152 



ARMY OPERATIONS. 



welfare of the city," the following resolutions 

 were unanimously adopted : 



Whereas, By the fortunes of war and the surrender 

 of the city by the civil authorities, Savannah passes 

 once more under the authority of the United States; 

 and whereas we believe that the interests of the city 

 will be best subserved and promoted by a full and 

 free expression of our views in relation to our pres- 

 ent condition, we, therefore, the people of Savan- 

 nah, in full meeting assembled, do hereby resolve, 



1st. That we accept the position, and in the lan- 

 guage of the President of the United States, seek to 

 nave " peace by laying down our arms and submit- 

 ting to the national authority under the Constitution, 

 leaving all questions which remain to be adjusted by 

 the peaceful means of legislation, conference, and 

 votes." 



Resolved, 2d. That laying aside all differences and 

 burying bygones in the graves of the past, we will 

 use our best endeavors once more to bring back the 

 prosperity and commerce we once enjoyed. 



Resolved, 3d. That we do not put ourselves in the 

 position of a conquered city asking terms of a con- 

 queror, but we claim the immunities and privileges 

 contained in the proclamation and message of the 

 President of the United States, and in all the legisla- 

 tion of Congress in reference to a people situated as 

 we are ; and while we owe on our part a strict obe- 

 dience to the laws of the United States, we ask the 

 protection over our persons, lives, and property re- 

 cognized by those laws. 



Resolved, 4th. That we respectfully request his 

 Excellency the Governor to call a convention of the 

 people of Georgia, by any constitutional means in 

 his power, to give them an opportunity of voting 

 upon the question whether they wish the war be- 

 tween the two sections of the country to continue. 



Resolved, 5th. That Major-General Sherman hav- 

 ing placed as military commander of this post Bri- 

 gadier-General Geary, who has, by his urbanity as a 

 gentleman and his uniform kindness to our citizens, 

 done all in his power to protect them and their prop- 

 erty from insult and injury, it is the unanimous de- 

 sire of all present that he be allowed to remain in big 

 present position, and that for the reasons above 

 stated the thanks of the citizens are hereby tendered 

 to him and the officers under his command. 



Resolved, 6th. That an official copy of these resolu- 

 tions be sent to the President of the United States, 

 the Governor of Georgia, General Sherman, and to 

 each the Mayors of Augusta, Columbus, Macon, and 

 Atlanta. 



Finding the people so tractable and resigned 

 to their condition, Gen. Geary exerted himself 

 to protect them from oppression, and to main- 

 tain order ; and several instances occurred of 

 soldiers being severely punished for drunken- 

 ness, pillaging, or other improper acts. Meas- 

 ures were at once taken to prepare the Custom 

 House and Post Office for the former uses, and 

 by several of the insurance companies the pro- 

 priety of establishing a National Bank, under 

 the Act of Congress, was seriously considered. 



On the 17th, while the investment of Savan- 

 nah was in progress, a large body of cavalry, 

 with infantry supports, started down the Sa- 

 vannah andGulf Railroad, which was thoroughly 

 destroyed to the Altamaha River, 50 miles dis- 

 tant, together with four miles of trestle-work 

 immediately adjoining the river. The com- 

 mon supposition was, that the expedition was 

 going to release the Federal prisoners conveyed 

 to some point south of Millen. This would 

 have involved a wider separation from the main 



army than was consistent with prudence, ano 

 Gen. Sherman probably felt sufficiently com- 

 pensated in the destruction of the only remain- 

 ing link of railroad connecting Savannah with 

 the Gulf. The close of the year found him at 

 Savannah planning another campaign in a 

 different direction. 



Gen. Sheridan, after taking command of the 

 army on the upper Potomac, held a strong posi- 

 tion near the railroad from Harper's Ferry tow- 

 ard Winchester. On Sept. 14th a reconnoissance 

 was made by Gen. Wilson within two miles of 

 Winchester, which resulted in the capture of 

 the 8th South Carolina infantry, numbering 136 

 men and 16 officers. On the 18th Gen. Gard- 

 ner made an attack on Gen. Averill, at Martins- 

 burg, but was repulsed. At this time the main 

 body of Gen. Early's army was in the vicinity 

 of Bunker Hill, northwest of the position held 

 by Gen. Sheridan. By a rapid advance along 

 the Winchester road Gen. Sheridan could gain 

 the rear of the enemy, and he quickly embraced 

 the opportunity. The 6th and 19th corps be- 

 gan to move at 3 A. M. on the morning of the 

 19th. Gen. Crook followed three hours later 

 and joined the main column at the crossing of 

 the Opequan. This advance was stubbornly 

 resisted, and the first and second lines were 

 temporarily thrown into confusion. But the 

 artillery being brought into position, the ranks 

 were reformed, and a severe contest ensued. 

 At some points the opposing lines were not 

 more than two hundred yards apart. By a 

 successful cavalry charge the enemy were 

 thrown into confusion and driven from the 

 field. The enemy retreated toward Fisher's 

 Hill, a short distance south of Strasburg, closely 

 followed by Gen. Sheridan. That evening he 

 sent the following despatch to Gen. Grant : 



"WINCHESTER, VA., Sept. 19, 7.30 p. M. 



Lieut,- Gen, 17. S. Grant: 



I have the honor to report that I attacked the 

 forces of Gen. Early over the Berryville pike, at the 

 crossing of Opequan Creek, and after a most stub- 

 born and sanguinary engagement, which lasted from 

 early in the morning until 5 o'clock in the evening, 

 completely defeated him, driving him through Win- 

 chester, capturing twenty-five hundred prisoners, 

 five pieces of artillery, nine army flags, and most of 

 their wounded. The rebel Generals Rhodes and 

 Gordon were killed, and three other general officers 

 wounded. Most of -the enemy's wounded and all of 

 their dead fell into our hands. 



Our losses are severe. Among them Gen. D. A. 

 Eussell, commanding a division in the Sixth corps, 

 who was killed by a cannon ball. Generals Upton, 

 Mclntosh, and Chapman were wounded. 



I cannot yet tell our losses. The conduct of the 

 officers and men was most superb. They charged 

 and carried every position taken up by the rebels 

 from Opequan Creek to Winchester. The rebels 

 were strong in numbers and very obstinate in their 

 fighting. 



I desire to mention to the Lieut.-General command- 

 ing the army the gallant conduct of Generals Wright, 

 Crook, Emory, Torbert, and the officers and men 

 under their command. To them the country is in- 

 debted for this handsome victory. 



D. H. SHERIDAN, 

 Major-General Commanding. 



The force of Gen. Sheridan was compceed ua 



