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diff --git a/4546.txt b/4546.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7d308e5 --- /dev/null +++ b/4546.txt @@ -0,0 +1,85165 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoirs of Three Civil War Generals, +Complete, by U. S. Grant, W. T. Sherman, P. H. Sheridan + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Memoirs of Three Civil War Generals, Complete + +Author: U. S. Grant, W. T. Sherman, P. H. Sheridan + +Release Date: August 16, 2006 [EBook #4546] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THREE CIVIL WAR GENERALS *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger. Additional proofing was done by Bryan +Sherman on the Sherman series. The Grant series was originally +produced by Glen Bledsoe + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF THE UNION'S THREE GREAT CIVIL WAR GENERALS + + + +CONTENTS: + The Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant + The Memoirs of William T. Sherman + The Memoirs of Philip H. Sheridan + + + + + +PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF U. S. GRANT, complete + +by U. S. Grant + + + + +PREFACE. + +"Man proposes and God disposes." There are but few important events in +the affairs of men brought about by their own choice. + +Although frequently urged by friends to write my memoirs I had +determined never to do so, nor to write anything for publication. At +the age of nearly sixty-two I received an injury from a fall, which +confined me closely to the house while it did not apparently affect my +general health. This made study a pleasant pastime. Shortly after, the +rascality of a business partner developed itself by the announcement of +a failure. This was followed soon after by universal depression of all +securities, which seemed to threaten the extinction of a good part of +the income still retained, and for which I am indebted to the kindly act +of friends. At this juncture the editor of the Century Magazine asked +me to write a few articles for him. I consented for the money it gave +me; for at that moment I was living upon borrowed money. The work I +found congenial, and I determined to continue it. The event is an +important one for me, for good or evil; I hope for the former. + +In preparing these volumes for the public, I have entered upon the task +with the sincere desire to avoid doing injustice to any one, whether on +the National or Confederate side, other than the unavoidable injustice +of not making mention often where special mention is due. There must be +many errors of omission in this work, because the subject is too large +to be treated of in two volumes in such way as to do justice to all the +officers and men engaged. There were thousands of instances, during the +rebellion, of individual, company, regimental and brigade deeds of +heroism which deserve special mention and are not here alluded to. The +troops engaged in them will have to look to the detailed reports of +their individual commanders for the full history of those deeds. + +The first volume, as well as a portion of the second, was written before +I had reason to suppose I was in a critical condition of health. Later +I was reduced almost to the point of death, and it became impossible for +me to attend to anything for weeks. I have, however, somewhat regained +my strength, and am able, often, to devote as many hours a day as a +person should devote to such work. I would have more hope of satisfying +the expectation of the public if I could have allowed myself more time. +I have used my best efforts, with the aid of my eldest son, F. D. Grant, +assisted by his brothers, to verify from the records every statement of +fact given. The comments are my own, and show how I saw the matters +treated of whether others saw them in the same light or not. + +With these remarks I present these volumes to the public, asking no +favor but hoping they will meet the approval of the reader. + +U. S. GRANT. + +MOUNT MACGREGOR, NEW YORK, July 1, 1885. + + +CONTENTS + +VOLUME I. + +CHAPTER I. ANCESTRY--BIRTH--BOYHOOD. + +CHAPTER II. WEST POINT--GRADUATION. + +CHAPTER III. ARMY LIFE--CAUSES OF THE MEXICAN WAR--CAMP SALUBRITY. + +CHAPTER IV. CORPUS CHRISTI--MEXICAN SMUGGLING--SPANISH RULE IN MEXICO +--SUPPLYING TRANSPORTATION. + +CHAPTER V. TRIP TO AUSTIN--PROMOTION TO FULL SECOND-LIEUTENANT--ARMY OF +OCCUPATION. + +CHAPTER VI. ADVANCE OF THE ARMY--CROSSING THE COLORADO--THE RIO GRANDE. + +CHAPTER VII. THE MEXICAN WAR--THE BATTLE OF PALO ALTO--THE BATTLE OF +RESACA DE LA PALMA--ARMY OF INVASION--GENERAL TAYLOR--MOVEMENT ON +CAMARGO. + +CHAPTER VIII. ADVANCE ON MONTEREY--THE BLACK FORT--THE BATTLE OF +MONTEREY--SURRENDER OF THE CITY. + +CHAPTER IX. POLITICAL INTRIGUE--BUENA VISTA--MOVEMENT AGAINST VERA CRUZ +--SIEGE AND CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ. + +CHAPTER X. MARCH TO JALAPA--BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO--PEROTE--PUEBLA--SCOTT +AND TAYLOR. + +CHAPTER XI. ADVANCE ON THE CITY OF MEXICO--BATTLE OF CONTRERAS--ASSAULT +AT CHURUBUSCO--NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE--BATTLE OF MOLINO DEL REY +--STORMING OF CHAPULTEPEC--SAN COSME--EVACUATION OF THE CITY--HALLS OF +THE MONTEZUMAS. + +CHAPTER XII. PROMOTION TO FIRST LIEUTENANT--CAPTURE OF THE CITY OF +MEXICO--THE ARMY--MEXICAN SOLDIERS--PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. + +CHAPTER XIII. TREATY OF PEACE--MEXICAN BULL FIGHTS--REGIMENTAL +QUARTERMASTER--TRIP TO POPOCATAPETL--TRIP TO THE CAVES OF MEXICO. + +CHAPTER XIV. RETURN OF THE ARMY--MARRIAGE--ORDERED TO THE PACIFIC COAST +--CROSSING THE ISTHMUS--ARRIVAL AT SAN FRANCISCO. + +CHAPTER XV. SAN FRANCISCO--EARLY CALIFORNIA EXPERIENCES--LIFE ON THE +PACIFIC COAST--PROMOTED CAPTAIN--FLUSH TIMES IN CALIFORNIA. + +CHAPTER XVI. RESIGNATION--PRIVATE LIFE--LIFE AT GALENA--THE COMING +CRISIS. + +CHAPTER XVII. OUTBREAK OF THE REBELLION--PRESIDING AT A UNION MEETING +--MUSTERING OFFICER OF STATE TROOPS--LYON AT CAMP JACKSON--SERVICES +TENDERED TO THE GOVERNMENT. + +CHAPTER XVIII. APPOINTED COLONEL OF THE 21ST ILLINOIS--PERSONNEL OF THE +REGIMENT--GENERAL LOGAN--MARCH TO MISSOURI--MOVEMENT AGAINST HARRIS AT +FLORIDA, MO.--GENERAL POPE IN COMMAND--STATIONED AT MEXICO, MO. + +CHAPTER XIX. COMMISSIONED BRIGADIER-GENERAL--COMMAND AT IRONTON, MO. +--JEFFERSON CITY--CAPE GIRARDEAU--GENERAL PRENTISS--SEIZURE OF PADUCAH +--HEADQUARTERS AT CAIRO. + +CHAPTER XX. GENERAL FREMONT IN COMMAND--MOVEMENT AGAINST BELMONT--BATTLE +OF BELMONT--A NARROW ESCAPE--AFTER THE BATTLE. + +CHAPTER XXI. GENERAL HALLECK IN COMMAND--COMMANDING THE DISTRICT OF +CAIRO--MOVEMENT ON FORT HENRY--CAPTURE OF FORT HENRY. + +CHAPTER XXII. INVESTMENT OF FORT DONELSON--THE NAVAL OPERATIONS--ATTACK +OF THE ENEMY--ASSAULTING THE WORKS--SURRENDER OF THE FORT. + +CHAPTER XXIII. PROMOTED MAJOR-GENERAL OF VOLUNTEERS--UNOCCUPIED +TERRITORY--ADVANCE UPON NASHVILLE--SITUATION OF THE TROOPS--CONFEDERATE +RETREAT--RELIEVED OF THE COMMAND--RESTORED TO THE COMMAND--GENERAL +SMITH. + +CHAPTER XXIV. THE ARMY AT PITTSBURG LANDING--INJURED BY A FALL--THE +CONFEDERATE ATTACK AT SHILOH--THE FIRST DAY'S FIGHT AT SHILOH--GENERAL +SHERMAN--CONDITION OF THE ARMY--CLOSE OF THE FIRST DAY'S FIGHT--THE +SECOND DAY'S FIGHT--RETREAT AND DEFEAT OF THE CONFEDERATES. + +CHAPTER XXV. STRUCK BY A BULLET--PRECIPITATE RETREAT OF THE +CONFEDERATES--INTRENCHMENTS AT SHILOH--GENERAL BUELL--GENERAL JOHNSTON +--REMARKS ON SHILOH. + +CHAPTER XXVI. HALLECK ASSUMES COMMAND IN THE FIELD--THE ADVANCE UPON +CORINTH--OCCUPATION OF CORINTH--THE ARMY SEPARATED. + +CHAPTER XXVII. HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO MEMPHIS--ON THE ROAD TO MEMPHIS +--ESCAPING JACKSON--COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS--HALLECK APPOINTED +COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF--RETURN TO CORINTH--MOVEMENTS OF BRAGG--SURRENDER +OF CLARKSVILLE--THE ADVANCE UPON CHATTANOOGA--SHERIDAN COLONEL OF A +MICHIGAN REGIMENT. + +CHAPTER XXVIII. ADVANCE OF VAN DORN AND PRICE--PRICE ENTERS IUKA--BATTLE +OF IUKA. + +CHAPTER XXIX. VAN DORN'S MOVEMENTS--BATTLE OF CORINTH--COMMAND OF THE +DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE. + +CHAPTER XXX. THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST VICKSBURG--EMPLOYING THE FREEDMEN +--OCCUPATION OF HOLLY SPRINGS--SHERMAN ORDERED TO MEMPHIS--SHERMAN'S +MOVEMENTS DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI--VAN DORN CAPTURES HOLLY SPRINGS +--COLLECTING FORAGE AND FOOD. + +CHAPTER XXXI. HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO HOLLY SPRINGS--GENERAL MCCLERNAND IN +COMMAND--ASSUMING COMMAND AT YOUNG'S POINT--OPERATIONS ABOVE VICKSBURG +--FORTIFICATIONS ABOUT VICKSBURG--THE CANAL--LAKE PROVIDENCE--OPERATIONS +AT YAZOO PASS. + +CHAPTER XXXII. THE BAYOUS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI--CRITICISMS OF THE +NORTHERN PRESS--RUNNING THE BATTERIES--LOSS OF THE INDIANOLA +--DISPOSITION OF THE TROOPS. + +CHAPTER XXXIII. ATTACK ON GRAND GULF--OPERATIONS BELOW VICKSBURG. + +CHAPTER XXXIV. CAPTURE OF PORT GIBSON--GRIERSON'S RAID--OCCUPATION OF +GRAND GULF--MOVEMENT UP THE BIG BLACK--BATTLE OF RAYMOND. + +CHAPTER XXXV. MOVEMENT AGAINST JACKSON--FALL OF JACKSON--INTERCEPTING +THE ENEMY--BATTLE OF CHAMPION'S HILL. + +CHAPTER XXXVI. BATTLE OF BLACK RIVER BRIDGE--CROSSING THE BIG BLACK +--INVESTMENT OF VICKSBURG--ASSAULTING THE WORKS. + +CHAPTER XXXVII. SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. JOHNSTON'S MOVEMENTS--FORTIFICATIONS AT HAINES'S BLUFF +--EXPLOSION OF THE MINE--EXPLOSION OF THE SECOND MINE--PREPARING FOR THE +ASSAULT--THE FLAG OF TRUCE--MEETING WITH PEMBERTON--NEGOTIATIONS FOR +SURRENDER--ACCEPTING THE TERMS--SURRENDER OF VICKSBURG. + +CHAPTER XXXIX. RETROSPECT OF THE CAMPAIGN--SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS--PROPOSED +MOVEMENT UPON MOBILE--A PAINFUL ACCIDENT--ORDERED TO REPORT AT CAIRO. + + + +Volume one begins: + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ANCESTRY--BIRTH--BOYHOOD. + +My family is American, and has been for generations, in all its +branches, direct and collateral. + +Mathew Grant, the founder of the branch in America, of which I am a +descendant, reached Dorchester, Massachusetts, in May, 1630. In 1635 he +moved to what is now Windsor, Connecticut, and was the surveyor for that +colony for more than forty years. He was also, for many years of the +time, town clerk. He was a married man when he arrived at Dorchester, +but his children were all born in this country. His eldest son, Samuel, +took lands on the east side of the Connecticut River, opposite Windsor, +which have been held and occupied by descendants of his to this day. + +I am of the eighth generation from Mathew Grant, and seventh from +Samuel. Mathew Grant's first wife died a few years after their +settlement in Windsor, and he soon after married the widow Rockwell, +who, with her first husband, had been fellow-passengers with him and his +first wife, on the ship Mary and John, from Dorchester, England, in +1630. Mrs. Rockwell had several children by her first marriage, and +others by her second. By intermarriage, two or three generations later, +I am descended from both the wives of Mathew Grant. + +In the fifth descending generation my great grandfather, Noah Grant, and +his younger brother, Solomon, held commissions in the English army, in +1756, in the war against the French and Indians. Both were killed that +year. + +My grandfather, also named Noah, was then but nine years old. At the +breaking out of the war of the Revolution, after the battles of Concord +and Lexington, he went with a Connecticut company to join the +Continental army, and was present at the battle of Bunker Hill. He +served until the fall of Yorktown, or through the entire Revolutionary +war. He must, however, have been on furlough part of the time--as I +believe most of the soldiers of that period were--for he married in +Connecticut during the war, had two children, and was a widower at the +close. Soon after this he emigrated to Westmoreland County, +Pennsylvania, and settled near the town of Greensburg in that county. +He took with him the younger of his two children, Peter Grant. The +elder, Solomon, remained with his relatives in Connecticut until old +enough to do for himself, when he emigrated to the British West Indies. + +Not long after his settlement in Pennsylvania, my grandfather, Captain +Noah Grant, married a Miss Kelly, and in 1799 he emigrated again, this +time to Ohio, and settled where the town of Deerfield now stands. He +had now five children, including Peter, a son by his first marriage. My +father, Jesse R. Grant, was the second child--oldest son, by the second +marriage. + +Peter Grant went early to Maysville, Kentucky, where he was very +prosperous, married, had a family of nine children, and was drowned at +the mouth of the Kanawha River, Virginia, in 1825, being at the time one +of the wealthy men of the West. + +My grandmother Grant died in 1805, leaving seven children. This broke +up the family. Captain Noah Grant was not thrifty in the way of "laying +up stores on earth," and, after the death of his second wife, he went, +with the two youngest children, to live with his son Peter, in +Maysville. The rest of the family found homes in the neighborhood of +Deerfield, my father in the family of judge Tod, the father of the late +Governor Tod, of Ohio. His industry and independence of character were +such, that I imagine his labor compensated fully for the expense of his +maintenance. + +There must have been a cordiality in his welcome into the Tod family, +for to the day of his death he looked upon judge Tod and his wife, with +all the reverence he could have felt if they had been parents instead of +benefactors. I have often heard him speak of Mrs. Tod as the most +admirable woman he had ever known. He remained with the Tod family only +a few years, until old enough to learn a trade. He went first, I +believe, with his half-brother, Peter Grant, who, though not a tanner +himself, owned a tannery in Maysville, Kentucky. Here he learned his +trade, and in a few years returned to Deerfield and worked for, and +lived in the family of a Mr. Brown, the father of John Brown--"whose +body lies mouldering in the grave, while his soul goes marching on." I +have often heard my father speak of John Brown, particularly since the +events at Harper's Ferry. Brown was a boy when they lived in the same +house, but he knew him afterwards, and regarded him as a man of great +purity of character, of high moral and physical courage, but a fanatic +and extremist in whatever he advocated. It was certainly the act of an +insane man to attempt the invasion of the South, and the overthrow of +slavery, with less than twenty men. + +My father set up for himself in business, establishing a tannery at +Ravenna, the county seat of Portage County. In a few years he removed +from Ravenna, and set up the same business at Point Pleasant, Clermont +County, Ohio. + +During the minority of my father, the West afforded but poor facilities +for the most opulent of the youth to acquire an education, and the +majority were dependent, almost exclusively, upon their own exertions +for whatever learning they obtained. I have often heard him say that +his time at school was limited to six months, when he was very young, +too young, indeed, to learn much, or to appreciate the advantages of an +education, and to a "quarter's schooling" afterwards, probably while +living with judge Tod. But his thirst for education was intense. He +learned rapidly, and was a constant reader up to the day of his death in +his eightieth year. Books were scarce in the Western Reserve during his +youth, but he read every book he could borrow in the neighborhood where +he lived. This scarcity gave him the early habit of studying everything +he read, so that when he got through with a book, he knew everything in +it. The habit continued through life. Even after reading the daily +papers--which he never neglected--he could give all the important +information they contained. He made himself an excellent English +scholar, and before he was twenty years of age was a constant +contributor to Western newspapers, and was also, from that time until he +was fifty years old, an able debater in the societies for this purpose, +which were common in the West at that time. He always took an active +part in politics, but was never a candidate for office, except, I +believe, that he was the first Mayor of Georgetown. He supported +Jackson for the Presidency; but he was a Whig, a great admirer of Henry +Clay, and never voted for any other democrat for high office after +Jackson. + +My mother's family lived in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, for several +generations. I have little information about her ancestors. Her family +took no interest in genealogy, so that my grandfather, who died when I +was sixteen years old, knew only back to his grandfather. On the other +side, my father took a great interest in the subject, and in his +researches, he found that there was an entailed estate in Windsor, +Connecticut, belonging to the family, to which his nephew, Lawson Grant +--still living--was the heir. He was so much interested in the subject +that he got his nephew to empower him to act in the matter, and in 1832 +or 1833, when I was a boy ten or eleven years old, he went to Windsor, +proved the title beyond dispute, and perfected the claim of the owners +for a consideration--three thousand dollars, I think. I remember the +circumstance well, and remember, too, hearing him say on his return that +he found some widows living on the property, who had little or nothing +beyond their homes. From these he refused to receive any recompense. + +My mother's father, John Simpson, moved from Montgomery County, +Pennsylvania, to Clermont County, Ohio, about the year 1819, taking with +him his four children, three daughters and one son. My mother, Hannah +Simpson, was the third of these children, and was then over twenty years +of age. Her oldest sister was at that time married, and had several +children. She still lives in Clermont County at this writing, October +5th, 1884, and is over ninety ears of age. Until her memory failed her, +a few years ago, she thought the country ruined beyond recovery when the +Democratic party lost control in 1860. Her family, which was large, +inherited her views, with the exception of one son who settled in +Kentucky before the war. He was the only one of the children who +entered the volunteer service to suppress the rebellion. + +Her brother, next of age and now past eighty-eight, is also still living +in Clermont County, within a few miles of the old homestead, and is as +active in mind as ever. He was a supporter of the Government during the +war, and remains a firm believer, that national success by the +Democratic party means irretrievable ruin. + +In June, 1821, my father, Jesse R. Grant, married Hannah Simpson. I was +born on the 27th of April, 1822, at Point Pleasant, Clermont County, +Ohio. In the fall of 1823 we moved to Georgetown, the county seat of +Brown, the adjoining county east. This place remained my home, until at +the age of seventeen, in 1839, I went to West Point. + +The schools, at the time of which I write, were very indifferent. There +were no free schools, and none in which the scholars were classified. +They were all supported by subscription, and a single teacher--who was +often a man or a woman incapable of teaching much, even if they imparted +all they knew--would have thirty or forty scholars, male and female, +from the infant learning the A B C's up to the young lady of eighteen +and the boy of twenty, studying the highest branches taught--the three +R's, "Reading, 'Riting, 'Rithmetic." I never saw an algebra, or other +mathematical work higher than the arithmetic, in Georgetown, until after +I was appointed to West Point. I then bought a work on algebra in +Cincinnati; but having no teacher it was Greek to me. + +My life in Georgetown was uneventful. From the age of five or six until +seventeen, I attended the subscription schools of the village, except +during the winters of 1836-7 and 1838-9. The former period was spent in +Maysville, Kentucky, attending the school of Richardson and Rand; the +latter in Ripley, Ohio, at a private school. I was not studious in +habit, and probably did not make progress enough to compensate for the +outlay for board and tuition. At all events both winters were spent in +going over the same old arithmetic which I knew every word of before, +and repeating: "A noun is the name of a thing," which I had also heard +my Georgetown teachers repeat, until I had come to believe it--but I +cast no reflections upon my old teacher, Richardson. He turned out +bright scholars from his school, many of whom have filled conspicuous +places in the service of their States. Two of my contemporaries there +--who, I believe, never attended any other institution of learning--have +held seats in Congress, and one, if not both, other high offices; these +are Wadsworth and Brewster. + +My father was, from my earliest recollection, in comfortable +circumstances, considering the times, his place of residence, and the +community in which he lived. Mindful of his own lack of facilities for +acquiring an education, his greatest desire in maturer years was for the +education of his children. Consequently, as stated before, I never +missed a quarter from school from the time I was old enough to attend +till the time of leaving home. This did not exempt me from labor. In +my early days, every one labored more or less, in the region where my +youth was spent, and more in proportion to their private means. It was +only the very poor who were exempt. While my father carried on the +manufacture of leather and worked at the trade himself, he owned and +tilled considerable land. I detested the trade, preferring almost any +other labor; but I was fond of agriculture, and of all employment in +which horses were used. We had, among other lands, fifty acres of +forest within a mile of the village. In the fall of the year choppers +were employed to cut enough wood to last a twelve-month. When I was +seven or eight years of age, I began hauling all the wood used in the +house and shops. I could not load it on the wagons, of course, at that +time, but I could drive, and the choppers would load, and some one at +the house unload. When about eleven years old, I was strong enough to +hold a plough. From that age until seventeen I did all the work done +with horses, such as breaking up the land, furrowing, ploughing corn and +potatoes, bringing in the crops when harvested, hauling all the wood, +besides tending two or three horses, a cow or two, and sawing wood for +stoves, etc., while still attending school. For this I was compensated +by the fact that there was never any scolding or punishing by my +parents; no objection to rational enjoyments, such as fishing, going to +the creek a mile away to swim in summer, taking a horse and visiting my +grandparents in the adjoining county, fifteen miles off, skating on the +ice in winter, or taking a horse and sleigh when there was snow on the +ground. + +While still quite young I had visited Cincinnati, forty-five miles away, +several times, alone; also Maysville, Kentucky, often, and once +Louisville. The journey to Louisville was a big one for a boy of that +day. I had also gone once with a two-horse carriage to Chilicothe, +about seventy miles, with a neighbor's family, who were removing to +Toledo, Ohio, and returned alone; and had gone once, in like manner, to +Flat Rock, Kentucky, about seventy miles away. On this latter occasion +I was fifteen years of age. While at Flat Rock, at the house of a Mr. +Payne, whom I was visiting with his brother, a neighbor of ours in +Georgetown, I saw a very fine saddle horse, which I rather coveted, and +proposed to Mr. Payne, the owner, to trade him for one of the two I was +driving. Payne hesitated to trade with a boy, but asking his brother +about it, the latter told him that it would be all right, that I was +allowed to do as I pleased with the horses. I was seventy miles from +home, with a carriage to take back, and Mr. Payne said he did not know +that his horse had ever had a collar on. I asked to have him hitched to +a farm wagon and we would soon see whether he would work. It was soon +evident that the horse had never worn harness before; but he showed no +viciousness, and I expressed a confidence that I could manage him. A +trade was at once struck, I receiving ten dollars difference. + +The next day Mr. Payne, of Georgetown, and I started on our return. We +got along very well for a few miles, when we encountered a ferocious dog +that frightened the horses and made them run. The new animal kicked at +every jump he made. I got the horses stopped, however, before any +damage was done, and without running into anything. After giving them a +little rest, to quiet their fears, we started again. That instant the +new horse kicked, and started to run once more. The road we were on, +struck the turnpike within half a mile of the point where the second +runaway commenced, and there there was an embankment twenty or more feet +deep on the opposite side of the pike. I got the horses stopped on the +very brink of the precipice. My new horse was terribly frightened and +trembled like an aspen; but he was not half so badly frightened as my +companion, Mr. Payne, who deserted me after this last experience, and +took passage on a freight wagon for Maysville. Every time I attempted +to start, my new horse would commence to kick. I was in quite a dilemma +for a time. Once in Maysville I could borrow a horse from an uncle who +lived there; but I was more than a day's travel from that point. +Finally I took out my bandanna--the style of handkerchief in universal +use then--and with this blindfolded my horse. In this way I reached +Maysville safely the next day, no doubt much to the surprise of my +friend. Here I borrowed a horse from my uncle, and the following day we +proceeded on our journey. + +About half my school-days in Georgetown were spent at the school of John +D. White, a North Carolinian, and the father of Chilton White who +represented the district in Congress for one term during the rebellion. +Mr. White was always a Democrat in politics, and Chilton followed his +father. He had two older brothers--all three being school-mates of mine +at their father's school--who did not go the same way. The second +brother died before the rebellion began; he was a Whig, and afterwards a +Republican. His oldest brother was a Republican and brave soldier +during the rebellion. Chilton is reported as having told of an earlier +horse-trade of mine. As he told the story, there was a Mr. Ralston +living within a few miles of the village, who owned a colt which I very +much wanted. My father had offered twenty dollars for it, but Ralston +wanted twenty-five. I was so anxious to have the colt, that after the +owner left, I begged to be allowed to take him at the price demanded. +My father yielded, but said twenty dollars was all the horse was worth, +and told me to offer that price; if it was not accepted I was to offer +twenty-two and a half, and if that would not get him, to give the +twenty-five. I at once mounted a horse and went for the colt. When I +got to Mr. Ralston's house, I said to him: "Papa says I may offer you +twenty dollars for the colt, but if you won't take that, I am to offer +twenty-two and a half, and if you won't take that, to give you +twenty-five." It would not require a Connecticut man to guess the price +finally agreed upon. This story is nearly true. I certainly showed +very plainly that I had come for the colt and meant to have him. I +could not have been over eight years old at the time. This transaction +caused me great heart-burning. The story got out among the boys of the +village, and it was a long time before I heard the last of it. Boys +enjoy the misery of their companions, at least village boys in that day +did, and in later life I have found that all adults are not free from +the peculiarity. I kept the horse until he was four years old, when he +went blind, and I sold him for twenty dollars. When I went to Maysville +to school, in 1836, at the age of fourteen, I recognized my colt as one +of the blind horses working on the tread-wheel of the ferry-boat. + +I have describes enough of my early life to give an impression of the +whole. I did not like to work; but I did as much of it, while young, as +grown men can be hired to do in these days, and attended school at the +same time. I had as many privileges as any boy in the village, and +probably more than most of them. I have no recollection of ever having +been punished at home, either by scolding or by the rod. But at school +the case was different. The rod was freely used there, and I was not +exempt from its influence. I can see John D. White--the school teacher +--now, with his long beech switch always in his hand. It was not always +the same one, either. Switches were brought in bundles, from a beech +wood near the school house, by the boys for whose benefit they were +intended. Often a whole bundle would be used up in a single day. I +never had any hard feelings against my teacher, either while attending +the school, or in later years when reflecting upon my experience. Mr. +White was a kindhearted man, and was much respected by the community in +which he lived. He only followed the universal custom of the period, +and that under which he had received his own education. + + + +CHAPTER II. + +WEST POINT--GRADUATION. + +In the winter of 1838-9 I was attending school at Ripley, only ten miles +distant from Georgetown, but spent the Christmas holidays at home. +During this vacation my father received a letter from the Honorable +Thomas Morris, then United States Senator from Ohio. When he read it he +said to me, "Ulysses, I believe you are going to receive the +appointment." "What appointment?" I inquired. "To West Point; I have +applied for it." "But I won't go," I said. He said he thought I would, +AND I THOUGHT SO TOO, IF HE DID. I really had no objection to going to +West Point, except that I had a very exalted idea of the acquirements +necessary to get through. I did not believe I possessed them, and could +not bear the idea of failing. There had been four boys from our +village, or its immediate neighborhood, who had been graduated from West +Point, and never a failure of any one appointed from Georgetown, except +in the case of the one whose place I was to take. He was the son of Dr. +Bailey, our nearest and most intimate neighbor. Young Bailey had been +appointed in 1837. Finding before the January examination following, +that he could not pass, he resigned and went to a private school, and +remained there until the following year, when he was reappointed. +Before the next examination he was dismissed. Dr. Bailey was a proud +and sensitive man, and felt the failure of his son so keenly that he +forbade his return home. There were no telegraphs in those days to +disseminate news rapidly, no railroads west of the Alleghanies, and but +few east; and above all, there were no reporters prying into other +people's private affairs. Consequently it did not become generally +known that there was a vacancy at West Point from our district until I +was appointed. I presume Mrs. Bailey confided to my mother the fact +that Bartlett had been dismissed, and that the doctor had forbidden his +son's return home. + +The Honorable Thomas L. Hamer, one of the ablest men Ohio ever produced, +was our member of Congress at the time, and had the right of nomination. +He and my father had been members of the same debating society (where +they were generally pitted on opposite sides), and intimate personal +friends from their early manhood up to a few years before. In politics +they differed. Hamer was a life-long Democrat, while my father was a +Whig. They had a warm discussion, which finally became angry--over some +act of President Jackson, the removal of the deposit of public moneys, I +think--after which they never spoke until after my appointment. I know +both of them felt badly over this estrangement, and would have been glad +at any time to come to a reconciliation; but neither would make the +advance. Under these circumstances my father would not write to Hamer +for the appointment, but he wrote to Thomas Morris, United States +Senator from Ohio, informing him that there was a vacancy at West Point +from our district, and that he would be glad if I could be appointed to +fill it. This letter, I presume, was turned over to Mr. Hamer, and, as +there was no other applicant, he cheerfully appointed me. This healed +the breach between the two, never after reopened. + +Besides the argument used by my father in favor of my going to West +Point--that "he thought I would go"--there was another very strong +inducement. I had always a great desire to travel. I was already the +best travelled boy in Georgetown, except the sons of one man, John +Walker, who had emigrated to Texas with his family, and immigrated back +as soon as he could get the means to do so. In his short stay in Texas +he acquired a very different opinion of the country from what one would +form going there now. + +I had been east to Wheeling, Virginia, and north to the Western Reserve, +in Ohio, west to Louisville, and south to Bourbon County, Kentucky, +besides having driven or ridden pretty much over the whole country +within fifty miles of home. Going to West Point would give me the +opportunity of visiting the two great cities of the continent, +Philadelphia and New York. This was enough. When these places were +visited I would have been glad to have had a steamboat or railroad +collision, or any other accident happen, by which I might have received +a temporary injury sufficient to make me ineligible, for a time, to +enter the Academy. Nothing of the kind occurred, and I had to face the +music. + +Georgetown has a remarkable record for a western village. It is, and +has been from its earliest existence, a democratic town. There was +probably no time during the rebellion when, if the opportunity could +have been afforded, it would not have voted for Jefferson Davis for +President of the United States, over Mr. Lincoln, or any other +representative of his party; unless it was immediately after some of +John Morgan's men, in his celebrated raid through Ohio, spent a few +hours in the village. The rebels helped themselves to whatever they +could find, horses, boots and shoes, especially horses, and many ordered +meals to be prepared for them by the families. This was no doubt a far +pleasanter duty for some families than it would have been to render a +like service for Union soldiers. The line between the Rebel and Union +element in Georgetown was so marked that it led to divisions even in the +churches. There were churches in that part of Ohio where treason was +preached regularly, and where, to secure membership, hostility to the +government, to the war and to the liberation of the slaves, was far more +essential than a belief in the authenticity or credibility of the Bible. +There were men in Georgetown who filled all the requirements for +membership in these churches. + +Yet this far-off western village, with a population, including old and +young, male and female, of about one thousand--about enough for the +organization of a single regiment if all had been men capable of bearing +arms--furnished the Union army four general officers and one colonel, +West Point graduates, and nine generals and field officers of +Volunteers, that I can think of. Of the graduates from West Point, all +had citizenship elsewhere at the breaking out of the rebellion, except +possibly General A. V. Kautz, who had remained in the army from his +graduation. Two of the colonels also entered the service from other +localities. The other seven, General McGroierty, Colonels White, Fyffe, +Loudon and Marshall, Majors King and Bailey, were all residents of +Georgetown when the war broke out, and all of them, who were alive at +the close, returned there. Major Bailey was the cadet who had preceded +me at West Point. He was killed in West Virginia, in his first +engagement. As far as I know, every boy who has entered West Point from +that village since my time has been graduated. + +I took passage on a steamer at Ripley, Ohio, for Pittsburg, about the +middle of May, 1839. Western boats at that day did not make regular +trips at stated times, but would stop anywhere, and for any length of +time, for passengers or freight. I have myself been detained two or +three days at a place after steam was up, the gang planks, all but one, +drawn in, and after the time advertised for starting had expired. On +this occasion we had no vexatious delays, and in about three days +Pittsburg was reached. From Pittsburg I chose passage by the canal to +Harrisburg, rather than by the more expeditious stage. This gave a +better opportunity of enjoying the fine scenery of Western Pennsylvania, +and I had rather a dread of reaching my destination at all. At that +time the canal was much patronized by travellers, and, with the +comfortable packets of the period, no mode of conveyance could be more +pleasant, when time was not an object. From Harrisburg to Philadelphia +there was a railroad, the first I had ever seen, except the one on which +I had just crossed the summit of the Alleghany Mountains, and over which +canal boats were transported. In travelling by the road from +Harrisburg, I thought the perfection of rapid transit had been reached. +We travelled at least eighteen miles an hour, when at full speed, and +made the whole distance averaging probably as much as twelve miles an +hour. This seemed like annihilating space. I stopped five days in +Philadelphia, saw about every street in the city, attended the theatre, +visited Girard College (which was then in course of construction), and +got reprimanded from home afterwards, for dallying by the way so long. +My sojourn in New York was shorter, but long enough to enable me to see +the city very well. I reported at West Point on the 30th or 31st of +May, and about two weeks later passed my examination for admission, +without difficulty, very much to my surprise. + +A military life had no charms for me, and I had not the faintest idea of +staying in the army even if I should be graduated, which I did not +expect. The encampment which preceded the commencement of academic +studies was very wearisome and uninteresting. When the 28th of August +came--the date for breaking up camp and going into barracks--I felt as +though I had been at West Point always, and that if I staid to +graduation, I would have to remain always. I did not take hold of my +studies with avidity, in fact I rarely ever read over a lesson the +second time during my entire cadetship. I could not sit in my room +doing nothing. There is a fine library connected with the Academy from +which cadets can get books to read in their quarters. I devoted more +time to these, than to books relating to the course of studies. Much of +the time, I am sorry to say, was devoted to novels, but not those of a +trashy sort. I read all of Bulwer's then published, Cooper's, +Marryat's, Scott's, Washington Irving's works, Lever's, and many others +that I do not now remember. Mathematics was very easy to me, so that +when January came, I passed the examination, taking a good standing in +that branch. In French, the only other study at that time in the first +year's course, my standing was very low. In fact, if the class had been +turned the other end foremost I should have been near head. I never +succeeded in getting squarely at either end of my class, in any one +study, during the four years. I came near it in French, artillery, +infantry and cavalry tactics, and conduct. + +Early in the session of the Congress which met in December, 1839, a bill +was discussed abolishing the Military Academy. I saw in this an +honorable way to obtain a discharge, and read the debates with much +interest, but with impatience at the delay in taking action, for I was +selfish enough to favor the bill. It never passed, and a year later, +although the time hung drearily with me, I would have been sorry to have +seen it succeed. My idea then was to get through the course, secure a +detail for a few years as assistant professor of mathematics at the +Academy, and afterwards obtain a permanent position as professor in some +respectable college; but circumstances always did shape my course +different from my plans. + +At the end of two years the class received the usual furlough, extending +from the close of the June examination to the 28th of August. This I +enjoyed beyond any other period of my life. My father had sold out his +business in Georgetown--where my youth had been spent, and to which my +day-dreams carried me back as my future home, if I should ever be able +to retire on a competency. He had moved to Bethel, only twelve miles +away, in the adjoining county of Clermont, and had bought a young horse +that had never been in harness, for my special use under the saddle +during my furlough. Most of my time was spent among my old +school-mates--these ten weeks were shorter than one week at West Point. + +Persons acquainted with the Academy know that the corps of cadets is +divided into four companies for the purpose of military exercises. +These companies are officered from the cadets, the superintendent and +commandant selecting the officers for their military bearing and +qualifications. The adjutant, quartermaster, four captains and twelve +lieutenants are taken from the first, or Senior class; the sergeants +from the second, or junior class; and the corporals from the third, or +Sophomore class. I had not been "called out" as a corporal, but when I +returned from furlough I found myself the last but one--about my +standing in all the tactics--of eighteen sergeants. The promotion was +too much for me. That year my standing in the class--as shown by the +number of demerits of the year--was about the same as it was among the +sergeants, and I was dropped, and served the fourth year as a private. + +During my first year's encampment General Scott visited West Point, and +reviewed the cadets. With his commanding figure, his quite colossal +size and showy uniform, I thought him the finest specimen of manhood my +eyes had ever beheld, and the most to be envied. I could never resemble +him in appearance, but I believe I did have a presentiment for a moment +that some day I should occupy his place on review--although I had no +intention then of remaining in the army. My experience in a horse-trade +ten years before, and the ridicule it caused me, were too fresh in my +mind for me to communicate this presentiment to even my most intimate +chum. The next summer Martin Van Buren, then President of the United +States, visited West Point and reviewed the cadets; he did not impress +me with the awe which Scott had inspired. In fact I regarded General +Scott and Captain C. F. Smith, the Commandant of Cadets, as the two men +most to be envied in the nation. I retained a high regard for both up +to the day of their death. + +The last two years wore away more rapidly than the first two, but they +still seemed about five times as long as Ohio years, to me. At last all +the examinations were passed, and the members of the class were called +upon to record their choice of arms of service and regiments. I was +anxious to enter the cavalry, or dragoons as they were then called, but +there was only one regiment of dragoons in the Army at that time, and +attached to that, besides the full complement of officers, there were at +least four brevet second lieutenants. I recorded therefore my first +choice, dragoons; second, 4th infantry; and got the latter. Again there +was a furlough--or, more properly speaking, leave of absence for the +class were now commissioned officers--this time to the end of September. +Again I went to Ohio to spend my vacation among my old school-mates; and +again I found a fine saddle horse purchased for my special use, besides +a horse and buggy that I could drive--but I was not in a physical +condition to enjoy myself quite as well as on the former occasion. For +six months before graduation I had had a desperate cough ("Tyler's grip" +it was called), and I was very much reduced, weighing but one hundred +and seventeen pounds, just my weight at entrance, though I had grown six +inches in stature in the mean time. There was consumption in my +father's family, two of his brothers having died of that disease, which +made my symptoms more alarming. The brother and sister next younger +than myself died, during the rebellion, of the same disease, and I +seemed the most promising subject for it of the three in 1843. + +Having made alternate choice of two different arms of service with +different uniforms, I could not get a uniform suit until notified of my +assignment. I left my measurement with a tailor, with directions not to +make the uniform until I notified him whether it was to be for infantry +or dragoons. Notice did not reach me for several weeks, and then it +took at least a week to get the letter of instructions to the tailor and +two more to make the clothes and have them sent to me. This was a time +of great suspense. I was impatient to get on my uniform and see how it +looked, and probably wanted my old school-mates, particularly the girls, +to see me in it. + +The conceit was knocked out of me by two little circumstances that +happened soon after the arrival of the clothes, which gave me a distaste +for military uniform that I never recovered from. Soon after the +arrival of the suit I donned it, and put off for Cincinnati on +horseback. While I was riding along a street of that city, imagining +that every one was looking at me, with a feeling akin to mine when I +first saw General Scott, a little urchin, bareheaded, footed, with dirty +and ragged pants held up by bare a single gallows--that's what +suspenders were called then--and a shirt that had not seen a wash-tub +for weeks, turned to me and cried: "Soldier! will you work? No, +sir--ee; I'll sell my shirt first!!" The horse trade and its dire +consequences were recalled to mind. + +The other circumstance occurred at home. Opposite our house in Bethel +stood the old stage tavern where "man and beast" found accommodation, +The stable-man was rather dissipated, but possessed of some humor. On +my return I found him parading the streets, and attending in the stable, +barefooted, but in a pair of sky-blue nankeen pantaloons--just the color +of my uniform trousers--with a strip of white cotton sheeting sewed down +the outside seams in imitation of mine. The joke was a huge one in the +mind of many of the people, and was much enjoyed by them; but I did not +appreciate it so highly. + +During the remainder of my leave of absence, my time was spent in +visiting friends in Georgetown and Cincinnati, and occasionally other +towns in that part of the State. + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ARMY LIFE--CAUSES OF THE MEXICAN WAR--CAMP SALUBRITY. + +On the 30th of September I reported for duty at Jefferson Barracks, St. +Louis, with the 4th United States infantry. It was the largest military +post in the country at that time, being garrisoned by sixteen companies +of infantry, eight of the 3d regiment, the remainder of the 4th. +Colonel Steven Kearney, one of the ablest officers of the day, commanded +the post, and under him discipline was kept at a high standard, but +without vexatious rules or regulations. Every drill and roll-call had +to be attended, but in the intervals officers were permitted to enjoy +themselves, leaving the garrison, and going where they pleased, without +making written application to state where they were going for how long, +etc., so that they were back for their next duty. It did seem to me, in +my early army days, that too many of the older officers, when they came +to command posts, made it a study to think what orders they could +publish to annoy their subordinates and render them uncomfortable. I +noticed, however, a few years later, when the Mexican war broke out, +that most of this class of officers discovered they were possessed of +disabilities which entirely incapacitated them for active field service. +They had the moral courage to proclaim it, too. They were right; but +they did not always give their disease the right name. + +At West Point I had a class-mate--in the last year of our studies he was +room-mate also--F. T. Dent, whose family resided some five miles west of +Jefferson Barracks. Two of his unmarried brothers were living at home +at that time, and as I had taken with me from Ohio, my horse, saddle and +bridle, I soon found my way out to White Haven, the name of the Dent +estate. As I found the family congenial my visits became frequent. +There were at home, besides the young men, two daughters, one a school +miss of fifteen, the other a girl of eight or nine. There was still an +older daughter of seventeen, who had been spending several years at +boarding-school in St. Louis, but who, though through school, had not +yet returned home. She was spending the winter in the city with +connections, the family of Colonel John O'Fallon, well known in St. +Louis. In February she returned to her country home. After that I do +not know but my visits became more frequent; they certainly did become +more enjoyable. We would often take walks, or go on horseback to visit +the neighbors, until I became quite well acquainted in that vicinity. +Sometimes one of the brothers would accompany us, sometimes one of the +younger sisters. If the 4th infantry had remained at Jefferson Barracks +it is possible, even probable, that this life might have continued for +some years without my finding out that there was anything serious the +matter with me; but in the following May a circumstance occurred which +developed my sentiment so palpably that there was no mistaking it. + +The annexation of Texas was at this time the subject of violent +discussion in Congress, in the press, and by individuals. The +administration of President Tyler, then in power, was making the most +strenuous efforts to effect the annexation, which was, indeed, the great +and absorbing question of the day. During these discussions the greater +part of the single rifle regiment in the army--the 2d dragoons, which +had been dismounted a year or two before, and designated "Dismounted +Rifles"--was stationed at Fort Jessup, Louisiana, some twenty-five miles +east of the Texas line, to observe the frontier. About the 1st of May +the 3d infantry was ordered from Jefferson Barracks to Louisiana, to go +into camp in the neighborhood of Fort Jessup, and there await further +orders. The troops were embarked on steamers and were on their way down +the Mississippi within a few days after the receipt of this order. +About the time they started I obtained a leave of absence for twenty +days to go to Ohio to visit my parents. I was obliged to go to St. +Louis to take a steamer for Louisville or Cincinnati, or the first +steamer going up the Ohio River to any point. Before I left St. Louis +orders were received at Jefferson Barracks for the 4th infantry to +follow the 3d. A messenger was sent after me to stop my leaving; but +before he could reach me I was off, totally ignorant of these events. A +day or two after my arrival at Bethel I received a letter from a +classmate and fellow lieutenant in the 4th, informing me of the +circumstances related above, and advising me not to open any letter post +marked St. Louis or Jefferson Barracks, until the expiration of my +leave, and saying that he would pack up my things and take them along +for me. His advice was not necessary, for no other letter was sent to +me. I now discovered that I was exceedingly anxious to get back to +Jefferson Barracks, and I understood the reason without explanation from +any one. My leave of absence required me to report for duty, at +Jefferson Barracks, at the end of twenty days. I knew my regiment had +gone up the Red River, but I was not disposed to break the letter of my +leave; besides, if I had proceeded to Louisiana direct, I could not have +reached there until after the expiration of my leave. Accordingly, at +the end of the twenty days, I reported for duty to Lieutenant Ewell, +commanding at Jefferson Barracks, handing him at the same time my leave +of absence. After noticing the phraseology of the order--leaves of +absence were generally worded, "at the end of which time he will report +for duty with his proper command"--he said he would give me an order to +join my regiment in Louisiana. I then asked for a few days' leave +before starting, which he readily granted. This was the same Ewell who +acquired considerable reputation as a Confederate general during the +rebellion. He was a man much esteemed, and deservedly so, in the old +army, and proved himself a gallant and efficient officer in two wars +--both in my estimation unholy. + +I immediately procured a horse and started for the country, taking no +baggage with me, of course. There is an insignificant creek--the +Gravois--between Jefferson Barracks and the place to which I was going, +and at that day there was not a bridge over it from its source to its +mouth. There is not water enough in the creek at ordinary stages to run +a coffee mill, and at low water there is none running whatever. On this +occasion it had been raining heavily, and, when the creek was reached, I +found the banks full to overflowing, and the current rapid. I looked at +it a moment to consider what to do. One of my superstitions had always +been when I started to go any where, or to do anything, not to turn +back, or stop until the thing intended was accomplished. I have +frequently started to go to places where I had never been and to which I +did not know the way, depending upon making inquiries on the road, and +if I got past the place without knowing it, instead of turning back, I +would go on until a road was found turning in the right direction, take +that, and come in by the other side. So I struck into the stream, and +in an instant the horse was swimming and I being carried down by the +current. I headed the horse towards the other bank and soon reached it, +wet through and without other clothes on that side of the stream. I +went on, however, to my destination and borrowed a dry suit from my +--future--brother-in-law. We were not of the same size, but the clothes +answered every purpose until I got more of my own. + +Before I returned I mustered up courage to make known, in the most +awkward manner imaginable, the discovery I had made on learning that the +4th infantry had been ordered away from Jefferson Barracks. The young +lady afterwards admitted that she too, although until then she had never +looked upon me other than as a visitor whose company was agreeable to +her, had experienced a depression of spirits she could not account for +when the regiment left. Before separating it was definitely understood +that at a convenient time we would join our fortunes, and not let the +removal of a regiment trouble us. This was in May, 1844. It was the +22d of August, 1848, before the fulfilment of this agreement. My duties +kept me on the frontier of Louisiana with the Army of Observation during +the pendency of Annexation; and afterwards I was absent through the war +with Mexico, provoked by the action of the army, if not by the +annexation itself. During that time there was a constant correspondence +between Miss Dent and myself, but we only met once in the period of four +years and three months. In May, 1845, I procured a leave for twenty +days, visited St. Louis, and obtained the consent of the parents for the +union, which had not been asked for before. + +As already stated, it was never my intention to remain in the army long, +but to prepare myself for a professorship in some college. Accordingly, +soon after I was settled at Jefferson Barracks, I wrote a letter to +Professor Church--Professor of Mathematics at West Point--requesting him +to ask my designation as his assistant, when next a detail had to be +made. Assistant professors at West Point are all officers of the army, +supposed to be selected for their special fitness for the particular +branch of study they are assigned to teach. The answer from Professor +Church was entirely satisfactory, and no doubt I should have been +detailed a year or two later but for the Mexican War coming on. +Accordingly I laid out for myself a course of studies to be pursued in +garrison, with regularity, if not persistency. I reviewed my West Point +course of mathematics during the seven months at Jefferson Barracks, and +read many valuable historical works, besides an occasional novel. To +help my memory I kept a book in which I would write up, from time to +time, my recollections of all I had read since last posting it. When +the regiment was ordered away, I being absent at the time, my effects +were packed up by Lieutenant Haslett, of the 4th infantry, and taken +along. I never saw my journal after, nor did I ever keep another, +except for a portion of the time while travelling abroad. Often since a +fear has crossed my mind lest that book might turn up yet, and fall into +the hands of some malicious person who would publish it. I know its +appearance would cause me as much heart-burning as my youthful +horse-trade, or the later rebuke for wearing uniform clothes. + +The 3d infantry had selected camping grounds on the reservation at Fort +Jessup, about midway between the Red River and the Sabine. Our orders +required us to go into camp in the same neighborhood, and await further +instructions. Those authorized to do so selected a place in the pine +woods, between the old town of Natchitoches and Grand Ecore, about three +miles from each, and on high ground back from the river. The place was +given the name of Camp Salubrity, and proved entitled to it. The camp +was on a high, sandy, pine ridge, with spring branches in the valley, in +front and rear. The springs furnished an abundance of cool, pure water, +and the ridge was above the flight of mosquitoes, which abound in that +region in great multitudes and of great voracity. In the valley they +swarmed in myriads, but never came to the summit of the ridge. The +regiment occupied this camp six months before the first death occurred, +and that was caused by an accident. + +There was no intimation given that the removal of the 3d and 4th +regiments of infantry to the western border of Louisiana was occasioned +in any way by the prospective annexation of Texas, but it was generally +understood that such was the case. Ostensibly we were intended to +prevent filibustering into Texas, but really as a menace to Mexico in +case she appeared to contemplate war. Generally the officers of the +army were indifferent whether the annexation was consummated or not; but +not so all of them. For myself, I was bitterly opposed to the measure, +and to this day regard the war, which resulted, as one of the most +unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation. It was an +instance of a republic following the bad example of European monarchies, +in not considering justice in their desire to acquire additional +territory. Texas was originally a state belonging to the republic of +Mexico. It extended from the Sabine River on the east to the Rio Grande +on the west, and from the Gulf of Mexico on the south and east to the +territory of the United States and New Mexico--another Mexican state at +that time--on the north and west. An empire in territory, it had but a +very sparse population, until settled by Americans who had received +authority from Mexico to colonize. These colonists paid very little +attention to the supreme government, and introduced slavery into the +state almost from the start, though the constitution of Mexico did not, +nor does it now, sanction that institution. Soon they set up an +independent government of their own, and war existed, between Texas and +Mexico, in name from that time until 1836, when active hostilities very +nearly ceased upon the capture of Santa Anna, the Mexican President. +Before long, however, the same people--who with permission of Mexico had +colonized Texas, and afterwards set up slavery there, and then seceded +as soon as they felt strong enough to do so--offered themselves and the +State to the United States, and in 1845 their offer was accepted. The +occupation, separation and annexation were, from the inception of the +movement to its final consummation, a conspiracy to acquire territory +out of which slave states might be formed for the American Union. + +Even if the annexation itself could be justified, the manner in which +the subsequent war was forced upon Mexico cannot. The fact is, +annexationists wanted more territory than they could possibly lay any +claim to, as part of the new acquisition. Texas, as an independent +State, never had exercised jurisdiction over the territory between the +Nueces River and the Rio Grande. Mexico had never recognized the +independence of Texas, and maintained that, even if independent, the +State had no claim south of the Nueces. I am aware that a treaty, made +by the Texans with Santa Anna while he was under duress, ceded all the +territory between the Nueces and the Rio Grande--, but he was a prisoner +of war when the treaty was made, and his life was in jeopardy. He knew, +too, that he deserved execution at the hands of the Texans, if they +should ever capture him. The Texans, if they had taken his life, would +have only followed the example set by Santa Anna himself a few years +before, when he executed the entire garrison of the Alamo and the +villagers of Goliad. + +In taking military possession of Texas after annexation, the army of +occupation, under General Taylor, was directed to occupy the disputed +territory. The army did not stop at the Nueces and offer to negotiate +for a settlement of the boundary question, but went beyond, apparently +in order to force Mexico to initiate war. It is to the credit of the +American nation, however, that after conquering Mexico, and while +practically holding the country in our possession, so that we could have +retained the whole of it, or made any terms we chose, we paid a round +sum for the additional territory taken; more than it was worth, or was +likely to be, to Mexico. To us it was an empire and of incalculable +value; but it might have been obtained by other means. The Southern +rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like +individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our +punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times. + +The 4th infantry went into camp at Salubrity in the month of May, 1844, +with instructions, as I have said, to await further orders. At first, +officers and men occupied ordinary tents. As the summer heat increased +these were covered by sheds to break the rays of the sun. The summer +was whiled away in social enjoyments among the officers, in visiting +those stationed at, and near, Fort Jessup, twenty-five miles away, +visiting the planters on the Red River, and the citizens of Natchitoches +and Grand Ecore. There was much pleasant intercourse between the +inhabitants and the officers of the army. I retain very agreeable +recollections of my stay at Camp Salubrity, and of the acquaintances +made there, and no doubt my feeling is shared by the few officers living +who were there at the time. I can call to mind only two officers of the +4th infantry, besides myself, who were at Camp Salubrity with the +regiment, who are now alive. + +With a war in prospect, and belonging to a regiment that had an unusual +number of officers detailed on special duty away from the regiment, my +hopes of being ordered to West Point as instructor vanished. At the +time of which I now write, officers in the quartermaster's, commissary's +and adjutant--general's departments were appointed from the line of the +army, and did not vacate their regimental commissions until their +regimental and staff commissions were for the same grades. Generally +lieutenants were appointed to captaincies to fill vacancies in the staff +corps. If they should reach a captaincy in the line before they arrived +at a majority in the staff, they would elect which commission they would +retain. In the 4th infantry, in 1844, at least six line officers were +on duty in the staff, and therefore permanently detached from the +regiment. Under these circumstances I gave up everything like a special +course of reading, and only read thereafter for my own amusement, and +not very much for that, until the war was over. I kept a horse and +rode, and staid out of doors most of the time by day, and entirely +recovered from the cough which I had carried from West Point, and from +all indications of consumption. I have often thought that my life was +saved, and my health restored, by exercise and exposure, enforced by an +administrative act, and a war, both of which I disapproved. + +As summer wore away, and cool days and colder nights came upon us, the +tents. We were occupying ceased to afford comfortable quarters; and +"further orders" not reaching us, we began to look about to remedy the +hardship. Men were put to work getting out timber to build huts, and in +a very short time all were comfortably housed--privates as well as +officers. The outlay by the government in accomplishing this was +nothing, or nearly nothing. The winter was spent more agreeably than +the summer had been. There were occasional parties given by the +planters along the "coast"--as the bottom lands on the Red River were +called. The climate was delightful. + +Near the close of the short session of Congress of 1844-5, the bill for +the annexation of Texas to the United States was passed. It reached +President Tyler on the 1st of March, 1845, and promptly received his +approval. When the news reached us we began to look again for "further +orders." They did not arrive promptly, and on the 1st of May following +I asked and obtained a leave of absence for twenty days, for the purpose +of visiting--St. Louis. The object of this visit has been before +stated. + +Early in July the long expected orders were received, but they only took +the regiment to New Orleans Barracks. We reached there before the +middle of the month, and again waited weeks for still further orders. +The yellow fever was raging in New Orleans during the time we remained +there, and the streets of the city had the appearance of a continuous +well-observed Sunday. I recollect but one occasion when this observance +seemed to be broken by the inhabitants. One morning about daylight I +happened to be awake, and, hearing the discharge of a rifle not far off, +I looked out to ascertain where the sound came from. I observed a +couple of clusters of men near by, and learned afterwards that "it was +nothing; only a couple of gentlemen deciding a difference of opinion +with rifles, at twenty paces." I do not remember if either was killed, +or even hurt, but no doubt the question of difference was settled +satisfactorily, and "honorably," in the estimation of the parties +engaged. I do not believe I ever would have the courage to fight a +duel. If any man should wrong me to the extent of my being willing to +kill him, I would not be willing to give him the choice of weapons with +which it should be done, and of the time, place and distance separating +us, when I executed him. If I should do another such a wrong as to +justify him in killing me, I would make any reasonable atonement within +my power, if convinced of the wrong done. I place my opposition to +duelling on higher grounds than here stated. No doubt a majority of the +duels fought have been for want of moral courage on the part of those +engaged to decline. + +At Camp Salubrity, and when we went to New Orleans Barracks, the 4th +infantry was commanded by Colonel Vose, then an old gentleman who had +not commanded on drill for a number of years. He was not a man to +discover infirmity in the presence of danger. It now appeared that war +was imminent, and he felt that it was his duty to brush up his tactics. +Accordingly, when we got settled down at our new post, he took command +of the regiment at a battalion drill. Only two or three evolutions had +been gone through when he dismissed the battalion, and, turning to go to +his own quarters, dropped dead. He had not been complaining of ill +health, but no doubt died of heart disease. He was a most estimable +man, of exemplary habits, and by no means the author of his own disease. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +CORPUS CHRISTI--MEXICAN SMUGGLING--SPANISH RULE IN MEXICO--SUPPLYING +TRANSPORTATION. + +Early in September the regiment left New Orleans for Corpus Christi, now +in Texas. Ocean steamers were not then common, and the passage was made +in sailing vessels. At that time there was not more than three feet of +water in the channel at the outlet of Corpus Christi Bay; the +debarkation, therefore, had to take place by small steamers, and at an +island in the channel called Shell Island, the ships anchoring some +miles out from shore. This made the work slow, and as the army was only +supplied with one or two steamers, it took a number of days to effect +the landing of a single regiment with its stores, camp and garrison +equipage, etc. There happened to be pleasant weather while this was +going on, but the land-swell was so great that when the ship and steamer +were on opposite sides of the same wave they would be at considerable +distance apart. The men and baggage were let down to a point higher +than the lower deck of the steamer, and when ship and steamer got into +the trough between the waves, and were close together, the load would be +drawn over the steamer and rapidly run down until it rested on the deck. + +After I had gone ashore, and had been on guard several days at Shell +Island, quite six miles from the ship, I had occasion for some reason or +other to return on board. While on the Suviah--I think that was the +name of our vessel--I heard a tremendous racket at the other end of the +ship, and much and excited sailor language, such as "damn your eyes," +etc. In a moment or two the captain, who was an excitable little man, +dying with consumption, and not weighing much over a hundred pounds, +came running out, carrying a sabre nearly as large and as heavy as he +was, and crying, that his men had mutinied. It was necessary to sustain +the captain without question, and in a few minutes all the sailors +charged with mutiny were in irons. I rather felt for a time a wish that +I had not gone aboard just then. As the men charged with mutiny +submitted to being placed in irons without resistance, I always doubted +if they knew that they had mutinied until they were told. + +By the time I was ready to leave the ship again I thought I had learned +enough of the working of the double and single pulley, by which +passengers were let down from the upper deck of the ship to the steamer +below, and determined to let myself down without assistance. Without +saying anything of my intentions to any one, I mounted the railing, and +taking hold of the centre rope, just below the upper block, I put one +foot on the hook below the lower block, and stepped off just as I did so +some one called out "hold on." It was too late. I tried to "hold on" +with all my might, but my heels went up, and my head went down so +rapidly that my hold broke, and I plunged head foremost into the water, +some twenty-five feet below, with such velocity that it seemed to me I +never would stop. When I came to the surface again, being a fair +swimmer, and not having lost my presence of mind, I swam around until a +bucket was let down for me, and I was drawn up without a scratch or +injury. I do not believe there was a man on board who sympathized with +me in the least when they found me uninjured. I rather enjoyed the joke +myself. The captain of the Suviah died of his disease a few months later, +and I believe before the mutineers were tried. I hope they got clear, +because, as before stated, I always thought the mutiny was all in the +brain of a very weak and sick man. + +After reaching shore, or Shell Island, the labor of getting to Corpus +Christi was slow and tedious. There was, if my memory serves me, but +one small steamer to transport troops and baggage when the 4th infantry +arrived. Others were procured later. The distance from Shell Island to +Corpus Christi was some sixteen or eighteen miles. The channel to the +bay was so shallow that the steamer, small as it was, had to be dragged +over the bottom when loaded. Not more than one trip a day could be +effected. Later this was remedied, by deepening the channel and +increasing the number of vessels suitable to its navigation. + +Corpus Christi is near the head of the bay of the same name, formed by +the entrance of the Nueces River into tide-water, and is on the west +bank of that bay. At the time of its first occupancy by United States +troops there was a small Mexican hamlet there, containing probably less +than one hundred souls. There was, in addition, a small American trading +post, at which goods were sold to Mexican smugglers. All goods were put +up in compact packages of about one hundred pounds each, suitable for +loading on pack mules. Two of these packages made a load for an +ordinary Mexican mule, and three for the larger ones. The bulk of the +trade was in leaf tobacco, and domestic cotton-cloths and calicoes. The +Mexicans had, before the arrival of the army, but little to offer in +exchange except silver. The trade in tobacco was enormous, considering +the population to be supplied. Almost every Mexican above the age of +ten years, and many much younger, smoked the cigarette. Nearly every +Mexican carried a pouch of leaf tobacco, powdered by rolling in the +hands, and a roll of corn husks to make wrappers. The cigarettes were +made by the smokers as they used them. + +Up to the time of which I write, and for years afterwards--I think until +the administration of President Juarez--the cultivation, manufacture and +sale of tobacco constituted a government monopoly, and paid the bulk of +the revenue collected from internal sources. The price was enormously +high, and made successful smuggling very profitable. The difficulty of +obtaining tobacco is probably the reason why everybody, male and female, +used it at that time. I know from my own experience that when I was at +West Point, the fact that tobacco, in every form, was prohibited, and +the mere possession of the weed severely punished, made the majority of +the cadets, myself included, try to acquire the habit of using it. I +failed utterly at the time and for many years afterward; but the +majority accomplished the object of their youthful ambition. + +Under Spanish rule Mexico was prohibited from producing anything that +the mother-country could supply. This rule excluded the cultivation of +the grape, olive and many other articles to which the soil and climate +were well adapted. The country was governed for "revenue only;" and +tobacco, which cannot be raised in Spain, but is indigenous to Mexico, +offered a fine instrumentality for securing this prime object of +government. The native population had been in the habit of using "the +weed" from a period, back of any recorded history of this continent. +Bad habits--if not restrained by law or public opinion--spread more +rapidly and universally than good ones, and the Spanish colonists +adopted the use of tobacco almost as generally as the natives. Spain, +therefore, in order to secure the largest revenue from this source, +prohibited the cultivation, except in specified localities--and in these +places farmed out the privilege at a very high price. The tobacco when +raised could only be sold to the government, and the price to the +consumer was limited only by the avarice of the authorities, and the +capacity of the people to pay. + +All laws for the government of the country were enacted in Spain, and +the officers for their execution were appointed by the Crown, and sent +out to the New El Dorado. The Mexicans had been brought up ignorant of +how to legislate or how to rule. When they gained their independence, +after many years of war, it was the most natural thing in the world that +they should adopt as their own the laws then in existence. The only +change was, that Mexico became her own executor of the laws and the +recipient of the revenues. The tobacco tax, yielding so large a revenue +under the law as it stood, was one of the last, if not the very last, of +the obnoxious imposts to be repealed. Now, the citizens are allowed to +cultivate any crops the soil will yield. Tobacco is cheap, and every +quality can be produced. Its use is by no means so general as when I +first visited the country. + +Gradually the "Army of Occupation" assembled at Corpus Christi. When it +was all together it consisted of seven companies of the 2d regiment of +dragoons, four companies of light artillery, five regiments of infantry +--the 3d, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th--and one regiment of artillery acting as +infantry--not more than three thousand men in all. General Zachary +Taylor commanded the whole. There were troops enough in one body to +establish a drill and discipline sufficient to fit men and officers for +all they were capable of in case of battle. The rank and file were +composed of men who had enlisted in time of peace, to serve for seven +dollars a month, and were necessarily inferior as material to the +average volunteers enlisted later in the war expressly to fight, and +also to the volunteers in the war for the preservation of the Union. +The men engaged in the Mexican war were brave, and the officers of the +regular army, from highest to lowest, were educated in their profession. +A more efficient army for its number and armament, I do not believe ever +fought a battle than the one commanded by General Taylor in his first +two engagements on Mexican--or Texan soil. + +The presence of United States troops on the edge of the disputed +territory furthest from the Mexican settlements, was not sufficient to +provoke hostilities. We were sent to provoke a fight, but it was +essential that Mexico should commence it. It was very doubtful whether +Congress would declare war; but if Mexico should attack our troops, the +Executive could announce, "Whereas, war exists by the acts of, etc.," +and prosecute the contest with vigor. Once initiated there were but few +public men who would have the courage to oppose it. Experience proves +that the man who obstructs a war in which his nation is engaged, no +matter whether right or wrong, occupies no enviable place in life or +history. Better for him, individually, to advocate "war, pestilence, +and famine," than to act as obstructionist to a war already begun. The +history of the defeated rebel will be honorable hereafter, compared with +that of the Northern man who aided him by conspiring against his +government while protected by it. The most favorable posthumous history +the stay-at-home traitor can hope for is--oblivion. + +Mexico showing no willingness to come to the Nueces to drive the +invaders from her soil, it became necessary for the "invaders" to +approach to within a convenient distance to be struck. Accordingly, +preparations were begun for moving the army to the Rio Grande, to a +point near Matamoras. It was desirable to occupy a position near the +largest centre of population possible to reach, without absolutely +invading territory to which we set up no claim whatever. + +The distance from Corpus Christi to Matamoras is about one hundred and +fifty miles. The country does not abound in fresh water, and the length +of the marches had to be regulated by the distance between water +supplies. Besides the streams, there were occasional pools, filled +during the rainy season, some probably made by the traders, who +travelled constantly between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande, and some +by the buffalo. There was not at that time a single habitation, +cultivated field, or herd of domestic animals, between Corpus Christi +and Matamoras. It was necessary, therefore, to have a wagon train +sufficiently large to transport the camp and garrison equipage, +officers' baggage, rations for the army, and part rations of grain for +the artillery horses and all the animals taken from the north, where +they had been accustomed to having their forage furnished them. The +army was but indifferently supplied with transportation. Wagons and +harness could easily be supplied from the north but mules and horses +could not so readily be brought. The American traders and Mexican +smugglers came to the relief. Contracts were made for mules at from +eight to eleven dollars each. The smugglers furnished the animals, and +took their pay in goods of the description before mentioned. I doubt +whether the Mexicans received in value from the traders five dollars per +head for the animals they furnished, and still more, whether they paid +anything but their own time in procuring them. Such is trade; such is +war. The government paid in hard cash to the contractor the stipulated +price. + +Between the Rio Grande and the Nueces there was at that time a large +band of wild horses feeding; as numerous, probably, as the band of +buffalo roaming further north was before its rapid extermination +commenced. The Mexicans used to capture these in large numbers and +bring them into the American settlements and sell them. A picked animal +could be purchased at from eight to twelve dollars, but taken at +wholesale, they could be bought for thirty-six dollars a dozen. Some of +these were purchased for the army, and answered a most useful purpose. +The horses were generally very strong, formed much like the Norman +horse, and with very heavy manes and tails. A number of officers +supplied themselves with these, and they generally rendered as useful +service as the northern animal in fact they were much better when +grazing was the only means of supplying forage. + +There was no need for haste, and some months were consumed in the +necessary preparations for a move. In the meantime the army was engaged +in all the duties pertaining to the officer and the soldier. Twice, +that I remember, small trains were sent from Corpus Christi, with +cavalry escorts, to San Antonio and Austin, with paymasters and funds to +pay off small detachments of troops stationed at those places. General +Taylor encouraged officers to accompany these expeditions. I +accompanied one of them in December, 1845. The distance from Corpus +Christi to San Antonio was then computed at one hundred and fifty miles. +Now that roads exist it is probably less. From San Antonio to Austin we +computed the distance at one hundred and ten miles, and from the latter +place back to Corpus Christi at over two hundred miles. I know the +distance now from San Antonio to Austin is but little over eighty miles, +so that our computation was probably too high. + +There was not at the time an individual living between Corpus Christi +and San Antonio until within about thirty miles of the latter point, +where there were a few scattering Mexican settlements along the San +Antonio River. The people in at least one of these hamlets lived +underground for protection against the Indians. The country abounded in +game, such as deer and antelope, with abundance of wild turkeys along +the streams and where there were nut-bearing woods. On the Nueces, +about twenty-five miles up from Corpus Christi, were a few log cabins, +the remains of a town called San Patricio, but the inhabitants had all +been massacred by the Indians, or driven away. + +San Antonio was about equally divided in population between Americans +and Mexicans. From there to Austin there was not a single residence +except at New Braunfels, on the Guadalupe River. At that point was a +settlement of Germans who had only that year come into the State. At +all events they were living in small huts, about such as soldiers would +hastily construct for temporary occupation. From Austin to Corpus +Christi there was only a small settlement at Bastrop, with a few farms +along the Colorado River; but after leaving that, there were no +settlements except the home of one man, with one female slave, at the +old town of Goliad. Some of the houses were still standing. Goliad had +been quite a village for the period and region, but some years before +there had been a Mexican massacre, in which every inhabitant had been +killed or driven away. This, with the massacre of the prisoners in the +Alamo, San Antonio, about the same time, more than three hundred men in +all, furnished the strongest justification the Texans had for carrying +on the war with so much cruelty. In fact, from that time until the +Mexican war, the hostilities between Texans and Mexicans was so great +that neither was safe in the neighborhood of the other who might be in +superior numbers or possessed of superior arms. The man we found living +there seemed like an old friend; he had come from near Fort Jessup, +Louisiana, where the officers of the 3d and 4th infantry and the 2d +dragoons had known him and his family. He had emigrated in advance of +his family to build up a home for them. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +TRIP TO AUSTIN--PROMOTION TO FULL SECOND LIEUTENANT--ARMY OF OCCUPATION. + +When our party left Corpus Christi it was quite large, including the +cavalry escort, Paymaster, Major Dix, his clerk and the officers who, +like myself, were simply on leave; but all the officers on leave, except +Lieutenant Benjamin--afterwards killed in the valley of Mexico +--Lieutenant, now General, Augur, and myself, concluded to spend their +allotted time at San Antonio and return from there. We were all to be +back at Corpus Christi by the end of the month. The paymaster was +detained in Austin so long that, if we had waited for him, we would have +exceeded our leave. We concluded, therefore, to start back at once with +the animals we had, and having to rely principally on grass for their +food, it was a good six days' journey. We had to sleep on the prairie +every night, except at Goliad, and possibly one night on the Colorado, +without shelter and with only such food as we carried with us, and +prepared ourselves. The journey was hazardous on account of Indians, +and there were white men in Texas whom I would not have cared to meet in +a secluded place. Lieutenant Augur was taken seriously sick before we +reached Goliad and at a distance from any habitation. To add to the +complication, his horse--a mustang that had probably been captured from +the band of wild horses before alluded to, and of undoubted longevity at +his capture--gave out. It was absolutely necessary to get for ward to +Goliad to find a shelter for our sick companion. By dint of patience +and exceedingly slow movements, Goliad was at last reached, and a +shelter and bed secured for our patient. We remained over a day, hoping +that Augur might recover sufficiently to resume his travels. He did +not, however, and knowing that Major Dix would be along in a few days, +with his wagon-train, now empty, and escort, we arranged with our +Louisiana friend to take the best of care of the sick lieutenant until +thus relieved, and went on. + +I had never been a sportsman in my life; had scarcely ever gone in +search of game, and rarely seen any when looking for it. On this trip +there was no minute of time while travelling between San Patricio and +the settlements on the San Antonio River, from San Antonio to Austin, +and again from the Colorado River back to San Patricio, when deer or +antelope could not be seen in great numbers. Each officer carried a +shot-gun, and every evening, after going into camp, some would go out +and soon return with venison and wild turkeys enough for the entire +camp. I, however, never went out, and had no occasion to fire my gun; +except, being detained over a day at Goliad, Benjamin and I concluded to +go down to the creek--which was fringed with timber, much of it the +pecan--and bring back a few turkeys. We had scarcely reached the edge +of the timber when I heard the flutter of wings overhead, and in an +instant I saw two or three turkeys flying away. These were soon +followed by more, then more, and more, until a flock of twenty or thirty +had left from just over my head. All this time I stood watching the +turkeys to see where they flew--with my gun on my shoulder, and never +once thought of levelling it at the birds. When I had time to reflect +upon the matter, I came to the conclusion that as a sportsman I was a +failure, and went back to the house. Benjamin remained out, and got as +many turkeys as he wanted to carry back. + +After the second night at Goliad, Benjamin and I started to make the +remainder of the journey alone. We reached Corpus Christi just in time +to avoid "absence without leave." We met no one not even an Indian +--during the remainder of our journey, except at San Patricio. A new +settlement had been started there in our absence of three weeks, induced +possibly by the fact that there were houses already built, while the +proximity of troops gave protection against the Indians. On the evening +of the first day out from Goliad we heard the most unearthly howling of +wolves, directly in our front. The prairie grass was tall and we could +not see the beasts, but the sound indicated that they were near. To my +ear it appeared that there must have been enough of them to devour our +party, horses and all, at a single meal. The part of Ohio that I hailed +from was not thickly settled, but wolves had been driven out long before +I left. Benjamin was from Indiana, still less populated, where the wolf +yet roamed over the prairies. He understood the nature of the animal +and the capacity of a few to make believe there was an unlimited number +of them. He kept on towards the noise, unmoved. I followed in his +trail, lacking moral courage to turn back and join our sick companion. +I have no doubt that if Benjamin had proposed returning to Goliad, I +would not only have "seconded the motion" but have suggested that it +was very hard-hearted in us to leave Augur sick there in the first +place; but Benjamin did not propose turning back. When he did speak it +was to ask: "Grant, how many wolves do you think there are in that +pack?" Knowing where he was from, and suspecting that he thought I would +over-estimate the number, I determined to show my acquaintance with the +animal by putting the estimate below what possibly could be correct, and +answered: "Oh, about twenty," very indifferently. He smiled and rode +on. In a minute we were close upon them, and before they saw us. There +were just TWO of them. Seated upon their haunches, with their mouths +close together, they had made all the noise we had been hearing for the +past ten minutes. I have often thought of this incident since when I +have heard the noise of a few disappointed politicians who had deserted +their associates. There are always more of them before they are +counted. + +A week or two before leaving Corpus Christi on this trip, I had been +promoted from brevet second-lieutenant, 4th infantry, to full +second-lieutenant, 7th infantry. Frank Gardner,(*1) of the 7th, was +promoted to the 4th in the same orders. We immediately made application +to be transferred, so as to get back to our old regiments. On my +return, I found that our application had been approved at Washington. +While in the 7th infantry I was in the company of Captain Holmes, +afterwards a Lieutenant-general in the Confederate army. I never came in +contact with him in the war of the Rebellion, nor did he render any very +conspicuous service in his high rank. My transfer carried me to the +company of Captain McCall, who resigned from the army after the Mexican +war and settled in Philadelphia. He was prompt, however, to volunteer +when the rebellion broke out, and soon rose to the rank of major-general +in the Union army. I was not fortunate enough to meet him after he +resigned. In the old army he was esteemed very highly as a soldier and +gentleman. Our relations were always most pleasant. + +The preparations at Corpus Christi for an advance progressed as rapidly +in the absence of some twenty or more lieutenants as if we had been +there. The principal business consisted in securing mules, and getting +them broken to harness. The process was slow but amusing. The animals +sold to the government were all young and unbroken, even to the saddle, +and were quite as wild as the wild horses of the prairie. Usually a +number would be brought in by a company of Mexicans, partners in the +delivery. The mules were first driven into a stockade, called a corral, +inclosing an acre or more of ground. The Mexicans,--who were all +experienced in throwing the lasso,--would go into the corral on +horseback, with their lassos attached to the pommels of their saddles. +Soldiers detailed as teamsters and black smiths would also enter the +corral, the former with ropes to serve as halters, the latter with +branding irons and a fire to keep the irons heated. A lasso was then +thrown over the neck of a mule, when he would immediately go to the +length of his tether, first one end, then the other in the air. While +he was thus plunging and gyrating, another lasso would be thrown by +another Mexican, catching the animal by a fore-foot. This would bring +the mule to the ground, when he was seized and held by the teamsters +while the blacksmith put upon him, with hot irons, the initials "U. S." +Ropes were then put about the neck, with a slipnoose which would tighten +around the throat if pulled. With a man on each side holding these +ropes, the mule was released from his other bindings and allowed to +rise. With more or less difficulty he would be conducted to a picket +rope outside and fastened there. The delivery of that mule was then +complete. This process was gone through with every mule and wild horse +with the army of occupation. + +The method of breaking them was less cruel and much more amusing. It is +a well-known fact that where domestic animals are used for specific +purposes from generation to generation, the descendants are easily, as a +rule, subdued to the same uses. At that time in Northern Mexico the +mule, or his ancestors, the horse and the ass, was seldom used except +for the saddle or pack. At all events the Corpus Christi mule resisted +the new use to which he was being put. The treatment he was subjected +to in order to overcome his prejudices was summary and effective. + +The soldiers were principally foreigners who had enlisted in our large +cities, and, with the exception of a chance drayman among them, it is +not probable that any of the men who reported themselves as competent +teamsters had ever driven a mule-team in their lives, or indeed that +many had had any previous experience in driving any animal whatever to +harness. Numbers together can accomplish what twice their number acting +individually could not perform. Five mules were allotted to each wagon. +A teamster would select at the picket rope five animals of nearly the +same color and general appearance for his team. With a full corps of +assistants, other teamsters, he would then proceed to get his mules +together. In two's the men would approach each animal selected, +avoiding as far as possible its heels. Two ropes would be put about the +neck of each animal, with a slip noose, so that he could be choked if +too unruly. They were then led out, harnessed by force and hitched to +the wagon in the position they had to keep ever after. Two men remained +on either side of the leader, with the lassos about its neck, and one +man retained the same restraining influence over each of the others. +All being ready, the hold would be slackened and the team started. The +first motion was generally five mules in the air at one time, backs +bowed, hind feet extended to the rear. After repeating this movement a +few times the leaders would start to run. This would bring the +breeching tight against the mules at the wheels, which these last seemed +to regard as a most unwarrantable attempt at coercion and would resist +by taking a seat, sometimes going so far as to lie down. In time all +were broken in to do their duty submissively if not cheerfully, but +there never was a time during the war when it was safe to let a Mexican +mule get entirely loose. Their drivers were all teamsters by the time +they got through. + +I recollect one case of a mule that had worked in a team under the +saddle, not only for some time at Corpus Christi, where he was broken, +but all the way to the point opposite Matamoras, then to Camargo, where +he got loose from his fastenings during the night. He did not run away +at first, but staid in the neighborhood for a day or two, coming up +sometimes to the feed trough even; but on the approach of the teamster +he always got out of the way. At last, growing tired of the constant +effort to catch him, he disappeared altogether. Nothing short of a +Mexican with his lasso could have caught him. Regulations would not +have warranted the expenditure of a dollar in hiring a man with a lasso +to catch that mule; but they did allow the expenditure "of the mule," on +a certificate that he had run away without any fault of the +quartermaster on whose returns he was borne, and also the purchase of +another to take his place. I am a competent witness, for I was +regimental quartermaster at the time. + +While at Corpus Christi all the officers who had a fancy for riding kept +horses. The animals cost but little in the first instance, and when +picketed they would get their living without any cost. I had three not +long before the army moved, but a sad accident bereft me of them all at +one time. A colored boy who gave them all the attention they got +--besides looking after my tent and that of a class-mate and +fellow-lieutenant and cooking for us, all for about eight dollars per +month, was riding one to water and leading the other two. The led +horses pulled him from his seat and all three ran away. They never were +heard of afterwards. Shortly after that some one told Captain Bliss, +General Taylor's Adjutant-General, of my misfortune. "Yes; I heard +Grant lost five or six dollars' worth of horses the other day," he +replied. That was a slander; they were broken to the saddle when I got +them and cost nearly twenty dollars. I never suspected the colored boy +of malicious intent in letting them get away, because, if they had not +escaped, he could have had one of them to ride on the long march then in +prospect. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +ADVANCE OF THE ARMY--CROSSING THE COLORADO--THE RIO GRANDE. + +At last the preparations were complete and orders were issued for the +advance to begin on the 8th of March. General Taylor had an army of not +more than three thousand men. One battery, the siege guns and all the +convalescent troops were sent on by water to Brazos Santiago, at the +mouth of the Rio Grande. A guard was left back at Corpus Christi to +look after public property and to take care of those who were too sick +to be removed. The remainder of the army, probably not more than twenty +five hundred men, was divided into three brigades, with the cavalry +independent. Colonel Twiggs, with seven companies of dragoons and a +battery of light artillery, moved on the 8th. He was followed by the +three infantry brigades, with a day's interval between the commands. +Thus the rear brigade did not move from Corpus Christi until the 11th of +March. In view of the immense bodies of men moved on the same day over +narrow roads, through dense forests and across large streams, in our +late war, it seems strange now that a body of less than three thousand +men should have been broken into four columns, separated by a day's +march. + +General Taylor was opposed to anything like plundering by the troops, +and in this instance, I doubt not, he looked upon the enemy as the +aggrieved party and was not willing to injure them further than his +instructions from Washington demanded. His orders to the troops +enjoined scrupulous regard for the rights of all peaceable persons and +the payment of the highest price for all supplies taken for the use of +the army. + +All officers of foot regiments who had horses were permitted to ride +them on the march when it did not interfere with their military duties. +As already related, having lost my "five or six dollars' worth of +horses" but a short time before I determined not to get another, but to +make the journey on foot. My company commander, Captain McCall, had two +good American horses, of considerably more value in that country, where +native horses were cheap, than they were in the States. He used one +himself and wanted the other for his servant. He was quite anxious to +know whether I did not intend to get me another horse before the march +began. I told him No; I belonged to a foot regiment. I did not +understand the object of his solicitude at the time, but, when we were +about to start, he said: "There, Grant, is a horse for you." I found +that he could not bear the idea of his servant riding on a long march +while his lieutenant went a-foot. He had found a mustang, a three-year +old colt only recently captured, which had been purchased by one of the +colored servants with the regiment for the sum of three dollars. It was +probably the only horse at Corpus Christi that could have been purchased +just then for any reasonable price. Five dollars, sixty-six and +two-thirds per cent. advance, induced the owner to part with the +mustang. I was sorry to take him, because I really felt that, belonging +to a foot regiment, it was my duty to march with the men. But I saw the +Captain's earnestness in the matter, and accepted the horse for the +trip. The day we started was the first time the horse had ever been +under saddle. I had, however, but little difficulty in breaking him, +though for the first day there were frequent disagreements between us as +to which way we should go, and sometimes whether we should go at all. +At no time during the day could I choose exactly the part of the column +I would march with; but after that, I had as tractable a horse as any +with the army, and there was none that stood the trip better. He never +ate a mouthful of food on the journey except the grass he could pick +within the length of his picket rope. + +A few days out from Corpus Christi, the immense herd of wild horses that +ranged at that time between the Nueces and the Rio Grande was seen +directly in advance of the head of the column and but a few miles off. +It was the very band from which the horse I was riding had been captured +but a few weeks before. The column was halted for a rest, and a number +of officers, myself among them, rode out two or three miles to the right +to see the extent of the herd. The country was a rolling prairie, and, +from the higher ground, the vision was obstructed only by the earth's +curvature. As far as the eye could reach to our right, the herd +extended. To the left, it extended equally. There was no estimating the +number of animals in it; I have no idea that they could all have been +corralled in the State of Rhode Island, or Delaware, at one time. If +they had been, they would have been so thick that the pasturage would +have given out the first day. People who saw the Southern herd of +buffalo, fifteen or twenty years ago, can appreciate the size of the +Texas band of wild horses in 1846. + +At the point where the army struck the Little Colorado River, the stream +was quite wide and of sufficient depth for navigation. The water was +brackish and the banks were fringed with timber. Here the whole army +concentrated before attempting to cross. The army was not accompanied by +a pontoon train, and at that time the troops were not instructed in +bridge building. To add to the embarrassment of the situation, the army +was here, for the first time, threatened with opposition. Buglers, +concealed from our view by the brush on the opposite side, sounded the +"assembly," and other military calls. Like the wolves before spoken of, +they gave the impression that there was a large number of them and that, +if the troops were in proportion to the noise, they were sufficient to +devour General Taylor and his army. There were probably but few troops, +and those engaged principally in watching the movements of the +"invader." A few of our cavalry dashed in, and forded and swam the +stream, and all opposition was soon dispersed. I do not remember that a +single shot was fired. + +The troops waded the stream, which was up to their necks in the deepest +part. Teams were crossed by attaching a long rope to the end of the +wagon tongue passing it between the two swing mules and by the side of +the leader, hitching his bridle as well as the bridle of the mules in +rear to it, and carrying the end to men on the opposite shore. The bank +down to the water was steep on both sides. A rope long enough to cross +the river, therefore, was attached to the back axle of the wagon, and +men behind would hold the rope to prevent the wagon "beating" the mules +into the water. This latter rope also served the purpose of bringing +the end of the forward one back, to be used over again. The water was +deep enough for a short distance to swim the little Mexican mules which +the army was then using, but they, and the wagons, were pulled through +so fast by the men at the end of the rope ahead, that no time was left +them to show their obstinacy. In this manner the artillery and +transportation of the "army of occupation" crossed the Colorado River. + +About the middle of the month of March the advance of the army reached +the Rio Grande and went into camp near the banks of the river, opposite +the city of Matamoras and almost under the guns of a small fort at the +lower end of the town. There was not at that time a single habitation +from Corpus Christi until the Rio Grande was reached. + +The work of fortifying was commenced at once. The fort was laid out by +the engineers, but the work was done by the soldiers under the +supervision of their officers, the chief engineer retaining general +directions. The Mexicans now became so incensed at our near approach +that some of their troops crossed the river above us, and made it unsafe +for small bodies of men to go far beyond the limits of camp. They +captured two companies of dragoons, commanded by Captains Thornton and +Hardee. The latter figured as a general in the late war, on the +Confederate side, and was author of the tactics first used by both +armies. Lieutenant Theodric Porter, of the 4th infantry, was killed +while out with a small detachment; and Major Cross, the assistant +quartermaster-general, had also been killed not far from camp. + +There was no base of supplies nearer than Point Isabel, on the coast, +north of the mouth of the Rio Grande and twenty-five miles away. The +enemy, if the Mexicans could be called such at this time when no war had +been declared, hovered about in such numbers that it was not safe to +send a wagon train after supplies with any escort that could be spared. +I have already said that General Taylor's whole command on the Rio +Grande numbered less than three thousand men. He had, however, a few +more troops at Point Isabel or Brazos Santiago. The supplies brought +from Corpus Christi in wagons were running short. Work was therefore +pushed with great vigor on the defences, to enable the minimum number of +troops to hold the fort. All the men who could be employed, were kept +at work from early dawn until darkness closed the labors of the day. +With all this the fort was not completed until the supplies grew so +short that further delay in obtaining more could not be thought of. By +the latter part of April the work was in a partially defensible +condition, and the 7th infantry, Major Jacob Brown commanding, was +marched in to garrison it, with some few pieces of artillery. All the +supplies on hand, with the exception of enough to carry the rest of the +army to Point Isabel, were left with the garrison, and the march was +commenced with the remainder of the command, every wagon being taken +with the army. Early on the second day after starting the force reached +its destination, without opposition from the Mexicans. There was some +delay in getting supplies ashore from vessels at anchor in the open +roadstead. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE MEXICAN WAR--THE BATTLE OF PALO ALTO--THE BATTLE OF RESACA DE LA +PALMA--ARMY OF INVASION--GENERAL TAYLOR--MOVEMENT ON CAMARGO. + +While General Taylor was away with the bulk of his army, the little +garrison up the river was besieged. As we lay in our tents upon the +sea-shore, the artillery at the fort on the Rio Grande could be +distinctly heard. + +The war had begun. + +There were no possible means of obtaining news from the garrison, and +information from outside could not be otherwise than unfavorable. What +General Taylor's feelings were during this suspense I do not know; but +for myself, a young second-lieutenant who had never heard a hostile gun +before, I felt sorry that I had enlisted. A great many men, when they +smell battle afar off, chafe to get into the fray. When they say so +themselves they generally fail to convince their hearers that they are +as anxious as they would like to make believe, and as they approach +danger they become more subdued. This rule is not universal, for I have +known a few men who were always aching for a fight when there was no +enemy near, who were as good as their word when the battle did come. +But the number of such men is small. + +On the 7th of May the wagons were all loaded and General Taylor started +on his return, with his army reinforced at Point Isabel, but still less +than three thousand strong, to relieve the garrison on the Rio Grande. +The road from Point Isabel to Matamoras is over an open, rolling, +treeless prairie, until the timber that borders the bank of the Rio +Grande is reached. This river, like the Mississippi, flows through a +rich alluvial valley in the most meandering manner, running towards all +points of the compass at times within a few miles. Formerly the river +ran by Resaca de la Palma, some four or five miles east of the present +channel. The old bed of the river at Resaca had become filled at +places, leaving a succession of little lakes. The timber that had +formerly grown upon both banks, and for a considerable distance out, was +still standing. This timber was struck six or eight miles out from the +besieged garrison, at a point known as Palo Alto--"Tall trees" or +"woods." + +Early in the forenoon of the 8th of May as Palo Alto was approached, an +army, certainly outnumbering our little force, was seen, drawn up in +line of battle just in front of the timber. Their bayonets and +spearheads glistened in the sunlight formidably. The force was composed +largely of cavalry armed with lances. Where we were the grass was tall, +reaching nearly to the shoulders of the men, very stiff, and each stock +was pointed at the top, and hard and almost as sharp as a +darning-needle. General Taylor halted his army before the head of column +came in range of the artillery of the Mexicans. He then formed a line +of battle, facing the enemy. His artillery, two batteries and two +eighteen-pounder iron guns, drawn by oxen, were placed in position at +intervals along the line. A battalion was thrown to the rear, commanded +by Lieutenant-Colonel Childs, of the artillery, as reserves. These +preparations completed, orders were given for a platoon of each company +to stack arms and go to a stream off to the right of the command, to +fill their canteens and also those of the rest of their respective +companies. When the men were all back in their places in line, the +command to advance was given. As I looked down that long line of about +three thousand armed men, advancing towards a larger force also armed, +I thought what a fearful responsibility General Taylor must feel, +commanding such a host and so far away from friends. The Mexicans +immediately opened fire upon us, first with artillery and then with +infantry. At first their shots did not reach us, and the advance was +continued. As we got nearer, the cannon balls commenced going through +the ranks. They hurt no one, however, during this advance, because they +would strike the ground long before they reached our line, and +ricochetted through the tall grass so slowly that the men would see them +and open ranks and let them pass. When we got to a point where the +artillery could be used with effect, a halt was called, and the battle +opened on both sides. + +The infantry under General Taylor was armed with flint-lock muskets, and +paper cartridges charged with powder, buck-shot and ball. At the +distance of a few hundred yards a man might fire at you all day without +your finding it out. The artillery was generally six-pounder brass guns +throwing only solid shot; but General Taylor had with him three or four +twelve-pounder howitzers throwing shell, besides his eighteen-pounders +before spoken of, that had a long range. This made a powerful armament. +The Mexicans were armed about as we were so far as their infantry was +concerned, but their artillery only fired solid shot. We had greatly +the advantage in this arm. + +The artillery was advanced a rod or two in front of the line, and opened +fire. The infantry stood at order arms as spectators, watching the +effect of our shots upon the enemy, and watching his shots so as to step +out of their way. It could be seen that the eighteen-pounders and the +howitzers did a great deal of execution. On our side there was little +or no loss while we occupied this position. During the battle Major +Ringgold, an accomplished and brave artillery officer, was mortally +wounded, and Lieutenant Luther, also of the artillery, was struck. +During the day several advances were made, and just at dusk it became +evident that the Mexicans were falling back. We again advanced, and +occupied at the close of the battle substantially the ground held by the +enemy at the beginning. In this last move there was a brisk fire upon +our troops, and some execution was done. One cannon-ball passed through +our ranks, not far from me. It took off the head of an enlisted man, +and the under jaw of Captain Page of my regiment, while the splinters +from the musket of the killed soldier, and his brains and bones, knocked +down two or three others, including one officer, Lieutenant Wallen, +--hurting them more or less. Our casualties for the day were nine killed +and forty-seven wounded. + +At the break of day on the 9th, the army under Taylor was ready to renew +the battle; but an advance showed that the enemy had entirely left our +front during the night. The chaparral before us was impenetrable except +where there were roads or trails, with occasionally clear or bare spots +of small dimensions. A body of men penetrating it might easily be +ambushed. It was better to have a few men caught in this way than the +whole army, yet it was necessary that the garrison at the river should +be relieved. To get to them the chaparral had to be passed. Thus I +assume General Taylor reasoned. He halted the army not far in advance +of the ground occupied by the Mexicans the day before, and selected +Captain C. F. Smith, of the artillery, and Captain McCall, of my +company, to take one hundred and fifty picked men each and find where +the enemy had gone. This left me in command of the company, an honor +and responsibility I thought very great. + +Smith and McCall found no obstruction in the way of their advance until +they came up to the succession of ponds, before describes, at Resaca. +The Mexicans had passed them and formed their lines on the opposite +bank. This position they had strengthened a little by throwing up dead +trees and brush in their front, and by placing artillery to cover the +approaches and open places. Smith and McCall deployed on each side of +the road as well as they could, and engaged the enemy at long range. +Word was sent back, and the advance of the whole army was at once +commenced. As we came up we were deployed in like manner. I was with +the right wing, and led my company through the thicket wherever a +penetrable place could be found, taking advantage of any clear spot that +would carry me towards the enemy. At last I got pretty close up without +knowing it. The balls commenced to whistle very thick overhead, cutting +the limbs of the chaparral right and left. We could not see the enemy, +so I ordered my men to lie down, an order that did not have to be +enforced. We kept our position until it became evident that the enemy +were not firing at us, and then withdrew to find better ground to +advance upon. + +By this time some progress had been made on our left. A section of +artillery had been captured by the cavalry, and some prisoners had been +taken. The Mexicans were giving way all along the line, and many of +them had, no doubt, left early. I at last found a clear space +separating two ponds. There seemed to be a few men in front and I +charged upon them with my company. + +There was no resistance, and we captured a Mexican colonel, who had been +wounded, and a few men. Just as I was sending them to the rear with a +guard of two or three men, a private came from the front bringing back +one of our officers, who had been badly wounded in advance of where I +was. The ground had been charged over before. My exploit was equal to +that of the soldier who boasted that he had cut off the leg of one of +the enemy. When asked why he did not cut off his head, he replied: +"Some one had done that before." This left no doubt in my mind but that +the battle of Resaca de la Palma would have been won, just as it was, if +I had not been there. There was no further resistance. The evening of +the 9th the army was encamped on its old ground near the Fort, and the +garrison was relieved. The siege had lasted a number of days, but the +casualties were few in number. Major Jacob Brown, of the 7th infantry, +the commanding officer, had been killed, and in his honor the fort was +named. Since then a town of considerable importance has sprung up on the +ground occupied by the fort and troops, which has also taken his name. + +The battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma seemed to us engaged, as +pretty important affairs; but we had only a faint conception of their +magnitude until they were fought over in the North by the Press and the +reports came back to us. At the same time, or about the same time, we +learned that war existed between the United States and Mexico, by the +acts of the latter country. On learning this fact General Taylor +transferred our camps to the south or west bank of the river, and +Matamoras was occupied. We then became the "Army of Invasion." + +Up to this time Taylor had none but regular troops in his command; but +now that invasion had already taken place, volunteers for one year +commenced arriving. The army remained at Matamoras until sufficiently +reinforced to warrant a movement into the interior. General Taylor was +not an officer to trouble the administration much with his demands, but +was inclined to do the best he could with the means given him. He felt +his responsibility as going no further. If he had thought that he was +sent to perform an impossibility with the means given him, he would +probably have informed the authorities of his opinion and left them to +determine what should be done. If the judgment was against him he would +have gone on and done the best he could with the means at hand without +parading his grievance before the public. No soldier could face either +danger or responsibility more calmly than he. These are qualities more +rarely found than genius or physical courage. + +General Taylor never made any great show or parade, either of uniform or +retinue. In dress he was possibly too plain, rarely wearing anything in +the field to indicate his rank, or even that he was an officer; but he +was known to every soldier in his army, and was respected by all. I can +call to mind only one instance when I saw him in uniform, and one other +when I heard of his wearing it, On both occasions he was unfortunate. +The first was at Corpus Christi. He had concluded to review his army +before starting on the march and gave orders accordingly. Colonel +Twiggs was then second in rank with the army, and to him was given the +command of the review. Colonel and Brevet Brigadier-General Worth, a +far different soldier from Taylor in the use of the uniform, was next to +Twiggs in rank, and claimed superiority by virtue of his brevet rank +when the accidents of service threw them where one or the other had to +command. Worth declined to attend the review as subordinate to Twiggs +until the question was settled by the highest authority. This broke up +the review, and the question was referred to Washington for final +decision. + +General Taylor was himself only a colonel, in real rank, at that time, +and a brigadier-general by brevet. He was assigned to duty, however, by +the President, with the rank which his brevet gave him. Worth was not +so assigned, but by virtue of commanding a division he must, under the +army regulations of that day, have drawn the pay of his brevet rank. +The question was submitted to Washington, and no response was received +until after the army had reached the Rio Grande. It was decided against +General Worth, who at once tendered his resignation and left the army, +going north, no doubt, by the same vessel that carried it. This kept +him out of the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. Either the +resignation was not accepted, or General Worth withdrew it before action +had been taken. At all events he returned to the army in time to +command his division in the battle of Monterey, and served with it to +the end of the war. + +The second occasion on which General Taylor was said to have donned his +uniform, was in order to receive a visit from the Flag Officer of the +naval squadron off the mouth of the Rio Grande. While the army was on +that river the Flag Officer sent word that he would call on the General +to pay his respects on a certain day. General Taylor, knowing that +naval officers habitually wore all the uniform the "law allowed" on all +occasions of ceremony, thought it would be only civil to receive his +guest in the same style. His uniform was therefore got out, brushed up, +and put on, in advance of the visit. The Flag Officer, knowing General +Taylor's aversion to the wearing of the uniform, and feeling that it +would be regarded as a compliment should he meet him in civilian's +dress, left off his uniform for this occasion. The meeting was said to +have been embarrassing to both, and the conversation was principally +apologetic. + +The time was whiled away pleasantly enough at Matamoras, while we were +waiting for volunteers. It is probable that all the most important +people of the territory occupied by our army left their homes before we +got there, but with those remaining the best of relations apparently +existed. It was the policy of the Commanding General to allow no +pillaging, no taking of private property for public or individual use +without satisfactory compensation, so that a better market was afforded +than the people had ever known before. + +Among the troops that joined us at Matamoras was an Ohio regiment, of +which Thomas L. Hamer, the Member of Congress who had given me my +appointment to West Point, was major. He told me then that he could +have had the colonelcy, but that as he knew he was to be appointed a +brigadier-general, he preferred at first to take the lower grade. I +have said before that Hamer was one of the ablest men Ohio ever +produced. At that time he was in the prime of life, being less than +fifty years of age, and possessed an admirable physique, promising long +life. But he was taken sick before Monterey, and died within a few +days. I have always believed that had his life been spared, he would +have been President of the United States during the term filled by +President Pierce. Had Hamer filled that office his partiality for me +was such, there is but little doubt I should have been appointed to one +of the staff corps of the army--the Pay Department probably--and would +therefore now be preparing to retire. Neither of these speculations is +unreasonable, and they are mentioned to show how little men control +their own destiny. + +Reinforcements having arrived, in the month of August the movement +commenced from Matamoras to Camargo, the head of navigation on the Rio +Grande. The line of the Rio Grande was all that was necessary to hold, +unless it was intended to invade Mexico from the North. In that case +the most natural route to take was the one which General Taylor +selected. It entered a pass in the Sierra Madre Mountains, at Monterey, +through which the main road runs to the City of Mexico. Monterey itself +was a good point to hold, even if the line of the Rio Grande covered all +the territory we desired to occupy at that time. It is built on a plain +two thousand feet above tide water, where the air is bracing and the +situation healthy. + +On the 19th of August the army started for Monterey, leaving a small +garrison at Matamoras. The troops, with the exception of the artillery, +cavalry, and the brigade to which I belonged, were moved up the river to +Camargo on steamers. As there were but two or three of these, the boats +had to make a number of trips before the last of the troops were +up. Those who marched did so by the south side of the river. +Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, of the 4th infantry, was the brigade +commander, and on this occasion commanded the entire marching force. +One day out convinced him that marching by day in that latitude, in the +month of August, was not a beneficial sanitary measure, particularly for +Northern men. The order of marching was changed and night marches were +substituted with the best results. + +When Camargo was reached, we found a city of tents outside the Mexican +hamlet. I was detailed to act as quartermaster and commissary to the +regiment. The teams that had proven abundantly sufficient to transport +all supplies from Corpus Christi to the Rio Grande over the level +prairies of Texas, were entirely inadequate to the needs of the +reinforced army in a mountainous country. To obviate the deficiency, +pack mules were hired, with Mexicans to pack and drive them. I had +charge of the few wagons allotted to the 4th infantry and of the pack +train to supplement them. There were not men enough in the army to +manage that train without the help of Mexicans who had learned how. As +it was the difficulty was great enough. The troops would take up their +march at an early hour each day. After they had started, the tents and +cooking utensils had to be made into packages, so that they could be +lashed to the backs of the mules. Sheet-iron kettles, tent-poles and +mess chests were inconvenient articles to transport in that way. It +took several hours to get ready to start each morning, and by the time +we were ready some of the mules first loaded would be tired of standing +so long with their loads on their backs. Sometimes one would start to +run, bowing his back and kicking up until he scattered his load; others +would lie down and try to disarrange their loads by attempting to get on +the top of them by rolling on them; others with tent-poles for part of +their loads would manage to run a tent-pole on one side of a sapling +while they would take the other. I am not aware of ever having used a +profane expletive in my life; but I would have the charity to excuse +those who may have done so, if they were in charge of a train of Mexican +pack mules at the time. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +ADVANCE ON MONTEREY--THE BLACK FORT--THE BATTLE OF MONTEREY--SURRENDER +OF THE CITY. + +The advance from Camargo was commenced on the 5th of September. The army +was divided into four columns, separated from each other by one day's +march. The advance reached Cerralvo in four days and halted for the +remainder of the troops to come up. By the 13th the rear-guard had +arrived, and the same day the advance resumed its march, followed as +before, a day separating the divisions. The forward division halted +again at Marin, twenty-four miles from Monterey. Both this place and +Cerralvo were nearly deserted, and men, women and children were seen +running and scattered over the hills as we approached; but when the +people returned they found all their abandoned property safe, which must +have given them a favorable opinion of Los Grengos--"the Yankees." From +Marin the movement was in mass. On the 19th General Taylor, with is +army, was encamped at Walnut Springs, within three miles of Monterey. + +The town is on a small stream coming out of the mountain-pass, and is +backed by a range of hills of moderate elevation. To the north, between +the city and Walnut Springs, stretches an extensive plain. On this +plain, and entirely outside of the last houses of the city, stood a +strong fort, enclosed on all sides, to which our army gave the name of +"Black Fort." Its guns commanded the approaches to the city to the full +extent of their range. There were two detached spurs of hills or +mountains to the north and northwest of the city, which were also +fortified. On one of these stood the Bishop's Palace. The road to +Saltillo leaves the upper or western end of the city under the fire of +the guns from these heights. The lower or eastern end was defended by +two or three small detached works, armed with artillery and infantry. +To the south was the mountain stream before mentioned, and back of that +the range of foot-hills. The plaza in the centre of the city was the +citadel, properly speaking. All the streets leading from it were swept +by artillery, cannon being intrenched behind temporary parapets. The +house-tops near the plaza were converted into infantry fortifications by +the use of sand-bags for parapets. Such were the defences of Monterey +in September, 1847. General Ampudia, with a force of certainly ten +thousand men, was in command. + +General Taylor's force was about six thousand five hundred strong, in +three divisions, under Generals Butler, Twiggs and Worth. The troops +went into camp at Walnut Springs, while the engineer officers, under +Major Mansfield--a General in the late war--commenced their +reconnoissance. Major Mansfield found that it would be practicable to +get troops around, out of range of the Black Fort and the works on the +detached hills to the north-west of the city, to the Saltillo road. +With this road in our possession, the enemy would be cut off from +receiving further supplies, if not from all communication with the +interior. General Worth, with his division somewhat reinforced, was +given the task of gaining possession of the Saltillo road, and of +carrying the detached works outside the city, in that quarter. He +started on his march early in the afternoon of the 20th. The divisions +under Generals Butler and Twiggs were drawn up to threaten the east and +north sides of the city and the works on those fronts, in support of the +movement under General Worth. Worth's was regarded as the main attack on +Monterey, and all other operations were in support of it. His march +this day was uninterrupted; but the enemy was seen to reinforce heavily +about the Bishop's Palace and the other outside fortifications on their +left. General Worth reached a defensible position just out of range of +the enemy's guns on the heights north-west of the city, and bivouacked +for the night. The engineer officers with him--Captain Sanders and +Lieutenant George G. Meade, afterwards the commander of the victorious +National army at the battle of Gettysburg--made a reconnoissance to the +Saltillo road under cover of night. + +During the night of the 20th General Taylor had established a battery, +consisting of two twenty-four-pounder howitzers and a ten inch mortar, +at a point from which they could play upon Black Fort. A natural +depression in the plain, sufficiently deep to protect men standing in it +from the fire from the fort, was selected and the battery established on +the crest nearest the enemy. The 4th infantry, then consisting of but +six reduced companies, was ordered to support the artillerists while +they were intrenching themselves and their guns. I was regimental +quartermaster at the time and was ordered to remain in charge of camp +and the public property at Walnut Springs. It was supposed that the +regiment would return to its camp in the morning. + +The point for establishing the siege battery was reached and the work +performed without attracting the attention of the enemy. At daylight +the next morning fire was opened on both sides and continued with, what +seemed to me at that day, great fury. My curiosity got the better of my +judgment, and I mounted a horse and rode to the front to see what was +going on. I had been there but a short time when an order to charge was +given, and lacking the moral courage to return to camp--where I had been +ordered to stay--I charged with the regiment As soon as the troops were +out of the depression they came under the fire of Black Fort. As they +advanced they got under fire from batteries guarding the east, or lower, +end of the city, and of musketry. About one-third of the men engaged in +the charge were killed or wounded in the space of a few minutes. We +retreated to get out of fire, not backward, but eastward and +perpendicular to the direct road running into the city from Walnut +Springs. I was, I believe, the only person in the 4th infantry in the +charge who was on horseback. When we got to a lace of safety the +regiment halted and drew itself together--what was left of it. The +adjutant of the regiment, Lieutenant Hoskins, who was not in robust +health, found himself very much fatigued from running on foot in the +charge and retreat, and, seeing me on horseback, expressed a wish that +he could be mounted also. I offered him my horse and he accepted the +offer. A few minutes later I saw a soldier, a quartermaster's man, +mounted, not far away. I ran to him, took his horse and was back with +the regiment in a few minutes. In a short time we were off again; and +the next place of safety from the shots of the enemy that I recollect of +being in, was a field of cane or corn to the north-east of the lower +batteries. The adjutant to whom I had loaned my horse was killed, and I +was designated to act in his place. + +This charge was ill-conceived, or badly executed. We belonged to the +brigade commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, and he had received +orders to charge the lower batteries of the city, and carry them if he +could without too much loss, for the purpose of creating a diversion in +favor of Worth, who was conducting the movement which it was intended +should be decisive. By a movement by the left flank Garland could have +led his men beyond the range of the fire from Black Fort and advanced +towards the northeast angle of the city, as well covered from fire as +could be expected. There was no undue loss of life in reaching the +lower end of Monterey, except that sustained by Garland's command. + +Meanwhile Quitman's brigade, conducted by an officer of engineers, had +reached the eastern end of the city, and was placed under cover of the +houses without much loss. Colonel Garland's brigade also arrived at the +suburbs, and, by the assistance of some of our troops that had reached +house-tops from which they could fire into a little battery covering the +approaches to the lower end of the city, the battery was speedily +captured and its guns were turned upon another work of the enemy. An +entrance into the east end of the city was now secured, and the houses +protected our troops so long as they were inactive. On the west General +Worth had reached the Saltillo road after some fighting but without +heavy loss. He turned from his new position and captured the forts on +both heights in that quarter. This gave him possession of the upper or +west end of Monterey. Troops from both Twiggs's and Butler's divisions +were in possession of the east end of the town, but the Black Fort to +the north of the town and the plaza in the centre were still in the +possession of the enemy. Our camps at Walnut Springs, three miles away, +were guarded by a company from each regiment. A regiment of Kentucky +volunteers guarded the mortars and howitzers engaged against Black Fort. +Practically Monterey was invested. + +There was nothing done on the 22d by the United States troops; but the +enemy kept up a harmless fire upon us from Black Fort and the batteries +still in their possession at the east end of the city. During the night +they evacuated these; so that on the morning of the 23d we held +undisputed possession of the east end of Monterey. + +Twiggs's division was at the lower end of the city, and well covered +from the fire of the enemy. But the streets leading to the plaza--all +Spanish or Spanish-American towns have near their centres a square +called a plaza--were commanded from all directions by artillery. The +houses were flat-roofed and but one or two stories high, and about the +plaza the roofs were manned with infantry, the troops being protected +from our fire by parapets made of sand-bags. All advances into the city +were thus attended with much danger. While moving along streets which +did not lead to the plaza, our men were protected from the fire, and +from the view, of the enemy except at the crossings; but at these a +volley of musketry and a discharge of grape-shot were invariably +encountered. The 3d and 4th regiments of infantry made an advance +nearly to the plaza in this way and with heavy loss. The loss of the 3d +infantry in commissioned officers was especially severe. There were +only five companies of the regiment and not over twelve officers +present, and five of these officers were killed. When within a square +of the plaza this small command, ten companies in all, was brought to a +halt. Placing themselves under cover from the shots of the enemy, the +men would watch to detect a head above the sand-bags on the neighboring +houses. The exposure of a single head would bring a volley from our +soldiers. + +We had not occupied this position long when it was discovered that our +ammunition was growing low. I volunteered to go back (*2) to the point +we had started from, report our position to General Twiggs, and ask for +ammunition to be forwarded. We were at this time occupying ground off +from the street, in rear of the houses. My ride back was an exposed +one. Before starting I adjusted myself on the side of my horse furthest +from the enemy, and with only one foot holding to the cantle of the +saddle, and an arm over the neck of the horse exposed, I started at full +run. It was only at street crossings that my horse was under fire, but +these I crossed at such a flying rate that generally I was past and +under cover of the next block of houses before the enemy fired. I got +out safely without a scratch. + +At one place on my ride, I saw a sentry walking in front of a house, and +stopped to inquire what he was doing there. Finding that the house was +full of wounded American officers and soldiers, I dismounted and went +in. I found there Captain Williams, of the Engineer Corps, wounded in +the head, probably fatally, and Lieutenant Territt, also badly wounded +his bowels protruding from his wound. There were quite a number of +soldiers also. Promising them to report their situation, I left, +readjusted myself to my horse, recommenced the run, and was soon with +the troops at the east end. Before ammunition could be collected, the +two regiments I had been with were seen returning, running the same +gauntlet in getting out that they had passed in going in, but with +comparatively little loss. The movement was countermanded and the +troops were withdrawn. The poor wounded officers and men I had found, +fell into the hands of the enemy during the night, and died. + +While this was going on at the east, General Worth, with a small +division of troops, was advancing towards the plaza from the opposite +end of the city. He resorted to a better expedient for getting to the +plaza--the citadel--than we did on the east. Instead of moving by the +open streets, he advanced through the houses, cutting passageways from +one to another. Without much loss of life, he got so near the plaza +during the night that before morning, Ampudia, the Mexican commander, +made overtures for the surrender of the city and garrison. This stopped +all further hostilities. The terms of surrender were soon agreed upon. +The prisoners were paroled and permitted to take their horses and +personal property with them. + +My pity was aroused by the sight of the Mexican garrison of Monterey +marching out of town as prisoners, and no doubt the same feeling was +experienced by most of our army who witnessed it. Many of the prisoners +were cavalry, armed with lances, and mounted on miserable little +half-starved horses that did not look as if they could carry their +riders out of town. The men looked in but little better condition. I +thought how little interest the men before me had in the results of the +war, and how little knowledge they had of "what it was all about." + +After the surrender of the garrison of Monterey a quiet camp life was +led until midwinter. As had been the case on the Rio Grande, the people +who remained at their homes fraternized with the "Yankees" in the +pleasantest manner. In fact, under the humane policy of our commander, +I question whether the great majority of the Mexican people did not +regret our departure as much as they had regretted our coming. Property +and person were thoroughly protected, and a market was afforded for all +the products of the country such as the people had never enjoyed before. +The educated and wealthy portion of the population here, as elsewhere, +abandoned their homes and remained away from them as long as they were +in the possession of the invaders; but this class formed a very small +percentage of the whole population. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +POLITICAL INTRIGUE--BUENA VISTA--MOVEMENT AGAINST VERA CRUZ--SIEGE AND +CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ. + +The Mexican war was a political war, and the administration conducting +it desired to make party capital out of it. General Scott was at the +head of the army, and, being a soldier of acknowledged professional +capacity, his claim to the command of the forces in the field was almost +indisputable and does not seem to have been denied by President Polk, or +Marcy, his Secretary of War. Scott was a Whig and the administration +was democratic. General Scott was also known to have political +aspirations, and nothing so popularizes a candidate for high civil +positions as military victories. It would not do therefore to give him +command of the "army of conquest." The plans submitted by Scott for a +campaign in Mexico were disapproved by the administration, and he +replied, in a tone possibly a little disrespectful, to the effect that, +if a soldier's plans were not to be supported by the administration, +success could not be expected. This was on the 27th of May, 1846. Four +days later General Scott was notified that he need not go to Mexico. +General Gaines was next in rank, but he was too old and feeble to take +the field. Colonel Zachary Taylor--a brigadier-general by brevet--was +therefore left in command. He, too, was a Whig, but was not supposed to +entertain any political ambitions; nor did he; but after the fall of +Monterey, his third battle and third complete victory, the Whig papers +at home began to speak of him as the candidate of their party for the +Presidency. Something had to be done to neutralize his growing +popularity. He could not be relieved from duty in the field where all +his battles had been victories: the design would have been too +transparent. It was finally decided to send General Scott to Mexico in +chief command, and to authorize him to carry out his own original plan: +that is, capture Vera Cruz and march upon the capital of the country. +It was no doubt supposed that Scott's ambition would lead him to +slaughter Taylor or destroy his chances for the Presidency, and yet it +was hoped that he would not make sufficient capital himself to secure +the prize. + +The administration had indeed a most embarrassing problem to solve. It +was engaged in a war of conquest which must be carried to a successful +issue, or the political object would be unattained. Yet all the capable +officers of the requisite rank belonged to the opposition, and the man +selected for his lack of political ambition had himself become a +prominent candidate for the Presidency. It was necessary to destroy his +chances promptly. The problem was to do this without the loss of +conquest and without permitting another general of the same political +party to acquire like popularity. The fact is, the administration of +Mr. Polk made every preparation to disgrace Scott, or, to speak more +correctly, to drive him to such desperation that he would disgrace +himself. + +General Scott had opposed conquest by the way of the Rio Grande, +Matamoras and Saltillo from the first. Now that he was in command of +all the forces in Mexico, he withdrew from Taylor most of his regular +troops and left him only enough volunteers, as he thought, to hold the +line then in possession of the invading army. Indeed Scott did not deem +it important to hold anything beyond the Rio Grande, and authorized +Taylor to fall back to that line if he chose. General Taylor protested +against the depletion of his army, and his subsequent movement upon +Buena Vista would indicate that he did not share the views of his chief +in regard to the unimportance of conquest beyond the Rio Grande. + +Scott had estimated the men and material that would be required to +capture Vera Cruz and to march on the capital of the country, two +hundred and sixty miles in the interior. He was promised all he asked +and seemed to have not only the confidence of the President, but his +sincere good wishes. The promises were all broken. Only about half the +troops were furnished that had been pledged, other war material was +withheld and Scott had scarcely started for Mexico before the President +undertook to supersede him by the appointment of Senator Thomas H. +Benton as lieutenant-general. This being refused by Congress, the +President asked legislative authority to place a junior over a senior of +the same grade, with the view of appointing Benton to the rank of +major-general and then placing him in command of the army, but Congress +failed to accede to this proposition as well, and Scott remained in +command: but every general appointed to serve under him was politically +opposed to the chief, and several were personally hostile. + +General Scott reached Brazos Santiago or Point Isabel, at the mouth of +the Rio Grande, late in December, 1846, and proceeded at once up the +river to Camargo, where he had written General Taylor to meet him. +Taylor, however, had gone to, or towards Tampico, for the purpose of +establishing a post there. He had started on this march before he was +aware of General Scott being in the country. Under these circumstances +Scott had to issue his orders designating the troops to be withdrawn +from Taylor, without the personal consultation he had expected to hold +with his subordinate. + +General Taylor's victory at Buena Vista, February 22d, 23d, and 24th, +1847, with an army composed almost entirely of volunteers who had not +been in battle before, and over a vastly superior force numerically, +made his nomination for the Presidency by the Whigs a foregone +conclusion. He was nominated and elected in 1848. I believe that he +sincerely regretted this turn in his fortunes, preferring the peace +afforded by a quiet life free from abuse to the honor of filling the +highest office in the gift of any people, the Presidency of the United +States. + +When General Scott assumed command of the army of invasion, I was in the +division of General David Twiggs, in Taylor's command; but under the new +orders my regiment was transferred to the division of General William +Worth, in which I served to the close of the war. The troops withdrawn +from Taylor to form part of the forces to operate against Vera Cruz, +were assembled at the mouth of the Rio Grande preparatory to embarkation +for their destination. I found General Worth a different man from any I +had before served directly under. He was nervous, impatient and +restless on the march, or when important or responsible duty confronted +him. There was not the least reason for haste on the march, for it was +known that it would take weeks to assemble shipping enough at the point +of our embarkation to carry the army, but General Worth moved his +division with a rapidity that would have been commendable had he been +going to the relief of a beleaguered garrison. The length of the +marches was regulated by the distances between places affording a supply +of water for the troops, and these distances were sometimes long and +sometimes short. General Worth on one occasion at least, after having +made the full distance intended for the day, and after the troops were +in camp and preparing their food, ordered tents struck and made the +march that night which had been intended for the next day. Some +commanders can move troops so as to get the maximum distance out of them +without fatigue, while others can wear them out in a few days without +accomplishing so much. General Worth belonged to this latter class. He +enjoyed, however, a fine reputation for his fighting qualities, and thus +attached his officers and men to him. + +The army lay in camp upon the sand-beach in the neighborhood of the +mouth of the Rio Grande for several weeks, awaiting the arrival of +transports to carry it to its new field of operations. The transports +were all sailing vessels. The passage was a tedious one, and many of +the troops were on shipboard over thirty days from the embarkation at +the mouth of the Rio Grande to the time of debarkation south of Vera +Cruz. The trip was a comfortless one for officers and men. The +transports used were built for carrying freight and possessed but +limited accommodations for passengers, and the climate added to the +discomfort of all. + +The transports with troops were assembled in the harbor of Anton +Lizardo, some sixteen miles south of Vera Cruz, as they arrived, and +there awaited the remainder of the fleet, bringing artillery, ammunition +and supplies of all kinds from the North. With the fleet there was a +little steam propeller dispatch-boat--the first vessel of the kind I had +ever seen, and probably the first of its kind ever seen by any one then +with the army. At that day ocean steamers were rare, and what there +were were sidewheelers. This little vessel, going through the fleet so +fast, so noiselessly and with its propeller under water out of view, +attracted a great deal of attention. I recollect that Lieutenant Sidney +Smith, of the 4th infantry, by whom I happened to be standing on the +deck of a vessel when this propeller was passing, exclaimed, "Why, the +thing looks as if it was propelled by the force of circumstances." + +Finally on the 7th of March, 1847, the little army of ten or twelve +thousand men, given Scott to invade a country with a population of seven +or eight millions, a mountainous country affording the greatest possible +natural advantages for defence, was all assembled and ready to commence +the perilous task of landing from vessels lying in the open sea. + +The debarkation took place inside of the little island of Sacrificios, +some three miles south of Vera Cruz. The vessels could not get anywhere +near shore, so that everything had to be landed in lighters or +surf-boats; General Scott had provided these before leaving the North. +The breakers were sometimes high, so that the landing was tedious. The +men were got ashore rapidly, because they could wade when they came to +shallow water; but the camp and garrison equipage, provisions, +ammunition and all stores had to be protected from the salt water, and +therefore their landing took several days. The Mexicans were very kind +to us, however, and threw no obstacles in the way of our landing except +an occasional shot from their nearest fort. During the debarkation one +shot took off the head of Major Albertis. No other, I believe, reached +anywhere near the same distance. On the 9th of March the troops were +landed and the investment of Vera Cruz, from the Gulf of Mexico south of +the city to the Gulf again on the north, was soon and easily effected. +The landing of stores was continued until everything was got ashore. + +Vera Cruz, at the time of which I write and up to 1880, was a walled +city. The wall extended from the water's edge south of the town to the +water again on the north. There were fortifications at intervals along +the line and at the angles. In front of the city, and on an island half +a mile out in the Gulf, stands San Juan de Ulloa, an enclosed +fortification of large dimensions and great strength for that period. +Against artillery of the present day the land forts and walls would +prove elements of weakness rather than strength. After the invading +army had established their camps out of range of the fire from the city, +batteries were established, under cover of night, far to the front of +the line where the troops lay. These batteries were intrenched and the +approaches sufficiently protected. If a sortie had been made at any +time by the Mexicans, the men serving the batteries could have been +quickly reinforced without great exposure to the fire from the enemy's +main line. No serious attempt was made to capture the batteries or to +drive our troops away. + +The siege continued with brisk firing on our side till the 27th of +March, by which time a considerable breach had been made in the wall +surrounding the city. Upon this General Morales, who was Governor of +both the city and of San Juan de Ulloa, commenced a correspondence with +General Scott looking to the surrender of the town, forts and garrison. +On the 29th Vera Cruz and San Juan de Ulloa were occupied by Scott's +army. About five thousand prisoners and four hundred pieces of +artillery, besides large amounts of small arms and ammunition, fell into +the hands of the victorious force. The casualties on our side during +the siege amounted to sixty-four officers and men, killed and wounded. + + + +CHAPTER X. + +MARCH TO JALAPA--BATTLE OF CERRO GORDO--PEROTE--PUEBLA--SCOTT AND +TAYLOR. + +General Scott had less than twelve thousand men at Vera Cruz. He had +been promised by the administration a very much larger force, or claimed +that he had, and he was a man of veracity. Twelve thousand was a very +small army with which to penetrate two hundred and sixty miles into an +enemy's country, and to besiege the capital; a city, at that time, of +largely over one hundred thousand inhabitants. Then, too, any line of +march that could be selected led through mountain passes easily +defended. In fact, there were at that time but two roads from Vera Cruz +to the City of Mexico that could be taken by an army; one by Jalapa and +Perote, the other by Cordova and Orizaba, the two coming together on the +great plain which extends to the City of Mexico after the range of +mountains is passed. + +It was very important to get the army away from Vera Cruz as soon as +possible, in order to avoid the yellow fever, or vomito, which usually +visits that city early in the year, and is very fatal to persons not +acclimated; but transportation, which was expected from the North, was +arriving very slowly. It was absolutely necessary to have enough to +supply the army to Jalapa, sixty-five miles in the interior and above +the fevers of the coast. At that point the country is fertile, and an +army of the size of General Scott's could subsist there for an +indefinite period. Not counting the sick, the weak and the garrisons +for the captured city and fort, the moving column was now less than ten +thousand strong. This force was composed of three divisions, under +Generals Twiggs, Patterson, and Worth. The importance of escaping the +vomito was so great that as soon as transportation enough could be got +together to move a division the advance was commenced. On the 8th of +April, Twiggs's division started for Jalapa. He was followed very soon +by Patterson, with his division. General Worth was to bring up the rear +with his command as soon as transportation enough was assembled to carry +six days' rations for his troops with the necessary ammunition and camp +and garrison equipage. It was the 13th of April before this division +left Vera Cruz. + +The leading division ran against the enemy at Cerro Gordo, some fifty +miles west, on the road to Jalapa, and went into camp at Plan del Rio, +about three miles from the fortifications. General Patterson reached +Plan del Rio with his division soon after Twiggs arrived. The two were +then secure against an attack from Santa Anna, who commanded the Mexican +forces. At all events they confronted the enemy without reinforcements +and without molestation, until the 18th of April. General Scott had +remained at Vera Cruz to hasten preparations for the field; but on the +12th, learning the situation at the front, he hastened on to take +personal supervision. He at once commenced his preparations for the +capture of the position held by Santa Anna and of the troops holding it. + +Cerro Gordo is one of the higher spurs of the mountains some twelve to +fifteen miles east of Jalapa, and Santa Anna had selected this point as +the easiest to defend against an invading army. The road, said to have +been built by Cortez, zigzags around the mountain-side and was defended +at every turn by artillery. On either side were deep chasms or mountain +walls. A direct attack along the road was an impossibility. A flank +movement seemed equally impossible. After the arrival of the +commanding-general upon the scene, reconnoissances were sent out to +find, or to make, a road by which the rear of the enemy's works might be +reached without a front attack. These reconnoissances were made under +the supervision of Captain Robert E. Lee, assisted by Lieutenants P. G. +T. Beauregard, Isaac I. Stevens, Z. B. Tower, G. W. Smith, George B. +McClellan, and J. G. Foster, of the corps of engineers, all officers who +attained rank and fame, on one side or the other, in the great conflict +for the preservation of the unity of the nation. The reconnoissance was +completed, and the labor of cutting out and making roads by the flank of +the enemy was effected by the 17th of the month. This was accomplished +without the knowledge of Santa Anna or his army, and over ground where +he supposed it impossible. On the same day General Scott issued his +order for the attack on the 18th. + +The attack was made as ordered, and perhaps there was not a battle of +the Mexican war, or of any other, where orders issued before an +engagement were nearer being a correct report of what afterwards took +place. Under the supervision of the engineers, roadways had been opened +over chasms to the right where the walls were so steep that men could +barely climb them. Animals could not. These had been opened under +cover of night, without attracting the notice of the enemy. The +engineers, who had directed the opening, led the way and the troops +followed. Artillery was let down the steep slopes by hand, the men +engaged attaching a strong rope to the rear axle and letting the guns +down, a piece at a time, while the men at the ropes kept their ground on +top, paying out gradually, while a few at the front directed the course +of the piece. In like manner the guns were drawn by hand up the +opposite slopes. In this way Scott's troops reached their assigned +position in rear of most of the intrenchments of the enemy, unobserved. +The attack was made, the Mexican reserves behind the works beat a hasty +retreat, and those occupying them surrendered. On the left General +Pillow's command made a formidable demonstration, which doubtless held a +part of the enemy in his front and contributed to the victory. I am not +pretending to give full details of all the battles fought, but of the +portion that I saw. There were troops engaged on both sides at other +points in which both sustained losses; but the battle was won as here +narrated. + +The surprise of the enemy was complete, the victory overwhelming; some +three thousand prisoners fell into Scott's hands, also a large amount of +ordnance and ordnance stores. The prisoners were paroled, the artillery +parked and the small arms and ammunition destroyed. The battle of Buena +Vista was probably very important to the success of General Scott at +Cerro Gordo and in his entire campaign from Vera Cruz to the great +plains reaching to the City of Mexico. The only army Santa Anna had to +protect his capital and the mountain passes west of Vera Cruz, was the +one he had with him confronting General Taylor. It is not likely that he +would have gone as far north as Monterey to attack the United States +troops when he knew his country was threatened with invasion further +south. When Taylor moved to Saltillo and then advanced on to Buena +Vista, Santa Anna crossed the desert confronting the invading army, +hoping no doubt to crush it and get back in time to meet General Scott +in the mountain passes west of Vera Cruz. His attack on Taylor was +disastrous to the Mexican army, but, notwithstanding this, he marched +his army to Cerro Gordo, a distance not much short of one thousand miles +by the line he had to travel, in time to intrench himself well before +Scott got there. If he had been successful at Buena Vista his troops +would no doubt have made a more stubborn resistance at Cerro Gordo. Had +the battle of Buena Vista not been fought Santa Anna would have had time +to move leisurely to meet the invader further south and with an army not +demoralized nor depleted by defeat. + +After the battle the victorious army moved on to Jalapa, where it was in +a beautiful, productive and healthy country, far above the fevers of the +coast. Jalapa, however, is still in the mountains, and between there +and the great plain the whole line of the road is easy of defence. It +was important, therefore, to get possession of the great highway between +the sea-coast and the capital up to the point where it leaves the +mountains, before the enemy could have time to re-organize and fortify +in our front. Worth's division was selected to go forward to secure this +result. The division marched to Perote on the great plain, not far from +where the road debouches from the mountains. There is a low, strong +fort on the plain in front of the town, known as the Castle of Perote. +This, however, offered no resistance and fell into our hands, with its +armament. + +General Scott having now only nine or ten thousand men west of Vera +Cruz, and the time of some four thousand of them being about to expire, +a long delay was the consequence. The troops were in a healthy climate, +and where they could subsist for an indefinite period even if their line +back to Vera Cruz should be cut off. It being ascertained that the men +whose time would expire before the City of Mexico could possibly fall +into the hands of the American army, would not remain beyond the term +for which they had volunteered, the commanding-general determined to +discharge them at once, for a delay until the expiration of their time +would have compelled them to pass through Vera Cruz during the season of +the vomito. This reduced Scott's force in the field to about five +thousand men. + +Early in May, Worth, with his division, left Perote and marched on to +Puebla. The roads were wide and the country open except through one +pass in a spur of mountains coming up from the south, through which the +road runs. Notwithstanding this the small column was divided into two +bodies, moving a day apart. Nothing occurred on the march of special +note, except that while lying at the town of Amozoque--an easy day's +march east of Puebla--a body of the enemy's cavalry, two or three +thousand strong, was seen to our right, not more than a mile away. A +battery or two, with two or three infantry regiments, was sent against +them and they soon disappeared. On the 15th of May we entered the city +of Puebla. + +General Worth was in command at Puebla until the latter end of May, when +General Scott arrived. Here, as well as on the march up, his +restlessness, particularly under responsibilities, showed itself. +During his brief command he had the enemy hovering around near the city, +in vastly superior numbers to his own. The brigade to which I was +attached changed quarters three different times in about a week, +occupying at first quarters near the plaza, in the heart of the city; +then at the western entrance; then at the extreme east. On one occasion +General Worth had the troops in line, under arms, all day, with three +days' cooked rations in their haversacks. He galloped from one command +to another proclaiming the near proximity of Santa Anna with an army +vastly superior to his own. General Scott arrived upon the scene the +latter part of the month, and nothing more was heard of Santa Anna and +his myriads. There were, of course, bodies of mounted Mexicans hovering +around to watch our movements and to pick up stragglers, or small bodies +of troops, if they ventured too far out. These always withdrew on the +approach of any considerable number of our soldiers. After the arrival +of General Scott I was sent, as quartermaster, with a large train of +wagons, back two days' march at least, to procure forage. We had less +than a thousand men as escort, and never thought of danger. We procured +full loads for our entire train at two plantations, which could easily +have furnished as much more. + +There had been great delay in obtaining the authority of Congress for +the raising of the troops asked for by the administration. A bill was +before the National Legislature from early in the session of 1846-7, +authorizing the creation of ten additional regiments for the war to be +attached to the regular army, but it was the middle of February before +it became a law. Appointments of commissioned officers had then to be +made; men had to be enlisted, the regiments equipped and the whole +transported to Mexico. It was August before General Scott received +reinforcement sufficient to warrant an advance. His moving column, not +even now more than ten thousand strong, was in four divisions, commanded +by Generals Twiggs, Worth, Pillow and Quitman. There was also a cavalry +corps under General Harney, composed of detachments of the 1st, 2d, and +3d dragoons. The advance commenced on the 7th of August with Twiggs's +division in front. The remaining three divisions followed, with an +interval of a day between. The marches were short, to make +concentration easier in case of attack. + +I had now been in battle with the two leading commanders conducting +armies in a foreign land. The contrast between the two was very marked. +General Taylor never wore uniform, but dressed himself entirely for +comfort. He moved about the field in which he was operating to see +through his own eyes the situation. Often he would be without staff +officers, and when he was accompanied by them there was no prescribed +order in which they followed. He was very much given to sit his horse +side-ways--with both feet on one side--particularly on the battlefield. +General Scott was the reverse in all these particulars. He always wore +all the uniform prescribed or allowed by law when he inspected his +lines; word would be sent to all division and brigade commanders in +advance, notifying them of the hour when the commanding general might be +expected. This was done so that all the army might be under arms to +salute their chief as he passed. On these occasions he wore his dress +uniform, cocked hat, aiguillettes, sabre and spurs. His staff proper, +besides all officers constructively on his staff--engineers, inspectors, +quartermasters, etc., that could be spared--followed, also in uniform +and in prescribed order. Orders were prepared with great care and +evidently with the view that they should be a history of what followed. + +In their modes of expressing thought, these two generals contrasted +quite as strongly as in their other characteristics. General Scott was +precise in language, cultivated a style peculiarly his own; was proud of +his rhetoric; not averse to speaking of himself, often in the third +person, and he could bestow praise upon the person he was talking about +without the least embarrassment. Taylor was not a conversationalist, +but on paper he could put his meaning so plainly that there could be no +mistaking it. He knew how to express what he wanted to say in the +fewest well-chosen words, but would not sacrifice meaning to the +construction of high-sounding sentences. But with their opposite +characteristics both were great and successful soldiers; both were true, +patriotic and upright in all their dealings. Both were pleasant to +serve under--Taylor was pleasant to serve with. Scott saw more through +the eyes of his staff officers than through his own. His plans were +deliberately prepared, and fully expressed in orders. Taylor saw for +himself, and gave orders to meet the emergency without reference to how +they would read in history. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +ADVANCE ON THE CITY OF MEXICO--BATTLE OF CONTRERAS--ASSAULT AT +CHURUBUSCO--NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE--BATTLE OF MOLINO DEL REY--STORMING +OF CHAPULTEPEC--SAN COSME--EVACUATION OF THE CITY--HALLS OF THE +MONTEZUMAS. + +The route followed by the army from Puebla to the City of Mexico was +over Rio Frio mountain, the road leading over which, at the highest +point, is about eleven thousand feet above tide water. The pass through +this mountain might have been easily defended, but it was not; and the +advanced division reached the summit in three days after leaving Puebla. +The City of Mexico lies west of Rio Frio mountain, on a plain backed by +another mountain six miles farther west, with others still nearer on the +north and south. Between the western base of Rio Frio and the City of +Mexico there are three lakes, Chalco and Xochimilco on the left and +Texcoco on the right, extending to the east end of the City of Mexico. +Chalco and Texcoco are divided by a narrow strip of land over which the +direct road to the city runs. Xochimilco is also to the left of the +road, but at a considerable distance south of it, and is connected with +Lake Chalco by a narrow channel. There is a high rocky mound, called El +Penon, on the right of the road, springing up from the low flat ground +dividing the lakes. This mound was strengthened by intrenchments at its +base and summit, and rendered a direct attack impracticable. + +Scott's army was rapidly concentrated about Ayotla and other points near +the eastern end of Lake Chalco. Reconnoissances were made up to within +gun-shot of El Penon, while engineers were seeking a route by the south +side of Lake Chalco to flank the city, and come upon it from the south +and south-west. A way was found around the lake, and by the 18th of +August troops were in St. Augustin Tlalpam, a town about eleven miles +due south from the plaza of the capital. Between St. Augustin Tlalpam +and the city lie the hacienda of San Antonio and the village of +Churubusco, and south-west of them is Contreras. All these points, +except St. Augustin Tlalpam, were intrenched and strongly garrisoned. +Contreras is situated on the side of a mountain, near its base, where +volcanic rocks are piled in great confusion, reaching nearly to San +Antonio. This made the approach to the city from the south very +difficult. + +The brigade to which I was attached--Garland's, of Worth's division--was +sent to confront San Antonio, two or three miles from St. Augustin +Tlalpam, on the road to Churubusco and the City of Mexico. The ground +on which San Antonio stands is completely in the valley, and the surface +of the land is only a little above the level of the lakes, and, except +to the south-west, it was cut up by deep ditches filled with water. To +the south-west is the Pedregal--the volcanic rock before spoken of--over +which cavalry or artillery could not be passed, and infantry would make +but poor progress if confronted by an enemy. From the position occupied +by Garland's brigade, therefore, no movement could be made against the +defences of San Antonio except to the front, and by a narrow causeway, +over perfectly level ground, every inch of which was commanded by the +enemy's artillery and infantry. If Contreras, some three miles west and +south, should fall into our hands, troops from there could move to the +right flank of all the positions held by the enemy between us and the +city. Under these circumstances General Scott directed the holding of +the front of the enemy without making an attack until further orders. + +On the 18th of August, the day of reaching San Augustin Tlalpam, +Garland's brigade secured a position within easy range of the advanced +intrenchments of San Antonio, but where his troops were protected by an +artificial embankment that had been thrown up for some other purpose +than defense. General Scott at once set his engineers reconnoitring the +works about Contreras, and on the 19th movements were commenced to get +troops into positions from which an assault could be made upon the force +occupying that place. The Pedregal on the north and north-east, and the +mountain on the south, made the passage by either flank of the enemy's +defences difficult, for their work stood exactly between those natural +bulwarks; but a road was completed during the day and night of the 19th, +and troops were got to the north and west of the enemy. + +This affair, like that of Cerro Gordo, was an engagement in which the +officers of the engineer corps won special distinction. In fact, in +both cases, tasks which seemed difficult at first sight were made easier +for the troops that had to execute them than they would have been on an +ordinary field. The very strength of each of these positions was, by +the skill of the engineers, converted into a defence for the assaulting +parties while securing their positions for final attack. All the troops +with General Scott in the valley of Mexico, except a part of the +division of General Quitman at San Augustin Tlalpam and the brigade of +Garland (Worth's division) at San Antonio, were engaged at the battle of +Contreras, or were on their way, in obedience to the orders of their +chief, to reinforce those who were engaged. The assault was made on the +morning of the 20th, and in less than half an hour from the sound of the +advance the position was in our hands, with many prisoners and large +quantities of ordnance and other stores. The brigade commanded by +General Riley was from its position the most conspicuous in the final +assault, but all did well, volunteers and regulars. + +From the point occupied by Garland's brigade we could see the progress +made at Contreras and the movement of troops toward the flank and rear +of the enemy opposing us. The Mexicans all the way back to the city +could see the same thing, and their conduct showed plainly that they did +not enjoy the sight. We moved out at once, and found them gone from our +immediate front. Clarke's brigade of Worth's division now moved west +over the point of the Pedregal, and after having passed to the north +sufficiently to clear San Antonio, turned east and got on the causeway +leading to Churubusco and the City of Mexico. When he approached +Churubusco his left, under Colonel Hoffman, attacked a tete-de-pont at +that place and brought on an engagement. About an hour after, Garland +was ordered to advance directly along the causeway, and got up in time +to take part in the engagement. San Antonio was found evacuated, the +evacuation having probably taken place immediately upon the enemy seeing +the stars and stripes waving over Contreras. + +The troops that had been engaged at Contreras, and even then on their +way to that battle-field, were moved by a causeway west of, and parallel +to the one by way of San Antonio and Churubusco. It was expected by the +commanding general that these troops would move north sufficiently far +to flank the enemy out of his position at Churubusco, before turning +east to reach the San Antonio road, but they did not succeed in this, +and Churubusco proved to be about the severest battle fought in the +valley of Mexico. General Scott coming upon the battle-field about this +juncture, ordered two brigades, under Shields, to move north and turn +the right of the enemy. This Shields did, but not without hard fighting +and heavy loss. The enemy finally gave way, leaving in our hands +prisoners, artillery and small arms. The balance of the causeway held +by the enemy, up to the very gates of the city, fell in like manner. I +recollect at this place that some of the gunners who had stood their +ground, were deserters from General Taylor's army on the Rio Grande. + +Both the strategy and tactics displayed by General Scott in these +various engagements of the 20th of August, 1847, were faultless as I +look upon them now, after the lapse of so many years. As before stated, +the work of the engineer officers who made the reconnoissances and led +the different commands to their destinations, was so perfect that the +chief was able to give his orders to his various subordinates with all +the precision he could use on an ordinary march. I mean, up to the +points from which the attack was to commence. After that point is +reached the enemy often induces a change of orders not before +contemplated. The enemy outside the city outnumbered our soldiery quite +three to one, but they had become so demoralized by the succession of +defeats this day, that the City of Mexico could have been entered +without much further bloodshed. In fact, Captain Philip Kearney +--afterwards a general in the war of the rebellion--rode with a squadron +of cavalry to the very gates of the city, and would no doubt have +entered with his little force, only at that point he was badly wounded, +as were several of his officers. He had not heard the call for a halt. + +General Franklin Pierce had joined the army in Mexico, at Puebla, a +short time before the advance upon the capital commenced. He had +consequently not been in any of the engagements of the war up to the +battle of Contreras. By an unfortunate fall of his horse on the +afternoon of the 19th he was painfully injured. The next day, when his +brigade, with the other troops engaged on the same field, was ordered +against the flank and rear of the enemy guarding the different points of +the road from San Augustin Tlalpam to the city, General Pierce attempted +to accompany them. He was not sufficiently recovered to do so, and +fainted. This circumstance gave rise to exceedingly unfair and unjust +criticisms of him when he became a candidate for the Presidency. +Whatever General Pierce's qualifications may have been for the +Presidency, he was a gentleman and a man of courage. I was not a +supporter of him politically, but I knew him more intimately than I did +any other of the volunteer generals. + +General Scott abstained from entering the city at this time, because Mr. +Nicholas P. Trist, the commissioner on the part of the United States to +negotiate a treaty of peace with Mexico, was with the army, and either +he or General Scott thought--probably both of them--that a treaty would +be more possible while the Mexican government was in possession of the +capital than if it was scattered and the capital in the hands of an +invader. Be this as it may, we did not enter at that time. The army +took up positions along the slopes of the mountains south of the city, +as far west as Tacubaya. Negotiations were at once entered into with +Santa Anna, who was then practically THE GOVERNMENT and the immediate +commander of all the troops engaged in defence of the country. A truce +was signed which denied to either party the right to strengthen its +position, or to receive reinforcements during the continuance of the +armistices, but authorized General Scott to draw supplies for his army +from the city in the meantime. + +Negotiations were commenced at once and were kept up vigorously between +Mr. Trist and the commissioners appointed on the part of Mexico, until +the 2d of September. At that time Mr. Trist handed in his ultimatum. +Texas was to be given up absolutely by Mexico, and New Mexico and +California ceded to the United States for a stipulated sum to be +afterwards determined. I do not suppose Mr. Trist had any discretion +whatever in regard to boundaries. The war was one of conquest, in the +interest of an institution, and the probabilities are that private +instructions were for the acquisition of territory out of which new +States might be carved. At all events the Mexicans felt so outraged at +the terms proposed that they commenced preparations for defence, without +giving notice of the termination of the armistice. The terms of the +truce had been violated before, when teams had been sent into the city +to bring out supplies for the army. The first train entering the city +was very severely threatened by a mob. This, however, was apologized for +by the authorities and all responsibility for it denied; and thereafter, +to avoid exciting the Mexican people and soldiery, our teams with their +escorts were sent in at night, when the troops were in barracks and the +citizens in bed. The circumstance was overlooked and negotiations +continued. As soon as the news reached General Scott of the second +violation of the armistice, about the 4th of September, he wrote a +vigorous note to President Santa Anna, calling his attention to it, and, +receiving an unsatisfactory reply, declared the armistice at an end. + +General Scott, with Worth's division, was now occupying Tacubaya, a +village some four miles south-west of the City of Mexico, and extending +from the base up the mountain-side for the distance of half a mile. +More than a mile west, and also a little above the plain, stands Molino +del Rey. The mill is a long stone structure, one story high and several +hundred feet in length. At the period of which I speak General Scott +supposed a portion of the mill to be used as a foundry for the casting +of guns. This, however, proved to be a mistake. It was valuable to the +Mexicans because of the quantity of grain it contained. The building is +flat roofed, and a line of sand-bags over the outer walls rendered the +top quite a formidable defence for infantry. Chapultepec is a mound +springing up from the plain to the height of probably three hundred +feet, and almost in a direct line between Molino del Rey and the western +part of the city. It was fortified both on the top and on the rocky and +precipitous sides. + +The City of Mexico is supplied with water by two aqueducts, resting on +strong stone arches. One of these aqueducts draws its supply of water +from a mountain stream coming into it at or near Molino del Rey, and +runs north close to the west base of Chapultepec; thence along the +centre of a wide road, until it reaches the road running east into the +city by the Garita San Cosme; from which point the aqueduct and road +both run east to the city. The second aqueduct starts from the east +base of Chapultepec, where it is fed by a spring, and runs north-east to +the city. This aqueduct, like the other, runs in the middle of a broad +road-way, thus leaving a space on each side. The arches supporting the +aqueduct afforded protection for advancing troops as well as to those +engaged defensively. At points on the San Cosme road parapets were +thrown across, with an embrasure for a single piece of artillery in +each. At the point where both road and aqueduct turn at right angles +from north to east, there was not only one of these