KINGSTON, GEO., May 20,
1864.
I have no doubt you will complain of neglect on my part, but
you have sense enough to see that my every minute has been taken. According to
appointment with General Grant I got everything as far ready as possible on the
5th and started from Chattanooga on the 6th. Troops had to be marched and
collected from all parts of the country without attracting attention, and I got
McPherson up to Chattanooga and on Johnston's flank before he suspected
anything more than a detachment of Thomas' command.
Dalton lies in a valley, but the road passes through a gap
which was a most formidable place. I drew Johnston's attention to it whilst I
moved the army round through a gap thirty miles further south and appeared on
his rear and flank. He hastily evacuated Dalton and succeeded in getting into
Resaca, eighteen miles, where he had prepared a strong position. This we
attacked at all points, getting closer and closer whilst I got a bridge across
the Oostenaula, and again threatened his rear. Again he started and we chased
him fighting all the way to Cassville, and to-day the army is pushing him
across the Etowah. Having a railroad and familiar with all the byeways he has
got off, but at a cost of about 6,000 men. We have a thousand prisoners, have
killed and wounded 5,000, and have ourselves lost less than 4,000. We have had
no time to count noses. The enemy burned the railroad bridge at Oostenaula, but
we have repaired it and now have the telegraph and cars to the very rear of our
army. The whole movement has been rapid, skilful and successful, but will be
measured by subsequent events. Difficulties increase as we go, for I have to
drop men to guard our roads, whereas our enemy gathers up his guards and
collects other reinforcements. I will cross the Etowah and Chattahoochee and
swing round Atlanta. If I can break up that nest it will be a splendid
achievement. Grant's battles in Virginia are fearful but necessary. Immense
slaughter is necessary to prove that our Northern armies can and will fight.
That once impressed will be an immense moral power. Banks' utter failure is
awful, as that force should now be at Mobile. It may be that Canby can
straighten out matters. Banks was so intent on civil government that he
underrated the military features of his territory. All attempts at civil
government in the midst of war are folly.
SOURCES: M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Editor, Home Letters of
General Sherman, p. 290-1. A full copy of this letter can
be found in the William
T Sherman Family papers (SHR), University of Notre Dame Archives
(UNDA), Notre Dame, IN 46556, Folder CSHR 2/14
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