Admiral Dahlgren, General Grant, and the Secretary of War, giving in general terms the actual state of affairs, the fact of the capture of Fort McAllister, and of my desire that means should be taken to establish a line of supply from the vessels in port up the Ogeechee to the rear of the army.  As a sample, I give one of these notes, addressed to the Secretary of War, intended for publication to relieve the anxiety of our friends at the North generally: 

On board dandelion, Ossabaw sound, December 13, 1864—­11.50 p.m.

To Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.: 

To-day, at 6 p. m., General Hazen’s division of the Fifteenth Corps carried Fort McAllister by assault, capturing its entire garrison and stores.  This opened to us Ossabaw Sound, and I pushed down to this gunboat to communicate with the fleet.  Before opening communication we had completely destroyed all the railroads leading into Savannah, and invested the city.  The left of the army is on the Savannah River three miles above the city, and the right on the Ogeechee, at King’s Bridge.  The army is in splendid order, and equal to any thing.  The weather has been fine, and supplies were abundant.  Our march was most agreeable, and we were not at all molested by guerrillas.

We reached Savannah three days ago, but, owing to Fort McAllister, could not communicate; but, now that we have McAllister, we can go ahead.

We have already captured two boats on the Savannah river and prevented their gunboats from coming down.

I estimate the population of Savannah at twenty-five thousand, and the garrison at fifteen thousand.  General Hardee commands.

We have not lost a wagon on the trip; but have gathered a large supply of negroes, mules, horses, etc., and our teams are in far better condition than when we started.

My first duty will be to clear the army of surplus negroes, mules, and horses.  We have utterly destroyed over two hundred miles of rails, and consumed stores and provisions that were essential to Lee’s and Hood’s armies.

The quick work made with McAllister, the opening of communication with our fleet, and our consequent independence as to supplies, dissipate all their boasted threats to head us off and starve the army.

I regard Savannah as already gained. 
Yours truly,

W. T. Sherman, Major-General.

By this time the night was well advanced, and the tide was running ebb-strong; so I asked.  Captain Williamson to tow us up as near Fort McAllister as he would venture for the torpedoes, of which the navy-officers had a wholesome dread.  The Dandelion steamed up some three or four miles, till the lights of Fort McAllister could be seen, when she anchored, and we pulled to the fort in our own boat.  General Howard and I then walked up to the McAllister House, where we found General Hazen and his officers asleep on the