Dauphin Island to Mobile Point, the mainland, for that purpose, advanced on Mobile along that side of the bay. In order to make the movement of all three columns simultaneous, on the 18th, General Steele's column started from Pensacola and Barrancas, on a march to Blakeley Landing, at which point they were to unite with Granger's column starting from Fort Morgan and marching up the east side of the bay. Granger's whole corps followed the advance brigade, marching by land along the shore of Bon Secour Bay, which forms the southeastern corner of Mobile Bay.

The rendezvous for the army was on Fish River, at Donnelly's (or Danby's) Mills, situated about six or eight miles up the river, twenty or more from Fort Gaines, and thirty from Mobile. The next day Smith's Corps moved on transports to the same point, McArthur's First Division in advance, Garrard's Second following, and Carr's Third in the rear. On the 20th the corps began to arrive at the appointed place, and were all disembarked by night of the 21st. On the 22d and 23d, Granger's Corps got in. The roads were wretched, and the troops often forced to great labor in extricating the artillery and trains from the mire. Bertram's advance easily drove away the enemy's cavalry vedettes.

On the 25th, the advance through the pine forests was commenced, from Fish River towards Blakeley, McArthur's Division skirmishing, and Colonel Marshall, commanding its Third Brigade, being amongst the wounded. On the 26th, the forces advanced from Fish River, the Sixteenth Corps moving on the right, towards Blakeley, and the Thirteenth on the left, towards Spanish Fort, which commands Minetta Bay. The Thirteenth drove the enemy's cavalry back to the fort. The Sixteenth compelled the force in its front, also, to fall back, until Sibley's Mills was reached. On the 27th, the enemy in front of Spanish Fort attempted to surprise the pickets of the Thirteenth Corps. After a few moments' brisk firing the rebels were repulsed. We lost four men wounded. Both corps now marched into position, to invest Spanish Fort, the enemy falling back to Blakeley. The Sixteenth formed the right, and the Thirteenth the left, the divisions being posted in the line as follows, from right to left: Carr, McArthur, Veach, Benton, Bertram's Brigade. Garrard was in the rear, guarding the trains. The artillery was brought to within five hundred yards of the fort, and opened a heavy fire. About eleven o'clock the fleet got under way, and proceeded up the bay as far as Newport and Howard's Landings, below Spanish Fort, on the same, i. e., the easterly shore of the bay. The Metacomet, Stockdale, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Albatross, Winnebago, and Genesee opened fire at a quarter to one P. M., doing considerable damage. They ceased firing at twenty minutes past five P. M., and returned to Great Point Clear to anchor for the night.

It was necessary that the fleet should attack Spanish Fort on the water side, while the army invested it on the land side. On the 28th the Milwaukee exploded a torpedo, and instantly filled and sank. Only one man was injured, however, and as the water was but eleven feet deep, the crew were all saved. Next day, the 29th, the Chickasaw, Kickapoo, Winnebago, and the Octorara, being in line, the Osage,

which was a short distance astern, struck a torpedo on the starboard bow, and instantly sank. Six men were killed or mortally wounded, and four others wounded. The rest of the officers and crew were saved unhurt.

Bombardment and skirmishes continued, with more or less loss, until April 3d, when the place, by the arrival of Steele's force, which was to have joined Granger on the 22d, was finally invested. Just before nightfall of the 8th, the final preparations were completed. Within half a mile of the fort over thirty heavy Parrott guns and mortars had been mounted, and three light batteries were thrown forward several hundred yards nearer. The entire artillery, siege-guns and field-pieces, then opened a terrific fire on the fort, which was completely hemmed in by our lines, while the gunboats, which had done the same office by water, cutting off communication with Mobile, added their contribution to the general roar and flame. Simultaneously, the skirmishers crept forward from trench to trench and ridge to ridge, until they had soon got within a hundred yards of the fort, and prevented, by the accuracy of their fire, the rebel artillerists from managing the unsheltered guns. The enemy responded briskly and heavily at first to our bombardment; but, as the battle went on, he was gradually driven from his guns by the hot fire, and replied more and more feebly, until, at midnight, he was silenced. An hour afterwards the enemy surrendered, our troops pressing upon his intrenchments, and entering them about two o'clock on the morning of the 9th.

The capture of Mobile was now assured. The enemy commenced evacuating it on the 10th, and continued to do so on the 11th, at which time the work was complete. At half-past ten o'clock on the 12th, our troops planted their colors on batteries Porter and Mackintosh, and, four hours later, in Mobile, the second seaport of the Confederacy. General Granger's forces occupy the city. The tugboat Allena was blown up by torpedoes on the same day. The total loss of our fleet is said to have been two iron-clads, two tin-clads, and one transport, all, or nearly all, blown up by torpedoes. The loss of men in the fleet was less than fifty. That of the army about two thousand five hundred.

