第15章
TheFifteenth（Logan"s）Corpsjoinedusontheright,thentheArmyoftheCumberlandfurthertotheright。WerunontotheRebsaboutsundownthe21st。Theyhadsomebreastworksonaridgeinfrontofus,andwehadaprettysharpfightbeforewedrovethemoff。Wewentrighttowork,andkeptatitallnightinchangingandstrengtheningtheoldRebelbarricades,frontingthemtowardsAtlanta,andbymorninghadsomegoodsolidworksalongourwholeline。Duringthenightwefanciedwecouldhearwagonsorartillerymovingawayinfrontofus,apparentlygoingSouth,ortowardsourleft。Aboutthreeorfouro"clockinthemorning,whileIwasshovelingdirtlikeabeaveroutontheworks,theLieutenantcametomeandsaidtheColonelwantedtoseeme,pointingtoalargetreeintherear,whereIcouldfindhim。IreportedandfoundhimwithGeneralLeggett,whocommandedourDivision,talkingmightyserious,andBobWheeler,ofFCompany,standingtherewithhisSpringfieldataparaderest。AssoonasIcameup,theColonelsays:
"Boys,theGeneralwantstwolevel—headedchapstogooutbeyondthepicketstothefrontandtowardtheleft。Ihaveselectedyoufortheduty。Goasquietlyaspossibleandasfastasyoucan;keepyoureyesandearsopen;don"tfireashotifyoucanhelpit,andcomebackandtellusexactlywhatyouhaveseenandheard,andnotwhatyouimagineorsuspect。Ihaveselectedyoufortheduty。"
"Hegaveusthecountersign,andoffwestartedoverthebreastworksandthroughthethickwoods。Wesooncametoourskirmishorpickets,onlyafewrodsinfrontofourworks,andcautionedthemnottofireonusingoingorreturning。Wewentoutasmuchashalfamileormore,untilwecouldplainlyhearthesoundofwagonsandartillery。WethencautiouslycreptforwarduntilwecouldseethemainroadleadingsouthfromtheCityfilledwithmarchingmen,artilleryandteams。Wecouldhearthecommandsoftheofficersandseetheflagsandbannersofregimentafterregimentastheypassedus。Wegotbackquietlyandquickly,passedthroughourpicketlineallright,andfoundtheGeneralandourColonelsittingonalogwherewehadleftthem,waitingforus。Wereportedwhatwehadseenandheard,andgaveitasouropinionthattheJohnnieswereevacuatingAtlanta。TheGeneralshookhishead,andtheColonelsays:"Youmayreturntoyourcompany。"Bobsaystome:
""TheoldGeneralshakeshisheadasthoughhethoughtthemd———dRebsain"tevacuatingAtlantasomightysudden,butareuptosomedevilmentagain。Iain"tsurebuthe"sright。Theyain"tgoingtokeepfallingbackandfallingbacktoalleternity,butarejustagoin"togiveusarip—roaringgreatbigfightoneo"thesedays——whentheygetagoodready。Youhearme！"
"Sayingwhichwebothwenttoourcompanies,andlaiddowntogetalittlesleep。Itwasaboutdaylightthen,andImusthavesnoozedawayuntilnearnoon,whenIheardtheorder"fallin！"andfoundtheregimentgettingintoline,andtheboysalltallyingaboutgoingrightintoAtlanta;thattheRebelshadevacuatedtheCityduringthenight,andthatweweregoingtohavearacewiththeFifteenthCorpsastowhichwouldgetintotheCityfirst。Wecouldlookawayoutacrossalargefieldinfrontofourworks,andseetheskirmishlineadvancingsteadilytowardsthemainworksaroundtheCity。Notashotwasbeing,firedoneitherside。
"Tooursurprise,insteadofmarchingtothefrontandtowardtheCity,wefiledoffintoasmallroadcutthroughthewoodsandmarchedrapidlytotherear。Wecouldnotunderstandwhatitmeant。Wemarchedatquicktime,feelingprettymadthatwehadtogototherear,whentherestofourDivisionweregoingintoAtlanta。
"WepassedtheSixteenthCorpslyingontheirarms,backinsomeopenfields,andthewagontrainsofourCorpsallcomfortablycorralled,andfinallyfoundourselvesoutbytheSeventeenthCorpsheadquarters。Twoorthreecompaniesweresentouttopicketseveralroadsthatseemedtocrossatthatpoint,asitwasreported"RebelCavalry"hadbeenseenontheseroadsbutashorttimebefore,andthisaccountedforourbeingrushedoutinsuchagreathurry。
