result General Geary, our commander said, that we will have the honor of guarding the city. I think we stand a good chance of staying here for a long time. When the Rebels left they left everything behind them, all their cannon and ammunition, a large amount of provisions and about 30,000 bales of cotton which is worth a few dollars at present. Most of the citizens staid in the town. they appeared to be glad to see us. They say the city has never been more quiet and orderly than it has since our forces have been in possession. The citizens held a meeting last Wednesday. They passed some resolutions saying that they are willing to come under the old flag once more. They are beginning to see that the Confederacy is getting played out. Most of the Rebels say that General Hood was doing a big thing when he went up into Tennessee but that was just what General Sherman wanted him to do, for there was nothing to oppose our march to Savannah. I didn't hear a gun fired until we got to Savannah, except when we got some fresh pork. We all had sweet potatoes and fresh meat that we wanted every day. We were 25 days on the march and averaged 12 miles a day. We had pleasant weather all the way and the roads were very good. The country all the way from Atlanta to Miller on the Augusta and Macon R.R. is the best part of Georgia. Most of the land is owned by large planters who had plenty of corn, sweet potatoes, mules, horses and Negroes. We took all of these we wanted except the last, and they come without asking. The army captured a lot of horses and mules. Some of the horses were the best of any I ever saw. The 4th Corps marched through a strip of country about 30 miles wide. They burned every bale of cotton and every cotton gin and press they came across. I think the damage done to the confederacy must have amounted to a considerable amount, but the men who lost these things were all rich planters, the very ones who started this war, so I don't think they deserve any pity. Please write soon. Your friend Oliver |
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