parapets supplied by +one gun and infantry supports, but the houses to the north of the San +Cosme road, facing south and commanding a view of the road back to +Chapultepec, were covered with infantry, protected by parapets made of +sandbags. The roads leading to garitas (the gates) San Cosme and Belen, +by which these aqueducts enter the city, were strongly intrenched. +Deep, wide ditches, filled with water, lined the sides of both roads. +Such were the defences of the City of Mexico in September, 1847, on the +routes over which General Scott entered. + +Prior to the Mexican war General Scott had been very partial to General +Worth--indeed he continued so up to the close of hostilities--but, for +some reason, Worth had become estranged from his chief. Scott evidently +took this coldness somewhat to heart. He did not retaliate, however, +but on the contrary showed every disposition to appease his subordinate. +It was understood at the time that he gave Worth authority to plan and +execute the battle of Molino del Rey without dictation or interference +from any one, for the very purpose of restoring their former relations. +The effort failed, and the two generals remained ever after cold and +indifferent towards each other, if not actually hostile. + +The battle of Molino del Rey was fought on the 8th of September. The +night of the 7th, Worth sent for his brigade and regimental commanders, +with their staffs, to come to his quarters to receive instructions for +the morrow. These orders contemplated a movement up to within striking +distance of the Mills before daylight. The engineers had reconnoitred +the ground as well as possible, and had acquired all the information +necessary to base proper orders both for approach and attack. + +By daylight on the morning of the 8th, the troops to be engaged at +Molino were all at the places designated. The ground in front of the +Mills, to the south, was commanded by the artillery from the summit of +Chapultepec as well as by the lighter batteries at hand; but a charge +was made, and soon all was over. Worth's troops entered the Mills by +every door, and the enemy beat a hasty retreat back to Chapultepec. Had +this victory been followed up promptly, no doubt Americans and Mexicans +would have gone over the defences of Chapultepec so near together that +the place would have fallen into our hands without further loss. The +defenders of the works could not have fired upon us without endangering +their own men. This was not done, and five days later more valuable +lives were sacrificed to carry works which had been so nearly in our +possession on the 8th. I do not criticise the failure to capture +Chapultepec at this time. The result that followed the first assault +could not possibly have been foreseen, and to profit by the unexpected +advantage, the commanding general must have been on the spot and given +the necessary instructions at the moment, or the troops must have kept +on without orders. It is always, however, in order to follow a +retreating foe, unless stopped or otherwise directed. The loss on our +side at Molino del Rey was severe for the numbers engaged. It was +especially so among commissioned officers. + +I was with the earliest of the troops to enter the Mills. In passing +through to the north side, looking towards Chapultepec, I happened to +notice that there were armed Mexicans still on top of the building, only +a few feet from many of our men. Not seeing any stairway or ladder +reaching to the top of the building, I took a few soldiers, and had a +cart that happened to be standing near brought up, and, placing the +shafts against the wall and chocking the wheels so that the cart could +not back, used the shafts as a sort of ladder extending to within three +or four feet of the top. By this I climbed to the roof of the building, +followed by a few men, but found a private soldier had preceded me by +some other way. There were still quite a number of Mexicans on the +roof, among them a major and five or six officers of lower grades, who +had not succeeded in getting away before our troops occupied the +building. They still had their arms, while the soldier before mentioned +was walking as sentry, guarding the prisoners he had SURROUNDED, all by +himself. I halted the sentinel, received the swords from the +commissioned officers, and proceeded, with the assistance of the +soldiers now with me, to disable the muskets by striking them against +the edge of the wall, and throw them to the ground below. + +Molino del Rey was now captured, and the troops engaged, with the +exception of an appropriate guard over the captured position and +property, were marched back to their quarters in Tacubaya. The +engagement did not last many minutes, but the killed and wounded were +numerous for the number of troops engaged. + +During the night of the 11th batteries were established which could play +upon the fortifications of Chapultepec. The bombardment commenced early +on the morning of the 12th, but there was no further engagement during +this day than that of the artillery. General Scott assigned the capture +of Chapultepec to General Pillow, but did not leave the details to his +judgment. Two assaulting columns, two hundred and fifty men each, +composed of volunteers for the occasion, were formed. They were +commanded by Captains McKinzie and Casey respectively. The assault was +successful, but bloody. + +In later years, if not at the time, the battles of Molino del Rey and +Chapultepec have seemed to me to have been wholly unnecessary. When the +assaults upon the garitas of San Cosme and Belen were determined upon, +the road running east to the former gate could have been reached easily, +without an engagement, by moving along south of the Mills until west of +them sufficiently far to be out of range, thence north to the road above +mentioned; or, if desirable to keep the two attacking columns nearer +together, the troops could have been turned east so as to come on the +aqueduct road out of range of the guns from Chapultepec. In like +manner, the troops designated to act against Belen could have kept east +of Chapultepec, out of range, and come on to the aqueduct, also out of +range of Chapultepec. Molino del Rey and Chapultepec would both have +been necessarily evacuated if this course had been pursued, for they +would have been turned. + +General Quitman, a volunteer from the State of Mississippi, who stood +well with the army both as a soldier and as a man, commanded the column +acting against Belen. General Worth commanded the column against San +Cosme. When Chapultepec fell the advance commenced along the two +aqueduct roads. I was on the road to San Cosme, and witnessed most that +took place on that route. When opposition was encountered our troops +sheltered themselves by keeping under the arches supporting the +aqueduct, advancing an arch at a time. We encountered no serious +obstruction until within gun-shot of the point where the road we were on +intersects that running east to the city, the point where the aqueduct +turns at a right angle. I have described the defences of this position +before. There were but three commissioned officers besides myself, that +I can now call to mind, with the advance when the above position was +reached. One of these officers was a Lieutenant Semmes, of the Marine +Corps. I think Captain Gore, and Lieutenant Judah, of the 4th infantry, +were the others. Our progress was stopped for the time by the single +piece of artillery at the angle of the roads and the infantry occupying +the house-tops back from it. + +West of the road from where we were, stood a house occupying the +south-west angle made by the San Cosme road and the road we were moving +upon. A stone wall ran from the house along each of these roads for a +considerable distance and thence back until it joined, enclosing quite a +yard about the house. I watched my opportunity and skipped across the +road and behind the south wall. Proceeding cautiously to the west +corner of the enclosure, I peeped around and seeing nobody, continued, +still cautiously, until the road running east and west was reached. I +then returned to the troops, and called for volunteers. All that were +close to me, or that heard me, about a dozen, offered their services. +Commanding them to carry their arms at a trail, I watched our +opportunity and got them across the road and under cover of the wall +beyond, before the enemy had a shot at us. Our men under cover of the +arches kept a close watch on the intrenchments that crossed our path and +the house-tops beyond, and whenever a head showed itself above the +parapets they would fire at it. Our crossing was thus made practicable +without loss. + +When we reached a safe position I instructed my little command again to +carry their arms at a trail, not to fire at the enemy until they were +ordered, and to move very cautiously following me until the San Cosme +road was reached; we would then be on the flank of the men serving the +gun on the road, and with no obstruction between us and them. When we +reached the south-west corner of the enclosure before described, I saw +some United States troops pushing north through a shallow ditch near by, +who had come up since my reconnaissance. This was the company of +Captain Horace Brooks, of the artillery, acting as infantry. I +explained to Brooks briefly what I had discovered and what I was about +to do. He said, as I knew the ground and he did not, I might go on and +he would follow. As soon as we got on the road leading to the city the +troops serving the gun on the parapet retreated, and those on the +house-tops near by followed; our men went after them in such close +pursuit--the troops we had left under the arches joining--that a second +line across the road, about half-way between the first and the garita, +was carried. No reinforcements had yet come up except Brooks's company, +and the position we had taken was too advanced to be held by so small a +force. It was given up, but retaken later in the day, with some loss. + +Worth's command gradually advanced to the front now open to it. Later +in the day in reconnoitring I found a church off to the south of the +road, which looked to me as if the belfry would command the ground back +of the garita San Cosme. I got an officer of the voltigeurs, with a +mountain howitzer and men to work it, to go with me. The road being in +possession of the enemy, we had to take the field to the south to reach +the church. This took us over several ditches breast deep in water and +grown up with water plants. These ditches, however, were not over eight +or ten feet in width. The howitzer was taken to pieces and carried by +the men to its destination. When I knocked for admission a priest came +to the door who, while extremely polite, declined to admit us. With the +little Spanish then at my command, I explained to him that he might save +property by opening the door, and he certainly would save himself from +becoming a prisoner, for a time at least; and besides, I intended to go +in whether he consented or not. He began to see his duty in the same +light that I did, and opened the door, though he did not look as if it +gave him special pleasure to do so. The gun was carried to the belfry +and put together. We were not more than two or three hundred yards from +San Cosme. The shots from our little gun dropped in upon the enemy and +created great confusion. Why they did not send out a small party and +capture us, I do not know. We had no infantry or other defences besides +our one gun. + +The effect of this gun upon the troops about the gate of the city was so +marked that General Worth saw it from his position. (*3) He was so +pleased that he sent a staff officer, Lieutenant Pemberton--later +Lieutenant-General commanding the defences of Vicksburg--to bring me to +him. He expressed his gratification at the services the howitzer in the +church steeple was doing, saying that every shot was effective, and +ordered a captain of voltigeurs to report to me with another howitzer to +be placed along with the one already rendering so much service. I could +not tell the General that there was not room enough in the steeple for +another gun, because he probably would have looked upon such a statement +as a contradiction from a second lieutenant. I took the captain with +me, but did not use his gun. + +The night of the 13th of September was spent by the troops under General +Worth in the houses near San Cosme, and in line confronting the general +line of the enemy across to Belen. The troops that I was with were in +the houses north of the road leading into the city, and were engaged +during the night in cutting passage-ways from one house to another +towards the town. During the night Santa Anna, with his army--except +the deserters--left the city. He liberated all the convicts confined in +the town, hoping, no doubt, that they would inflict upon us some injury +before daylight; but several hours after Santa Anna was out of the way, +the city authorities sent a delegation to General Scott to ask--if not +demand--an armistice, respecting church property, the rights of citizens +and the supremacy of the city government in the management of municipal +affairs. General Scott declined to trammel himself with conditions, but +gave assurances that those who chose to remain within our lines would be +protected so long as they behaved themselves properly. + +General Quitman had advanced along his line very successfully on the +13th, so that at night his command occupied nearly the same position at +Belen that Worth's troops did about San Cosme. After the interview above +related between General Scott and the city council, orders were issued +for the cautious entry of both columns in the morning. The troops under +Worth were to stop at the Alameda, a park near the west end of the city. +Quitman was to go directly to the Plaza, and take possession of the +Palace--a mass of buildings on the east side in which Congress has its +sessions, the national courts are held, the public offices are all +located, the President resides, and much room is left for museums, +receptions, etc. This is the building generally designated as the +"Halls of the Montezumas." + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +PROMOTION TO FIRST LIEUTENANT--CAPTURE OF THE CITY OF MEXICO--THE ARMY +--MEXICAN SOLDIERS--PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. + +On entering the city the troops were fired upon by the released +convicts, and possibly by deserters and hostile citizens. The streets +were deserted, and the place presented the appearance of a "city of the +dead," except for this firing by unseen persons from house-tops, +windows, and around corners. In this firing the lieutenant-colonel of +my regiment, Garland, was badly wounded, Lieutenant Sidney Smith, of the +4th infantry, was also wounded mortally. He died a few days after, and +by his death I was promoted to the grade of first lieutenant.(*4) I had +gone into the battle of Palo Alto in May, 1846, a second lieutenant, and +I entered the city of Mexico sixteen months later with the same rank, +after having been in all the engagements possible for any one man and in +a regiment that lost more officers during the war than it ever had +present at any one engagement. My regiment lost four commissioned +officers, all senior to me, by steamboat explosions during the Mexican +war. The Mexicans were not so discriminating. They sometimes picked +off my juniors. + +General Scott soon followed the troops into the city, in state. I +wonder that he was not fired upon, but I believe he was not; at all +events he was not hurt. He took quarters at first in the "Halls of the +Montezumas," and from there issued his wise and discreet orders for the +government of a conquered city, and for suppressing the hostile acts of +liberated convicts already spoken of--orders which challenge the respect +of all who study them. Lawlessness was soon suppressed, and the City of +Mexico settled down into a quiet, law-abiding place. The people began +to make their appearance upon the streets without fear of the invaders. +Shortly afterwards the bulk of the troops were sent from the city to the +villages at the foot of the mountains, four or five miles to the south +and south-west. + +Whether General Scott approved of the Mexican war and the manner in +which it was brought about, I have no means of knowing. His orders to +troops indicate only a soldierly spirit, with probably a little regard +for the perpetuation of his own fame. On the other hand, General +Taylor's, I think, indicate that he considered the administration +accountable for the war, and felt no responsibility resting on himself +further than for the faithful performance of his duties. Both generals +deserve the commendations of their countrymen and to live in the +grateful memory of this people to the latest generation. + +Earlier in this narrative I have stated that the plain, reached after +passing the mountains east of Perote, extends to the cities of Puebla +and Mexico. The route travelled by the army before reaching Puebla, +goes over a pass in a spur of mountain coming up from the south. This +pass is very susceptible of defence by a smaller against a larger force. +Again, the highest point of the road-bed between Vera Cruz and the City +of Mexico is over Rio Frio mountain, which also might have been +successfully defended by an inferior against a superior force. But by +moving north of the mountains, and about thirty miles north of Puebla, +both of these passes would have been avoided. The road from Perote to +the City of Mexico, by this latter route, is as level as the prairies in +our West. Arriving due north from Puebla, troops could have been +detached to take possession of that place, and then proceeding west with +the rest of the army no mountain would have been encountered before +reaching the City of Mexico. It is true this road would have brought +troops in by Guadalupe--a town, church and detached spur of mountain +about two miles north of the capital, all bearing the same general name +--and at this point Lake Texcoco comes near to the mountain, which was +fortified both at the base and on the sides: but troops could have +passed north of the mountain and come in only a few miles to the +north-west, and so flanked the position, as they actually did on the +south. + +It has always seemed to me that this northern route to the City of +Mexico, would have been the better one to have taken. But my later +experience has taught me two lessons: first, that things are seen +plainer after the events have occurred; second, that the most confident +critics are generally those who know the least about the matter +criticised. I know just enough about the Mexican war to approve +heartily of most of the generalship, but to differ with a little of it. +It is natural that an important city like Puebla should not have been +passed with contempt; it may be natural that the direct road to it +should have been taken; but it could have been passed, its evacuation +insured and possession acquired without danger of encountering the enemy +in intricate mountain defiles. In this same way the City of Mexico +could have been approached without any danger of opposition, except in +the open field. + +But General Scott's successes are an answer to all criticism. He invaded +a populous country, penetrating two hundred and sixty miles into the +interior, with a force at no time equal to one-half of that opposed to +him; he was without a base; the enemy was always intrenched, always on +the defensive; yet he won every battle, he captured the capital, and +conquered the government. Credit is due to the troops engaged, it is +true, but the plans and the strategy were the general's. + +I had now made marches and been in battle under both General Scott and +General Taylor. The former divided his force of 10,500 men into four +columns, starting a day apart, in moving from Puebla to the capital of +the nation, when it was known that an army more than twice as large as +his own stood ready to resist his coming. The road was broad and the +country open except in crossing the Rio Frio mountain. General Taylor +pursued the same course in marching toward an enemy. He moved even in +smaller bodies. I never thought at the time to doubt the infallibility +of these two generals in all matters pertaining to their profession. I +supposed they moved in small bodies because more men could not be passed +over a single road on the same day with their artillery and necessary +trains. Later I found the fallacy of this belief. The rebellion, which +followed as a sequence to the Mexican war, never could have been +suppressed if larger bodies of men could not have been moved at the same +time than was the custom under Scott and Taylor. + +The victories in Mexico were, in every instance, over vastly superior +numbers. There were two reasons for this. Both General Scott and +General Taylor had such armies as are not often got together. At the +battles of Palo Alto and Resaca-de-la-Palma, General Taylor had a small +army, but it was composed exclusively of regular troops, under the best +of drill and discipline. Every officer, from the highest to the lowest, +was educated in his profession, not at West Point necessarily, but in +the camp, in garrison, and many of them in Indian wars. The rank and +file were probably inferior, as material out of which to make an army, +to the volunteers that participated in all the later battles of the war; +but they were brave men, and then drill and discipline brought out all +there was in them. A better army, man for man, probably never faced an +enemy than the one commanded by General Taylor in the earliest two +engagements of the Mexican war. The volunteers who followed were of +better material, but without drill or discipline at the start. They +were associated with so many disciplined men and professionally educated +officers, that when they went into engagements it was with a confidence +they would not have felt otherwise. They became soldiers themselves +almost at once. All these conditions we would enjoy again in case of +war. + +The Mexican army of that day was hardly an organization. The private +soldier was picked up from the lower class of the inhabitants when +wanted; his consent was not asked; he was poorly clothed, worse fed, and +seldom paid. He was turned adrift when no longer wanted. The officers +of the lower grades were but little superior to the men. With all this +I have seen as brave stands made by some of these men as I have ever +seen made by soldiers. Now Mexico has a standing army larger than that +of the United States. They have a military school modelled after West +Point. Their officers are educated and, no doubt, generally brave. The +Mexican war of 1846-8 would be an impossibility in this generation. + +The Mexicans have shown a patriotism which it would be well if we would +imitate in part, but with more regard to truth. They celebrate the +anniversaries of Chapultepec and Molino del Rey as of very great +victories. The anniversaries are recognized as national holidays. At +these two battles, while the United States troops were victorious, it +was at very great sacrifice of life compared with what the Mexicans +suffered. The Mexicans, as on many other occasions, stood up as well as +any troops ever did. The trouble seemed to be the lack of experience +among the officers, which led them after a certain time to simply quit, +without being particularly whipped, but because they had fought enough. +Their authorities of the present day grow enthusiastic over their theme +when telling of these victories, and speak with pride of the large sum +of money they forced us to pay in the end. With us, now twenty years +after the close of the most stupendous war ever known, we have writers +--who profess devotion to the nation--engaged in trying to prove that the +Union forces were not victorious; practically, they say, we were slashed +around from Donelson to Vicksburg and to Chattanooga; and in the East +from Gettysburg to Appomattox, when the physical rebellion gave out from +sheer exhaustion. There is no difference in the amount of romance in +the two stories. + +I would not have the anniversaries of our victories celebrated, nor +those of our defeats made fast days and spent in humiliation and prayer; +but I would like to see truthful history written. Such history will do +full credit to the courage, endurance and soldierly ability of the +American citizen, no matter what section of the country he hailed from, +or in what ranks he fought. The justice of the cause which in the end +prevailed, will, I doubt not, come to be acknowledged by every citizen +of the land, in time. For the present, and so long as there are living +witnesses of the great war of sections, there will be people who will +not be consoled for the loss of a cause which they believed to be holy. +As time passes, people, even of the South, will begin to wonder how it +was possible that their ancestors ever fought for or justified +institutions which acknowledged the right of property in man. + +After the fall of the capital and the dispersal of the government of +Mexico, it looked very much as if military occupation of the country for +a long time might be necessary. General Scott at once began the +preparation of orders, regulations and laws in view of this contingency. +He contemplated making the country pay all the expenses of the +occupation, without the army becoming a perceptible burden upon the +people. His plan was to levy a direct tax upon the separate states, and +collect, at the ports left open to trade, a duty on all imports. From +the beginning of the war private property had not been taken, either for +the use of the army or of individuals, without full compensation. This +policy was to be pursued. There were not troops enough in the valley of +Mexico to occupy many points, but now that there was no organized army +of the enemy of any size, reinforcements could be got from the Rio +Grande, and there were also new volunteers arriving from time to time, +all by way of Vera Cruz. Military possession was taken of Cuernavaca, +fifty miles south of the City of Mexico; of Toluca, nearly as far west, +and of Pachuca, a mining town of great importance, some sixty miles to +the north-east. Vera Cruz, Jalapa, Orizaba, and Puebla were already in +our possession. + +Meanwhile the Mexican government had departed in the person of Santa +Anna, and it looked doubtful for a time whether the United States +commissioner, Mr. Trist, would find anybody to negotiate with. A +temporary government, however, was soon established at Queretaro, and +Trist began negotiations for a conclusion of the war. Before terms were +finally agreed upon he was ordered back to Washington, but General Scott +prevailed upon him to remain, as an arrangement had been so nearly +reached, and the administration must approve his acts if he succeeded in +making such a treaty as had been contemplated in his instructions. The +treaty was finally signed the 2d of February, 1848, and accepted by the +government at Washington. It is that known as the "Treaty of Guadalupe +Hidalgo," and secured to the United States the Rio Grande as the +boundary of Texas, and the whole territory then included in New Mexico +and Upper California, for the sum of $15,000,000. + +Soon after entering the city of Mexico, the opposition of Generals +Pillow, Worth and Colonel Duncan to General Scott became very marked. +Scott claimed that they had demanded of the President his removal. I do +not know whether this is so or not, but I do know of their unconcealed +hostility to their chief. At last he placed them in arrest, and +preferred charges against them of insubordination and disrespect. This +act brought on a crisis in the career of the general commanding. He had +asserted from the beginning that the administration was hostile to him; +that it had failed in its promises of men and war material; that the +President himself had shown duplicity if not treachery in the endeavor +to procure the appointment of Benton: and the administration now gave +open evidence of its enmity. About the middle of February orders came +convening a court of inquiry, composed of Brevet Brigadier-General +Towson, the paymaster-general of the army, Brigadier-General Cushing and +Colonel Belknap, to inquire into the conduct of the accused and the +accuser, and shortly afterwards orders were received from Washington, +relieving Scott of the command of the army in the field and assigning +Major-General William O. Butler of Kentucky to the place. This order +also released Pillow, Worth and Duncan from arrest. + +If a change was to be made the selection of General Butler was agreeable +to every one concerned, so far as I remember to have heard expressions +on the subject. There were many who regarded the treatment of General +Scott as harsh and unjust. It is quite possible that the vanity of the +General had led him to say and do things that afforded a plausible +pretext to the administration for doing just what it did and what it had +wanted to do from the start. The court tried the accuser quite as much +as the accused. It was adjourned before completing its labors, to meet +in Frederick, Maryland. General Scott left the country, and never after +had more than the nominal command of the army until early in 1861. He +certainly was not sustained in his efforts to maintain discipline in +high places. + +The efforts to kill off politically the two successful generals, made +them both candidates for the Presidency. General Taylor was nominated +in 1848, and was elected. Four years later General Scott received the +nomination but was badly beaten, and the party nominating him died with +his defeat.(*5) + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +TREATY OF PEACE--MEXICAN BULL FIGHTS--REGIMENTAL QUARTERMASTER--TRIP TO +POPOCATAPETL--TRIP TO THE CAVES OF MEXICO. + +The treaty of peace between the two countries was signed by the +commissioners of each side early in February, 1848. It took a +considerable time for it to reach Washington, receive the approval of +the administration, and be finally ratified by the Senate. It was +naturally supposed by the army that there would be no more fighting, and +officers and men were of course anxious to get home, but knowing there +must be delay they contented themselves as best they could. Every +Sunday there was a bull fight for the amusement of those who would pay +their fifty cents. I attended one of them--just one--not wishing to +leave the country without having witnessed the national sport. The +sight to me was sickening. I could not see how human beings could enjoy +the sufferings of beasts, and often of men, as they seemed to do on +these occasions. + +At these sports there are usually from four to six bulls sacrificed. +The audience occupies seats around the ring in which the exhibition is +given, each seat but the foremost rising higher than the one in front, +so that every one can get a full view of the sport. When all is ready a +bull is turned into the ring. Three or four men come in, mounted on the +merest skeletons of horses blind or blind-folded and so weak that they +could not make a sudden turn with their riders without danger of falling +down. The men are armed with spears having a point as sharp as a +needle. Other men enter the arena on foot, armed with red flags and +explosives about the size of a musket cartridge. To each of these +explosives is fastened a barbed needle which serves the purpose of +attaching them to the bull by running the needle into the skin. Before +the animal is turned loose a lot of these explosives are attached to +him. The pain from the pricking of the skin by the needles is +exasperating; but when the explosions of the cartridges commence the +animal becomes frantic. As he makes a lunge towards one horseman, +another runs a spear into him. He turns towards his last tormentor when +a man on foot holds out a red flag; the bull rushes for this and is +allowed to take it on his horns. The flag drops and covers the eyes of +the animal so that he is at a loss what to do; it is jerked from him and +the torment is renewed. When the animal is worked into an +uncontrollable frenzy, the horsemen withdraw, and the matadores +--literally murderers--enter, armed with knives having blades twelve or +eighteen inches long, and sharp. The trick is to dodge an attack from +the animal and stab him to the heart as he passes. If these efforts fail +the bull is finally lassoed, held fast and killed by driving a knife +blade into the spinal column just back of the horns. He is then dragged +out by horses or mules, another is let into the ring, and the same +performance is renewed. + +On the occasion when I was present one of the bulls was not turned aside +by the attacks in the rear, the presentations of the red flag, etc., +etc., but kept right on, and placing his horns under the flanks of a +horse threw him and his rider to the ground with great force. The horse +was killed and the rider lay prostrate as if dead. The bull was then +lassoed and killed in the manner above described. Men came in and +carried the dead man off in a litter. When the slaughtered bull and +horse were dragged out, a fresh bull was turned into the ring. +Conspicuous among the spectators was the man who had been carried out on +a litter but a few minutes before. He was only dead so far as that +performance went; but the corpse was so lively that it could not forego +the chance of witnessing the discomfiture of some of his brethren who +might not be so fortunate. There was a feeling of disgust manifested by +the audience to find that he had come to life again. I confess that I +felt sorry to see the cruelty to the bull and the horse. I did not stay +for the conclusion of the performance; but while I did stay, there was +not a bull killed in the prescribed way. + +Bull fights are now prohibited in the Federal District--embracing a +territory around the City of Mexico, somewhat larger than the District +of Columbia--and they are not an institution in any part of the country. +During one of my recent visits to Mexico, bull fights were got up in my +honor at Puebla and at Pachuca. I was not notified in advance so as to +be able to decline and thus prevent the performance; but in both cases I +civilly declined to attend. + +Another amusement of the people of Mexico of that day, and one which +nearly all indulged in, male and female, old and young, priest and +layman, was Monte playing. Regular feast weeks were held every year at +what was then known as St. Augustin Tlalpam, eleven miles out of town. +There were dealers to suit every class and condition of people. In many +of the booths tlackos--the copper coin of the country, four of them +making six and a quarter cents of our money--were piled up in great +quantities, with some silver, to accommodate the people who could not +bet more than a few pennies at a time. In other booths silver formed +the bulk of the capital of the bank, with a few doubloons to be changed +if there should be a run of luck against the bank. In some there was no +coin except gold. Here the rich were said to bet away their entire +estates in a single day. All this is stopped now. + +For myself, I was kept somewhat busy during the winter of 1847-8. My +regiment was stationed in Tacubaya. I was regimental quartermaster and +commissary. General Scott had been unable to get clothing for the +troops from the North. The men were becoming--well, they needed +clothing. Material had to be purchased, such as could be obtained, and +people employed to make it up into "Yankee uniforms." A quartermaster +in the city was designated to attend to this special duty; but clothing +was so much needed that it was seized as fast as made up. A regiment +was glad to get a dozen suits at a time. I had to look after this +matter for the 4th infantry. Then our regimental fund had run down and +some of the musicians in the band had been without their extra pay for a +number of months. + +The regimental bands at that day were kept up partly by pay from the +government, and partly by pay from the regimental fund. There was +authority of law for enlisting a certain number of men as musicians. So +many could receive the pay of non-commissioned officers of the various +grades, and the remainder the pay of privates. This would not secure a +band leader, nor good players on certain instruments. In garrison there +are various ways of keeping up a regimental fund sufficient to give +extra pay to musicians, establish libraries and ten-pin alleys, +subscribe to magazines and furnish many extra comforts to the men. The +best device for supplying the fund is to issue bread to the soldiers +instead of flour. The ration used to be eighteen ounces per day of +either flour or bread; and one hundred pounds of flour will make one +hundred and forty pounds of bread. This saving was purchased by the +commissary for the benefit of the fund. In the emergency the 4th +infantry was laboring under, I rented a bakery in the city, hired +bakers--Mexicans--bought fuel and whatever was necessary, and I also got +a contract from the chief commissary of the army for baking a large +amount of hard bread. In two months I made more money for the fund than +my pay amounted to during the entire war. While stationed at Monterey I +had relieved the post fund in the same way. There, however, was no +profit except in the saving of flour by converting it into bread. + +In the spring of 1848 a party of officers obtained leave to visit +Popocatapetl, the highest volcano in America, and to take an escort. I +went with the party, many of whom afterwards occupied conspicuous +positions before the country. Of those who "went south," and attained +high rank, there was Lieutenant Richard Anderson, who commanded a corps +at Spottsylvania; Captain Sibley, a major-general, and, after the war, +for a number of years in the employ of the Khedive of Egypt; Captain +George Crittenden, a rebel general; S. B. Buckner, who surrendered Fort +Donelson; and Mansfield Lovell, who commanded at New Orleans before that +city fell into the hands of the National troops. Of those who remained +on our side there were Captain Andrew Porter, Lieutenant C. P. Stone and +Lieutenant Z. B. Tower. There were quite a number of other officers, +whose names I cannot recollect. + +At a little village (Ozumba) near the base of Popocatapetl, where we +purposed to commence the ascent, we procured guides and two pack mules +with forage for our horses. High up on the mountain there was a +deserted house of one room, called the Vaqueria, which had been occupied +years before by men in charge of cattle ranging on the mountain. The +pasturage up there was very fine when we saw it, and there were still +some cattle, descendants of the former domestic herd, which had now +become wild. It was possible to go on horseback as far as the Vaqueria, +though the road was somewhat hazardous in places. Sometimes it was very +narrow with a yawning precipice on one side, hundreds of feet down to a +roaring mountain torrent below, and almost perpendicular walls on the +other side. At one of these places one of our mules loaded with two +sacks of barley, one on each side, the two about as big as he was, +struck his load against the mountain-side and was precipitated to the +bottom. The descent was steep but not perpendicular. The mule rolled +over and over until the bottom was reached, and we supposed of course +the poor animal was dashed to pieces. What was our surprise, not long +after we had gone into bivouac, to see the lost mule, cargo and owner +coming up the ascent. The load had protected the animal from serious +injury; and his owner had gone after him and found a way back to the +path leading up to the hut where we were to stay. + +The night at the Vaqueria was one of the most unpleasant I ever knew. +It was very cold and the rain fell in torrents. A little higher up the +rain ceased and snow began. The wind blew with great velocity. The +log-cabin we were in had lost the roof entirely on one side, and on the +other it was hardly better then a sieve. There was little or no sleep +that night. As soon as it was light the next morning, we started to +make the ascent to the summit. The wind continued to blow with violence +and the weather was still cloudy, but there was neither rain nor snow. +The clouds, however, concealed from our view the country below us, +except at times a momentary glimpse could be got through a clear space +between them. The wind carried the loose snow around the mountain-sides +in such volumes as to make it almost impossible to stand up against it. +We labored on and on, until it became evident that the top could not be +reached before night, if at all in such a storm, and we concluded to +return. The descent was easy and rapid, though dangerous, until we got +below the snow line. At the cabin we mounted our horses, and by night +were at Ozumba. + +The fatigues of the day and the loss of sleep the night before drove us +to bed early. Our beds consisted of a place on the dirt-floor with a +blanket under us. Soon all were asleep; but long before morning first +one and then another of our party began to cry out with excruciating +pain in the eyes. Not one escaped it. By morning the eyes of half the +party were so swollen that they were entirely closed. The others +suffered pain equally. The feeling was about what might be expected +from the prick of a sharp needle at a white heat. We remained in +quarters until the afternoon bathing our eyes in cold water. This +relieved us very much, and before night the pain had entirely left. The +swelling, however, continued, and about half the party still had their +eyes entirely closed; but we concluded to make a start back, those who +could see a little leading the horses of those who could not see at all. +We moved back to the village of Ameca Ameca, some six miles, and stopped +again for the night. The next morning all were entirely well and free +from pain. The weather was clear and Popocatapetl stood out in all its +beauty, the top looking as if not a mile away, and inviting us to +return. About half the party were anxious to try the ascent again, and +concluded to do so. The remainder--I was with the remainder--concluded +that we had got all the pleasure there was to be had out of mountain +climbing, and that we would visit the great caves of Mexico, some ninety +miles from where we then were, on the road to Acapulco. + +The party that ascended the mountain the second time succeeded in +reaching the crater at the top, with but little of the labor they +encountered in their first attempt. Three of them--Anderson, Stone and +Buckner--wrote accounts of their journey, which were published at the +time. I made no notes of this excursion, and have read nothing about it +since, but it seems to me that I can see the whole of it as vividly as +if it were but yesterday. I have been back at Ameca Ameca, and the +village beyond, twice in the last five years. The scene had not changed +materially from my recollection of it. + +The party which I was with moved south down the valley to the town of +Cuantla, some forty miles from Ameca Ameca. The latter stands on the +plain at the foot of Popocatapetl, at an elevation of about eight +thousand feet above tide water. The slope down is gradual as the +traveller moves south, but one would not judge that, in going to +Cuantla, descent enough had been made to occasion a material change in +the climate and productions of the soil; but such is the case. In the +morning we left a temperate climate where the cereals and fruits are +those common to the United States, we halted in the evening in a +tropical climate where the orange and banana, the coffee and the +sugar-cane were flourishing. We had been travelling, apparently, +on a plain all day, but in the direction of the flow of water. + +Soon after the capture of the City of Mexico an armistice had been +agreed to, designating the limits beyond which troops of the respective +armies were not to go during its continuance. Our party knew nothing +about these limits. As we approached Cuantla bugles sounded the +assembly, and soldiers rushed from the guard-house in the edge of the +town towards us. Our party halted, and I tied a white pocket +handkerchief to a stick and, using it as a flag of truce, proceeded on +to the town. Captains Sibley and Porter followed a few hundred yards +behind. I was detained at the guard-house until a messenger could be +dispatched to the quarters of the commanding general, who authorized +that I should be conducted to him. I had been with the general but a +few minutes when the two officers following announced themselves. The +Mexican general reminded us that it was a violation of the truce for us +to be there. However, as we had no special authority from our own +commanding general, and as we knew nothing about the terms of the truce, +we were permitted to occupy a vacant house outside the guard for the +night, with the promise of a guide to put us on the road to Cuernavaca +the next morning. + +Cuernavaca is a town west of Guantla. The country through which we +passed, between these two towns, is tropical in climate and productions +and rich in scenery. At one point, about half-way between the two +places, the road goes over a low pass in the mountains in which there is +a very quaint old town, the inhabitants of which at that day were nearly +all full-blooded Indians. Very few of them even spoke Spanish. The +houses were built of stone and generally only one story high. The +streets were narrow, and had probably been paved before Cortez visited +the country. They had not been graded, but the paving had been done on +the natural surface. We had with us one vehicle, a cart, which was +probably the first wheeled vehicle that had ever passed through that +town. + +On a hill overlooking this town stands the tomb of an ancient king; and +it was understood that the inhabitants venerated this tomb very highly, +as well as the memory of the ruler who was supposed to be buried in it. +We ascended the mountain and surveyed the tomb; but it showed no +particular marks of architectural taste, mechanical skill or advanced +civilization. The next day we went into Cuernavaca. + +After a day's rest at Cuernavaca our party set out again on the journey +to the great caves of Mexico. We had proceeded but a few miles when we +were stopped, as before, by a guard and notified that the terms of the +existing armistice did not permit us to go further in that direction. +Upon convincing the guard that we were a mere party of pleasure seekers +desirous of visiting the great natural curiosities of the country which +we expected soon to leave, we were conducted to a large hacienda near +by, and directed to remain there until the commanding general of that +department could be communicated with and his decision obtained as to +whether we should be permitted to pursue our journey. The guard +promised to send a messenger at once, and expected a reply by night. At +night there was no response from the commanding general, but the captain +of the guard was sure he would have a reply by morning. Again in the +morning there was no reply. The second evening the same thing happened, +and finally we learned that the guard had sent no message or messenger +to the department commander. We determined therefore to go on unless +stopped by a force sufficient to compel obedience. + +After a few hours' travel we came to a town where a scene similar to the +one at Cuantia occurred. The commanding officer sent a guide to conduct +our party around the village and to put us upon our road again. This +was the last interruption: that night we rested at a large coffee +plantation, some eight miles from the cave we were on the way to visit. +It must have been a Saturday night; the peons had been paid off, and +spent part of the night in gambling away their scanty week's earnings. +Their coin was principally copper, and I do not believe there was a man +among them who had received as much as twenty-five cents in money. They +were as much excited, however, as if they had been staking thousands. I +recollect one poor fellow, who had lost his last tlacko, pulled off his +shirt and, in the most excited manner, put that up on the turn of a +card. Monte was the game played, the place out of doors, near the +window of the room occupied by the officers of our party. + +The next morning we were at the mouth of the cave at an early hour, +provided with guides, candles and rockets. We explored to a distance of +about three miles from the entrance, and found a succession of chambers +of great dimensions and of great beauty when lit up with our rockets. +Stalactites and stalagmites of all sizes were discovered. Some of the +former were many feet in diameter and extended from ceiling to floor; +some of the latter were but a few feet high from the floor; but the +formation is going on constantly, and many centuries hence these +stalagmites will extend to the ceiling and become complete columns. The +stalagmites were all a little concave, and the cavities were filled with +water. The water percolates through the roof, a drop at a time--often +the drops several minutes apart--and more or less charged with mineral +matter. Evaporation goes on slowly, leaving the mineral behind. This +in time makes the immense columns, many of them thousands of tons in +weight, which serve to support the roofs over the vast chambers. I +recollect that at one point in the cave one of these columns is of such +huge proportions that there is only a narrow passage left on either side +of it. Some of our party became satisfied with their explorations +before we had reached the point to which the guides were accustomed to +take explorers, and started back without guides. Coming to the large +column spoken of, they followed it entirely around, and commenced +retracing their steps into the bowels of the mountain, without being +aware of the fact. When the rest of us had completed our explorations, +we started out with our guides, but had not gone far before we saw the +torches of an approaching party. We could not conceive who these could +be, for all of us had come in together, and there were none but +ourselves at the entrance when we started in. Very soon we found it was +our friends. It took them some time to conceive how they had got where +they were. They were sure they had kept straight on for the mouth of +the cave, and had gone about far enough to have reached it. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +RETURN OF THE ARMY--MARRIAGE--ORDERED TO THE PACIFIC COAST--CROSSING THE +ISTHMUS--ARRIVAL AT SAN FRANCISCO. + +My experience in the Mexican war was of great advantage to me +afterwards. Besides the many practical lessons it taught, the war +brought nearly all the officers of the regular army together so as to +make them personally acquainted. It also brought them in contact with +volunteers, many of whom served in the war of the rebellion afterwards. +Then, in my particular case, I had been at West Point at about the right +time to meet most of the graduates who were of a suitable age at the +breaking out of the rebellion to be trusted with large commands. +Graduating in 1843, I was at the military academy from one to four years +with all cadets who graduated between 1840 and 1846--seven classes. +These classes embraced more than fifty officers who afterwards became +generals on one side or the other in the rebellion, many of them holding +high commands. All the older officers, who became conspicuous in the +rebellion, I had also served with and known in Mexico: Lee, J. E. +Johnston, A. S. Johnston, Holmes, Hebert and a number of others on the +Confederate side; McCall, Mansfield, Phil. Kearney and others on the +National side. The acquaintance thus formed was of immense service to +me in the war of the rebellion--I mean what I learned of the characters +of those to whom I was afterwards opposed. I do not pretend to say that +all movements, or even many of them, were made with special reference to +the characteristics of the commander against whom they were directed. +But my appreciation of my enemies was certainly affected by this +knowledge. The natural disposition of most people is to clothe a +commander of a large army whom they do not know, with almost superhuman +abilities. A large part of the National army, for instance, and most of +the press of the country, clothed General Lee with just such qualities, +but I had known him personally, and knew that he was mortal; and it was +just as well that I felt this. + +The treaty of peace was at last ratified, and the evacuation of Mexico +by United States troops was ordered. Early in June the troops in the +City of Mexico began to move out. Many of them, including the brigade +to which I belonged, were assembled at Jalapa, above the vomito, to +await the arrival of transports at Vera Cruz: but with all this +precaution my regiment and others were in camp on the sand beach in a +July sun, for about a week before embarking, while the fever raged with +great virulence in Vera Cruz, not two miles away. I can call to mind +only one person, an officer, who died of the disease. My regiment was +sent to Pascagoula, Mississippi, to spend the summer. As soon as it was +settled in camp I obtained a leave of absence for four months and +proceeded to St. Louis. On the 22d of August, 1848, I was married to +Miss Julia Dent, the lady of whom I have before spoken. We visited my +parents and relations in Ohio, and, at the end of my leave, proceeded to +my post at Sackett's Harbor, New York. In April following I was ordered +to Detroit, Michigan, where two years were spent with but few important +incidents. + +The present constitution of the State of Michigan was ratified during +this time. By the terms of one of its provisions, all citizens of the +United States residing within the State at the time of the ratification +became citizens of Michigan also. During my stay in Detroit there was an +election for city officers. Mr. Zachariah Chandler was the candidate of +the Whigs for the office of Mayor, and was elected, although the city +was then reckoned democratic. All the officers stationed there at the +time who offered their votes were permitted to cast them. I did not +offer mine, however, as I did not wish to consider myself a citizen of +Michigan. This was Mr. Chandler's first entry into politics, a career +he followed ever after with great success, and in which he died enjoying +the friendship, esteem and love of his countrymen. + +In the spring of 1851 the garrison at Detroit was transferred to +Sackett's Harbor, and in the following spring the entire 4th infantry +was ordered to the Pacific Coast. It was decided that Mrs. Grant should +visit my parents at first for a few months, and then remain with her own +family at their St. Louis home until an opportunity offered of sending +for her. In the month of April the regiment was assembled at Governor's +Island, New York Harbor, and on the 5th of July eight companies sailed +for Aspinwall. We numbered a little over seven hundred persons, +including the families of officers and soldiers. Passage was secured +for us on the old steamer Ohio, commanded at the time by Captain +Schenck, of the navy. It had not been determined, until a day or two +before starting, that the 4th infantry should go by the Ohio; +consequently, a complement of passengers had already been secured. The +addition of over seven hundred to this list crowded the steamer most +uncomfortably, especially for the tropics in July. + +In eight days Aspinwall was reached. At that time the streets of the +town were eight or ten inches under water, and foot passengers passed +from place to place on raised foot-walks. July is at the height of the +wet season, on the Isthmus. At intervals the rain would pour down in +streams, followed in not many minutes by a blazing, tropical summer's +sun. These alternate changes, from rain to sunshine, were continuous in +the afternoons. I wondered how any person could live many months in +Aspinwall, and wondered still more why any one tried. + +In the summer of 1852 the Panama railroad was completed only to the +point where it now crosses the Chagres River. From there passengers +were carried by boats to Gorgona, at which place they took mules for +Panama, some twenty-five miles further. Those who travelled over the +Isthmus in those days will remember that boats on the Chagres River were +propelled by natives not inconveniently burdened with clothing. These +boats carried thirty to forty passengers each. The crews consisted of +six men to a boat, armed with long poles. There were planks wide enough +for a man to walk on conveniently, running along the sides of each boat +from end to end. The men would start from the bow, place one end of +their poles against the river bottom, brace their shoulders against the +other end, and then walk to the stern as rapidly as they could. In this +way from a mile to a mile and a half an hour could be made, against the +current of the river. + +I, as regimental quartermaster, had charge of the public property and +had also to look after the transportation. A contract had been entered +into with the steamship company in New York for the transportation of +the regiment to California, including the Isthmus transit. A certain +amount of baggage was allowed per man, and saddle animals were to be +furnished to commissioned officers and to all disabled persons. The +regiment, with the exception of one company left as guards to the public +property--camp and garrison equipage principally--and the soldiers with +families, took boats, propelled as above described, for Gorgona. From +this place they marched to Panama, and were soon comfortably on the +steamer anchored in the bay, some three or four miles from the town. I, +with one company of troops and all the soldiers with families, all the +tents, mess chests and camp kettles, was sent to Cruces, a town a few +miles higher up the Chagres River than Gorgona. There I found an +impecunious American who had taken the contract to furnish +transportation for the regiment at a stipulated price per hundred pounds +for the freight and so much for each saddle animal. But when we reached +Cruces there was not a mule, either for pack or saddle, in the place. +The contractor promised that the animals should be on hand in the +morning. In the morning he said that they were on the way from some +imaginary place, and would arrive in the course of the day. This went +on until I saw that he could not procure the animals at all at the price +he had promised to furnish them for. The unusual number of passengers +that had come over on the steamer, and the large amount of freight to +pack, had created an unprecedented demand for mules. Some of the +passengers paid as high as forty dollars for the use of a mule to ride +twenty-five miles, when the mule would not have sold for ten dollars in +that market at other times. Meanwhile the cholera had broken out, and +men were dying every hour. To diminish the food for the disease, I +permitted the company detailed with me to proceed to Panama. The +captain and the doctors accompanied the men, and I was left alone with +the sick and the soldiers who had families. The regiment at Panama was +also affected with the disease; but there were better accommodations for +the well on the steamer, and a hospital, for those taken with the +disease, on an old hulk anchored a mile off. There were also hospital +tents on shore on the island of Flamingo, which stands in the bay. + +I was about a week at Cruces before transportation began to come in. +About one-third of the people with me died, either at Cruces or on the +way to Panama. There was no agent of the transportation company at +Cruces to consult, or to take the responsibility of procuring +transportation at a price which would secure it. I therefore myself +dismissed the contractor and made a new contract with a native, at more +than double the original price. Thus we finally reached Panama. The +steamer, however, could not proceed until the cholera abated, and the +regiment was detained still longer. Altogether, on the Isthmus and on +the Pacific side, we were delayed six weeks. About one-seventh of those +who left New York harbor with the 4th infantry on the 5th of July, now +lie buried on the Isthmus of Panama or on Flamingo island in Panama Bay. + +One amusing circumstance occurred while we were lying at anchor in +Panama Bay. In the regiment there was a Lieutenant Slaughter who was +very liable to sea-sickness. It almost made him sick to see the wave of +a table-cloth when the servants were spreading it. Soon after his +graduation, Slaughter was ordered to California and took passage by a +sailing vessel going around Cape Horn. The vessel was seven months +making the voyage, and Slaughter was sick every moment of the time, +never more so than while lying at anchor after reaching his place of +destination. On landing in California he found orders which had come by +the Isthmus, notifying him of a mistake in his assignment; he should +have been ordered to the northern lakes. He started back by the Isthmus +route and was sick all the way. But when he arrived at the East he was +again ordered to California, this time definitely, and at this date was +making his third trip. He was as sick as ever, and had been so for more +than a month while lying at anchor in the bay. I remember him well, +seated with his elbows on the table in front of him, his chin between +his hands, and looking the picture of despair. At last he broke out, "I +wish I had taken my father's advice; he wanted me to go into the navy; +if I had done so, I should not have had to go to sea so much." Poor +Slaughter! it was his last sea voyage. He was killed by Indians in +Oregon. + +By the last of August the cholera had so abated that it was deemed safe +to start. The disease did not break out again on the way to California, +and we reached San Francisco early in September. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +SAN FRANCISCO--EARLY CALIFORNIA EXPERIENCES--LIFE ON THE PACIFIC COAST +--PROMOTED CAPTAIN--FLUSH TIMES IN CALIFORNIA. + +San Francisco at that day was a lively place. Gold, or placer digging +as it was called, was at its height. Steamers plied daily between San +Francisco and both Stockton and Sacramento. Passengers and gold from the +southern mines came by the Stockton boat; from the northern mines by +Sacramento. In the evening when these boats arrived, Long Wharf--there +was but one wharf in San Francisco in 1852--was alive with people +crowding to meet the miners as they came down to sell their "dust" and +to "have a time." Of these some were runners for hotels, boarding +houses or restaurants; others belonged to a class of impecunious +adventurers, of good manners and good presence, who were ever on the +alert to make the acquaintance of people with some ready means, in the +hope of being asked to take a meal at a restaurant. Many were young men +of good family, good education and gentlemanly instincts. Their parents +had been able to support them during their minority, and to give them +good educations, but not to maintain them afterwards. From 1849 to 1853 +there was a rush of people to the Pacific coast, of the class described. +All thought that fortunes were to be picked up, without effort, in the +gold fields on the Pacific. Some realized more than their most sanguine +expectations; but for one such there were hundreds disappointed, many of +whom now fill unknown graves; others died wrecks of their former selves, +and many, without a vicious instinct, became criminals and outcasts. +Many of the real scenes in early California life exceed in strangeness +and interest any of the mere products of the brain of the novelist. + +Those early days in California brought out character. It was a long way +off then, and the journey was expensive. The fortunate could go by Cape +Horn or by the Isthmus of Panama; but the mass of pioneers crossed the +plains with their ox-teams. This took an entire summer. They were very +lucky when they got through with a yoke of worn-out cattle. All other +means were exhausted in procuring the outfit on the Missouri River. The +immigrant, on arriving, found himself a stranger, in a strange land, far +from friends. Time pressed, for the little means that could be realized +from the sale of what was left of the outfit would not support a man +long at California prices. Many became discouraged. Others would take +off their coats and look for a job, no matter what it might be. These +succeeded as a rule. There were many young men who had studied +professions before they went to California, and who had never done a +day's manual labor in their lives, who took in the situation at once and +went to work to make a start at anything they could get to do. Some +supplied carpenters and masons with material--carrying plank, brick, or +mortar, as the case might be; others drove stages, drays, or baggage +wagons, until they could do better. More became discouraged early and +spent their time looking up people who would "treat," or lounging about +restaurants and gambling houses where free lunches were furnished daily. +They were welcomed at these places because they often brought in miners +who proved good customers. + +My regiment spent a few weeks at Benicia barracks, and then was ordered +to Fort Vancouver, on the Columbia River, then in Oregon Territory. +During the winter of 1852-3 the territory was divided, all north of the +Columbia River being taken from Oregon to make Washington Territory. + +Prices for all kinds of supplies were so high on the Pacific coast from +1849 until at least 1853--that it would have been impossible for +officers of the army to exist upon their pay, if it had not been that +authority was given them to purchase from the commissary such supplies +as he kept, at New Orleans wholesale prices. A cook could not be hired +for the pay of a captain. The cook could do better. At Benicia, in +1852, flour was 25 cents per pound; potatoes were 16 cents; beets, +turnips and cabbage, 6 cents; onions, 37 1/2 cents; meat and other +articles in proportion. In 1853 at Vancouver vegetables were a little +lower. I with three other officers concluded that we would raise a crop +for ourselves, and by selling the surplus realize something handsome. I +bought a pair of horses that had crossed the plains that summer and were +very poor. They recuperated rapidly, however, and proved a good team to +break up the ground with. I performed all the labor of breaking up the +ground while the other officers planted the potatoes. Our crop was +enormous. Luckily for us the Columbia River rose to a great height from +the melting of the snow in the mountains in June, and overflowed and +killed most of our crop. This saved digging it up, for everybody on the +Pacific coast seemed to have come to the conclusion at the same time +that agriculture would be profitable. In 1853 more than three-quarters +of the potatoes raised were permitted to rot in the ground, or had to be +thrown away. The only potatoes we sold were to our own mess. + +While I was stationed on the Pacific coast we were free from Indian +wars. There were quite a number of remnants of tribes in the vicinity +of Portland in Oregon, and of Fort Vancouver in Washington Territory. +They had generally acquired some of the vices of civilization, but none +of the virtues, except in individual cases. The Hudson's Bay Company +had held the North-west with their trading posts for many years before +the United States was represented on the Pacific coast. They still +retained posts along the Columbia River and one at Fort Vancouver, when +I was there. Their treatment of the Indians had brought out the better +qualities of the savages. Farming had been undertaken by the company to +supply the Indians with bread and vegetables; they raised some cattle +and horses; and they had now taught the Indians to do the labor of the +farm and herd. They always compensated them for their labor, and always +gave them goods of uniform quality and at uniform price. + +Before the advent of the American, the medium of exchange between the +Indian and the white man was pelts. Afterward it was silver coin. If +an Indian received in the sale of a horse a fifty dollar gold piece, not +an infrequent occurrence, the first thing he did was to exchange it for +American half dollars. These he could count. He would then commence his +purchases, paying for each article separately, as he got it. He would +not trust any one to add up the bill and pay it all at once. At that +day fifty dollar gold pieces, not the issue of the government, were +common on the Pacific coast. They were called slugs. + +The Indians, along the lower Columbia as far as the Cascades and on the +lower Willamette, died off very fast during the year I spent in that +section; for besides acquiring the vices of the white people they had +acquired also their diseases. The measles and the small-pox were both +amazingly fatal. In their wild state, before the appearance of the +white man among them, the principal complaints they were subject to were +those produced by long involuntary fasting, violent exercise in pursuit +of game, and over-eating. Instinct more than reason had taught them a +remedy for these ills. It was the steam bath. Something like a +bake-oven was built, large enough to admit a man lying down. Bushes were +stuck in the ground in two rows, about six feet long and some two or +three feet apart; other bushes connected the rows at one end. The tops +of the bushes were drawn together to interlace, and confined in that +position; the whole was then plastered over with wet clay until every +opening was filled. Just inside the open end of the oven the floor was +scooped out so as to make a hole that would hold a bucket or two of +water. These ovens were always built on the banks of a stream, a big +spring, or pool of water. When a patient required a bath, a fire was +built near the oven and a pile of stones put upon it. The cavity at the +front was then filled with water. When the stones were sufficiently +heated, the patient would draw himself into the oven; a blanket would be +thrown over the open end, and hot stones put into the water until the +patient could stand it no longer. He was then withdrawn from his steam +bath and doused into the cold stream near by. This treatment may have +answered with the early ailments of the Indians. With the measles or +small-pox it would kill every time. + +During my year on the Columbia River, the small-pox exterminated one +small remnant of a band of Indians entirely, and reduced others +materially. I do not think there was a case of recovery among them, +until the doctor with the Hudson Bay Company took the matter in hand and +established a hospital. Nearly every case he treated recovered. I +never, myself, saw the treatment described in the preceding paragraph, +but have heard it described by persons who have witnessed it. The +decimation among the Indians I knew of personally, and the hospital, +established for their benefit, was a Hudson's Bay building not a stone's +throw from my own quarters. + +The death of Colonel Bliss, of the Adjutant General's department, which +occurred July 5th, 1853, promoted me to the captaincy of a company then +stationed at Humboldt Bay, California. The notice reached me in +September of the same year, and I very soon started to join my new +command. There was no way of reaching Humboldt at that time except to +take passage on a San Francisco sailing vessel going after lumber. Red +wood, a species of cedar, which on the Pacific coast takes the place +filled by white pine in the East, then abounded on the banks of Humboldt +Bay. There were extensive saw-mills engaged in preparing this lumber +for the San Francisco market, and sailing vessels, used in getting it to +market, furnished the only means of communication between Humboldt and +the balance of the world. + +I was obliged to remain in San Francisco for several days before I found +a vessel. This gave me a good opportunity of comparing the San +Francisco of 1852 with that of 1853. As before stated, there had been +but one wharf in front of the city in 1852--Long Wharf. In 1853 the +town had grown out into the bay beyond what was the end of this wharf +when I first saw it. Streets and houses had been built out on piles +where the year before the largest vessels visiting the port lay at +anchor or tied to the wharf. There was no filling under the streets or +houses. San Francisco presented the same general appearance as the year +before; that is, eating, drinking and gambling houses were conspicuous +for their number and publicity. They were on the first floor, with +doors wide open. At all hours of the day and night in walking the +streets, the eye was regaled, on every block near the water front, by +the sight of players at faro. Often broken places were found in the +street, large enough to let a man down into the water below. I have but +little doubt that many of the people who went to the Pacific coast in +the early days of the gold excitement, and have never been heard from +since, or who were heard from for a time and then ceased to write, found +watery graves beneath the houses or streets built over San Francisco +Bay. + +Besides the gambling in cards there was gambling on a larger scale in +city lots. These were sold "On Change," much as stocks are now sold on +Wall Street. Cash, at time of purchase, was always paid by the broker; +but the purchaser had only to put up his margin. He was charged at the +rate of two or three per cent. a month on the difference, besides +commissions. The sand hills, some of them almost inaccessible to +foot-passengers, were surveyed off and mapped into fifty vara lots--a +vara being a Spanish yard. These were sold at first at very low prices, +but were sold and resold for higher prices until they went up to many +thousands of dollars. The brokers did a fine business, and so did many +such purchasers as were sharp enough to quit purchasing before the final +crash came. As the city grew, the sand hills back of the town furnished +material for filling up the bay under the houses and streets, and still +further out. The temporary houses, first built over the water in the +harbor, soon gave way to more solid structures. The main business part +of the city now is on solid ground, made where vessels of the largest +class lay at anchor in the early days. I was in San Francisco again in +1854. Gambling houses had disappeared from public view. The city had +become staid and orderly. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +RESIGNATION--PRIVATE LIFE--LIFE AT GALENA--THE COMING CRISIS. + +My family, all this while, was at the East. It consisted now of a wife +and two children. I saw no chance of supporting them on the Pacific +coast out of my pay as an army officer. I concluded, therefore, to +resign, and in March applied for a leave of absence until the end of the +July following, tendering my resignation to take effect at the end of +that time. I left the Pacific coast very much attached to it, and with +the full expectation of making it my future home. That expectation and +that hope remained uppermost in my mind until the Lieutenant-Generalcy +bill was introduced into Congress in the winter of 1863-4. The passage +of that bill, and my promotion, blasted my last hope of ever becoming a +citizen of the further West. + +In the late summer of 1854 I rejoined my family, to find in it a son +whom I had never seen, born while I was on the Isthmus of Panama. I was +now to commence, at the age of thirty-two, a new struggle for our +support. My wife had a farm near St. Louis, to which we went, but I had +no means to stock it. A house had to be built also. I worked very +hard, never losing a day because of bad weather, and accomplished the +object in a moderate way. If nothing else could be done I would load a +cord of wood on a wagon and take it to the city for sale. I managed to +keep along very well until 1858, when I was attacked by fever and ague. +I had suffered very severely and for a long time from this disease, +while a boy in Ohio. It lasted now over a year, and, while it did not +keep me in the house, it did interfere greatly with the amount of work I +was able to perform. In the fall of 1858 I sold out my stock, crops and +farming utensils at auction, and gave up farming. + +In the winter I established a partnership with Harry Boggs, a cousin of +Mrs. Grant, in the real estate agency business. I spent that winter at +St. Louis myself, but did not take my family into town until the spring. +Our business might have become prosperous if I had been able to wait for +it to grow. As it was, there was no more than one person could attend +to, and not enough to support two families. While a citizen of St. +Louis and engaged in the real estate agency business, I was a candidate +for the office of county engineer, an office of respectability and +emolument which would have been very acceptable to me at that time. The +incumbent was appointed by the county court, which consisted of five +members. My opponent had the advantage of birth over me (he was a +citizen by adoption) and carried off the prize. I now withdrew from the +co-partnership with Boggs, and, in May, 1860, removed to Galena, +Illinois, and took a clerkship in my father's store. + +While a citizen of Missouri, my first opportunity for casting a vote at +a Presidential election occurred. I had been in the army from before +attaining my majority and had thought but little about politics, +although I was a Whig by education and a great admirer of Mr. Clay. But +the Whig party had ceased to exist before I had an opportunity of +exercising the privilege of casting a ballot; the Know-Nothing party had +taken its place, but was on the wane; and the Republican party was in a +chaotic state and had not yet received a name. It had no existence in +the Slave States except at points on the borders next to Free States. +In St. Louis City and County, what afterwards became the Republican +party was known as the Free-Soil Democracy, led by the Honorable Frank +P. Blair. Most of my neighbors had known me as an officer of the army +with Whig proclivities. They had been on the same side, and, on the +death of their party, many had become Know-Nothings, or members of the +American party. There was a lodge near my new home, and I was invited to +join it. I accepted the invitation; was initiated; attended a meeting +just one week later, and never went to another afterwards. + +I have no apologies to make for having been one week a member of the +American party; for I still think native-born citizens of the United +States should have as much protection, as many privileges in their +native country, as those who voluntarily select it for a home. But all +secret, oath-bound political parties are dangerous to any nation, no +matter how pure or how patriotic the motives and principles which first +bring them together. No political party can or ought to exist when one +of its corner-stones is opposition to freedom of thought and to the +right to worship God "according to the dictate of one's own conscience," +or according to the creed of any religious denomination whatever. +Nevertheless, if a sect sets up its laws as binding above the State +laws, wherever the two come in conflict this claim must be resisted and +suppressed at whatever cost. + +Up to the Mexican war there were a few out and out abolitionists, men +who carried their hostility to slavery into all elections, from those +for a justice of the peace up to the Presidency of the United States. +They were noisy but not numerous. But the great majority of people at +the North, where slavery did not exist, were opposed to the institution, +and looked upon its existence in any part of the country as unfortunate. +They did not hold the States where slavery existed responsible for it; +and believed that protection should be given to the right of property in +slaves until some satisfactory way could be reached to be rid of the +institution. Opposition to slavery was not a creed of either political +party. In some sections more anti-slavery men belonged to the +Democratic party, and in others to the Whigs. But with the inauguration +of the Mexican war, in fact with the annexation of Texas, "the +inevitable conflict" commenced. + +As the time for the Presidential election of 1856--the first at which I +had the opportunity of voting--approached, party feeling began to run +high. The Republican party was regarded in the South and the border +States not only as opposed to the extension of slavery, but as favoring +the compulsory abolition of the institution without compensation to the +owners. The most horrible visions seemed to present themselves to the +minds of people who, one would suppose, ought to have known better. +Many educated and, otherwise, sensible persons appeared to believe that +emancipation meant social equality. Treason to the Government was +openly advocated and was not rebuked. It was evident to my mind that +the election of a Republican President in 1856 meant the secession of +all the Slave States, and rebellion. Under these circumstances I +preferred the success of a candidate whose election would prevent or +postpone secession, to seeing the country plunged into a war the end of +which no man could foretell. With a Democrat elected by the unanimous +vote of the Slave States, there could be no pretext for secession for +four years. I very much hoped that the passions of the people would +subside in that time, and the catastrophe be averted altogether; if it +was not, I believed the country would be better prepared to receive the +shock and to resist it. I therefore voted for James Buchanan for +President. Four years later the Republican party was successful in +electing its candidate to the Presidency. The civilized world has +learned the consequence. Four millions of human beings held as chattels +have been liberated; the ballot has been given to them; the free schools +of the country have been opened to their children. The nation still +lives, and the people are just as free to avoid social intimacy with the +blacks as ever they were, or as they are with white people. + +While living in Galena I was nominally only a clerk supporting myself +and family on a stipulated salary. In reality my position was +different. My father had never lived in Galena himself, but had +established my two brothers there, the one next younger than myself in +charge of the business, assisted by the youngest. When I went there it +was my father's intention to give up all connection with the business +himself, and to establish his three sons in it: but the brother who had +really built up the business was sinking with consumption, and it was +not thought best to make any change while he was in this condition. He +lived until September, 1861, when he succumbed to that insidious disease +which always flatters its victims into the belief that they are growing +better up to the close of life. A more honorable man never transacted +business. In September, 1861, I was engaged in an employment which +required all my attention elsewhere. + +During the eleven months that I lived in Galena prior to the first call +for volunteers, I had been strictly attentive to my business, and had +made but few acquaintances other than customers and people engaged in +the same line with myself. When the election took place in November, +1860, I had not been a resident of Illinois long enough to gain +citizenship and could not, therefore, vote. I was really glad of this +at the time, for my pledges would have compelled me to vote for Stephen +A. Douglas, who had no possible chance of election. The contest was +really between Mr. Breckinridge and Mr. Lincoln; between minority rule +and rule by the majority. I wanted, as between these candidates, to see +Mr. Lincoln elected. Excitement ran high during the canvass, and +torch-light processions enlivened the scene in the generally quiet +streets of Galena many nights during the campaign. I did not parade +with either party, but occasionally met with the "wide awakes" +--Republicans--in their rooms, and superintended their drill. It was +evident, from the time of the Chicago nomination to the close of the +canvass, that the election of the Republican candidate would be the +signal for some of the Southern States to secede. I still had hopes +that the four years which had elapsed since the first nomination of a +Presidential candidate by a party distinctly opposed to slavery +extension, had given time for the extreme pro-slavery sentiment to cool +down; for the Southerners to think well before they took the awful leap +which they had so vehemently threatened. But I was mistaken. + +The Republican candidate was elected, and solid substantial people of +the North-west, and I presume the same order of people throughout the +entire North, felt very serious, but determined, after this event. It +was very much discussed whether the South would carry out its threat to +secede and set up a separate government, the corner-stone of which +should be, protection to the "Divine" institution of slavery. For there +were people who believed in the "divinity" of human slavery, as there +are now people who believe Mormonism and Polygamy to be ordained by the +Most High. We forgive them for entertaining such notions, but forbid +their practice. It was generally believed that there would be a flurry; +that some of the extreme Southern States would go so far as to pass +ordinances of secession. But the common impression was that this step +was so plainly suicidal for the South, that the movement would not +spread over much of the territory and would not last long. + +Doubtless the founders of our government, the majority of them at least, +regarded the confederation of the colonies as an experiment. Each +colony considered itself a separate government; that the confederation +was for mutual protection against a foreign foe, and the prevention of +strife and war among themselves. If there had been a desire on the part +of any single State to withdraw from the compact at any time while the +number of States was limited to the original thirteen, I do not suppose +there would have been any to contest the right, no matter how much the +determination might have been regretted. The problem changed on the +ratification of the Constitution by all the colonies; it changed still +more when amendments were added; and if the right of any one State to +withdraw continued to exist at all after the ratification of the +Constitution, it certainly ceased on the formation of new States, at +least so far as the new States themselves were concerned. It was never +possessed at all by Florida or the States west of the Mississippi, all +of which were purchased by the treasury of the entire nation. Texas and +the territory brought into the Union in consequence of annexation, were +purchased with both blood and treasure; and Texas, with a domain greater +than that of any European state except Russia, was permitted to retain +as state property all the public lands within its borders. It would +have been ingratitude and injustice of the most flagrant sort for this +State to withdraw from the Union after all that had been spent and done +to introduce her; yet, if separation had actually occurred, Texas must +necessarily have gone with the South, both on account of her +institutions and her geographical position. Secession was illogical as +well as impracticable; it was revolution. + +Now, the right of revolution is an inherent one. When people are +oppressed by their government, it is a natural right they enjoy to +relieve themselves of the oppression, if they are strong enough, either +by withdrawal from it, or by overthrowing it and substituting a +government more acceptable. But any people or part of a people who +resort to this remedy, stake their lives, their property, and every +claim for protection given by citizenship--on the issue. Victory, or +the conditions imposed by the conqueror--must be the result. + +In the case of the war between the States it would have been the exact +truth if the South had said,--"We do not want to live with you Northern +people any longer; we know our institution of slavery is obnoxious to +you, and, as you are growing numerically stronger than we, it may at +some time in the future be endangered. So long as you permitted us to +control the government, and with the aid of a few friends at the North +to enact laws constituting your section a guard against the escape of +our property, we were willing to live with you. You have been +submissive to our rule heretofore; but it looks now as if you did not +intend to continue so, and we will remain in the Union no longer." +Instead of this the seceding States cried lustily,--"Let us alone; you +have no constitutional power to interfere with us." Newspapers and +people at the North reiterated the cry. Individuals might ignore the +constitution; but the Nation itself must not only obey it, but must +enforce the strictest construction of that instrument; the construction +put upon it by the Southerners themselves. The fact is the constitution +did not apply to any such contingency as the one existing from 1861 to +1865. Its framers never dreamed of such a contingency occurring. If +they had foreseen it, the probabilities are they would have sanctioned +the right of a State or States to withdraw rather than that there should +be war between brothers. + +The framers were wise in their generation and wanted to do the very best +possible to secure their own liberty and independence, and that also of +their descendants to the latest days. It is preposterous to suppose +that the people of one generation can lay down the best and only rules +of government for all who are to come after them, and under unforeseen +contingencies. At the time of the framing of our constitution the only +physical forces that had been subdued and made to serve man and do his +labor, were the currents in the streams and in the air we breathe. Rude +machinery, propelled by water power, had been invented; sails to propel +ships upon the waters had been set to catch the passing breeze--but the +application of stream to propel vessels against both wind and current, +and machinery to do all manner of work had not been thought of. The +instantaneous transmission of messages around the world by means of +electricity would probably at that day have been attributed to +witchcraft or a league with the Devil. Immaterial circumstances had +changed as greatly as material ones. We could not and ought not to be +rigidly bound by the rules laid down under circumstances so different +for emergencies so utterly unanticipated. The fathers themselves would +have been the first to declare that their prerogatives were not +irrevocable. They would surely have resisted secession could they have +lived to see the shape it assumed. + +I travelled through the Northwest considerably during the winter of +1860-1. We had customers in all the little towns in south-west +Wisconsin, south-east Minnesota and north-east Iowa. These generally +knew I had been a captain in the regular army and had served through the +Mexican war. Consequently wherever I stopped at night, some of the +people would come to the public-house where I was, and sit till a late +hour discussing the probabilities of the future. My own views at that +time were like those officially expressed by Mr. Seward at a later day, +that "the war would be over in ninety days." I continued to entertain +these views until after the battle of Shiloh. I believe now that there +would have been no more battles at the West after the capture of Fort +Donelson if all the troops in that region had been under a single +commander who would have followed up that victory. + +There is little doubt in my mind now that the prevailing sentiment of +the South would have been opposed to secession in 1860 and 1861, if +there had been a fair and calm expression of opinion, unbiased by +threats, and if the ballot of one legal voter had counted for as much as +that of any other. But there was no calm discussion of the question. +Demagogues who were too old to enter the army if there should be a war, +others who entertained so high an opinion of their own ability that they +did not believe they could be spared from the direction of the affairs +of state in such an event, declaimed vehemently and unceasingly against +the North; against its aggressions upon the South; its interference with +Southern rights, etc., etc. They denounced the Northerners as cowards, +poltroons, negro-worshippers; claimed that one Southern man was equal to +five Northern men in battle; that if the South would stand up for its +rights the North would back down. Mr. Jefferson Davis said in a speech, +delivered at La Grange, Mississippi, before the secession of that State, +that he would agree to drink all the blood spilled south of Mason and +Dixon's line if there should be a war. The young men who would have the +fighting to do in case of war, believed all these statements, both in +regard to the aggressiveness of the North and its cowardice. They, too, +cried out for a separation from such people. The great bulk of the +legal voters of the South were men who owned no slaves; their homes were +generally in the hills and poor country; their facilities for educating +their children, even up to the point of reading and writing, were very +limited; their interest in the contest was very meagre--what there was, +if they had been capable of seeing it, was with the North; they too +needed emancipation. Under the old regime they were looked down upon by +those who controlled all the affairs in the interest of slave-owners, as +poor white trash who were allowed the ballot so long as they cast it +according to direction. + +I am aware that this last statement may be disputed and individual +testimony perhaps adduced to show that in ante-bellum days the ballot +was as untrammelled in the south as in any section of the country; but +in the face of any such contradiction I reassert the statement. The +shot-gun was not resorted to. Masked men did not ride over the country +at night intimidating voters; but there was a firm feeling that a class +existed in every State with a sort of divine right to control public +affairs. If they could not get this control by one means they must by +another. The end justified the means. The coercion, if mild, was +complete. + +There were two political parties, it is true, in all the States, both +strong in numbers and respectability, but both equally loyal to the +institution which stood paramount in Southern eyes to all other +institutions in state or nation. The slave-owners were the minority, +but governed both parties. Had politics ever divided the slave-holders +and the non-slave-holders, the majority would have been obliged to +yield, or internecine war would have been the consequence. I do not +know that the Southern people were to blame for this condition of +affairs. There was a time when slavery was not profitable, and the +discussion of the merits of the institution was confined almost +exclusively to the territory where it existed. The States of Virginia +and Kentucky came near abolishing slavery by their own acts, one State +defeating the measure by a tie vote and the other only lacking one. But +when the institution became profitable, all talk of its abolition ceased +where it existed; and naturally, as human nature is constituted, +arguments were adduced in its support. The cotton-gin probably had much +to do with the justification of slavery. + +The winter of 1860-1 will be remembered by middle-aged people of to-day +as one of great excitement. South Carolina promptly seceded after the +result of the Presidential election was known. Other Southern States +proposed to follow. In some of them the Union sentiment was so strong +that it had to be suppressed by force. Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky and +Missouri, all Slave States, failed to pass ordinances of secession; but +they were all represented in the so-called congress of the so-called +Confederate States. The Governor and Lieutenant-Governor of Missouri, +in 1861, Jackson and Reynolds, were both supporters of the rebellion and +took refuge with the enemy. The governor soon died, and the +lieutenant-governor assumed his office; issued proclamations as governor +of the State; was recognized as such by the Confederate Government, and +continued his pretensions until the collapse of the rebellion. The South +claimed the sovereignty of States, but claimed the right to coerce into +their confederation such States as they wanted, that is, all the States +where slavery existed. They did not seem to think this course +inconsistent. The fact is, the Southern slave-owners believed that, in +some way, the ownership of slaves conferred a sort of patent of +nobility--a right to govern independent of the interest or wishes of +those who did not hold such property. They convinced themselves, first, +of the divine origin of the institution and, next, that that particular +institution was not safe in the hands of any body of legislators but +themselves. + +Meanwhile the Administration of President Buchanan looked helplessly on +and proclaimed that the general government had no power to interfere; +that the Nation had no power to save its own life. Mr. Buchanan had in +his cabinet two members at least, who were as earnest--to use a mild +term--in the cause of secession as Mr. Davis or any Southern statesman. +One of them, Floyd, the Secretary of War, scattered the army so that +much of it could be captured when hostilities should commence, and +distributed the cannon and small arms from Northern arsenals throughout +the South so as to be on hand when treason wanted them. The navy was +scattered in like manner. The President did not prevent his cabinet +preparing for war upon their government, either by destroying its +resources or storing them in the South until a de facto government was +established with Jefferson Davis as its President, and Montgomery, +Alabama, as the Capital. The secessionists had then to leave the +cabinet. In their own estimation they were aliens in the country which +had given them birth. Loyal men were put into their places. Treason in +the executive branch of the government was estopped. But the harm had +already been done. The stable door was locked after the horse had been +stolen. + +During all of the trying winter of 1860-1, when the Southerners were so +defiant that they would not allow within their borders the expression of +a sentiment hostile to their views, it was a brave man indeed who could +stand up and proclaim his loyalty to the Union. On the other hand men +at the North--prominent men--proclaimed that the government had no power +to coerce the South into submission to the laws of the land; that if the +North undertook to raise armies to go south, these armies would have to +march over the dead bodies of the speakers. A portion of the press of +the North was constantly proclaiming similar views. When the time +arrived for the President-elect to go to the capital of the Nation to be +sworn into office, it was deemed unsafe for him to travel, not only as a +President-elect, but as any private citizen should be allowed to do. +Instead of going in a special car, receiving the good wishes of his +constituents at all the stations along the road, he was obliged to stop +on the way and to be smuggled into the capital. He disappeared from +public view on his journey, and the next the country knew, his arrival +was announced at the capital. There is little doubt that he would have +been assassinated if he had attempted to travel openly throughout his +journey. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +OUTBREAK OF THE REBELLION--PRESIDING AT A UNION MEETING--MUSTERING +OFFICER OF STATE TROOPS--LYON AT CAMP JACKSON--SERVICES TENDERED TO THE +GOVERNMENT. + +The 4th of March, 1861, came, and Abraham Lincoln was sworn to maintain +the Union against all its enemies. The secession of one State after +another followed, until eleven had gone out. On the 11th of April Fort +Sumter, a National fort in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, was +fired upon by the Southerners and a few days after was captured. The +Confederates proclaimed themselves aliens, and thereby debarred +themselves of all right to claim protection under the Constitution of +the United States. We did not admit the fact that they were aliens, but +all the same, they debarred themselves of the right to expect better +treatment than people of any other foreign state who make war upon an +independent nation. Upon the firing on Sumter President Lincoln issued +his first call for troops and soon after a proclamation convening +Congress in extra session. The call was for 75,000 volunteers for +ninety days' service. If the shot fired at Fort Sumter "was heard +around the world," the call of the President for 75,000 men was heard +throughout the Northern States. There was not a state in the North of a +million of inhabitants that would not have furnished the entire number +faster than arms could have been supplied to them, if it had been +necessary. + +As soon as the news of the call for volunteers reached Galena, posters +were stuck up calling for a meeting of the citizens at the court-house +in the evening. Business ceased entirely; all was excitement; for a +time there were no party distinctions; all were Union men, determined to +avenge the insult to the national flag. In the evening the court-house +was packed. Although a comparative stranger I was called upon to +preside; the sole reason, possibly, was that I had been in the army and +had seen service. With much embarrassment and some prompting I made out +to announce the object of the meeting. Speeches were in order, but it +is doubtful whether it would have been safe just then to make other than +patriotic ones. There was probably no one in the house, however, who +felt like making any other. The two principal speeches were by B. B. +Howard, the post-master and a Breckinridge Democrat at the November +election the fall before, and John A. Rawlins, an elector on the Douglas +ticket. E. B. Washburne, with whom I was not acquainted at that time, +came in after the meeting had been organized, and expressed, I +understood afterwards, a little surprise that Galena could not furnish a +presiding officer for such an occasion without taking a stranger. He +came forward and was introduced, and made a speech appealing to the +patriotism of the meeting. + +After the speaking was over volunteers were called for to form a +company. The quota of Illinois had been fixed at six regiments; and it +was supposed that one company would be as much as would be accepted from +Galena. The company was raised and the officers and non-commissioned +officers elected before the meeting adjourned. I declined the captaincy +before the balloting, but announced that I would aid the company in +every way I could and would be found in the service in some position if +there should be a war. I never went into our leather store after that +meeting, to put up a package or do other business. + +The ladies of Galena were quite as patriotic as the men. They could not +enlist, but they conceived the idea of sending their first company to +the field uniformed. They came to me to get a description of the United +States uniform for infantry; subscribed and bought the material; +procured tailors to cut out the garments, and the ladies made them up. +In a few days the company was in uniform and ready to report at the +State capital for assignment. The men all turned out the morning after +their enlistment, and I took charge, divided them into squads and +superintended their drill. When they were ready to go to Springfield I +went with them and remained there until they were assigned to a +regiment. + +There were so many more volunteers than had been called for that the +question whom to accept was quite embarrassing to the governor, Richard +Yates. The legislature was in session at the time, however, and came to +his relief. A law was enacted authorizing the governor to accept the +services of ten additional regiments, one from each congressional +district, for one month, to be paid by the State, but pledged to go into +the service of the United States if there should be a further call +during their term. Even with this relief the governor was still very +much embarrassed. Before the war was over he was like the President +when he was taken with the varioloid: "at last he had something he +could give to all who wanted it." + +In time the Galena company was mustered into the United States service, +forming a part of the 11th Illinois volunteer infantry. My duties, I +thought, had ended at Springfield, and I was prepared to start home by +the evening train, leaving at nine o'clock. Up to that time I do not +think I had been introduced to Governor Yates, or had ever spoken to +him. I knew him by sight, however, because he was living at the same +hotel and I often saw him at table. The evening I was to quit the +capital I left the supper room before the governor and was standing at +the front door when he came out. He spoke to me, calling me by my old +army title "Captain," and said he understood that I was about leaving +the city. I answered that I was. He said he would be glad if I would +remain over-night and call at the Executive office the next morning. +I complied with his request, and was asked to go into the +Adjutant-General's office and render such assistance as I could, the +governor saying that my army experience would be of great service there. +I accepted the proposition. + +My old army experience I found indeed of very great service. I was no +clerk, nor had I any capacity to become one. The only place I ever +found in my life to put a paper so as to find it again was either a side +coat-pocket or the hands of a clerk or secretary more careful than +myself. But I had been quartermaster, commissary and adjutant in the +field. The army forms were familiar to me and I could direct how they +should be made out. There was a clerk in the office of the +Adjutant-General who supplied my deficiencies. The ease with which the +State of Illinois settled its accounts with the government at the close +of the war is evidence of the efficiency of Mr. Loomis as an accountant +on a large scale. He remained in the office until that time. + +As I have stated, the legislature authorized the governor to accept the +services of ten additional regiments. I had charge of mustering these +regiments into the State service. They were assembled at the most +convenient railroad centres in their respective congressional districts. +I detailed officers to muster in a portion of them, but mustered three +in the southern part of the State myself. One of these was to assemble +at Belleville, some eighteen miles south-east of St. Louis. When I got +there I found that only one or two companies had arrived. There was no +probability of the regiment coming together under five days. This gave +me a few idle days which I concluded to spend in St. Louis. + +There was a considerable force of State militia at Camp Jackson, on the +outskirts of St. Louis, at the time. There is but little doubt that it +was the design of Governor Claiborn Jackson to have these troops ready +to seize the United States arsenal and the city of St. Louis. Why they +did not do so I do not know. There was but a small garrison, two +companies I think, under Captain N. Lyon at the arsenal, and but for the +timely services of the Hon. F. P. Blair, I have little doubt that St. +Louis would have gone into rebel hands, and with it the arsenal with all +its arms and ammunition. + +Blair was a leader among the Union men of St. Louis in 1861. There was +no State government in Missouri at the time that would sanction the +raising of troops or commissioned officers to protect United States +property, but Blair had probably procured some form of authority from +the President to raise troops in Missouri and to muster them into the +service of the United States. At all events, he did raise a regiment +and took command himself as Colonel. With this force he reported to +Captain Lyon and placed himself and regiment under his orders. It was +whispered that Lyon thus reinforced intended to break up Camp Jackson +and capture the militia. I went down to the arsenal in the morning to +see the troops start out. I had known Lyon for two years at West Point +and in the old army afterwards. Blair I knew very well by sight. I had +heard him speak in the canvass of 1858, possibly several times, but I +had never spoken to him. As the troops marched out of the enclosure +around the arsenal, Blair was on his horse outside forming them into +line preparatory to their march. I introduced myself to him and had a +few moments' conversation and expressed my sympathy with his purpose. +This was my first personal acquaintance with the Honorable--afterwards +Major-General F. P. Blair. Camp Jackson surrendered without a fight and +the garrison was marched down to the arsenal as prisoners of war. + +Up to this time the enemies of the government in St. Louis had been bold +and defiant, while Union men were quiet but determined. The enemies had +their head-quarters in a central and public position on Pine Street, +near Fifth--from which the rebel flag was flaunted boldly. The Union +men had a place of meeting somewhere in the city, I did not know where, +and I doubt whether they dared to enrage the enemies of the government +by placing the national flag outside their head-quarters. As soon as +the news of the capture of Camp Jackson reached the city the condition +of affairs was changed. Union men became rampant, aggressive, and, if +you will, intolerant. They proclaimed their sentiments boldly, and were +impatient at anything like disrespect for the Union. The secessionists +became quiet but were filled with suppressed rage. They had been +playing the bully. The Union men ordered the rebel flag taken down from +the building on Pine Street. The command was given in tones of +authority and it was taken down, never to be raised again in St. Louis. + +I witnessed the scene. I had heard of the surrender of the camp and +that the garrison was on its way to the arsenal. I had seen the troops +start out in the morning and had wished them success. I now determined +to go to the arsenal and await their arrival and congratulate them. I +stepped on a car standing at the corner of 4th and Pine streets, and saw +a crowd of people standing quietly in front of the head-quarters, who +were there for the purpose of hauling down the flag. There were squads +of other people at intervals down the street. They too were quiet but +filled with suppressed rage, and muttered their resentment at the insult +to, what they called, "their" flag. Before the car I was in had +started, a dapper little fellow--he would be called a dude at this day +--stepped in. He was in a great state of excitement and used adjectives +freely to express his contempt for the Union and for those who had just +perpetrated such an outrage upon the rights of a free people. There was +only one other passenger in the car besides myself when this young man +entered. He evidently expected to find nothing but sympathy when he got +away from the "mud sills" engaged in compelling a "free people" to pull +down a flag they adored. He turned to me saying: "Things have come to +a ---- pretty pass when a free people can't choose their own flag. +Where I came from if a man dares to say a word in favor of the Union we +hang him to a limb of the first tree we come to." I replied that "after +all we were not so intolerant in St. Louis as we might be; I had not +seen a single rebel hung yet, nor heard of one; there were plenty of +them who ought to be, however." The young man subsided. He was so +crestfallen that I believe if I had ordered him to leave the car he +would have gone quietly out, saying to himself: "More Yankee +oppression." + +By nightfall the late defenders of Camp Jackson were all within the +walls of the St. Louis arsenal, prisoners of war. The next day I left +St. Louis for Mattoon, Illinois, where I was to muster in the regiment +from that congressional district. This was the 21st Illinois infantry, +the regiment of which I subsequently became colonel. I mustered one +regiment afterwards, when my services for the State were about closed. + +Brigadier-General John Pope was stationed at Springfield, as United +States mustering officer, all the time I was in the State service. He +was a native of Illinois and well acquainted with most of the prominent +men in the State. I was a carpet-bagger and knew but few of them. +While I was on duty at Springfield the senators, representatives in +Congress, ax-governors and the State legislators were nearly all at the +State capital. The only acquaintance I made among them was with the +governor, whom I was serving, and, by chance, with Senator S. A. +Douglas. The only members of Congress I knew were Washburne and Philip +Foulk. With the former, though he represented my district and we were +citizens of the same town, I only became acquainted at the meeting when +the first company of Galena volunteers was raised. Foulk I had known in +St. Louis when I was a citizen of that city. I had been three years at +West Point with Pope and had served with him a short time during the +Mexican war, under General Taylor. I saw a good deal of him during my +service with the State. On one occasion he said to me that I ought to +go into the United States service. I told him I intended to do so if +there was a war. He spoke of his acquaintance with the public men of +the State, and said he could get them to recommend me for a position and +that he would do all he could for me. I declined to receive endorsement +for permission to fight for my country. + +Going home for a day or two soon after this conversation with General +Pope, I wrote from Galena the following letter to the Adjutant-General +of the Army. + + +GALENA, ILLINOIS, May 24, 1861. + +COL. L. THOMAS Adjt. Gen. U. S. A., Washington, D. C. + +SIR:--Having served for fifteen years in the regular army, including +four years at West Point, and feeling it the duty of every one who has +been educated at the Government expense to offer their services for the +support of that Government, I have the honor, very respectfully, to +tender my services, until the close of the war, in such capacity as may +be offered. I would say, in view of my present age and length of +service, I feel myself competent to command a regiment, if the +President, in his judgment, should see fit to intrust one to me. + +Since the first call of the President I have been serving on the staff +of the Governor of this State, rendering such aid as I could in the +organization of our State militia, and am still engaged in that +capacity. A letter addressed to me at Springfield, Illinois, will reach +me. + +I am very respectfully, Your obt. svt., U. S. GRANT. + + +This letter failed to elicit an answer from the Adjutant-General of the +Army. I presume it was hardly read by him, and certainly it could not +have been submitted to higher authority. Subsequent to the war General +Badeau having heard of this letter applied to the War Department for a +copy of it. The letter could not be found and no one recollected ever +having seen it. I took no copy when it was written. Long after the +application of General Badeau, General Townsend, who had become +Adjutant-General of the Army, while packing up papers preparatory to the +removal of his office, found this letter in some out-of-the-way place. +It had not been destroyed, but it had not been regularly filed away. + +I felt some hesitation in suggesting rank as high as the colonelcy of a +regiment, feeling somewhat doubtful whether I would be equal to the +position. But I had seen nearly every colonel who had been mustered in +from the State of Illinois, and some from Indiana, and felt that if they +could command a regiment properly, and with credit, I could also. + +Having but little to do after the muster of the last of the regiments +authorized by the State legislature, I asked and obtained of the +governor leave of absence for a week to visit my parents in Covington, +Kentucky, immediately opposite Cincinnati. General McClellan had been +made a major-general and had his headquarters at Cincinnati. In reality +I wanted to see him. I had known him slightly at West Point, where we +served one year together, and in the Mexican war. I was in hopes that +when he saw me he would offer me a position on his staff. I called on +two successive days at his office but failed to see him on either +occasion, and returned to Springfield. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +APPOINTED COLONEL OF THE 21ST ILLINOIS--PERSONNEL OF THE REGIMENT +--GENERAL LOGAN--MARCH TO MISSOURI--MOVEMENT AGAINST HARRIS AT FLORIDA, +MO.--GENERAL POPE IN COMMAND--STATIONED AT MEXICO, MO. + +While I was absent from the State capital on this occasion the +President's second call for troops was issued. This time it was for +300,000 men, for three years or the war. This brought into the United +States service all the regiments then in the State service. These had +elected their officers from highest to lowest and were accepted with +their organizations as they were, except in two instances. A Chicago +regiment, the 19th infantry, had elected a very young man to the +colonelcy. When it came to taking the field the regiment asked to have +another appointed colonel and the one they had previously chosen made +lieutenant-colonel. The 21st regiment of infantry, mustered in by me at +Mattoon, refused to go into the service with the colonel of their +selection in any position. While I was still absent Governor Yates +appointed me colonel of this latter regiment. A few days after I was in +charge of it and in camp on the fair grounds near Springfield. + +My regiment was composed in large part of young men of as good social +position as any in their section of the State. It embraced the sons of +farmers, lawyers, physicians, politicians, merchants, bankers and +ministers, and some men of maturer years who had filled such positions +themselves. There were also men in it who could be led astray; and the +colonel, elected by the votes of the regiment, had proved to be fully +capable of developing all there was in his men of recklessness. It was +said that he even went so far at times as to take the guard from their +posts and go with them to the village near by and make a night of it. +When there came a prospect of battle the regiment wanted to have some +one else to lead them. I found it very hard work for a few days to +bring all the men into anything like subordination; but the great +majority favored discipline, and by the application of a little regular +army punishment all were reduced to as good discipline as one could ask. + +The ten regiments which had volunteered in the State service for thirty +days, it will be remembered, had done so with a pledge to go into the +National service if called upon within that time. When they volunteered +the government had only called for ninety days' enlistments. Men were +called now for three years or the war. They felt that this change of +period released them from the obligation of re-volunteering. When I was +appointed colonel, the 21st regiment was still in the State service. +About the time they were to be mustered into the United States service, +such of them as would go, two members of Congress from the State, +McClernand and Logan, appeared at the capital and I was introduced to +them. I had never seen either of them before, but I had read a great +deal about them, and particularly about Logan, in the newspapers. Both +were democratic members of Congress, and Logan had been elected from the +southern district of the State, where he had a majority of eighteen +thousand over his Republican competitor. His district had been settled +originally by people from the Southern States, and at the breaking out +of secession they sympathized with the South. At the first outbreak of +war some of them joined the Southern army; many others were preparing to +do so; others rode over the country at night denouncing the Union, and +made it as necessary to guard railroad bridges over which National +troops had to pass in southern Illinois, as it was in Kentucky or any of +the border slave states. Logan's popularity in this district was +unbounded. He knew almost enough of the people in it by their Christian +names, to form an ordinary congressional district. As he went in +politics, so his district was sure to go. The Republican papers had +been demanding that he should announce where he stood on the questions +which at that time engrossed the whole of public thought. Some were +very bitter in their denunciations of his silence. Logan was not a man +to be coerced into an utterance by threats. He did, however, come out +in a speech before the adjournment of the special session of Congress +which was convened by the President soon after his inauguration, and +announced his undying loyalty and devotion to the Union. But I had not +happened to see that speech, so that when I first met Logan my +impressions were those formed from reading denunciations of him. +McClernand, on the other hand, had early taken strong grounds for the +maintenance of the Union and had been praised accordingly by the +Republican papers. The gentlemen who presented these two members of +Congress asked me if I would have any objections to their addressing my +regiment. I hesitated a little before answering. It was but a few days +before the time set for mustering into the United States service such of +the men as were willing to volunteer for three years or the war. I had +some doubt as to the effect a speech from Logan might have; but as he +was with McClernand, whose sentiments on the all-absorbing questions of +the day were well known, I gave my consent. McClernand spoke first; and +Logan followed in a speech which he has hardly equalled since for force +and eloquence. It breathed a loyalty and devotion to the Union which +inspired my men to such a point that they would have volunteered to +remain in the army as long as an enemy of the country continued to bear +arms against it. They entered the United States service almost to a +man. + +General Logan went to his part of the State and gave his attention to +raising troops. The very men who at first made it necessary to guard +the roads in southern Illinois became the defenders of the Union. Logan +entered the service himself as colonel of a regiment and rapidly rose to +the rank of major-general. His district, which had promised at first to +give much trouble to the government, filled every call made upon it for +troops, without resorting to the draft. There was no call made when +there were not more volunteers than were asked for. That congressional +district stands credited at the War Department to-day with furnishing +more men for the army than it was called on to supply. + +I remained in Springfield with my regiment until the 3d of July, when I +was ordered to Quincy, Illinois. By that time the regiment was in a +good state of discipline and the officers and men were well up in the +company drill. There was direct railroad communication between +Springfield and Quincy, but I thought it would be good preparation for +the troops to march there. We had no transportation for our camp and +garrison equipage, so wagons were hired for the occasion and on the 3d +of July we started. There was no hurry, but fair marches were made +every day until the Illinois River was crossed. There I was overtaken +by a dispatch saying that the destination of the regiment had been +changed to Ironton, Missouri, and ordering me to halt where I was and +await the arrival of a steamer which had been dispatched up the Illinois +River to take the regiment to St. Louis. The boat, when it did come, +grounded on a sand-bar a few miles below where we were in camp. We +remained there several days waiting to have the boat get off the bar, +but before this occurred news came that an Illinois regiment was +surrounded by rebels at a point on the Hannibal and St. Joe Railroad +some miles west of Palmyra, in Missouri, and I was ordered to proceed +with all dispatch to their relief. We took the cars and reached Quincy +in a few hours. + +When I left Galena for the last time to take command of the 21st +regiment I took with me my oldest son, Frederick D. Grant, then a lad of +eleven years of age. On receiving the order to take rail for Quincy I +wrote to Mrs. Grant, to relieve what I supposed would be her great +anxiety for one so young going into danger, that I would send Fred home +from Quincy by river. I received a prompt letter in reply decidedly +disapproving my proposition, and urging that the lad should be allowed +to accompany me. It came too late. Fred was already on his way up the +Mississippi bound for Dubuque, Iowa, from which place there was a +railroad to Galena. + +My sensations as we approached what I supposed might be "a field of +battle" were anything but agreeable. I had been in all the engagements +in Mexico that it was possible for one person to be in; but not in +command. If some one else had been colonel and I had been +lieutenant-colonel I do not think I would have felt any trepidation. +Before we were prepared to cross the Mississippi River at Quincy my +anxiety was relieved; for the men of the besieged regiment came +straggling into town. I am inclined to think both sides got frightened +and ran away. + +I took my regiment to Palmyra and remained there for a few days, until +relieved by the 19th Illinois infantry. From Palmyra I proceeded to +Salt River, the railroad bridge over which had been destroyed by the +enemy. Colonel John M. Palmer at that time commanded the 13th Illinois, +which was acting as a guard to workmen who were engaged in rebuilding +this bridge. Palmer was my senior and commanded the two regiments as +long as we remained together. The bridge was finished in about two +weeks, and I received orders to move against Colonel Thomas Harris, who +was said to be encamped at the little town of Florida, some twenty-five +miles south of where we then were. + +At the time of which I now write we had no transportation and the +country about Salt River was sparsely settled, so that it took some days +to collect teams and drivers enough to move the camp and garrison +equipage of a regiment nearly a thousand strong, together with a week's +supply of provision and some ammunition. While preparations for the +move were going on I felt quite comfortable; but when we got on the road +and found every house deserted I was anything but easy. In the +twenty-five miles we had to march we did not see a person, old or young, +male or female, except two horsemen who were on a road that crossed +ours. As soon as they saw us they decamped as fast as their horses +could carry them. I kept my men in the ranks and forbade their entering +any of the deserted houses or taking anything from them. We halted at +night on the road and proceeded the next morning at an early hour. +Harris had been encamped in a creek bottom for the sake of being near +water. The hills on either side of the creek extend to a considerable +height, possibly more than a hundred feet. As we approached the brow of +the hill from which it was expected we could see Harris' camp, and +possibly find his men ready formed to meet us, my heart kept getting +higher and higher until it felt to me as though it was in my throat. I +would have given anything then to have been back in Illinois, but I had +not the moral courage to halt and consider what to do; I kept right on. +When we reached a point from which the valley below was in full view I +halted. The place where Harris had been encamped a few days before was +still there and the marks of a recent encampment were plainly visible, +but the troops were gone. My heart resumed its place. It occurred to +me at once that Harris had been as much afraid of me as I had been of +him. This was a view of the question I had never taken before; but it +was one I never forgot afterwards. From that event to the close of the +war, I never experienced trepidation upon confronting an enemy, though I +always felt more or less anxiety. I never forgot that he had as much +reason to fear my forces as I had his. The lesson was valuable. + +Inquiries at the village of Florida divulged the fact that Colonel +Harris, learning of my intended movement, while my transportation was +being collected took time by the forelock and left Florida before I had +started from Salt River. He had increased the distance between us by +forty miles. The next day I started back to my old camp at Salt River +bridge. The citizens living on the line of our march had returned to +their houses after we passed, and finding everything in good order, +nothing carried away, they were at their front doors ready to greet us +now. They had evidently been led to believe that the National troops +carried death and devastation with them wherever they went. + +In a short time after our return to Salt River bridge I was ordered with +my regiment to the town of Mexico. General Pope was then commanding the +district embracing all of the State of Missouri between the Mississippi +and Missouri rivers, with his headquarters in the village of Mexico. I +was assigned to the command of a sub-district embracing the troops in +the immediate neighborhood, some three regiments of infantry and a +section of artillery. There was one regiment encamped by the side of +mine. I assumed command of the whole and the first night sent the +commander of the other regiment the parole and countersign. Not wishing +to be outdone in courtesy, he immediately sent me the countersign for +his regiment for the night. When he was informed that the countersign +sent to him was for use with his regiment as well as mine, it was +difficult to make him understand that this was not an unwarranted +interference of one colonel over another. No doubt he attributed it for +the time to the presumption of a graduate of West Point over a volunteer +pure and simple. But the question was soon settled and we had no +further trouble. + +My arrival in Mexico had been preceded by that of two or three regiments +in which proper discipline had not been maintained, and the men had been +in the habit of visiting houses without invitation and helping +themselves to food and drink, or demanding them from the occupants. +They carried their muskets while out of camp and made every man they +found take the oath of allegiance to the government. I at once +published orders prohibiting the soldiers from going into private houses +unless invited by the inhabitants, and from appropriating private +property to their own or to government uses. The people were no longer +molested or made afraid. I received the most marked courtesy from the +citizens of Mexico as long as I remained there. + +Up to this time my regiment had not been carried in the school of the +soldier beyond the company drill, except that it had received some +training on the march from Springfield to the Illinois River. There was +now a good opportunity of exercising it in the battalion drill. While I +was at West Point the tactics used in the army had been Scott's and the +musket the flint lock. I had never looked at a copy of tactics from the +time of my graduation. My standing in that branch of studies had been +near the foot of the class. In the Mexican war in the summer of 1846, I +had been appointed regimental quartermaster and commissary and had not +been at a battalion drill since. The arms had been changed since then +and Hardee's tactics had been adopted. I got a copy of tactics and +studied one lesson, intending to confine the exercise of the first day +to the commands I had thus learned. By pursuing this course from day to +day I thought I would soon get through the volume. + +We were encamped just outside of town on the common, among scattering +suburban houses with enclosed gardens, and when I got my regiment in +line and rode to the front I soon saw that if I attempted to follow the +lesson I had studied I would have to clear away some of the houses and +garden fences to make room. I perceived at once, however, that Hardee's +tactics--a mere translation from the French with Hardee's name attached +--was nothing more than common sense and the progress of the age applied +to Scott's system. The commands were abbreviated and the movement +expedited. Under the old tactics almost every change in the order of +march was preceded by a "halt," then came the change, and then the +"forward march." With the new tactics all these changes could be made +while in motion. I found no trouble in giving commands that would take +my regiment where I wanted it to go and carry it around all obstacles. +I do not believe that the officers of the regiment ever discovered that +I had never studied the tactics that I used. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +COMMISSIONED BRIGADIER-GENERAL--COMMAND AT IRONTON, MO.--JEFFERSON CITY +--CAPE GIRARDEAU--GENERAL PRENTISS--SEIZURE OF PADUCAH--HEADQUARTERS AT +CAIRO. + +I had not been in Mexico many weeks when, reading a St. Louis paper, +I found the President had asked the Illinois delegation in Congress +to recommend some citizens of the State for the position of +brigadier-general, and that they had unanimously recommended me as first +on a list of seven. I was very much surprised because, as I have said, +my acquaintance with the Congressmen was very limited and I did not know +of anything I had done to inspire such confidence. The papers of the +next day announced that my name, with three others, had been sent to the +Senate, and a few days after our confirmation was announced. + +When appointed brigadier-general I at once thought it proper that one of +my aides should come from the regiment I had been commanding, and so +selected Lieutenant C. B. Lagow. While living in St. Louis, I had had a +desk in the law office of McClellan, Moody and Hillyer. Difference in +views between the members of the firm on the questions of the day, and +general hard times in the border cities, had broken up this firm. +Hillyer was quite a young man, then in his twenties, and very brilliant. +I asked him to accept a place on my staff. I also wanted to take one +man from my new home, Galena. The canvass in the Presidential campaign +the fall before had brought out a young lawyer by the name of John A. +Rawlins, who proved himself one of the ablest speakers in the State. He +was also a candidate for elector on the Douglas ticket. When Sumter was +fired upon and the integrity of the Union threatened, there was no man +more ready to serve his country than he. I wrote at once asking him to +accept the position of assistant adjutant-general with the rank of +captain, on my staff. He was about entering the service as major of a +new regiment then organizing in the north-western part of the State; but +he threw this up and accepted my offer. + +Neither Hillyer nor Lagow proved to have any particular taste or special +qualifications for the duties of the soldier, and the former resigned +during the Vicksburg campaign; the latter I relieved after the battle of +Chattanooga. Rawlins remained with me as long as he lived, and rose to +the rank of brigadier general and chief-of-staff to the General of the +Army--an office created for him--before the war closed. He was an able +man, possessed of great firmness, and could say "no" so emphatically to +a request which he thought should not be granted that the person he was +addressing would understand at once that there was no use of pressing +the matter. General Rawlins was a very useful officer in other ways +than this. I became very much attached to him. + +Shortly after my promotion I was ordered to Ironton, Missouri, to +command a district in that part of the State, and took the 21st +Illinois, my old regiment, with me. Several other regiments were +ordered to the same destination about the same time. Ironton is on the +Iron Mountain railroad, about seventy miles south of St. Louis, and +situated among hills rising almost to the dignity of mountains. When I +reached there, about the 8th of August, Colonel B. Gratz Brown +--afterwards Governor of Missouri and in 1872 Vice-Presidential candidate +--was in command. Some of his troops were ninety days' men and their +time had expired some time before. The men had no clothing but what +they had volunteered in, and much of this was so worn that it would +hardly stay on. General Hardee--the author of the tactics I did not +study--was at Greenville some twenty-five miles further south, it was +said, with five thousand Confederate troops. Under these circumstances +Colonel Brown's command was very much demoralized. A squadron of +cavalry could have ridden into the valley and captured the entire force. +Brown himself was gladder to see me on that occasion than he ever has +been since. I relieved him and sent all his men home within a day or +two, to be mustered out of service. + +Within ten days after reading Ironton I was prepared to take the +offensive against the enemy at Greenville. I sent a column east out of +the valley we were in, with orders to swing around to the south and west +and come into the Greenville road ten miles south of Ironton. Another +column marched on the direct road and went into camp at the point +designated for the two columns to meet. I was to ride out the next +morning and take personal command of the movement. My experience +against Harris, in northern Missouri, had inspired me with confidence. +But when the evening train came in, it brought General B. M. Prentiss +with orders to take command of the district. His orders did not relieve +me, but I knew that by law I was senior, and at that time even the +President did not have the authority to assign a junior to command a +senior of the same grade. I therefore gave General Prentiss the +situation of the troops and the general condition of affairs, and +started for St. Louis the same day. The movement against the rebels at +Greenville went no further. + +From St. Louis I was ordered to Jefferson City, the capital of the +State, to take command. General Sterling Price, of the Confederate +army, was thought to be threatening the capital, Lexington, Chillicothe +and other comparatively large towns in the central part of Missouri. I +found a good many troops in Jefferson City, but in the greatest +confusion, and no one person knew where they all were. Colonel +Mulligan, a gallant man, was in command, but he had not been educated as +yet to his new profession and did not know how to maintain discipline. +I found that volunteers had obtained permission from the department +commander, or claimed they had, to raise, some of them, regiments; some +battalions; some companies--the officers to be commissioned according to +the number of men they brought into the service. There were recruiting +stations all over town, with notices, rudely lettered on boards over the +doors, announcing the arm of service and length of time for which +recruits at that station would be received. The law required all +volunteers to serve for three years or the war. But in Jefferson City +in August, 1861, they were recruited for different periods and on +different conditions; some were enlisted for six months, some for a +year, some without any condition as to where they were to serve, others +were not to be sent out of the State. The recruits were principally men +from regiments stationed there and already in the service, bound for +three years if the war lasted that long. + +The city was filled with Union fugitives who had been driven by guerilla +bands to take refuge with the National troops. They were in a +deplorable condition and must have starved but for the support the +government gave them. They had generally made their escape with a team +or two, sometimes a yoke of oxen with a mule or a horse in the lead. A +little bedding besides their clothing and some food had been thrown into +the wagon. All else of their worldly goods were abandoned and +appropriated by their former neighbors; for the Union man in Missouri +who staid at home during the rebellion, if he was not immediately under +the protection of the National troops, was at perpetual war with his +neighbors. I stopped the recruiting service, and disposed the troops +about the outskirts of the city so as to guard all approaches. Order +was soon restored. + +I had been at Jefferson City but a few days when I was directed from +department headquarters to fit out an expedition to Lexington, +Booneville and Chillicothe, in order to take from the banks in those +cities all the funds they had and send them to St. Louis. The western +army had not yet been supplied with transportation. It became necessary +therefore to press into the service teams belonging to sympathizers with +the rebellion or to hire those of Union men. This afforded an +opportunity of giving employment to such of the refugees within our +lines as had teams suitable for our purposes. They accepted the service +with alacrity. As fast as troops could be got off they were moved west +some twenty miles or more. In seven or eight days from my assuming +command at Jefferson City, I had all the troops, except a small +garrison, at an advanced position and expected to join them myself the +next day. + +But my campaigns had not yet begun, for while seated at my office door, +with nothing further to do until it was time to start for the front, I +saw an officer of rank approaching, who proved to be Colonel Jefferson +C. Davis. I had never met him before, but he introduced himself by +handing me an order for him to proceed to Jefferson City and relieve me +of the command. The orders directed that I should report at department +headquarters at St. Louis without delay, to receive important special +instructions. It was about an hour before the only regular train of the +day would start. I therefore turned over to Colonel Davis my orders, +and hurriedly stated to him the progress that had been made to carry out +the department instructions already described. I had at that time but +one staff officer, doing myself all the detail work usually performed by +an adjutant-general. In an hour after being relieved from the command I +was on my way to St. Louis, leaving my single staff officer(*6) to +follow the next day with our horses and baggage. + +The "important special instructions" which I received the next day, +assigned me to the command of the district of south-east Missouri, +embracing all the territory south of St. Louis, in Missouri, as well as +all southern Illinois. At first I was to take personal command of a +combined expedition that had been ordered for the capture of Colonel +Jeff. Thompson, a sort of independent or partisan commander who was +disputing with us the possession of south-east Missouri. Troops had +been ordered to move from Ironton to Cape Girardeau, sixty or seventy +miles to the south-east, on the Mississippi River; while the forces at +Cape Girardeau had been ordered to move to Jacksonville, ten miles out +towards Ironton; and troops at Cairo and Bird's Point, at the junction +of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, were to hold themselves in readiness +to go down the Mississippi to Belmont, eighteen miles below, to be moved +west from there when an officer should come to command them. I was the +officer who had been selected for this purpose. Cairo was to become my +headquarters when the expedition terminated. + +In pursuance of my orders I established my temporary headquarters at +Cape Girardeau and sent instructions to the commanding officer at +Jackson, to inform me of the approach of General Prentiss from Ironton. +Hired wagons were kept moving night and day to take additional rations +to Jackson, to supply the troops when they started from there. Neither +General Prentiss nor Colonel Marsh, who commanded at Jackson, knew their +destination. I drew up all the instructions for the contemplated move, +and kept them in my pocket until I should hear of the junction of our +troops at Jackson. Two or three days after my arrival at Cape +Girardeau, word came that General Prentiss was approaching that place +(Jackson). I started at once to meet him there and to give him his +orders. As I turned the first corner of a street after starting, I saw +a column of cavalry passing the next street in front of me. I turned +and rode around the block the other way, so as to meet the head of the +column. I found there General Prentiss himself, with a large escort. +He had halted his troops at Jackson for the night, and had come on +himself to Cape Girardeau, leaving orders for his command to follow him +in the morning. I gave the General his orders--which stopped him at +Jackson--but he was very much aggrieved at being placed under another +brigadier-general, particularly as he believed himself to be the senior. +He had been a brigadier, in command at Cairo, while I was mustering +officer at Springfield without any rank. But we were nominated at the +same time for the United States service, and both our commissions bore +date May 17th, 1861. By virtue of my former army rank I was, by law, +the senior. General Prentiss failed to get orders to his troops to +remain at Jackson, and the next morning early they were reported as +approaching Cape Girardeau. I then ordered the General very +peremptorily to countermarch his command and take it back to Jackson. +He obeyed the order, but bade his command adieu when he got them to +Jackson, and went to St. Louis and reported himself. This broke up the +expedition. But little harm was done, as Jeff. Thompson moved light and +had no fixed place for even nominal headquarters. He was as much at +home in Arkansas as he was in Missouri and would keep out of the way of +a superior force. Prentiss was sent to another part of the State. + +General Prentiss made a great mistake on the above occasion, one that he +would not have committed later in the war. When I came to know him +better, I regretted it much. In consequence of this occurrence he was +off duty in the field when the principal campaign at the West was going +on, and his juniors received promotion while he was where none could be +obtained. He would have been next to myself in rank in the district of +south-east Missouri, by virtue of his services in the Mexican war. He +was a brave and very earnest soldier. No man in the service was more +sincere in his devotion to the cause for which we were battling; none +more ready to make sacrifices or risk life in it. + +On the 4th of September I removed my headquarters to Cairo and found +Colonel Richard Oglesby in command of the post. We had never met, at +least not to my knowledge. After my promotion I had ordered my +brigadier-general's uniform from New York, but it had not yet arrived, +so that I was in citizen's dress. The Colonel had his office full of +people, mostly from the neighboring States of Missouri and Kentucky, +making complaints or asking favors. He evidently did not catch my name +when I was presented, for on my taking a piece of paper from the table +where he was seated and writing the order assuming command of the +district of south-east Missouri, Colonel Richard J. Oglesby to command +the post at Bird's Point, and handing it to him, he put on an expression +of surprise that looked a little as if he would like to have some one +identify me. But he surrendered the office without question. + +The day after I assumed command at Cairo a man came to me who said he +was a scout of General Fremont. He reported that he had just come from +Columbus, a point on the Mississippi twenty miles below on the Kentucky +side, and that troops had started from there, or were about to start, to +seize Paducah, at the mouth of the Tennessee. There was no time for +delay; I reported by telegraph to the department commander the +information I had received, and added that I was taking steps to get off +that night to be in advance of the enemy in securing that important +point. There was a large number of steamers lying at Cairo and a good +many boatmen were staying in the town. It was the work of only a few +hours to get the boats manned, with coal aboard and steam up. Troops +were also designated to go aboard. The distance from Cairo to Paducah +is about forty-five miles. I did not wish to get there before daylight +of the 6th, and directed therefore that the boats should lie at anchor +out in the stream until the time to start. Not having received an +answer to my first dispatch, I again telegraphed to department +headquarters that I should start for Paducah that night unless I +received further orders. Hearing nothing, we started before midnight +and arrived early the following morning, anticipating the enemy by +probably not over six or eight hours. It proved very fortunate that the +expedition against Jeff. Thompson had been broken up. Had it not been, +the enemy would have seized Paducah and fortified it, to our very great +annoyance. + +When the National troops entered the town the citizens were taken by +surprise. I never after saw such consternation depicted on the faces of +the people. Men, women and children came out of their doors looking +pale and frightened at the presence of the invader. They were expecting +rebel troops that day. In fact, nearly four thousand men from Columbus +were at that time within ten or fifteen miles of Paducah on their way to +occupy the place. I had but two regiments and one battery with me, but +the enemy did not know this and returned to Columbus. I stationed my +troops at the best points to guard the roads leading into the city, left +gunboats to guard the river fronts and by noon was ready to start on my +return to Cairo. Before leaving, however, I addressed a short printed +proclamation to the citizens of Paducah assuring them of our peaceful +intentions, that we had come among them to protect them against the +enemies of our country, and that all who chose could continue their +usual avocations with assurance of the protection of the government. +This was evidently a relief to them; but the majority would have much +preferred the presence of the other army. I reinforced Paducah rapidly +from the troops at Cape Girardeau; and a day or two later General C. F. +Smith, a most accomplished soldier, reported at Cairo and was assigned +to the command of the post at the mouth of the Tennessee. In a short +time it was well fortified and a detachment was sent to occupy +Smithland, at the mouth of the Cumberland. + +The State government of Kentucky at that time was rebel in sentiment, +but wanted to preserve an armed neutrality between the North and the +South, and the governor really seemed to think the State had a perfect +right to maintain a neutral position. The rebels already occupied two +towns in the State, Columbus and Hickman, on the Mississippi; and at the +very moment the National troops were entering Paducah from the Ohio +front, General Lloyd Tilghman--a Confederate--with his staff and a small +detachment of men, were getting out in the other direction, while, as I +have already said, nearly four thousand Confederate troops were on +Kentucky soil on their way to take possession of the town. But, in the +estimation of the governor and of those who thought with him, this did +not justify the National authorities in invading the soil of Kentucky. +I informed the legislature of the State of what I was doing, and my +action was approved by the majority of that body. On my return to Cairo +I found authority from department headquarters for me to take Paducah +"if I felt strong enough," but very soon after I was reprimanded from +the same quarters for my correspondence with the legislature and warned +against a repetition of the offence. + +Soon after I took command at Cairo, General Fremont entered into +arrangements for the exchange of the prisoners captured at Camp Jackson +in the month of May. I received orders to pass them through my lines to +Columbus as they presented themselves with proper credentials. Quite a +number of these prisoners I had been personally acquainted with before +the war. Such of them as I had so known were received at my +headquarters as old acquaintances, and ordinary routine business was not +disturbed by their presence. On one occasion when several were present +in my office my intention to visit Cape Girardeau the next day, to +inspect the troops at that point, was mentioned. Something transpired +which postponed my trip; but a steamer employed by the government was +passing a point some twenty or more miles above Cairo, the next day, +when a section of rebel artillery with proper escort brought her to. A +major, one of those who had been at my headquarters the day before, came +at once aboard and after some search made a direct demand for my +delivery. It was hard to persuade him that I was not there. This +officer was Major Barrett, of St. Louis. I had been acquainted with his +family before the war. + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +GENERAL FREMONT IN COMMAND--MOVEMENT AGAINST BELMONT--BATTLE OF BELMONT +--A NARROW ESCAPE--AFTER THE BATTLE. + +From the occupation of Paducah up to the early part of November nothing +important occurred with the troops under my command. I was reinforced +from time to time and the men were drilled and disciplined preparatory +for the service which was sure to come. By the 1st of November I had +not fewer than 20,000 men, most of them under good drill and ready to +meet any equal body of men who, like themselves, had not yet been in an +engagement. They were growing impatient at lying idle so long, almost +in hearing of the guns of the enemy they had volunteered to fight +against. I asked on one or two occasions to be allowed to move against +Columbus. It could have been taken soon after the occupation of +Paducah; but before November it was so strongly fortified that it would +have required a large force and a long siege to capture it. + +In the latter part of October General Fremont took the field in person +and moved from Jefferson City against General Sterling Price, who was +then in the State of Missouri with a considerable command. About the +first of November I was directed from department headquarters to make a +demonstration on both sides of the Mississippi River with the view of +detaining the rebels at Columbus within their lines. Before my troops +could be got off, I was notified from the same quarter that there were +some 3,000 of the enemy on the St. Francis River about fifty miles west, +or south-west, from Cairo, and was ordered to send another force against +them. I dispatched Colonel Oglesby at once with troops sufficient to +compete with the reported number of the enemy. On the 5th word came +from the same source that the rebels were about to detach a large force +from Columbus to be moved by boats down the Mississippi and up the White +River, in Arkansas, in order to reinforce Price, and I was directed to +prevent this movement if possible. I accordingly sent a regiment from +Bird's Point under Colonel W. H. L. Wallace to overtake and reinforce +Oglesby, with orders to march to New Madrid, a point some distance below +Columbus, on the Missouri side. At the same time I directed General C. +F. Smith to move all the troops he could spare from Paducah directly +against Columbus, halting them, however, a few miles from the town to +await further orders from me. Then I gathered up all the troops at +Cairo and Fort Holt, except suitable guards, and moved them down the +river on steamers convoyed by two gunboats, accompanying them myself. +My force consisted of a little over 3,000 men and embraced five +regiments of infantry, two guns and two companies of cavalry. We +dropped down the river on the 6th to within about six miles of Columbus, +debarked a few men on the Kentucky side and established pickets to +connect with the troops from Paducah. + +I had no orders which contemplated an attack by the National troops, nor +did I intend anything of the kind when I started out from Cairo; but +after we started I saw that the officers and men were elated at the +prospect of at last having the opportunity of doing what they had +volunteered to do--fight the enemies of their country. I did not see +how I could maintain discipline, or retain the confidence of my command, +if we should return to Cairo without an effort to do something. +Columbus, besides being strongly fortified, contained a garrison much +more numerous than the force I had with me. It would not do, therefore, +to attack that point. About two o'clock on the morning of the 7th, I +learned that the enemy was crossing troops from Columbus to the west +bank to be dispatched, presumably, after Oglesby. I knew there was a +small camp of Confederates at Belmont, immediately opposite Columbus, +and I speedily resolved to push down the river, land on the Missouri +side, capture Belmont, break up the camp and return. Accordingly, the +pickets above Columbus were drawn in at once, and about daylight the +boats moved out from shore. In an hour we were debarking on the west +bank of the Mississippi, just out of range of the batteries at Columbus. + +The ground on the west shore of the river, opposite Columbus, is low and +in places marshy and cut up with sloughs. The soil is rich and the +timber large and heavy. There were some small clearings between Belmont +and the point where we landed, but most of the country was covered with +the native forests. We landed in front of a cornfield. When the +debarkation commenced, I took a regiment down the river to post it as a +guard against surprise. At that time I had no staff officer who could +be trusted with that duty. In the woods, at a short distance below the +clearing, I found a depression, dry at the time, but which at high water +became a slough or bayou. I placed the men in the hollow, gave them +their instructions and ordered them to remain there until they were +properly relieved. These troops, with the gunboats, were to protect our +transports. + +Up to this time the enemy had evidently failed to divine our intentions. +From Columbus they could, of course, see our gunboats and transports +loaded with troops. But the force from Paducah was threatening them +from the land side, and it was hardly to be expected that if Columbus +was our object we would separate our troops by a wide river. They +doubtless thought we meant to draw a large force from the east bank, +then embark ourselves, land on the east bank and make a sudden assault +on Columbus before their divided command could be united. + +About eight o'clock we started from the point of debarkation, marching +by the flank. After moving in this way for a mile or a mile and a half, +I halted where there was marshy ground covered with a heavy growth of +timber in our front, and deployed a large part of my force as +skirmishers. By this time the enemy discovered that we were moving upon +Belmont and sent out troops to meet us. Soon after we had started in +line, his skirmishers were encountered and fighting commenced. This +continued, growing fiercer and fiercer, for about four hours, the enemy +being forced back gradually until he was driven into his camp. Early in +this engagement my horse was shot under me, but I got another from one +of my staff and kept well up with the advance until the river was +reached. + +The officers and men engaged at Belmont were then under fire for the +first time. Veterans could not have behaved better than they did up to +the moment of reaching the rebel camp. At this point they became +demoralized from their victory and failed to reap its full reward. The +enemy had been followed so closely that when he reached the clear ground +on which his camp was pitched he beat a hasty retreat over the river +bank, which protected him from our shots and from view. This +precipitate retreat at the last moment enabled the National forces to +pick their way without hinderance through the abatis--the only +artificial defence the enemy had. The moment the camp was reached our +men laid down their arms and commenced rummaging the tents to pick up +trophies. Some of the higher officers were little better than the +privates. They galloped about from one cluster of men to another and at +every halt delivered a short eulogy upon the Union cause and the +achievements of the command. + +All this time the troops we had been engaged with for four hours, lay +crouched under cover of the river bank, ready to come up and surrender +if summoned to do so; but finding that they were not pursued, they +worked their way up the river and came up on the bank between us and our +transports. I saw at the same time two steamers coming from the +Columbus side towards the west shore, above us, black--or gray--with +soldiers from boiler-deck to roof. Some of my men were engaged in +firing from captured guns at empty steamers down the river, out of +range, cheering at every shot. I tried to get them to turn their guns +upon the loaded steamers above and not so far away. My efforts were in +vain. At last I directed my staff officers to set fire to the camps. +This drew the fire of the enemy's guns located on the heights of +Columbus. They had abstained from firing before, probably because they +were afraid of hitting their own men; or they may have supposed, until +the camp was on fire, that it was still in the possession of their +friends. About this time, too, the men we had driven over the bank were +seen in line up the river between us and our transports. The alarm +"surrounded" was given. The guns of the enemy and the report of being +surrounded, brought officers and men completely under control. At first +some of the officers seemed to think that to be surrounded was to be +placed in a hopeless position, where there was nothing to do but +surrender. But when I announced that we had cut our way in and could +cut our way out just as well, it seemed a new revelation to officers and +soldiers. They formed line rapidly and we started back to our boats, +with the men deployed as skirmishers as they had been on entering camp. +The enemy was soon encountered, but his resistance this time was feeble. +Again the Confederates sought shelter under the river banks. We could +not stop, however, to pick them up, because the troops we had seen +crossing the river had debarked by this time and were nearer our +transports than we were. It would be prudent to get them behind us; but +we were not again molested on our way to the boats. + +From the beginning of the fighting our wounded had been carried to the +houses at the rear, near the place of debarkation. I now set the troops +to bringing their wounded to the boats. After this had gone on for some +little time I rode down the road, without even a staff officer, to visit +the guard I had stationed over the approach to our transports. I knew +the enemy had crossed over from Columbus in considerable numbers and +might be expected to attack us as we were embarking. This guard would +be encountered first and, as they were in a natural intrenchment, would +be able to hold the enemy for a considerable time. My surprise was +great to find there was not a single man in the trench. Riding back to +the boat I found the officer who had commanded the guard and learned +that he had withdrawn his force when the main body fell back. At first +I ordered the guard to return, but finding that it would take some time +to get the men together and march them back to their position, I +countermanded the order. Then fearing that the enemy we had seen +crossing the river below might be coming upon us unawares, I rode out in +the field to our front, still entirely alone, to observe whether the +enemy was passing. The field was grown up with corn so tall and thick +as to cut off the view of even a person on horseback, except directly +along the rows. Even in that direction, owing to the overhanging blades +of corn, the view was not extensive. I had not gone more than a few +hundred yards when I saw a body of troops marching past me not fifty +yards away. I looked at them for a moment and then turned my horse +towards the river and started back, first in a walk, and when I thought +myself concealed from the view of the enemy, as fast as my horse could +carry me. When at the river bank I still had to ride a few hundred +yards to the point where the nearest transport lay. + +The cornfield in front of our transports terminated at the edge of a +dense forest. Before I got back the enemy had entered this forest and +had opened a brisk fire upon the boats. Our men, with the exception of +details that had gone to the front after the wounded, were now either +aboard the transports or very near them. Those who were not aboard soon +got there, and the boats pushed off. I was the only man of the National +army between the rebels and our transports. The captain of a boat that +had just pushed out but had not started, recognized me and ordered the +engineer not to start the engine; he then had a plank run out for me. +My horse seemed to take in the situation. There was no path down the +bank and every one acquainted with the Mississippi River knows that its +banks, in a natural state, do not vary at any great angle from the +perpendicular. My horse put his fore feet over the bank without +hesitation or urging, and with his hind feet well under him, slid down +the bank and trotted aboard the boat, twelve or fifteen feet away, over +a single gang plank. I dismounted and went at once to the upper deck. + +The Mississippi River was low on the 7th of November, 1861, so that the +banks were higher than the heads of men standing on the upper decks of +the steamers. The rebels were some distance back from the river, so +that their fire was high and did us but little harm. Our smoke-stack +was riddled with bullets, but there were only three men wounded on the +boats, two of whom were soldiers. When I first went on deck I entered +the captain's room adjoining the pilot-house, and threw myself on a +sofa. I did not keep that position a moment, but rose to go out on the +deck to observe what was going on. I had scarcely left when a musket +ball entered the room, struck the head of the sofa, passed through it +and lodged in the foot. + +When the enemy opened fire on the transports our gunboats returned it +with vigor. They were well out in the stream and some distance down, so +that they had to give but very little elevation to their guns to clear +the banks of the river. Their position very nearly enfiladed the line +of the enemy while he was marching through the cornfield. The execution +was very great, as we could see at the time and as I afterwards learned +more positively. We were very soon out of range and went peacefully on +our way to Cairo, every man feeling that Belmont was a great victory and +that he had contributed his share to it. + +Our loss at Belmont was 485 in killed, wounded and missing. About 125 of +our wounded fell into the hands of the enemy. We returned with 175 +prisoners and two guns, and spiked four other pieces. The loss of the +enemy, as officially reported, was 642 men, killed, wounded and missing. +We had engaged about 2,500 men, exclusive of the guard left with the +transports. The enemy had about 7,000; but this includes the troops +brought over from Columbus who were not engaged in the first defence of +Belmont. + +The two objects for which the battle of Belmont was fought were fully +accomplished. The enemy gave up all idea of detaching troops from +Columbus. His losses were very heavy for that period of the war. +Columbus was beset by people looking for their wounded or dead kin, to +take them home for medical treatment or burial. I learned later, when I +had moved further south, that Belmont had caused more mourning than +almost any other battle up to that time. The National troops acquired a +confidence in themselves at Belmont that did not desert them through the +war. + +The day after the battle I met some officers from General Polk's +command, arranged for permission to bury our dead at Belmont and also +commenced negotiations for the exchange of prisoners. When our men went +to bury their dead, before they were allowed to land they were conducted +below the point where the enemy had engaged our transports. Some of the +officers expressed a desire to see the field; but the request was +refused with the statement that we had no dead there. + +While on the truce-boat I mentioned to an officer, whom I had known both +at West Point and in the Mexican war, that I was in the cornfield near +their troops when they passed; that I had been on horseback and had worn +a soldier's overcoat at the time. This officer was on General Polk's +staff. He said both he and the general had seen me and that Polk had +said to his men, "There is a Yankee; you may try your marksmanship on +him if you wish," but nobody fired at me. + +Belmont was severely criticised in the North as a wholly unnecessary +battle, barren of results, or the possibility of them from the +beginning. If it had not been fought, Colonel Oglesby would probably +have been captured or destroyed with his three thousand men. Then I +should have been culpable indeed. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +GENERAL HALLECK IN COMMAND--COMMANDING THE DISTRICT OF CAIRO--MOVEMENT +ON FORT HENRY--CAPTURE OF FORT HENRY. + +While at Cairo I had frequent opportunities of meeting the rebel +officers of the Columbus garrison. They seemed to be very fond of +coming up on steamers under flags of truce. On two or three occasions I +went down in like manner. When one of their boats was seen coming up +carrying a white flag, a gun would be fired from the lower battery at +Fort Holt, throwing a shot across the bow as a signal to come no +farther. I would then take a steamer and, with my staff and +occasionally a few other officers, go down to receive the party. There +were several officers among them whom I had known before, both at West +Point and in Mexico. Seeing these officers who had been educated for the +profession of arms, both at school and in actual war, which is a far +more efficient training, impressed me with the great advantage the South +possessed over the North at the beginning of the rebellion. They had +from thirty to forty per cent. of the educated soldiers of the Nation. +They had no standing army and, consequently, these trained soldiers had +to find employment with the troops from their own States. In this way +what there was of military education and training was distributed +throughout their whole army. The whole loaf was leavened. + +The North had a great number of educated and trained soldiers, but the +bulk of them were still in the army and were retained, generally with +their old commands and rank, until the war had lasted many months. In +the Army of the Potomac there was what was known as the "regular +brigade," in which, from the commanding officer down to the youngest +second lieutenant, every one was educated to his profession. So, too, +with many of the batteries; all the officers, generally four in number +to each, were men educated for their profession. Some of these went +into battle at the beginning under division commanders who were entirely +without military training. This state of affairs gave me an idea which +I expressed while at Cairo; that the government ought to disband the +regular army, with the exception of the staff corps, and notify the +disbanded officers that they would receive no compensation while the war +lasted except as volunteers. The register should be kept up, but the +names of all officers who were not in the volunteer service at the +close, should be stricken from it. + +On the 9th of November, two days after the battle of Belmont, +Major-General H. W. Halleck superseded General Fremont in command of the +Department of the Missouri. The limits of his command took in Arkansas +and west Kentucky east to the Cumberland River. From the battle of +Belmont until early in February, 1862, the troops under my command did +little except prepare for the long struggle which proved to be before +them. + +The enemy at this time occupied a line running from the Mississippi +River at Columbus to Bowling Green and Mill Springs, Kentucky. Each of +these positions was strongly fortified, as were also points on the +Tennessee and Cumberland rivers near the Tennessee state line. The +works on the Tennessee were called Fort Heiman and Fort Henry, and that +on the Cumberland was Fort Donelson. At these points the two rivers +approached within eleven miles of each other. The lines of rifle pits +at each place extended back from the water at least two miles, so that +the garrisons were in reality only seven miles apart. These positions +were of immense importance to the enemy; and of course correspondingly +important for us to possess ourselves of. With Fort Henry in our hands +we had a navigable stream open to us up to Muscle Shoals, in Alabama. +The Memphis and Charleston Railroad strikes the Tennessee at Eastport, +Mississippi, and follows close to the banks of the river up to the +shoals. This road, of vast importance to the enemy, would cease to be +of use to them for through traffic the moment Fort Henry became ours. +Fort Donelson was the gate to Nashville--a place of great military and +political importance--and to a rich country extending far east in +Kentucky. These two points in our possession the enemy would +necessarily be thrown back to the Memphis and Charleston road, or to the +boundary of the cotton states, and, as before stated, that road would be +lost to them for through communication. + +The designation of my command had been changed after Halleck's arrival, +from the District of South-east Missouri to the District of Cairo, and +the small district commanded by General C. F. Smith, embracing the +mouths of the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, had been added to my +jurisdiction. Early in January, 1862, I was directed by General +McClellan, through my department commander, to make a reconnoissance in +favor of Brigadier-General Don Carlos Buell, who commanded the +Department of the Ohio, with headquarters at Louisville, and who was +confronting General S. B. Buckner with a larger Confederate force at +Bowling Green. It was supposed that Buell was about to make some move +against the enemy, and my demonstration was intended to prevent the +sending of troops from Columbus, Fort Henry or Donelson to Buckner. I +at once ordered General Smith to send a force up the west bank of the +Tennessee to threaten forts Heiman and Henry; McClernand at the same +time with a force of 6,000 men was sent out into west Kentucky, +threatening Columbus with one column and the Tennessee River with +another. I went with McClernand's command. The weather was very bad; +snow and rain fell; the roads, never good in that section, were +intolerable. We were out more than a week splashing through the mud, +snow and rain, the men suffering very much. The object of the +expedition was accomplished. The enemy did not send reinforcements to +Bowling Green, and General George H. Thomas fought and won the battle of +Mill Springs before we returned. + +As a result of this expedition General Smith reported that he thought it +practicable to capture Fort Heiman. This fort stood on high ground, +completely commanding Fort Henry on the opposite side of the river, and +its possession by us, with the aid of our gunboats, would insure the +capture of Fort Henry. This report of Smith's confirmed views I had +previously held, that the true line of operations for us was up the +Tennessee and Cumberland rivers. With us there, the enemy would be +compelled to fall back on the east and west entirely out of the State of +Kentucky. On the 6th of January, before receiving orders for this +expedition, I had asked permission of the general commanding the +department to go to see him at St. Louis. My object was to lay this +plan of campaign before him. Now that my views had been confirmed by so +able a general as Smith, I renewed my request to go to St. Louis on what +I deemed important military business. The leave was granted, but not +graciously. I had known General Halleck but very slightly in the old +army, not having met him either at West Point or during the Mexican war. +I was received with so little cordiality that I perhaps stated the +object of my visit with less clearness than I might have done, and I had +not uttered many sentences before I was cut short as if my plan was +preposterous. I returned to Cairo very much crestfallen. + +Flag-officer Foote commanded the little fleet of gunboats then in the +neighborhood of Cairo and, though in another branch of the service, was +subject to the command of General Halleck. He and I consulted freely +upon military matters and he agreed with me perfectly as to the +feasibility of the campaign up the Tennessee. Notwithstanding the +rebuff I had received from my immediate chief, I therefore, on the 28th +of January, renewed the suggestion by telegraph that "if permitted, I +could take and hold Fort Henry on the Tennessee." This time I was +backed by Flag-officer Foote, who sent a similar dispatch. On the 29th +I wrote fully in support of the proposition. On the 1st of February I +received full instructions from department headquarters to move upon +Fort Henry. On the 2d the expedition started. + +In February, 1862, there were quite a good many steamers laid up at +Cairo for want of employment, the Mississippi River being closed against +navigation below that point. There were also many men in the town whose +occupation had been following the river in various capacities, from +captain down to deck hand But there were not enough of either boats or +men to move at one time the 17,000 men I proposed to take with me up the +Tennessee. I loaded the boats with more than half the force, however, +and sent General McClernand in command. I followed with one of the +later boats and found McClernand had stopped, very properly, nine miles +below Fort Henry. Seven gunboats under Flag-officer Foote had +accompanied the advance. The transports we had with us had to return to +Paducah to bring up a division from there, with General C. F. Smith in +command. + +Before sending the boats back I wanted to get the troops as near to the +enemy as I could without coming within range of their guns. There was a +stream emptying into the Tennessee on the east side, apparently at about +long range distance below the fort. On account of the narrow water-shed +separating the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers at that point, the stream +must be insignificant at ordinary stages, but when we were there, in +February, it was a torrent. It would facilitate the investment of Fort +Henry materially if the troops could be landed south of that stream. To +test whether this could be done I boarded the gunboat Essex and +requested Captain Wm. Porter commanding it, to approach the fort to draw +its fire. After we had gone some distance past the mouth of the stream +we drew the fire of the fort, which fell much short of us. In +consequence I had made up my mind to return and bring the troops to the +upper side of the creek, when the enemy opened upon us with a rifled gun +that sent shot far beyond us and beyond the stream. One shot passed +very near where Captain Porter and I were standing, struck the deck near +the stern, penetrated and passed through the cabin and so out into the +river. We immediately turned back, and the troops were debarked below +the mouth of the creek. + +When the landing was completed I returned with the transports to Paducah +to hasten up the balance of the troops. I got back on the 5th with the +advance the remainder following as rapidly as the steamers could carry +them. At ten o'clock at night, on the 5th, the whole command was not +yet up. Being anxious to commence operations as soon as possible before +the enemy could reinforce heavily, I issued my orders for an advance at +11 A.M. on the 6th. I felt sure that all the troops would be up by that +time. + +Fort Henry occupies a bend in the river which gave the guns in the water +battery a direct fire down the stream. The camp outside the fort was +intrenched, with rifle pits and outworks two miles back on the road to +Donelson and Dover. The garrison of the fort and camp was about 2,800, +with strong reinforcements from Donelson halted some miles out. There +were seventeen heavy guns in the fort. The river was very high, the +banks being overflowed except where the bluffs come to the water's edge. +A portion of the ground on which Fort Henry stood was two feet deep in +water. Below, the water extended into the woods several hundred yards +back from the bank on the east side. On the west bank Fort Heiman stood +on high ground, completely commanding Fort Henry. The distance from +Fort Henry to Donelson is but eleven miles. The two positions were so +important to the enemy, AS HE SAW HIS INTEREST, that it was natural to +suppose that reinforcements would come from every quarter from which +they could be got. Prompt action on our part was imperative. + +The plan was for the troops and gunboats to start at the same moment. +The troops were to invest the garrison and the gunboats to attack the +fort at close quarters. General Smith was to land a brigade of his +division on the west bank during the night of the 5th and get it in rear +of Heiman. + +At the hour designated the troops and gunboats started. General Smith +found Fort Heiman had been evacuated before his men arrived. The +gunboats soon engaged the water batteries at very close quarters, but +the troops which were to invest Fort Henry were delayed for want of +roads, as well as by the dense forest and the high water in what would +in dry weather have been unimportant beds of streams. This delay made +no difference in the result. On our first appearance Tilghman had sent +his entire command, with the exception of about one hundred men left to +man the guns in the fort, to the outworks on the road to Dover and +Donelson, so as to have them out of range of the guns of our navy; and +before any attack on the 6th he had ordered them to retreat on Donelson. +He stated in his subsequent report that the defence was intended solely +to give his troops time to make their escape. + +Tilghman was captured with his staff and ninety men, as well as the +armament of the fort, the ammunition and whatever stores were there. +Our cavalry pursued the retreating column towards Donelson and picked up +two guns and a few stragglers; but the enemy had so much the start, that +the pursuing force did not get in sight of any except the stragglers. + +All the gunboats engaged were hit many times. The damage, however, +beyond what could be repaired by a small expenditure of money, was +slight, except to the Essex. A shell penetrated the boiler of that +vessel and exploded it, killing and wounding forty-eight men, nineteen +of whom were soldiers who had been detailed to act with the navy. On +several occasions during the war such details were made when the +complement of men with the navy was insufficient for the duty before +them. After the fall of Fort Henry Captain Phelps, commanding the +iron-clad Carondelet, at my request ascended the Tennessee River and +thoroughly destroyed the bridge of the Memphis and Ohio Railroad. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +INVESTMENT OF FORT DONELSON--THE NAVAL OPERATIONS--ATTACK OF THE ENEMY +--ASSAULTING THE WORKS--SURRENDER OF THE FORT. + +I informed the department commander of our success at Fort Henry and +that on the 8th I would take Fort Donelson. But the rain continued to +fall so heavily that the roads became impassable for artillery and wagon +trains. Then, too, it would not have been prudent to proceed without +the gunboats. At least it would have been leaving behind a valuable +part of our available force. + +On the 7th, the day after the fall of Fort Henry, I took my staff and +the cavalry--a part of one regiment--and made a reconnoissance to within +about a mile of the outer line of works at Donelson. I had known +General Pillow in Mexico, and judged that with any force, no matter how +small, I could march up to within gunshot of any intrenchments he was +given to hold. I said this to the officers of my staff at the time. I +knew that Floyd was in command, but he was no soldier, and I judged that +he would yield to Pillow's pretensions. I met, as I expected, no +opposition in making the reconnoissance and, besides learning the +topography of the country on the way and around Fort Donelson, found +that there were two roads available for marching; one leading to the +village of Dover, the other to Donelson. + +Fort Donelson is two miles north, or down the river, from Dover. The +fort, as it stood in 1861, embraced about one hundred acres of land. On +the east it fronted the Cumberland; to the north it faced Hickman's +creek, a small stream which at that time was deep and wide because of +the back-water from the river; on the south was another small stream, or +rather a ravine, opening into the Cumberland. This also was filled with +back-water from the river. The fort stood on high ground, some of it as +much as a hundred feet above the Cumberland. Strong protection to the +heavy guns in the water batteries had been obtained by cutting away +places for them in the bluff. To the west there was a line of rifle +pits some two miles back from the river at the farthest point. This +line ran generally along the crest of high ground, but in one place +crossed a ravine which opens into the river between the village and the +fort. The ground inside and outside of this intrenched line was very +broken and generally wooded. The trees outside of the rifle-pits had +been cut down for a considerable way out, and had been felled so that +their tops lay outwards from the intrenchments. The limbs had been +trimmed and pointed, and thus formed an abatis in front of the greater +part of the line. Outside of this intrenched line, and extending about +half the entire length of it, is a ravine running north and south and +opening into Hickman creek at a point north of the fort. The entire +side of this ravine next to the works was one long abatis. + +General Halleck commenced his efforts in all quarters to get +reinforcements to forward to me immediately on my departure from Cairo. +General Hunter sent men freely from Kansas, and a large division under +General Nelson, from Buell's army, was also dispatched. Orders went out +from the War Department to consolidate fragments of companies that were +being recruited in the Western States so as to make full companies, and +to consolidate companies into regiments. General Halleck did not +approve or disapprove of my going to Fort Donelson. He said nothing +whatever to me on the subject. He informed Buell on the 7th that I +would march against Fort Donelson the next day; but on the 10th he +directed me to fortify Fort Henry strongly, particularly to the land +side, saying that he forwarded me intrenching tools for that purpose. I +received this dispatch in front of Fort Donelson. + +I was very impatient to get to Fort Donelson because I knew the +importance of the place to the enemy and supposed he would reinforce it +rapidly. I felt that 15,000 men on the 8th would be more effective than +50,000 a month later. I asked Flag-officer Foote, therefore, to order +his gunboats still about Cairo to proceed up the Cumberland River and +not to wait for those gone to Eastport and Florence; but the others got +back in time and we started on the 12th. I had moved McClernand out a +few miles the night before so as to leave the road as free as possible. + +Just as we were about to start the first reinforcement reached me on +transports. It was a brigade composed of six full regiments commanded +by Colonel Thayer, of Nebraska. As the gunboats were going around to +Donelson by the Tennessee, Ohio and Cumberland rivers, I directed Thayer +to turn about and go under their convoy. + +I started from Fort Henry with 15,000 men, including eight batteries and +part of a regiment of cavalry, and, meeting with no obstruction to +detain us, the advance arrived in front of the enemy by noon. That +afternoon and the next day were spent in taking up ground to make the +investment as complete as possible. General Smith had been directed to +leave a portion of his division behind to guard forts Henry and Heiman. +He left General Lew. Wallace with 2,500 men. With the remainder of his +division he occupied our left, extending to Hickman creek. McClernand +was on the right and covered the roads running south and south-west from +Dover. His right extended to the back-water up the ravine opening into +the Cumberland south of the village. The troops were not intrenched, but +the nature of the ground was such that they were just as well protected +from the fire of the enemy as if rifle-pits had been thrown up. Our +line was generally along the crest of ridges. The artillery was +protected by being sunk in the ground. The men who were not serving the +guns were perfectly covered from fire on taking position a little back +from the crest. The greatest suffering was from want of shelter. It +was midwinter and during the siege we had rain and snow, thawing and +freezing alternately. It would not do to allow camp-fires except far +down the hill out of sight of the enemy, and it would not do to allow +many of the troops to remain there at the same time. In the march over +from Fort Henry numbers of the men had thrown away their blankets and +overcoats. There was therefore much discomfort and absolute suffering. + +During the 12th and 13th, and until the arrival of Wallace and Thayer on +the 14th, the National forces, composed of but 15,000 men, without +intrenchments, confronted an intrenched army of 21,000, without conflict +further than what was brought on by ourselves. Only one gunboat had +arrived. There was a little skirmishing each day, brought on by the +movement of our troops in securing commanding positions; but there was +no actual fighting during this time except once, on the 13th, in front +of McClernand's command. That general had undertaken to capture a +battery of the enemy which was annoying his men. Without orders or +authority he sent three regiments to make the assault. The battery was +in the main line of the enemy, which was defended by his whole army +present. Of course the assault was a failure, and of course the loss on +our side was great for the number of men engaged. In this assault +Colonel William Morrison fell badly wounded. Up to this time the +surgeons with the army had no difficulty in finding room in the houses +near our line for all the sick and wounded; but now hospitals were +overcrowded. Owing, however, to the energy and skill of the surgeons the +suffering was not so great as it might have been. The hospital +arrangements at Fort Donelson were as complete as it was possible to +make them, considering the inclemency of the weather and the lack of +tents, in a sparsely settled country where the houses were generally of +but one or two rooms. + +On the return of Captain Walke to Fort Henry on the 10th, I had +requested him to take the vessels that had accompanied him on his +expedition up the Tennessee, and get possession of the Cumberland as far +up towards Donelson as possible. He started without delay, taking, +however, only his own gunboat, the Carondelet, towed by the steamer +Alps. Captain Walke arrived a few miles below Donelson on the 12th, a +little after noon. About the time the advance of troops reached a point +within gunshot of the fort on the land side, he engaged the water +batteries at long range. On the 13th I informed him of my arrival the +day before and of the establishment of most of our batteries, requesting +him at the same time to attack again that day so that I might take +advantage of any diversion. The attack was made and many shots fell +within the fort, creating some consternation, as we now know. The +investment on the land side was made as complete as the number of troops +engaged would admit of. + +During the night of the 13th Flag-officer Foote arrived with the +iron-clads St. Louis, Louisville and Pittsburg and the wooden gunboats +Tyler and Conestoga, convoying Thayer's brigade. On the morning of the +14th Thayer was landed. Wallace, whom I had ordered over from Fort +Henry, also arrived about the same time. Up to this time he had been +commanding a brigade belonging to the division of General C. F. Smith. +These troops were now restored to the division they belonged to, and +General Lew. Wallace was assigned to the command of a division composed +of the brigade of Colonel Thayer and other reinforcements that arrived +the same day. This new division was assigned to the centre, giving the +two flanking divisions an opportunity to close up and form a stronger +line. + +The plan was for the troops to hold the enemy within his lines, while +the gunboats should attack the water batteries at close quarters and +silence his guns if possible. Some of the gunboats were to run the +batteries, get above the fort and above the village of Dover. I had +ordered a reconnoissance made with the view of getting troops to the +river above Dover in case they should be needed there. That position +attained by the gunboats it would have been but a question of time--and +a very short time, too--when the garrison would have been compelled to +surrender. + +By three in the afternoon of the 14th Flag-officer Foote was ready, and +advanced upon the water batteries with his entire fleet. After coming +in range of the batteries of the enemy the advance was slow, but a +constant fire was delivered from every gun that could be brought to bear +upon the fort. I occupied a position on shore from which I could see +the advancing navy. The leading boat got within a very short distance of +the water battery, not further off I think than two hundred yards, and I +soon saw one and then another of them dropping down the river, visibly +disabled. Then the whole fleet followed and the engagement closed for +the day. The gunboat which Flag-officer Foote was on, besides having +been hit about sixty times, several of the shots passing through near +the waterline, had a shot enter the pilot-house which killed the pilot, +carried away the wheel and wounded the flag-officer himself. The +tiller-ropes of another vessel were carried away and she, too, dropped +helplessly back. Two others had their pilot-houses so injured that they +scarcely formed a protection to the men at the wheel. + +The enemy had evidently been much demoralized by the assault, but they +were jubilant when they saw the disabled vessels dropping down the river +entirely out of the control of the men on board. Of course I only +witnessed the falling back of our gunboats and felt sad enough at the +time over the repulse. Subsequent reports, now published, show that the +enemy telegraphed a great victory to Richmond. The sun went down on the +night of the 14th of February, 1862, leaving the army confronting Fort +Donelson anything but comforted over the prospects. The weather had +turned intensely cold; the men were without tents and could not keep up +fires where most of them had to stay, and, as previously stated, many +had thrown away their overcoats and blankets. Two of the strongest of +our gunboats had been disabled, presumably beyond the possibility of +rendering any present assistance. I retired this night not knowing but +that I would have to intrench my position, and bring up tents for the +men or build huts under the cover of the hills. + +On the morning of the 15th, before it was yet broad day, a messenger +from Flag-officer Foote handed me a note, expressing a desire to see me +on the flag-ship and saying that he had been injured the day before so +much that he could not come himself to me. I at once made my +preparations for starting. I directed my adjutant-general to notify +each of the division commanders of my absence and instruct them to do +nothing to bring on an engagement until they received further orders, +but to hold their positions. From the heavy rains that had fallen for +days and weeks preceding and from the constant use of the roads between +the troops and the landing four to seven miles below, these roads had +become cut up so as to be hardly passable. The intense cold of the +night of the 14th-15th had frozen the ground solid. This made travel on +horseback even slower than through the mud; but I went as fast as the +roads would allow. + +When I reached the fleet I found the flag-ship was anchored out in the +stream. A small boat, however, awaited my arrival and I was soon on +board with the flag-officer. He explained to me in short the condition +in which he was left by the engagement of the evening before, and +suggested that I should intrench while he returned to Mound City with +his disabled boats, expressing at the time the belief that he could have +the necessary repairs made and be back in ten days. I saw the absolute +necessity of his gunboats going into hospital and did not know but I +should be forced to the alternative of going through a siege. But the +enemy relieved me from this necessity. + +When I left the National line to visit Flag-officer Foote I had no idea +that there would be any engagement on land unless I brought it on +myself. The conditions for battle were much more favorable to us than +they had been for the first two days of the investment. From the 12th +to the 14th we had but 15,000 men of all arms and no gunboats. Now we +had been reinforced by a fleet of six naval vessels, a large division of +troops under General L. Wallace and 2,500 men brought over from Fort +Henry belonging to the division of C. F. Smith. The enemy, however, had +taken the initiative. Just as I landed I met Captain Hillyer of my +staff, white with fear, not for his personal safety, but for the safety +of the National troops. He said the enemy had come out of his lines in +full force and attacked and scattered McClernand's division, which was +in full retreat. The roads, as I have said, were unfit for making fast +time, but I got to my command as soon as possible. The attack had been +made on the National right. I was some four or five miles north of our +left. The line was about three miles long. In reaching the point where +the disaster had occurred I had to pass the divisions of Smith and +Wallace. I saw no sign of excitement on the portion of the line held by +Smith; Wallace was nearer the scene of conflict and had taken part in +it. He had, at an opportune time, sent Thayer's brigade to the support +of McClernand and thereby contributed to hold the enemy within his +lines. + +I saw everything favorable for us along the line of our left and centre. +When I came to the right appearances were different. The enemy had come +out in full force to cut his way out and make his escape. McClernand's +division had to bear the brunt of the attack from this combined force. +His men had stood up gallantly until the ammunition in their +cartridge-boxes gave out. There was abundance of ammunition near by +lying on the ground in boxes, but at that stage of the war it was not +all of our commanders of regiments, brigades, or even divisions, who had +been educated up to the point of seeing that their men were constantly +supplied with ammunition during an engagement. When the men found +themselves without ammunition they could not stand up against troops who +seemed to have plenty of it. The division broke and a portion fled, but +most of the men, as they were not pursued, only fell back out of range +of the fire of the enemy. It must have been about this time that Thayer +pushed his brigade in between the enemy and those of our troops that +were without ammunition. At all events the enemy fell back within his +intrenchments and was there when I got on the field. + +I saw the men standing in knots talking in the most excited manner. No +officer seemed to be giving any directions. The soldiers had their +muskets, but no ammunition, while there were tons of it close at hand. +I heard some of the men say that the enemy had come out with knapsacks, +and haversacks filled with rations. They seemed to think this indicated +a determination on his part to stay out and fight just as long as the +provisions held out. I turned to Colonel J. D. Webster, of my staff, +who was with me, and said: "Some of our men are pretty badly +demoralized, but the enemy must be more so, for he has attempted to +force his way out, but has fallen back: the one who attacks first now +will be victorious and the enemy will have to be in a hurry if he gets +ahead of me." I determined to make the assault at once on our left. It +was clear to my mind that the enemy had started to march out with his +entire force, except a few pickets, and if our attack could be made on +the left before the enemy could redistribute his forces along the line, +we would find but little opposition except from the intervening abatis. +I directed Colonel Webster to ride with me and call out to the men as we +passed: "Fill your cartridge-boxes, quick, and get into line; the enemy +is trying to escape and he must not be permitted to do so." This acted +like a charm. The men only wanted some one to give them a command. We +rode rapidly to Smith's quarters, when I explained the situation to him +and directed him to charge the enemy's works in his front with his whole +division, saying at the same time that he would find nothing but a very +thin line to contend with. The general was off in an incredibly short +time, going in advance himself to keep his men from firing while they +were working their way through the abatis intervening between them and +the enemy. The outer line of rifle-pits was passed, and the night of +the 15th General Smith, with much of his division, bivouacked within the +lines of the enemy. There was now no doubt but that the Confederates +must surrender or be captured the next day. + +There seems from subsequent accounts to have been much consternation, +particularly among the officers of high rank, in Dover during the night +of the 15th. General Floyd, the commanding officer, who was a man of +talent enough for any civil position, was no soldier and, possibly, did +not possess the elements of one. He was further unfitted for command, +for the reason that his conscience must have troubled him and made him +afraid. As Secretary of War he had taken a solemn oath to maintain the +Constitution of the United States and to uphold the same against all its +enemies. He had betrayed that trust. As Secretary of War he was +reported through the northern press to have scattered the little army +the country had so that the most of it could be picked up in detail when +secession occurred. About a year before leaving the Cabinet he had +removed arms from northern to southern arsenals. He continued in the +Cabinet of President Buchanan until about the 1st of January, 1861, +while he was working vigilantly for the establishment of a confederacy +made out of United States territory. Well may he have been afraid to +fall into the hands of National troops. He would no doubt have been +tried for misappropriating public property, if not for treason, had he +been captured. General Pillow, next in command, was conceited, and +prided himself much on his services in the Mexican war. He telegraphed +to General Johnston, at Nashville, after our men were within the rebel +rifle-pits, and almost on the eve of his making his escape, that the +Southern troops had had great success all day. Johnston forwarded the +dispatch to Richmond. While the authorities at the capital were reading +it Floyd and Pillow were fugitives. + +A council of war was held by the enemy at which all agreed that it would +be impossible to hold out longer. General Buckner, who was third in +rank in the garrison but much the most capable soldier, seems to have +regarded it a duty to hold the fort until the general commanding the +department, A. S. Johnston, should get back to his headquarters at +Nashville. Buckner's report shows, however, that he considered Donelson +lost and that any attempt to hold the place longer would be at the +sacrifice of the command. Being assured that Johnston was already in +Nashville, Buckner too agreed that surrender was the proper thing. +Floyd turned over the command to Pillow, who declined it. It then +devolved upon Buckner, who accepted the responsibility of the position. +Floyd and Pillow took possession of all the river transports at Dover +and before morning both were on their way to Nashville, with the brigade +formerly commanded by Floyd and some other troops, in all about 3,000. +Some marched up the east bank of the Cumberland; others went on the +steamers. During the night Forrest also, with his cavalry and some +other troops about a thousand in all, made their way out, passing +between our right and the river. They had to ford or swim over the +back-water in the little creek just south of Dover. + +Before daylight General Smith brought to me the following letter from +General Buckner: + + +HEADQUARTERS, FORT DONELSON, February 16, 1862. + +SIR:--In consideration of all the circumstances governing the present +situation of affairs at this station, I propose to the Commanding +Officer of the Federal forces the appointment of Commissioners to agree +upon terms of capitulation of the forces and fort under my command, and +in that view suggest an armistice until 12 o'clock to-day. + +I am, sir, very respectfully, Your ob't se'v't, S. B. BUCKNER, Brig. +Gen. C. S. A. + +To Brigadier-General U. S. Grant, Com'ding U. S. Forces, Near Fort +Donelson. + + +To this I responded as follows: + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMY IN THE FIELD, Camp near Donelson, February 16, 1862. + +General S. B. BUCKNER, Confederate Army. + +SIR:--Yours of this date, proposing armistice and appointment of +Commissioners to settle terms of capitulation, is just received. No +terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. +I propose to move immediately upon your works. + +I am, sir, very respectfully, Your ob't se'v't, U. S. GRANT, Brig. Gen. + + +To this I received the following reply: + + +HEADQUARTERS, DOVER, TENNESSEE, February 16, 1862. + +To Brig. Gen'l U. S. GRANT, U. S. Army. + +SIR:--The distribution of the forces under my command, incident to an +unexpected change of commanders, and the overwhelming force under your +command, compel me, notwithstanding the brilliant success of the +Confederate arms yesterday, to accept the ungenerous and unchivalrous +terms which you propose. + +I am, sir, Your very ob't se'v't, S. B. BUCKNER, Brig. Gen. C. S. A. + + +General Buckner, as soon as he had dispatched the first of the above +letters, sent word to his different commanders on the line of +rifle-pits, notifying them that he had made a proposition looking to the +surrender of the garrison, and directing them to notify National troops +in their front so that all fighting might be prevented. White flags +were stuck at intervals along the line of rifle-pits, but none over the +fort. As soon as the last letter from Buckner was received I mounted my +horse and rode to Dover. General Wallace, I found, had preceded me an +hour or more. I presume that, seeing white flags exposed in his front, +he rode up to see what they meant and, not being fired upon or halted, +he kept on until he found himself at the headquarters of General +Buckner. + +I had been at West Point three years with Buckner and afterwards served +with him in the army, so that we were quite well acquainted. In the +course of our conversation, which was very friendly, he said to me that +if he had been in command I would not have got up to Donelson as easily +as I did. I told him that if he had been in command I should not have +tried in the way I did: I had invested their lines with a smaller force +than they had to defend them, and at the same time had sent a brigade +full 5,000 strong, around by water; I had relied very much upon their +commander to allow me to come safely up to the outside of their works. +I asked General Buckner about what force he had to surrender. He +replied that he could not tell with any degree of accuracy; that all the +sick and weak had been sent to Nashville while we were about Fort Henry; +that Floyd and Pillow had left during the night, taking many men with +them; and that Forrest, and probably others, had also escaped during the +preceding night: the number of casualties he could not tell; but he +said I would not find fewer than 12,000, nor more than 15,000. + +He asked permission to send parties outside of the lines to bury his +dead, who had fallen on the 15th when they tried to get out. I gave +directions that his permit to pass our limits should be recognized. I +have no reason to believe that this privilege was abused, but it +familiarized our guards so much with the sight of Confederates passing +to and fro that I have no doubt many got beyond our pickets unobserved +and went on. The most of the men who went in that way no doubt thought +they had had war enough, and left with the intention of remaining out of +the army. Some came to me and asked permission to go, saying that they +were tired of the war and would not be caught in the ranks again, and I +bade them go. + +The actual number of Confederates at Fort Donelson can never be given +with entire accuracy. The largest number admitted by any writer on the +Southern side, is by Colonel Preston Johnston. He gives the number at +17,000. But this must be an underestimate. The commissary general of +prisoners reported having issued rations to 14,623 Fort Donelson +prisoners at Cairo, as they passed that point. General Pillow reported +the killed and wounded at 2,000; but he had less opportunity of knowing +the actual numbers than the officers of McClernand's division, for most +of the killed and wounded fell outside their works, in front of that +division, and were buried or cared for by Buckner after the surrender +and when Pillow was a fugitive. It is known that Floyd and Pillow +escaped during the night of the 15th, taking with them not less than +3,000 men. Forrest escaped with about 1,000 and others were leaving +singly and in squads all night. It is probable that the Confederate +force at Donelson, on the 15th of February, 1862, was 21,000 in round +numbers. + +On the day Fort Donelson fell I had 27,000 men to confront the +Confederate lines and guard the road four or five miles to the left, +over which all our supplies had to be drawn on wagons. During the 16th, +after the surrender, additional reinforcements arrived. + +During the siege General Sherman had been sent to Smithland, at the +mouth of the Cumberland River, to forward reinforcements and supplies to +me. At that time he was my senior in rank and there was no authority of +law to assign a junior to command a senior of the same grade. But every +boat that came up with supplies or reinforcements brought a note of +encouragement from Sherman, asking me to call upon him for any +assistance he could render and saying that if he could be of service at +the front I might send for him and he would waive rank. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +PROMOTED MAJOR-GENERAL OF VOLUNTEERS--UNOCCUPIED TERRITORY--ADVANCE UPON +NASHVILLE--SITUATION OF THE TROOPS--CONFEDERATE RETREAT--RELIEVED OF THE +COMMAND--RESTORED TO THE COMMAND--GENERAL SMITH. + +The news of the fall of Fort Donelson caused great delight all over the +North. At the South, particularly in Richmond, the effect was +correspondingly depressing. I was promptly promoted to the grade of +Major-General of Volunteers, and confirmed by the Senate. All three of +my division commanders were promoted to the same grade and the colonels +who commanded brigades were made brigadier-generals in the volunteer +service. My chief, who was in St. Louis, telegraphed his +congratulations to General Hunter in Kansas for the services he had +rendered in securing the fall of Fort Donelson by sending reinforcements +so rapidly. To Washington he telegraphed that the victory was due to +General C. F. Smith; "promote him," he said, "and the whole country will +applaud." On the 19th there was published at St. Louis a formal order +thanking Flag-officer Foote and myself, and the forces under our +command, for the victories on the Tennessee and the Cumberland. I +received no other recognition whatever from General Halleck. But +General Cullum, his chief of staff, who was at Cairo, wrote me a warm +congratulatory letter on his own behalf. I approved of General Smith's +promotion highly, as I did all the promotions that were made. + +My opinion was and still is that immediately after the fall of Fort +Donelson the way was opened to the National forces all over the +South-west without much resistance. If one general who would have taken +the responsibility had been in command of all the troops west of the +Alleghanies, he could have marched to Chattanooga, Corinth, Memphis and +Vicksburg with the troops we then had, and as volunteering was going on +rapidly over the North there would soon have been force enough at all +these centres to operate offensively against any body of the enemy that +might be found near them. Rapid movements and the acquisition of +rebellious territory would have promoted volunteering, so that +reinforcements could have been had as fast as transportation could have +been obtained to carry them to their destination. On the other hand +there were tens of thousands of strong able-bodied young men still at +their homes in the South-western States, who had not gone into the +Confederate army in February, 1862, and who had no particular desire to +go. If our lines had been extended to protect their homes, many of them +never would have gone. Providence ruled differently. Time was given +the enemy to collect armies and fortify his new positions; and twice +afterwards he came near forcing his north-western front up to the Ohio +River. + +I promptly informed the department commander of our success at Fort +Donelson and that the way was open now to Clarksville and Nashville; and +that unless I received orders to the contrary I should take Clarksville +on the 21st and Nashville about the 1st of March. Both these places are +on the Cumberland River above Fort Donelson. As I heard nothing from +headquarters on the subject, General C. F. Smith was sent to Clarksville +at the time designated and found the place evacuated. The capture of +forts Henry and Donelson had broken the line the enemy had taken from +Columbus to Bowling Green, and it was known that he was falling back +from the eastern point of this line and that Buell was following, or at +least advancing. I should have sent troops to Nashville at the time I +sent to Clarksville, but my transportation was limited and there were +many prisoners to be forwarded north. + +None of the reinforcements from Buell's army arrived until the 24th of +February. Then General Nelson came up, with orders to report to me with +two brigades, he having sent one brigade to Cairo. I knew General Buell +was advancing on Nashville from the north, and I was advised by scouts +that the rebels were leaving that place, and trying to get out all the +supplies they could. Nashville was, at that time, one of the best +provisioned posts in the South. I had no use for reinforcements now, +and thinking Buell would like to have his troops again, I ordered Nelson +to proceed to Nashville without debarking at Fort Donelson. I sent a +gunboat also as a convoy. The Cumberland River was very high at the +time; the railroad bridge at Nashville had been burned, and all river +craft had been destroyed, or would be before the enemy left. Nashville +is on the west bank of the Cumberland, and Buell was approaching from +the east. I thought the steamers carrying Nelson's division would be +useful in ferrying the balance of Buell's forces across. I ordered +Nelson to put himself in communication with Buell as soon as possible, +and if he found him more than two days off from Nashville to return +below the city and await orders. Buell, however, had already arrived in +person at Edgefield, opposite Nashville, and Mitchell's division of his +command reached there the same day. Nelson immediately took possession +of the city. + +After Nelson had gone and before I had learned of Buell's arrival, I +sent word to department headquarters that I should go to Nashville +myself on the 28th if I received no orders to the contrary. Hearing +nothing, I went as I had informed my superior officer I would do. On +arriving at Clarksville I saw a fleet of steamers at the shore--the same +that had taken Nelson's division--and troops going aboard. I landed and +called on the commanding officer, General C. F. Smith. As soon as he +saw me he showed an order he had just received from Buell in these +words: + + +NASHVILLE, February 25, 1862. + +GENERAL C. F. SMITH, Commanding U. S. Forces, Clarksville. + +GENERAL:--The landing of a portion of our troops, contrary to my +intentions, on the south side of the river has compelled me to hold this +side at every hazard. If the enemy should assume the offensive, and I +am assured by reliable persons that in view of my position such is his +intention, my force present is altogether inadequate, consisting of only +15,000 men. I have to request you, therefore, to come forward with all +the available force under your command. So important do I consider the +occasion that I think it necessary to give this communication all the +force of orders, and I send four boats, the Diana, Woodford, John Rain, +and Autocrat, to bring you up. In five or six days my force will +probably be sufficient to relieve you. + +Very respectfully, your ob't srv't, D. C. BUELL, Brigadier-General +Comd'g. + +P. S.--The steamers will leave here at 12 o'clock to-night. + + +General Smith said this order was nonsense. But I told him it was +better to obey it. The General replied, "of course I must obey," and +said his men were embarking as fast as they could. I went on up to +Nashville and inspected the position taken by Nelson's troops. I did +not see Buell during the day, and wrote him a note saying that I had +been in Nashville since early morning and had hoped to meet him. On my +return to the boat we met. His troops were still east of the river, and +the steamers that had carried Nelson's division up were mostly at +Clarksville to bring Smith's division. I said to General Buell my +information was that the enemy was retreating as fast as possible. +General Buell said there was fighting going on then only ten or twelve +miles away. I said: "Quite probably; Nashville contained valuable +stores of arms, ammunition and provisions, and the enemy is probably +trying to carry away all he can. The fighting is doubtless with the +rear-guard who are trying to protect the trains they are getting away +with." Buell spoke very positively of the danger Nashville was in of an +attack from the enemy. I said, in the absence of positive information, +I believed my information was correct. He responded that he "knew." +"Well," I said, "I do not know; but as I came by Clarksville General +Smith's troops were embarking to join you." + +Smith's troops were returned the same day. The enemy were trying to get +away from Nashville and not to return to it. + +At this time General Albert Sidney Johnston commanded all the +Confederate troops west of the Alleghany Mountains, with the exception +of those in the extreme south. On the National side the forces +confronting him were divided into, at first three, then four separate +departments. Johnston had greatly the advantage in having supreme +command over all troops that could possibly be brought to bear upon one +point, while the forces similarly situated on the National side, divided +into independent commands, could not be brought into harmonious action +except by orders from Washington. + +At the beginning of 1862 Johnston's troops east of the Mississippi +occupied a line extending from Columbus, on his left, to Mill Springs, +on his right. As we have seen, Columbus, both banks of the Tennessee +River, the west bank of the Cumberland and Bowling Green, all were +strongly fortified. Mill Springs was intrenched. The National troops +occupied no territory south of the Ohio, except three small garrisons +along its bank and a force thrown out from Louisville to confront that +at Bowling Green. Johnston's strength was no doubt numerically inferior +to that of the National troops; but this was compensated for by the +advantage of being sole commander of all the Confederate forces at the +West, and of operating in a country where his friends would take care of +his rear without any detail of soldiers. But when General George H. +Thomas moved upon the enemy at Mill Springs and totally routed him, +inflicting a loss of some 300 killed and wounded, and forts Henry and +Heiman fell into the hands of the National forces, with their armaments +and about 100 prisoners, those losses seemed to dishearten the +Confederate commander so much that he immediately commenced a retreat +from Bowling Green on Nashville. He reached this latter place on the +14th of February, while Donelson was still besieged. Buell followed +with a portion of the Army of the Ohio, but he had to march and did not +reach the east bank of the Cumberland opposite Nashville until the 24th +of the month, and then with only one division of his army. + +The bridge at Nashville had been destroyed and all boats removed or +disabled, so that a small garrison could have held the place against any +National troops that could have been brought against it within ten days +after the arrival of the force from Bowling Green. Johnston seemed to +lie quietly at Nashville to await the result at Fort Donelson, on which +he had staked the possession of most of the territory embraced in the +States of Kentucky and Tennessee. It is true, the two generals senior +in rank at Fort Donelson were sending him encouraging dispatches, even +claiming great Confederate victories up to the night of the 16th when +they must have been preparing for their individual escape. Johnston made +a fatal mistake in intrusting so important a command to Floyd, who he +must have known was no soldier even if he possessed the elements of one. +Pillow's presence as second was also a mistake. If these officers had +been forced upon him and designated for that particular command, then he +should have left Nashville with a small garrison under a trusty officer, +and with the remainder of his force gone to Donelson himself. If he had +been captured the result could not have been worse than it was. + +Johnston's heart failed him upon the first advance of National troops. +He wrote to Richmond on the 8th of February, "I think the gunboats of +the enemy will probably take Fort Donelson without the necessity of +employing their land force in cooperation." After the fall of that +place he abandoned Nashville and Chattanooga without an effort to save +either, and fell back into northern Mississippi, where, six weeks later, +he was destined to end his career. + +From the time of leaving Cairo I was singularly unfortunate in not +receiving dispatches from General Halleck. The order of the 10th of +February directing me to fortify Fort Henry strongly, particularly to +the land side, and saying that intrenching tools had been sent for that +purpose, reached me after Donelson was invested. I received nothing +direct which indicated that the department commander knew we were in +possession of Donelson. I was reporting regularly to the chief of +staff, who had been sent to Cairo, soon after the troops left there, to +receive all reports from the front and to telegraph the substance to the +St. Louis headquarters. Cairo was at the southern end of the telegraph +wire. Another line was started at once from Cairo to Paducah and +Smithland, at the mouths of the Tennessee and Cumberland respectively. +My dispatches were all sent to Cairo by boat, but many of those +addressed to me were sent to the operator at the end of the advancing +wire and he failed to forward them. This operator afterwards proved to +be a rebel; he deserted his post after a short time and went south +taking his dispatches with him. A telegram from General McClellan to me +of February 16th, the day of the surrender, directing me to report in +full the situation, was not received at my headquarters until the 3d of +March. + +On the 2d of March I received orders dated March 1st to move my command +back to Fort Henry, leaving only a small garrison at Donelson. From +Fort Henry expeditions were to be sent against Eastport, Mississippi, +and Paris, Tennessee. We started from Donelson on the 4th, and the same +day I was back on the Tennessee River. On March 4th I also received the +following dispatch from General Halleck: + + +MAJ.-GEN. U. S. GRANT, Fort Henry: + +You will place Maj.-Gen. C. F. Smith in command of expedition, and +remain yourself at Fort Henry. Why do you not obey my orders to report +strength and positions of your command? + +H. W. HALLECK, Major-General. + + +I was surprised. This was the first intimation I had received that +General Halleck had called for information as to the strength of my +command. On the 6th he wrote to me again. "Your going to Nashville +without authority, and when your presence with your troops was of the +utmost importance, was a matter of very serious complaint at Washington, +so much so that I was advised to arrest you on your return." This was +the first I knew of his objecting to my going to Nashville. That place +was not beyond the limits of my command, which, it had been expressly +declared in orders, were "not defined." Nashville is west of the +Cumberland River, and I had sent troops that had reported to me for duty +to occupy the place. I turned over the command as directed and then +replied to General Halleck courteously, but asked to be relieved from +further duty under him. + +Later I learned that General Halleck had been calling lustily for more +troops, promising that he would do something important if he could only +be sufficiently reinforced. McClellan asked him what force he then had. +Halleck telegraphed me to supply the information so far as my command +was concerned, but I received none of his dispatches. At last Halleck +reported to Washington that he had repeatedly ordered me to give the +strength of my force, but could get nothing out of me; that I had gone +to Nashville, beyond the limits of my command, without his authority, +and that my army was more demoralized by victory than the army at Bull +Run had been by defeat. General McClellan, on this information, ordered +that I should be relieved from duty and that an investigation should be +made into any charges against me. He even authorized my arrest. Thus +in less than two weeks after the victory at Donelson, the two leading +generals in the army were in correspondence as to what disposition +should be made of me, and in less than three weeks I was virtually in +arrest and without a command. + +On the 13th of March I was restored to command, and on the 17th Halleck +sent me a copy of an order from the War Department which stated that +accounts of my misbehavior had reached Washington and directed him to +investigate and report the facts. He forwarded also a copy of a +detailed dispatch from himself to Washington entirely exonerating me; +but he did not inform me that it was his own reports that had created +all the trouble. On the contrary, he wrote to me, "Instead of relieving +you, I wish you, as soon as your new army is in the field, to assume +immediate command, and lead it to new victories." In consequence I felt +very grateful to him, and supposed it was his interposition that had set +me right with the government. I never knew the truth until General +Badeau unearthed the facts in his researches for his history of my +campaigns. + +General Halleck unquestionably deemed General C. F. Smith a much fitter +officer for the command of all the forces in the military district than +I was, and, to render him available for such command, desired his +promotion to antedate mine and those of the other division commanders. +It is probable that the general opinion was that Smith's long services +in the army and distinguished deeds rendered him the more proper person +for such command. Indeed I was rather inclined to this opinion myself +at that time, and would have served as faithfully under Smith as he had +done under me. But this did not justify the dispatches which General +Halleck sent to Washington, or his subsequent concealment of them from +me when pretending to explain the action of my superiors. + +On receipt of the order restoring me to command I proceeded to Savannah +on the Tennessee, to which point my troops had advanced. General Smith +was delighted to see me and was unhesitating in his denunciation of the +treatment I had received. He was on a sick bed at the time, from which +he never came away alive. His death was a severe loss to our western +army. His personal courage was unquestioned, his judgment and +professional acquirements were unsurpassed, and he had the confidence +of those he commanded as well as of those over him. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE ARMY AT PITTSBURG LANDING--INJURED BY A FALL--THE CONFEDERATE ATTACK +AT SHILOH--THE FIRST DAY'S FIGHT AT SHILOH--GENERAL SHERMAN--CONDITION +OF THE ARMY--CLOSE OF THE FIRST DAY'S FIGHT--THE SECOND DAY'S FIGHT +--RETREAT AND DEFEAT OF THE CONFEDERATES. + +When I reassumed command on the 17th of March I found the army divided, +about half being on the east bank of the Tennessee at Savannah, while +one division was at Crump's landing on the west bank about four miles +higher up, and the remainder at Pittsburg landing, five miles above +Crump's. The enemy was in force at Corinth, the junction of the two +most important railroads in the Mississippi valley--one connecting +Memphis and the Mississippi River with the East, and the other leading +south to all the cotton states. Still another railroad connects Corinth +with Jackson, in west Tennessee. If we obtained possession of Corinth +the enemy would have no railroad for the transportation of armies or +supplies until that running east from Vicksburg was reached. It was the +great strategic position at the West between the Tennessee and the +Mississippi rivers and between Nashville and Vicksburg. + +I at once put all the troops at Savannah in motion for Pittsburg +landing, knowing that the enemy was fortifying at Corinth and collecting +an army there under Johnston. It was my expectation to march against +that army as soon as Buell, who had been ordered to reinforce me with +the Army of the Ohio, should arrive; and the west bank of the river was +the place to start from. Pittsburg is only about twenty miles from +Corinth, and Hamburg landing, four miles further up the river, is a mile +or two nearer. I had not been in command long before I selected Hamburg +as the place to put the Army of the Ohio when it arrived. The roads +from Pittsburg and Hamburg to Corinth converge some eight miles out. +This disposition of the troops would have given additional roads to +march over when the advance commenced, within supporting distance of +each other. + +Before I arrived at Savannah, Sherman, who had joined the Army of the +Tennessee and been placed in command of a division, had made an +expedition on steamers convoyed by gunboats to the neighborhood of +Eastport, thirty miles south, for the purpose of destroying the railroad +east of Corinth. The rains had been so heavy for some time before that +the low-lands had become impassable swamps. Sherman debarked his troops +and started out to accomplish the object of the expedition; but the +river was rising so rapidly that the back-water up the small tributaries +threatened to cut off the possibility of getting back to the boats, and +the expedition had to return without reaching the railroad. The guns +had to be hauled by hand through the water to get back to the boats. + +On the 17th of March the army on the Tennessee River consisted of five +divisions, commanded respectively by Generals C. F. Smith, McClernand, +L. Wallace, Hurlbut and Sherman. General W. H. L. Wallace was +temporarily in command of Smith's division, General Smith, as I have +said, being confined to his bed. Reinforcements were arriving daily and +as they came up they were organized, first into brigades, then into a +division, and the command given to General Prentiss, who had been +ordered to report to me. General Buell was on his way from Nashville +with 40,000 veterans. On the 19th of March he was at Columbia, +Tennessee, eighty-five miles from Pittsburg. When all reinforcements +should have arrived I expected to take the initiative by marching on +Corinth, and had no expectation of needing fortifications, though this +subject was taken into consideration. McPherson, my only military +engineer, was directed to lay out a line to intrench. He did so, but +reported that it would have to be made in rear of the line of encampment +as it then ran. The new line, while it would be nearer the river, was +yet too far away from the Tennessee, or even from the creeks, to be +easily supplied with water, and in case of attack these creeks would be +in the hands of the enemy. The fact is, I regarded the campaign we were +engaged in as an offensive one and had no idea that the enemy would +leave strong intrenchments to take the initiative when he knew he would +be attacked where he was if he remained. This view, however, did not +prevent every precaution being taken and every effort made to keep +advised of all movements of the enemy. + +Johnston's cavalry meanwhile had been well out towards our front, and +occasional encounters occurred between it and our outposts. On the 1st +of April this cavalry became bold and approached our lines, showing that +an advance of some kind was contemplated. On the 2d Johnston left +Corinth in force to attack my army. On the 4th his cavalry dashed down +and captured a small picket guard of six or seven men, stationed some +five miles out from Pittsburg on the Corinth road. Colonel Buckland +sent relief to the guard at once and soon followed in person with an +entire regiment, and General Sherman followed Buckland taking the +remainder of a brigade. The pursuit was kept up for some three miles +beyond the point where the picket guard had been captured, and after +nightfall Sherman returned to camp and reported to me by letter what had +occurred. + +At this time a large body of the enemy was hovering to the west of us, +along the line of the Mobile and Ohio railroad. My apprehension was +much greater for the safety of Crump's landing than it was for +Pittsburg. I had no apprehension that the enemy could really capture +either place. But I feared it was possible that he might make a rapid +dash upon Crump's and destroy our transports and stores, most of which +were kept at that point, and then retreat before Wallace could be +reinforced. Lew. Wallace's position I regarded as so well chosen that +he was not removed. + +At this time I generally spent the day at Pittsburg and returned to +Savannah in the evening. I was intending to remove my headquarters to +Pittsburg, but Buell was expected daily and would come in at Savannah. +I remained at this point, therefore, a few days longer than I otherwise +should have done, in order to meet him on his arrival. The skirmishing +in our front, however, had been so continuous from about the 3d of April +that I did not leave Pittsburg each night until an hour when I felt +there would be no further danger before the morning. + +On Friday the 4th, the day of Buckland's advance, I was very much +injured by my horse falling with me, and on me, while I was trying to +get to the front where firing had been heard. The night was one of +impenetrable darkness, with rain pouring down in torrents; nothing was +visible to the eye except as revealed by the frequent flashes of +lightning. Under these circumstances I had to trust to the horse, +without guidance, to keep the road. I had not gone far, however, when I +met General W. H. L. Wallace and Colonel (afterwards General) McPherson +coming from the direction of the front. They said all was quiet so far +as the enemy was concerned. On the way back to the boat my horse's feet +slipped from under him, and he fell with my leg under his body. The +extreme softness of the ground, from the excessive rains of the few +preceding days, no doubt saved me from a severe injury and protracted +lameness. As it was, my ankle was very much injured, so much so that my +boot had to be cut off. For two or three days after I was unable to +walk except with crutches. + +On the 5th General Nelson, with a division of Buell's army, arrived at +Savannah and I ordered him to move up the east bank of the river, to be +in a position where he could be ferried over to Crump's landing or +Pittsburg as occasion required. I had learned that General Buell +himself would be at Savannah the next day, and desired to meet me on his +arrival. Affairs at Pittsburg landing had been such for several days +that I did not want to be away during the day. I determined, therefore, +to take a very early breakfast and ride out to meet Buell, and thus save +time. He had arrived on the evening of the 5th, but had not advised me +of the fact and I was not aware of it until some time after. While I +was at breakfast, however, heavy firing was heard in the direction of +Pittsburg landing, and I hastened there, sending a hurried note to Buell +informing him of the reason why I could not meet him at Savannah. On +the way up the river I directed the dispatch-boat to run in close to +Crump's landing, so that I could communicate with General Lew. Wallace. +I found him waiting on a boat apparently expecting to see me, and I +directed him to get his troops in line ready to execute any orders he +might receive. He replied that his troops were already under arms and +prepared to move. + +Up to that time I had felt by no means certain that Crump's landing +might not be the point of attack. On reaching the front, however, about +eight A.M., I found that the attack on Pittsburg was unmistakable, and +that nothing more than a small guard, to protect our transports and +stores, was needed at Crump's. Captain Baxter, a quartermaster on my +staff, was accordingly directed to go back and order General Wallace to +march immediately to Pittsburg by the road nearest the river. Captain +Baxter made a memorandum of this order. About one P.M., not hearing +from Wallace and being much in need of reinforcements, I sent two more +of my staff, Colonel McPherson and Captain Rowley, to bring him up with +his division. They reported finding him marching towards Purdy, Bethel, +or some point west from the river, and farther from Pittsburg by several +miles than when he started. The road from his first position to +Pittsburg landing was direct and near the river. Between the two points +a bridge had been built across Snake Creek by our troops, at which +Wallace's command had assisted, expressly to enable the troops at the +two places to support each other in case of need. Wallace did not +arrive in time to take part in the first day's fight. General Wallace +has since claimed that the order delivered to him by Captain Baxter was +simply to join the right of the army, and that the road over which he +marched would have taken him to the road from Pittsburg to Purdy where +it crosses Owl Creek on the right of Sherman; but this is not where I +had ordered him nor where I wanted him to go. + +I never could see and do not now see why any order was necessary further +than to direct him to come to Pittsburg landing, without specifying by +what route. His was one of three veteran divisions that had been in +battle, and its absence was severely felt. Later in the war General +Wallace would not have made the mistake that he committed on the 6th of +April, 1862. I presume his idea was that by taking the route he did he +would be able to come around on the flank or rear of the enemy, and thus +perform an act of heroism that would redound to the credit of his +command, as well as to the benefit of his country. + +Some two or three miles from Pittsburg landing was a log meeting-house +called Shiloh. It stood on the ridge which divides the waters of Snake +and Lick creeks, the former emptying into the Tennessee just north of +Pittsburg landing, and the latter south. This point was the key to our +position and was held by Sherman. His division was at that time wholly +raw, no part of it ever having been in an engagement; but I thought this +deficiency was more than made up by the superiority of the commander. +McClernand was on Sherman's left, with troops that had been engaged at +forts Henry and Donelson and were therefore veterans so far as western +troops had become such at that stage of the war. Next to McClernand +came Prentiss with a raw division, and on the extreme left, Stuart with +one brigade of Sherman's division. Hurlbut was in rear of Prentiss, +massed, and in reserve at the time of the onset. The division of +General C. F. Smith was on the right, also in reserve. General Smith +was still sick in bed at Savannah, but within hearing of our guns. His +services would no doubt have been of inestimable value had his health +permitted his presence. The command of his division devolved upon +Brigadier-General W. H. L. Wallace, a most estimable and able officer; a +veteran too, for he had served a year in the Mexican war and had been +with his command at Henry and Donelson. Wallace was mortally wounded in +the first day's engagement, and with the change of commanders thus +necessarily effected in the heat of battle the efficiency of his +division was much weakened. + +The position of our troops made a continuous line from Lick Creek on the +left to Owl Creek, a branch of Snake Creek, on the right, facing nearly +south and possibly a little west. The water in all these streams was +very high at the time and contributed to protect our flanks. The enemy +was compelled, therefore, to attack directly in front. This he did with +great vigor, inflicting heavy losses on the National side, but suffering +much heavier on his own. + +The Confederate assaults were made with such a disregard of losses on +their own side that our line of tents soon fell into their hands. The +ground on which the battle was fought was undulating, heavily timbered +with scattered clearings, the woods giving some protection to the troops +on both sides. There was also considerable underbrush. A number of +attempts were made by the enemy to turn our right flank, where Sherman +was posted, but every effort was repulsed with heavy loss. But the +front attack was kept up so vigorously that, to prevent the success of +these attempts to get on our flanks, the National troops were compelled, +several times, to take positions to the rear nearer Pittsburg landing. +When the firing ceased at night the National line was all of a mile in +rear of the position it had occupied in the morning. + +In one of the backward moves, on the 6th, the division commanded by +General Prentiss did not fall back with the others. This left his +flanks exposed and enabled the enemy to capture him with about 2,200 of +his officers and men. General Badeau gives four o'clock of the 6th as +about the time this capture took place. He may be right as to the time, +but my recollection is that the hour was later. General Prentiss +himself gave the hour as half-past five. I was with him, as I was with +each of the division commanders that day, several times, and my +recollection is that the last time I was with him was about half-past +four, when his division was standing up firmly and the General was as +cool as if expecting victory. But no matter whether it was four or +later, the story that he and his command were surprised and captured in +their camps is without any foundation whatever. If it had been true, as +currently reported at the time and yet believed by thousands of people, +that Prentiss and his division had been captured in their beds, there +would not have been an all-day struggle, with the loss of thousands +killed and wounded on the Confederate side. + +With the single exception of a few minutes after the capture of +Prentiss, a continuous and unbroken line was maintained all day from +Snake Creek or its tributaries on the right to Lick Creek or the +Tennessee on the left above Pittsburg. + +There was no hour during the day when there was not heavy firing and +generally hard fighting at some point on the line, but seldom at all +points at the same time. It was a case of Southern dash against +Northern pluck and endurance. Three of the five divisions engaged on +Sunday were entirely raw, and many of the men had only received their +arms on the way from their States to the field. Many of them had +arrived but a day or two before and were hardly able to load their +muskets according to the manual. Their officers were equally ignorant +of their duties. Under these circumstances it is not astonishing that +many of the regiments broke at the first fire. In two cases, as I now +remember, colonels led their regiments from the field on first hearing +the whistle of the enemy's bullets. In these cases the colonels were +constitutional cowards, unfit for any military position; but not so the +officers and men led out of danger by them. Better troops never went +upon a battle-field than many of these, officers and men, afterwards +proved themselves to be, who fled panic stricken at the first whistle of +bullets and shell at Shiloh. + +During the whole of Sunday I was continuously engaged in passing from +one part of the field to another, giving directions to division +commanders. In thus moving along the line, however, I never deemed it +important to stay long with Sherman. Although his troops were then +under fire for the first time, their commander, by his constant presence +with them, inspired a confidence in officers and men that enabled them +to render services on that bloody battle-field worthy of the best of +veterans. McClernand was next to Sherman, and the hardest fighting was +in front of these two divisions. McClernand told me on that day, the +6th, that he profited much by having so able a commander supporting him. +A casualty to Sherman that would have taken him from the field that day +would have been a sad one for the troops engaged at Shiloh. And how +near we came to this! On the 6th Sherman was shot twice, once in the +hand, once in the shoulder, the ball cutting his coat and making a +slight wound, and a third ball passed through his hat. In addition to +this he had several horses shot during the day. + +The nature of this battle was such that cavalry could not be used in +front; I therefore formed ours into line in rear, to stop stragglers--of +whom there were many. When there would be enough of them to make a +show, and after they had recovered from their fright, they would be sent +to reinforce some part of the line which needed support, without regard +to their companies, regiments or brigades. + +On one occasion during the day I rode back as far as the river and met +General Buell, who had just arrived; I do not remember the hour, but at +that time there probably were as many as four or five thousand +stragglers lying under cover of the river bluff, panic-stricken, most of +whom would have been shot where they lay, without resistance, before +they would have taken muskets and marched to the front to protect +themselves. This meeting between General Buell and myself was on the +dispatch-boat used to run between the landing and Savannah. It was +brief, and related specially to his getting his troops over the river. +As we left the boat together, Buell's attention was attracted by the men +lying under cover of the river bank. I saw him berating them and trying +to shame them into joining their regiments. He even threatened them +with shells from the gunboats near by. But it was all to no effect. +Most of these men afterward proved themselves as gallant as any of those +who saved the battle from which they had deserted. I have no doubt that +this sight impressed General Buell with the idea that a line of retreat +would be a good thing just then. If he had come in by the front instead +of through the stragglers in the rear, he would have thought and felt +differently. Could he have come through the Confederate rear, he would +have witnessed there a scene similar to that at our own. The distant +rear of an army engaged in battle is not the best place from which to +judge correctly what is going on in front. Later in the war, while +occupying the country between the Tennessee and the Mississippi, I +learned that the panic in the Confederate lines had not differed much +from that within our own. Some of the country people estimated the +stragglers from Johnston's army as high as 20,000. Of course this was +an exaggeration. + +The situation at the close of Sunday was as follows: along the top of +the bluff just south of the log-house which stood at Pittsburg landing, +Colonel J. D. Webster, of my staff, had arranged twenty or more pieces +of artillery facing south or up the river. This line of artillery was +on the crest of a hill overlooking a deep ravine opening into the +Tennessee. Hurlbut with his division intact was on the right of this +artillery, extending west and possibly a little north. McClernand came +next in the general line, looking more to the west. His division was +complete in its organization and ready for any duty. Sherman came next, +his right extending to Snake Creek. His command, like the other two, was +complete in its organization and ready, like its chief, for any service +it might be called upon to render. All three divisions were, as a +matter of course, more or less shattered and depleted in numbers from +the terrible battle of the day. The division of W. H. L. Wallace, as +much from the disorder arising from changes of division and brigade +commanders, under heavy fire, as from any other cause, had lost its +organization and did not occupy a place in the line as a division. +Prentiss' command was gone as a division, many of its members having +been killed, wounded or captured, but it had rendered valiant services +before its final dispersal, and had contributed a good share to the +defence of Shiloh. + +The right of my line rested near the bank of Snake Creek, a short +distance above the bridge which had been built by the troops for the +purpose of connecting Crump's landing and Pittsburg landing. Sherman +had posted some troops in a log-house and out-buildings which overlooked +both the bridge over which Wallace was expected and the creek above that +point. In this last position Sherman was frequently attacked before +night, but held the point until he voluntarily abandoned it to advance +in order to make room for Lew. Wallace, who came up after dark. + +There was, as I have said, a deep ravine in front of our left. The +Tennessee River was very high and there was water to a considerable +depth in the ravine. Here the enemy made a last desperate effort to +turn our flank, but was repelled. The gunboats Tyler and Lexington, +Gwin and Shirk commanding, with the artillery under Webster, aided the +army and effectually checked their further progress. Before any of +Buell's troops had reached the west bank of the Tennessee, firing had +almost entirely ceased; anything like an attempt on the part of the +enemy to advance had absolutely ceased. There was some artillery firing +from an unseen enemy, some of his shells passing beyond us; but I do not +remember that there was the whistle of a single musket-ball heard. As +his troops arrived in the dusk General Buell marched several of his +regiments part way down the face of the hill where they fired briskly +for some minutes, but I do not think a single man engaged in this firing +received an injury. The attack had spent its force. + +General Lew. Wallace, with 5,000 effective men, arrived after firing had +ceased for the day, and was placed on the right. Thus night came, +Wallace came, and the advance of Nelson's division came; but none +--unless night--in time to be of material service to the gallant men who +saved Shiloh on that first day against large odds. Buell's loss on the +6th of April was two men killed and one wounded, all members of the 36th +Indiana infantry. The Army of the Tennessee lost on that day at least +7,000 men. The presence of two or three regiments of Buell's army on +the west bank before firing ceased had not the slightest effect in +preventing the capture of Pittsburg landing. + +So confident was I before firing had ceased on the 6th that the next day +would bring victory to our arms if we could only take the initiative, +that I visited each division commander in person before any +reinforcements had reached the field. I directed them to throw out +heavy lines of skirmishers in the morning as soon as they could see, and +push them forward until they found the enemy, following with their +entire divisions in supporting distance, and to engage the enemy as soon +as found. To Sherman I told the story of the assault at Fort Donelson, +and said that the same tactics would win at Shiloh. Victory was assured +when Wallace arrived, even if there had been no other support. I was +glad, however, to see the reinforcements of Buell and credit them with +doing all there was for them to do. + +During the night of the 6th the remainder of Nelson's division, Buell's +army crossed the river and were ready to advance in the morning, forming +the left wing. Two other divisions, Crittenden's and McCook's, came up +the river from Savannah in the transports and were on the west bank +early on the 7th. Buell commanded them in person. My command was thus +nearly doubled in numbers and efficiency. + +During the night rain fell in torrents and our troops were exposed to +the storm without shelter. I made my headquarters under a tree a few +hundred yards back from the river bank. My ankle was so much swollen +from the fall of my horse the Friday night preceding, and the bruise was +so painful, that I could get no rest. + +The drenching rain would have precluded the possibility of sleep without +this additional cause. Some time after midnight, growing restive under +the storm and the continuous pain, I moved back to the log-house under +the bank. This had been taken as a hospital, and all night wounded men +were being brought in, their wounds dressed, a leg or an arm amputated +as the case might require, and everything being done to save life or +alleviate suffering. The sight was more unendurable than encountering +the enemy's fire, and I returned to my tree in the rain. + +The advance on the morning of the 7th developed the enemy in the camps +occupied by our troops before the battle began, more than a mile back +from the most advanced position of the Confederates on the day before. +It is known now that they had not yet learned of the arrival of Buell's +command. Possibly they fell back so far to get the shelter of our tents +during the rain, and also to get away from the shells that were dropped +upon them by the gunboats every fifteen minutes during the night. + +The position of the Union troops on the morning of the 7th was as +follows: General Lew. Wallace on the right; Sherman on his left; then +McClernand and then Hurlbut. Nelson, of Buell's army, was on our +extreme left, next to the river. + +Crittenden was next in line after Nelson and on his right, McCook +followed and formed the extreme right of Buell's command. My old +command thus formed the right wing, while the troops directly under +Buell constituted the left wing of the army. These relative positions +were retained during the entire day, or until the enemy was driven from +the field. + +In a very short time the battle became general all along the line. This +day everything was favorable to the Union side. We had now become the +attacking party. The enemy was driven back all day, as we had been the +day before, until finally he beat a precipitate retreat. The last point +held by him was near the road leading from the landing to Corinth, on +the left of Sherman and right of McClernand. About three o'clock, being +near that point and seeing that the enemy was giving way everywhere +else, I gathered up a couple of regiments, or parts of regiments, from +troops near by, formed them in line of battle and marched them forward, +going in front myself to prevent premature or long-range firing. At +this point there was a clearing between us and the enemy favorable for +charging, although exposed. I knew the enemy were ready to break and +only wanted a little encouragement from us to go quickly and join their +friends who had started earlier. After marching to within musket-range +I stopped and let the troops pass. The command, CHARGE, was given, and +was executed with loud cheers and with a run; when the last of the enemy +broke. (*7) + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +STRUCK BY A BULLET--PRECIPITATE RETREAT OF THE CONFEDERATES +--INTRENCHMENTS AT SHILOH--GENERAL BUELL--GENERAL JOHNSTON--REMARKS ON +SHILOH. + +During this second day of the battle I had been moving from right to +left and back, to see for myself the progress made. In the early part +of the afternoon, while riding with Colonel McPherson and Major Hawkins, +then my chief commissary, we got beyond the left of our troops. We were +moving along the northern edge of a clearing, very leisurely, toward the +river above the landing. There did not appear to be an enemy to our +right, until suddenly a battery with musketry opened upon us from the +edge of the woods on the other side of the clearing. The shells and +balls whistled about our ears very fast for about a minute. I do not +think it took us longer than that to get out of range and out of sight. +In the sudden start we made, Major Hawkins lost his hat. He did not +stop to pick it up. When we arrived at a perfectly safe position we +halted to take an account of damages. McPherson's horse was panting as +if ready to drop. On examination it was found that a ball had struck +him forward of the flank just back of the saddle, and had gone entirely +through. In a few minutes the poor beast dropped dead; he had given no +sign of injury until we came to a stop. A ball had struck the metal +scabbard of my sword, just below the hilt, and broken it nearly off; +before the battle was over it had broken off entirely. There were +three of us: one had lost a horse, killed; one a hat and one a +sword-scabbard. All were thankful that it was no worse. + +After the rain of the night before and the frequent and heavy rains for +some days previous, the roads were almost impassable. The enemy +carrying his artillery and supply trains over them in his retreat, made +them still worse for troops following. I wanted to pursue, but had not +the heart to order the men who had fought desperately for two days, +lying in the mud and rain whenever not fighting, and I did (*8) not feel +disposed to positively order Buell, or any part of his command, to +pursue. Although the senior in rank at the time I had been so only a +few weeks. Buell was, and had been for some time past, a department +commander, while I commanded only a district. I did not meet Buell in +person until too late to get troops ready and pursue with effect; but +had I seen him at the moment of the last charge I should have at least +requested him to follow. + +I rode forward several miles the day after the battle, and found that +the enemy had dropped much, if not all, of their provisions, some +ammunition and the extra wheels of their caissons, lightening their +loads to enable them to get off their guns. About five miles out we +found their field hospital abandoned. An immediate pursuit must have +resulted in the capture of a considerable number of prisoners and +probably some guns. + +Shiloh was the severest battle fought at the West during the war, and +but few in the East equalled it for hard, determined fighting. I saw an +open field, in our possession on the second day, over which the +Confederates had made repeated charges the day before, so covered with +dead that it would have been possible to walk across the clearing, in +any direction, stepping on dead bodies, without a foot touching the +ground. On our side National and Confederate troops were mingled +together in about equal proportions; but on the remainder of the field +nearly all were Confederates. On one part, which had evidently not been +ploughed for several years, probably because the land was poor, bushes +had grown up, some to the height of eight or ten feet. There was not one +of these left standing unpierced by bullets. The smaller ones were all +cut down. + +Contrary to all my experience up to that time, and to the experience of +the army I was then commanding, we were on the defensive. We were +without intrenchments or defensive advantages of any sort, and more than +half the army engaged the first day was without experience or even drill +as soldiers. The officers with them, except the division commanders and +possibly two or three of the brigade commanders, were equally +inexperienced in war. The result was a Union victory that gave the men +who achieved it great confidence in themselves ever after. + +The enemy fought bravely, but they had started out to defeat and destroy +an army and capture a position. They failed in both, with very heavy +loss in killed and wounded, and must have gone back discouraged and +convinced that the "Yankee" was not an enemy to be despised. + +After the battle I gave verbal instructions to division commanders to +let the regiments send out parties to bury their own dead, and to detail +parties, under commissioned officers from each division, to bury the +Confederate dead in their respective fronts and to report the numbers so +buried. The latter part of these instructions was not carried out by +all; but they were by those sent from Sherman's division, and by some of +the parties sent out by McClernand. The heaviest loss sustained by the +enemy was in front of these two divisions. + +The criticism has often been made that the Union troops should have been +intrenched at Shiloh. Up to that time the pick and spade had been but +little resorted to at the West. I had, however, taken this subject +under consideration soon after re-assuming command in the field, and, as +already stated, my only military engineer reported unfavorably. Besides +this, the troops with me, officers and men, needed discipline and drill +more than they did experience with the pick, shovel and axe. +Reinforcements were arriving almost daily, composed of troops that had +been hastily thrown together into companies and regiments--fragments of +incomplete organizations, the men and officers strangers to each other. +Under all these circumstances I concluded that drill and discipline were +worth more to our men than fortifications. + +General Buell was a brave, intelligent officer, with as much +professional pride and ambition of a commendable sort as I ever knew. I +had been two years at West Point with him, and had served with him +afterwards, in garrison and in the Mexican war, several years more. He +was not given in early life or in mature years to forming intimate +acquaintances. He was studious by habit, and commanded the confidence +and respect of all who knew him. He was a strict disciplinarian, and +perhaps did not distinguish sufficiently between the volunteer who +"enlisted for the war" and the soldier who serves in time of peace. One +system embraced men who risked life for a principle, and often men of +social standing, competence, or wealth and independence of character. +The other includes, as a rule, only men who could not do as well in any +other occupation. General Buell became an object of harsh criticism +later, some going so far as to challenge his loyalty. No one who knew +him ever believed him capable of a dishonorable act, and nothing could +be more dishonorable than to accept high rank and command in war and +then betray the trust. When I came into command of the army in 1864, I +requested the Secretary of War to restore General Buell to duty. + +After the war, during the summer of 1865, I travelled considerably +through the North, and was everywhere met by large numbers of people. +Every one had his opinion about the manner in which the war had been +conducted: who among the generals had failed, how, and why. +Correspondents of the press were ever on hand to hear every word +dropped, and were not always disposed to report correctly what did not +confirm their preconceived notions, either about the conduct of the war +or the individuals concerned in it. The opportunity frequently occurred +for me to defend General Buell against what I believed to be most unjust +charges. On one occasion a correspondent put in my mouth the very +charge I had so often refuted--of disloyalty. This brought from General +Buell a very severe retort, which I saw in the New York World some time +before I received the letter itself. I could very well understand his +grievance at seeing untrue and disgraceful charges apparently sustained +by an officer who, at the time, was at the head of the army. I replied +to him, but not through the press. I kept no copy of my letter, nor did +I ever see it in print; neither did I receive an answer. + +General Albert Sidney Johnston, who commanded the Confederate forces at +the beginning of the battle, was disabled by a wound on the afternoon of +the first day. This wound, as I understood afterwards, was not +necessarily fatal, or even dangerous. But he was a man who would not +abandon what he deemed an important trust in the face of danger and +consequently continued in the saddle, commanding, until so exhausted by +the loss of blood that he had to be taken from his horse, and soon after +died. The news was not long in reaching our side and I suppose was +quite an encouragement to the National soldiers. + +I had known Johnston slightly in the Mexican war and later as an officer +in the regular army. He was a man of high character and ability. His +contemporaries at West Point, and officers generally who came to know +him personally later and who remained on our side, expected him to prove +the most formidable man to meet that the Confederacy would produce. + +I once wrote that nothing occurred in his brief command of an army to +prove or disprove the high estimate that had been placed upon his +military ability; but after studying the orders and dispatches of +Johnston I am compelled to materially modify my views of that officer's +qualifications as a soldier. My judgment now is that he was vacillating +and undecided in his actions. + +All the disasters in Kentucky and Tennessee were so discouraging to the +authorities in Richmond that Jefferson Davis wrote an unofficial letter +to Johnston expressing his own anxiety and that of the public, and +saying that he had made such defence as was dictated by long friendship, +but that in the absence of a report he needed facts. The letter was not +a reprimand in direct terms, but it was evidently as much felt as though +it had been one. General Johnston raised another army as rapidly as he +could, and fortified or strongly intrenched at Corinth. He knew the +National troops were preparing to attack him in his chosen position. +But he had evidently become so disturbed at the results of his +operations that he resolved to strike out in an offensive campaign which +would restore all that was lost, and if successful accomplish still +more. We have the authority of his son and biographer for saying that +his plan was to attack the forces at Shiloh and crush them; then to +cross the Tennessee and destroy the army of Buell, and push the war +across the Ohio River. The design was a bold one; but we have the same +authority for saying that in the execution Johnston showed vacillation +and indecision. He left Corinth on the 2d of April and was not ready to +attack until the 6th. The distance his army had to march was less than +twenty miles. Beauregard, his second in command, was opposed to the +attack for two reasons: first, he thought, if let alone the National +troops would attack the Confederates in their intrenchments; second, we +were in ground of our own choosing and would necessarily be intrenched. +Johnston not only listened to the objection of Beauregard to an attack, +but held a council of war on the subject on the morning of the 5th. On +the evening of the same day he was in consultation with some of his +generals on the same subject, and still again on the morning of the 6th. +During this last consultation, and before a decision had been reached, +the battle began by the National troops opening fire on the enemy. This +seemed to settle the question as to whether there was to be any battle +of Shiloh. It also seems to me to settle the question as to whether +there was a surprise. + +I do not question the personal courage of General Johnston, or his +ability. But he did not win the distinction predicted for him by many +of his friends. He did prove that as a general he was over-estimated. + +General Beauregard was next in rank to Johnston and succeeded to the +command, which he retained to the close of the battle and during the +subsequent retreat on Corinth, as well as in the siege of that place. +His tactics have been severely criticised by Confederate writers, but I +do not believe his fallen chief could have done any better under the +circumstances. Some of these critics claim that Shiloh was won when +Johnston fell, and that if he had not fallen the army under me would +have been annihilated or captured. IFS defeated the Confederates at +Shiloh. There is little doubt that we would have been disgracefully +beaten IF all the shells and bullets fired by us had passed harmlessly +over the enemy and IF all of theirs had taken effect. Commanding +generals are liable to be killed during engagements; and the fact that +when he was shot Johnston was leading a brigade to induce it to make a +charge which had been repeatedly ordered, is evidence that there was +neither the universal demoralization on our side nor the unbounded +confidence on theirs which has been claimed. There was, in fact, no +hour during the day when I doubted the eventual defeat of the enemy, +although I was disappointed that reinforcements so near at hand did not +arrive at an earlier hour. + +The description of the battle of Shiloh given by Colonel Wm. Preston +Johnston is very graphic and well told. The reader will imagine that he +can see each blow struck, a demoralized and broken mob of Union +soldiers, each blow sending the enemy more demoralized than ever towards +the Tennessee River, which was a little more than two miles away at the +beginning of the onset. If the reader does not stop to inquire why, with +such Confederate success for more than twelve hours of hard fighting, +the National troops were not all killed, captured or driven into the +river, he will regard the pen picture as perfect. But I witnessed the +fight from the National side from eight o'clock in the morning until +night closed the contest. I see but little in the description that I +can recognize. The Confederate troops fought well and deserve +commendation enough for their bravery and endurance on the 6th of April, +without detracting from their antagonists or claiming anything more than +their just dues. + +The reports of the enemy show that their condition at the end of the +first day was deplorable; their losses in killed and wounded had been +very heavy, and their stragglers had been quite as numerous as on the +National side, with the difference that those of the enemy left the +field entirely and were not brought back to their respective commands +for many days. On the Union side but few of the stragglers fell back +further than the landing on the river, and many of these were in line +for duty on the second day. The admissions of the highest Confederate +officers engaged at Shiloh make the claim of a victory for them absurd. +The victory was not to either party until the battle was over. It was +then a Union victory, in which the Armies of the Tennessee and the Ohio +both participated. But the Army of the Tennessee fought the entire +rebel army on the 6th and held it at bay until near night; and night +alone closed the conflict and not the three regiments of Nelson's +division. + +The Confederates fought with courage at Shiloh, but the particular skill +claimed I could not and still cannot see; though there is nothing to +criticise except the claims put forward for it since. But the +Confederate claimants for superiority in strategy, superiority in +generalship and superiority in dash and prowess are not so unjust to the +Union troops engaged at Shiloh as are many Northern writers. The troops +on both sides were American, and united they need not fear any foreign +foe. It is possible that the Southern man started in with a little more +dash than his Northern brother; but he was correspondingly less +enduring. + +The endeavor of the enemy on the first day was simply to hurl their men +against ours--first at one point, then at another, sometimes at several +points at once. This they did with daring and energy, until at night +the rebel troops were worn out. Our effort during the same time was to +be prepared to resist assaults wherever made. The object of the +Confederates on the second day was to get away with as much of their +army and material as possible. Ours then was to drive them from our +front, and to capture or destroy as great a part as possible of their +men and material. We were successful in driving them back, but not so +successful in captures as if farther pursuit could have been made. As +it was, we captured or recaptured on the second day about as much +artillery as we lost on the first; and, leaving out the one great +capture of Prentiss, we took more prisoners on Monday than the enemy +gained from us on Sunday. On the 6th Sherman lost seven pieces of +artillery, McClernand six, Prentiss eight, and Hurlbut two batteries. +On the 7th Sherman captured seven guns, McClernand three and the Army of +the Ohio twenty. + +At Shiloh the effective strength of the Union forces on the morning of +the 6th was 33,000 men. Lew. Wallace brought 5,000 more after +nightfall. Beauregard reported the enemy's strength at 40,955. +According to the custom of enumeration in the South, this number +probably excluded every man enlisted as musician or detailed as guard or +nurse, and all commissioned officers--everybody who did not carry a +musket or serve a cannon. With us everybody in the field receiving pay +from the government is counted. Excluding the troops who fled, +panic-stricken, before they had fired a shot, there was not a time +during the 6th when we had more than 25,000 men in line. On the 7th +Buell brought 20,000 more. Of his remaining two divisions, Thomas's did +not reach the field during the engagement; Wood's arrived before firing +had ceased, but not in time to be of much service. + +Our loss in the two days' fight was 1,754 killed, 8,408 wounded and +2,885 missing. Of these, 2,103 were in the Army of the Ohio. +Beauregard reported a total loss of 10,699, of whom 1,728 were killed, +8,012 wounded and 957 missing. This estimate must be incorrect. We +buried, by actual count, more of the enemy's dead in front of the +divisions of McClernand and Sherman alone than here reported, and 4,000 +was the estimate of the burial parties of the whole field. Beauregard +reports the Confederate force on the 6th at over 40,000, and their total +loss during the two days at 10,699; and at the same time declares that +he could put only 20,000 men in battle on the morning of the 7th. + +The navy gave a hearty support to the army at Shiloh, as indeed it +always did both before and subsequently when I was in command. The +nature of the ground was such, however, that on this occasion it could +do nothing in aid of the troops until sundown on the first day. The +country was broken and heavily timbered, cutting off all view of the +battle from the river, so that friends would be as much in danger from +fire from the gunboats as the foe. But about sundown, when the National +troops were back in their last position, the right of the enemy was near +the river and exposed to the fire of the two gun-boats, which was +delivered with vigor and effect. After nightfall, when firing had +entirely ceased on land, the commander of the fleet informed himself, +approximately, of the position of our troops and suggested the idea of +dropping a shell within the lines of the enemy every fifteen minutes +during the night. This was done with effect, as is proved by the +Confederate reports. + +Up to the battle of Shiloh I, as well as thousands of other citizens, +believed that the rebellion against the Government would collapse +suddenly and soon, if a decisive victory could be gained over any of its +armies. Donelson and Henry were such victories. An army of more than +21,000 men was captured or destroyed. Bowling Green, Columbus and +Hickman, Kentucky, fell in consequence, and Clarksville and Nashville, +Tennessee, the last two with an immense amount of stores, also fell into +our hands. The Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, from their mouths to +the head of navigation, were secured. But when Confederate armies were +collected which not only attempted to hold a line farther south, from +Memphis to Chattanooga, Knoxville and on to the Atlantic, but assumed +the offensive and made such a gallant effort to regain what had been +lost, then, indeed, I gave up all idea of saving the Union except by +complete conquest. Up to that time it had been the policy of our army, +certainly of that portion commanded by me, to protect the property of +the citizens whose territory was invaded, without regard to their +sentiments, whether Union or Secession. After this, however, I regarded +it as humane to both sides to protect the persons of those found at +their homes, but to consume everything that could be used to support or +supply armies. Protection was still continued over such supplies as +were within lines held by us and which we expected to continue to hold; +but such supplies within the reach of Confederate armies I regarded as +much contraband as arms or ordnance stores. Their destruction was +accomplished without bloodshed and tended to the same result as the +destruction of armies. I continued this policy to the close of the war. +Promiscuous pillaging, however, was discouraged and punished. +Instructions were always given to take provisions and forage under the +direction of commissioned officers who should give receipts to owners, +if at home, and turn the property over to officers of the quartermaster +or commissary departments to be issued as if furnished from our Northern +depots. But much was destroyed without receipts to owners, when it +could not be brought within our lines and would otherwise have gone to +the support of secession and rebellion. + +This policy I believe exercised a material influence in hastening the +end. + +The battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg landing, has been perhaps less +understood, or, to state the case more accurately, more persistently +misunderstood, than any other engagement between National and +Confederate troops during the entire rebellion. Correct reports of the +battle have been published, notably by Sherman, Badeau and, in a speech +before a meeting of veterans, by General Prentiss; but all of these +appeared long subsequent to the close of the rebellion and after public +opinion had been most erroneously formed. + +I myself made no report to General Halleck, further than was contained +in a letter, written immediately after the battle informing him that an +engagement had been fought and announcing the result. A few days +afterwards General Halleck moved his headquarters to Pittsburg landing +and assumed command of the troops in the field. Although next to him in +rank, and nominally in command of my old district and army, I was +ignored as much as if I had been at the most distant point of territory +within my jurisdiction; and although I was in command of all the troops +engaged at Shiloh I was not permitted to see one of the reports of +General Buell or his subordinates in that battle, until they were +published by the War Department long after the event. For this reason I +never made a full official report of this engagement. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +HALLECK ASSUMES COMMAND IN THE FIELD--THE ADVANCE UPON CORINTH +--OCCUPATION OF CORINTH--THE ARMY SEPARATED. + +General Halleck arrived at Pittsburg landing on the 11th of April and +immediately assumed command in the field. On the 21st General Pope +arrived with an army 30,000 strong, fresh from the capture of Island +Number Ten in the Mississippi River. He went into camp at Hamburg +landing five miles above Pittsburg. Halleck had now three armies: the +Army of the Ohio, Buell commanding; the Army of the Mississippi, Pope +commanding; and the Army of the Tennessee. His orders divided the +combined force into the right wing, reserve, centre and left wing. +Major-General George H. Thomas, who had been in Buell's army, was +transferred with his division to the Army of the Tennessee and given +command of the right wing, composed of all of that army except +McClernand's and Lew. Wallace's divisions. McClernand was assigned to +the command of the reserve, composed of his own and Lew. Wallace's +divisions. Buell commanded the centre, the Army of the Ohio; and Pope +the left wing, the Army of the Mississippi. I was named second in +command of the whole, and was also supposed to be in command of the +right wing and reserve. + +Orders were given to all the commanders engaged at Shiloh to send in +their reports without delay to department headquarters. Those from +officers of the Army of the Tennessee were sent through me; but from the +Army of the Ohio they were sent by General Buell without passing through +my hands. General Halleck ordered me, verbally, to send in my report, +but I positively declined on the ground that he had received the reports +of a part of the army engaged at Shiloh without their coming through me. +He admitted that my refusal was justifiable under the circumstances, but +explained that he had wanted to get the reports off before moving the +command, and as fast as a report had come to him he had forwarded it to +Washington. + +Preparations were at once made upon the arrival of the new commander for +an advance on Corinth. Owl Creek, on our right, was bridged, and +expeditions were sent to the north-west and west to ascertain if our +position was being threatened from those quarters; the roads towards +Corinth were corduroyed and new ones made; lateral roads were also +constructed, so that in case of necessity troops marching by different +routes could reinforce each other. All commanders were cautioned +against bringing on an engagement and informed in so many words that it +would be better to retreat than to fight. By the 30th of April all +preparations were complete; the country west to the Mobile and Ohio +railroad had been reconnoitred, as well as the road to Corinth as far as +Monterey twelve miles from Pittsburg. Everywhere small bodies of the +enemy had been encountered, but they were observers and not in force to +fight battles. + +Corinth, Mississippi, lies in a south-westerly direction from Pittsburg +landing and about nineteen miles away as the bird would fly, but +probably twenty-two by the nearest wagon-road. It is about four miles +south of the line dividing the States of Tennessee and Mississippi, and +at the junction of the Mississippi and Chattanooga railroad with the +Mobile and Ohio road which runs from Columbus to Mobile. From Pittsburg +to Corinth the land is rolling, but at no point reaching an elevation +that makes high hills to pass over. In 1862 the greater part of the +country was covered with forest with intervening clearings and houses. +Underbrush was dense in the low grounds along the creeks and ravines, +but generally not so thick on the high land as to prevent men passing +through with ease. There are two small creeks running from north of the +town and connecting some four miles south, where they form Bridge Creek +which empties into the Tuscumbia River. Corinth is on the ridge between +these streams and is a naturally strong defensive position. The creeks +are insignificant in volume of water, but the stream to the east widens +out in front of the town into a swamp impassable in the presence of an +enemy. On the crest of the west bank of this stream the enemy was +strongly intrenched. + +Corinth was a valuable strategic point for the enemy to hold, and +consequently a valuable one for us to possess ourselves of. We ought to +have seized it immediately after the fall of Donelson and Nashville, +when it could have been taken without a battle, but failing then it +should have been taken, without delay on the concentration of troops at +Pittsburg landing after the battle of Shiloh. In fact the arrival of +Pope should not have been awaited. There was no time from the battle of +Shiloh up to the evacuation of Corinth when the enemy would not have +left if pushed. The demoralization among the Confederates from their +defeats at Henry and Donelson; their long marches from Bowling Green, +Columbus, and Nashville, and their failure at Shiloh; in fact from +having been driven out of Kentucky and Tennessee, was so great that a +stand for the time would have been impossible. Beauregard made +strenuous efforts to reinforce himself and partially succeeded. He +appealed to the people of the South-west for new regiments, and received +a few. A. S. Johnston had made efforts to reinforce in the same +quarter, before the battle of Shiloh, but in a different way. He had +negroes sent out to him to take the place of teamsters, company cooks +and laborers in every capacity, so as to put all his white men into the +ranks. The people, while willing to send their sons to the field, were +not willing to part with their negroes. It is only fair to state that +they probably wanted their blacks to raise supplies for the army and for +the families left at home. + +Beauregard, however, was reinforced by Van Dorn immediately after Shiloh +with 17,000 men. Interior points, less exposed, were also depleted to +add to the strength at Corinth. With these reinforcements and the new +regiments, Beauregard had, during the month of May, 1862, a large force +on paper, but probably not much over 50,000 effective men. We estimated +his strength at 70,000. Our own was, in round numbers, 120,000. The +defensible nature of the ground at Corinth, and the fortifications, made +50,000 then enough to maintain their position against double that number +for an indefinite time but for the demoralization spoken of. + +On the 30th of April the grand army commenced its advance from Shiloh +upon Corinth. The movement was a siege from the start to the close. +The National troops were always behind intrenchments, except of course +the small reconnoitring parties sent to the front to clear the way for +an advance. Even the commanders of these parties were cautioned, "not +to bring on an engagement." "It is better to retreat than to fight." +The enemy were constantly watching our advance, but as they were simply +observers there were but few engagements that even threatened to become +battles. All the engagements fought ought to have served to encourage +the enemy. Roads were again made in our front, and again corduroyed; a +line was intrenched, and the troops were advanced to the new position. +Cross roads were constructed to these new positions to enable the troops +to concentrate in case of attack. The National armies were thoroughly +intrenched all the way from the Tennessee River to Corinth. + +For myself I was little more than an observer. Orders were sent direct +to the right wing or reserve, ignoring me, and advances were made from +one line of intrenchments to another without notifying me. My position +was so embarrassing in fact that I made several applications during the +siege to be relieved. + +General Halleck kept his headquarters generally, if not all the time, +with the right wing. Pope being on the extreme left did not see so much +of his chief, and consequently got loose as it were at times. On the 3d +of May he was at Seven Mile Creek with the main body of his command, but +threw forward a division to Farmington, within four miles of Corinth. +His troops had quite a little engagement at Farmington on that day, but +carried the place with considerable loss to the enemy. There would then +have been no difficulty in advancing the centre and right so as to form +a new line well up to the enemy, but Pope was ordered back to conform +with the general line. On the 8th of May he moved again, taking his +whole force to Farmington, and pushed out two divisions close to the +rebel line. Again he was ordered back. By the 4th of May the centre +and right wing reached Monterey, twelve miles out. Their advance was +slow from there, for they intrenched with every forward movement. The +left wing moved up again on the 25th of May and intrenched itself close +to the enemy. The creek with the marsh before described, separated the +two lines. Skirmishers thirty feet apart could have maintained either +line at this point. + +Our centre and right were, at this time, extended so that the right of +the right wing was probably five miles from Corinth and four from the +works in their front. The creek, which was a formidable obstacle for +either side to pass on our left, became a very slight obstacle on our +right. Here the enemy occupied two positions. One of them, as much as +two miles out from his main line, was on a commanding elevation and +defended by an intrenched battery with infantry supports. A heavy wood +intervened between this work and the National forces. In rear to the +south there was a clearing extending a mile or more, and south of this +clearing a log-house which had been loop-holed and was occupied by +infantry. Sherman's division carried these two positions with some loss +to himself, but with probably greater to the enemy, on the 28th of May, +and on that day the investment of Corinth was complete, or as complete +as it was ever made. Thomas' right now rested west of the Mobile and +Ohio railroad. Pope's left commanded the Memphis and Charleston railroad +east of Corinth. + +Some days before I had suggested to the commanding general that I +thought if he would move the Army of the Mississippi at night, by the +rear of the centre and right, ready to advance at daylight, Pope would +find no natural obstacle in his front and, I believed, no serious +artificial one. The ground, or works, occupied by our left could be +held by a thin picket line, owing to the stream and swamp in front. To +the right the troops would have a dry ridge to march over. I was +silenced so quickly that I felt that possibly I had suggested an +unmilitary movement. + +Later, probably on the 28th of May, General Logan, whose command was +then on the Mobile and Ohio railroad, said to me that the enemy had been +evacuating for several days and that if allowed he could go into Corinth +with his brigade. Trains of cars were heard coming in and going out of +Corinth constantly. Some of the men who had been engaged in various +capacities on railroads before the war claimed that they could tell, by +putting their ears to the rail, not only which way the trains were +moving but which trains were loaded and which were empty. They said +loaded trains had been going out for several days and empty ones coming +in. Subsequent events proved the correctness of their judgment. +Beauregard published his orders for the evacuation of Corinth on the +26th of May and fixed the 29th for the departure of his troops, and on +the 30th of May General Halleck had his whole army drawn up prepared for +battle and announced in orders that there was every indication that our +left was to be attacked that morning. Corinth had already been +evacuated and the National troops marched on and took possession without +opposition. Everything had been destroyed or carried away. The +Confederate commander had instructed his soldiers to cheer on the +arrival of every train to create the impression among the Yankees that +reinforcements were arriving. There was not a sick or wounded man left +by the Confederates, nor stores of any kind. Some ammunition had been +blown up--not removed--but the trophies of war were a few Quaker guns, +logs of about the diameter of ordinary cannon, mounted on wheels of +wagons and pointed in the most threatening manner towards us. + +The possession of Corinth by the National troops was of strategic +importance, but the victory was barren in every other particular. It +was nearly bloodless. It is a question whether the MORALE of the +Confederate troops engaged at Corinth was not improved by the immunity +with which they were permitted to remove all public property and then +withdraw themselves. On our side I know officers and men of the Army of +the Tennessee--and I presume the same is true of those of the other +commands--were disappointed at the result. They could not see how the +mere occupation of places was to close the war while large and effective +rebel armies existed. They believed that a well-directed attack would +at least have partially destroyed the army defending Corinth. For +myself I am satisfied that Corinth could have been captured in a two +days' campaign commenced promptly on the arrival of reinforcements after +the battle of Shiloh. + +General Halleck at once commenced erecting fortifications around Corinth +on a scale to indicate that this one point must be held if it took the +whole National army to do it. All commanding points two or three miles +to the south, south-east and south-west were strongly fortified. It was +expected in case of necessity to connect these forts by rifle-pits. +They were laid out on a scale that would have required 100,000 men to +fully man them. It was probably thought that a final battle of the war +would be fought at that point. These fortifications were never used. +Immediately after the occupation of Corinth by the National troops, +General Pope was sent in pursuit of the retreating garrison and General +Buell soon followed. Buell was the senior of the two generals and +commanded the entire column. The pursuit was kept up for some thirty +miles, but did not result in the capture of any material of war or +prisoners, unless a few stragglers who had fallen behind and were +willing captives. On the 10th of June the pursuing column was all back +at Corinth. The Army of the Tennessee was not engaged in any of these +movements. + +The Confederates were now driven out of West Tennessee, and on the 6th +of June, after a well-contested naval battle, the National forces took +possession of Memphis and held the Mississippi river from its source to +that point. The railroad from Columbus to Corinth was at once put in +good condition and held by us. We had garrisons at Donelson, +Clarksville and Nashville, on the Cumberland River, and held the +Tennessee River from its mouth to Eastport. New Orleans and Baton Rouge +had fallen into the possession of the National forces, so that now the +Confederates at the west were narrowed down for all communication with +Richmond to the single line of road running east from Vicksburg. To +dispossess them of this, therefore, became a matter of the first +importance. The possession of the Mississippi by us from Memphis to +Baton Rouge was also a most important object. It would be equal to the +amputation of a limb in its weakening effects upon the enemy. + +After the capture of Corinth a movable force of 80,000 men, besides +enough to hold all the territory acquired, could have been set in motion +for the accomplishment of any great campaign for the suppression of the +rebellion. In addition to this fresh troops were being raised to swell +the effective force. But the work of depletion commenced. Buell with +the Army of the Ohio was sent east, following the line of the Memphis +and Charleston railroad. This he was ordered to repair as he advanced +--only to have it destroyed by small guerilla bands or other troops as +soon as he was out of the way. If he had been sent directly to +Chattanooga as rapidly as he could march, leaving two or three divisions +along the line of the railroad from Nashville forward, he could have +arrived with but little fighting, and would have saved much of the loss +of life which was afterwards incurred in gaining Chattanooga. Bragg +would then not have had time to raise an army to contest the possession +of middle and east Tennessee and Kentucky; the battles of Stone River +and Chickamauga would not necessarily have been fought; Burnside would +not have been besieged in Knoxville without the power of helping himself +or escaping; the battle of Chattanooga would not have been fought. +These are the negative advantages, if the term negative is applicable, +which would probably have resulted from prompt movements after Corinth +fell into the possession of the National forces. The positive results +might have been: a bloodless advance to Atlanta, to Vicksburg, or to +any other desired point south of Corinth in the interior of Mississippi. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO MEMPHIS--ON THE ROAD TO MEMPHIS--ESCAPING JACKSON +--COMPLAINTS AND REQUESTS--HALLECK APPOINTED COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF--RETURN +TO CORINTH--MOVEMENTS OF BRAGG--SURRENDER OF CLARKSVILLE--THE ADVANCE +UPON CHATTANOOGA--SHERIDAN COLONEL OF A MICHIGAN REGIMENT. + +My position at Corinth, with a nominal command and yet no command, +became so unbearable that I asked permission of Halleck to remove my +headquarters to Memphis. I had repeatedly asked, between the fall of +Donelson and the evacuation of Corinth, to be relieved from duty under +Halleck; but all my applications were refused until the occupation of +the town. I then obtained permission to leave the department, but +General Sherman happened to call on me as I was about starting and urged +me so strongly not to think of going, that I concluded to remain. My +application to be permitted to remove my headquarters to Memphis was, +however, approved, and on the 21st of June I started for that point with +my staff and a cavalry escort of only a part of one company. There was +a detachment of two or three companies going some twenty-five miles west +to be stationed as a guard to the railroad. I went under cover of this +escort to the end of their march, and the next morning proceeded to La +Grange with no convoy but the few cavalry men I had with me. + +From La Grange to Memphis the distance is forty-seven miles. There were +no troops stationed between these two points, except a small force +guarding a working party which was engaged in repairing the railroad. +Not knowing where this party would be found I halted at La Grange. +General Hurlbut was in command there at the time and had his +headquarters tents pitched on the lawn of a very commodious country +house. The proprietor was at home and, learning of my arrival, he +invited General Hurlbut and me to dine with him. I accepted the +invitation and spent a very pleasant afternoon with my host, who was a +thorough Southern gentleman fully convinced of the justice of secession. +After dinner, seated in the capacious porch, he entertained me with a +recital of the services he was rendering the cause. He was too old to +be in the ranks himself--he must have been quite seventy then--but his +means enabled him to be useful in other ways. In ordinary times the +homestead where he was now living produced the bread and meat to supply +the slaves on his main plantation, in the low-lands of Mississippi. Now +he raised food and forage on both places, and thought he would have that +year a surplus sufficient to feed three hundred families of poor men who +had gone into the war and left their families dependent upon the +"patriotism" of those better off. The crops around me looked fine, and +I had at the moment an idea that about the time they were ready to be +gathered the "Yankee" troops would be in the neighborhood and harvest +them for the benefit of those engaged in the suppression of the +rebellion instead of its support. I felt, however, the greatest respect +for the candor of my host and for his zeal in a cause he thoroughly +believed in, though our views were as wide apart as it is possible to +conceive. + +The 23d of June, 1862, on the road from La Grange to Memphis was very +warm, even for that latitude and season. With my staff and small escort +I started at an early hour, and before noon we arrived within twenty +miles of Memphis. At this point I saw a very comfortable-looking +white-haired gentleman seated at the front of his house, a little +distance from the road. I let my staff and escort ride ahead while I +halted and, for an excuse, asked for a glass of water. I was invited at +once to dismount and come in. I found my host very genial and +communicative, and staid longer than I had intended, until the lady of +the house announced dinner and asked me to join them. The host, +however, was not pressing, so that I declined the invitation and, +mounting my horse, rode on. + +About a mile west from where I had been stopping a road comes up from +the southeast, joining that from La Grange to Memphis. A mile west of +this junction I found my staff and escort halted and enjoying the shade +of forest trees on the lawn of a house located several hundred feet back +from the road, their horses hitched to the fence along the line of the +road. I, too, stopped and we remained there until the cool of the +afternoon, and then rode into Memphis. + +The gentleman with whom I had stopped twenty miles from Memphis was a +Mr. De Loche, a man loyal to the Union. He had not pressed me to tarry +longer with him because in the early part of my visit a neighbor, a Dr. +Smith, had called and, on being presented to me, backed off the porch as +if something had hit him. Mr. De Loche knew that the rebel General +Jackson was in that neighborhood with a detachment of cavalry. His +neighbor was as earnest in the southern cause as was Mr. De Loche in +that of the Union. The exact location of Jackson was entirely unknown +to Mr. De Loche; but he was sure that his neighbor would know it and +would give information of my presence, and this made my stay unpleasant +to him after the call of Dr. Smith. + +I have stated that a detachment of troops was engaged in guarding +workmen who were repairing the railroad east of Memphis. On the day I +entered Memphis, Jackson captured a small herd of beef cattle which had +been sent east for the troops so engaged. The drovers were not enlisted +men and he released them. A day or two after one of these drovers came +to my headquarters and, relating the circumstances of his capture, said +Jackson was very much disappointed that he had not captured me; that he +was six or seven miles south of the Memphis and Charleston railroad when +he learned that I was stopping at the house of Mr. De Loche, and had +ridden with his command to the junction of the road he was on with that +from La Grange and Memphis, where he learned that I had passed +three-quarters of an hour before. He thought it would be useless to +pursue with jaded horses a well-mounted party with so much of a start. +Had he gone three-quarters of a mile farther he would have found me with +my party quietly resting under the shade of trees and without even arms +in our hands with which to defend ourselves. + +General Jackson of course did not communicate his disappointment at not +capturing me to a prisoner, a young drover; but from the talk among the +soldiers the facts related were learned. A day or two later Mr. De +Loche called on me in Memphis to apologize for his apparent incivility +in not insisting on my staying for dinner. He said that his wife +accused him of marked discourtesy, but that, after the call of his +neighbor, he had felt restless until I got away. I never met General +Jackson before the war, nor during it, but have met him since at his +very comfortable summer home at Manitou Springs, Colorado. I reminded +him of the above incident, and this drew from him the response that he +was thankful now he had not captured me. I certainly was very thankful +too. + +My occupation of Memphis as district headquarters did not last long. +The period, however, was marked by a few incidents which were novel to +me. Up to that time I had not occupied any place in the South where the +citizens were at home in any great numbers. Dover was within the +fortifications at Fort Donelson, and, as far as I remember, every +citizen was gone. There were no people living at Pittsburg landing, and +but very few at Corinth. Memphis, however, was a populous city, and +there were many of the citizens remaining there who were not only +thoroughly impressed with the justice of their cause, but who thought +that even the "Yankee soldiery" must entertain the same views if they +could only be induced to make an honest confession. It took hours of my +time every day to listen to complaints and requests. The latter were +generally reasonable, and if so they were granted; but the complaints +were not always, or even often, well founded. Two instances will mark +the general character. First: the officer who commanded at Memphis +immediately after the city fell into the hands of the National troops +had ordered one of the churches of the city to be opened to the +soldiers. Army chaplains were authorized to occupy the pulpit. Second: +at the beginning of the war the Confederate Congress had passed a law +confiscating all property of "alien enemies" at the South, including the +debts of Southerners to Northern men. In consequence of this law, when +Memphis was occupied the provost-marshal had forcibly collected all the +evidences he could obtain of such debts. + +Almost the first complaints made to me were these two outrages. The +gentleman who made the complaints informed me first of his own high +standing as a lawyer, a citizen and a Christian. He was a deacon in the +church which had been defiled by the occupation of Union troops, and by +a Union chaplain filling the pulpit. He did not use the word "defile," +but he expressed the idea very clearly. He asked that the church be +restored to the former congregation. I told him that no order had been +issued prohibiting the congregation attending the church. He said of +course the congregation could not hear a Northern clergyman who differed +so radically with them on questions of government. I told him the +troops would continue to occupy that church for the present, and that +they would not be called upon to hear disloyal sentiments proclaimed +from the pulpit. This closed the argument on the first point. + +Then came the second. The complainant said that he wanted the papers +restored to him which had been surrendered to the provost-marshal under +protest; he was a lawyer, and before the establishment of the +"Confederate States Government" had been the attorney for a number of +large business houses at the North; that "his government" had +confiscated all debts due "alien enemies," and appointed commissioners, +or officers, to collect such debts and pay them over to the +"government": but in his case, owing to his high standing, he had been +permitted to hold these claims for collection, the responsible officials +knowing that he would account to the "government" for every dollar +received. He said that his "government," when it came in possession of +all its territory, would hold him personally responsible for the claims +he had surrendered to the provost-marshal. His impudence was so sublime +that I was rather amused than indignant. I told him, however, that if +he would remain in Memphis I did not believe the Confederate government +would ever molest him. He left, no doubt, as much amazed at my +assurance as I was at the brazenness of his request. + +On the 11th of July General Halleck received telegraphic orders +appointing him to the command of all the armies, with headquarters in +Washington. His instructions pressed him to proceed to his new field of +duty with as little delay as was consistent with the safety and +interests of his previous command. I was next in rank, and he +telegraphed me the same day to report at department headquarters at +Corinth. I was not informed by the dispatch that my chief had been +ordered to a different field and did not know whether to move my +headquarters or not. I telegraphed asking if I was to take my staff +with me, and received word in reply: "This place will be your +headquarters. You can judge for yourself." I left Memphis for my new +field without delay, and reached Corinth on the 15th of the month. +General Halleck remained until the 17th of July; but he was very +uncommunicative, and gave me no information as to what I had been called +to Corinth for. + +When General Halleck left to assume the duties of general-in-chief I +remained in command of the district of West Tennessee. Practically I +became a department commander, because no one was assigned to that +position over me and I made my reports direct to the general-in-chief; +but I was not assigned to the position of department commander until the +25th of October. General Halleck while commanding the Department of the +Mississippi had had control as far east as a line drawn from Chattanooga +north. My district only embraced West Tennessee and Kentucky west of +the Cumberland River. Buell, with the Army of the Ohio, had, as +previously stated, been ordered east towards Chattanooga, with +instructions to repair the Memphis and Charleston railroad as he +advanced. Troops had been sent north by Halleck along the line of the +Mobile and Ohio railroad to put it in repair as far as Columbus. Other +troops were stationed on the railroad from Jackson, Tennessee, to Grand +Junction, and still others on the road west to Memphis. + +The remainder of the magnificent army of 120,000 men which entered +Corinth on the 30th of May had now become so scattered that I was put +entirely on the defensive in a territory whose population was hostile to +the Union. One of the first things I had to do was to construct +fortifications at Corinth better suited to the garrison that could be +spared to man them. The structures that had been built during the +months of May and June were left as monuments to the skill of the +engineer, and others were constructed in a few days, plainer in design +but suited to the command available to defend them. + +I disposed the troops belonging to the district in conformity with the +situation as rapidly as possible. The forces at Donelson, Clarksville +and Nashville, with those at Corinth and along the railroad eastward, I +regarded as sufficient for protection against any attack from the west. +The Mobile and Ohio railroad was guarded from Rienzi, south of Corinth, +to Columbus; and the Mississippi Central railroad from Jackson, +Tennessee, to Bolivar. Grand Junction and La Grange on the Memphis +railroad were abandoned. + +South of the Army of the Tennessee, and confronting it, was Van Dorn, +with a sufficient force to organize a movable army of thirty-five to +forty thousand men, after being reinforced by Price from Missouri. This +movable force could be thrown against either Corinth, Bolivar or +Memphis; and the best that could be done in such event would be to +weaken the points not threatened in order to reinforce the one that was. +Nothing could be gained on the National side by attacking elsewhere, +because the territory already occupied was as much as the force present +could guard. The most anxious period of the war, to me, was during the +time the Army of the Tennessee was guarding the territory acquired by +the fall of Corinth and Memphis and before I was sufficiently reinforced +to take the offensive. The enemy also had cavalry operating in our +rear, making it necessary to guard every point of the railroad back to +Columbus, on the security of which we were dependent for all our +supplies. Headquarters were connected by telegraph with all points of +the command except Memphis and the Mississippi below Columbus. With +these points communication was had by the railroad to Columbus, then +down the river by boat. To reinforce Memphis would take three or four +days, and to get an order there for troops to move elsewhere would have +taken at least two days. Memphis therefore was practically isolated +from the balance of the command. But it was in Sherman's hands. Then +too the troops were well intrenched and the gunboats made a valuable +auxiliary. + +During the two months after the departure of General Halleck there was +much fighting between small bodies of the contending armies, but these +encounters were dwarfed by the magnitude of the main battles so as to be +now almost forgotten except by those engaged in them. Some of them, +however, estimated by the losses on both sides in killed and wounded, +were equal in hard fighting to most of the battles of the Mexican war +which attracted so much of the attention of the public when they +occurred. About the 23d of July Colonel Ross, commanding at Bolivar, +was threatened by a large force of the enemy so that he had to be +reinforced from Jackson and Corinth. On the 27th there was skirmishing +on the Hatchie River, eight miles from Bolivar. On the 30th I learned +from Colonel P. H. Sheridan, who had been far to the south, that Bragg +in person was at Rome, Georgia, with his troops moving by rail (by way +of Mobile) to Chattanooga and his wagon train marching overland to join +him at Rome. Price was at this time at Holly Springs, Mississippi, with +a large force, and occupied Grand Junction as an outpost. I proposed to +the general-in-chief to be permitted to drive him away, but was informed +that, while I had to judge for myself, the best use to make of my troops +WAS NOT TO SCATTER THEM, but hold them ready to reinforce Buell. + +The movement of Bragg himself with his wagon trains to Chattanooga +across country, while his troops were transported over a long +round-about road to the same destination, without need of guards except +when in my immediate front, demonstrates the advantage which troops +enjoy while acting in a country where the people are friendly. Buell +was marching through a hostile region and had to have his communications +thoroughly guarded back to a base of supplies. More men were required +the farther the National troops penetrated into the enemy's country. I, +with an army sufficiently powerful to have destroyed Bragg, was purely +on the defensive and accomplishing no more than to hold a force far +inferior to my own. + +On the 2d of August I was ordered from Washington to live upon the +country, on the resources of citizens hostile to the government, so far +as practicable. I was also directed to "handle rebels within our lines +without gloves," to imprison them, or to expel them from their homes and +from our lines. I do not recollect having arrested and confined a +citizen (not a soldier) during the entire rebellion. I am aware that a +great many were sent to northern prisons, particularly to Joliet, +Illinois, by some of my subordinates with the statement that it was my +order. I had all such released the moment I learned of their arrest; +and finally sent a staff officer north to release every prisoner who was +said to be confined by my order. There were many citizens at home who +deserved punishment because they were soldiers when an opportunity was +afforded to inflict an injury to the National cause. This class was not +of the kind that were apt to get arrested, and I deemed it better that a +few guilty men should escape than that a great many innocent ones should +suffer. + +On the 14th of August I was ordered to send two more divisions to Buell. +They were sent the same day by way of Decatur. On the 22d Colonel +Rodney Mason surrendered Clarksville with six companies of his regiment. + +Colonel Mason was one of the officers who had led their regiments off +the field at almost the first fire of the rebels at Shiloh. He was by +nature and education a gentleman, and was terribly mortified at his +action when the battle was over. He came to me with tears in his eyes +and begged to be allowed to have another trial. I felt great sympathy +for him and sent him, with his regiment, to garrison Clarksville and +Donelson. He selected Clarksville for his headquarters, no doubt +because he regarded it as the post of danger, it being nearer the enemy. +But when he was summoned to surrender by a band of guerillas, his +constitutional weakness overcame him. He inquired the number of men the +enemy had, and receiving a response indicating a force greater than his +own he said if he could be satisfied of that fact he would surrender. +Arrangements were made for him to count the guerillas, and having +satisfied himself that the enemy had the greater force he surrendered +and informed his subordinate at Donelson of the fact, advising him to do +the same. The guerillas paroled their prisoners and moved upon +Donelson, but the officer in command at that point marched out to meet +them and drove them away. + +Among other embarrassments, at the time of which I now write, was the +fact that the government wanted to get out all the cotton possible from +the South and directed me to give every facility toward that end. Pay +in gold was authorized, and stations on the Mississippi River and on the +railroad in our possession had to be designated where cotton would be +received. This opened to the enemy not only the means of converting +cotton into money, which had a value all over the world and which they +so much needed, but it afforded them means of obtaining accurate and +intelligent information in regard to our position and strength. It was +also demoralizing to the troops. Citizens obtaining permits from the +treasury department had to be protected within our lines and given +facilities to get out cotton by which they realized enormous profits. +Men who had enlisted to fight the battles of their country did not like +to be engaged in protecting a traffic which went to the support of an +enemy they had to fight, and the profits of which went to men who shared +none of their dangers. + +On the 30th of August Colonel M. D. Leggett, near Bolivar, with the 20th +and 29th Ohio volunteer infantry, was attacked by a force supposed to be +about 4,000 strong. The enemy was driven away with a loss of more than +one hundred men. On the 1st of September the bridge guard at Medon was +attacked by guerillas. The guard held the position until reinforced, +when the enemy were routed leaving about fifty of their number on the +field dead or wounded, our loss being only two killed and fifteen +wounded. On the same day Colonel Dennis, with a force of less than 500 +infantry and two pieces of artillery, met the cavalry of the enemy in +strong force, a few miles west of Medon, and drove them away with great +loss. Our troops buried 179 of the enemy's dead, left upon the field. +Afterwards it was found that all the houses in the vicinity of the +battlefield were turned into hospitals for the wounded. Our loss, as +reported at the time, was forty-five killed and wounded. On the 2d of +September I was ordered to send more reinforcements to Buell. Jackson +and Bolivar were yet threatened, but I sent the reinforcements. On the +4th I received direct orders to send Granger's division also to +Louisville, Kentucky. + +General Buell had left Corinth about the 10th of June to march upon +Chattanooga; Bragg, who had superseded Beauregard in command, sent one +division from Tupelo on the 27th of June for the same place. This gave +Buell about seventeen days' start. If he had not been required to repair +the railroad as he advanced, the march could have been made in eighteen +days at the outside, and Chattanooga must have been reached by the +National forces before the rebels could have possibly got there. The +road between Nashville and Chattanooga could easily have been put in +repair by other troops, so that communication with the North would have +been opened in a short time after the occupation of the place by the +National troops. If Buell had been permitted to move in the first +instance, with the whole of the Army of the Ohio and that portion of the +Army of the Mississippi afterwards sent to him, he could have thrown +four divisions from his own command along the line of road to repair and +guard it. + +Granger's division was promptly sent on the 4th of September. I was at +the station at Corinth when the troops reached that point, and found +General P. H. Sheridan with them. I expressed surprise at seeing him +and said that I had not expected him to go. He showed decided +disappointment at the prospect of being detained. I felt a little +nettled at his desire to get away and did not detain him. + +Sheridan was a first lieutenant in the regiment in which I had served +eleven years, the 4th infantry, and stationed on the Pacific coast when +the war broke out. He was promoted to a captaincy in May, 1861, and +before the close of the year managed in some way, I do not know how, to +get East. He went to Missouri. Halleck had known him as a very +successful young officer in managing campaigns against the Indians on +the Pacific coast, and appointed him acting-quartermaster in south-west +Missouri. There was no difficulty in getting supplies forward while +Sheridan served in that capacity; but he got into difficulty with his +immediate superiors because of his stringent rules for preventing the +use of public transportation for private purposes. He asked to be +relieved from further duty in the capacity in which he was engaged and +his request was granted. When General Halleck took the field in April, +1862, Sheridan was assigned to duty on his staff. During the advance on +Corinth a vacancy occurred in the colonelcy of the 2d Michigan cavalry. +Governor Blair, of Michigan, telegraphed General Halleck asking him to +suggest the name of a professional soldier for the vacancy, saying he +would appoint a good man without reference to his State. Sheridan was +named; and was so conspicuously efficient that when Corinth was reached +he was assigned to command a cavalry brigade in the Army of the +Mississippi. He was in command at Booneville on the 1st of July with +two small regiments, when he was attacked by a force full three times +as numerous as his own. By very skilful manoeuvres and boldness of +attack he completely routed the enemy. For this he was made a +brigadier-general and became a conspicuous figure in the army about +Corinth. On this account I was sorry to see him leaving me. His +departure was probably fortunate, for he rendered distinguished services +in his new field. + +Granger and Sheridan reached Louisville before Buell got there, and on +the night of their arrival Sheridan with his command threw up works +around the railroad station for the defence of troops as they came from +the front. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +ADVANCE OF VAN DORN AND PRICE--PRICE ENTERS IUKA--BATTLE OF IUKA. + +At this time, September 4th, I had two divisions of the Army of the +Mississippi stationed at Corinth, Rienzi, Jacinto and Danville. There +were at Corinth also Davies' division and two brigades of McArthur's, +besides cavalry and artillery. This force constituted my left wing, of +which Rosecrans was in command. General Ord commanded the centre, from +Bethel to Humboldt on the Mobile and Ohio railroad and from Jackson to +Bolivar where the Mississippi Central is crossed by the Hatchie River. +General Sherman commanded on the right at Memphis with two of his +brigades back at Brownsville, at the crossing of the Hatchie River by +the Memphis and Ohio railroad. This made the most convenient +arrangement I could devise for concentrating all my spare forces upon +any threatened point. All the troops of the command were within +telegraphic communication of each other, except those under Sherman. By +bringing a portion of his command to Brownsville, from which point there +was a railroad and telegraph back to Memphis, communication could be had +with that part of my command within a few hours by the use of couriers. +In case it became necessary to reinforce Corinth, by this arrangement +all the troops at Bolivar, except a small guard, could be sent by rail +by the way of Jackson in less than twenty-four hours; while the troops +from Brownsville could march up to Bolivar to take their place. + +On the 7th of September I learned of the advance of Van Dorn and Price, +apparently upon Corinth. One division was brought from Memphis to +Bolivar to meet any emergency that might arise from this move of the +enemy. I was much concerned because my first duty, after holding the +territory acquired within my command, was to prevent further reinforcing +of Bragg in Middle Tennessee. Already the Army of Northern Virginia had +defeated the army under General Pope and was invading Maryland. In the +Centre General Buell was on his way to Louisville and Bragg marching +parallel to him with a large Confederate force for the Ohio River. + +I had been constantly called upon to reinforce Buell until at this time +my entire force numbered less than 50,000 men, of all arms. This +included everything from Cairo south within my jurisdiction. If I too +should be driven back, the Ohio River would become the line dividing the +belligerents west of the Alleghanies, while at the East the line was +already farther north than when hostilities commenced at the opening of +the war. It is true Nashville was never given up after its first +capture, but it would have been isolated and the garrison there would +have been obliged to beat a hasty retreat if the troops in West +Tennessee had been compelled to fall back. To say at the end of the +second year of the war the line dividing the contestants at the East was +pushed north of Maryland, a State that had not seceded, and at the West +beyond Kentucky, another State which had been always loyal, would have +been discouraging indeed. As it was, many loyal people despaired in the +fall of 1862 of ever saving the Union. The administration at Washington +was much concerned for the safety of the cause it held so dear. But I +believe there was never a day when the President did not think that, in +some way or other, a cause so just as ours would come out triumphant. + +Up to the 11th of September Rosecrans still had troops on the railroad +east of Corinth, but they had all been ordered in. By the 12th all were +in except a small force under Colonel Murphy of the 8th Wisconsin. He +had been detained to guard the remainder of the stores which had not yet +been brought in to Corinth. + +On the 13th of September General Sterling Price entered Iuka, a town +about twenty miles east of Corinth on the Memphis and Charleston +railroad. Colonel Murphy with a few men was guarding the place. He +made no resistance, but evacuated the town on the approach of the enemy. +I was apprehensive lest the object of the rebels might be to get troops +into Tennessee to reinforce Bragg, as it was afterwards ascertained to +be. The authorities at Washington, including the general-in-chief of +the army, were very anxious, as I have said, about affairs both in East +and Middle Tennessee; and my anxiety was quite as great on their account +as for any danger threatening my command. I had not force enough at +Corinth to attack Price even by stripping everything; and there was +danger that before troops could be got from other points he might be far +on his way across the Tennessee. To prevent this all spare forces at +Bolivar and Jackson were ordered to Corinth, and cars were concentrated +at Jackson for their transportation. Within twenty-four hours from the +transmission of the order the troops were at their destination, although +there had been a delay of four hours resulting from the forward train +getting off the track and stopping all the others. This gave a +reinforcement of near 8,000 men, General Ord in command. General +Rosecrans commanded the district of Corinth with a movable force of +about 9,000 independent of the garrison deemed necessary to be left +behind. It was known that General Van Dorn was about a four days' march +south of us, with a large force. It might have been part of his plan to +attack at Corinth, Price coming from the east while he came up from the +south. My desire was to attack Price before Van Dorn could reach +Corinth or go to his relief. + +General Rosecrans had previously had his headquarters at Iuka, where his +command was spread out along the Memphis and Charleston railroad +eastward. While there he had a most excellent map prepared showing all +the roads and streams in the surrounding country. He was also +personally familiar with the ground, so that I deferred very much to him +in my plans for the approach. We had cars enough to transport all of +General Ord's command, which was to go by rail to Burnsville, a point on +the road about seven miles west of Iuka. From there his troops were to +march by the north side of the railroad and attack Price from the +north-west, while Rosecrans was to move eastward from his position south +of Corinth by way of the Jacinto road. A small force was to hold the +Jacinto road where it turns to the north-east, while the main force +moved on the Fulton road which comes into Iuka further east. This plan +was suggested by Rosecrans. + +Bear Creek, a few miles to the east of the Fulton road, is a formidable +obstacle to the movement of troops in the absence of bridges, all of +which, in September, 1862, had been destroyed in that vicinity. The +Tennessee, to the north-east, not many miles away, was also a formidable +obstacle for an army followed by a pursuing force. Ord was on the +north-west, and even if a rebel movement had been possible in that +direction it could have brought only temporary relief, for it would have +carried Price's army to the rear of the National forces and isolated it +from all support. It looked to me that, if Price would remain in Iuka +until we could get there, his annihilation was inevitable. + +On the morning of the 18th of September General Ord moved by rail to +Burnsville, and there left the cars and moved out to perform his part of +the programme. He was to get as near the enemy as possible during the +day and intrench himself so as to hold his position until the next +morning. Rosecrans was to be up by the morning of the 19th on the two +roads before described, and the attack was to be from all three quarters +simultaneously. Troops enough were left at Jacinto and Rienzi to detain +any cavalry that Van Dorn might send out to make a sudden dash into +Corinth until I could be notified. There was a telegraph wire along the +railroad, so there would be no delay in communication. I detained cars +and locomotives enough at Burnsville to transport the whole of Ord's +command at once, and if Van Dorn had moved against Corinth instead of +Iuka I could have thrown in reinforcements to the number of 7,000 or +8,000 before he could have arrived. I remained at Burnsville with a +detachment of about 900 men from Ord's command and communicated with my +two wings by courier. Ord met the advance of the enemy soon after +leaving Burnsville. Quite a sharp engagement ensued, but he drove the +rebels back with considerable loss, including one general officer +killed. He maintained his position and was ready to attack by daylight +the next morning. I was very much disappointed at receiving a dispatch +from Rosecrans after midnight from Jacinto, twenty-two miles from Iuka, +saying that some of his command had been delayed, and that the rear of +his column was not yet up as far as Jacinto. He said, however, that he +would still be at Iuka by two o'clock the next day. I did not believe +this possible because of the distance and the condition of the roads, +which was bad; besides, troops after a forced march of twenty miles are +not in a good condition for fighting the moment they get through. It +might do in marching to relieve a beleaguered garrison, but not to make +an assault. I immediately sent Ord a copy of Rosecrans' dispatch and +ordered him to be in readiness to attack the moment he heard the sound +of guns to the south or south-east. He was instructed to notify his +officers to be on the alert for any indications of battle. During the +19th the wind blew in the wrong direction to transmit sound either +towards the point where Ord was, or to Burnsville where I had remained. + +A couple of hours before dark on the 19th Rosecrans arrived with the +head of his column at garnets, the point where the Jacinto road to Iuka +leaves the road going east. He here turned north without sending any +troops to the Fulton road. While still moving in column up the Jacinto +road he met a force of the enemy and had his advance badly beaten and +driven back upon the main road. In this short engagement his loss was +considerable for the number engaged, and one battery was taken from him. +The wind was still blowing hard and in the wrong direction to transmit +sounds towards either Ord or me. Neither he nor I nor any one in either +command heard a gun that was fired upon the battle-field. After the +engagement Rosecrans sent me a dispatch announcing the result. This was +brought by a courier. There was no road between Burnsville and the +position then occupied by Rosecrans and the country was impassable for a +man on horseback. The courier bearing the message was compelled to move +west nearly to Jacinto before he found a road leading to Burnsville. +This made it a late hour of the night before I learned of the battle +that had taken place during the afternoon. I at once notified Ord of +the fact and ordered him to attack early in the morning. The next +morning Rosecrans himself renewed the attack and went into Iuka with but +little resistance. Ord also went in according to orders, without +hearing a gun from the south of town but supposing the troops coming +from the south-west must be up by that time. Rosecrans, however, had +put no troops upon the Fulton road, and the enemy had taken advantage of +this neglect and retreated by that road during the night. Word was soon +brought to me that our troops were in Iuka. I immediately rode into +town and found that the enemy was not being pursued even by the cavalry. +I ordered pursuit by the whole of Rosecrans' command and went on with +him a few miles in person. He followed only a few miles after I left +him and then went into camp, and the pursuit was continued no further. +I was disappointed at the result of the battle of Iuka--but I had so +high an opinion of General Rosecrans that I found no fault at the time. + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +VAN DORN'S MOVEMENTS--BATTLE OF CORINTH--COMMAND OF THE DEPARTMENT OF +THE TENNESSEE. + +On the 19th of September General Geo. H. Thomas was ordered east to +reinforce Buell. This threw the army at my command still more on the +defensive. The Memphis and Charleston railroad was abandoned, except at +Corinth, and small forces were left at Chewalla and Grand Junction. +Soon afterwards the latter of these two places was given up and Bolivar +became our most advanced position on the Mississippi Central railroad. +Our cavalry was kept well to the front and frequent expeditions were +sent out to watch the movements of the enemy. We were in a country +where nearly all the people, except the negroes, were hostile to us and +friendly to the cause we were trying to suppress. It was easy, +therefore, for the enemy to get early information of our every move. +We, on the contrary, had to go after our information in force, and then +often returned without it. + +On the 22d Bolivar was threatened by a large force from south of Grand +Junction, supposed to be twenty regiments of infantry with cavalry and +artillery. I reinforced Bolivar, and went to Jackson in person to +superintend the movement of troops to whatever point the attack might be +made upon. The troops from Corinth were brought up in time to repel the +threatened movement without a battle. Our cavalry followed the enemy +south of Davis' mills in Mississippi. + +On the 30th I found that Van Dorn was apparently endeavoring to strike +the Mississippi River above Memphis. At the same time other points +within my command were so threatened that it was impossible to +concentrate a force to drive him away. There was at this juncture a +large Union force at Helena, Arkansas, which, had it been within my +command, I could have ordered across the river to attack and break up +the Mississippi Central railroad far to the south. This would not only +have called Van Dorn back, but would have compelled the retention of a +large rebel force far to the south to prevent a repetition of such raids +on the enemy's line of supplies. Geographical lines between the +commands during the rebellion were not always well chosen, or they were +too rigidly adhered to. + +Van Dorn did not attempt to get upon the line above Memphis, as had +apparently been his intention. He was simply covering a deeper design; +one much more important to his cause. By the 1st of October it was +fully apparent that Corinth was to be attacked with great force and +determination, and that Van Dorn, Lovell, Price, Villepigue and Rust had +joined their strength for this purpose. There was some skirmishing +outside of Corinth with the advance of the enemy on the 3d. The rebels +massed in the north-west angle of the Memphis and Charleston and the +Mobile and Ohio railroads, and were thus between the troops at Corinth +and all possible reinforcements. Any fresh troops for us must come by a +circuitous route. + +On the night of the 3d, accordingly, I ordered General McPherson, who +was at Jackson, to join Rosecrans at Corinth with reinforcements picked +up along the line of the railroad equal to a brigade. Hurlbut had been +ordered from Bolivar to march for the same destination; and as Van Dorn +was coming upon Corinth from the north-west some of his men fell in with +the advance of Hurlbut's and some skirmishing ensued on the evening of +the 3d. On the 4th Van Dorn made a dashing attack, hoping, no doubt, to +capture Rosecrans before his reinforcements could come up. In that case +the enemy himself could have occupied the defences of Corinth and held +at bay all the Union troops that arrived. In fact he could have taken +the offensive against the reinforcements with three or four times their +number and still left a sufficient garrison in the works about Corinth +to hold them. He came near success, some of his troops penetrating the +National lines at least once, but the works that were built after +Halleck's departure enabled Rosecrans to hold his position until the +troops of both McPherson and Hurlbut approached towards the rebel front +and rear. The enemy was finally driven back with great slaughter: all +their charges, made with great gallantry, were repulsed. The loss on +our side was heavy, but nothing to compare with Van Dorn's. McPherson +came up with the train of cars bearing his command as close to the enemy +as was prudent, debarked on the rebel flank and got in to the support of +Rosecrans just after the repulse. His approach, as well as that of +Hurlbut, was known to the enemy and had a moral effect. General +Rosecrans, however, failed to follow up the victory, although I had +given specific orders in advance of the battle for him to pursue the +moment the enemy was repelled. He did not do so, and I repeated the +order after the battle. In the first order he was notified that the +force of 4,000 men which was going to his assistance would be in great +peril if the enemy was not pursued. + +General Ord had joined Hurlbut on the 4th and being senior took command +of his troops. This force encountered the head of Van Dorn's retreating +column just as it was crossing the Hatchie by a bridge some ten miles +out from Corinth. The bottom land here was swampy and bad for the +operations of troops, making a good place to get an enemy into. Ord +attacked the troops that had crossed the bridge and drove them back in a +panic. Many were killed, and others were drowned by being pushed off +the bridge in their hurried retreat. Ord followed and met the main +force. He was too weak in numbers to assault, but he held the bridge +and compelled the enemy to resume his retreat by another bridge higher +up the stream. Ord was wounded in this engagement and the command +devolved on Hurlbut. + +Rosecrans did not start in pursuit till the morning of the 5th and then +took the wrong road. Moving in the enemy's country he travelled with a +wagon train to carry his provisions and munitions of war. His march was +therefore slower than that of the enemy, who was moving towards his +supplies. Two or three hours of pursuit on the day of battle, without +anything except what the men carried on their persons, would have been +worth more than any pursuit commenced the next day could have possibly +been. Even when he did start, if Rosecrans had followed the route taken +by the enemy, he would have come upon Van Dorn in a swamp with a stream +in front and Ord holding the only bridge; but he took the road leading +north and towards Chewalla instead of west, and, after having marched as +far as the enemy had moved to get to the Hatchie, he was as far from +battle as when he started. Hurlbut had not the numbers to meet any such +force as Van Dorn's if they had been in any mood for fighting, and he +might have been in great peril. + +I now regarded the time to accomplish anything by pursuit as past and, +after Rosecrans reached Jonesboro, I ordered him to return. He kept on +to Ripley, however, and was persistent in wanting to go farther. I +thereupon ordered him to halt and submitted the matter to the +general-in-chief, who allowed me to exercise my judgment in the matter, +but inquired "why not pursue?" Upon this I ordered Rosecrans back. Had +he gone much farther he would have met a greater force than Van Dorn had +at Corinth and behind intrenchments or on chosen ground, and the +probabilities are he would have lost his army. + +The battle of Corinth was bloody, our loss being 315 killed, 1,812 +wounded and 232 missing. The enemy lost many more. Rosecrans reported +1,423 dead and 2,225 prisoners. We fought behind breastworks, which +accounts in some degree for the disparity. Among the killed on our side +was General Hackelman. General Oglesby was badly, it was for some time +supposed mortally, wounded. I received a congratulatory letter from the +President, which expressed also his sorrow for the losses. + +This battle was recognized by me as being a decided victory, though not +so complete as I had hoped for, nor nearly so complete as I now think +was within the easy grasp of the commanding officer at Corinth. Since +the war it is known that the result, as it was, was a crushing blow to +the enemy, and felt by him much more than it was appreciated at the +North. The battle relieved me from any further anxiety for the safety +of the territory within my jurisdiction, and soon after receiving +reinforcements I suggested to the general-in-chief a forward movement +against Vicksburg. + +On the 23d of October I learned of Pemberton's being in command at Holly +Springs and much reinforced by conscripts and troops from Alabama and +Texas. The same day General Rosecrans was relieved from duty with my +command, and shortly after he succeeded Buell in the command of the army +in Middle Tennessee. I was delighted at the promotion of General +Rosecrans to a separate command, because I still believed that when +independent of an immediate superior the qualities which I, at that +time, credited him with possessing, would show themselves. As a +subordinate I found that I could not make him do as I wished, and had +determined to relieve him from duty that very day. + +At the close of the operations just described my force, in round +numbers, was 48,500. Of these 4,800 were in Kentucky and Illinois, +7,000 in Memphis, 19,200 from Mound City south, and 17,500 at Corinth. +General McClernand had been authorized from Washington to go north and +organize troops to be used in opening the Mississippi. These new levies +with other reinforcements now began to come in. + +On the 25th of October I was placed in command of the Department of the +Tennessee. Reinforcements continued to come from the north and by the +2d of November I was prepared to take the initiative. This was a great +relief after the two and a half months of continued defence over a large +district of country, and where nearly every citizen was an enemy ready +to give information of our every move. I have described very +imperfectly a few of the battles and skirmishes that took place during +this time. To describe all would take more space than I can allot to +the purpose; to make special mention of all the officers and troops who +distinguished themselves, would take a volume. (*9) + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST VICKSBURG--EMPLOYING THE FREEDMEN--OCCUPATION OF +HOLLY SPRINGS--SHERMAN ORDERED TO MEMPHIS--SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS DOWN THE +MISSISSIPPI--VAN DORN CAPTURES HOLLY SPRINGS--COLLECTING FORAGE AND +FOOD. + +Vicksburg was important to the enemy because it occupied the first high +ground coming close to the river below Memphis. From there a railroad +runs east, connecting with other roads leading to all points of the +Southern States. A railroad also starts from the opposite side of the +river, extending west as far as Shreveport, Louisiana. Vicksburg was +the only channel, at the time of the events of which this chapter +treats, connecting the parts of the Confederacy divided by the +Mississippi. So long as it was held by the enemy, the free navigation +of the river was prevented. Hence its importance. Points on the river +between Vicksburg and Port Hudson were held as dependencies; but their +fall was sure to follow the capture of the former place. + +The campaign against Vicksburg commenced on the 2d of November as +indicated in a dispatch to the general-in-chief in the following words: +"I have commenced a movement on Grand Junction, with three divisions +from Corinth and two from Bolivar. Will leave here [Jackson, Tennessee] +to-morrow, and take command in person. If found practicable, I will go +to Holly Springs, and, may be, Grenada, completing railroad and +telegraph as I go." + +At this time my command was holding the Mobile and Ohio railroad from +about twenty-five miles south of Corinth, north to Columbus, Kentucky; +the Mississippi Central from Bolivar north to its junction with the +Mobile and Ohio; the Memphis and Charleston from Corinth east to Bear +Creek, and the Mississippi River from Cairo to Memphis. My entire +command was no more than was necessary to hold these lines, and hardly +that if kept on the defensive. By moving against the enemy and into his +unsubdued, or not yet captured, territory, driving their army before us, +these lines would nearly hold themselves; thus affording a large force +for field operations. My moving force at that time was about 30,000 +men, and I estimated the enemy confronting me, under Pemberton, at about +the same number. General McPherson commanded my left wing and General +C. S. Hamilton the centre, while Sherman was at Memphis with the right +wing. Pemberton was fortified at the Tallahatchie, but occupied Holly +Springs and Grand Junction on the Mississippi Central railroad. On the +8th we occupied Grand Junction and La Grange, throwing a considerable +force seven or eight miles south, along the line of the railroad. The +road from Bolivar forward was repaired and put in running order as the +troops advanced. + +Up to this time it had been regarded as an axiom in war that large +bodies of troops must operate from a base of supplies which they always +covered and guarded in all forward movements. There was delay therefore +in repairing the road back, and in gathering and forwarding supplies to +the front. + +By my orders, and in accordance with previous instructions from +Washington, all the forage within reach was collected under the +supervision of the chief quartermaster and the provisions under the +chief commissary, receipts being given when there was any one to take +them; the supplies in any event to be accounted for as government +stores. The stock was bountiful, but still it gave me no idea of the +possibility of supplying a moving column in an enemy's country from the +country itself. + +It was at this point, probably, where the first idea of a "Freedman's +Bureau" took its origin. Orders of the government prohibited the +expulsion of the negroes from the protection of the army, when they came +in voluntarily. Humanity forbade allowing them to starve. With such an +army of them, of all ages and both sexes, as had congregated about Grand +Junction, amounting to many thousands, it was impossible to advance. +There was no special authority for feeding them unless they were +employed as teamsters, cooks and pioneers with the army; but only +able-bodied young men were suitable for such work. This labor would +support but a very limited percentage of them. The plantations were all +deserted; the cotton and corn were ripe: men, women and children above +ten years of age could be employed in saving these crops. To do this +work with contrabands, or to have it done, organization under a +competent chief was necessary. On inquiring for such a man Chaplain +Eaton, now and for many years the very able United States Commissioner +of Education, was suggested. He proved as efficient in that field as he +has since done in his present one. I gave him all the assistants and +guards he called for. We together fixed the prices to be paid for the +negro labor, whether rendered to the government or to individuals. The +cotton was to be picked from abandoned plantations, the laborers to +receive the stipulated price (my recollection is twelve and a half cents +per pound for picking and ginning) from the quartermaster, he shipping +the cotton north to be sold for the benefit of the government. Citizens +remaining on their plantations were allowed the privilege of having +their crops saved by freedmen on the same terms. + +At once the freedmen became self-sustaining. The money was not paid to +them directly, but was expended judiciously and for their benefit. They +gave me no trouble afterwards. + +Later the freedmen were engaged in cutting wood along the Mississippi +River to supply the large number of steamers on that stream. A good +price was paid for chopping wood used for the supply of government +steamers (steamers chartered and which the government had to supply with +fuel). Those supplying their own fuel paid a much higher price. In +this way a fund was created not only sufficient to feed and clothe all, +old and young, male and female, but to build them comfortable cabins, +hospitals for the sick, and to supply them with many comforts they had +never known before. + +At this stage of the campaign against Vicksburg I was very much +disturbed by newspaper rumors that General McClernand was to have a +separate and independent command within mine, to operate against +Vicksburg by way of the Mississippi River. Two commanders on the same +field are always one too many, and in this case I did not think the +general selected had either the experience or the qualifications to fit +him for so important a position. I feared for the safety of the troops +intrusted to him, especially as he was to raise new levies, raw troops, +to execute so important a trust. But on the 12th I received a dispatch +from General Halleck saying that I had command of all the troops sent to +my department and authorizing me to fight the enemy where I pleased. +The next day my cavalry was in Holly Springs, and the enemy fell back +south of the Tallahatchie. + +Holly Springs I selected for my depot of supplies and munitions of war, +all of which at that time came by rail from Columbus, Kentucky, except +the few stores collected about La Grange and Grand Junction. This was a +long line (increasing in length as we moved south) to maintain in an +enemy's country. On the 15th of November, while I was still at Holly +Springs, I sent word to Sherman to meet me at Columbus. We were but +forty-seven miles apart, yet the most expeditious way for us to meet was +for me to take the rail to Columbus and Sherman a steamer for the same +place. At that meeting, besides talking over my general plans I gave +him his orders to join me with two divisions and to march them down the +Mississippi Central railroad if he could. Sherman, who was always +prompt, was up by the 29th to Cottage Hill, ten miles north of Oxford. +He brought three divisions with him, leaving a garrison of only four +regiments of infantry, a couple of pieces of artillery and a small +detachment of cavalry. Further reinforcements he knew were on their way +from the north to Memphis. About this time General Halleck ordered +troops from Helena, Arkansas (territory west of the Mississippi was not +under my command then) to cut the road in Pemberton's rear. The +expedition was under Generals Hovey and C. C. Washburn and was +successful so far as reaching the railroad was concerned, but the damage +done was very slight and was soon repaired. + +The Tallahatchie, which confronted me, was very high, the railroad +bridge destroyed and Pemberton strongly fortified on the south side. A +crossing would have been impossible in the presence of an enemy. I sent +the cavalry higher up the stream and they secured a crossing. This +caused the enemy to evacuate their position, which was possibly +accelerated by the expedition of Hovey and Washburn. The enemy was +followed as far south as Oxford by the main body of troops, and some +seventeen miles farther by McPherson's command. Here the pursuit was +halted to repair the railroad from the Tallahatchie northward, in order +to bring up supplies. The piles on which the railroad bridge rested had +been left standing. The work of constructing a roadway for the troops +was but a short matter, and, later, rails were laid for cars. + +During the delay at Oxford in repairing railroads I learned that an +expedition down the Mississippi now was inevitable and, desiring to have +a competent commander in charge, I ordered Sherman on the 8th of +December back to Memphis to take charge. The following were his orders: + +Headquarters 13th Army Corps, Department of the Tennessee. OXFORD, +MISSISSIPPI, December 8,1862. + +MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Right Wing: + +You will proceed, with as little delay as possible, to Memphis, +Tennessee, taking with you one division of your present command. On +your arrival at Memphis you will assume command of all the troops there, +and that portion of General Curtis's forces at present east of the +Mississippi River, and organize them into brigades and divisions in your +own army. As soon as possible move with them down the river to the +vicinity of Vicksburg, and with the co-operation of the gunboat fleet +under command of Flag-officer Porter proceed to the reduction of that +place in such a manner as circumstances, and your own judgment, may +dictate. + +The amount of rations, forage, land transportation, etc., necessary to +take, will be left entirely with yourself. The Quartermaster at St. +Louis will be instructed to send you transportation for 30,000 men; +should you still find yourself deficient, your quartermaster will be +authorized to make up the deficiency from such transports as may come +into the port of Memphis. + +On arriving in Memphis, put yourself in communication with Admiral +Porter, and arrange with him for his co-operation. + +Inform me at the earliest practicable day of the time when you will +embark, and such plans as may then be matured. I will hold the forces +here in readiness to co-operate with you in such manner as the movements +of the enemy may make necessary. + +Leave the District of Memphis in the command of an efficient officer, +and with a garrison of four regiments of infantry, the siege guns, and +whatever cavalry may be there. + +U. S. GRANT, Major-General. + + +This idea had presented itself to my mind earlier, for on the 3d of +December I asked Halleck if it would not be well to hold the enemy south +of the Yallabusha and move a force from Helena and Memphis on Vicksburg. +On the 5th again I suggested, from Oxford, to Halleck that if the Helena +troops were at my command I though it would be possible to take them and +the Memphis forces south of the mouth of the Yazoo River, and thus +secure Vicksburg and the State of Mississippi. Halleck on the same day, +the 5th of December, directed me not to attempt to hold the country +south of the Tallahatchie, but to collect 25,000 troops at Memphis by +the 20th for the Vicksburg expedition. I sent Sherman with two +divisions at once, informed the general-in-chief of the fact, and asked +whether I should command the expedition down the river myself or send +Sherman. I was authorized to do as I though best for the accomplishment +of the great object in view. I sent Sherman and so informed General +Halleck. + +As stated, my action in sending Sherman back was expedited by a desire +to get him in command of the forces separated from my direct +supervision. I feared that delay might bring McClernand, who was his +senior and who had authority from the President and Secretary of War to +exercise that particular command,--and independently. I doubted +McClernand's fitness; and I had good reason to believe that in +forestalling him I was by no means giving offence to those whose +authority to command was above both him and me. + +Neither my orders to General Sherman, nor the correspondence between us +or between General Halleck and myself, contemplated at the time my going +further south than the Yallabusha. Pemberton's force in my front was the +main part of the garrison of Vicksburg, as the force with me was the +defence of the territory held by us in West Tennessee and Kentucky. I +hoped to hold Pemberton in my front while Sherman should get in his rear +and into Vicksburg. The further north the enemy could be held the +better. + +It was understood, however, between General Sherman and myself that our +movements were to be co-operative; if Pemberton could not be held away +from Vicksburg I was to follow him; but at that time it was not expected +to abandon the railroad north of the Yallabusha. With that point as a +secondary base of supplies, the possibility of moving down the Yazoo +until communications could be opened with the Mississippi was +contemplated. + +It was my intention, and so understood by Sherman and his command, that +if the enemy should fall back I would follow him even to the gates of +Vicksburg. I intended in such an event to hold the road to Grenada on +the Yallabusha and cut loose from there, expecting to establish a new +base of supplies on the Yazoo, or at Vicksburg itself, with Grenada to +fall back upon in case of failure. It should be remembered that at the +time I speak of it had not been demonstrated that an army could operate +in an enemy's territory depending upon the country for supplies. A halt +was called at Oxford with the advance seventeen miles south of there, to +bring up the road to the latter point and to bring supplies of food, +forage and munitions to the front. + +On the 18th of December I received orders from Washington to divide my +command into four army corps, with General McClernand to command one of +them and to be assigned to that part of the army which was to operate +down the Mississippi. This interfered with my plans, but probably +resulted in my ultimately taking the command in person. McClernand was +at that time in Springfield, Illinois. The order was obeyed without any +delay. Dispatches were sent to him the same day in conformity. + +On the 20th General Van Dorn appeared at Holly Springs, my secondary +base of supplies, captured the garrison of 1,500 men commanded by +Colonel Murphy, of the 8th Wisconsin regiment, and destroyed all our +munitions of war, food and forage. The capture was a disgraceful one to +the officer commanding but not to the troops under him. At the same +time Forrest got on our line of railroad between Jackson, Tennessee, and +Columbus, Kentucky, doing much damage to it. This cut me off from all +communication with the north for more than a week, and it was more than +two weeks before rations or forage could be issued from stores obtained +in the regular way. This demonstrated the impossibility of maintaining +so long a line of road over which to draw supplies for an army moving in +an enemy's country. I determined, therefore, to abandon my campaign +into the interior with Columbus as a base, and returned to La Grange and +Grand Junction destroying the road to my front and repairing the road to +Memphis, making the Mississippi river the line over which to draw +supplies. Pemberton was falling back at the same time. + +The moment I received the news of Van Dorn's success I sent the cavalry +at the front back to drive him from the country. He had start enough to +move north destroying the railroad in many places, and to attack several +small garrisons intrenched as guards to the railroad. All these he +found warned of his coming and prepared to receive him. Van Dorn did +not succeed in capturing a single garrison except the one at Holly +Springs, which was larger than all the others attacked by him put +together. Murphy was also warned of Van Dorn's approach, but made no +preparations to meet him. He did not even notify his command. + +Colonel Murphy was the officer who, two months before, had evacuated +Iuka on the approach of the enemy. General Rosecrans denounced him for +the act and desired to have him tried and punished. I sustained the +colonel at the time because his command was a small one compared with +that of the enemy--not one-tenth as large--and I thought he had done +well to get away without falling into their hands. His leaving large +stores to fall into Price's possession I looked upon as an oversight and +excused it on the ground of inexperience in military matters. He should, +however, have destroyed them. This last surrender demonstrated to my +mind that Rosecrans' judgment of Murphy's conduct at Iuka was correct. +The surrender of Holly Springs was most reprehensible and showed either +the disloyalty of Colonel Murphy to the cause which he professed to +serve, or gross cowardice. + +After the war was over I read from the diary of a lady who accompanied +General Pemberton in his retreat from the Tallahatchie, that the retreat +was almost a panic. The roads were bad and it was difficult to move the +artillery and trains. Why there should have been a panic I do not see. +No expedition had yet started down the Mississippi River. Had I known +the demoralized condition of the enemy, or the fact that central +Mississippi abounded so in all army supplies, I would have been in +pursuit of Pemberton while his cavalry was destroying the roads in my +rear. + +After sending cavalry to drive Van Dorn away, my next order was to +dispatch all the wagons we had, under proper escort, to collect and +bring in all supplies of forage and food from a region of fifteen miles +east and west of the road from our front back to Grand Junction, leaving +two months' supplies for the families of those whose stores were taken. +I was amazed at the quantity of supplies the country afforded. It +showed that we could have subsisted off the country for two months +instead of two weeks without going beyond the limits designated. This +taught me a lesson which was taken advantage of later in the campaign +when our army lived twenty days with the issue of only five days' +rations by the commissary. Our loss of supplies was great at Holly +Springs, but it was more than compensated for by those taken from the +country and by the lesson taught. + +The news of the capture of Holly Springs and the destruction of our +supplies caused much rejoicing among the people remaining in Oxford. +They came with broad smiles on their faces, indicating intense joy, to +ask what I was going to do now without anything for my soldiers to eat. +I told them that I was not disturbed; that I had already sent troops and +wagons to collect all the food and forage they could find for fifteen +miles on each side of the road. Countenances soon changed, and so did +the inquiry. The next was, "What are WE to do?" My response was that +we had endeavored to feed ourselves from our own northern resources +while visiting them; but their friends in gray had been uncivil enough +to destroy what we had brought along, and it could not be expected that +men, with arms in their hands, would starve in the midst of plenty. I +advised them to emigrate east, or west, fifteen miles and assist in +eating up what we left. + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO HOLLY SPRINGS--GENERAL M'CLERNAND IN COMMAND +--ASSUMING COMMAND AT YOUNG'S POINT--OPERATIONS ABOVE VICKSBURG +--FORTIFICATIONS ABOUT VICKSBURG--THE CANAL--LAKE PROVIDENCE +--OPERATIONS AT YAZOO PASS. + +This interruption in my communications north--I was really cut off from +communication with a great part of my own command during this time +--resulted in Sherman's moving from Memphis before McClernand could +arrive, for my dispatch of the 18th did not reach McClernand. Pemberton +got back to Vicksburg before Sherman got there. The rebel positions +were on a bluff on the Yazoo River, some miles above its mouth. The +waters were high so that the bottoms were generally overflowed, leaving +only narrow causeways of dry land between points of debarkation and the +high bluffs. These were fortified and defended at all points. The +rebel position was impregnable against any force that could be brought +against its front. Sherman could not use one-fourth of his force. His +efforts to capture the city, or the high ground north of it, were +necessarily unavailing. + +Sherman's attack was very unfortunate, but I had no opportunity of +communicating with him after the destruction of the road and telegraph +to my rear on the 20th. He did not know but what I was in the rear of +the enemy and depending on him to open a new base of supplies for the +troops with me. I had, before he started from Memphis, directed him to +take with him a few small steamers suitable for the navigation of the +Yazoo, not knowing but that I might want them to supply me after cutting +loose from my base at Grenada. + +On the 23d I removed my headquarters back to Holly Springs. The troops +were drawn back gradually, but without haste or confusion, finding +supplies abundant and no enemy following. The road was not damaged +south of Holly Springs by Van Dorn, at least not to an extent to cause +any delay. As I had resolved to move headquarters to Memphis, and to +repair the road to that point, I remained at Holly Springs until this +work was completed. + +On the 10th of January, the work on the road from Holly Springs to Grand +Junction and thence to Memphis being completed, I moved my headquarters +to the latter place. During the campaign here described, the losses +(mostly captures) were about equal, crediting the rebels with their +Holly Springs capture, which they could not hold. + +When Sherman started on his expedition down the river he had 20,000 men, +taken from Memphis, and was reinforced by 12,000 more at Helena, +Arkansas. The troops on the west bank of the river had previously been +assigned to my command. McClernand having received the orders for his +assignment reached the mouth of the Yazoo on the 2d of January, and +immediately assumed command of all the troops with Sherman, being a part +of his own corps, the 13th, and all of Sherman's, the 15th. Sherman, +and Admiral Porter with the fleet, had withdrawn from the Yazoo. After +consultation they decided that neither the army nor navy could render +service to the cause where they were, and learning that I had withdrawn +from the interior of Mississippi, they determined to return to the +Arkansas River and to attack Arkansas Post, about fifty miles up that +stream and garrisoned by about five or six thousand men. Sherman had +learned of the existence of this force through a man who had been +captured by the enemy with a steamer loaded with ammunition