#william hardee

Savannah's Siege, December 17, 1864: "I am therefore justified in demanding the surrender of the city...." #MTS150

On December 17, 1864, Major-General William T. Sherman determined the time was right to formally press his opponent in Savannah, Lieutenant-General William Hardee.  So in the morning Sherman sent over a flag of truce with this message:

General William J. Hardee, Commanding Confederate Forces in Savannah:

General: You have doubtless observed from your station at Rose dew that sea-going vessels now…

“It is impossible to calcuate the good… from the successful blockade-running vessels”: Instructions to Hardee

Lieutenant-General William Hardee arrived in Charleston during the first half of October to assume command of the Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.  His arrival meant a demotion for Major-General Samuel Jones.  But Jones did not go far, as he assumed command of the District of South Carolina from a new headquarters across the bay at Mount Pleasant.

For Hardee, the new post was a…