“December 29th, a conference of the division and brigade commanders with the general commanding the corps, was held at 10 A. M. to-day, with the view to the adoption of a plan for storming the enemy’s works, as soon as the heavy guns should be in readiness to open fire. Fort No. 1 was finished this evening. The details from the First and Third brigades continued work on the other forts during the night, under a heavy artillery fire from the enemy. Several casualties occurred, among them Major Wright, a most valuable officer, commanding the Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteers, who was severely wounded by a shell. Sloan’s battery of three-inch rifled guns had already taken position in a work thrown up to the right of Fort 3, and in the open field.
“December 20th. The usual artillery firing and sharp shooting to-day. By this evening we had constructed and in readiness for use in the contemplated assault, two hundred large straw fascines, to fill up ditches in front of the enemy’s works; also a large number of fascines made of bamboo-cane. The latter were to be used for bridging the canal by laying them across baulks, which were furnished from the pontoon train for that purpose. The work on Forts 2 and 3 was well advanced to-day, and would probably be completed to-night. Three siege-guns (thirty-pounder Parrotts) were brought down this evening and mounted in Fort No. 2. I ascertained this morning that the enemy had completed a pontoon bridge from Savannah across to the South Carolina shore, and notified the general commanding corps of the discovery. This bridge was about two and a half miles from my left. The usual artillery firing was kept up by the enemy during the day and night. During the night I heard the movement of troops and wagons across the pontoon bridge before mentioned, and sent a report of the fact to the general commanding corps. Leaving one of my staff to watch the sounds in that direction, I notified my officer of the day and brigade commanders to keep a vigilant watch upon the enemy, as they were probably evacuating. The details on Forts 2 and 3 continued working through the night, the enemy shelling them heavily.
“December 21st. After 3 o’clock this morning the firing ceased, and my pickets advancing to the enemy’s line, found them hastily retreating. Having possession of their line of works with all their cannon in front of my own and the other division of the corps, I immediately sent a staff officer to notify the general commanding, and at the same time pushed forward rapidly in the direction of Savannah, hoping to overtake and capture a part of the enemy’s force. My skirmishers deployed and swept over all the ground between the evacuated works and the Ogeechee canal, from the river to the Augusta road, while my main body of troops marched rapidly by the flank through McAlpin’s plantation to the Augusta road, and on into the city. Just outside of the city limits near the junction of the Louisville and Augusta roads, I met the mayor of Savannah and a delegation from the board of alderman, bearing a flag of truce. From them I received in the name of my commanding general the surrender of the city. This was at 4:30 A. M., and I sent immediately another staff officer to announce the surrender to the general commanding the corps. He had considerable difficulty in passing the line of another division of this corps on the Augusta road, but finally convinced them that he belonged to the Twentieth corps and not to the enemy. In the meantime my entire division entered the city of Savannah at early dawn, and before the sun first gilded the morning clouds, our National colors, side by side with those of my own division, were unfurled from the dome of the exchange, and over the United States custom house. The brigade which led on entering the city, was at once ordered to patrol it, reduce it to order and quiet, and prevent any pillaging or lawlessness on the part either of soldiers or citizens. My orders on the subject were very strict, and within a few hours this city, in which I had found a lawless mob of low whites and negroes pillaging and setting fire to property, was reduced to order. Many millions of dollars worth of cotton, ordnance and commissary stores, etc., which would have been otherwise destroyed, were saved to the United States Government, and the citizens once more enjoyed security under the protection of that flag which again waved over them, exactly four years since the passage by the State of South Carolina of the Secession Act.
“Two regiments from Pardee’s brigade, the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania and Twenty-ninth Ohio veteran volunteers, were sent down to Fort Jackson, and early in the morning had possession of it and all the intermediate and surrounding works. The iron-plated ram, Savannah, which lay in the river below the city, threw shells at these two regiments as they flung the stars and stripes to the breeze from the walls of Fort Jackson. All the other gun-boats of the enemy had been fired by them and burned to the water’s edge.
“On the arrival of the major-general commanding the left wing, I was, by his order, placed in command of the city. Until nearly 10 A. M. continued firing was heard in the direction of Beaulieu, and supposing that a portion of the enemy might still be south of us, I kept one brigade under arms during the forenoon. Three rebel flags were captured by my command, which will be duly forwarded.
“I am, Colonel, very-respectfully
Your obedient servant,
John W. Geary,
Brigadier-general commanding Second division Twentieth corps.”