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his expressions。 At Augusta； for example； he described
Beauregard； whom he had recently placed in general command over
Georgia and South Carolina； as one who would do whatever the
President told him to do。 But this idea of military
self…effacement was not happily worded； and the enemies of Davis
seized on his phraseology as further evidence of his instinctive
autocracy。 The Mercury compared him to the Emperor of Russia and
declared the tactless remark to be 〃as insulting to General
Beauregard as it is false and presumptuous in the President。〃
Meanwhile Beauregard was negotiating with Brown。 Though they
came to an understanding about the disposition of the militia；
Brown still tried to keep control of the state troops。 When
Sherman was burning Atlanta preparatory to the March to the Sea；
Brown addressed to the Secretary of War another interminable
epistle； denouncing the Confederate authorities and asserting
his willingness to fight both the South and the North if they
did not both cease invading his rights。 But the people of
Georgia were better balanced than their Governor。 Under the
leadership of such men as Cobb they rose to the occasion and did
their part in what proved a vain attempt to conduct a 〃people's
war。〃 Their delegation at Richmond sent out a stirring appeal
assuring them that Davis was doing for them all it was possible
to do。 〃Let every man fly to arms；〃 said the appeal。 〃Remove
your negroes； horses； cattle； and provisions from before
Sherman's army； and burn what you cannot carry。 Burn all bridges
and block up the roads in his route。 Assail the invader in
front； flank； and rear； by night and by day。 Let him have no
rest。〃
The Richmond Government was unable to detach any considerable
force from the northern front。 Its contribution to the forces in
Georgia was accomplished by such pathetic means as a general
order calling to the colors all soldiers furloughed or in
hospital； 〃except those unable to travel〃； by revoking all
exemptions to farmers； planters； and mechanics； except munitions
workers； and by placing one…fifth of the ordnance and mining
bureau in the battle service。
All the world knows how futile were these endeavors to stop the
whirlwind of desolation that was Sherman's march。 He spent his
Christmas Day in Savannah。 Then the center of gravity shifted
from Georgia to South Carolina。 Throughout the two desperate
months that closed 1864 the authorities of South Carolina had
vainly sought for help from Richmond。 Twice the Governor made
official request for the return to South Carolina of some of her
own troops who were at the front in Virginia。 Davis first evaded
and then refused the request。 Lee had informed him that if the
forces on the northern front were reduced； the evacuation of
Richmond would become inevitable。
The South Carolina Government； in December； 1864； seems to have
concluded that the State must save itself。 A State Conscription
Act was passed placing all white males between the ages of
sixteen and sixty at the disposal of the state authorities for
emergency duty。 An Exemption Act set forth a long list of persons
who should not be liable to conscription by the Confederate
Government。 Still a third act regulated the impressment of slaves
for work on fortifications so as to enable the state authorities
to hold a check upon the Confederate authorities。 The
significance of the three statutes was interpreted by a South
Carolina soldier； General John S。 Preston； in a letter to the
Secretary of War that was a wail of despair。 〃This legislation
is an explicit declaration that this State does not intend to
contribute another soldier or slave to the public defense； except
on such terms its may be dictated by her authorities。 The example
will speedily be followed by North Carolina and Georgia； the
Executives of those States having already assumed the position。〃
The division between the two parties in South Carolina had now
become bitter。 To Preston the men behind the State Exemption Act
appeared as 〃designing knaves。〃 The Mercury； on the other hand；
was never more relentless toward Davis than in the winter of
1864…1865。 However； none or almost none of the anti…Davis men in
South Carolina made the least suggestion of giving up the
struggle。 To fight to the end but also to act as a check upon the
central Governmentas the new Governor； Andrew G。 Magrath； said
in his inaugural address in December； 1864；was the aim of the
dominant party in South Carolina。 How far the State Government
and the Confederate Government had drifted apart is shown by two
comments which were made in January； 1865。 Lee complained that
the South Carolina regiments； 〃much reduced by hard service；〃
were not being recruited up to their proper strength because of
the measures adopted in the southeastern States to retain
conscripts at home。 About the same date the Mercury arraigned
Davis for leaving South Carolina defenseless in the face of
Sherman's coming offensive； and asked whether Davis intended to
surrender the Confederacy。
And in the midst of this critical period； the labor problem
pushed to the fore again。 The revocation of industrial details；
necessary as it was； had put almost the whole male populationin
theory； at leastin the general Confederate army。 How
far…reaching was the effect of this order may be judged from the
experience of the Columbia and Augusta Railroad Company。 This
road was building through the interior of the State a new line
which was rendered imperatively necessary by Sherman's seizure of
the lines terminating at Savannah。 The effect of the revocation
order on the work in progress was described by the president of
the road in a letter to the Secretary of War：
〃In July and August I made a fair beginning and by October we had
about 600 hands。 General Order No。 77 took off many of our
contractors and hands。 We still had increased the number of hands
to about 400 when Sherman started from Atlanta。 The military
authorities of Augusta took about 300 of them to fortify that
city。 These contractors being from Georgia returned with their
slaves to their homes after being discharged at Augusta。 We still
have between 500 and 600 hands at work and are adding to the
force every week。
〃The great difficulty has been in getting contractors exempt or
definitely detailed since Order No。 77。 I have not exceeded eight
or nine contractors now detailed。 The rest are exempt from other
causes or over age。〃
It was against such a background of economic confusion that
Magrath wrote to the Governor of North Carolina making a
revolutionary proposal。 Virtually admitting that the Confederacy
had been shattered； and knowing the disposition of those in
authority to see only the military aspects of any given
situation； he prophesied two things： that the generals would soon
attempt to withdraw Lee's army south of Virginia； and that the
Virginia troops in that army would refuse to go。 〃It is natural
under the circumstances；〃 said he； 〃that they would not。〃 He
would prepare for this emergency by an agreement among the
Southeastern and Gulf States to act together irrespective of
Richmond； and would thus weld the