memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第77章

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ed　you　in　your　operations；　and　I　think　you　will　have　no　cause　of　complaint　in　your　present　campaign。　　Very　respectfully；　your　obedient　servant；

H。　W。　HALLECK；　General…in…Chief


General　Frank　P。　Blair；　who　was　then　ahead　with　the　two　divisions　of　Osterhaus　and　John　E。　Smith；　was　temporarily　assigned　to　the　command　of　the　Fifteenth　Corps。　　General　Hurlbut　remained　at　Memphis　in　command　of　the　Sixteenth　Corps；　and　General　McPherson　at　Vicksburg。with　the　Seventeenth。　　These　three　corps　made　up　the　Army　of　the　Tennessee。　　I　was　still　busy　in　pushing　forward　the　repairs　to　the　rail　roadbridge　at　Bear　Creek；　and　in　patching　up　the　many　breaks　between　it　and　Tuscumbia；　when　on　the　27th　of　October；　as　I　sat　on　the　porch　of　a　house；　I　was　approached　by　a　dirty；　black…　haired　individual　with　mixed　dress　and　strange　demeanor；　who　inquired　for　me；　and；　on　being　assured　that　I　was　in　fact　the　man；　he　handed　me　a　letter　from　General　Blair　at　Tuscumbia；　and　another　short　one；　which　was　a　telegraph…message　from　General　Grant　at　Chattanooga；　addressed　to　me　through　General　George　Crook；　commanding　at　Huntsville；　Alabama；　to　this　effect：

Drop　all　work　on　Memphis　&　Charleston　Railroad；　cross　the　Tennessee　and　hurry　eastward　with　all　possible　dispatch　toward　Bridgeport；　till　you　meet　further　orders　from　me。

U。　S。　GRANT。


The　bearer　of　this　message　was　Corporal　Pike；　who　described　to　me；　in　his　peculiar　way；　that　General　Crook　had　sent　him　in　a　canoe；　that　he　had　paddled　down　the　Tennessee　River；　over　Muscle　Shoals；　was　fired　at　all　the　way　by　guerrillas；　but　on　reaching　Tuscumbia　he　had　providentially　found　it　in　possession　of　our　troops。　　He　had　reported　to　General　Blair；　who　sent　him　on　to　me　at　Iuka。　　This　Pike　proved　to　be　a　singular　character；　his　manner　attracted　my　notice　at　once；　and　I　got　him　a　horse；　and　had　him　travel　with　us　eastward　to　about　Elkton；　whence　I　sent　him　back　to　General　Crook　at　Huntsville；　but　told　him；　if　I　could　ever　do　him　a　personal　service；　he　might　apply　to　me。　　The　next　spring　when　I　was　in　Chattanooga；　preparing　for　the　Atlanta　campaign；　Corporal　Pike　made　his　appearance　and　asked　a　fulfillment　of　my　promise。　　I　inquired　what　he　wanted；　and　he　said　he　wanted　to　do　something　bold；　something　that　would　make　him　a　hero。　　I　explained　to　him；　that　we　were　getting　ready　to　go　for　Joe　Johnston　at　Dalton；　that　I　expected　to　be　in　the　neighborhood　of　Atlanta　about　the　4th　of　July；　and　wanted　the　bridge　across　the　Savannah　River　at　Augusta；　Georgia；　to　be　burnt　about　that　time；　to　produce　alarm　and　confusion　behind　the　rebel　army。　　I　explained　to　Pike　that　the　chances　were　three　to　one　that　he　would　be　caught　and　hanged；　but　the　greater　the　danger　the　greater　seemed　to　be　his　desire　to　attempt　it。　　I　told　him　to　select　a　companion；　to　disguise　himself　as　an　East　Tennessee　refugee；　work　his　way　over　the　mountains　into　North　Carolina；　and　at　the　time　appointed　to　float　down　the　Savannah　River　and　burn　that　bridge。　　In　a　few　days　he　had　made　his　preparations　and　took　his　departure。　　The　bridge　was　not　burnt；　and　I　supposed　that　Pike　had　been　caught　and　hanged。