"Wehadjuststackedarmsandweregoingtotakealittlerestafterourrapidmarch,whenseveralRebelprisonerswerebroughtinbysomeoftheboyswhohadstraggledalittle。TheyfoundtheRebelsontheroadwehadjustmarchedouton。Uptothistimenotashothadbeenfired。
Allwasquietbackatthemainworkswehadjustleft,whensuddenlywesawseveralstaffofficerscometearinguptotheColonel,whoorderedusto"fallin！""Takeaims！""about,face！"TheLieutenantColoneldasheddownoneoftheroadswhereoneofthecompanieshadgoneoutonpicket。
TheMajorandAdjutantgallopeddowntheothers。Wedidnotwaitforthemtocomeback,though,butmovedrightbackontheroadwehadjustcomeout,inlineofbattle,ourcolorsintheroad,andourflanksinopentimber。Wesoonreachedafenceenclosingalargefield,andtherecouldseealineofRebelsmovingbytheflank,andforming,facingtowardAtlanta,buttotheleftandintherearofthepositionoccupiedbyourCorps。Assoonaswereachedthefencewefiredaroundortwointothebacksofthesegraycoats,whobrokeintoconfusion。
"Justthentheothercompaniesjoinedus,andwemovedoffon"doublequickbytherightflank,"foryouseewewerecompletelycutofffromthetroopsupatthefront,andwehadtogetwellovertotherighttogetaroundtheflankoftheRebels。JustaboutthetimewefiredontherebelstheSixteenthCorpsopenedupahotfireofmusketryandartilleryonthem,someoftheirshotcomingovermightyclosetowherewewere。
Wemarchedprettyfast,andfinallyturnedinthroughsomeopenfieldstotheleft,andcameoutjustintherearoftheSixteenthCorps,whowerefightinglikedevilsalongtheirwholeline。
"JustaswecameoutintotheopenfieldwesawGeneralR。K。Scott,whousedtobeourColonel,andwhocommandedourbrigade,cometearingtowarduswithoneortwoaidsororderlies。Hewasonhisbigclay—bankhorse,"OldHatchie,"aswecalledhim,aswecapturedhimonthebattlefieldatthebattleof"Matamora,"or"HellontheHatchie,"asourboysalwayscalledit。HerodeuptotheColonel,saidsomethinghastily,whenallatonceweheardtheall—firedestcrashofmusketryandartillerywayupatthefrontwherewehadbuilttheworksthenightbeforeandlefttherestofourbrigadeandDivisiongettingreadytopranceintoAtlantawhenweweresentofftotherear。Scottputspurstohisoldhorse,whowasoneofthefastestrunnersinourDivision,andawayhewentbacktowardsthepositionwherehisbrigadeandthetroopsimmediatelytotheirleftwerenowhotlyengaged。HeroderightalonginrearoftheSixteenthCorps,payingnoattentionapparentlytotheshotandshellandbulletsthatweretearinguptheearthandexplodingandstrikingallaroundhim。Hisaidsandorderliesvainlytriedtokeepupwithhim。WecouldplainlyseetheRebellinesastheycameoutofthewoodsintotheopengroundstoattacktheSixteenthCorps,whichhadhastilyformedintheopenfield,withoutanysignsofworks,andwerestandinguplikemen,havingahand—to—handfight。
WewerejustfarenoughintherearsothateveryblastedshotorshellthatwasfiredtoohightohittheranksoftheSixteenthCorpscamerattlingoveramongstus。Allthistimeweweremarchingfast,followinginthedirectionGeneralScotthadtaken,whoevidentlyhadorderedtheColoneltojoinhisbrigadeupatthefront。Weweredownunderthecrestofalittlehill,followingalongthebankofalittlecreek,keepingundercoverofthebankasmuchaspossibletoprotectusfromtheshotsoftheenemy。WesuddenlysawGeneralLoganandoneortwoofhisstaffupontherightbankoftheravineridingrapidlytowardus。
Ashenearedtheheadoftheregimentheshouted:
""Halt！Whatregimentisthat,andwhereareyougoing？""TheColonel,inaloudvoice,thatallcouldhear,toldhim:"TheSixty—EighthOhio;
