Yet this, at least, may be said.

The operations on the South Atlantic coast, which long seemed a merely subordinate and incidental part of the great contest, proved to be one of the final pivots on which it turned.

All now admit that the fate of the Confederacy was decided by Sherman's march to the sea.

Port Royal was the objective point to which he marched, and he found the Department of the South, when he reached it, held almost exclusively by colored troops.

Next to the merit of those who made the march was that of those who held open the door.