The Civil War Correspondence of Sylvanus Bacheldor

Compiled by Glen Bacheldor, Lansing, MI, 1989

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Sylvanus Bacheldor served with the Michigan 14 Volunteer Infantry in Company D. Among his correspondence is his account of
Shermans March to the Sea in 1864. The following are excerpts from letters written to his family.

Jonesboro twenty miles South from Atlanta on the Macon and Atlanta rail road Saturday evening September 3, 1864
Dear Brother and Sister
I have such good news to write that I hardly know what to write first. Well, to commence, I am well, safe and sound. You have
probably heard before this of our great move which so confounded the Jonnies that they supposed we had retreated across the
Chatahootchie River. They had the city illuminated and spread the news this time, the rebel General began to smell a mice, but too
late.The eyes of General Sherman, Thomas, Davis, Morgan, and a host of others upon us. Our orders were to take the battery and
we done it. The history of this war cannot record a victory more complete, and the old fourteenth has established a reputation
equal to any in the service. The result of our victory was eight canon, one Brigadier general and staff, two stands of colors and five
hundred prisoners besides any amount of small arms and other plunder. Our regiment lost about forty in killed and wounded. The
rebel loss in killed and wounded we could not tell but it must have been awful, as the ground was covered with their dead and
wounded. We took more prisoners than we numbered men in the regiment.
Last night an order was read to us from General Sherman stating that our forces occupied Atlanta the second inst. Before leaving,
the rebs blew up their magazines and eighty car loads of ammunition. We have cut their army in two parts. One is going South, and
the other East. We have destroyed their rail roads to such an extent that they cannot be repaired in less than six months
Your Brother
Sylvanus
(upside down across top)
I intended to have sent this letter before we left but the last train left before I got ready
I have carried this letter all through the raid. It is old you will see that some of my guessing has proved true
Cartersville Georgia Nov. 12 1864
Dear Brother and Sister
I will try and write you a few lines this evening as I have nothing to do only to think of home and absent friends. I wrote you a short
time since from Chattanooga.When we came to this place, a distance of thirteen miles by foot ad walker line. We arrived and got
into camp in time to hold our election, which gave a majority of 56 for McClellan in the Regiment.
We are comfortably situated here if they will only let us remain here long enough to enjoy it. We are to relieve the troops now
stationed here and they leave tomorrow morning. There is a big move afoot and the wise ones cannot tell what shape it will
assume. I could give you my opinion by fear it might be considered contraband. I will not express an opinion.
You may make up your mind to hear of a big tear up here on this rail road within the next thirty days, one that you little dream of.
Perhaps I may prove to be a false prophet but everything indicates that this part of the country is to be abandoned by our forces.
But you will bear in mind that if such should be the case, there will be nothing left that we have possession of that will even be of
any benefit to the rebels.
Cassville, a nice little village about the size of Perry, located about three miles from Kingston, was burned to the ground by order of
General Sherman the day before we left Kingston. There was not a house left standing except three churches. Now, mark you, such
will be the fate of Atlanta and of every other town on this rail road, if we abandon this country. The rail road will be taken up, the
iron taken to Chattanooga, and everything pertaining to the road destroyed so there will be no bone of contention left to quarrel
over hereafter. You just preserve this letter and see if I am not half right in my prophecying.
Your brother
Sylvanus Bacheldor

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Camp 14 Mich. V.V. Infty.

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Near Savannah Georgia Dec. 18 1864
Dear Brother and Sister
We are again in the land of civilization and in communication with the north and new nothing what was transpiring only as we saw it
in the rebel papers. But yesterday we got a mail, 4 letters from wife and one from you. How thoughtful Uncle Sam was in ordering
the mail to Savannah to be ready for us. I would like to tell you about the burning of Atlanta, the destroying rail roads, and a great
many other things, but the mail leaves in half an hour and I must leave the details for another time. We are within four miles of
Savannah. Sherman has communication with the fleet and has the city entirely surrounded.
My health has been excellent since leaving Atlanta and I have enjoyed this raid wonderfully. I saw Egbert Havens a few days ago. He
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belongs to the 21 Michigan, 2 Division, 14 Corp. The weather is delightful, no snow and but little frost. We are in the sunny
south and I begin to think pretty well down in Dixie. You need have no fears about Bill Sherman or his army. When we get to
Savannah, we expect to go to Charleston and Richmond. Grant and his New Englanders will never do anything till this army shows
them how. The Johnnys have a holy horror of Bill Sherman and avoid him if they can. I merely write this to let you know where I am
and when I get time, I will give you the details of our raid. I got the paper you sent.
Your Brother
Sylvanus

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Camp 14 Mich V.V. Infantry

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Savannah Georgia Dec. 26 1864
Dear Brother and Sister,
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You will learn before this reaches you that this army occupies Savannah. The rebels evacuated the city the night of the 21 and we
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entered inside the rebel works the morning of the 22 . They crossed the river into South Carolina leaving behind them all their
artillery amounting in all to nearly two hundred pieces ranging from six to one hundred pounders. The rebel army was composed
mostly of Georgia State Militia who threw their guns into the River while crossing. Everything in the city was left in perfect order.
General Sherman had them so nearly surrounded that if they had remained twenty four hours longer, we would have captured the
whole gang. They had the place very strongly fortified but the very name of Sherman and his army seemed to strike panic into their
very souls
Fort Jackson, some five miles below the city on the river, and one of the strongest forces in the confederacy, surrendered without
firing a gun. In the loss of Savannah, the Rebels have lost one of their strong holds and it will prove to them a serious loss.
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We have orders to be ready to commence a new campaign the 2 day of January 1865. But which way we shall go Sherman only
knows. But I will guess Charleston. Our boys all seem anxious to have a clip at the hot bed of treason, South Carolina. If we get over
there, our boys will just lay the country waste when they go, and if they get to Charleston, one stone will not be left on another to
tell where that modern Sodom stood. Shermans mode of warfare is entirely different from Grants. Just let Shermans army of
Western Veterans get up about Richmond and then you may expect to see the fur fly. The Army of the Potomac never has done
much. They occupy nearly the same ground they did three years ago, while the western troops have cleaned about everything out
of the south west and now have to turn in and help Grant. Well, we can do it while Grand and his army gets the honor of the thing.
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Tomorrow there is to be a grand review, our corp, the 14 , by General Sherman in person, so I will note and tell you how that went
off. We had a rather dry Christmas dinner. We were told that a lot of good things were on their way for Shermans army, but the
fleet failed to connect and we lost our dinner. Never mind, Grants army will get them if we do not, and we can love on hard tack
and sweet potatoes.
I see that I am spinning this letter out to a great length and perhaps will not be very interesting to you, so I will leave it for this time. I
want you to write at least once a week, dont wait for me.
Your Brother,
Sylvanus Bachelder