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threatened the only line of communication still held by the enemy.
A bridge, in the mean time, had been constructed by the enemy from the city to the South-Carolina shore; and on the evening of December twentieth, he commenced the evacuation of the city.
The movement was discovered at three A. M. on the twenty-first, and my command was at once moved forward, and occupied the city.
For a more detailed account of each day's operations I respectfully refer you to the reports of Major-General J. C. Davis, commanding Fourteenth corps, and Brigadier-General A. S. Williams, commanding Twentieth corps, together with the reports of the subordinate commanders, all of which are herewith inclosed.
So far as active opposition on the part of the enemy was concerned, there was hardly an event worthy of mention in a report of this nature.
The only real annoyance we experienced was from the destruction of bridges and the obstruction of roads by fallen timber; and other obstacles were very readily overcome.
The conduct of the officers and men on the march is worthy of the highest praise.
They endured the fatigues of tile march with cheerfulness, and were ever ready, even at the close of a long day's march, to use the axe and spade in removing obstructions and repairing roads and bridges.
The result of the campaign proves conclusively the practicability of subsisting large bodies of troops upon the enemy's country.
After leaving the section of country near Atlanta, which hal already been foraged upon by both armies, we experienced no difficulty in obtaining supplies for both men and animals; even the most unproductive sections along our line of march, yielded enough for our support so long as the march could be continued from day to day. It was thirty-four days from the date my command left Atlanta to the day supplies were received from the fleet.
The total number of rations required during this period was 1,360,000.
Of this amount there were issued by the Subsistence department, 440,900 rations of bread, 142,--473 rations of meat, 876,800 of coffee and tea, 778,466 of sugar, 213,500 of soap, and 1,123,000 of salt.
As the troops were well supplied at all times, if we deduct the above issues from the amount actually due the soldier, we have the approximate quantities taken from the country, namely, rations of bread, 919,000; met, 1,217,--527; coffee, 483,000; sugar, 581,534; soap, 1,146,500; salt, 137,000.
The above is the actual saving to the Government in issue of rations during the campaign, and it is probable that even more than the equivalent of the above supplies was obtained by the soldiers from the country.
Four thousand and ninety (4000) valuable horses and miles were captured during the march, and turned over to the Quartermaster's Department.
Our transportation was in far better condition on our arrival at Savannah than it was at the commencement of the campaign.
The average number of horses and mules with my command, including those of the pontoon-train and a part of the Michigan Engineers, was fourteen thousand five hundred.
We started from Atlanta with four days grain in wagons.
Estimating the amount fed the animals at the regulation allowance, and deducting the amount on hand on leaving Atlanta, I estimate the amount of grain taken from the country at five million pounds; fodder, six million pounds; besides the forage consumed by the immense herds of cattle that were driven with the different columns.
It is very difficult to estimate the amount of damage done the enemy by the operations of the troops under my command.
During the campaign one hundred and nineteen miles (119) of railroad were thoroughly and effectually destroyed; scarcely a tie or rail, a bridge or culvert, on the entire line being left in a condition to be of use again.
At Rutledge, Madison, Eatonton, Milledgeville,Tennille, and Davisboro, machine-shops, turn-tables, depots, water tanks, and much other valuabe property was destroyed.
The quantity of cotton destroyed is estimated by my subordinate commanders at seventeen thousand bales. A very large number of cotton-gins and presses were also destroyed.
Negro men, women, and children joined the column at every mile of our march, many of them bringing horses, and mules, which they cheerfully turned over to the officers of the Quartermaster's department.
I think at least fourteen thousand of these people joined the two columns at different points on the march; but many of them were too old and infirm, and others too young, to endure the fatigues of the march, and were therefore left in rear.
More than one half of the above number, however, reached, the coast with us. Many of the able-bodied men were transferred to the officers of the Quartermaster and Subsistence department, and others were employed in the two corps as teamsters, cooks, and servants.
Two thousand three hundred (2300() stand of small arms and a large quantity of powder were captured at Milledgeville.
Fifty-one pieces of artillery were abandoned by the enemy on his evacuation of Savannah.
On the line in front of my command thirty-eight pieces, in addition to the above, were also found in works first entered, by the Twentieth corps.
A very large amount, of ordnance stores was also found in and about the city.
Brevet Major-General J. C. Davis, commanding Fourteenth corps, and Brigadier-General A. S. Williams, commanding Twentieth corps, were, during the entire campaign, constantly with their troops, and were energetic and zealous in the discharge of every duty.
The Fifty-eighth Indiana volunteers, under command of Colonel George P. Buell, organized as pontooniers, and a portion of the First Michigan Engineers, under Major J. Yates, accompanied my command, and were at all times most efficient in the discharge of the arduous duties imposed on them.
I append herewith a statement of casualties and also a statement of prisoners captured.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. W. Slocum, Major-General Commanding Left Wing, Army of Georgia.
