Page 57

Sherman now communicated with the fleet, and going on board the Admiral’s flag-ship – the Harvest Moon – arranged with General Foster to send some siege ordnance from Hilton Head. After consulting with Dahlgren he returned to his lines at Savannah.

The reports of the division commanders on the condition of things, made him determine, the moment the siege guns arrived from Port Royal, to assault the enemy’s works. A number of thirty-pounder Parrott guns having reached King’s bridge, he, on the 17^th, sent in a formal demand for the surrender of the city, which Hardee rejected. He now made further reconnaissance, and ordered Slocum to get in position siege guns, and make everything ready for the final assault, at the earliest moment. He also established a division of troops, under Foster, on the neck between the Coosawhatchie and Tullitinney rivers, where his artillery could reach the railroad, and then started for Port Royal, in person, to get reinforcements for him, so that he could assault and carry the railroad, and thus obtain possession of the Union Causeway, from the direction of Port Royal. This was the plank road on the South Carolina shore, which once occupied, would complete the investment of Savannah.

He put to sea on the night of the 20^th, but a gale of wind arising, it was deemed impossible to get over the

Page 58

Ossabaw Bar, and the vessel, the Harvest Moon, ran into the Tybee to make the passage through the inland channel into Warsaw Sound, and thence through Romney Marsh. But the ship, caught in the ebb-tide, could not make the passage, and Dahlgren took him in his tug toward Vernon river. To his surprise, Sherman received, on the way a message from his adjutant, Captain Dayton, stating that Savannah was evacuated, and our troops already in possession of the enemy’s lines. He immediately hurried back, and on the morning of the 22^nd, rode into the city of Savannah.

The surrender of the place was made to Geary, who was placed in command of the city. Sherman sent the following terse dispatch to the President: - "I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with one hundred and fifty guns and plenty of ammunition, and about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton." There proved to be thirty-five thousand bales. Three steamers were also captured, besides locomotives, cars, etc., and eight hundred prisoners.

The 26^th Missouri remained in camp at this point until December 21^st. On December 18^th, Companies E and F were mustered out by reason of the expiration of their term of service. They started for home via Hilton Head, South Carolina and New York.

On Wednesday, December 21^st, at 1:30 p.m., they marched in the direction of Savannah, a distance of fourteen miles by wagon road, and arrived in the city at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, December 22^nd, changed camp, and on Saturday, December 24^th, took part in the review of the army in the city of Savannah.

On Monday, December 26^th, detailed Captain Wm. H.

Page 59

Mengel with a squad of men and a wagon to go to the seashore and procure oysters. The captain sent back work that he had found too many oysters for one wagon, and asked that another be sent. The request was granted, and the squad returned in the evening with two wagon loads of oysters. The bivalves were shoveled out in camp, and the boys enjoyed a grand feast of oysters raw, oysters stewed, and oysters fried.

All of the non-veterans with the commissioned officers of the regiment who had not been previously mustered out of the service, were mustered out January 9^th, 1865, except the officers of Companies H and I and the Adjutant.

On January 10^th, 1865, we took our leave of the army and embarked on the steamer for home, by the way of Hilton Head, South Carolina and New York, but we were forced to remain at the former place until about January 14^th, on account of the inability to secure a seagoing vessel. The steamer, "Star of the South," was ultimately secured and our journey homeward was accomplished.