A high-resolution version of this object is only available for registered users - register here.
High-resolution images are also available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription or click here for more information.
- GLC#
- GLC07460.109-View header record
- Type
- Letters
- Date
- 23 December 1864
- Author/Creator
- Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917
- Title
- to his parents, brother-in-law, and sister
- Place Written
- Savannah, Georgia
- Pagination
- 6 p. : envelope Height: 20 cm, Width: 25.4 cm
- Primary time period
- Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877
- Sub-Era
- The American Civil War
Writes that the mail is becoming somewhat regular as more has come in today and is being sent out as well. He is happy to report that their camp situation has improved from when he last wrote. The regiment has advanced into the trenches around Savannah, Georgia. Reports that the rebels left the day before yesterday and the Union now controls Savannah. The 2nd Division of his corps captured the few remaining rebels in the city. They captured a rebel captain and 29 men guarding a magazine. There were many rebels cannons around only a few were spiked. On some of the cannon the spike was done so poorly the Union soldiers were able to pull out the spike and save the cannon. He supposes the rebels retreated into South Carolina, towards Charleston, South Carolina. He has seen the large amount of cotton and "other stuff" left behind by the rebels that now belongs to the Union. Thinks the city of Savannah is quite a "substantial looking place some of which is quite ancient." The slaves were very glad to see the Union soldiers. Writes that both the slaves and Union helped themselves to the supplies the rebels left behind. The steamer Jefferson Davis is laying at the wharf in the harbor. A few miles up river a rebel ram was fired upon and there are reports tonight that the rebels blew her up. Fort Jackson is still in rebels hands, he thinks that Savannah is twice as large as Nashville, Tennessee. Most of the citizens remained in the city and the United States government will now take over control of running the city. He is very glad that the rebels abandoned the city when they did as his regiment was to lead a charge against the city.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
- Copyright Notice
- The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.