and other +supplies intended for his command. The man had made his escape. +McClernand approved this move reluctantly, as Sherman says. No obstacle +was encountered until the gunboats and transports were within range of +the fort. After three days' bombardment by the navy an assault was made +by the troops and marines, resulting in the capture of the place, and in +taking 5,000 prisoners and 17 guns. I was at first disposed to +disapprove of this move as an unnecessary side movement having no +especial bearing upon the work before us; but when the result was +understood I regarded it as very important. Five thousand Confederate +troops left in the rear might have caused us much trouble and loss of +property while navigating the Mississippi. + +Immediately after the reduction of Arkansas Post and the capture of the +garrison, McClernand returned with his entire force to Napoleon, at the +mouth of the Arkansas River. From here I received messages from both +Sherman and Admiral Porter, urging me to come and take command in +person, and expressing their distrust of McClernand's ability and +fitness for so important and intricate an expedition. + +On the 17th I visited McClernand and his command at Napoleon. It was +here made evident to me that both the army and navy were so distrustful +of McClernand's fitness to command that, while they would do all they +could to insure success, this distrust was an element of weakness. It +would have been criminal to send troops under these circumstances into +such danger. By this time I had received authority to relieve +McClernand, or to assign any person else to the command of the river +expedition, or to assume command in person. I felt great embarrassment +about McClernand. He was the senior major-general after myself within +the department. It would not do, with his rank and ambition, to assign +a junior over him. Nothing was left, therefore, but to assume the +command myself. I would have been glad to put Sherman in command, to +give him an opportunity to accomplish what he had failed in the December +before; but there seemed no other way out of the difficulty, for he was +junior to McClernand. Sherman's failure needs no apology. + +On the 20th I ordered General McClernand with the entire command, to +Young's Point and Milliken's Bend, while I returned to Memphis to make +all the necessary preparation for leaving the territory behind me +secure. General Hurlbut with the 16th corps was left in command. The +Memphis and Charleston railroad was held, while the Mississippi Central +was given up. Columbus was the only point between Cairo and Memphis, on +the river, left with a garrison. All the troops and guns from the posts +on the abandoned railroad and river were sent to the front. + +On the 29th of January I arrived at Young's Point and assumed command +the following day. General McClernand took exception in a most +characteristic way--for him. His correspondence with me on the subject +was more in the nature of a reprimand than a protest. It was highly +insubordinate, but I overlooked it, as I believed, for the good of the +service. General McClernand was a politician of very considerable +prominence in his State; he was a member of Congress when the secession +war broke out; he belonged to that political party which furnished all +the opposition there was to a vigorous prosecution of the war for saving +the Union; there was no delay in his declaring himself for the Union at +all hazards, and there was no uncertain sound in his declaration of +where he stood in the contest before the country. He also gave up his +seat in Congress to take the field in defence of the principles he had +proclaimed. + +The real work of the campaign and siege of Vicksburg now began. The +problem was to secure a footing upon dry ground on the east side of the +river from which the troops could operate against Vicksburg. The +Mississippi River, from Cairo south, runs through a rich alluvial valley +of many miles in width, bound on the east by land running from eighty up +to two or more hundred feet above the river. On the west side the +highest land, except in a few places, is but little above the highest +water. Through this valley the river meanders in the most tortuous way, +varying in direction to all points of the compass. At places it runs to +the very foot of the bluffs. After leaving Memphis, there are no such +highlands coming to the water's edge on the east shore until Vicksburg +is reached. + +The intervening land is cut up by bayous filled from the river in high +water--many of them navigable for steamers. All of them would be, +except for overhanging trees, narrowness and tortuous course, making it +impossible to turn the bends with vessels of any considerable length. +Marching across this country in the face of an enemy was impossible; +navigating it proved equally impracticable. The strategical way +according to the rule, therefore, would have been to go back to Memphis; +establish that as a base of supplies; fortify it so that the storehouses +could be held by a small garrison, and move from there along the line of +railroad, repairing as we advanced, to the Yallabusha, or to Jackson, +Mississippi. At this time the North had become very much discouraged. +Many strong Union men believed that the war must prove a failure. The +elections of 1862 had gone against the party which was for the +prosecution of the war to save the Union if it took the last man and the +last dollar. Voluntary enlistments had ceased throughout the greater +part of the North, and the draft had been resorted to to fill up our +ranks. It was my judgment at the time that to make a backward movement +as long as that from Vicksburg to Memphis, would be interpreted, by many +of those yet full of hope for the preservation of the Union, as a +defeat, and that the draft would be resisted, desertions ensue and the +power to capture and punish deserters lost. There was nothing left to be +done but to go FORWARD TO A DECISIVE VICTORY. This was in my mind from +the moment I took command in person at Young's Point. + +The winter of 1862-3 was a noted one for continuous high water in the +Mississippi and for heavy rains along the lower river. To get dry land, +or rather land above the water, to encamp the troops upon, took many +miles of river front. We had to occupy the levees and the ground +immediately behind. This was so limited that one corps, the 17th, under +General McPherson, was at Lake Providence, seventy miles above +Vicksburg. + +It was in January the troops took their position opposite Vicksburg. +The water was very high and the rains were incessant. There seemed no +possibility of a land movement before the end of March or later, and it +would not do to lie idle all this time. The effect would be +demoralizing to the troops and injurious to their health. Friends in +the North would have grown more and more discouraged, and enemies in the +same section more and more insolent in their gibes and denunciation of +the cause and those engaged in it. + +I always admired the South, as bad as I thought their cause, for the +boldness with which they silenced all opposition and all croaking, by +press or by individuals, within their control. War at all times, +whether a civil war between sections of a common country or between +nations, ought to be avoided, if possible with honor. But, once entered +into, it is too much for human nature to tolerate an enemy within their +ranks to give aid and comfort to the armies of the opposing section or +nation. + +Vicksburg, as stated before, is on the first high land coming to the +river's edge, below that on which Memphis stands. The bluff, or high +land, follows the left bank of the Yazoo for some distance and continues +in a southerly direction to the Mississippi River, thence it runs along +the Mississippi to Warrenton, six miles below. The Yazoo River leaves +the high land a short distance below Haines' Bluff and empties into the +Mississippi nine miles above Vicksburg. Vicksburg is built on this high +land where the Mississippi washes the base of the hill. Haines' Bluff, +eleven miles from Vicksburg, on the Yazoo River, was strongly fortified. +The whole distance from there to Vicksburg and thence to Warrenton was +also intrenched, with batteries at suitable distances and rifle-pits +connecting them. + +From Young's Point the Mississippi turns in a north-easterly direction +to a point just above the city, when it again turns and runs +south-westerly, leaving vessels, which might attempt to run the blockade, +exposed to the fire of batteries six miles below the city before they +were in range of the upper batteries. Since then the river has made a +cut-off, leaving what was the peninsula in front of the city, an island. +North of the Yazoo was all a marsh, heavily timbered, cut up with +bayous, and much overflowed. A front attack was therefore impossible, +and was never contemplated; certainly not by me. The problem then +became, how to secure a landing on high ground east of the Mississippi +without an apparent retreat. Then commenced a series of experiments to +consume time, and to divert the attention of the enemy, of my troops and +of the public generally. I, myself, never felt great confidence that +any of the experiments resorted to would prove successful. Nevertheless +I was always prepared to take advantage of them in case they did. + +In 1862 General Thomas Williams had come up from New Orleans and cut a +ditch ten or twelve feet wide and about as deep, straight across from +Young's Point to the river below. The distance across was a little over +a mile. It was Williams' expectation that when the river rose it would +cut a navigable channel through; but the canal started in an eddy from +both ends, and, of course, it only filled up with water on the rise +without doing any execution in the way of cutting. Mr. Lincoln had +navigated the Mississippi in his younger days and understood well its +tendency to change its channel, in places, from time to time. He set +much store accordingly by this canal. General McClernand had been, +therefore, directed before I went to Young's Point to push the work of +widening and deepening this canal. After my arrival the work was +diligently pushed with about 4,000 men--as many as could be used to +advantage--until interrupted by a sudden rise in the river that broke a +dam at the upper end, which had been put there to keep the water out +until the excavation was completed. This was on the 8th of March. + +Even if the canal had proven a success, so far as to be navigable for +steamers, it could not have been of much advantage to us. It runs in a +direction almost perpendicular to the line of bluffs on the opposite +side, or east bank, of the river. As soon as the enemy discovered what +we were doing he established a battery commanding the canal throughout +its length. This battery soon drove out our dredges, two in number, +which were doing the work of thousands of men. Had the canal been +completed it might have proven of some use in running transports +through, under the cover of night, to use below; but they would yet have +to run batteries, though for a much shorter distance. + +While this work was progressing we were busy in other directions, trying +to find an available landing on high ground on the east bank of the +river, or to make water-ways to get below the city, avoiding the +batteries. + +On the 30th of January, the day after my arrival at the front, I ordered +General McPherson, stationed with his corps at Lake Providence, to cut +the levee at that point. If successful in opening a channel for +navigation by this route, it would carry us to the Mississippi River +through the mouth of the Red River, just above Port Hudson and four +hundred miles below Vicksburg by the river. + +Lake Providence is a part of the old bed of the Mississippi, about a +mile from the present channel. It is six miles long and has its outlet +through Bayou Baxter, Bayou Macon, and the Tensas, Washita and Red +Rivers. The last three are navigable streams at all seasons. Bayous +Baxter and Macon are narrow and tortuous, and the banks are covered with +dense forests overhanging the channel. They were also filled with +fallen timber, the accumulation of years. The land along the +Mississippi River, from Memphis down, is in all instances highest next +to the river, except where the river washes the bluffs which form the +boundary of the valley through which it winds. Bayou Baxter, as it +reaches lower land, begins to spread out and disappears entirely in a +cypress swamp before it reaches the Macon. There was about two feet of +water in this swamp at the time. To get through it, even with vessels +of the lightest draft, it was necessary to clear off a belt of heavy +timber wide enough to make a passage way. As the trees would have to be +cut close to the bottom--under water--it was an undertaking of great +magnitude. + +On the 4th of February I visited General McPherson, and remained with +him several days. The work had not progressed so far as to admit the +water from the river into the lake, but the troops had succeeded in +drawing a small steamer, of probably not over thirty tons' capacity, +from the river into the lake. With this we were able to explore the +lake and bayou as far as cleared. I saw then that there was scarcely a +chance of this ever becoming a practicable route for moving troops +through an enemy's country. The distance from Lake Providence to the +point where vessels going by that route would enter the Mississippi +again, is about four hundred and seventy miles by the main river. The +distance would probably be greater by the tortuous bayous through which +this new route would carry us. The enemy held Port Hudson, below where +the Red River debouches, and all the Mississippi above to Vicksburg. +The Red River, Washita and Tensas were, as has been said, all navigable +streams, on which the enemy could throw small bodies of men to obstruct +our passage and pick off our troops with their sharpshooters. I let the +work go on, believing employment was better than idleness for the men. +Then, too, it served as a cover for other efforts which gave a better +prospect of success. This work was abandoned after the canal proved a +failure. + +Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson of my staff was sent to Helena, Arkansas, to +examine and open a way through Moon Lake and the Yazoo Pass if possible. +Formerly there was a route by way of an inlet from the Mississippi River +into Moon Lake, a mile east of the river, thence east through Yazoo Pass +to Coldwater, along the latter to the Tallahatchie, which joins the +Yallabusha about two hundred and fifty miles below Moon Lake and forms +the Yazoo River. These were formerly navigated by steamers trading with +the rich plantations along their banks; but the State of Mississippi had +built a strong levee across the inlet some years before, leaving the +only entrance for vessels into this rich region the one by way of the +mouth of the Yazoo several hundreds of miles below. + +On the 2d of February this dam, or levee, was cut. The river being high +the rush of water through the cut was so great that in a very short time +the entire obstruction was washed away. The bayous were soon filled and +much of the country was overflowed. This pass leaves the Mississippi +River but a few miles below Helena. On the 24th General Ross, with his +brigade of about 4,500 men on transports, moved into this new water-way. +The rebels had obstructed the navigation of Yazoo Pass and the Coldwater +by felling trees into them. Much of the timber in this region being of +greater specific gravity than water, and being of great size, their +removal was a matter of great labor; but it was finally accomplished, +and on the 11th of March Ross found himself, accompanied by two gunboats +under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Watson Smith, confronting a +fortification at Greenwood, where the Tallahatchie and Yallabusha unite +and the Yazoo begins. The bends of the rivers are such at this point as +to almost form an island, scarcely above water at that stage of the +river. This island was fortified and manned. It was named Fort +Pemberton after the commander at Vicksburg. No land approach was +accessible. The troops, therefore, could render no assistance towards +an assault further than to establish a battery on a little piece of +ground which was discovered above water. The gunboats, however, +attacked on the 11th and again on the 13th of March. Both efforts were +failures and were not renewed. One gunboat was disabled and we lost six +men killed and twenty-five wounded. The loss of the enemy was less. + +Fort Pemberton was so little above the water that it was thought that a +rise of two feet would drive the enemy out. In hope of enlisting the +elements on our side, which had been so much against us up to this time, +a second cut was made in the Mississippi levee, this time directly +opposite Helena, or six miles above the former cut. It did not +accomplish the desired result, and Ross, with his fleet, started back. +On the 22d he met Quinby with a brigade at Yazoo Pass. Quinby was the +senior of Ross, and assumed command. He was not satisfied with +returning to his former position without seeing for himself whether +anything could be accomplished. Accordingly Fort Pemberton was +revisited by our troops; but an inspection was sufficient this time +without an attack. Quinby, with his command, returned with but little +delay. In the meantime I was much exercised for the safety of Ross, not +knowing that Quinby had been able to join him. Reinforcements were of +no use in a country covered with water, as they would have to remain on +board of their transports. Relief had to come from another quarter. So +I determined to get into the Yazoo below Fort Pemberton. + +Steel's Bayou empties into the Yazoo River between Haines' Bluff and its +mouth. It is narrow, very tortuous, and fringed with a very heavy +growth of timber, but it is deep. It approaches to within one mile of +the Mississippi at Eagle Bend, thirty miles above Young's Point. +Steel's Bayou connects with Black Bayou, Black Bayou with Deer Creek, +Deer Creek with Rolling Fork, Rolling Fork with the Big Sunflower River, +and the Big Sunflower with the Yazoo River about ten miles above Haines' +Bluff in a right line but probably twenty or twenty-five miles by the +winding of the river. All these waterways are of about the same nature +so far as navigation is concerned, until the Sunflower is reached; this +affords free navigation. + +Admiral Porter explored this waterway as far as Deer Creek on the 14th +of March, and reported it navigable. On the next day he started with +five gunboats and four mortar-boats. I went with him for some distance. +The heavy overhanging timber retarded progress very much, as did also +the short turns in so narrow a stream. The gunboats, however, ploughed +their way through without other damage than to their appearance. The +transports did not fare so well although they followed behind. The road +was somewhat cleared for them by the gunboats. In the evening I +returned to headquarters to hurry up reinforcements. Sherman went in +person on the 16th, taking with him Stuart's division of the 15th corps. +They took large river transports to Eagle Bend on the Mississippi, where +they debarked and marched across to Steel's Bayou, where they +re-embarked on the transports. The river steamers, with their tall +smokestacks and light guards extending out, were so much impeded that +the gunboats got far ahead. Porter, with his fleet, got within a few +hundred yards of where the sailing would have been clear and free from +the obstructions caused by felling trees into the water, when he +encountered rebel sharp-shooters, and his progress was delayed by +obstructions in his front. He could do nothing with gunboats against +sharpshooters. The rebels, learning his route, had sent in about 4,000 +men--many more than there were sailors in the fleet. + +Sherman went back, at the request of the admiral, to clear out Black +Bayou and to hurry up reinforcements, which were far behind. On the +night of the 19th he received notice from the admiral that he had been +attacked by sharp-shooters and was in imminent peril. Sherman at once +returned through Black Bayou in a canoe, and passed on until he met a +steamer, with the last of the reinforcements he had, coming up. They +tried to force their way through Black Bayou with their steamer, but, +finding it slow and tedious work, debarked and pushed forward on foot. +It was night when they landed, and intensely dark. There was but a +narrow strip of land above water, and that was grown up with underbrush +or cane. The troops lighted their way through this with candles carried +in their hands for a mile and a half, when they came to an open +plantation. Here the troops rested until morning. They made twenty-one +miles from this resting-place by noon the next day, and were in time to +rescue the fleet. Porter had fully made up his mind to blow up the +gunboats rather than have them fall into the hands of the enemy. More +welcome visitors he probably never met than the "boys in blue" on this +occasion. The vessels were backed out and returned to their rendezvous +on the Mississippi; and thus ended in failure the fourth attempt to get +in rear of Vicksburg. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE BAYOUS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI--CRITICISMS OF THE NORTHERN PRESS +--RUNNING THE BATTERIES--LOSS OF THE INDIANOLA--DISPOSITION OF THE +TROOPS. + +The original canal scheme was also abandoned on the 27th of March. The +effort to make a waterway through Lake Providence and the connecting +bayous was abandoned as wholly impracticable about the same time. + +At Milliken's Bend, and also at Young's Point, bayous or channels start, +which connecting with other bayous passing Richmond, Louisiana, enter +the Mississippi at Carthage twenty-five or thirty miles above Grand +Gulf. The Mississippi levee cuts the supply of water off from these +bayous or channels, but all the rainfall behind the levee, at these +points, is carried through these same channels to the river below. In +case of a crevasse in this vicinity, the water escaping would find its +outlet through the same channels. The dredges and laborers from the +canal having been driven out by overflow and the enemy's batteries, I +determined to open these other channels, if possible. If successful the +effort would afford a route, away from the enemy's batteries, for our +transports. There was a good road back of the levees, along these +bayous, to carry the troops, artillery and wagon trains over whenever +the water receded a little, and after a few days of dry weather. +Accordingly, with the abandonment of all the other plans for reaching a +base heretofore described, this new one was undertaken. + +As early as the 4th of February I had written to Halleck about this +route, stating that I thought it much more practicable than the other +undertaking (the Lake Providence route), and that it would have been +accomplished with much less labor if commenced before the water had got +all over the country. + +The upper end of these bayous being cut off from a water supply, further +than the rainfall back of the levees, was grown up with dense timber for +a distance of several miles from their source. It was necessary, +therefore, to clear this out before letting in the water from the river. +This work was continued until the waters of the river began to recede +and the road to Richmond, Louisiana, emerged from the water. One small +steamer and some barges were got through this channel, but no further +use could be made of it because of the fall in the river. Beyond this it +was no more successful than the other experiments with which the winter +was whiled away. All these failures would have been very discouraging +if I had expected much from the efforts; but I had not. From the first +the most I hoped to accomplish was the passage of transports, to be used +below Vicksburg, without exposure to the long line of batteries +defending that city. + +This long, dreary and, for heavy and continuous rains and high water, +unprecedented winter was one of great hardship to all engaged about +Vicksburg. The river was higher than its natural banks from December, +1862, to the following April. The war had suspended peaceful pursuits +in the South, further than the production of army supplies, and in +consequence the levees were neglected and broken in many places and the +whole country was covered with water. Troops could scarcely find dry +ground on which to pitch their tents. Malarial fevers broke out among +the men. Measles and small-pox also attacked them. The hospital +arrangements and medical attendance were so perfect, however, that the +loss of life was much less than might have been expected. Visitors to +the camps went home with dismal stories to relate; Northern papers came +back to the soldiers with these stories exaggerated. Because I would +not divulge my ultimate plans to visitors, they pronounced me idle, +incompetent and unfit to command men in an emergency, and clamored for +my removal. They were not to be satisfied, many of them, with my simple +removal, but named who my successor should be. McClernand, Fremont, +Hunter and McClellan were all mentioned in this connection. I took no +steps to answer these complaints, but continued to do my duty, as I +understood it, to the best of my ability. Every one has his +superstitions. One of mine is that in positions of great responsibility +every one should do his duty to the best of his ability where assigned +by competent authority, without application or the use of influence to +change his position. While at Cairo I had watched with very great +interest the operations of the Army of the Potomac, looking upon that as +the main field of the war. I had no idea, myself, of ever having any +large command, nor did I suppose that I was equal to one; but I had the +vanity to think that as a cavalry officer I might succeed very well in +the command of a brigade. On one occasion, in talking about this to my +staff officers, all of whom were civilians without any military +education whatever, I said that I would give anything if I were +commanding a brigade of cavalry in the Army of the Potomac and I +believed I could do some good. Captain Hillyer spoke up and suggested +that I make application to be transferred there to command the cavalry. +I then told him that I would cut my right arm off first, and mentioned +this superstition. + +In time of war the President, being by the Constitution +Commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy, is responsible for the +selection of commanders. He should not be embarrassed in making his +selections. I having been selected, my responsibility ended with my +doing the best I knew how. If I had sought the place, or obtained it +through personal or political influence, my belief is that I would have +feared to undertake any plan of my own conception, and would probably +have awaited direct orders from my distant superiors. Persons obtaining +important commands by application or political influence are apt to keep +a written record of complaints and predictions of defeat, which are +shown in case of disaster. Somebody must be responsible for their +failures. + +With all the pressure brought to bear upon them, both President Lincoln +and General Halleck stood by me to the end of the campaign. I had never +met Mr. Lincoln, but his support was constant. + +At last the waters began to recede; the roads crossing the peninsula +behind the levees of the bayous, were emerging from the waters; the +troops were all concentrated from distant points at Milliken's Bend +preparatory to a final move which was to crown the long, tedious and +discouraging labors with success. + +I had had in contemplation the whole winter the movement by land to a +point below Vicksburg from which to operate, subject only to the +possible but not expected success of some one of the expedients resorted +to for the purpose of giving us a different base. This could not be +undertaken until the waters receded. I did not therefore communicate +this plan, even to an officer of my staff, until it was necessary to +make preparations for the start. My recollection is that Admiral Porter +was the first one to whom I mentioned it. The co-operation of the navy +was absolutely essential to the success (even to the contemplation) of +such an enterprise. I had no more authority to command Porter than he +had to command me. It was necessary to have part of his fleet below +Vicksburg if the troops went there. Steamers to use as ferries were +also essential. The navy was the only escort and protection for these +steamers, all of which in getting below had to run about fourteen miles +of batteries. Porter fell into the plan at once, and suggested that he +had better superintend the preparation of the steamers selected to run +the batteries, as sailors would probably understand the work better than +soldiers. I was glad to accept his proposition, not only because I +admitted his argument, but because it would enable me to keep from the +enemy a little longer our designs. Porter's fleet was on the east side +of the river above the mouth of the Yazoo, entirely concealed from the +enemy by the dense forests that intervened. Even spies could not get +near him, on account of the undergrowth and overflowed lands. +Suspicions of some mysterious movements were aroused. Our river guards +discovered one day a small skiff moving quietly and mysteriously up the +river near the east shore, from the direction of Vicksburg, towards the +fleet. On overhauling the boat they found a small white flag, not much +larger than a handkerchief, set up in the stern, no doubt intended as a +flag of truce in case of discovery. The boat, crew and passengers were +brought ashore to me. The chief personage aboard proved to be Jacob +Thompson, Secretary of the Interior under the administration of +President Buchanan. After a pleasant conversation of half an hour or +more I allowed the boat and crew, passengers and all, to return to +Vicksburg, without creating a suspicion that there was a doubt in my +mind as to the good faith of Mr. Thompson and his flag. + +Admiral Porter proceeded with the preparation of the steamers for their +hazardous passage of the enemy's batteries. The great essential was to +protect the boilers from the enemy's shot, and to conceal the fires +under the boilers from view. This he accomplished by loading the +steamers, between the guards and boilers on the boiler deck up to the +deck above, with bales of hay and cotton, and the deck in front of the +boilers in the same way, adding sacks of grain. The hay and grain would +be wanted below, and could not be transported in sufficient quantity by +the muddy roads over which we expected to march. + +Before this I had been collecting, from St. Louis and Chicago, yawls and +barges to be used as ferries when we got below. By the 16th of April +Porter was ready to start on his perilous trip. The advance, flagship +Benton, Porter commanding, started at ten o'clock at night, followed at +intervals of a few minutes by the Lafayette with a captured steamer, the +Price, lashed to her side, the Louisville, Mound City, Pittsburgh and +Carondelet--all of these being naval vessels. Next came the transports +--Forest Queen, Silver Wave and Henry Clay, each towing barges loaded +with coal to be used as fuel by the naval and transport steamers when +below the batteries. The gunboat Tuscumbia brought up the rear. Soon +after the start a battery between Vicksburg and Warrenton opened fire +across the intervening peninsula, followed by the upper batteries, and +then by batteries all along the line. The gunboats ran up close under +the bluffs, delivering their fire in return at short distances, probably +without much effect. They were under fire for more than two hours and +every vessel was struck many times, but with little damage to the +gunboats. The transports did not fare so well. The Henry Clay was +disabled and deserted by her crew. Soon after a shell burst in the +cotton packed about the boilers, set the vessel on fire and burned her +to the water's edge. The burning mass, however, floated down to +Carthage before grounding, as did also one of the barges in tow. + +The enemy were evidently expecting our fleet, for they were ready to +light up the river by means of bonfires on the east side and by firing +houses on the point of land opposite the city on the Louisiana side. +The sight was magnificent, but terrible. I witnessed it from the deck +of a river transport, run out into the middle of the river and as low +down as it was prudent to go. My mind was much relieved when I learned +that no one on the transports had been killed and but few, if any, +wounded. During the running of the batteries men were stationed in the +holds of the transports to partially stop with cotton shot-holes that +might be made in the hulls. All damage was afterwards soon repaired +under the direction of Admiral Porter. + +The experiment of passing batteries had been tried before this, however, +during the war. Admiral Farragut had run the batteries at Port Hudson +with the flagship Hartford and one iron-clad and visited me from below +Vicksburg. The 13th of February Admiral Porter had sent the gunboat +Indianola, Lieutenant-Commander George Brown commanding, below. She met +Colonel Ellet of the Marine brigade below Natchez on a captured steamer. +Two of the Colonel's fleet had previously run the batteries, producing +the greatest consternation among the people along the Mississippi from +Vicksburg (*10) to the Red River. + +The Indianola remained about the mouth of the Red River some days, and +then started up the Mississippi. The Confederates soon raised the Queen +of the West, (*11) and repaired her. With this vessel and the ram Webb, +which they had had for some time in the Red River, and two other +steamers, they followed the Indianola. The latter was encumbered with +barges of coal in tow, and consequently could make but little speed +against the rapid current of the Mississippi. The Confederate fleet +overtook her just above Grand Gulf, and attacked her after dark on the +24th of February. The Indianola was superior to all the others in +armament, and probably would have destroyed them or driven them away, +but for her encumbrance. As it was she fought them for an hour and a +half, but, in the dark, was struck seven or eight times by the ram and +other vessels, and was finally disabled and reduced to a sinking +condition. The armament was thrown overboard and the vessel run ashore. +Officers and crew then surrendered. + +I had started McClernand with his corps of four divisions on the 29th of +March, by way of Richmond, Louisiana, to New Carthage, hoping that he +might capture Grand Gulf before the balance of the troops could get +there; but the roads were very bad, scarcely above water yet. Some +miles from New Carthage the levee to Bayou Vidal was broken in several +places, overflowing the roads for the distance of two miles. Boats were +collected from the surrounding bayous, and some constructed on the spot +from such material as could be collected, to transport the troops across +the overflowed interval. By the 6th of April McClernand had reached New +Carthage with one division and its artillery, the latter ferried through +the woods by these boats. On the 17th I visited New Carthage in person, +and saw that the process of getting troops through in the way we were +doing was so tedious that a better method must be devised. The water +was falling, and in a few days there would not be depth enough to use +boats; nor would the land be dry enough to march over. McClernand had +already found a new route from Smith's plantation where the crevasse +occurred, to Perkins' plantation, eight to twelve miles below New +Carthage. This increased the march from Milliken's Bend from +twenty-seven to nearly forty miles. Four bridges had to be built across +bayous, two of them each over six hundred feet long, making about two +thousand feet of bridging in all. The river falling made the current in +these bayous very rapid, increasing the difficulty of building and +permanently fastening these bridges; but the ingenuity of the "Yankee +soldier" was equal to any emergency. The bridges were soon built of +such material as could be found near by, and so substantial were they +that not a single mishap occurred in crossing all the army with +artillery, cavalry and wagon trains, except the loss of one siege gun +(a thirty-two pounder). This, if my memory serves me correctly, broke +through the only pontoon bridge we had in all our march across the +peninsula. These bridges were all built by McClernand's command, under +the supervision of Lieutenant Hains of the Engineer Corps. + +I returned to Milliken's Bend on the 18th or 19th, and on the 20th +issued the following final order for the movement of troops: + + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, MILLIKEN'S BEND, LOUISIANA, +April 20, 1863. + +Special Orders, No. 110. * * * * * * +* VIII. The following orders are published for the information and +guidance of the "Army in the Field," in its present movement to obtain a +foothold on the east bank of the Mississippi River, from which Vicksburg +can be approached by practicable roads. + +First.--The Thirteenth army corps, Major-General John A. McClernand +commanding, will constitute the right wing. + +Second.--The Fifteenth army corps, Major-General W. T. Sherman +commanding, will constitute the left wing. + +Third.--The Seventeenth army corps, Major-General James B. McPherson +commanding, will constitute the centre. + +Fourth.--The order of march to New Carthage will be from right to left. + +Fifth.--Reserves will be formed by divisions from each army corps; or, +an entire army corps will be held as a reserve, as necessity may +require. When the reserve is formed by divisions, each division will +remain under the immediate command of its respective corps commander, +unless otherwise specially ordered for a particular emergency. + +Sixth.--Troops will be required to bivouac, until proper facilities can +be afforded for the transportation of camp equipage. + +Seventh.--In the present movement, one tent will be allowed to each +company for the protection of rations from rain; one wall tent for each +regimental headquarters; one wall tent for each brigade headquarters; +and one wall tent for each division headquarters; corps commanders +having the books and blanks of their respective commands to provide for, +are authorized to take such tents as are absolutely necessary, but not +to exceed the number allowed by General Orders No. 160, A. G. O., series +of 1862. + +Eighth.--All the teams of the three army corps, under the immediate +charge of the quartermasters bearing them on their returns, will +constitute a train for carrying supplies and ordnance and the authorized +camp equipage of the army. + +Ninth.--As fast as the Thirteenth army corps advances, the Seventeenth +army corps will take its place; and it, in turn, will be followed in +like manner by the Fifteenth army corps. + +Tenth.--Two regiments from each army corps will be detailed by corps +commanders, to guard the lines from Richmond to New Carthage. + +Eleventh.--General hospitals will be established by the medical director +between Duckport and Milliken's Bend. All sick and disabled soldiers +will be left in these hospitals. Surgeons in charge of hospitals will +report convalescents as fast as they become fit for duty. Each corps +commander will detail an intelligent and good drill officer, to remain +behind and take charge of the convalescents of their respective corps; +officers so detailed will organize the men under their charge into +squads and companies, without regard to the regiments they belong to; +and in the absence of convalescent commissioned officers to command +them, will appoint non-commissioned officers or privates. The force so +organized will constitute the guard of the line from Duckport to +Milliken's Bend. They will furnish all the guards and details required +for general hospitals, and with the contrabands that may be about the +camps, will furnish all the details for loading and unloading boats. + +Twelfth.--The movement of troops from Milliken's Bend to New Carthage +will be so conducted as to allow the transportation of ten days' supply +of rations, and one-half the allowance of ordnance, required by previous +orders. + +Thirteenth.--Commanders are authorized and enjoined to collect all the +beef cattle, corn and other necessary supplies on the line of march; but +wanton destruction of property, taking of articles useless for military +purposes, insulting citizens, going into and searching houses without +proper orders from division commanders, are positively prohibited. All +such irregularities must be summarily punished. + +Fourteenth.--Brigadier-General J. C. Sullivan is appointed to the +command of all the forces detailed for the protection of the line from +here to New Carthage. His particular attention is called to General +Orders, No. 69, from Adjutant-General's Office, Washington, of date +March 20, 1863. + +By order of MAJOR-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. + + +McClernand was already below on the Mississippi. Two of McPherson's +divisions were put upon the march immediately. The third had not yet +arrived from Lake Providence; it was on its way to Milliken's Bend and +was to follow on arrival. + +Sherman was to follow McPherson. Two of his divisions were at Duckport +and Young's Point, and the third under Steele was under orders to return +from Greenville, Mississippi, where it had been sent to expel a rebel +battery that had been annoying our transports. + +It had now become evident that the army could not be rationed by a wagon +train over the single narrow and almost impassable road between +Milliken's Bend and Perkins' plantation. Accordingly six more steamers +were protected as before, to run the batteries, and were loaded with +supplies. They took twelve barges in tow, loaded also with rations. On +the night of the 22d of April they ran the batteries, five getting +through more or less disabled while one was sunk. About half the barges +got through with their needed freight. + +When it was first proposed to run the blockade at Vicksburg with river +steamers there were but two captains or masters who were willing to +accompany their vessels, and but one crew. Volunteers were called for +from the army, men who had had experience in any capacity in navigating +the western rivers. Captains, pilots, mates, engineers and deck-hands +enough presented themselves to take five times the number of vessels we +were moving through this dangerous ordeal. Most of them were from +Logan's division, composed generally of men from the southern part of +Illinois and from Missouri. All but two of the steamers were commanded +by volunteers from the army, and all but one so manned. In this +instance, as in all others during the war, I found that volunteers could +be found in the ranks and among the commissioned officers to meet every +call for aid whether mechanical or professional. Colonel W. S. Oliver +was master of transportation on this occasion by special detail. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +ATTACK ON GRAND GULF--OPERATIONS BELOW VICKSBURG. + +On the 24th my headquarters were with the advance at Perkins' +plantation. Reconnoissances were made in boats to ascertain whether +there was high land on the east shore of the river where we might land +above Grand Gulf. There was none practicable. Accordingly the troops +were set in motion for Hard Times, twenty-two miles farther down the +river and nearly opposite Grand Gulf. The loss of two steamers and six +barges reduced our transportation so that only 10,000 men could be moved +by water. Some of the steamers that had got below were injured in their +machinery, so that they were only useful as barges towed by those less +severely injured. All the troops, therefore, except what could be +transported in one trip, had to march. The road lay west of Lake St. +Joseph. Three large bayous had to be crossed. They were rapidly +bridged in the same manner as those previously encountered. (*12) + +On the 27th McClernand's corps was all at Hard Times, and McPherson's +was following closely. I had determined to make the attempt to effect a +landing on the east side of the river as soon as possible. Accordingly, +on the morning of the 29th, McClernand was directed to embark all the +troops from his corps that our transports and barges could carry. About +10,000 men were so embarked. The plan was to have the navy silence the +guns at Grand Gulf, and to have as many men as possible ready to debark +in the shortest possible time under cover of the fire of the navy and +carry the works by storm. The following order was issued: + +PERKINS PLANTATION, LA., April 27,1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL J. A. MCCLERNAND, Commanding 13th A. C. + +Commence immediately the embarkation of your corps, or so much of it as +there is transportation for. Have put aboard the artillery and every +article authorized in orders limiting baggage, except the men, and hold +them in readiness, with their places assigned, to be moved at a moment's +warning. + +All the troops you may have, except those ordered to remain behind, send +to a point nearly opposite Grand Gulf, where you see, by special orders +of this date, General McPherson is ordered to send one division. + +The plan of the attack will be for the navy to attack and silence all +the batteries commanding the river. Your corps will be on the river, +ready to run to and debark on the nearest eligible land below the +promontory first brought to view passing down the river. Once on shore, +have each commander instructed beforehand to form his men the best the +ground will admit of, and take possession of the most commanding points, +but avoid separating your command so that it cannot support itself. The +first object is to get a foothold where our troops can maintain +themselves until such time as preparations can be made and troops +collected for a forward movement. + +Admiral Porter has proposed to place his boats in the position indicated +to you a few days ago, and to bring over with them such troops as may be +below the city after the guns of the enemy are silenced. + +It may be that the enemy will occupy positions back from the city, out +of range of the gunboats, so as to make it desirable to run past Grand +Gulf and land at Rodney. In case this should prove the plan, a signal +will be arranged and you duly informed, when the transports are to start +with this view. Or, it may be expedient for the boats to run past, but +not the men. In this case, then, the transports would have to be +brought back to where the men could land and move by forced marches to +below Grand Gulf, re-embark rapidly and proceed to the latter place. +There will be required, then, three signals; one, to indicate that the +transports can run down and debark the troops at Grand Gulf; one, that +the transports can run by without the troops; and the last, that the +transports can run by with the troops on board. + +Should the men have to march, all baggage and artillery will be left to +run the blockade. + +If not already directed, require your men to keep three days' rations in +their haversacks, not to be touched until a movement commences. + +U. S. GRANT, Major-General. + + +At 8 o'clock A.M., 29th, Porter made the attack with his entire strength +present, eight gunboats. For nearly five and a half hours the attack +was kept up without silencing a single gun of the enemy. All this time +McClernand's 10,000 men were huddled together on the transports in the +stream ready to attempt a landing if signalled. I occupied a tug from +which I could see the effect of the battle on both sides, within range +of the enemy's guns; but a small tug, without armament, was not +calculated to attract the fire of batteries while they were being +assailed themselves. About half-past one the fleet withdrew, seeing +their efforts were entirely unavailing. The enemy ceased firing as soon +as we withdrew. I immediately signalled the Admiral and went aboard his +ship. The navy lost in this engagement eighteen killed and fifty-six +wounded. A large proportion of these were of the crew of the flagship, +and most of those from a single shell which penetrated the ship's side +and exploded between decks where the men were working their guns. The +sight of the mangled and dying men which met my eye as I boarded the +ship was sickening. + +Grand Gulf is on a high bluff where the river runs at the very foot of +it. It is as defensible upon its front as Vicksburg and, at that time, +would have been just as impossible to capture by a front attack. I +therefore requested Porter to run the batteries with his fleet that +night, and to take charge of the transports, all of which would be +wanted below. + +There is a long tongue of land from the Louisiana side extending towards +Grand Gulf, made by the river running nearly east from about three miles +above and nearly in the opposite direction from that point for about the +same distance below. The land was so low and wet that it would not have +been practicable to march an army across but for a levee. I had had +this explored before, as well as the east bank below to ascertain if +there was a possible point of debarkation north of Rodney. It was found +that the top of the levee afforded a good road to march upon. + +Porter, as was always the case with him, not only acquiesced in the +plan, but volunteered to use his entire fleet as transports. I had +intended to make this request, but he anticipated me. At dusk, when +concealed from the view of the enemy at Grand Gulf, McClernand landed +his command on the west bank. The navy and transports ran the batteries +successfully. The troops marched across the point of land under cover of +night, unobserved. By the time it was light the enemy saw our whole +fleet, ironclads, gunboats, river steamers and barges, quietly moving +down the river three miles below them, black, or rather blue, with +National troops. + +When the troops debarked, the evening of the 29th, it was expected that +we would have to go to Rodney, about nine miles below, to find a +landing; but that night a colored man came in who informed me that a +good landing would be found at Bruinsburg, a few miles above Rodney, +from which point there was a good road leading to Port Gibson some +twelve miles in the interior. The information was found correct, and +our landing was effected without opposition. + +Sherman had not left his position above Vicksburg yet. On the morning +of the 27th I ordered him to create a diversion by moving his corps up +the Yazoo and threatening an attack on Haines' Bluff. + +My object was to compel Pemberton to keep as much force about Vicksburg +as I could, until I could secure a good footing on high land east of the +river. The move was eminently successful and, as we afterwards learned, +created great confusion about Vicksburg and doubts about our real +design. Sherman moved the day of our attack on Grand Gulf, the 29th, +with ten regiments of his command and eight gunboats which Porter had +left above Vicksburg. + +He debarked his troops and apparently made every preparation to attack +the enemy while the navy bombarded the main forts at Haines' Bluff. +This move was made without a single casualty in either branch of the +service. On the first of May Sherman received orders from me (sent from +Hard Times the evening of the 29th of April) to withdraw from the front +of Haines' Bluff and follow McPherson with two divisions as fast as he +could. + +I had established a depot of supplies at Perkins' plantation. Now that +all our gunboats were below Grand Gulf it was possible that the enemy +might fit out boats in the Big Black with improvised armament and +attempt to destroy these supplies. McPherson was at Hard Times with a +portion of his corps, and the depot was protected by a part of his +command. The night of the 29th I directed him to arm one of the +transports with artillery and send it up to Perkins' plantation as a +guard; and also to have the siege guns we had brought along moved there +and put in position. + +The embarkation below Grand Gulf took place at De Shroon's, Louisiana, +six miles above Bruinsburg, Mississippi. Early on the morning of 30th +of April McClernand's corps and one division of McPherson's corps were +speedily landed. + +When this was effected I felt a degree of relief scarcely ever equalled +since. Vicksburg was not yet taken it is true, nor were its defenders +demoralized by any of our previous moves. I was now in the enemy's +country, with a vast river and the stronghold of Vicksburg between me +and my base of supplies. But I was on dry ground on the same side of +the river with the enemy. All the campaigns, labors, hardships and +exposures from the month of December previous to this time that had been +made and endured, were for the accomplishment of this one object. + +I had with me the 13th corps, General McClernand commanding, and two +brigades of Logan's division of the 17th corps, General McPherson +commanding--in all not more than twenty thousand men to commence the +campaign with. These were soon reinforced by the remaining brigade of +Logan's division and Crocker's division of the 17th corps. On the 7th +of May I was further reinforced by Sherman with two divisions of his, +the 15th corps. My total force was then about thirty-three thousand +men. + +The enemy occupied Grand Gulf, Haines' Bluff and Jackson with a force of +nearly sixty thousand men. Jackson is fifty miles east of Vicksburg and +is connected with it by a railroad. My first problem was to capture +Grand Gulf to use as a base. + +Bruinsburg is two miles from high ground. The bottom at that point is +higher than most of the low land in the valley of the Mississippi, and a +good road leads to the bluff. It was natural to expect the garrison +from Grand Gulf to come out to meet us and prevent, if they could, our +reaching this solid base. Bayou Pierre enters the Mississippi just +above Bruinsburg and, as it is a navigable stream and was high at the +time, in order to intercept us they had to go by Port Gibson, the +nearest point where there was a bridge to cross upon. This more than +doubled the distance from Grand Gulf to the high land back of +Bruinsburg. No time was to be lost in securing this foothold. Our +transportation was not sufficient to move all the army across the river +at one trip, or even two; but the landing of the 13th corps and one +division of the 17th was effected during the day, April 30th, and early +evening. McClernand was advanced as soon as ammunition and two days' +rations (to last five) could be issued to his men. The bluffs were +reached an hour before sunset and McClernand was pushed on, hoping to +reach Port Gibson and save the bridge spanning the Bayou Pierre before +the enemy could get there; for crossing a stream in the presence of an +enemy is always difficult. Port Gibson, too, is the starting point of +roads to Grand Gulf, Vicksburg and Jackson. + +McClernand's advance met the enemy about five miles west of Port Gibson +at Thompson's plantation. There was some firing during the night, but +nothing rising to the dignity of a battle until daylight. The enemy had +taken a strong natural position with most of the Grand Gulf garrison, +numbering about seven or eight thousand men, under General Bowen. His +hope was to hold me in check until reinforcements under Loring could +reach him from Vicksburg; but Loring did not come in time to render much +assistance south of Port Gibson. Two brigades of McPherson's corps +followed McClernand as fast as rations and ammunition could be issued, +and were ready to take position upon the battlefield whenever the 13th +corps could be got out of the way. + +The country in this part of Mississippi stands on edge, as it were, the +roads running along the ridges except when they occasionally pass from +one ridge to another. Where there are no clearings the sides of the +hills are covered with a very heavy growth of timber and with +undergrowth, and the ravines are filled with vines and canebrakes, +almost impenetrable. This makes it easy for an inferior force to delay, +if not defeat, a far superior one. + +Near the point selected by Bowen to defend, the road to Port Gibson +divides, taking two ridges which do not diverge more than a mile or two +at the widest point. These roads unite just outside the town. This +made it necessary for McClernand to divide his force. It was not only +divided, but it was separated by a deep ravine of the character above +described. One flank could not reinforce the other except by marching +back to the junction of the roads. McClernand put the divisions of +Hovey, Carr and A. J. Smith upon the right-hand branch and Osterhaus on +the left. I was on the field by ten A.M., and inspected both flanks in +person. On the right the enemy, if not being pressed back, was at least +not repulsing our advance. On the left, however, Osterhaus was not +faring so well. He had been repulsed with some loss. As soon as the +road could be cleared of McClernand's troops I ordered up McPherson, who +was close upon the rear of the 13th corps, with two brigades of Logan's +division. This was about noon. I ordered him to send one brigade +(General John E. Smith's was selected) to support Osterhaus, and to move +to the left and flank the enemy out of his position. This movement +carried the brigade over a deep ravine to a third ridge and, when +Smith's troops were seen well through the ravine, Osterhaus was directed +to renew his front attack. It was successful and unattended by heavy +loss. The enemy was sent in full retreat on their right, and their left +followed before sunset. While the movement to our left was going on, +McClernand, who was with his right flank, sent me frequent requests for +reinforcements, although the force with him was not being pressed. I +had been upon the ground and knew it did not admit of his engaging all +the men he had. We followed up our victory until night overtook us +about two miles from Port Gibson; then the troops went into bivouac for +the night. + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +CAPTURE OF PORT GIBSON--GRIERSON'S RAID--OCCUPATION OF GRAND GULF +--MOVEMENT UP THE BIG BLACK--BATTLE OF RAYMOND. + +We started next morning for Port Gibson as soon as it was light enough +to see the road. We were soon in the town, and I was delighted to find +that the enemy had not stopped to contest our crossing further at the +bridge, which he had burned. The troops were set to work at once to +construct a bridge across the South Fork of the Bayou Pierre. At this +time the water was high and the current rapid. What might be called a +raft-bridge was soon constructed from material obtained from wooden +buildings, stables, fences, etc., which sufficed for carrying the whole +army over safely. Colonel J. H. Wilson, a member of my staff, planned +and superintended the construction of this bridge, going into the water +and working as hard as any one engaged. Officers and men generally +joined in this work. When it was finished the army crossed and marched +eight miles beyond to the North Fork that day. One brigade of Logan's +division was sent down the stream to occupy the attention of a rebel +battery, which had been left behind with infantry supports to prevent +our repairing the burnt railroad bridge. Two of his brigades were sent +up the bayou to find a crossing and reach the North Fork to repair the +bridge there. The enemy soon left when he found we were building a +bridge elsewhere. Before leaving Port Gibson we were reinforced by +Crocker's division, McPherson's corps, which had crossed the Mississippi +at Bruinsburg and come up without stopping except to get two days' +rations. McPherson still had one division west of the Mississippi +River, guarding the road from Milliken's Bend to the river below until +Sherman's command should relieve it. + +On leaving Bruinsburg for the front I left my son Frederick, who had +joined me a few weeks before, on board one of the gunboats asleep, and +hoped to get away without him until after Grand Gulf should fall into +our hands; but on waking up he learned that I had gone, and being guided +by the sound of the battle raging at Thompson's Hill--called the Battle +of Port Gibson--found his way to where I was. He had no horse to ride +at the time, and I had no facilities for even preparing a meal. He, +therefore, foraged around the best he could until we reached Grand Gulf. +Mr. C. A. Dana, then an officer of the War Department, accompanied me on +the Vicksburg campaign and through a portion of the siege. He was in +the same situation as Fred so far as transportation and mess +arrangements were concerned. The first time I call to mind seeing +either of them, after the battle, they were mounted on two enormous +horses, grown white from age, each equipped with dilapidated saddles and +bridles. + +Our trains arrived a few days later, after which we were all perfectly +equipped. + +My son accompanied me throughout the campaign and siege, and caused no +anxiety either to me or to his mother, who was at home. He looked out +for himself and was in every battle of the campaign. His age, then not +quite thirteen, enabled him to take in all he saw, and to retain a +recollection of it that would not be possible in more mature years. + +When the movement from Bruinsburg commenced we were without a wagon +train. The train still west of the Mississippi was carried around with +proper escort, by a circuitous route from Milliken's Bend to Hard Times +seventy or more miles below, and did not get up for some days after the +battle of Port Gibson. My own horses, headquarters' transportation, +servants, mess chest, and everything except what I had on, was with this +train. General A. J. Smith happened to have an extra horse at Bruinsburg +which I borrowed, with a saddle-tree without upholstering further than +stirrups. I had no other for nearly a week. + +It was necessary to have transportation for ammunition. Provisions could +be taken from the country; but all the ammunition that can be carried on +the person is soon exhausted when there is much fighting. I directed, +therefore, immediately on landing that all the vehicles and draft +animals, whether horses, mules, or oxen, in the vicinity should be +collected and loaded to their capacity with ammunition. Quite a train +was collected during the 30th, and a motley train it was. In it could +be found fine carriages, loaded nearly to the top with boxes of +cartridges that had been pitched in promiscuously, drawn by mules with +plough, harness, straw collars, rope-lines, etc.; long-coupled wagons, +with racks for carrying cotton bales, drawn by oxen, and everything that +could be found in the way of transportation on a plantation, either for +use or pleasure. The making out of provision returns was stopped for +the time. No formalities were to retard our progress until a position +was secured when the time could be spared to observe them. + +It was at Port Gibson I first heard through a Southern paper of the +complete success of Colonel Grierson, who was making a raid through +central Mississippi. He had started from La Grange April 17th with +three regiments of about 1,700 men. On the 21st he had detached Colonel +Hatch with one regiment to destroy the railroad between Columbus and +Macon and then return to La Grange. Hatch had a sharp fight with the +enemy at Columbus and retreated along the railroad, destroying it at +Okalona and Tupelo, and arriving in La Grange April 26. Grierson +continued his movement with about 1,000 men, breaking the Vicksburg and +Meridian railroad and the New Orleans and Jackson railroad, arriving at +Baton Rouge May 2d. This raid was of great importance, for Grierson had +attracted the attention of the enemy from the main movement against +Vicksburg. + +During the night of the 2d of May the bridge over the North Fork was +repaired, and the troops commenced crossing at five the next morning. +Before the leading brigade was over it was fired upon by the enemy from +a commanding position; but they were soon driven off. It was evident +that the enemy was covering a retreat from Grand Gulf to Vicksburg. +Every commanding position from this (Grindstone) crossing to Hankinson's +ferry over the Big Black was occupied by the retreating foe to delay our +progress. McPherson, however, reached Hankinson's ferry before night, +seized the ferry boat, and sent a detachment of his command across and +several miles north on the road to Vicksburg. When the junction of the +road going to Vicksburg with the road from Grand Gulf to Raymond and +Jackson was reached, Logan with his division was turned to the left +towards Grand Gulf. I went with him a short distance from this +junction. McPherson had encountered the largest force yet met since the +battle of Port Gibson and had a skirmish nearly approaching a battle; +but the road Logan had taken enabled him to come up on the enemy's right +flank, and they soon gave way. McPherson was ordered to hold +Hankinson's ferry and the road back to Willow Springs with one division; +McClernand, who was now in the rear, was to join in this as well as to +guard the line back down the bayou. I did not want to take the chances +of having an enemy lurking in our rear. + +On the way from the junction to Grand Gulf, where the road comes into +the one from Vicksburg to the same place six or seven miles out, I +learned that the last of the enemy had retreated past that place on +their way to Vicksburg. I left Logan to make the proper disposition of +his troops for the night, while I rode into the town with an escort of +about twenty cavalry. Admiral Porter had already arrived with his +fleet. The enemy had abandoned his heavy guns and evacuated the place. + +When I reached Grand Gulf May 3d I had not been with my baggage since +the 27th of April and consequently had had no change of underclothing, +no meal except such as I could pick up sometimes at other headquarters, +and no tent to cover me. The first thing I did was to get a bath, +borrow some fresh underclothing from one of the naval officers and +get a good meal on the flag-ship. Then I wrote letters to the +general-in-chief informing him of our present position, dispatches to be +telegraphed from Cairo, orders to General Sullivan commanding above +Vicksburg, and gave orders to all my corps commanders. About twelve +o'clock at night I was through my work and started for Hankinson's +ferry, arriving there before daylight. While at Grand Gulf I heard from +Banks, who was on the Red River, and who said that he could not be at +Port Hudson before the 10th of May and then with only 15,000 men. Up to +this time my intention had been to secure Grand Gulf, as a base of +supplies, detach McClernand's corps to Banks and co-operate with him in +the reduction of Port Hudson. + +The news from Banks forced upon me a different plan of campaign from the +one intended. To wait for his co-operation would have detained me at +least a month. The reinforcements would not have reached ten thousand +men after deducting casualties and necessary river guards at all high +points close to the river for over three hundred miles. The enemy would +have strengthened his position and been reinforced by more men than +Banks could have brought. I therefore determined to move independently +of Banks, cut loose from my base, destroy the rebel force in rear of +Vicksburg and invest or capture the city. + +Grand Gulf was accordingly given up as a base and the authorities at +Washington were notified. I knew well that Halleck's caution would lead +him to disapprove of this course; but it was the only one that gave any +chance of success. The time it would take to communicate with +Washington and get a reply would be so great that I could not be +interfered with until it was demonstrated whether my plan was +practicable. Even Sherman, who afterwards ignored bases of supplies +other than what were afforded by the country while marching through four +States of the Confederacy with an army more than twice as large as mine +at this time, wrote me from Hankinson's ferry, advising me of the +impossibility of supplying our army over a single road. He urged me to +"stop all troops till your army is partially supplied with wagons, and +then act as quick as possible; for this road will be jammed, as sure as +life." To this I replied: "I do not calculate upon the possibility of +supplying the army with full rations from Grand Gulf. I know it will be +impossible without constructing additional roads. What I do expect is +to get up what rations of hard bread, coffee and salt we can, and make +the country furnish the balance." We started from Bruinsburg with an +average of about two days' rations, and received no more from our own +supplies for some days; abundance was found in the mean time. A delay +would give the enemy time to reinforce and fortify. + +McClernand's and McPherson's commands were kept substantially as they +were on the night of the 2d, awaiting supplies sufficient to give them +three days' rations in haversacks. Beef, mutton, poultry and forage +were found in abundance. Quite a quantity of bacon and molasses was +also secured from the country, but bread and coffee could not be +obtained in quantity sufficient for all the men. Every plantation, +however, had a run of stone, propelled by mule power, to grind corn for +the owners and their slaves. All these were kept running while we were +stopping, day and night, and when we were marching, during the night, at +all plantations covered by the troops. But the product was taken by the +troops nearest by, so that the majority of the command was destined to +go without bread until a new base was established on the Yazoo above +Vicksburg. + +While the troops were awaiting the arrival of rations I ordered +reconnoissances made by McClernand and McPherson, with the view of +leading the enemy to believe that we intended to cross the Big Black and +attack the city at once. + +On the 6th Sherman arrived at Grand Gulf and crossed his command that +night and the next day. Three days' rations had been brought up from +Grand Gulf for the advanced troops and were issued. Orders were given +for a forward movement the next day. Sherman was directed to order up +Blair, who had been left behind to guard the road from Milliken's Bend +to Hard Times with two brigades. + +The quartermaster at Young's Point was ordered to send two hundred +wagons with Blair, and the commissary was to load them with hard bread, +coffee, sugar, salt and one hundred thousand pounds of salt meat. + +On the 3d Hurlbut, who had been left at Memphis, was ordered to send +four regiments from his command to Milliken's Bend to relieve Blair's +division, and on the 5th he was ordered to send Lauman's division in +addition, the latter to join the army in the field. The four regiments +were to be taken from troops near the river so that there would be no +delay. + +During the night of the 6th McPherson drew in his troops north of the +Big Black and was off at an early hour on the road to Jackson, via Rocky +Springs, Utica and Raymond. That night he and McClernand were both at +Rocky Springs ten miles from Hankinson's ferry. McPherson remained +there during the 8th, while McClernand moved to Big Sandy and Sherman +marched from Grand Gulf to Hankinson's ferry. The 9th, McPherson moved +to a point within a few miles west of Utica; McClernand and Sherman +remained where they were. On the 10th McPherson moved to Utica, Sherman +to Big Sandy; McClernand was still at Big Sandy. The 11th, McClernand +was at Five Mile Creek; Sherman at Auburn; McPherson five miles advanced +from Utica. May 12th, McClernand was at Fourteen Mile Creek; Sherman at +Fourteen Mile Creek; McPherson at Raymond after a battle. + +After McPherson crossed the Big Black at Hankinson's ferry Vicksburg +could have been approached and besieged by the south side. It is not +probable, however, that Pemberton would have permitted a close +besiegement. The broken nature of the ground would have enabled him to +hold a strong defensible line from the river south of the city to the +Big Black, retaining possession of the railroad back to that point. It +was my plan, therefore, to get to the railroad east of Vicksburg, and +approach from that direction. Accordingly, McPherson's troops that had +crossed the Big Black were withdrawn and the movement east to Jackson +commenced. + +As has been stated before, the country is very much broken and the roads +generally confined to the tops of the hills. The troops were moved one +(sometimes two) corps at a time to reach designated points out parallel +to the railroad and only from six to ten miles from it. McClernand's +corps was kept with its left flank on the Big Black guarding all the +crossings. Fourteen Mile Creek, a stream substantially parallel with +the railroad, was reached and crossings effected by McClernand and +Sherman with slight loss. McPherson was to the right of Sherman, +extending to Raymond. The cavalry was used in this advance in +reconnoitring to find the roads: to cover our advances and to find the +most practicable routes from one command to another so they could +support each other in case of an attack. In making this move I +estimated Pemberton's movable force at Vicksburg at about eighteen +thousand men, with smaller forces at Haines' Bluff and Jackson. It +would not be possible for Pemberton to attack me with all his troops at +one place, and I determined to throw my army between his and fight him +in detail. This was done with success, but I found afterwards that I +had entirely under-estimated Pemberton's strength. + +Up to this point our movements had been made without serious opposition. +My line was now nearly parallel with the Jackson and Vicksburg railroad +and about seven miles south of it. The right was at Raymond eighteen +miles from Jackson, McPherson commanding; Sherman in the centre on +Fourteen Mile Creek, his advance thrown across; McClernand to the left, +also on Fourteen Mile Creek, advance across, and his pickets within two +miles of Edward's station, where the enemy had concentrated a +considerable force and where they undoubtedly expected us to attack. +McClernand's left was on the Big Black. In all our moves, up to this +time, the left had hugged the Big Black closely, and all the ferries had +been guarded to prevent the enemy throwing a force on our rear. + +McPherson encountered the enemy, five thousand strong with two batteries +under General Gregg, about two miles out of Raymond. This was about two +P.M. Logan was in advance with one of his brigades. He deployed and +moved up to engage the enemy. McPherson ordered the road in rear to be +cleared of wagons, and the balance of Logan's division, and Crocker's, +which was still farther in rear, to come forward with all dispatch. The +order was obeyed with alacrity. Logan got his division in position for +assault before Crocker could get up, and attacked with vigor, carrying +the enemy's position easily, sending Gregg flying from the field not to +appear against our front again until we met at Jackson. + +In this battle McPherson lost 66 killed, 339 wounded, and 37 missing +--nearly or quite all from Logan's division. The enemy's loss was 100 +killed, 305 wounded, besides 415 taken prisoners. + +I regarded Logan and Crocker as being as competent division commanders +as could be found in or out of the army and both equal to a much higher +command. Crocker, however, was dying of consumption when he +volunteered. His weak condition never put him on the sick report when +there was a battle in prospect, as long as he could keep on his feet. +He died not long after the close of the rebellion. + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +MOVEMENT AGAINST JACKSON--FALL OF JACKSON--INTERCEPTING THE ENEMY +--BATTLE OF CHAMPION'S HILL. + +When the news reached me of McPherson's victory at Raymond about sundown +my position was with Sherman. I decided at once to turn the whole +column towards Jackson and capture that place without delay. + +Pemberton was now on my left, with, as I supposed, about 18,000 men; in +fact, as I learned afterwards, with nearly 50,000. A force was also +collecting on my right, at Jackson, the point where all the railroads +communicating with Vicksburg connect. All the enemy's supplies of men +and stores would come by that point. As I hoped in the end to besiege +Vicksburg I must first destroy all possibility of aid. I therefore +determined to move swiftly towards Jackson, destroy or drive any force +in that direction and then turn upon Pemberton. But by moving against +Jackson, I uncovered my own communication. So I finally decided to have +none--to cut loose altogether from my base and move my whole force +eastward. I then had no fears for my communications, and if I moved +quickly enough could turn upon Pemberton before he could attack me in +the rear. + +Accordingly, all previous orders given during the day for movements on +the 13th were annulled by new ones. McPherson was ordered at daylight +to move on Clinton, ten miles from Jackson; Sherman was notified of my +determination to capture Jackson and work from there westward. He was +ordered to start at four in the morning and march to Raymond. +McClernand was ordered to march with three divisions by Dillon's to +Raymond. One was left to guard the crossing of the Big Black. + +On the 10th I had received a letter from Banks, on the Red River, asking +reinforcements. Porter had gone to his assistance with a part of his +fleet on the 3d, and I now wrote to him describing my position and +declining to send any troops. I looked upon side movements as long as +the enemy held Port Hudson and Vicksburg as a waste of time and +material. + +General Joseph E. Johnston arrived at Jackson in the night of the 13th +from Tennessee, and immediately assumed command of all the Confederate +troops in Mississippi. I knew he was expecting reinforcements from the +south and east. On the 6th I had written to General Halleck: +"Information from the other side leaves me to believe the enemy are +bringing forces from Tullahoma." + +Up to this time my troops had been kept in supporting distances of each +other, as far as the nature of the country would admit. Reconnoissances +were constantly made from each corps to enable them to acquaint +themselves with the most practicable routes from one to another in case +a union became necessary. + +McPherson reached Clinton with the advance early on the 13th and +immediately set to work destroying the railroad. Sherman's advance +reached Raymond before the last of McPherson's command had got out of +the town. McClernand withdrew from the front of the enemy, at Edward's +station, with much skill and without loss, and reached his position for +the night in good order. On the night of the 13th, McPherson was +ordered to march at early dawn upon Jackson, only fifteen miles away. +Sherman was given the same order; but he was to move by the direct road +from Raymond to Jackson, which is south of the road McPherson was on and +does not approach within two miles of it at the point where it crossed +the line of intrenchments which, at that time, defended the city. +McClernand was ordered to move one division of his command to Clinton, +one division a few miles beyond Mississippi Springs following Sherman's +line, and a third to Raymond. He was also directed to send his siege +guns, four in number with the troops going by Mississippi Springs. +McClernand's position was an advantageous one in any event. With one +division at Clinton he was in position to reinforce McPherson, at +Jackson, rapidly if it became necessary; the division beyond Mississippi +Springs was equally available to reinforce Sherman; the one at Raymond +could take either road. He still had two other divisions farther back +now that Blair had come up, available within a day at Jackson. If this +last command should not be wanted at Jackson, they were already one +day's march from there on their way to Vicksburg and on three different +roads leading to the latter city. But the most important consideration +in my mind was to have a force confronting Pemberton if he should come +out to attack my rear. This I expected him to do; as shown further on, +he was directed by Johnston to make this very move. + +I notified General Halleck that I should attack the State capital on the +14th. A courier carried the dispatch to Grand Gulf through an +unprotected country. + +Sherman and McPherson communicated with each other during the night and +arranged to reach Jackson at about the same hour. It rained in torrents +during the night of the 13th and the fore part of the day of the 14th. +The roads were intolerable, and in some places on Sherman's line, where +the land was low, they were covered more than a foot deep with water. +But the troops never murmured. By nine o'clock Crocker, of McPherson's +corps, who was now in advance, came upon the enemy's pickets and +speedily drove them in upon the main body. They were outside of the +intrenchments in a strong position, and proved to be the troops that had +been driven out of Raymond. Johnston had been reinforced; during the +night by Georgia and South Carolina regiments, so that his force +amounted to eleven thousand men, and he was expecting still more. + +Sherman also came upon the rebel pickets some distance out from the +town, but speedily drove them in. He was now on the south and +south-west of Jackson confronting the Confederates behind their +breastworks, while McPherson's right was nearly two miles north, +occupying a line running north and south across the Vicksburg railroad. +Artillery was brought up and reconnoissances made preparatory to an +assault. McPherson brought up Logan's division while he deployed +Crocker's for the assault. Sherman made similar dispositions on the +right. By eleven A.M. both were ready to attack. Crocker moved his +division forward, preceded by a strong skirmish line. These troops at +once encountered the enemy's advance and drove it back on the main body, +when they returned to their proper regiment and the whole division +charged, routing the enemy completely and driving him into this main +line. This stand by the enemy was made more than two miles outside of +his main fortifications. McPherson followed up with his command until +within range of the guns of the enemy from their intrenchments, when he +halted to bring his troops into line and reconnoitre to determine the +next move. It was now about noon. + +While this was going on Sherman was confronting a rebel battery which +enfiladed the road on which he was marching--the Mississippi Springs +road--and commanded a bridge spanning a stream over which he had to +pass. By detaching right and left the stream was forced and the enemy +flanked and speedily driven within the main line. This brought our +whole line in front of the enemy's line of works, which was continuous +on the north, west and south sides from the Pearl River north of the +city to the same river south. I was with Sherman. He was confronted by +a force sufficient to hold us back. Appearances did not justify an +assault where we were. I had directed Sherman to send a force to the +right, and to reconnoitre as far as to the Pearl River. This force, +Tuttle's division, not returning I rode to the right with my staff, and +soon found that the enemy had left that part of the line. Tuttle's +movement or McPherson's pressure had no doubt led Johnston to order a +retreat, leaving only the men at the guns to retard us while he was +getting away. Tuttle had seen this and, passing through the lines +without resistance, came up in the rear of the artillerists confronting +Sherman and captured them with ten pieces of artillery. I rode +immediately to the State House, where I was soon followed by Sherman. +About the same time McPherson discovered that the enemy was leaving his +front, and advanced Crocker, who was so close upon the enemy that they +could not move their guns or destroy them. He captured seven guns and, +moving on, hoisted the National flag over the rebel capital of +Mississippi. Stevenson's brigade was sent to cut off the rebel retreat, +but was too late or not expeditious enough. + +Our loss in this engagement was: McPherson, 37 killed, 228 wounded; +Sherman, 4 killed and 21 wounded and missing. The enemy lost 845 +killed, wounded and captured. Seventeen guns fell into our hands, and +the enemy destroyed by fire their store-houses, containing a large +amount of commissary stores. + +On this day Blair reached New Auburn and joined McClernand's 4th +division. He had with him two hundred wagons loaded with rations, the +only commissary supplies received during the entire campaign. + +I slept that night in the room that Johnston was said to have occupied +the night before. + +About four in the afternoon I sent for the corps commanders and directed +the dispositions to be made of their troops. Sherman was to remain in +Jackson until he destroyed that place as a railroad centre, and +manufacturing city of military supplies. He did the work most +effectually. Sherman and I went together into a manufactory which had +not ceased work on account of the battle nor for the entrance of Yankee +troops. Our presence did not seem to attract the attention of either +the manager or the operatives, most of whom were girls. We looked on +for a while to see the tent cloth which they were making roll out of the +looms, with "C. S. A." woven in each bolt. There was an immense amount +of cotton, in bales, stacked outside. Finally I told Sherman I thought +they had done work enough. The operatives were told they could leave +and take with them what cloth they could carry. In a few minutes cotton +and factory were in a blaze. The proprietor visited Washington while I +was President to get his pay for this property, claiming that it was +private. He asked me to give him a statement of the fact that his +property had been destroyed by National troops, so that he might use it +with Congress where he was pressing, or proposed to press, his claim. I +declined. + +On the night of the 13th Johnston sent the following dispatch to +Pemberton at Edward's station: "I have lately arrived, and learn that +Major-General Sherman is between us with four divisions at Clinton. It +is important to establish communication, that you may be reinforced. If +practicable, come up in his rear at once. To beat such a detachment +would be of immense value. All the troops you can quickly assemble +should be brought. Time is all-important." This dispatch was sent in +triplicate, by different messengers. One of the messengers happened to +be a loyal man who had been expelled from Memphis some months before by +Hurlbut for uttering disloyal and threatening sentiments. There was a +good deal of parade about his expulsion, ostensibly as a warning to +those who entertained the sentiments he expressed; but Hurlbut and the +expelled man understood each other. He delivered his copy of Johnston's +dispatch to McPherson who forwarded it to me. + +Receiving this dispatch on the 14th I ordered McPherson to move promptly +in the morning back to Bolton, the nearest point where Johnston could +reach the road. Bolton is about twenty miles west of Jackson. I also +informed McClernand of the capture of Jackson and sent him the following +order: "It is evidently the design of the enemy to get north of us and +cross the Big Black, and beat us into Vicksburg. We must not allow them +to do this. Turn all your forces towards Bolton station, and make all +dispatch in getting there. Move troops by the most direct road from +wherever they may be on the receipt of this order." + +And to Blair I wrote: "Their design is evidently to cross the Big Black +and pass down the peninsula between the Big Black and Yazoo rivers. We +must beat them. Turn your troops immediately to Bolton; take all the +trains with you. Smith's division, and any other troops now with you, +will go to the same place. If practicable, take parallel roads, so as +to divide your troops and train." + +Johnston stopped on the Canton road only six miles north of Jackson, the +night of the 14th. He sent from there to Pemberton dispatches +announcing the loss of Jackson, and the following order: + +"As soon as the reinforcements are all up, they must be united to the +rest of the army. I am anxious to see a force assembled that may be +able to inflict a heavy blow upon the enemy. Can Grant supply himself +from the Mississippi? Can you not cut him off from it, and above all, +should he be compelled to fall back for want of supplies, beat him." + +The concentration of my troops was easy, considering the character of +the country. McPherson moved along the road parallel with and near the +railroad. McClernand's command was, one division (Hovey's) on the road +McPherson had to take, but with a start of four miles. One (Osterhaus) +was at Raymond, on a converging road that intersected the other near +Champion's Hill; one (Carr's) had to pass over the same road with +Osterhaus, but being back at Mississippi Springs, would not be detained +by it; the fourth (Smith's) with Blair's division, was near Auburn with +a different road to pass over. McClernand faced about and moved +promptly. His cavalry from Raymond seized Bolton by half-past nine in +the morning, driving out the enemy's pickets and capturing several men. + +The night of the 15th Hovey was at Bolton; Carr and Osterhaus were about +three miles south, but abreast, facing west; Smith was north of Raymond +with Blair in his rear. + +McPherson's command, with Logan in front, had marched at seven o'clock, +and by four reached Hovey and went into camp; Crocker bivouacked just in +Hovey's rear on the Clinton road. Sherman with two divisions, was in +Jackson, completing the destruction of roads, bridges and military +factories. I rode in person out to Clinton. On my arrival I ordered +McClernand to move early in the morning on Edward's station, cautioning +him to watch for the enemy and not bring on an engagement unless he felt +very certain of success. + +I naturally expected that Pemberton would endeavor to obey the orders of +his superior, which I have shown were to attack us at Clinton. This, +indeed, I knew he could not do; but I felt sure he would make the +attempt to reach that point. It turned out, however, that he had +decided his superior's plans were impracticable, and consequently +determined to move south from Edward's station and get between me and my +base. I, however, had no base, having abandoned it more than a week +before. On the 15th Pemberton had actually marched south from Edward's +station, but the rains had swollen Baker's Creek, which he had to cross +so much that he could not ford it, and the bridges were washed away. +This brought him back to the Jackson road, on which there was a good +bridge over Baker's Creek. Some of his troops were marching until +midnight to get there. Receiving here early on the 16th a repetition of +his order to join Johnston at Clinton, he concluded to obey, and sent a +dispatch to his chief, informing him of the route by which he might be +expected. + +About five o'clock in the morning (16th) two men, who had been employed +on the Jackson and Vicksburg railroad, were brought to me. They +reported that they had passed through Pemberton's army in the night, and +that it was still marching east. They reported him to have eighty +regiments of infantry and ten batteries; in all, about twenty-five +thousand men. + +I had expected to leave Sherman at Jackson another day in order to +complete his work; but getting the above information I sent him orders +to move with all dispatch to Bolton, and to put one division with an +ammunition train on the road at once, with directions to its commander +to march with all possible speed until he came up to our rear. Within +an hour after receiving this order Steele's division was on the road. +At the same time I dispatched to Blair, who was near Auburn, to move +with all speed to Edward's station. McClernand was directed to embrace +Blair in his command for the present. Blair's division was a part of +the 15th army corps (Sherman's); but as it was on its way to join its +corps, it naturally struck our left first, now that we had faced about +and were moving west. The 15th corps, when it got up, would be on our +extreme right. McPherson was directed to get his trains out of the way +of the troops, and to follow Hovey's division as closely as possible. +McClernand had two roads about three miles apart, converging at Edward's +station, over which to march his troops. Hovey's division of his corps +had the advance on a third road (the Clinton) still farther north. +McClernand was directed to move Blair's and A. J. Smith's divisions by +the southernmost of these roads, and Osterhaus and Carr by the middle +road. Orders were to move cautiously with skirmishers to the front to +feel for the enemy. + +Smith's division on the most southern road was the first to encounter +the enemy's pickets, who were speedily driven in. Osterhaus, on the +middle road, hearing the firing, pushed his skirmishers forward, found +the enemy's pickets and forced them back to the main line. About the +same time Hovey encountered the enemy on the northern or direct wagon +road from Jackson to Vicksburg. McPherson was hastening up to join +Hovey, but was embarrassed by Hovey's trains occupying the roads. I was +still back at Clinton. McPherson sent me word of the situation, and +expressed the wish that I was up. By half-past seven I was on the road +and proceeded rapidly to the front, ordering all trains that were in +front of troops off the road. When I arrived Hovey's skirmishing +amounted almost to a battle. + +McClernand was in person on the middle road and had a shorter distance +to march to reach the enemy's position than McPherson. I sent him word +by a staff officer to push forward and attack. These orders were +repeated several times without apparently expediting McClernand's +advance. + +Champion's Hill, where Pemberton had chosen his position to receive us, +whether taken by accident or design, was well selected. It is one of +the highest points in that section, and commanded all the ground in +range. On the east side of the ridge, which is quite precipitous, is a +ravine running first north, then westerly, terminating at Baker's Creek. +It was grown up thickly with large trees and undergrowth, making it +difficult to penetrate with troops, even when not defended. The ridge +occupied by the enemy terminated abruptly where the ravine turns +westerly. The left of the enemy occupied the north end of this ridge. +The Bolton and Edward's station wagon-road turns almost due south at +this point and ascends the ridge, which it follows for about a mile; +then turning west, descends by a gentle declivity to Baker's Creek, +nearly a mile away. On the west side the slope of the ridge is gradual +and is cultivated from near the summit to the creek. There was, when we +were there, a narrow belt of timber near the summit west of the road. + +From Raymond there is a direct road to Edward's station, some three +miles west of Champion's Hill. There is one also to Bolton. From this +latter road there is still another, leaving it about three and a half +miles before reaching Bolton and leads direct to the same station. It +was along these two roads that three divisions of McClernand's corps, +and Blair of Sherman's, temporarily under McClernand, were moving. +Hovey of McClernand's command was with McPherson, farther north on the +road from Bolton direct to Edward's station. The middle road comes into +the northern road at the point where the latter turns to the west and +descends to Baker's Creek; the southern road is still several miles +south and does not intersect the others until it reaches Edward's +station. Pemberton's lines covered all these roads, and faced east. +Hovey's line, when it first drove in the enemy's pickets, was formed +parallel to that of the enemy and confronted his left. + +By eleven o'clock the skirmishing had grown into a hard-contested +battle. Hovey alone, before other troops could be got to assist him, +had captured a battery of the enemy. But he was not able to hold his +position and had to abandon the artillery. McPherson brought up his +troops as fast as possible, Logan in front, and posted them on the right +of Hovey and across the flank of the enemy. Logan reinforced Hovey with +one brigade from his division; with his other two he moved farther west +to make room for Crocker, who was coming up as rapidly as the roads +would admit. Hovey was still being heavily pressed, and was calling on +me for more reinforcements. I ordered Crocker, who was now coming up, +to send one brigade from his division. McPherson ordered two batteries +to be stationed where they nearly enfiladed the enemy's line, and they +did good execution. + +From Logan's position now a direct forward movement carried him over +open fields, in rear of the enemy and in a line parallel with them. He +did make exactly this move, attacking, however, the enemy through the +belt of woods covering the west slope of the hill for a short distance. +Up to this time I had kept my position near Hovey where we were the most +heavily pressed; but about noon I moved with a part of my staff by our +right around, until I came up with Logan himself. I found him near the +road leading down to Baker's Creek. He was actually in command of the +only road over which the enemy could retreat; Hovey, reinforced by two +brigades from McPherson's command, confronted the enemy's left; Crocker, +with two brigades, covered their left flank; McClernand two hours +before, had been within two miles and a half of their centre with two +divisions, and the two divisions, Blair's and A. J. Smith's, were +confronting the rebel right; Ransom, with a brigade of McArthur's +division of the 17th corps (McPherson's), had crossed the river at Grand +Gulf a few days before, and was coming up on their right flank. Neither +Logan nor I knew that we had cut off the retreat of the enemy. Just at +this juncture a messenger came from Hovey, asking for more +reinforcements. There were none to spare. I then gave an order to move +McPherson's command by the left flank around to Hovey. This uncovered +the rebel line of retreat, which was soon taken advantage of by the +enemy. + +During all this time, Hovey, reinforced as he was by a brigade from +Logan and another from Crocker, and by Crocker gallantly coming up with +two other brigades on his right, had made several assaults, the last one +about the time the road was opened to the rear. The enemy fled +precipitately. This was between three and four o'clock. I rode +forward, or rather back, to where the middle road intersects the north +road, and found the skirmishers of Carr's division just coming in. +Osterhaus was farther south and soon after came up with skirmishers +advanced in like manner. Hovey's division, and McPherson's two +divisions with him, had marched and fought from early dawn, and were not +in the best condition to follow the retreating foe. I sent orders to +Osterhaus to pursue the enemy, and to Carr, whom I saw personally, I +explained the situation and directed him to pursue vigorously as far as +the Big Black, and to cross it if he could; Osterhaus to follow him. +The pursuit was continued until after dark. + +The battle of Champion's Hill lasted about four hours, hard fighting, +preceded by two or three hours of skirmishing, some of which almost rose +to the dignity of battle. Every man of Hovey's division and of +McPherson's two divisions was engaged during the battle. No other part +of my command was engaged at all, except that as described before. +Osterhaus's and A. J. Smith's divisions had encountered the rebel +advanced pickets as early as half-past seven. Their positions were +admirable for advancing upon the enemy's line. McClernand, with two +divisions, was within a few miles of the battle-field long before noon +and in easy hearing. I sent him repeated orders by staff officers fully +competent to explain to him the situation. These traversed the wood +separating us, without escort, and directed him to push forward; but he +did not come. It is true, in front of McClernand there was a small +force of the enemy and posted in a good position behind a ravine +obstructing his advance; but if he had moved to the right by the road my +staff officers had followed the enemy must either have fallen back or +been cut off. Instead of this he sent orders to Hovey, who belonged to +his corps, to join on to his right flank. Hovey was bearing the brunt +of the battle at the time. To obey the order he would have had to pull +out from the front of the enemy and march back as far as McClernand had +to advance to get into battle and substantially over the same ground. +Of course I did not permit Hovey to obey the order of his intermediate +superior. + +We had in this battle about 15,000 men absolutely engaged. This +excludes those that did not get up, all of McClernand's command except +Hovey. Our loss was 410 killed, 1,844 wounded and 187 missing. Hovey +alone lost 1,200 killed, wounded and missing--more than one-third of his +division. + +Had McClernand come up with reasonable promptness, or had I known the +ground as I did afterwards, I cannot see how Pemberton could have +escaped with any organized force. As it was he lost over three thousand +killed and wounded and about three thousand captured in battle and in +pursuit. Loring's division, which was the right of Pemberton's line, +was cut off from the retreating army and never got back into Vicksburg. +Pemberton himself fell back that night to the Big Black River. His +troops did not stop before midnight and many of them left before the +general retreat commenced, and no doubt a good part of them returned to +their homes. Logan alone captured 1,300 prisoners and eleven guns. +Hovey captured 300 under fire and about 700 in all, exclusive of 500 +sick and wounded whom he paroled, thus making 1,200. + +McPherson joined in the advance as soon as his men could fill their +cartridge-boxes, leaving one brigade to guard our wounded. The pursuit +was continued as long as it was light enough to see the road. The night +of the 16th of May found McPherson's command bivouacked from two to six +miles west of the battlefield, along the line of the road to Vicksburg. +Carr and Osterhaus were at Edward's station, and Blair was about three +miles south-east; Hovey remained on the field where his troops had +fought so bravely and bled so freely. Much war material abandoned by +the enemy was picked up on the battle-field, among it thirty pieces of +artillery. I pushed through the advancing column with my staff and kept +in advance until after night. Finding ourselves alone we stopped and +took possession of a vacant house. As no troops came up we moved back a +mile or more until we met the head of the column just going into bivouac +on the road. We had no tents, so we occupied the porch of a house which +had been taken for a rebel hospital and which was filled with wounded +and dying who had been brought from the battle-field we had just left. + +While a battle is raging one can see his enemy mowed down by the +thousand, or the ten thousand, with great composure; but after the +battle these scenes are distressing, and one is naturally disposed to do +as much to alleviate the suffering of an enemy as a friend. