All is quiet. There is no news of any importance.1
The Fourteenth Army Corps was reviewed at 9 a. m. by General Sherman. The
troops looked fine. The Fourteenth is a good corps. I sent in my subscriptions
today for three papers: the Missouri Democrat at $2.00 per year, the
Theological Journal, $2.00, and Harper's Weekly, $4.00. I think I shall have
enough reading matter now for 1865, if I succeed in getting all my papers.
_______________
1 While on our march through Georgia, all the men
had a chance to see Sherman at close range, as he rode with the different
corps, changing from one to another. As we approached Savannah, going in on the
main road, which was rather narrow he was with our corps, the Seventeenth,
which had most of the fighting to do. I noticed that when he wished to get
ahead to the front of the corps, he never would crowd the infantry aside, but
instead rode alongside himself, leaving the good road for them. I have seen him
ride this way, his horse on an ordinary walk, with his staff officers riding in
single file behind him. Some of the boys would ask him questions, or make some
joking remarks as to where we were going, and the general would seldom reply,
but would always have a pleasant smile in recognition of the question asked. He
won the respect of the boys, and they all had confidence in him. — A. G. D.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 241
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