Category: Capt. Orlando Poe

150 Years Ago Today: Dec. 18th – Dec. 24, 1864

General Hardee has had his forces quietly construct a pontoon bridge across the Savannah River.  They constructed it out any boat or pretty much any floating object they could use.  On top of the boats, boards were placed to make a road.  They then placed straw and hay on top of the bridge to dampen the noise of travelers.   On the night of Dec. 20th, Confederate forces withdrew from Savannah and crossed the pontoon bridge into South Carolina.

Dec. 21st, at 4:00am, Federal forces were met on the outskirts of town by the Mayor and aldermen.  They formally surrendered the city and requested protection from the Federal Army.  Word was immediately sent to General Sherman, who was meeting with Navy Officers.  Sherman was taken back to King’s Bridge.  From there he rode into Savannah.

Dec. 22nd, General Sherman entered Savannah and established his headquarters at the Pulaski House.  While working out the details here, an English merchant, Charles Green, offered the General his home as his Headquarters.  General Sherman accepted and the Headquarters was moved to the Green House.  It was here that Sherman penned his famous telegram to President Lincoln.  It read as follows: 
            “I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah, with one hundred fifty heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, also about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton.”

Dec. 24, President Lincoln receives Sherman’s telegram.  The telegram is published in newspapers across the country.  Lincoln replied with “Many, many thanks for your Christmas gift, the capture of Savannah, but what next?”

The March to the Sea is complete.  Sherman has reached his goal of Savannah and now has control of the city.  Camps are established and order is maintained.  Sherman’s Chief Engineer, Orland Poe, is reconstructing and fortifying the cities defenses.  The mines and obstructions are removed from the Savannah River and the port is reopened.  The citizens are encouraged to go back to life as normal, as as much of normal as can be expected under occupation.  Freed Blacks begin working for the Federal Army in various roles and schools are established for them in places that were once used in the slave trade.  Sherman rests, repairs, and refits his Army for there is more to come.

150 Years Ago Today: November 10th, 1864

November 10th, 1864
     General Sherman sent word via telegraph to General Corse, who was in command of the garrison at Rome.  Corse, who had distinguished himself in early October at the Battle of Allatoona Pass, was to begin destroying anything in Rome that had or could have military value to the Confederates.  The most important items of military value were the Noble Foundry and the Rail Road.  The Foundry was destroyed with explosive charges and the remainder of the majority of the city was put to the torch.  While many buildings were not designated as being of military value, some were set on fire by over zealous soldiers and others burned because of their proximity to military targets.  By morning there were very few buildings still standing.  The ones that survived were isolated from the main part of town that burned.  The Federals destroyed two train depots and a warehouse as well as a livery stable still containing horses.  As Corse and his men moved south to rendezvous with the remainder of Sherman’s Army, they began to destroy the railroad.
     In Atlanta, Sherman’s Chief Engineer, Capt. Orlando Poe, was busy at work destroying anything of military value and was focusing much attention on the railroad and its related facilities.  Poe had built a battering ram with an iron bar that was just over 21 feet long and suspended from a ten foot tall wooden suspension system.  This was used to destroy the round house and depot.  Some buildings were also rigged with explosives to be set off upon their departure.  In five days, as the Federals leave Atlanta, it will be nothing more that a smoldering ruin.