The Totally Fantastical Story
William T. Sherman’s
March to the Sea
Sherman conducted mastermind The March to the Sea Campaign during the Civil War. It lasted through November 15th to December 21st in 1864. Abraham Lincoln and General Ulysses S Grant had there douts of the march proposed by Sherman. To march through Georgia deep within the enemy territory at the time and with little to no supply line for things such as food and rations. This didn’t bother Grant why? Because he’s a badass. With math with the census of the 1860s and determining the but route for savaging for food and such. They left Atlanta Georgia with only 20 days of rations foragers called bummers would seize feed from the farms they would later destroy.
During the marches first couple of days, the Bummers encountered something that Sherman himself couldn’t describe. But ate joyfully he wrote only that it had body three feet in length and looked much like a beaver with a fin on its back. The fur of an otter on its face and skin of the same color on the rest of said body it was slick to the touch. The bummer found it by a local river already freshly dead it must have lost a fight with something. The meat had a pungent smell to it exceedingly gamy and fatty flavor Sherman would later describe it as a mix of chicken and alligator in terms of taste.
As they continued on their campaign, the bummers found more and more stone alters in the woods and alerted Sherman to their presence. As Sherman’s march proceeded towards its destination of the Atlantic Ocean he and his men undertook a scorched earth policy the route was made that way. Focusing on scavenging food and resources of farms to sustain the ever destruction of the march destroying telegraph poles, railways, and farms in there wake maybe this is why the Nodoroc opened. As Sherman inspected the latest stone alter his Bummers have found this one, however, was oozing a darkened liquid similar to mud. “No word of this to that reporter” his voice boomed at the young Bummers he despised reporters to his core. He thought of them as the scum of the earth how they survived battlefield always baffled Sherman. He knew the young reporter gathering camp rumor from his men would take this straight back to his sleaze rag of a newspaper. He would rather his northern paper talk more of the war and less of the rumors of the camp and general falsities of the world.
It wasn’t till a few days later that he found his men and bummers disappearing and more importantly the reporter still there. Yes, his bummers that were essential to this plan. But with the reporter there taking note dwindling numbers and recording it for his newspaper he was acting like a stupid unintentional spy for the south. But first he needed information on these disappearances and as much as he hated the reporter he knew he needed the meek glasses-wearing annoyance by the name of Neil. Sherman hated Neil “I know my men told you of the alter a few days ago” Neil startled by the sound of a gruff uncharismatic general he nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound he looked up to find the man the soldiers told him to steer clear of if he valued his life the general, William T Sherman,,. The meek reporter couldn’t make a word come out of his mouth Sherman boomed with his voice “I knew reporters where idiot’s but not forming word was a new stupid un herd of by me” . Neil now piss scared for his life now in denial of events “No No your men never told me about any alter with mud coming out of it” Sherman with a small grin Neil never thought he would see Sherman grin or even be that close to the general that hatred of reporters was legendary. Sherman noticing the reporter visibly uncomfortable with the situation he now found himself leaned in and enjoying this moment maybe just a tad too much “I never mentioned the mud” Neil gulped with the realization that to Sherman he wasn’t just the reporter intruding on his camp but a lying reporter. Neil realized he just got on Sherman’s shit list a long list but a shit list none the less at that moment. Sherman stood up straight his imposing stature over the now terrified reporter ask “have you done any research on the subject as of late” he put on his best don’t make me ask twice face he could as he stood looking down at the still sitting reporter. “umm um” “well out with it boy I don’t have all day” Sherman voice boomed as if a punch in the stomach to the reporter. The reporter has gotten up from his make-shift desk gathering his papers and makeshift sketches of the alters found translations and creek legends form the Indians he has studied with. Contrary to Sherman’s belief on reporters Neil had studied the creek Indians of the region and was considered a member of the tribe learned how to hunt and knew everything needed to survive and even prosper in the woods. “well the alters as I understood it was used for sacrifices to the gates of hell to appease the Wog” they had begun walking through the camp more for Neil not to have to look in the eyes of the man who despised his very existence. “im not interested in myths and fairy tale young man I want facts, not stories of a so-called Wog as you say” he said as he defiantly stood still so Neil had no choice to but to look into the eyes of the general almost daring the man to say it to his face.