goingtojoinourbrigadeoftheThirdDivision——youroldDivision,General,oftheSeventeenthCorps。"
"Logansays,"youhadbettergorightinhereontheleftofDodge。
TheThirdDivisionhavehardlygroundenoughleftnowtoburytheirdead。
Godknowstheyneedyou。Buttryiton,ifyouthinkyoucangettothem。"
"JustatthismomentastaffofficercameridingupontheoppositesideoftheravinefromwhereLoganwasandinterruptedLogan,whowasabouttellingtheColonelnottotrytogotothepositionheldbytheThirdDivisionbytheroadcutthroughthewoodswhencewehadcomeout,buttokeepofftotherighttowardstheFifteenthCorps,asthewoodsreferredtowerefullofRebels。TheofficersalutedLogan,andshoutedacross:
"GeneralShermandirectsmetoinformyouofthedeathofGeneralMcPherson,andordersyoutotakecommandoftheArmyoftheTennessee;
haveDodgeclosewelluptotheSeventeenthCorps,andShermanwillreinforceyoutotheextentofthewholearmy。"
"Logan,standinginhisstirrups,onhisbeautifulblackhorse,formedapictureagainsttheblueskyaswelookeduptheravineathim,hisblackeyesfairlyblazingandhislongblackhairwavinginthewind。
Herepliedinaringing,cleartonethatweallcouldhear:
"SaytoGeneralShermanIhaveheardofMcPherson"sdeath,andhaveassumedthecommandoftheArmyoftheTennessee,andhavealreadyanticipatedhisordersinregardtoclosingthegapbetweenDodgeandtheSeventeenthCorps。"
"This,ofcourse,allhappenedinonequarterofthetimeIhavebeentellingyou。Loganputspurstohishorseandrodeinonedirection,thestaffofficerofGeneralShermaninanother,andwestartedonarapidsteptowardthefront。ThiswasthefirstwehadheardofMcPherson"sdeath,anditmadeusfeelverybad。Someoftheofficersandmencriedasthoughtheyhadlostabrother;otherspressedtheirlips,grittedtheirteeth,andsworetoavengehisdeath。HewasagreatfavoritewithallhisArmy,particularlyofourCorps,whichhecommandedforalongwhile。Ourcompany,especially,knewhimwell,andlovedhimdearly,forwehadbeenhisHeadquartersGuardforoverayear。Aswemarchedalong,towardthefront,wecouldseebrigades,andregiments,andbatteriesofartillery;comingoverfromtherightoftheArmy,andtakingpositioninnewlinesinrearoftheSixteenthandSeventeenthCorps。MajorGeneralsandtheirstaffs,BrigadierGeneralsandtheirstaffs,weremightythickalongthebanksofthelittleravinewewerefollowing;stragglersandwoundedmenbythehundredwerepouringintothesafeshelterformedbythebrokengroundalongwhichwewererapidlymarching;storieswereheardofdivisions,brigadesandregimentsthatthesewoundedorstragglersbelonged,havingbeenallcuttopieces;
officersallkilled;andthespeaker,theonlyoneofhiscommandnotkilled,woundedorcaptured。Butyouboyshaveheardandseenthesamecowardlysneaks,probably,infightsthatyouwerein。Thebattleragedfuriouslyallthistime;partofthetimetheSixteenthCorpsseemedtobeintheworst;thenitwouldletuponthemandtheSeventeenthCorpswouldbehotlyengagedalongtheirwholefront。
"WehadprobablymarchedhalfanhoursinceleavingLogan,andweregettingprettynearbacktoourmainlineofworks,whentheColonelorderedahaltandknapsackstobeunslungandpiledup。Itellyouitwasarelieftogetthemoff,foritwasafearfulhotday,andwehadbeenmarchingalmostdoublequick。Weknewthatthismeantbusinessthough,andthatwewerestrippingforthefight,whichwewouldsoonbein。Justatthismomentwesawanambulance,withthehorsesonadeadrun,followedbytwoorthreemountedofficersandmen,comingrighttowardsusoutoftheverywoodsLoganhadcautionedtheColoneltoavoid。Whentheambulancegottowherewewereithalted。Itwasprettywelloutofdangerfromthebulletsandshelloftheenemy。