gress. As he proceeded, he destroyed the railroads by filling up
cuts, burning ties, heating the rails red hot and twisting them around
trees and into irreparable spirals. Threatening the principal cities to
the right and left, he marched skilfully between and past them.

He reached the outer defenses of Savannah on December 10, easily driving
before him about ten thousand of the enemy. On December 13, he stormed
Fort McAllister, and communicated with the Union fleet through Ossabaw
Sound, reporting to Washington that his march had been most agreeable,
that he had not lost a wagon on the trip, that he had utterly destroyed
over two hundred miles of rails, and consumed stores and provisions that
were essential to Lee's and Hood's armies. With pardonable exultation
General Sherman telegraphed to President Lincoln on December 22:

"I beg to present to you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah, with
one hundred and fifty heavy guns and plenty of ammunition. Also about
twenty-five thousand bales of cotton."

He had reason to be gratified with the warm acknowledgment which
President Lincoln wrote him in the following letter:

"MY DEAR GENERAL SHERMAN: Many, many thanks for your Christmas gift, the
capture of Savannah. When you were about leaving Atlanta for the
Atlantic coast I was anxious, if not fearful; but feeling that you were
the better judge, and remembering that 'nothing risked, nothing gained,'
I did not interfere. Now, the undertaking being a success, the honor is
all yours, for I believe none of us went farther than to acquiesce. And
taking the work of General Thomas into the count, as it should be taken,
it is, indeed, a great success. Not only does it afford the obvious and
immediate military advantages, but in showing to the world that your
army could be divided, putting the stronger part to an important new
service, and yet leaving enough to vanquish the old opposing force of
the whole--Hood's army--it brings those who sat in darkness to see a
great light. But what next? I suppose it will be safe if I leave General
Grant and yourself to decide. Please make my grateful acknowledgments to
your whole army, officers and men."

It was again General Sherman who planned and decided the next step of
the campaign. Grant sent him orders to fortify a strong post, leave his
artillery and cavalry, and bring his infantry by sea to unite with the
Army of the Potomac before Petersburg. Greatly to Sherman's
satisfaction,