On this Christmas Eve mere days after Savannah’s subjugation to the United States, the city’s Second Baptist Church, an African American congregation, long serving as a center of religious, social and political life for black citizens, is abuzz in a new way.
Generations of slavery now behind them, black residents bask in their new found freedom. Savannah’s black population had been greater proportionally than most Southern cities, with a number of free blacks comprising the population. As such, even as the celebrations continue, the city’s black leaders are already making plans for what they are certain will be a prosperous future.
While freedmen celebrate and plan, many white Savannans mourn and stare into a bleak future void of slave labor at their disposal. Others, however, are glad the war is coming to a conclusion. A letter Union General William T. Sherman writes to General Henry Hallack in Washington, D.C. touches upon both ends of the spectrum of white Georgians’ responses to Union victories in the state, while discussing plans to march upon Charleston in the months to come.
Headquarters military Division of the Mississippi,
In the Field, Savannah, Ga.,
December 24, 1864
Maj. Gen. H.W. Halleck,
Chief of Staff, Washington City, D.C.:
General:
I had the pleasure to receive your two letters of the 16th and 18th instant today, and I feel more than usually flattered by the high encomiums that you have passed on our recent campaign, which is now complete by the occupation of Savannah . . . .
I attach more importance to these deep incisions into the enemy’s country, because this war differs from European wars in this particular: we are not only fighting hostile armies, but a hostile people, and must make old and young, rich and poor, feel the hard hand of war, as well as their organized armies. I know that this recent movement of mine through Georgia has had a wonderful effect in this respect. Thousands who had been deceived by their lying newspapers to believe that we were being whipped all the time now realize the truth, and have no appetite for a repetition of the same experience. To be sure, Jeff. Davis has his people under pretty good discipline, but I think faith in him is much shaken in Georgia, and before we have done with her South Carolina will not be quite so tempestuous. I will bear in mind your hint as to Charleston, and do not think “salt” will be necessary. When I move, the Fifteenth Corps will be on the right of the right wing, and their position will naturally bring them into Charleston first; and, if you have watched the history of that corps, you will have remarked that they generally do their work pretty well. The truth is, the whole army is burning with an insatiable desire to wreak vengeance upon South Carolina. I almost tremble at her fate, but feel that she deserves all that seems in store for her. Many and many a person in Georgia asked me why we did not go to South Carolina; and, when I answered that we were en route for that State, the invariable reply was, “Well, if you will make those people feel the utmost severities of war, we will pardon you for your desolation of Georgia.” I look upon Columbia as quite as bad as Charleston, and I doubt if we will spare the public buildings there as we did at Milledgeville . . . .
Assuring you of my high personal respect, I remain, as ever, your friend,
W.T. Sherman,
Major-General
Sources: Love Henry Whelchel, Sherman’s March and the Emergence of the Independent Black Church Movement (link); “Historic Second African Baptist Church” (link); “Letter of William T. Sherman to Henry Halleck, December 24, 1864” (link)