Theystopped,andwerecognizedMajorStrong,ofMcPherson"sStaff,whomtheallknew,ashewastheChiefInspectorofourCorps,andintheambulancehehadthebodyofGeneralMcPherson。MajorStrong,itappears,duringaslightlullinthefightingatthatpartoftheline,havingtakenanambulanceanddrivenintotheveryjawsofdeathtorecovertheremainsofhislovedcommander。Itseemshefoundthebodyrightbythesideofthelittleroadthatwehadgoneoutonwhenwewenttotherear。Hewasdeadwhenhefoundhim,havingbeenshotoffhishorse,thebulletstrikinghimintheback,justbelowhisheart,probablykillinghiminstantly。Therewasayoungfellowwithhimwhowaswoundedalso,whenStrongfoundthem。HebelongedtoourFirstDivision,andrecognizedGeneralMcPherson,andstoodbyhimuntilMajorStrongcameup。HewasintheambulancewiththebodyofMcPhersonwhentheystoppedbyus。
"Itseemsthatwhenthefightopenedawaybackintherearwherewehadbeen,andattheleftoftheSixteenthCorpswhichwasalmostdirectlyintherearoftheSeventeenthCorps,McPhersonsenthisstaffandorderlieswithvariousorderstodifferentpartsoftheline,andstartedhimselftorideoverfromtheSeventeenthCorpstotheSixteenthCorps,takingexactlythesamecourseourRegimenthad,perhapsanhourbefore,buttheRebelshaddiscoveredtherewasagapbetweentheSixteenthandSeventeenthCorps,andmeetingnooppositiontotheiradvancesinthisstripofwoods,wheretheywerehiddenfromview,theyhadmarchedrightalongdownintherear,andwiththeirlineatrightangleswiththelineofworksoccupiedbytheleftoftheSeventeenthCorps;theywerethusparallelandclosetothelittleroadMcPhersonhadtaken,andprobablyheroderightintothemandwaskilledbeforeherealizedthetruesituation。
"Havingpiledourknapsacks,andleftacoupleofouroldermen,whowereplayedoutwiththeheatandmostreadytodropwithsunstroke,toguardthem,westartedonagain。TheambulancewiththecorpseofGen。
McPhersonmovedofftowardstherightoftheArmy,whichwasthelastweeversawofthatbraveandhandsomesoldier。
"Weboreoffalittletotherightofalargeopenfieldontopofahighhillwhereoneofourbatterieswaspoundingawayatatremendousrate。
WecameuptothemainlineofworksjustaboutattheleftoftheFifteenthCorps。Theyseemedtobehavinganeasytimeofitjustthen——
nofightinggoingonintheirfront,exceptoccasionalshotsfromsomeheavygunsonthemainlineofRebelworksaroundtheCity。WecrossedrightovertheFifteenthCorps"worksandfiledtotheleft,keepingalongontheoutsideofourworks。WehadnotgonefarbeforetheRebelgunnersinthemainworksaroundtheCitydiscoveredus;andthewaytheydidtearlooseatuswasacaution。Theiraimwasratherbad,however,andmostoftheirshotswentoverus。Wesawoneofthem——Ithinkitwasashell——strikeanartillerycaissonbelongingtooneofour—batteries。
Itexplodedasitstruck,andthenthecaisson,whichwasfullofammunition,explodedwithanawfulnoise,throwingpiecesofwoodandironanditsownloadofshotandshellhighintotheair,scatteringdeathanddestructiontothemenandhorsesattachedtoit。Wethoughtwesawarmsandlegsandpartsofbodiesofmenflyingineverydirection;butweweregladtolearnafterwardsthatitwasthecontentsoftheknapsacksoftheBatteryboys,whohadstrappedthemonthecaissonsfortransportation。
"Justafterpassingthehillwhereourbatterywasmakingthingssolively,theystoppedfiringtoletuspass。WesawGeneralLeggett,ourDivisionCommander,comeridingtowardus。Hewasoutsideofourlineofworks,too。Youknowhowwebuildbreastworks——sortofzigzaglike,youknow,sotheycannotbeenfiladed。Well,that"sjustthewaytheworkswerealongthere,andyouneversawsuchacuriousshapeasweformedourDivisionin。Why,partofthemwereononesideoftheworks,andgoalongalittlefurtherandherewasaregiment,orpartofaregimentontheotherside,bothsetsfiringinoppositedirections。
