At Milledgeville we found newspapers from all the South, and learned the consternation which had filled the Southern mind at our temerity; many charging that we were actually fleeing for our lives and seeking safety at the hands of our fleet on the sea-coast.  All demanded that we should be assailed, “front, flank, and rear;” that provisions should be destroyed in advance, so that we would starve; that bridges should be burned, roads obstructed, and no mercy shown us.  Judging from the tone of the Southern press of that day, the outside world must have supposed us ruined and lost.  I give a few of these appeals as samples, which to-day must sound strange to the parties who made them: 

Corinth, Mississippi, November 18, 1884.

To the People of Georgia: 

Arise for the defense of your native soil!  Rally around your patriotic Governor and gallant soldiers!  Obstruct and destroy all the roads in Sherman’s front, flank, and rear, and his army will soon starve in your midst.  Be confident.  Be resolute.  Trust in an overruling Providence, and success will soon crown your efforts.  I hasten to join you in the defense of your homes and firesides.

G. T. Beauregard.

Richmond, November 18, 1884.

To the People of Georgia: 

You have now the best opportunity ever yet presented to destroy the enemy.  Put every thing at the disposal of our generals; remove all provisions from the path of the, invader, and put all obstructions in his path.

Every citizen with his gun, and every negro with his spade and axe, can do the work of a soldier.  You can destroy the enemy by retarding his march.

Georgians, be firm!  Act promptly, and fear not!

B. H. Hill, Senator.

I most cordially approve the above. 
James A. Seddon, Secretary of War.

Richmond, November 19,1864.

To the People of Georgia: 

We have had a special conference with President Davis and the Secretary of War, and are able to assure you that they have done and are still doing all that can be done to meet the emergency that presses upon you.  Let every man fly to arms!  Remove your negroes, horses, cattle, and provisions from Sherman’s army, and burn what you cannot carry.  Burn all bridges, and block up the roads in his route.  Assail the invader in front, flank, and rear, by night and by day.  Let him have no rest.

Julian Hartridge
mark Blandford,
J. H. Echols
GEO. N. Lester
John T. Shuemaker
JAS. M. Smith,

Members of Congress.

Of course, we were rather amused than alarmed at these threats, and made light of the feeble opposition offered to our progress.  Some of the officers (in the spirit of mischief) gathered together in the vacant hall of Representatives, elected a Speaker, and constituted themselves the Legislature of the State of Georgia!  A proposition was made to repeal the ordinance of secession, which was well debated, and resulted in its repeal by a fair vote!  I was not present at these frolics, but heard of them at the time, and enjoyed the joke.