memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第78章
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which supplies were hauled into Chattanooga from Kelly's and Wauhatchee。。
Another bridge was in course of construction at Chattanooga； under the immediate direction of Quartermaster…General Meigs； but at the time all wagons； etc。； had to be ferried across by a flying…bridge。 Men were busy and hard at work everywhere inside our lines； and boats for another pontoon…bridge were being rapidly constructed under Brigadier…General W。 F。 Smith； familiarly known as 〃Baldy Smith；〃 and this bridge was destined to be used by my troops； at a point of the river about four miles above Chattanooga； just below the mouth of the Chickamauga River。 General Grant explained to me that he had reconnoitred the rebel line from Lookout Mountain up to Chickamauga； and he believed that the northern portion of Missionary Ridge was not fortified at all； and he wanted me； as soon as my troops got up； to lay the new pontoon…bridge by night； cross over； and attack Bragg's right flank on that part of the ridge abutting on Chickamauga Creek； near the tunnel； and he proposed that we should go at once to look at the ground。 In company with Generals Thomas； W。 F。 Smith； Brannan； and others； we crossed by the flying…bridge； rode back of the hills some four miles； left our horses； and got on a hill overlooking the whole ground about the mouth of the Chickamauga River； and across to the Missionary Hills near the tunnel。 Smith and I crept down behind a fringe of trees that lined the river…bank； to the very point selected for the new bridge； where we sat for some time； seeing the rebel pickets on the opposite bank； and almost hearing their words。
Having seen enough； we returned to Chattanooga； and in order to hurry up my command； on which so much depended； I started back to Kelly's in hopes to catch the steamboat that same evening； but on my arrival the boat had gone。 I applied to the commanding officer； got a rough boat manned by four soldiers； and started down the river by night。 I occasionally took a turn at the oars to relieve some tired man； and about midnight we reached Shell Mound； where General Whittaker； of Kentucky； furnished us a new and good crew； with which we reached Bridgeport by daylight。 I started Ewings division in advance； with orders to turn aside toward Trenton； to make the enemy believe we were going to turn Braggs left by pretty much the same road Rosecrans had followed； but with the other three divisions I followed the main road； via the Big Trestle at Whitesides； and reached General Hooker's headquarters； just above Wauhatchee； on the 20th； my troops strung all the way back to Bridgeport。 It was on this occasion that the Fifteenth Corps gained its peculiar badge： as the men were trudging along the deeply…cut； muddy road； of a cold； drizzly day； one of our Western soldiers left his ranks and joined a party of the Twelfth Corps at their camp…fire。 They got into conversation； the Twelfth…Corps men asking what troops we were； etc。； etc。 In turn； our fellow （who had never seen a corps…badge； and noticed that every thing was marked with a star） asked if they were all brigadier…generals。 Of course they were not； but the star was their corps…badge； and every wagon； tent； hat； etc。； had its star。 Then the Twelfth…Corps men inquired what corps he belonged to； and he answered； 〃The Fifteenth Corps。〃 〃What is your badge？〃 〃Why；〃 said he （and he was an Irishman）； suiting the action to the word； 〃forty rounds in the cartridge…box； and twenty in the pocket。〃 At that time Blair commanded the corps； but Logan succeeded soon after； and； hearing the story； adopted the cartridge…box and forty rounds as the corps… badge。
The condition of the roads was such； and the bridge at Brown's so frail； that it was not until the 23d that we got three of my divisions behind the hills near the point indicated above Chattanooga for crossing the river。 It was determined to begin the battle with these three divisions； aided by a division of Thomas's army； commanded by General Jeff。 C。 Davis； that was already near that point。 All the details of the battle of Chattanooga； so far as I was a witness； are so fully given in my official report herewith； that I need add nothing to it。 It was a magnificent battle in its conception； in its execution； and in its glorious results； hastened somewhat by the supposed danger of Burnside； at Knoxville； yet so completely successful； that nothing is left for cavil or fault…finding。 The first day was lowering and overcast； favoring us greatly； because we wanted to be concealed from Bragg； whose position on the mountain…tops completely overlooked us and our movements。 The second day was beautifully clear； and many a time； in the midst of its carnage and noise； I could not help stopping to look across that vast field of battle； to admire its sublimity。
The object of General Hooker's and my attacks on the extreme flanks of Bragg's position was； to disturb him to such an extent； ； that he would naturally detach from his centre as against us； so that Thomas's army could break through his centre。 The whole plan succeeded admirably； but it was not until after dark that I learned the complete success at the centre； and received General Grant's orders to pursue on the north side of Chickamauga Creek：
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI； CHATTAGOOGA； TENNESSEE； Nov。 25； 1863
Major…General SHERMAN。
