Sherman Sherman in Savannah...and money

Joramy

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Sep 9, 2015
I've read Sherman's Memoirs, his Field Orders and several diaries dealing with his occupation of Savannah, which took place Dec 22, 1864 - Jan 21, 1865.

I cannot find what he did about money.
1) Did he declare Confederate money then in use null and void?
2) Did he ignore the issue and let the market decide what to use for money. If the latter, what did the citizens use? Could they even get greenbacks?
3) How did they pay the troops who spent a whole month in Savannah, with no fighting and time on their hands.

What I would love to find is contemporary evidence of an actual monetary transaction, to see what was used for money after the Union occupation.

Any help will be appreciated.
 
Here is a link that may help you with your GREAT questions. Sherman didn't need money in Savannah, the citizens gave him everything he and his officers needed. By the time he got to Savannah it was 10 to one rate on CS money and US. He did seize ALL the cotton.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/2955087?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
 
Here is a link that may help you with your GREAT questions. Sherman didn't need money in Savannah, the citizens gave him everything he and his officers needed. By the time he got to Savannah it was 10 to one rate on CS money and US. He did seize ALL the cotton.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/2955087?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Thanks. Interesting article, but doesn't give any detail about money actually used during the occupation. You wrote
"By the time he got to Savannah it was 10 to one rate on CS money and US." Do you have a source or reference for that? I am trying to get into the life of a typical citizen of the period, who goes to the store to buy something. What money does she use? Is confederate money now worthless with Sherman in town? Also, were the soldiers themselves paid in greenbacks? IOU's? They had brothels in Savannah. What payment did the women accept? Etc. Strange, how such simple questions seems so difficult to pin down.
 
Is that an email? Seems part is missing.

Not an email, a member of CWT. They are tagging them so they are notified of the thread.

I don't know if you're in close proximity to Savannah, but you could check with the historical society collection (http://georgiahistory.com/research-the-collection/search-our-collection/). Perhaps there are records or ledger books from businesses at that time that show how transactions occurred. Someone there may be able to help you find relevant sources as well.
 
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