Chapter 37:
- Gen. Grant's opinion of maneuvering. -- Lee his master in every branch of generalship. -- the Federals get possession of the Weldon Railroad. -- action at Ream's Station. -- operations North of James River. -- surprise and capture of Fort Harrison.attempt of the Confederates to retake it disconcerted and defeated. -- Grant plans a general advance in October. -- three corps of the enemy in motion. -- attempt to turn the Confederate position on Hatcher's Run, and seize the Southside Railroad. -- defeat of the enemy and frustration of his plans. -- public attention drawn to Georgia. -- Sherman's march to the sea. -- he returns from Gaylesville to Atlanta. -- the work of destruction commenced at Rome. -- burning of Atlanta. -- more than four thousand houses consumed. -- outline of Sherman's march from Atlanta. -- the country it traverses full of supplies. -- pillage of Madison. -- concentration of the enemy's forces at Milledgeville. -- an affair of militia at Griswoldsville.Kilpatrick's demonstration on Augusta. -- statement of Confederate forces there. -- Sherman's march to Millen. -- he meets with no resistance. -- his devastation of the country. -- prowess of his troops in pillage and villainy. -- nothing but militia and hasty levies to oppose him. -- Sherman's approach to Savannah. -- Fort McAllister taken by assault. -- gallantry of the Confederate garrison. -- Gen. Hardee evacuates Savannah. -- extent of Sherman's captures. -- how much of his achievements was “simple waste and destruction.” -- review of “the great march.” -- absurd historical comparisons in the North. -- character of Gen. Sherman. -- his charlatanism. -- his proper place in history
It is said that at the opening of the campaign on the Rapidan, Gen. Meade, in conversation with Gen. Grant, was telling him that he proposed to maneuver thus and so; whereupon Gen. Grant stopped him at the word “manoeuvre,” and said, “Oh! I never maneuvre.” We have seen that the famous Federal commander, who thus despised manuring, had failed to destroy Lee's army by “hammering continuously” at it; had failed to take either Richmond or Petersburg by a coup de main. We shall now see that he was no longer unwilling to avail himself of the resource of manuring; and we shall observe that in this resource also, he was overmatched by Lee, who showed himself his master in every art of war,
