Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917 to his parents, brother-in-law, and sister

Writes that the mail is becoming somewhat regular as more has come in today and is being sent out as well. He is happy to report that their camp situation has improved from when he last wrote. The regiment has advanced into the trenches around Savannah, Georgia. Reports that the rebels left the day before yesterday and the Union now controls Savannah. The 2nd Division of his corps captured the few remaining rebels in the city. They captured a rebel captain and 29 men guarding a magazine. There were many rebels cannons around only a few were spiked. On some of the cannon the spike was done so poorly the Union soldiers were able to pull out the spike and save the cannon. He supposes the rebels retreated into South Carolina, towards Charleston, South Carolina. He has seen the large amount of cotton and "other stuff" left behind by the rebels that now belongs to the Union. Thinks the city of Savannah is quite a "substantial looking place some of which is quite ancient." The slaves were very glad to see the Union soldiers. Writes that both the slaves and Union helped themselves to the supplies the rebels left behind. The steamer Jefferson Davis is laying at the wharf in the harbor. A few miles up river a rebel ram was fired upon and there are reports tonight that the rebels blew her up. Fort Jackson is still in rebels hands, he thinks that Savannah is twice as large as Nashville, Tennessee. Most of the citizens remained in the city and the United States government will now take over control of running the city. He is very glad that the rebels abandoned the city when they did as his regiment was to lead a charge against the city.