GENERAL ： No doubt you witnessed the handsome manner in which Thomas's troops carried Missionary Ridge this afternoon； and can feel a just pride； too； in the part taken by the forces under your command in taking first so much of the same range of hills； and then in attracting the attention of so many of the enemy as to make Thomas's part certain of success。 The neat thing now will be to relieve Burnside。 I have heard from him to the evening of the 23d。 At that time he had from ten to twelve days' supplies； and spoke hopefully of being able to hold out that length of time。
My plan is to move your forces out gradually until they reach the railroad between Cleveland and Dalton。 Granger will move up the south side of the Tennessee with a column of twenty thousand men； taking no wagons； or but few； with him。 His men will carry four days' rations； and the steamer Chattanooga； loaded with rations； will accompany the expedition。
I take it for granted that Bragg's entire force has left。 If not； of course； the first thing is to dispose of him。 If he has gone； the only thing necessary to do to…morrow will be to send out a reeonnoissanee to ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy。 Yours truly；
U。 S。 GRANT； Major…General。
P。 S。…On reflection； I think we will push Bragg with all our strength to…morrow； and try if we cannot out off a good portion of his rear troops and trains。 His men have manifested a strong disposition to desert for some time past； and we will now give them a chance。 I will instruct Thomas accordingly。 Move the advance force early； on the most easterly road taken by the enemy。 U。 S。 G。
This compelled me to reverse our column； so as to use the bridge across the Chickamauga at its month。 The next day we struck the rebel rear at Chickamauga Station； and again near Graysville。 There we came in contact with Hooker's and Palmer's troops； who had reached Ringgold。 There I detached Howard to cross Taylor's Ridge； and strike the railroad which comes from the north by Cleveland to Dalton。 Hooker's troops were roughly handled at Ringgold； and the pursuit was checked。 Receiving a note from General Hooker； asking help； I rode forward to Ringgold to explain the movement of Howard； where I met General Grant； and learned that the rebels had again retreated toward Dalton。 He gave orders to discontinue the pursuit； as he meant to turn his attention to General Burnside； supposed to be in great danger at Knoxville； about one hundred and thirty miles northeast。 General Grant returned and spent part of the night with me； at Graysville。 We talked over matters generally； and he explained that he had ordered General Gordon Granger； with the Fourth Corps； to move forward rapidly to Burnsides help； and that he must return to Chattanooga to push him。 By reason of the scarcity of food； especially of forage； he consented that； instead of going back； I might keep out in the country； for in motion I could pick up some forage and food； especially on the Hiawassee River； whereas none remained in Chattanooga。
Accordingly； on the 29th of November； my several columns marched to Cleveland； and the next day we reached the Hiawassee at Charleston； where the Chattanooga & Knoxville Railroad crosses it。 The railroad…bridge was partially damaged by the enemy in retreating； but we found some abandoned stores。 There and thereabouts I expected some rest for my weary troops and horses； but； as I rode into town； I met Colonel J。 H。 Wilson and C。 A。 Dana （Assistant Secretary of War）； who had ridden out from Chattanooga to find me； with the following letter from General Grant； and copies of several dispatches from General Burnside； the last which had been received from him by way of Cumberland Gap：
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI； CHATTANOOGA； TENNESSEE； Nov。 29； 1863
Major…General W。 T。 SHERMAN
News are received from Knoxville to the morning of the 27th。 At that time the place was still invested； but the attack on it was not vigorous。 Longstreet evidently determined to starve the garrison out。 Granger is on the way to Burnside's relief； but I have lost all faith in his energy or capacity to manage an expedition of the importance of this one。 I am inclined to think； therefore； I shall have to send you。 Push as rapidly as you can to the Hiawassee； and determine for yourself what force to take with you from that point。 Granger has his corps with him； from which you will select in conjunction with the force now with you。 In plain words； you will assume command of all the forces now moving up the Tennessee； including the garrison at Kingston； and from that force； organize what you deem proper to relieve Burnside。 The balance send back to Chattanooga。 Granger has a boat loaded with provisions； which you can issue； and return the boat。 I will have another loaded； to follow you。 Use； of course； as sparingly as possible from the rations taken with you； and subsist off the country all you can。
It is expected that Foster is moving； by this time； from Cumberland Gap on Knoxville。 I do not know what force he will have with him； but presume it will range from three thousand five hundred to five thousand I leave this matter to you； knowing that you will do better acting upon your discretion than you could trammeled with instructions。 I will only add； that the last advices from Burnside himself indicated his ability to hold out with rations only to about the 3d of December。 Very respectfully；
U。 S。 GRANT； Major…General commanding；
This showed that； on the 27th of November； General Burnside was in Knoxville； closely besieged by the rebel General Longstreet； that his provisions were short； and that； unless relieved by December 3d； he might have to surrender。 General Grant further wrote that General Granger； instead of moving with great rapidity as ordered； seemed to move 〃slowly； and with reluctance