When　we　reached　Columbia；　South　Carolina；　in　February；　1865；　just　as　we　were　leaving　the　town；　in　passing　near　the　asylum；　I　heard　my　name　called；　and　saw　a　very　dirty　fellow　followed　by　a　file　of　men　running　toward　me；　and　as　they　got　near　I　recognized　Pike。　　He　called　to　me　to　identify　him　as　one　of　my　men；　he　was　then　a　prisoner　under　guard；　and　I　instructed　the　guard　to　bring　him　that　night　to　my　camp　some　fifteen　miles　up　the　road；　which　was　done。　Pike　gave　me　a　graphic　narrative　of　his　adventures；　which　would　have　filled　a　volume；　told　me　how　he　had　made　two　attempts　to　burn　the　bridge；　and　failed；　and　said　that　at　the　time　of　our　entering　Columbia　he　was　a　prisoner　in　the　hands　of　the　rebels；　under　trial　for　his　life；　but　in　the　confusion　of　their　retreat　he　made　his　escape　and　got　into　our　lines；　where　he　was　again　made　a　prisoner　by　our　troops　because　of　his　looks。　　Pike　got　some　clothes；　cleaned　up；　and　I　used　him　afterward　to　communicate　with　Wilmington；　North　Carolina。　　Some　time　after　the　war；　he　was　appointed　a　lieutenant　of　the　Regular；　Cavalry；　and　was　killed　in　Oregon；　by　the　accidental　discharge　of　a　pistol。　　Just　before　his　death　he　wrote　me；　saying　that　he　was　tired　of　the　monotony　of　garrison…life；　and　wanted　to　turn　Indian；　join　the　Cheyennes　on　the　Plains；　who　were　then　giving　us　great　trouble；　and；　after　he　had　gained　their　confidence；　he　would　betray　them　into　our　hands。　　Of　course　I　wrote　him　that　he　must　try　and　settle　down　and　become　a　gentleman　as　well　as　an　officer；　apply　himself　to　his　duties；　and　forget　the　wild　desires　of　his　nature；　which　were　well　enough　in　time　of　war；　but　not　suited　to　his　new　condition　as　an　officer；　but；　poor　fellow　I　he　was　killed　by　an　accident；　which　probably　saved　him　from　a　slower　but　harder　fate。

At　Iuka　I　issued　all　the　orders　to　McPherson　and　Hurlbut　necessary　for　the　Department　of　the　Tennessee　during　my　absence；　and；　further；　ordered　the　collection　of　a　force　out　of　the　Sixteenth　Corps；　of　about　eight　thousand　men；　to　be　commanded　by　General　G。　M。　Dodge；　with　orders　to　follow　as　far　east　as　Athens；　Tennessee；　there　to　await　instructions。　　We　instantly　discontinued　all　attempts　to　repair　the　Charleston　Railroad；　and　the　remaining　three　divisions　of　the　Fifteenth　Corps　marched　to　Eastport；　crossed　the　Tennessee　River　by　the　aid　of　the　gunboats；　a　ferry…boat；　and　a　couple　of　transports　which　had　come　up；　and　hurried　eastward。

In　person　I　crossed　on　the　1st　of　November；　and　rode　forward　to　Florence；　where　I　overtook　Ewing's　division。　　The　other　divisions　followed　rapidly。　　On　the　road　to　Florence　I　was　accompanied　by　my　staff；　some　clerks；　and　mounted　orderlies。　　Major　Ezra　Taylor　was　chief　of　artillery；　and　one　of　his　sons　was　a　clerk　at　head…　quarters。　　The　latter　seems　to　have　dropped　out　of　the　column；　and　gone　to　a　farm　house　near　the　road。　　There　was　no　organized　force　of　the　rebel　army　north　of　the　Tennessee　River；　but　the　country　was　full　of　guerrillas。　　A　party　of　these　pounced　down　on　the　farm；　caught　young　Taylor　and　another　of　the　clerks；　and　after　reaching　Florence；　Major　Taylor　heard　of　the　capture　of　his　son；　and　learned　that　when　last　seen　he　was　stripped　of　his　hat　and　coat；　was　tied　to　the　tail…board　of　a　wagon；　and　driven　rapidly　to　the　north　of　the　road　we　had　traveled。　　The　major　appealed　to　me　to　do　something　for　his　rescue。　　I　had　no　cavalry　to　send　in　pursuit；　but　knowing　that　there　was　always　an　understanding　between　these　guerrillas　and　their　friends　who　staid　at　home；　I　sent　for　three　or　four　of　the　principal　men　of　Florence　（among　them　a　Mr。　Foster；　who　had　once　been　a　Senator　in　Congress）；　explained　to　them　the　capture　of　young　Taylor　and　his　comrade；　and　demanded　their　immediate　restoration。　They；　of　course；　remonstrated；　denied　all　knowledge　of　the　acts　of　these　guerrillas；　and　claimed　to　be　peaceful　citizens　of　Alabama；　residing　at　home。　　I　insisted　that　these　guerrillas　were　their　own　sons　and　neighbors；　that　they　knew　their　haunts；　and　could　reach　them　if　they　wanted；　and　they　could　effect　the　restoration　to　us　of　these　men；　and　I　said；　moreover；　they　must　do　it　within　twenty…four　hours；　or　I　would　take　them；　strip　them　of　their　hats　and　coats；　and　tie　them　to　the　tail…boards　of　our　wagons　till　they　were　produced。　　They　sent　off　messengers　at　once；　and　young　Taylor　and　his　comrade　were　brought　back　the　next　day。