"Nosir"ee,theywerenotdemoralizedorinconfusion,theywerecoolandassteadyasonparade。ButtheoldDivisionhad,youknow,neverbeendrivenfromanypositiontheyhadoncetaken,inalltheirlongservice,andtheydidnotproposetoleavethatridgeuntiltheygotordersfromsomeonebesidetheRebs。
"Thereweretimeswhenafellowdidnotknowwhichsideoftheworkswasthesafest,fortheJohnnieswereinfrontofusandinrearofus。
Yousee,ourFourthDivision,whichhadbeentotheleftofus,hadbeenforcedtoquittheirworks,whentheRebsgotintotheworksintheirrear,sothatourDivisionwasnowatthepointwhereourlineturnedsharplytotheleft,andrear——inthedirectionoftheSixteenthCorps。
"Wegotintobusinessbeforewehadbeenthereoverthreeminutes。
AlineoftheRebstriedtochargeacrosstheopenfieldsinfrontofus,butbythehelpoftheoldtwenty—fourpounders（whichprovedtobepartofCooper"sIllinoisBattery,thatwehadbeenalongsideofinmanyahardfightbefore）,wedrovethembacka—flying,onlytohavetojumpoverontheoutsideofourworksthenextminutetotackleaheavyforcethatcameforourrearthroughthatblastedstripofwoods。Wesoondrovethemoff,andthefiringonbothsidesseemedtohaveprettymuchstopped。
""OurBrigade,"whichwediscovered,wasnowcommandedby"OldWhiskers"
（ColonelPiles,oftheSeventy—EighthOhio。I"llbethe"sgotthelongestwhiskersofanymanintheArmy。）YouseeGeneralScotthadnotbeenseenorheardofsincehehadstartedtotherearafterourregimentwhenthefightingfirstcommenced。Weallbelievedthathewaseitherkilledorcaptured,orhewouldhavebeenwithhiscommand。Hewasasplendidsoldier,andabull—dogofafighter。Hisabsencewasagreatloss,butwehadnotmuchtimetothinkofsuchthings,forourbrigadewasthenorderedtoleavetheworksandtomovetotherightabouttwentyorthirtyrodsacrossalargeravine,wherewewereplacedinpositioninanopencorn—field,forminganewlineatquiteananglefromthelineofworkswehadjustleft,extendingtotheleft,andgettingusbacknearerontoalinewiththeSixteenthCorps。Thebatteryofhowitzers,nowreinforcedbyapartoftheThirdOhioheavyguns,stilloccupiedtheoldworksonthehighestpartofthehill,justtotherightofournewline。
Wetookourpositionjustonthebrowofahill,andwereorderedtoliedown,andtherearranktogoforrails,whichwediscoveredafewrodsbehindusintheshapeofagoodten—railfence。Everyrear—rankchapcamebackwithalltherailshecouldlug,andwebarelyhadtimetolaythemdowninfrontofus,formingalittlebarricadeofsixtoeightortenincheshigh,whenweheardthemostunearthlyRebelyelldirectlyinfrontofus。Itgrewlouderandcamenearerandnearer,untilwecouldseeasolidlineofthegraycoatscomingoutofthewoodsanddowntheoppositeslope,theirbattleflagsflying,officersinfrontwithdrawnswords,armsatrightshoulder,andeveryoneofthemyellinglikesomanySiouxIndians。Thelineseemedtobemassedsixoreightranksdeep,followedcloselybythesecondline,andthatbythethird,each,ifpossible,yellinglouderandappearingmoredesperatelyrecklessthantheoneahead。Attheirfirstappearanceweopenedonthem,andsodidthebullyoldtwenty—four—pounders,withcanister。
"Ontheycame;thefirstlinestaggeredandwaveredbackontothesecond,whichwascomingonthedoublequick。Sucharakingaswedidgivethem。Oh,Lordy,howwedidwishthatwehadthebreechloadingSpencersorWinchesters。ButwehadtheoldreliableSpringfields,andwepoureditinhotandheavy。Bythetimethechargingcolumngotdowntheoppositeslope,andwerestrugglingthroughthethicketofundergrowthintheravine,theywereoneconfusedmassofofficersandmen,thethreelinesnowformingonesolidcolumn,whichmadeseveraldesperateeffortstorushuptothetopofthehillwherewewerepunishingthemso。OneoftheirfirstsurgescamemightyneargoingrightovertheleftofourRegiment,astheywerelyingdownbehindtheirlittlerailpiles。Buttheboysclubbedtheirgunsandtheofficersusedtheirrevolversandswordsanddrovethembackdownthehill。