“it’s not myth sir I have studied with the creek before seen it swallow men whole” Sherman still not believing the geekish bookish annoyance in front of him he looks the fool up and down almost judging his sanity. Sherman more amused by the explanation then annoyed by the time this annoyance has taken from his life. Began walking with the young man again urging on more “it’s my belief sir that since the creek has abandoned the tradition” “the wog have grown eager for blood and food from the mortal realm” the young reporter explained. the general still not entirely convinced that’s the explanation for the disappearance’s but enjoying the tale woven by this young man wanting to hear more of this Wog askes the question he was sure to stump the young man “what does this Wog and gate to hell look like”. He asked these questions as if he was truly interested and part of him was it was a fantastical tale none the less and truly creative for such a young man. no a reporter to have come up with something truly remarkable and so full of BS and detail.
Neil feeling both the sarcasm and disbelief in Sherman’s voice in those questions but he obliges the man with an answer. “The Wog is a beast-like creature resembling a dog in some fashions” answering the generals first question the best he could he had only heard whispers of the bests true form. He personally never saw the full form of the Wog only the long tail of the beast. “the Nodoroc is harder to explain sir”
“why is that young man”
“the Nodoroc changes from time to time in location and size generally when the creek found it they built a alter and made that became the Wog’s food dish”
“You mean the creek people used this Wog as a weapon or pet in some way”
“No No more as a symbiotic relationship they feed it and it doesn’t stray far from the Nodoroc and eat them”
“So you’re saying that this Wog is the thing making my men disappear,” Sherman said this with a straight face as best he could. He truly found all of this crazy and absurd in nature and way of thinking. At this point the general and the reporter have settled in the general’s tent and sat almost like it was story-time. “it’s absolutely what I believe is happening sir to your men” Sherman loving this story not believing a single word of any of it he has an idea of what It maybe the creek Indians of this area. Have been reported as disappeared in this area may be the reports are wrong and there’s a fraction left slowly picking of his men the reporter has all but confirmed the creek are violent and ritualistic in nature. Maybe his men’s meer presence at those alters aggravated them into violence and killed his Bummers. So he made his plan a simple one patrol the area those bummers were sent to scavenge with a small group of his men find the creek Indians and dispose of them. “maybe your right it is the Wog you have convinced me” the general said as convincing as possible to the reporter.
Neil taken back by the general’s conviction and belief in the idea the general during the entirety of the conversation seemed more like he was entertaining Neil. The Wog is not to be entertained but feared he had seen the power the Wog had in its tail alone. “but sir your not understanding me the Wog is a beast of biblical nature it cant be hunted” already knowing the generals intent with the statement. He wanted to kill and hunt the Wog if he believed it true or worst didn’t believe it true thought the Creek Indians did it and would be expecting bows and men not a hungry empty stomached beast from Hell. The general smiling with a sense of you can’t tell me what to do. Neil knew the man hated him with the hatred one predator has for its prey when one wasn’t hungry and the prey was simply strolling through the predators view saying I’m better than you because you are letting me live. The general stood to his feet quickly calling command to his following actions he’s about to take. Neil realized at this moment that the general was not an ugly man like most in this camp even Neil back home would not have been considered a romantic prospect to women. The general’s voice broke Neil’s concentration of this fact “Early tomorrow we shall investigate the area the most recent missing Bummers where scavenging”. Neil almost missing the whole statement said: “what wait what you still going to try to hunt the Wog after everything I said”.
Sherman finding it the only thing funnier then this whole Wog business is the fact this meek little reporter trying to tell him what to do with his campaign and men.
