October 9, 1864---"Make Georgia howl."

OCTOBER 9, 1864:           

William Tecumseh Sherman sends a famous telegram to Ulysses S. Grant explaining the fate of Atlanta. In his message he proposes to “make Georgia howl”: 

It will be a physical impossibility to protect this road now that Hood, Forrest, Wheeler and the whole batch of Devils are turned loose without home or habitation. I think Hoods movements indicate a direction to the end of the Selma and Talladega road to Blue Mountain about sixty miles south west of Rome from which he will threaten Kingston, Bridgeport and Decatur and I propose we break up the road from Chattanooga and strike out with wagons for Milledgeville Millen and Savannah.

Until we can repopulate Georgia it is useless to occupy it, but utter destruction of its roads, houses, and people will cripple their military resources. By attempting to hold the roads we will lose a thousand men monthly and will gain no result. I can make the march and make Georgia howl. We have over 8,000 cattle and 3,000,000 pounds of bread but no corn, but we can forage the interior of the state.

 

The Battle of Tom’s Brook (“The Woodstock Races”):         

General Philip Sheridan U.S.A. is still methodically destroying the Shenandoah Valley, though he is nearing the end of his task.

Today, his forces meet General Jubal Early C.S.A.’s forces near Woodstock, Virginia. Sheridan orders George Armstrong Custer to “whip the enemy or be whipped yourself.”

Confederate Major General Tom Rosser of the Laurel Brigade says pompously: "That's General Custer, the Yanks are so proud of, and I intend to give him the best whipping today that he ever got."

As history will show, not quite. Unfortunately for Rosser, his whip hand is paralyzed when Custer’s men turn at bay and attack the Laurel Brigade head-on. The cavalrymen in gray immediately retreat at the gallop (giving the battle its ironic nickname), and the battle is over in just a few moments. Early, when apprised of Rosser’s defeat, remarks disgustedly, “"The laurel is a running vine".  

Although Tom’s Brook is a little-remembered and relatively bloodless battle, it finally gives the Union unquestioned mastery over the despoiled Shenandoah Valley. Early is forced to withdraw, since the ruined Valley cannot support his forces any longer.

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