Resuming　our　march　eastward　by　the　large　road；　we　soon　reached　Elk　River；　which　was　wide　and　deep；　and　could　only　be　crossed　by　a　ferry；　a　process　entirely　too　slow　for　the　occasion；　so　I　changed　the　route　more　by　the　north；　to　Elkton；　Winchester；　and　Deckerd。　At　this　point　we　came　in　communication　with　the　Army　of　the　Cumberland；　and　by　telegraph　with　General　Grant；　who　was　at　Chattanooga。　　He　reiterated　his　orders　for　me　and　my　command　to　hurry　forward　with　all　possible　dispatch；　and　in　person　I　reached　Bridgeport　during　the　night　of　November　13th；　my　troops　following　behind　by　several　roads。　　At　Bridgeport　I　found　a　garrison　guarding　the　railroad…bridge　and　pontoon　bridge　there；　and　staid　with　the　quartermaster；　Colonel　William　G。　Le　Due　（who　was　my　school…mate　at　How's　School　in　1836）。　　There　I　received　a　dispatch　from　General　Grant；　at　Chattanooga；　to　come　up　in　person；　leaving　my　troops　to　follow　as　fast　as　possible。　　At　that　time　there　were　two　or　three　small　steamboats　on　the　river；　engaged　in　carrying　stores　up　as　far　as　Kelly's　Ferry。　　In　one　of　these　I　took　passage；　and　on　reaching　Kelly's　Ferry　found　orderlies；　with　one　of　General　Grant's　private　horses；　waiting　for　me；　on　which　I　rode　into　Chattanooga；　November　14th。　　Of　course；　I　was　heartily　welcomed　by　Generals　Grant；　Thomas；　and　all；　who　realized　the　extraordinary　efforts　we　had　made　to　come　to　their　relief。　　The　next　morning　we　walked　out　to　Fort　Wood；　a　prominent　salient　of　the　defenses　of　the　place；　and　from　its　parapet　we　had　a　magnificent　view　of　the　panorama。　　Lookout　Mountain；　with　its　rebel　flags　and　batteries；　stood　out　boldly；　and　an　occasional　shot　fired　toward　Wauhatchee　or　Moccasin　Point　gave　life　to　the　scene。　　These　shots　could　barely　reach　Chattanooga；　and　I　was　told　that　one　or　more　shot　had　struck　a　hospital　inside　the　lines。　　All　along　Missionary　Ridge　were　the　tents　of　the　rebel　beleaguering　force；　the　lines　of　trench　from　Lookout　up　toward　the　Chickamauga　were　plainly　visible；　and　rebel　sentinels；　in　a　continuous　chain；　were　walking　their　posts　in　plain　view；　not　a　thousand　yards　off。　　〃Why；〃　said　I；　〃General　Grant；　you　are　besieged；〃　and　he　said；　〃It　is　too　true。〃　　Up　to　that　moment　I　had　no　idea　that　things　were　so　bad。　　The　rebel　lines　actually　extended　from　the　river；　below　the　town；　to　the　river　above；　and　the　Army　of　the　Cumberland　was　closely　held　to　the　town　and　its　immediate　defenses。　　General　Grant　pointed　out　to　me　a　house　on　Missionary　Ridge；　where　General　Bragg's　headquarters　were　known　to　be。　　He　also　explained　the　situation　of　affairs　generally；　that　the　mules　and　horses　of　Thomas's　army　were　so　starved　that　they　could　not　haul　his　guns；　that　forage；　corn；　and　provisions；　were　so　scarce　that　the　men　in　hunger　stole　the　few　grains　of　corn　that　were　given　to　favorite　horses；　that　the　men　of　Thomas's　army　had　been　so　demoralized　by　the　battle　of　Chickamauga　that　he　feared　they　could　not　be　got　out　of　their　trenches　to　assume　the　offensive；　that　Bragg　had　detached　Longstreet　with　a　considerable　force　up　into　East　Tennessee；　to　defeat　and　capture　Burnside；　that　Burnside　was　in　danger；　etc。；　and　that　he　（Grant）　was　extremely　anxious　to　attack　Bragg　in　position；　to　defeat　him；　or　at　least　to　force　him　to　recall　Longstreet。　　The　Army　of　the　Cumberland　had　so　long　been　in　the　trenches　that　he　wanted　my　troops　to　hurry　up；　to　take　the　offensive　first；　after　which；　he　had　no　doubt　the　Cumberland　army　would　fight　well。　　Meantime　the　Eleventh　and　Twelfth　Corps；　under　General　Hooker；　had　been　advanced　from　Bridgeport　along　the　railroad　to　Wauhatchee；　but　could　not　as　yet　pass　Lookout　Mountain。　A　pontoon…bridge　had　been　thrown　across　the　Tennessee　River　at　Brown's　Ferry；　by　which　supplies　were　hauled　into　Chattanooga　from　Kelly's　and　Wauhatchee。。

Another　bridge　was　in