After reading about Sherman's March to the Sea the Explorers wrote a letter or journal entry from the point of view of a Union soldier or Southern civilian in the way of the army.
By M.B.
Though I shall not reveal my true identity for fear General Sherman shall send me home or worse. I watch as the terrified faces see their once strong and beautiful city of Atlanta being crumbled and destroyed. Though some soldiers are burning away hope some have just as terrified faces knowing that could have been them. I ride on horse back watching with terror in my eyes for executions or slaughter. I rummage through store houses gathering guns and flour. Then a woman stares at me with a mix of pleading terror and curiosity. I got suspicious that she knew so I mounted and rode to the next field to only see an ox being slaughtered then a sheep tossed into a fire. That home was being burned and children were running everywhere. I dismounted and gathered more horses for the Calvary. There over by the slaughtering army of terror a civilian was shot trying to put the slaughter to an end. That army of slaughter was us. My work was done at this plantation so I gather more horses for the Calvary. One of our drummer boys was lying on the ground with fire engulfing his leg. I did what had to be done to stop any more painful suffering and shot him. After that it was almost complete darkness so I now settle down for the night. Sherman was not done though he now sits and eats for he stays up late until three AM. While I lay down early a two AM.
By A.S.
I was sitting in my house when all of a sudden I heard a boom downstairs so I put on some clothes and ran downstairs. It turns out that my house was invaded with soldiers. I felt like a bomb was exploding in my stomach. I ran outside and did not know what to do. So I went back inside to a horrible mess everything was broken and destroyed. I ran away screaming and when I looked back my house was on fire.when I looked forward I saw that children were right in front of me I didn’t have time to avoid them or stop so I ran into them and we all fell and the children ran away crying. I ran the oppisite way to get out of town before dusk. But then I saw a horse and I got a idea I decided to steal the horse and took off. When I looked over my shoulder the town was on fire.
By D.S.
Dear Diary,
“Tonight has been like a nightmare, the only difference is all the torturing and injuring and terror is real. It started with the noise it was about 8:00 pm and my sister Melanie and I were lying on a bed waiting for Pa to come home. Then we hear a loud and scary booming sound. It felt like you were hearing a building crumble but instead of being quiet the noise level was full blast. After that I heard a shriek. A loud, shrill shriek. Then it turned into a weep. A slow, depressed weep.
I ran down the stairs and looked where the noises were coming from. I saw Ms. Carlson standing outside of her house which was burning up in flames. I ran slowly to her than stopped midway. I knew exactly what had happened. I saw General Sherman and his army about a mile away. They were tearing up and burning up everything in their path. I ran back to my home warned Melanie, grabbed a few cotton blankets, a bag of tea and a few personal items and left the house. The war had gone too far, I was leaving America. I don’t know where my sister and I will end up. As we left I saw for a second General Sherman. I expected him to be grinning with his bright yellow teeth. Instead he looked rather sad, like he didn’t like the war either.”
Keisha N. Millo
By M.Y.
Dear Diary
I’ve been locked in my house all day. I never felt so scared in my life. My father James Starewell went to war with my brother John, I have been living alone by myself. Mom had been outside yesterday harvesting apples while the north came by and killed her. Out of respect I shall go and support the south. If Sherman keeps this up then Atlanta will soon be gone. I’d rather die then be in this crucial moment. If I die I hope to make a difference in this horrid and gruesome time. As of today I shall join the army and fight for the south. Sherman has destroyed about half of Atlanta, I sent a message to him about why he would do such a thing. I hope to get a letter back from him. General Hood has lost many people but one day in this world we can make a difference. Last week my dog Elmo died, I felt very sad for him. I put him in a box wishing for him to come back to life but then the house shook. I felt like I was in an earthquake but then the door fell down and windows shattered. I laid there praying to be alive but then it stopped. I got many bruises but it didn’t hurt as much of how my life was. I hope someday the world will get better.
By B.S.
Hello Journal,
I’m sorry I haven’t written in a while, but our leader has lead us over 500 miles to get to Atlanta. The rebel’s leader was sending little delays like 500 people at a time. Didn’t really work. I heard he got fired. This next dude is going all out on us. He might’ve won if the other guy didn’t waste all the soldiers they retreated. We decided to attack from the back because the front was heavily guarded. We succeeded! We burnt down everything in town except for the civilians. A lot of people didn’t leave, so we had to kill them. I suggested taking the ammunition and stuff, but we couldn’t have carried anymore. We must’ve done good, because we got Atlanta.
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