I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah.

War is cruelty. There is no use trying to reform it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.

I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are.

But, my dear sirs, when peace does come, you may call on me for any thing. Then will I share with you the last cracker, and watch with you to shield your homes and families against danger from every quarter.

At first you will make headway, but as your limited resources begin to fail, shut out from the markets of Europe as you will be, your cause will begin to wane. If your people will but stop and think, they must see that in the end you will surely fail.

If the people raise a great howl against my barbarity and cruelty, I will answer that war is war, and not popularity seeking.

I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah.