reated in rout
and panic, but soon literally went to pieces in disorganization, and
disappeared as a military entity from the western conflict.

Long before this, Sherman had started on his famous march to the sea.
His explanations to Grant were so convincing, that the general-in-chief,
on November 2, telegraphed him: "Go on as you propose." In anticipation
of this permission, he had been preparing himself ever since Hood left
him a clear path by starting westward on his campaign of invasion. From
Atlanta, he sent back his sick and wounded and surplus stores to
Chattanooga, withdrew the garrisons, burned the bridges, broke up the
railroad, and destroyed the mills, foundries, shops and public buildings
in Atlanta. With sixty thousand of his best soldiers, and sixty-five
guns, he started on November 15 on his march of three hundred miles to
the Atlantic. They carried with them twenty days' supplies of
provisions, five days' supply of forage, and two hundred rounds of
ammunition, of which each man carried forty rounds.

With perfect confidence in their leader, with perfect trust in each
others' valor, endurance and good comradeship, in the fine weather of
the Southern autumn, and singing the inspiring melody of "John Brown's
Body," Sherman's army began its "marching through Georgia" as gaily as
if it were starting on a holiday. And, indeed, it may almost be said
such was their experience in comparison with the hardships of war which
many of these veterans had seen in their varied campaigning. They
marched as nearly as might be in four parallel columns abreast, making
an average of about fifteen miles a day. Kilpatrick's admirable cavalry
kept their front and flanks free from the improvised militia and
irregular troopers of the enemy. Carefully organized foraging parties
brought in their daily supply of miscellaneous provisions--corn, meat,
poultry, and sweet potatoes, of which the season had yielded an abundant
harvest along their route.

The Confederate authorities issued excited proclamations and orders,
calling on the people to "fly to arms," and to "assail the invader in
front, flank, and rear, by night and by day." But no rising occurred
that in any way checked the constant progress of the march. The Southern
whites were, of course, silent and sullen, but the negroes received the
Yankees with demonstrations of welcome and good will, and in spite of
Sherman's efforts, followed in such numbers as to embarrass his
pro