t of December,
when our forces marched proudly into the "Forest City," Hardee having
evacuated it on the night of the 20th. Now, the whole army went into
camp in and about it, being once more in communication with the outer
world.

Here ends the great raid to the sea.

Immediately after the capture of Savannah, General Sherman sent the
following brief note to President Lincoln: "I beg to present you, as a
Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with one hundred and fifty heavy
guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about twenty-five thousand
bales of cotton."

On this raid, the army marched over three hundred miles directly
through the heart of Georgia, living off the best of the land. No less
than ten thousand negroes left the plantations of their former masters
and accompanied the army when it reached Savannah, without taking note
of thousands more who were left along the line of march. Over twenty
thousand bales of cotton were burned, besides twenty-five thousand
captured at Savannah. Thirteen thousand head of beef cattle, nine
million five hundred thousand pounds of corn, and ten million five
hundred thousand of fodder, were taken from the country and issued to
the men and animals.

Besides the history of this great raid, there are many other historical
incidents connected with this portion of the country. Savannah itself
was the first settlement in the State, being laid off in the year 1733.
It was here where the great John Wesley first officiated as minister.
And it was the scene of many revolutionary incidents; where General
Lincoln fought the British in October, 1779; where Pulaski fell, and
where Nathaniel Greene lies buried.

Savannah is located in a low, level country, surrounded by almost
impassable swamps of a very unhealthy nature. It has a canal running
into it from the Ogechee, and three railroads radiating from it; and
from its beautiful shade trees, it is appropriately called the "Forest
City."

Our great raid through Georgia, the Queen State of the Confederacy, was
practically unobstructed by the enemy. True, they attempted to arrest
our progress, but without the slightest success. Some of Wheeler's men,
would, at times, make a stand behind an intrenchment and contest our
advance. Our skirmishers would push forward, reinforced by the reserve,
a charge would be sounded by the bugle, a rush follow--and amid the
rattle of musketry and report of field pieces, the ground would be
swept over by our