While these events were culminating at the South, Sheridan was once more in motion at the North. That general, who had retained his head-quarters at Winchester with a moderate force, was contemplating a renewed movement up the valley. The concentration of the enemy's troops around Lee had left but a small rebel force in the valley. Accordingly, towards the close of February, preparations were made for an extensive cavalry raid, and General Hancock was installed in command of the Middle Military Division, as General Thomas had been in Tennessee, on the departure of Sherman. The enemy, under Rosser, were scattered at various places in the valley, viz., Waynesboro', Woodstock, Edenburg, and Staunton; the main body was at the latter-named place, Neal's and Woodson's guerrillas in Hardy County, Gilmor's Battalion in Pendleton County, Imboden's command in Bath, and adjacent counties.

At eight A. M., on February 27th, the troops began their march from Winchester, reaching Woodstock, thirty-three miles distant, by

dark. The enemy were not encountered in any force until the command reached Lacy's Springs, March 1st, where about four hundred men, under Rosser, made some show of resistance, but soon retired. The same day the bridge over Middle River was secured, Rosser's men falling back before the Union advance to Waynesboro', where Early had concentrated his men, about one thousand four hundred in number, to give battle. A portion of his command had fallen back the day before from Fishersville, to strengthen the post there. The position was on commanding ground-a ridge of hills skirting the front of the town--and was protected by breastworks made of earth and rails. The advance of Sheridan's force arrived in front of the position at noon on the 2d of March, and, after a brief reconnoissance by General Custer, an attack was ordered, and the place carried by a flank movement, which induced the enemy to give way. The greater part of the force were captured, including Generals Long and Lilly. Sheridan's

force pushed on, and reached Charlottesville on March 4th; thence on the 6th it again moved in two columns, one of which, under General Devin, took the direct southern route to Scottsville, destroying all mills, merchandise, and property on the line of march along the Rivanna River to Columbia.

The other column proceeded down the railroad to Lynchburg, destroying it for the distance of forty miles to Amherst. From Scottsville, Devin's Division proceeded westward along the James to Dugaldsville, twenty miles from Lynchburg. On the 10th of March, Sheridan was at Columbia, and, not being able to cross the James on account of high water, he moved, with a view of ultimately joining the army before Petersburg, in a northerly direction from Columbia to the Central Railroad, striking it at the same time at several different points. between Louisa Court-House and Beaver Dam Station.

The

A portion of two days was consumed in the thorough destruction of the Central road between Saxton's Junction and Gordonsville. next move was to points on the Fredericksburg road, below the junction. General Devin marched his column to the bridges on both roads across the South Anna, one of which was defended by a detachment of infantry, posted behind earthworks, with three pieces of artillery. The Fifth Cavalry, under Devin and Cook, charged the position, supported by the Second Massachusetts, capturing a number of prisoners, and the three guns. The only man killed on our side was a scout, and there were only three wounded. Custer, at the same time, moved towards Ashland Station.

By this time it was known in Richmond that the northern defences of that city were threatened. Longstreet, with the whole of Pickett's Division and some other troops, moved up to within five miles of Ashland. On the following morning, when a detachment of the Fifteenth New York entered Ashland as an advance-guard, the advance of Longstreet's column was encountered, and drove them back. Subsequently, Sheridan moved eastward, crossing the Fredericksburg Railroad at Chesterfield Station, and on the 19th his entire command arrived at the White House, whence it crossed the James, and joined Meade on the 25th.

Sheridan's operations resulted in the destruction of the James

River Canal, which was the main dependence for the support of Richmond, and also of all railroads and other means of communication with the Southwest. Thus gradually was the metaphor, so often employed in the early history of the war, and so greatly ridiculed, of the Union armies pressing around the rebel capital, as the anaconda tightens its folds about the body of its victim, beginning to have force and signifi

cance.

CHAPTER LXXIV.

General Sherman at Savannah. - The Advance Northward. Pocotaligo.- Salkehatchie.-Movement on Columbia.-Conflagration in Columbia, and its Origin.Beauregard at Charlotte.--Lee placed in Chief Command of the Rebel Armies.— Johnston Reinstated.-Fayetteville.-Rebel Strength.-Averysboro'.--Bentonville -Goldsboro'.-Junction of Three Union Armies. Objective of the Campaign

Gained.