"TheSeventy—EighthandTwentiethOhio,ourrightandleftbowers,whohadbeenbrigadedwithuseversince"Shiloh,"wereintoitashotandheavyaswehadbeen,andhadlostnumbersoftheirofficersandmen,butwerehangingontotheirlittlerailpileswhenthefightwasover。
AtonetimetheRebswererightinontopoftheSeventy—Eighth。OnebigRebgrabbedtheircolors,andtriedtopullthemoutofthehandsofthecolor—bearer。ButoldCaptainOrr,alittle,short,dried—upfellow,aboutsixtyyearsold,struckhimwithhisswordacrossthebackoftheneck,andkilledhimdeaderthanamackerel,rightinhistracks。
"Itwasnowgettingdark,andtheJohnniesconcludedtheyhadtakenabiggercontractintryingtodriveusoffthathillinonedaythantheyhadcountedon,sotheyquitchargingonus,butdrewbackundercoverofthewoodsandalongtheoldlineofworksthatwehadleft,andkeptupapeckingawayandsharp—shootingatusallnightlong。Theyopenedfireonusfromanumberofpiecesofartilleryfromthefront,fromtheleft,andfromsomeheavygunsawayovertotherightofus,inthemainworksaroundAtlanta。
"Wedidnotfoolawaymuchtimethatnight,either。Wegotourshovelsandpicks,andwhilepartofusweresharpshootingandtryingtokeeptheRebelsfromworkinguptooclosetous,therestoftheboyswereputtingupsomegoodsolidearthworksrightwhereourrailpileshadbeen,andbymorningwewereinsplendidshapetohavereceivedourfriends,nomatterwhichwaytheyhadcomeatus,fortheykeptupsuchanall—firedshellingofusfromsomanydifferentdirections;thattheboyshadbuilttraversesandbomb—proofsatallsortsofanglesandinalldirections。
"Therewasonepointofftoourright,afewrodsupalongouroldlineofworkswheretherewasacrowdofRebelsharpshootersthatannoyedusmorethanalltherest,bytheirconstantfiringatusthroughthenight。
TheykilledoneofCompanyH"sboys,andwoundedseveralothers。FinallyCaptainWilliams,ofDCompany,camealongandsaidhewantedacoupleofgoodshotsoutofourcompanytogowithhim,soIwentforone。Hetookabouttenofus,andwecrawleddownintotheravineinfrontofwherewewerebuildingtheworks,andgotbehindalargefallentree,andwelaidthereandcouldjustfirerightupintotherearofthosefellowsastheylaybehindatraverseextendingbackfromouroldlineofworks。Itwassodarkwecouldonlyseewheretofirebytheflashofguns,buteverytimetheywouldshoot,someofuswouldletthemhaveone。Theystaidthereuntilalmostdaylight,whenthey,concludedasthingslooked,sinceweweregoingtostay,theyhadbetterbegoing。
"Itwasanawfulnight。DownintheravinebelowuslayhundredsofkilledandwoundedRebels,groaningandcryingaloudforwaterandforhelp。Wediddowhatwecouldforthoserightaroundus——butitwassodark,andsomanyshellburstingandbulletsflyingaroundthatafellowcouldnotgetaboutmuch。Itellyouitwasprettytoughnextmorningtogoalongtothedifferentcompaniesofourregimentandhearwhowereamongthekilledandwounded,andtoseethelongrowofgravesthatwerebeingdugtoburyourcomradesandourofficers。TherewastheCaptainofCompanyE,NelsonSkeeles,ofFultonCounty,O。,oneof——thebravestandbestofficersintheregiment。ByhissidelayFirstSergeantLesnit,andnextwerethetwogreat,powerfulShepherds——cousinsbutmorelikebrothers。One,itseems,waskilledwhilesupportingtheheadoftheother,whohadjustreceivedadeathwound,thusdyingineachother"sarms。
