The army and the fleet now joined forces. Howard pressed the work of building roads across the swamps and draining the rice fields. On December 17th, Sherman summoned Hardee, the Rebel commander, to surrender, but Hardee refused. Howard and Slocum brought up their batteries and pressed the army forward, however, and Hardee, after a detachment of Sherman had crossed the Savannah, saw the situation was hopeless; so before his last road was taken he took to flight with his troops and light artillery, leaving his heavy guns and stores behind. At daybreak of December 21st the Union troops occupied the city, and Sherman's official dispatch announcing the event reached Lincoln at Washington on Christmas Day. "I beg to present you," he said, "as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton."
Before this, however, the Nation had been informed of the whereabouts of the "lost army" by means of this dispatch, which was received at the War Department, Washington, on December 14th:
"HILTON HEAD, S. C, Monday, Dec. 12th, 1864, "via FORT MONROE, Dec. 14th.
"_To Major-General Halleck, Chief of Staff._
"GENERAL:--Captain Duncan, of General Howard's scouts, has just come in from General Howard, having descended the Ogeechee River in a small boat. They left the army on the evening of the 9th. General Sherman's whole army was then within ten miles of Savannah, advancing to attack it. The enemy's works, five miles from the city, were probably attacked yesterday, as heavy firing was heard in that direction.
"Captain Duncan represents the army to be in the best spirits possible, and the most excellent condition. Very little opposition had been met with on the march, as the enemy could not tell what routes were to be taken. The army has lived off the country, and has accumulated a considerable number of horses and cattle. It was also well supplied.
"The following is a copy of the dispatch brought by Captain Duncan:
"'HDQRS. ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, NEAR SAVANNAH CANAL, December 9th, 1864.
"'_To the Commander of the United States Naval Forces in the vicinity of Savannah, Ga._
"'SIR:--We have met with perfect success thus far. The troops are in fine spirits and General Sherman near by.