Ar Savannah, General Sherman had not merely to recuperate his forces and prepare a new base for further operations into the interior, preparatory to a concentration upon Richmond, but he was also compelled to provide for the local government, and to arrange the means of feeding the people. To this end the following notice was issued:

"HEAD-QUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, "IN THE FIELD, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, January 14. Š "It being represented that the Confederate army and armed bands of robbers, acting professedly under the authority of the Confederate government, are harassing the people of Georgia, and endeavoring to intimidate them in the efforts they are making to secure to themselves provisions, clothing, security to life and property, and the restoration of law and good government in the State, it is hereby ordered and made public: “First.—That the farmers of Georgia may bring into Savannah, Fernandina, or Jacksonville, Fla., marketing, such as beef, pork, mutton, vegetables of any kind, fish, &c., as well as cotton in small quantities, and sell the same in open market, except the cotton, which must be sold by or through the Treasury agents, and may invest the proceeds in family stores, such as bacon and flour, in any reasonable quantities, groceries, shoes and clothing, and articles not contraband of war, and carry the same back to their families. No trade store will be attempted in the interior, or stocks of goods sold for them, but families may club together for mutual assistance and protection in coming and going.

"Second-The people are encouraged to meet together in peaceful assemblages, to discuss measures looking to their safety and good government, and the restoration of State and National authority, and will be protected by the National army, when so doing; and all peaceable inhabitants who satisfy the commanding officers that they are earnestly laboring to that end, must not only be left undisturbed in property and person, but must be protected as far as possible, consistent with the military operations. If any farmer or peaceable inhabitant is molested by the enemy-viz, the Confederate army of guerrillas-because of his friendship to the National Government, the perpetrator, if caught, will be summarily punished, or his family made to suffer for the outrage; but if the crime cannot be traced to the actual party, then retaliation will be made on the adherents to the cause of the rebellion. Should a Union man be murdered, then a rebel, selected by lot, will be shot; or if a Union family be persecuted on account of the cause, a rebel family will be banished to a foreign land. In aggravated cases, retaliation will extend as high as five for one. All commanding officers will act promptly in such cases, and report their action after the retaliation is done. "By order of Major-General W. T. Sherinan.

"L. M. DAYTON, Assistant Adjutant- General"

In relation to the political status of people, the following letter was published by General Sherman, in which he states explicitly, in his customary clear and vigorous style, that the only condition of peace would be to lay down arms and submit to the authority of the General Gov

ernment:

"N. W.

Esq.,

“HEAD-QUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Į "IN THE FIELD, Savannah, Ga., January 8, 1865. S County, Ga.:

"DEAR SIR:--Yours of the 3d instant is received, and, in answer to your inquiries, I beg to state I am merely a military commander, and act only in that capacity; nor can I give any assurances or pledges affecting civil matters in the future. They will be adjusted by Congress when Georgia is again represented there as of old.

"Georgia is not out of the Union, and, therefore, the talk of 'reconstruction' appears to me inappropriate. Some of the people have been, and still are, in a state of revolt, and as long as they remain armed and organized, the United States must pursue them with armies, and deal with them according to military law. But as soon as they break up their armed organizations and return to their homes, I take it they will be dealt with by the civil courts. Some of the rebels in Georgia, in my judgment, deserve death, because they have committed murder, and other crimes, which are punished with death by all civilized governments on earth. I think this was the course indicated by General Washington, in reference to the Whiskey Insurrection, and a like principle seemed to be recognized at the time of the Burr conspiracy.

"As to the Union of the States under our Government, we have the high authority of General Washington, who bade us be jealous and careful of it, and the still more emphatic words of General Jackson, 'The Federal Union, it must and shall be preserved.' Certainly Georgians cannot question the authority of such men, and should not suspect our motives, who are simply fulfilling their commands. Wherever necessary, force has been used to carry out that end, and you may rest assured that the Union will be preserved, cost what it may. And if you are sensible men you will conform to this order of things or else migrate to some other country. There is no other alternative open to the people of Georgia.

"My opinion is that no negotiations are necessary, nor commissioners, nor conventions, nor any thing of the kind. Whenever the people of Georgia quit rebelling against their Government and elect members of Congress and Senators, and these go and take their seats, then the State of Georgia will have resumed her functions in the Union.

"These are merely my opinions, but in confirmation of them, as I think, the people of Georgia may well consider the following words, referring to the people of the rebellious States, which I quote from the recent annual message of President Lincoln to Congress at its present session:

"They can, at any moment, have peace simply by laying down their arms and submitting to the national authority under the Constitution. After so much, the Government could not, if it would, maintain war against them. The loyal people would not sustain or allow it. If questions should remain, we would adjust them by the peaceful means of legislation, conference, courts, and votes. Operating only in constitutional and lawful channels, some certain and other possible questions are and would be beyond the Executive power to adjust, as, for instance, the admission of members into Congress, and whatever might require the appropriation of money.'

"The President then alludes to the general pardon and amnesty offered for more than a year past, upon specified and more liberal terms, to all except certain designated classes, even these being still within contemplation of special clemency,' and adds: "It is still so open to all, but the time may come when public duty shall demand that it be closed, and that in lieu more vigorous measures than heretofore shall be adopted.'

"It seems to me that it is time for the people of Georgia to act for themselves, and return, in time, to their duty to the Government of their fathers.

"Respectfully, your obedient servant,

"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General."