"ButIcan"tbegintothinkortellyouthenamesofallthepoorboysthatwelaidawaytorestintheirlast,longsleeponthatgloomyday。
OurMajorwasseverelywounded,andseveralotherofficershadbeenhitmoreorlessbadly。
"Itwasafrightfulsight,though,togooverthefieldinfrontofourworksonthatmorning。TheRebeldeadandbadlywoundedlaidwheretheyhadfallen。Thebottomandoppositesideoftheravineshowedhowdestructiveourfireandthatofthecanisterfromthehowitzershadbeen。Theunderbrushwascut,slashed,andtornintoshreds,andthelargertreeswerescarred,bruisedandbrokenbythethousandsofbulletsandothermissilesthathadbeenpouredintothemfromalmosteveryconceivabledirectionduringthedaybefore。
"AlotofusboyswentwayovertotheleftintoFuller"sDivisionoftheSixteenthCorps,toseehowsomeofourboysovertherehadgotthroughthescrimmage,fortheyhadaboutasnastyafightasanypartoftheArmy,andifithadnotbeenfortheirbeingjustwheretheywere,IamnotsurebutwhattheoldSeventeenthCorpswouldhavehadadifferentstorytotellnow。WefoundourfriendshadbeenwayoutbyDecatur,wheretheirbrigadehadgotintoaprettylivelyfightontheirownhook。
"Wegotbacktocamp,andthefirstthingIknewIwasdetailedforpicketduty,andwewerepostedoverafewrodsacrosstheravineinourfront。Wehadnotbeenoutbutashorttimewhenwesawaflagoftruce,bornebyanofficer,comingtowardsus。Wehaltedhim,andmadehimwaituntilareportwassentbacktoCorpsheadquarters。TheRebelofficerwasquitechattyandtalkativewithourpicketofficer,whilewaiting。
HesaidhewasonGeneralCleburne"sstaff,andthatthetroopsthatchargedussofiercelytheeveningbeforewasCleburne"swholeDivision,andthataftertheirlastrepulse,knowingthehillwherewewerepostedwasthemostimportantpositionalongourline,hefeltthatiftheywouldkeepclosetousduringthenight,andkeepupashowoffight,thatwewouldpulloutandabandonthehillbeforemorning。Hesaidthathe,withaboutfiftyoftheirbestmen,hadvolunteeredtokeepupthedemonstration,anditwashispartythathadoccupiedthetraverseinouroldworksthenightbeforeandhadannoyedusandtheBatterymenbytheirconstantsharpshooting,whichwefellowsbehindtheoldtreehadfinallytiredout。Hesaidtheystaiduntilalmostdaylight,andthathelostmorethanhalfhismenbeforeheleft。HealsotoldusthatGeneralScottwascapturedbytheirDivision,ataboutthetimeandalmostthesamespotaswhereGeneralMcPhersonwaskilled,andthathewasnothurtorwounded,andwasnowaprisonerintheirhands。
"Quitealotofour,staffofficerssooncameout,andasnearaswecouldlearntheRebelswantedatrucetoburytheirdead。Ourfolkstriedtogetupanexchangeofprisonersthathadbeentakenbybothsidesthedaybefore,butforsomereasontheycouldnotbringitabout。
Butthetruceforburyingthedeadwasagreedto。AlongaboutdusksomeoftheboysonmypostgottotellingaboutalotofsilverandbrassinstrumentsthatbelongedtooneofthebandsoftheFourthDivision,whichhadbeenhungupinsomesmalltreesalittlewayoverinfrontofwherewewerewhenthefightwasgoingonthedaybefore,andthatwhen,abulletwouldstrikeoneofthehornstheycouldhearitgo"pin—g"andinafewminutes"pan—g"wouldgoanotherbulletthroughoneofthem。
"Anewpicketwasjustcoming"on,andIhadpickedupmyblanketandhaversack,andwasaboutreadytostartbacktocamp,when,thinksI,"I"lljustgooutthereandseeaboutthemhorns。"ItoldtheboyswhatIwasgoingtodo。Theyallseemedtothinkitwassafeenough,sooutI
started。Ihadnotgonemorethanahundredyards,Ishouldthink,whenhereIfoundthehornsallhangingaroundonthetreesjustastheboyshaddescribed。Someofthemhadlotsofbulletholesinthem。ButIsawabeautiful,nicelookingsilverbuglehangingofftoonesidealittle。
"IThinks,"saysI,"I"lljusttakethatlittletoothorninoutofthe—
wet,andtakeitbacktocamp。"IwasjustreachingupafteritwhenI
heardsomeonesay,"Halt！"andI"llbedog—Bonediftherewasn"ttwoofthemeanestlookingRebels,standingnottenfeetfromme,withtheirgunscockedandpointedatme,and,ofcourse,IknewIwasagoner;theywalkedmebackaboutonehundredandfiftyyards,wheretheirpicketlinewas。FromthereI
waskeptgoingforanhourortwountilwegotovertoaplaceontherailroadcalledEastPoint。ThereIgotinwithabigcrowdofourprisoners,whoweretakenthedaybefore,andwehavebeenfoolingalonginalotofoldcattlecarsgettingdownhereeversince。
"Sothisis"Andersonville,"isitaWell,by———！"
CHAPTERXLI。
CLOTHING:ITSRAPIDDETERIORATION,ANDDEVICESTOREPLENISHIT——DESPERATE
EFFORTSTOCOVERNAKEDNESS——"LITTLEREDCAP"ANDHISLETTER。
Clothinghadnowbecomeanobjectofrealsolicitudetousolderprisoners。Theveteransofourcrowd——thesurvivingremnantofthosecapturedatGettysburg——hadbeenprisonersoverayear。Thenextinseniority——theChickamaugaboys——hadbeenintenmonths。TheMineRunfellowswereeightmonthsold,andmybattalionhadhadsevenmonths"
incarceration。Noneofusweremodelsofwell—dressedgentlemenwhencaptured。Ourgarmentstoldthewholestoryofthehardcampaigningwehadundergone。Now,withmonthsofthewearandtearofprisonlife,sleepingonthesand,workingintunnels,diggingwells,etc。,weweretatteredandtorntoanextentthatasecond—classtrampwouldhaveconsidereddisgraceful。
ThisisnoreflectionuponthequalityoftheclothesfurnishedbytheGovernment。Wesimplyreachedthelimitofthewearoftextilefabrics。
Iamparticulartosaythis,becauseIwanttocontributemylittlemitetowardsdoingjusticetoabadlyabusedpartofourArmyorganization——
theQuartermaster"sDepartment。Itisfashionabletospeakof"shoddy,"
anduttersomestereotypedsneersabout"brownpapershoes,"and"musketo—nettingovercoats,"whenanydiscussionoftheQuartermasterserviceisthesubjectofconversation,butIhavenohesitationinaskingtheindorsementofmycomradestothestatementthatwehaveneverfoundanywhereelseasdurablegarmentsasthosefurnishedusbytheGovernmentduringourserviceintheArmy。Theclotheswerenotasfineintexture,norsostylishincutasthoseweworebeforeorsince,butwhenitcametoweartheycouldbereliedontothelastthread。Itwasalwaysmarveloustomethattheylastedsowell,withtheroughusageasoldierinthefieldmustnecessarilygivethem。
Buttoreturntomysubject。Icanbestillustratethewayourclothesdroppedoffus,piecebypiece,likethepetalsfromthelastroseofSummer,bytakingmyowncaseasanexample:WhenIenteredprisonIwascladintheordinarygarbofanenlistedmanofthecavalry——stout,comfortableboots,woolenpocks,drawers,pantaloons,witha"reenforcement,"or"ready—madepatches,"astheinfantrycalledthem;
vest,warm,snug—fittingjacket,underandovershirts,heavyovercoat,andaforage—cap。Firstmybootsfellintocurelessruin,butthiswasnospecialhardship,astheweatherhadbecomequitewarm,anditwasmorepleasantthanotherwisetogobarefooted。Thenpartoftheunderclothingretiredfromservice。Thejacketandvestfollowed,theirendbeinghastenedbyhavingtheirbestportionstakentopatchupthepantaloons,whichkeptgivingoutatthemostembarrassingplaces。Thenthecapeoftheovercoatwascalledupontoassistinrepairingthesecontinually—recurringbreachesinthenethergarments。Thesameinsatiatedemandfinallyconsumedthewholecoat,inavainattempttopreventanexposureofpersongreaterthanconsistentwiththeusagesofsociety。Thepantaloons——orwhat,bycourtesy,Icalledsuch,wereamonumentofcarefulandingenious,buthopeless,patching,thatshouldhavecalledforththeadmirationofaFlorentineartistinmosaic。