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +BATTLE OF BLACK RIVER BRIDGE--CROSSING THE BIG BLACK--INVESTMENT OF +VICKSBURG--ASSAULTING THE WORKS. + +We were now assured of our position between Johnston and Pemberton, +without a possibility of a junction of their forces. Pemberton might +have made a night march to the Big Black, crossed the bridge there and, +by moving north on the west side, have eluded us and finally returned to +Johnston. But this would have given us Vicksburg. It would have been +his proper move, however, and the one Johnston would have made had he +been in Pemberton's place. In fact it would have been in conformity +with Johnston's orders to Pemberton. + +Sherman left Jackson with the last of his troops about noon on the 16th +and reached Bolton, twenty miles west, before halting. His rear guard +did not get in until two A.M. the 17th, but renewed their march by +daylight. He paroled his prisoners at Jackson, and was forced to leave +his own wounded in care of surgeons and attendants. At Bolton he was +informed of our victory. He was directed to commence the march early +next day, and to diverge from the road he was on to Bridgeport on the +Big Black River, some eleven miles above the point where we expected to +find the enemy. Blair was ordered to join him there with the pontoon +train as early as possible. + +This movement brought Sherman's corps together, and at a point where I +hoped a crossing of the Big Black might be effected and Sherman's corps +used to flank the enemy out of his position in our front, thus opening a +crossing for the remainder of the army. I informed him that I would +endeavor to hold the enemy in my front while he crossed the river. + +The advance division, Carr's (McClernand's corps), resumed the pursuit +at half-past three A.M. on the 17th, followed closely by Osterhaus, +McPherson bringing up the rear with his corps. As I expected, the enemy +was found in position on the Big Black. The point was only six miles +from that where my advance had rested for the night, and was reached at +an early hour. Here the river makes a turn to the west, and has washed +close up to the high land; the east side is a low bottom, sometimes +overflowed at very high water, but was cleared and in cultivation. A +bayou runs irregularly across this low land, the bottom of which, +however, is above the surface of the Big Black at ordinary stages. When +the river is full water runs through it, converting the point of land +into an island. The bayou was grown up with timber, which the enemy had +felled into the ditch. At this time there was a foot or two of water in +it. The rebels had constructed a parapet along the inner bank of this +bayou by using cotton bales from the plantation close by and throwing +dirt over them. The whole was thoroughly commanded from the height west +of the river. At the upper end of the bayou there was a strip of +uncleared land which afforded a cover for a portion of our men. Carr's +division was deployed on our right, Lawler's brigade forming his extreme +right and reaching through these woods to the river above. Osterhaus' +division was deployed to the left of Carr and covered the enemy's entire +front. McPherson was in column on the road, the head close by, ready to +come in wherever he could be of assistance. + +While the troops were standing as here described an officer from Banks' +staff came up and presented me with a letter from General Halleck, dated +the 11th of May. It had been sent by the way of New Orleans to Banks to +be forwarded to me. It ordered me to return to Grand Gulf and to +co-operate from there with Banks against Port Hudson, and then to return +with our combined forces to besiege Vicksburg. I told the officer that +the order came too late, and that Halleck would not give it now if he +knew our position. The bearer of the dispatch insisted that I ought to +obey the order, and was giving arguments to support his position when I +heard great cheering to the right of our line and, looking in that +direction, saw Lawler in his shirt sleeves leading a charge upon the +enemy. I immediately mounted my horse and rode in the direction of the +charge, and saw no more of the officer who delivered the dispatch; I +think not even to this day. + +The assault was successful. But little resistance was made. The enemy +fled from the west bank of the river, burning the bridge behind him and +leaving the men and guns on the east side to fall into our hands. Many +tried to escape by swimming the river. Some succeeded and some were +drowned in the attempt. Eighteen guns were captured and 1,751 prisoners. +Our loss was 39 killed, 237 wounded and 3 missing. The enemy probably +lost but few men except those captured and drowned. But for the +successful and complete destruction of the bridge, I have but little +doubt that we should have followed the enemy so closely as to prevent +his occupying his defences around Vicksburg. + +As the bridge was destroyed and the river was high, new bridges had to +be built. It was but little after nine o'clock A.M. when the capture +took place. As soon as work could be commenced, orders were given for +the construction of three bridges. One was taken charge of by +Lieutenant Hains, of the Engineer Corps, one by General McPherson +himself and one by General Ransom, a most gallant and intelligent +volunteer officer. My recollection is that Hains built a raft bridge; +McPherson a pontoon, using cotton bales in large numbers, for pontoons; +and that Ransom felled trees on opposite banks of the river, cutting +only on one side of the tree, so that they would fall with their tops +interlacing in the river, without the trees being entirely severed from +their stumps. A bridge was then made with these trees to support the +roadway. Lumber was taken from buildings, cotton gins and wherever +found, for this purpose. By eight o'clock in the morning of the 18th +all three bridges were complete and the troops were crossing. + +Sherman reached Bridgeport about noon of the 17th and found Blair with +the pontoon train already there. A few of the enemy were intrenched on +the west bank, but they made little resistance and soon surrendered. +Two divisions were crossed that night and the third the following +morning. + +On the 18th I moved along the Vicksburg road in advance of the troops +and as soon as possible joined Sherman. My first anxiety was to secure +a base of supplies on the Yazoo River above Vicksburg. Sherman's line +of march led him to the very point on Walnut Hills occupied by the enemy +the December before when he was repulsed. Sherman was equally anxious +with myself. Our impatience led us to move in advance of the column and +well up with the advanced skirmishers. There were some detached works +along the crest of the hill. These were still occupied by the enemy, or +else the garrison from Haines' Bluff had not all got past on their way +to Vicksburg. At all events the bullets of the enemy whistled by thick +and fast for a short time. In a few minutes Sherman had the pleasure of +looking down from the spot coveted so much by him the December before on +the ground where his command had lain so helpless for offensive action. +He turned to me, saying that up to this minute he had felt no positive +assurance of success. This, however, he said was the end of one of the +greatest campaigns in history and I ought to make a report of it at +once. Vicksburg was not yet captured, and there was no telling what +might happen before it was taken; but whether captured or not, this was +a complete and successful campaign. I do not claim to quote Sherman's +language; but the substance only. My reason for mentioning this +incident will appear further on. + +McPherson, after crossing the Big Black, came into the Jackson and +Vicksburg road which Sherman was on, but to his rear. He arrived at +night near the lines of the enemy, and went into camp. McClernand moved +by the direct road near the railroad to Mount Albans, and then turned to +the left and put his troops on the road from Baldwin's ferry to +Vicksburg. This brought him south of McPherson. I now had my three +corps up the works built for the defence of Vicksburg, on three roads +--one to the north, one to the east and one to the south-east of the city. +By the morning of the 19th the investment was as complete as my limited +number of troops would allow. Sherman was on the right, and covered the +high ground from where it overlooked the Yazoo as far south-east as his +troops would extend. McPherson joined on to his left, and occupied +ground on both sides of the Jackson road. McClernand took up the ground +to his left and extended as far towards Warrenton as he could, keeping a +continuous line. + +On the 19th there was constant skirmishing with the enemy while we were +getting into better position. The enemy had been much demoralized by +his defeats at Champion's Hill and the Big Black, and I believed he +would not make much effort to hold Vicksburg. Accordingly, at two +o'clock I ordered an assault. It resulted in securing more advanced +positions for all our troops where they were fully covered from the fire +of the enemy. + +The 20th and 21st were spent in strengthening our position and in making +roads in rear of the army, from Yazoo River or Chickasaw Bayou. Most of +the army had now been for three weeks with only five days' rations +issued by the commissary. They had an abundance of food, however, but +began to feel the want of bread. I remember that in passing around to +the left of the line on the 21st, a soldier, recognizing me, said in +rather a low voice, but yet so that I heard him, "Hard tack." In a +moment the cry was taken up all along the line, "Hard tack! Hard tack!" +I told the men nearest to me that we had been engaged ever since the +arrival of the troops in building a road over which to supply them with +everything they needed. The cry was instantly changed to cheers. By +the night of the 21st all the troops had full rations issued to them. +The bread and coffee were highly appreciated. + +I now determined on a second assault. Johnston was in my rear, only +fifty miles away, with an army not much inferior in numbers to the one I +had with me, and I knew he was being reinforced. There was danger of his +coming to the assistance of Pemberton, and after all he might defeat my +anticipations of capturing the garrison if, indeed, he did not prevent +the capture of the city. The immediate capture of Vicksburg would save +sending me the reinforcements which were so much wanted elsewhere, and +would set free the army under me to drive Johnston from the State. But +the first consideration of all was--the troops believed they could carry +the works in their front, and would not have worked so patiently in the +trenches if they had not been allowed to try. + +The attack was ordered to commence on all parts of the line at ten +o'clock A.M. on the 22d with a furious cannonade from every battery in +position. All the corps commanders set their time by mine so that all +might open the engagement at the same minute. The attack was gallant, +and portions of each of the three corps succeeded in getting up to the +very parapets of the enemy and in planting their battle flags upon them; +but at no place were we able to enter. General McClernand reported that +he had gained the enemy's intrenchments at several points, and wanted +reinforcements. I occupied a position from which I believed I could see +as well as he what took place in his front, and I did not see the +success he reported. But his request for reinforcements being repeated +I could not ignore it, and sent him Quinby's division of the 17th corps. +Sherman and McPherson were both ordered to renew their assaults as a +diversion in favor of McClernand. This last attack only served to +increase our casualties without giving any benefit whatever. As soon as +it was dark our troops that had reached the enemy's line and been +obliged to remain there for security all day, were withdrawn; and thus +ended the last assault upon Vicksburg. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +SIEGE OF VICKSBURG. + +I now determined upon a regular siege--to "out-camp the enemy," as it +were, and to incur no more losses. The experience of the 22d convinced +officers and men that this was best, and they went to work on the +defences and approaches with a will. With the navy holding the river, +the investment of Vicksburg was complete. As long as we could hold our +position the enemy was limited in supplies of food, men and munitions of +war to what they had on hand. These could not last always. + +The crossing of troops at Bruinsburg commenced April 30th. On the 18th +of May the army was in rear of Vicksburg. On the 19th, just twenty days +after the crossing, the city was completely invested and an assault had +been made: five distinct battles (besides continuous skirmishing) had +been fought and won by the Union forces; the capital of the State had +fallen and its arsenals, military manufactories and everything useful +for military purposes had been destroyed; an average of about one +hundred and eighty miles had been marched by the troops engaged; but +five days' rations had been issued, and no forage; over six thousand +prisoners had been captured, and as many more of the enemy had been +killed or wounded; twenty-seven heavy cannon and sixty-one field-pieces +had fallen into our hands; and four hundred miles of the river, from +Vicksburg to Port Hudson, had become ours. The Union force that had +crossed the Mississippi River up to this time was less than forty-three +thousand men. One division of these, Blair's, only arrived in time to +take part in the battle of Champion's Hill, but was not engaged there; +and one brigade, Ransom's of McPherson's corps, reached the field after +the battle. The enemy had at Vicksburg, Grand Gulf, Jackson, and on the +roads between these places, over sixty thousand men. They were in their +own country, where no rear guards were necessary. The country is +admirable for defence, but difficult for the conduct of an offensive +campaign. All their troops had to be met. We were fortunate, to say +the least, in meeting them in detail: at Port Gibson seven or eight +thousand; at Raymond, five thousand; at Jackson, from eight to eleven +thousand; at Champion's Hill, twenty-five thousand; at the Big Black, +four thousand. A part of those met at Jackson were all that was left of +those encountered at Raymond. They were beaten in detail by a force +smaller than their own, upon their own ground. Our loss up to this time +was: + + KILLED WOUNDED MISSING + + Port Gibson..... 131 719 25 + South Fork Bayou Pierre..... .. 1 .. + Skirmishes, May 3 ..... 1 9 .. + Fourteen Mile Creek..... 6 24 .. + Raymond............... 66 339 39 + Jackson..... 42 251 7 + Champion's Hill..... 410 1,844 187 + Big Black..... 39 237 3 + Bridgeport..... .. 1 .. + Total..... 695 3,425 259 + + +Of the wounded many were but slightly so, and continued on duty. Not +half of them were disabled for any length of time. + +After the unsuccessful assault of the 22d the work of the regular siege +began. Sherman occupied the right starting from the river above +Vicksburg, McPherson the centre (McArthur's division now with him) and +McClernand the left, holding the road south to Warrenton. Lauman's +division arrived at this time and was placed on the extreme left of the +line. + +In the interval between the assaults of the 19th and 22d, roads had been +completed from the Yazoo River and Chickasaw Bayou, around the rear of +the army, to enable us to bring up supplies of food and ammunition; +ground had been selected and cleared on which the troops were to be +encamped, and tents and cooking utensils were brought up. The troops +had been without these from the time of crossing the Mississippi up to +this time. All was now ready for the pick and spade. Prentiss and +Hurlbut were ordered to send forward every man that could be spared. +Cavalry especially was wanted to watch the fords along the Big Black, +and to observe Johnston. I knew that Johnston was receiving +reinforcements from Bragg, who was confronting Rosecrans in Tennessee. +Vicksburg was so important to the enemy that I believed he would make +the most strenuous efforts to raise the siege, even at the risk of +losing ground elsewhere. + +My line was more than fifteen miles long, extending from Haines' Bluff +to Vicksburg, thence to Warrenton. The line of the enemy was about +seven. In addition to this, having an enemy at Canton and Jackson, in +our rear, who was being constantly reinforced, we required a second line +of defence facing the other way. I had not troops enough under my +command to man these. General Halleck appreciated the situation and, +without being asked, forwarded reinforcements with all possible +dispatch. + +The ground about Vicksburg is admirable for defence. On the north it is +about two hundred feet above the Mississippi River at the highest point +and very much cut up by the washing rains; the ravines were grown up +with cane and underbrush, while the sides and tops were covered with a +dense forest. Farther south the ground flattens out somewhat, and was +in cultivation. But here, too, it was cut up by ravines and small +streams. The enemy's line of defence followed the crest of a ridge from +the river north of the city eastward, then southerly around to the +Jackson road, full three miles back of the city; thence in a +southwesterly direction to the river. Deep ravines of the description +given lay in front of these defences. As there is a succession of +gullies, cut out by rains along the side of the ridge, the line was +necessarily very irregular. To follow each of these spurs with +intrenchments, so as to command the slopes on either side, would have +lengthened their line very much. Generally therefore, or in many places, +their line would run from near the head of one gully nearly straight to +the head of another, and an outer work triangular in shape, generally +open in the rear, was thrown up on the point; with a few men in this +outer work they commanded the approaches to the main line completely. + +The work to be done, to make our position as strong against the enemy as +his was against us, was very great. The problem was also complicated by +our wanting our line as near that of the enemy as possible. We had but +four engineer officers with us. Captain Prime, of the Engineer Corps, +was the chief, and the work at the beginning was mainly directed by him. +His health soon gave out, when he was succeeded by Captain Comstock, +also of the Engineer Corps. To provide assistants on such a long line I +directed that all officers who had graduated at West Point, where they +had necessarily to study military engineering, should in addition to +their other duties assist in the work. + +The chief quartermaster and the chief commissary were graduates. The +chief commissary, now the Commissary-General of the Army, begged off, +however, saying that there was nothing in engineering that he was good +for unless he would do for a sap-roller. As soldiers require rations +while working in the ditches as well as when marching and fighting, and +as we would be sure to lose him if he was used as a sap-roller, I let +him off. The general is a large man; weighs two hundred and twenty +pounds, and is not tall. + +We had no siege guns except six thirty-two pounders, and there were none +at the West to draw from. Admiral Porter, however, supplied us with a +battery of navy-guns of large calibre, and with these, and the field +artillery used in the campaign, the siege began. The first thing to do +was to get the artillery in batteries where they would occupy commanding +positions; then establish the camps, under cover from the fire of the +enemy but as near up as possible; and then construct rifle-pits and +covered ways, to connect the entire command by the shortest route. The +enemy did not harass us much while we were constructing our batteries. +Probably their artillery ammunition was short; and their infantry was +kept down by our sharpshooters, who were always on the alert and ready +to fire at a head whenever it showed itself above the rebel works. + +In no place were our lines more than six hundred yards from the enemy. +It was necessary, therefore, to cover our men by something more than +the ordinary parapet. To give additional protection sand bags, +bullet-proof, were placed along the tops of the parapets far enough +apart to make loop-holes for musketry. On top of these, logs were put. +By these means the men were enabled to walk about erect when off duty, +without fear of annoyance from sharpshooters. The enemy used in their +defence explosive musket-balls, no doubt thinking that, bursting over +our men in the trenches, they would do some execution; but I do not +remember a single case where a man was injured by a piece of one of +these shells. When they were hit and the ball exploded, the wound was +terrible. In these cases a solid ball would have hit as well. Their +use is barbarous, because they produce increased suffering without any +corresponding advantage to those using them. + +The enemy could not resort to our method to protect their men, because +we had an inexhaustible supply of ammunition to draw upon and used it +freely. Splinters from the timber would have made havoc among the men +behind. + +There were no mortars with the besiegers, except what the navy had in +front of the city; but wooden ones were made by taking logs of the +toughest wood that could be found, boring them out for six or twelve +pound shells and binding them with strong iron bands. These answered as +cochorns, and shells were successfully thrown from them into the +trenches of the enemy. + +The labor of building the batteries and intrenching was largely done by +the pioneers, assisted by negroes who came within our lines and who were +paid for their work; but details from the troops had often to be made. +The work was pushed forward as rapidly as possible, and when an advanced +position was secured and covered from the fire of the enemy the +batteries were advanced. By the 30th of June there were two hundred and +twenty guns in position, mostly light field-pieces, besides a battery of +heavy guns belonging to, manned and commanded by the navy. We were now +as strong for defence against the garrison of Vicksburg as they were +against us; but I knew that Johnston was in our rear, and was receiving +constant reinforcements from the east. He had at this time a larger +force than I had had at any time prior to the battle of Champion's Hill. + +As soon as the news of the arrival of the Union army behind Vicksburg +reached the North, floods of visitors began to pour in. Some came to +gratify curiosity; some to see sons or brothers who had passed through +the terrible ordeal; members of the Christian and Sanitary Associations +came to minister to the wants of the sick and the wounded. Often those +coming to see a son or brother would bring a dozen or two of poultry. +They did not know how little the gift would be appreciated. Many of the +soldiers had lived so much on chickens, ducks and turkeys without bread +during the march, that the sight of poultry, if they could get bacon, +almost took away their appetite. But the intention was good. + +Among the earliest arrivals was the Governor of Illinois, with most of +the State officers. I naturally wanted to show them what there was of +most interest. In Sherman's front the ground was the most broken and +most wooded, and more was to be seen without exposure. I therefore took +them to Sherman's headquarters and presented them. Before starting out +to look at the lines--possibly while Sherman's horse was being saddled +--there were many questions asked about the late campaign, about which +the North had been so imperfectly informed. There was a little knot +around Sherman and another around me, and I heard Sherman repeating, in +the most animated manner, what he had said to me when we first looked +down from Walnut Hills upon the land below on the 18th of May, adding: +"Grant is entitled to every bit of the credit for the campaign; I +opposed it. I wrote him a letter about it." But for this speech it is +not likely that Sherman's opposition would have ever been heard of. His +untiring energy and great efficiency during the campaign entitle him to +a full share of all the credit due for its success. He could not have +done more if the plan had been his own. (*13) + +On the 26th of May I sent Blair's division up the Yazoo to drive out a +force of the enemy supposed to be between the Big Black and the Yazoo. +The country was rich and full of supplies of both food and forage. +Blair was instructed to take all of it. The cattle were to be driven in +for the use of our army, and the food and forage to be consumed by our +troops or destroyed by fire; all bridges were to be destroyed, and the +roads rendered as nearly impassable as possible. Blair went forty-five +miles and was gone almost a week. His work was effectually done. I +requested Porter at this time to send the marine brigade, a floating +nondescript force which had been assigned to his command and which +proved very useful, up to Haines' Bluff to hold it until reinforcements +could be sent. + +On the 26th I also received a letter from Banks, asking me to reinforce +him with ten thousand men at Port Hudson. Of course I could not comply +with his request, nor did I think he needed them. He was in no danger +of an attack by the garrison in his front, and there was no army +organizing in his rear to raise the siege. + +On the 3d of June a brigade from Hurlbut's command arrived, General +Kimball commanding. It was sent to Mechanicsburg, some miles north-east +of Haines' Bluff and about midway between the Big Black and the Yazoo. +A brigade of Blair's division and twelve hundred cavalry had already, on +Blair's return from the Yazoo, been sent to the same place with +instructions to watch the crossings of the Big Black River, to destroy +the roads in his (Blair's) front, and to gather or destroy all supplies. + +On the 7th of June our little force of colored and white troops across +the Mississippi, at Milliken's Bend, were attacked by about 3,000 men +from Richard Taylor's trans-Mississippi command. With the aid of the +gunboats they were speedily repelled. I sent Mower's brigade over with +instructions to drive the enemy beyond the Tensas Bayou; and we had no +further trouble in that quarter during the siege. This was the first +important engagement of the war in which colored troops were under fire. +These men were very raw, having all been enlisted since the beginning of +the siege, but they behaved well. + +On the 8th of June a full division arrived from Hurlbut's command, under +General Sooy Smith. It was sent immediately to Haines' Bluff, and +General C. C. Washburn was assigned to the general command at that +point. + +On the 11th a strong division arrived from the Department of the +Missouri under General Herron, which was placed on our left. This cut +off the last possible chance of communication between Pemberton and +Johnston, as it enabled Lauman to close up on McClernand's left while +Herron intrenched from Lauman to the water's edge. At this point the +water recedes a few hundred yards from the high land. Through this +opening no doubt the Confederate commanders had been able to get +messengers under cover of night. + +On the 14th General Parke arrived with two divisions of Burnside's +corps, and was immediately dispatched to Haines' Bluff. These latter +troops--Herron's and Parke's--were the reinforcements already spoken of +sent by Halleck in anticipation of their being needed. They arrived +none too soon. + +I now had about seventy-one thousand men. More than half were disposed +across the peninsula, between the Yazoo at Haines' Bluff and the Big +Black, with the division of Osterhaus watching the crossings of the +latter river farther south and west from the crossing of the Jackson +road to Baldwin's ferry and below. + +There were eight roads leading into Vicksburg, along which and their +immediate sides, our work was specially pushed and batteries advanced; +but no commanding point within range of the enemy was neglected. + +On the 17th I received a letter from General Sherman and one on the 18th +from General McPherson, saying that their respective commands had +complained to them of a fulsome, congratulatory order published by +General McClernand to the 13th corps, which did great injustice to the +other troops engaged in the campaign. This order had been sent North +and published, and now papers containing it had reached our camps. The +order had not been heard of by me, and certainly not by troops outside +of McClernand's command until brought in this way. I at once wrote to +McClernand, directing him to send me a copy of this order. He did so, +and I at once relieved him from the command of the 13th army corps and +ordered him back to Springfield, Illinois. The publication of his order +in the press was in violation of War Department orders and also of mine. + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +JOHNSTON'S MOVEMENTS--FORTIFICATIONS AT HAINES' BLUFF--EXPLOSION OF THE +MINE--EXPLOSION OF THE SECOND MINE--PREPARING FOR THE ASSAULT--THE FLAG +OF TRUCE--MEETING WITH PEMBERTON--NEGOTIATIONS FOR SURRENDER--ACCEPTING +THE TERMS--SURRENDER OF VICKSBURG. + +On the 22d of June positive information was received that Johnston had +crossed the Big Black River for the purpose of attacking our rear, to +raise the siege and release Pemberton. The correspondence between +Johnston and Pemberton shows that all expectation of holding Vicksburg +had by this time passed from Johnston's mind. I immediately ordered +Sherman to the command of all the forces from Haines' Bluff to the Big +Black River. This amounted now to quite half the troops about Vicksburg. +Besides these, Herron and A. J. Smith's divisions were ordered to hold +themselves in readiness to reinforce Sherman. Haines' Bluff had been +strongly fortified on the land side, and on all commanding points from +there to the Big Black at the railroad crossing batteries had been +constructed. The work of connecting by rifle-pits where this was not +already done, was an easy task for the troops that were to defend them. + +We were now looking west, besieging Pemberton, while we were also +looking east to defend ourselves against an expected siege by Johnston. +But as against the garrison of Vicksburg we were as substantially +protected as they were against us. Where we were looking east and north +we were strongly fortified, and on the defensive. Johnston evidently +took in the situation and wisely, I think, abstained from making an +assault on us because it would simply have inflicted loss on both sides +without accomplishing any result. We were strong enough to have taken +the offensive against him; but I did not feel disposed to take any risk +of losing our hold upon Pemberton's army, while I would have rejoiced at +the opportunity of defending ourselves against an attack by Johnston. + +From the 23d of May the work of fortifying and pushing forward our +position nearer to the enemy had been steadily progressing. At three +points on the Jackson road, in front of Leggett's brigade, a sap was run +up to the enemy's parapet, and by the 25th of June we had it undermined +and the mine charged. The enemy had countermined, but did not succeed in +reaching our mine. At this particular point the hill on which the rebel +work stands rises abruptly. Our sap ran close up to the outside of the +enemy's parapet. In fact this parapet was also our protection. The +soldiers of the two sides occasionally conversed pleasantly across this +barrier; sometimes they exchanged the hard bread of the Union soldiers +for the tobacco of the Confederates; at other times the enemy threw over +hand-grenades, and often our men, catching them in their hands, returned +them. + +Our mine had been started some distance back down the hill; consequently +when it had extended as far as the parapet it was many feet below it. +This caused the failure of the enemy in his search to find and destroy +it. On the 25th of June at three o'clock, all being ready, the mine was +exploded. A heavy artillery fire all along the line had been ordered to +open with the explosion. The effect was to blow the top of the hill off +and make a crater where it stood. The breach was not sufficient to +enable us to pass a column of attack through. In fact, the enemy having +failed to reach our mine had thrown up a line farther back, where most +of the men guarding that point were placed. There were a few men, +however, left at the advance line, and others working in the +countermine, which was still being pushed to find ours. All that were +there were thrown into the air, some of them coming down on our side, +still alive. I remember one colored man, who had been under ground at +work when the explosion took place, who was thrown to our side. He was +not much hurt, but terribly frightened. Some one asked him how high he +had gone up. "Dun no, massa, but t'ink 'bout t'ree mile," was his +reply. General Logan commanded at this point and took this colored man +to his quarters, where he did service to the end of the siege. + +As soon as the explosion took place the crater was seized by two +regiments of our troops who were near by, under cover, where they had +been placed for the express purpose. The enemy made a desperate effort +to expel them, but failed, and soon retired behind the new line. From +here, however, they threw hand-grenades, which did some execution. The +compliment was returned by our men, but not with so much effect. The +enemy could lay their grenades on the parapet, which alone divided the +contestants, and roll them down upon us; while from our side they had to +be thrown over the parapet, which was at considerable elevation. During +the night we made efforts to secure our position in the crater against +the missiles of the enemy, so as to run trenches along the outer base of +their parapet, right and left; but the enemy continued throwing their +grenades, and brought boxes of field ammunition (shells), the fuses of +which they would light with portfires, and throw them by hand into our +ranks. We found it impossible to continue this work. Another mine was +consequently started which was exploded on the 1st of July, destroying +an entire rebel redan, killing and wounding a considerable number of its +occupants and leaving an immense chasm where it stood. No attempt to +charge was made this time, the experience of the 25th admonishing us. +Our loss in the first affair was about thirty killed and wounded. The +enemy must have lost more in the two explosions than we did in the +first. We lost none in the second. + +From this time forward the work of mining and pushing our position +nearer to the enemy was prosecuted with vigor, and I determined to +explode no more mines until we were ready to explode a number at +different points and assault immediately after. We were up now at three +different points, one in front of each corps, to where only the parapet +of the enemy divided us. + +At this time an intercepted dispatch from Johnston to Pemberton informed +me that Johnston intended to make a determined attack upon us in order +to relieve the garrison at Vicksburg. I knew the garrison would make no +formidable effort to relieve itself. The picket lines were so close to +each other--where there was space enough between the lines to post +pickets--that the men could converse. On the 21st of June I was +informed, through this means, that Pemberton was preparing to escape, by +crossing to the Louisiana side under cover of night; that he had +employed workmen in making boats for that purpose; that the men had been +canvassed to ascertain if they would make an assault on the "Yankees" to +cut their way out; that they had refused, and almost mutinied, because +their commander would not surrender and relieve their sufferings, and +had only been pacified by the assurance that boats enough would be +finished in a week to carry them all over. The rebel pickets also said +that houses in the city had been pulled down to get material to build +these boats with. Afterwards this story was verified: on entering the +city we found a large number of very rudely constructed boats. + +All necessary steps were at once taken to render such an attempt +abortive. Our pickets were doubled; Admiral Porter was notified, so +that the river might be more closely watched; material was collected on +the west bank of the river to be set on fire and light up the river if +the attempt was made; and batteries were established along the levee +crossing the peninsula on the Louisiana side. Had the attempt been made +the garrison of Vicksburg would have been drowned, or made prisoners on +the Louisiana side. General Richard Taylor was expected on the west +bank to co-operate in this movement, I believe, but he did not come, nor +could he have done so with a force sufficient to be of service. The +Mississippi was now in our possession from its source to its mouth, +except in the immediate front of Vicksburg and of Port Hudson. We had +nearly exhausted the country, along a line drawn from Lake Providence to +opposite Bruinsburg. The roads west were not of a character to draw +supplies over for any considerable force. + +By the 1st of July our approaches had reached the enemy's ditch at a +number of places. At ten points we could move under cover to within +from five to one hundred yards of the enemy. Orders were given to make +all preparations for assault on the 6th of July. The debouches were +ordered widened to afford easy egress, while the approaches were also to +be widened to admit the troops to pass through four abreast. Plank, and +bags filled with cotton packed in tightly, were ordered prepared, to +enable the troops to cross the ditches. + +On the night of the 1st of July Johnston was between Brownsville and the +Big Black, and wrote Pemberton from there that about the 7th of the +month an attempt would be made to create a diversion to enable him to +cut his way out. Pemberton was a prisoner before this message reached +him. + +On July 1st Pemberton, seeing no hope of outside relief, addressed the +following letter to each of his four division commanders: + +"Unless the siege of Vicksburg is raised, or supplies are thrown in, it +will become necessary very shortly to evacuate the place. I see no +prospect of the former, and there are many great, if not insuperable +obstacles in the way of the latter. You are, therefore, requested to +inform me with as little delay as possible, as to the condition of your +troops and their ability to make the marches and undergo the fatigues +necessary to accomplish a successful evacuation." + +Two of his generals suggested surrender, and the other two practically +did the same. They expressed the opinion that an attempt to evacuate +would fail. Pemberton had previously got a message to Johnston +suggesting that he should try to negotiate with me for a release of the +garrison with their arms. Johnston replied that it would be a +confession of weakness for him to do so; but he authorized Pemberton to +use his name in making such an arrangement. + +On the 3d about ten o'clock A.M. white flags appeared on a portion of +the rebel works. Hostilities along that part of the line ceased at +once. Soon two persons were seen coming towards our lines bearing a +white flag. They proved to be General Bowen, a division commander, and +Colonel Montgomery, aide-de-camp to Pemberton, bearing the following +letter to me: + +"I have the honor to propose an armistice for--hours, with the view to +arranging terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg. To this end, if +agreeable to you, I will appoint three commissioners, to meet a like +number to be named by yourself at such place and hour to-day as you may +find convenient. I make this proposition to save the further effusion +of blood, which must otherwise be shed to a frightful extent, feeling +myself fully able to maintain my position for a yet indefinite period. +This communication will be handed you under a flag of truce, by +Major-General John S. Bowen." + +It was a glorious sight to officers and soldiers on the line where these +white flags were visible, and the news soon spread to all parts of the +command. The troops felt that their long and weary marches, hard +fighting, ceaseless watching by night and day, in a hot climate, +exposure to all sorts of weather, to diseases and, worst of all, to the +gibes of many Northern papers that came to them saying all their +suffering was in vain, that Vicksburg would never be taken, were at last +at an end and the Union sure to be saved. + +Bowen was received by General A. J. Smith, and asked to see me. I had +been a neighbor of Bowen's in Missouri, and knew him well and favorably +before the war; but his request was refused. He then suggested that I +should meet Pemberton. To this I sent a verbal message saying that, if +Pemberton desired it, I would meet him in front of McPherson's corps at +three o'clock that afternoon. I also sent the following written reply +to Pemberton's letter: + +"Your note of this date is just received, proposing an armistice for +several hours, for the purpose of arranging terms of capitulation +through commissioners, to be appointed, etc. The useless effusion of +blood you propose stopping by this course can be ended at any time you +may choose, by the unconditional surrender of the city and garrison. +Men who have shown so much endurance and courage as those now in +Vicksburg, will always challenge the respect of an adversary, and I can +assure you will be treated with all the respect due to prisoners of war. +I do not favor the proposition of appointing commissioners to arrange +the terms of capitulation, because I have no terms other than those +indicated above." + +At three o'clock Pemberton appeared at the point suggested in my verbal +message, accompanied by the same officers who had borne his letter of +the morning. Generals Ord, McPherson, Logan and A. J. Smith, and +several officers of my staff, accompanied me. Our place of meeting was +on a hillside within a few hundred feet of the rebel lines. Near by +stood a stunted oak-tree, which was made historical by the event. It +was but a short time before the last vestige of its body, root and limb +had disappeared, the fragments taken as trophies. Since then the same +tree has furnished as many cords of wood, in the shape of trophies, as +"The True Cross." + +Pemberton and I had served in the same division during part of the +Mexican War. I knew him very well therefore, and greeted him as an old +acquaintance. He soon asked what terms I proposed to give his army if +it surrendered. My answer was the same as proposed in my reply to his +letter. Pemberton then said, rather snappishly, "The conference might +as well end," and turned abruptly as if to leave. I said, "Very well." +General Bowen, I saw, was very anxious that the surrender should be +consummated. His manner and remarks while Pemberton and I were talking, +showed this. He now proposed that he and one of our generals should +have a conference. I had no objection to this, as nothing could be made +binding upon me that they might propose. Smith and Bowen accordingly had +a conference, during which Pemberton and I, moving a short distance away +towards the enemy's lines were in conversation. After a while Bowen +suggested that the Confederate army should be allowed to march out with +the honors of war, carrying their small arms and field artillery. This +was promptly and unceremoniously rejected. The interview here ended, I +agreeing, however, to send a letter giving final terms by ten o'clock +that night. + +Word was sent to Admiral Porter soon after the correspondence with +Pemberton commenced, so that hostilities might be stopped on the part of +both army and navy. It was agreed on my paging with Pemberton that they +should not be renewed until our correspondence ceased. + +When I returned to my headquarters I sent for all the corps and division +commanders with the army immediately confronting Vicksburg. Half the +army was from eight to twelve miles off, waiting for Johnston. I +informed them of the contents of Pemberton's letters, of my reply and +the substance of the interview, and that I was ready to hear any +suggestion; but would hold the power of deciding entirely in my own +hands. This was the nearest approach to a "council of war" I ever held. +Against the general, and almost unanimous judgment of the council I sent +the following letter: + +"In conformity with agreement of this afternoon, I will submit the +following proposition for the surrender of the City of Vicksburg, public +stores, etc. On your accepting the terms proposed, I will march in one +division as a guard, and take possession at eight A.M. to-morrow. As +soon as rolls can be made out, and paroles be signed by officers and +men, you will be allowed to march out of our lines, the officers taking +with them their side-arms and clothing, and the field, staff and cavalry +officers one horse each. The rank and file will be allowed all their +clothing, but no other property. If these conditions are accepted, any +amount of rations you may deem necessary can be taken from the stores +you now have, and also the necessary cooking utensils for preparing +them. Thirty wagons also, counting two two-horse or mule teams as one, +will be allowed to transport such articles as cannot be carried along. +The same conditions will be allowed to all sick and wounded officers and +soldiers as fast as they become able to travel. The paroles for these +latter must be signed, however, whilst officers present are authorized +to sign the roll of prisoners." + +By the terms of the cartel then in force, prisoners captured by either +army were required to be forwarded as soon as possible to either Aiken's +landing below Dutch Gap on the James River, or to Vicksburg, there to be +exchanged, or paroled until they could be exchanged. There was a +Confederate commissioner at Vicksburg, authorized to make the exchange. +I did not propose to take him a prisoner, but to leave him free to +perform the functions of his office. Had I insisted upon an +unconditional surrender there would have been over thirty thousand men +to transport to Cairo, very much to the inconvenience of the army on the +Mississippi. Thence the prisoners would have had to be transported by +rail to Washington or Baltimore; thence again by steamer to Aiken's--all +at very great expense. At Aiken's they would have had to be paroled, +because the Confederates did not have Union prisoners to give in +exchange. Then again Pemberton's army was largely composed of men whose +homes were in the South-west; I knew many of them were tired of the war +and would get home just as soon as they could. A large number of them +had voluntarily come into our lines during the siege, and requested to +be sent north where they could get employment until the war was over and +they could go to their homes. + +Late at night I received the following reply to my last letter: + +"I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of +this date, proposing terms of capitulation for this garrison and post. +In the main your terms are accepted; but, in justice both to the honor +and spirit of my troops manifested in the defence of Vicksburg, I have +to submit the following amendments, which, if acceded to by you, will +perfect the agreement between us. At ten o'clock A.M. to-morrow, I +propose to evacuate the works in and around Vicksburg, and to surrender +the city and garrison under my command, by marching out with my colors +and arms, stacking them in front of my present lines. After which you +will take possession. Officers to retain their side-arms and personal +property, and the rights and property of citizens to be respected." + +This was received after midnight. My reply was as follows: + +"I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of 3d +July. The amendment proposed by you cannot be acceded to in full. It +will be necessary to furnish every officer and man with a parole signed +by himself, which, with the completion of the roll of prisoners, will +necessarily take some time. Again, I can make no stipulations with +regard to the treatment of citizens and their private property. While I +do not propose to cause them any undue annoyance or loss, I cannot +consent to leave myself under any restraint by stipulations. The +property which officers will be allowed to take with them will be as +stated in my proposition of last evening; that is, officers will be +allowed their private baggage and side-arms, and mounted officers one +horse each. If you mean by your proposition for each brigade to march +to the front of the lines now occupied by it, and stack arms at ten +o'clock A.M., and then return to the inside and there remain as +prisoners until properly paroled, I will make no objection to it. +Should no notification be received of your acceptance of my terms by +nine o'clock A.M. I shall regard them as having been rejected, and shall +act accordingly. Should these terms be accepted, white flags should be +displayed along your lines to prevent such of my troops as may not have +been notified, from firing upon your men." + +Pemberton promptly accepted these terms. + +During the siege there had been a good deal of friendly sparring between +the soldiers of the two armies, on picket and where the lines were close +together. All rebels were known as "Johnnies," all Union troops as +"Yanks." Often "Johnny" would call: "Well, Yank, when are you coming +into town?" The reply was sometimes: "We propose to celebrate the 4th +of July there." Sometimes it would be: "We always treat our prisoners +with kindness and do not want to hurt them;" or, "We are holding you as +prisoners of war while you are feeding yourselves." The garrison, from +the commanding general down, undoubtedly expected an assault on the +fourth. They knew from the temper of their men it would be successful +when made; and that would be a greater humiliation than to surrender. +Besides it would be attended with severe loss to them. + +The Vicksburg paper, which we received regularly through the courtesy of +the rebel pickets, said prior to the fourth, in speaking of the "Yankee" +boast that they would take dinner in Vicksburg that day, that the best +receipt for cooking a rabbit was "First ketch your rabbit." The paper +at this time and for some time previous was printed on the plain side of +wall paper. The last number was issued on the fourth and announced that +we had "caught our rabbit." + +I have no doubt that Pemberton commenced his correspondence on the third +with a two-fold purpose: first, to avoid an assault, which he knew +would be successful, and second, to prevent the capture taking place on +the great national holiday, the anniversary of the Declaration of +American Independence. Holding out for better terms as he did he +defeated his aim in the latter particular. + +At the appointed hour the garrison of Vicksburg marched out of their +works and formed line in front, stacked arms and marched back in good +order. Our whole army present witnessed this scene without cheering. +Logan's division, which had approached nearest the rebel works, was the +first to march in; and the flag of one of the regiments of his division +was soon floating over the court-house. Our soldiers were no sooner +inside the lines than the two armies began to fraternize. Our men had +had full rations from the time the siege commenced, to the close. The +enemy had been suffering, particularly towards the last. I myself saw +our men taking bread from their haversacks and giving it to the enemy +they had so recently been engaged in starving out. It was accepted with +avidity and with thanks. + +Pemberton says in his report: + +"If it should be asked why the 4th of July was selected as the day for +surrender, the answer is obvious. I believed that upon that day I +should obtain better terms. Well aware of the vanity of our foe, I knew +they would attach vast importance to the entrance on the 4th of July +into the stronghold of the great river, and that, to gratify their +national vanity, they would yield then what could not be extorted from +them at any other time." + +This does not support my view of his reasons for selecting the day he +did for surrendering. But it must be recollected that his first letter +asking terms was received about 10 o'clock A.M., July 3d. It then could +hardly be expected that it would take twenty-four hours to effect a +surrender. He knew that Johnston was in our rear for the purpose of +raising the siege, and he naturally would want to hold out as long as he +could. He knew his men would not resist an assault, and one was +expected on the fourth. In our interview he told me he had rations +enough to hold out for some time--my recollection is two weeks. It was +this statement that induced me to insert in the terms that he was to +draw rations for his men from his own supplies. + +On the 4th of July General Holmes, with an army of eight or nine +thousand men belonging to the trans-Mississippi department, made an +attack upon Helena, Arkansas. He was totally defeated by General +Prentiss, who was holding Helena with less than forty-two hundred +soldiers. Holmes reported his loss at 1,636, of which 173 were killed; +but as Prentiss buried 400, Holmes evidently understated his losses. +The Union loss was 57 killed, 127 wounded, and between 30 and 40 +missing. This was the last effort on the part of the Confederacy to +raise the siege of Vicksburg. + +On the third, as soon as negotiations were commenced, I notified Sherman +and directed him to be ready to take the offensive against Johnston, +drive him out of the State and destroy his army if he could. Steele and +Ord were directed at the same time to be in readiness to join Sherman as +soon as the surrender took place. Of this Sherman was notified. + +I rode into Vicksburg with the troops, and went to the river to exchange +congratulations with the navy upon our joint victory. At that time I +found that many of the citizens had been living under ground. The +ridges upon which Vicksburg is built, and those back to the Big Black, +are composed of a deep yellow clay of great tenacity. Where roads and +streets are cut through, perpendicular banks are left and stand as well +as if composed of stone. The magazines of the enemy were made by +running passage-ways into this clay at places where there were deep +cuts. Many citizens secured places of safety for their families by +carving out rooms in these embankments. A door-way in these cases would +be cut in a high bank, starting from the level of the road or street, +and after running in a few feet a room of the size required was carved +out of the clay, the dirt being removed by the door-way. In some +instances I saw where two rooms were cut out, for a single family, with +a door-way in the clay wall separating them. Some of these were +carpeted and furnished with considerable elaboration. In these the +occupants were fully secure from the shells of the navy, which were +dropped into the city night and dav without intermission. + +I returned to my old headquarters outside in the afternoon, and did not +move into the town until the sixth. On the afternoon of the fourth I +sent Captain Wm. M. Dunn of my staff to Cairo, the nearest point where +the telegraph could be reached, with a dispatch to the general-in-chief. +It was as follows: + +"The enemy surrendered this morning. The only terms allowed is their +parole as prisoners of war. This I regard as a great advantage to us at +this moment. It saves, probably, several days in the capture, and +leaves troops and transports ready for immediate service. Sherman, with +a large force, moves immediately on Johnston, to drive him from the +State. I will send troops to the relief of Banks, and return the 9th +army corps to Burnside." + +This news, with the victory at Gettysburg won the same day, lifted a +great load of anxiety from the minds of the President, his Cabinet and +the loyal people all over the North. The fate of the Confederacy was +sealed when Vicksburg fell. Much hard fighting was to be done +afterwards and many precious lives were to be sacrificed; but the MORALE +was with the supporters of the Union ever after. + +I at the same time wrote to General Banks informing him of the fall and +sending him a copy of the terms; also saying I would send him all the +troops he wanted to insure the capture of the only foothold the enemy +now had on the Mississippi River. General Banks had a number of copies +of this letter printed, or at least a synopsis of it, and very soon a +copy fell into the hands of General Gardner, who was then in command of +Port Hudson. Gardner at once sent a letter to the commander of the +National forces saying that he had been informed of the surrender of +Vicksburg and telling how the information reached him. He added that if +this was true, it was useless for him to hold out longer. General Banks +gave him assurances that Vicksburg had been surrendered, and General +Gardner surrendered unconditionally on the 9th of July. Port Hudson +with nearly 6,000 prisoners, 51 guns, 5,000 small-arms and other stores +fell into the hands of the Union forces: from that day to the close of +the rebellion the Mississippi River, from its source to its mouth, +remained in the control of the National troops. + +Pemberton and his army were kept in Vicksburg until the whole could be +paroled. The paroles were in duplicate, by organization (one copy for +each, Federals and Confederates), and signed by the commanding officers +of the companies or regiments. Duplicates were also made for each +soldier and signed by each individually, one to be retained by the +soldier signing and one to be retained by us. Several hundred refused +to sign their paroles, preferring to be sent to the North as prisoners +to being sent back to fight again. Others again kept out of the way, +hoping to escape either alternative. + +Pemberton appealed to me in person to compel these men to sign their +paroles, but I declined. It also leaked out that many of the men who +had signed their paroles, intended to desert and go to their homes as +soon as they got out of our lines. Pemberton hearing this, again +appealed to me to assist him. He wanted arms for a battalion, to act as +guards in keeping his men together while being marched to a camp of +instruction, where he expected to keep them until exchanged. This +request was also declined. It was precisely what I expected and hoped +that they would do. I told him, however, that I would see that they +marched beyond our lines in good order. By the eleventh, just one week +after the surrender, the paroles were completed and the Confederate +garrison marched out. Many deserted, and fewer of them were ever +returned to the ranks to fight again than would have been the case had +the surrender been unconditional and the prisoners sent to the James +River to be paroled. + +As soon as our troops took possession of the city guards were +established along the whole line of parapet, from the river above to the +river below. The prisoners were allowed to occupy their old camps +behind the intrenchments. No restraint was put upon them, except by +their own commanders. They were rationed about as our own men, and from +our supplies. The men of the two armies fraternized as if they had been +fighting for the same cause. When they passed out of the works they had +so long and so gallantly defended, between lines of their late +antagonists, not a cheer went up, not a remark was made that would give +pain. Really, I believe there was a feeling of sadness just then in the +breasts of most of the Union soldiers at seeing the dejection of their +late antagonists. + +The day before the departure the following order was issued: + +"Paroled prisoners will be sent out of here to-morrow. They will be +authorized to cross at the railroad bridge, and move from there to +Edward's Ferry, (*14) and on by way of Raymond. Instruct the commands to +be orderly and quiet as these prisoners pass, to make no offensive +remarks, and not to harbor any who fall out of ranks after they have +passed." + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +RETROSPECT OF THE CAMPAIGN--SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS--PROPOSED MOVEMENT UPON +MOBILE--A PAINFUL ACCIDENT--ORDERED TO REPORT AT CAIRO. + +The capture of Vicksburg, with its garrison, ordnance and ordnance +stores, and the successful battles fought in reaching them, gave new +spirit to the loyal people of the North. New hopes for the final +success of the cause of the Union were inspired. The victory gained at +Gettysburg, upon the same day, added to their hopes. Now the +Mississippi River was entirely in the possession of the National troops; +for the fall of Vicksburg gave us Port Hudson at once. The army of +northern Virginia was driven out of Pennsylvania and forced back to +about the same ground it occupied in 1861. The Army of the Tennessee +united with the Army of the Gulf, dividing the Confederate States +completely. + +The first dispatch I received from the government after the fall of +Vicksburg was in these words: + +"I fear your paroling the prisoners at Vicksburg, without actual +delivery to a proper agent as required by the seventh article of the +cartel, may be construed into an absolute release, and that the men will +immediately be placed in the ranks of the enemy. Such has been the case +elsewhere. If these prisoners have not been allowed to depart, you will +detain them until further orders." + +Halleck did not know that they had already been delivered into the hands +of Major Watts, Confederate commissioner for the exchange of prisoners. + +At Vicksburg 31,600 prisoners were surrendered, together with 172 cannon +about 60,000 muskets and a large amount of ammunition. The small-arms +of the enemy were far superior to the bulk of ours. Up to this time our +troops at the West had been limited to the old United States flint-lock +muskets changed into percussion, or the Belgian musket imported early in +the war--almost as dangerous to the person firing it as to the one aimed +at--and a few new and improved arms. These were of many different +calibers, a fact that caused much trouble in distributing ammunition +during an engagement. The enemy had generally new arms which had run +the blockade and were of uniform caliber. After the surrender I +authorized all colonels whose regiments were armed with inferior +muskets, to place them in the stack of captured arms and replace them +with the latter. A large number of arms turned in to the Ordnance +Department as captured, were thus arms that had really been used by the +Union army in the capture of Vicksburg. + +In this narrative I have not made the mention I should like of officers, +dead and alive, whose services entitle them to special mention. Neither +have I made that mention of the navy which its services deserve. +Suffice it to say, the close of the siege of Vicksburg found us with an +army unsurpassed, in proportion to its numbers, taken as a whole of +officers and men. A military education was acquired which no other +school could have given. Men who thought a company was quite enough for +them to command properly at the beginning, would have made good +regimental or brigade commanders; most of the brigade commanders were +equal to the command of a division, and one, Ransom, would have been +equal to the command of a corps at least. Logan and Crocker ended the +campaign fitted to command independent armies. + +General F. P. Blair joined me at Milliken's Bend a full-fledged general, +without having served in a lower grade. He commanded a division in the +campaign. I had known Blair in Missouri, where I had voted against him +in 1858 when he ran for Congress. I knew him as a frank, positive and +generous man, true to his friends even to a fault, but always a leader. +I dreaded his coming; I knew from experience that it was more difficult +to command two generals desiring to be leaders than it was to command +one army officered intelligently and with subordination. It affords me +the greatest pleasure to record now my agreeable disappointment in +respect to his character. There was no man braver than he, nor was +there any who obeyed all orders of his superior in rank with more +unquestioning alacrity. He was one man as a soldier, another as a +politician. + +The navy under Porter was all it could be, during the entire campaign. +Without its assistance the campaign could not have been successfully +made with twice the number of men engaged. It could not have been made +at all, in the way it was, with any number of men without such +assistance. The most perfect harmony reigned between the two arms of +the service. There never was a request made, that I am aware of, either +of the flag-officer or any of his subordinates, that was not promptly +complied with. + +The campaign of Vicksburg was suggested and developed by circumstances. +The elections of 1862 had gone against the prosecution of the war. +Voluntary enlistments had nearly ceased and the draft had been resorted +to; this was resisted, and a defeat or backward movement would have made +its execution impossible. A forward movement to a decisive victory was +necessary. Accordingly I resolved to get below Vicksburg, unite with +Banks against Port Hudson, make New Orleans a base and, with that base +and Grand Gulf as a starting point, move our combined forces against +Vicksburg. Upon reaching Grand Gulf, after running its batteries and +fighting a battle, I received a letter from Banks informing me that he +could not be at Port Hudson under ten days, and then with only fifteen +thousand men. The time was worth more than the reinforcements; I +therefore determined to push into the interior of the enemy's country. + +With a large river behind us, held above and below by the enemy, rapid +movements were essential to success. Jackson was captured the day after +a new commander had arrived, and only a few days before large +reinforcements were expected. A rapid movement west was made; the +garrison of Vicksburg was met in two engagements and badly defeated, and +driven back into its stronghold and there successfully besieged. It +looks now as though Providence had directed the course of the campaign +while the Army of the Tennessee executed the decree. + +Upon the surrender of the garrison of Vicksburg there were three things +that required immediate attention. The first was to send a force to +drive the enemy from our rear, and out of the State. The second was to +send reinforcements to Banks near Port Hudson, if necessary, to complete +the triumph of opening the Mississippi from its source to its mouth to +the free navigation of vessels bearing the Stars and Stripes. The third +was to inform the authorities at Washington and the North of the good +news, to relieve their long suspense and strengthen their confidence in +the ultimate success of the cause they had so much at heart. + +Soon after negotiations were opened with General Pemberton for the +surrender of the city, I notified Sherman, whose troops extended from +Haines' Bluff on the left to the crossing of the Vicksburg and Jackson +road over the Big Black on the right, and directed him to hold his +command in readiness to advance and drive the enemy from the State as +soon as Vicksburg surrendered. Steele and Ord were directed to be in +readiness to join Sherman in his move against General Johnston, and +Sherman was advised of this also. Sherman moved promptly, crossing the +Big Black at three different points with as many columns, all +concentrating at Bolton, twenty miles west of Jackson. + +Johnston heard of the surrender of Vicksburg almost as soon as it +occurred, and immediately fell back on Jackson. On the 8th of July +Sherman was within ten miles of Jackson and on the 11th was close up to +the defences of the city and shelling the town. The siege was kept up +until the morning of the 17th, when it was found that the enemy had +evacuated during the night. The weather was very hot, the roads dusty +and the water bad. Johnston destroyed the roads as he passed and had so +much the start that pursuit was useless; but Sherman sent one division, +Steele's, to Brandon, fourteen miles east of Jackson. + +The National loss in the second capture of Jackson was less than one +thousand men, killed, wounded and missing. The Confederate loss was +probably less, except in captured. More than this number fell into our +hands as prisoners. + +Medicines and food were left for the Confederate wounded and sick who +had to be left behind. A large amount of rations was issued to the +families that remained in Jackson. Medicine and food were also sent to +Raymond for the destitute families as well as the sick and wounded, as I +thought it only fair that we should return to these people some of the +articles we had taken while marching through the country. I wrote to +Sherman: "Impress upon the men the importance of going through the State +in an orderly manner, abstaining from taking anything not absolutely +necessary for their subsistence while travelling. They should try to +create as favorable an impression as possible upon the people." +Provisions and forage, when called for by them, were issued to all the +people, from Bruinsburg to Jackson and back to Vicksburg, whose +resources had been taken for the supply of our army. Very large +quantities of groceries and provisions were so issued. + +Sherman was ordered back to Vicksburg, and his troops took much the same +position they had occupied before--from the Big Black to Haines' Bluff. +Having cleaned up about Vicksburg and captured or routed all regular +Confederate forces for more than a hundred miles in all directions, I +felt that the troops that had done so much should be allowed to do more +before the enemy could recover from the blow he had received, and while +important points might be captured without bloodshed. I suggested to +the General-in-chief the idea of a campaign against Mobile, starting +from Lake Pontchartrain. Halleck preferred another course. The +possession of the trans-Mississippi by the Union forces seemed to +possess more importance in his mind than almost any campaign east of the +Mississippi. I am well aware that the President was very anxious to +have a foothold in Texas, to stop the clamor of some of the foreign +governments which seemed to be seeking a pretext to interfere in the +war, at least so far as to recognize belligerent rights to the +Confederate States. This, however, could have been easily done without +wasting troops in western Louisiana and eastern Texas, by sending a +garrison at once to Brownsville on the Rio Grande. + +Halleck disapproved of my proposition to go against Mobile, so that I +was obliged to settle down and see myself put again on the defensive as +I had been a year before in west Tennessee. It would have been an easy +thing to capture Mobile at the time I proposed to go there. Having that +as a base of operations, troops could have been thrown into the interior +to operate against General Bragg's army. This would necessarily have +compelled Bragg to detach in order to meet this fire in his rear. If he +had not done this the troops from Mobile could have inflicted +inestimable damage upon much of the country from which his army and +Lee's were yet receiving their supplies. I was so much impressed with +this idea that I renewed my request later in July and again about the +1st of August, and proposed sending all the troops necessary, asking +only the assistance of the navy to protect the debarkation of troops at +or near Mobile. I also asked for a leave of absence to visit New +Orleans, particularly if my suggestion to move against Mobile should be +approved. Both requests were refused. So far as my experience with +General Halleck went it was very much easier for him to refuse a favor +than to grant one. But I did not regard this as a favor. It was simply +in line of duty, though out of my department. + +The General-in-chief having decided against me, the depletion of an +army, which had won a succession of great victories, commenced, as had +been the case the year before after the fall of Corinth when the army +was sent where it would do the least good. By orders, I sent to Banks a +force of 4,000 men; returned the 9th corps to Kentucky and, when +transportation had been collected, started a division of 5,000 men to +Schofield in Missouri where Price was raiding the State. I also +detached a brigade under Ransom to Natchez, to garrison that place +permanently. This latter move was quite fortunate as to the time when +Ransom arrived there. The enemy happened to have a large number, about +5,000 head, of beef cattle there on the way from Texas to feed the +Eastern armies, and also a large amount of munitions of war which had +probably come through Texas from the Rio Grande and which were on the +way to Lee's and other armies in the East. + +The troops that were left with me around Vicksburg were very busily and +unpleasantly employed in making expeditions against guerilla bands and +small detachments of cavalry which infested the interior, and in +destroying mills, bridges and rolling stock on the railroads. The +guerillas and cavalry were not there to fight but to annoy, and +therefore disappeared on the first approach of our troops. + +The country back of Vicksburg was filled with deserters from Pemberton's +army and, it was reported, many from Johnston's also. The men +determined not to fight again while the war lasted. Those who lived +beyond the reach of the Confederate army wanted to get to their homes. +Those who did not, wanted to get North where they could work for their +support till the war was over. Besides all this there was quite a peace +feeling, for the time being, among the citizens of that part of +Mississippi, but this feeling soon subsided. It is not probable that +Pemberton got off with over 4,000 of his army to the camp where he +proposed taking them, and these were in a demoralized condition. + +On the 7th of August I further depleted my army by sending the 13th +corps, General Ord commanding, to Banks. Besides this I received orders +to co-operate with the latter general in movements west of the +Mississippi. Having received this order I went to New Orleans to confer +with Banks about the proposed movement. All these movements came to +naught. + +During this visit I reviewed Banks' army a short distance above +Carrollton. The horse I rode was vicious and but little used, and on my +return to New Orleans ran away and, shying at a locomotive in the +street, fell, probably on me. I was rendered insensible, and when I +regained consciousness I found myself in a hotel near by with several +doctors attending me. My leg was swollen from the knee to the thigh, +and the swelling, almost to the point of bursting, extended along the +body up to the arm-pit. The pain was almost beyond endurance. I lay at +the hotel something over a week without being able to turn myself in +bed. I had a steamer stop at the nearest point possible, and was +carried to it on a litter. I was then taken to Vicksburg, where I +remained unable to move for some time afterwards. + +While I was absent General Sherman declined to assume command because, +he said, it would confuse the records; but he let all the orders be made +in my name, and was glad to render any assistance he could. No orders +were issued by my staff, certainly no important orders, except upon +consultation with and approval of Sherman. + +On the 13th of September, while I was still in New Orleans, Halleck +telegraphed to me to send all available forces to Memphis and thence to +Tuscumbia, to co-operate with Rosecrans for the relief of Chattanooga. +On the 15th he telegraphed again for all available forces to go to +Rosecrans. This was received on the 27th. I was still confined to my +bed, unable to rise from it without assistance; but I at once ordered +Sherman to send one division to Memphis as fast as transports could be +provided. The division of McPherson's corps, which had got off and was +on the way to join Steele in Arkansas, was recalled and sent, likewise, +to report to Hurlbut at Memphis. Hurlbut was directed to forward these +two divisions with two others from his own corps at once, and also to +send any other troops that might be returning there. Halleck suggested +that some good man, like Sherman or McPherson, should be sent to Memphis +to take charge of the troops going east. On this I sent Sherman, as +being, I thought, the most suitable person for an independent command, +and besides he was entitled to it if it had to be given to any one. He +was directed to take with him another division of his corps. This left +one back, but having one of McPherson's divisions he had still the +equivalent. + +Before the receipt by me of these orders the battle of Chickamauga had +been fought and Rosecrans forced back into Chattanooga. The +administration as well as the General-in-chief was nearly frantic at the +situation of affairs there. Mr. Charles A. Dana, an officer of the War +Department, was sent to Rosecrans' headquarters. I do not know what his +instructions were, but he was still in Chattanooga when I arrived there +at a later period. + +It seems that Halleck suggested that I should go to Nashville as soon as +able to move and take general direction of the troops moving from the +west. I received the following dispatch dated October 3d: "It is the +wish of the Secretary of War that as soon as General Grant is able he +will come to Cairo and report by telegraph." I was still very lame, but +started without delay. Arriving at Columbus on the 16th I reported by +telegraph: "Your dispatch from Cairo of the 3d directing me to report +from Cairo was received at 11.30 on the 10th. Left the same day with +staff and headquarters and am here en route for Cairo." + +END OF VOLUME I. + + + + + +PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF U. S. GRANT + +VOLUME II. + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER XL. FIRST MEETING WITH SECRETARY STANTON--GENERAL ROSECRANS +--COMMANDING MILITARY DIVISION OF MISSISSIPPI--ANDREW JOHNSON'S ADDRESS +--ARRIVAL AT CHATTANOOGA. + +CHAPTER XLI. ASSUMING THE COMMAND AT CHATTANOOGA--OPENING A LINE OF +SUPPLIES--BATTLE OF WAUHATCHIE--ON THE PICKET LINE. + +CHAPTER XLII. CONDITION OF THE ARMY--REBUILDING THE RAILROAD--GENERAL +BURNSIDE'S SITUATION--ORDERS FOR BATTLE--PLANS FOR THE ATTACK--HOOKER'S +POSITION--SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS. + +CHAPTER XLIII. PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE--THOMAS CARRIES THE FIRST LINE OF +THE ENEMY--SHERMAN CARRIES MISSIONARY RIDGE--BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN +--GENERAL HOOKER'S FIGHT. + +CHAPTER XLIV. BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA--A GALLANT CHARGE--COMPLETE ROUT OF +THE ENEMY--PURSUIT OF THE CONFEDERATES--GENERAL BRAGG--REMARKS ON +CHATTANOOGA. + +CHAPTER XLV. THE RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE--HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO NASHVILLE +--VISITING KNOXVILLE--CIPHER DISPATCHES--WITHHOLDING ORDERS. + +CHAPTER XLVI. OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI--LONGSTREET IN EAST TENNESSEE +--COMMISSIONED LIEUTENANT-GENERAL--COMMANDING THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED +STATES--FIRST INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT LINCOLN. + +CHAPTER XLVII. THE MILITARY SITUATION--PLANS FOR THE CAMPAIGN--SHERIDAN +ASSIGNED TO COMMAND OF THE CAVALRY--FLANK MOVEMENTS--FORREST AT FORT +PILLOW--GENERAL BANKS'S EXPEDITION--COLONEL MOSBY--AN INCIDENT OF THE +WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN. + +CHAPTER XLVIII. COMMENCEMENT OF THE GRAND CAMPAIGN--GENERAL BUTLER'S +POSITION--SHERIDAN'S FIRST RAID. + +CHAPTER XLIX. SHERMAN S CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SIEGE OF ATLANTA--DEATH OF +GENERAL MCPHERSON--ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ANDERSONVILLE--CAPTURE OF ATLANTA. + +CHAPTER L. GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC--CROSSING THE +RAPIDAN--ENTERING THE WILDERNESS--BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. + +CHAPTER LI. AFTER THE BATTLE--TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL SERVICE--MOVEMENT BY +THE LEFT FLANK. + +CHAPTER LII. BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA--HANCOCK'S POSITION--ASSAULT OF +WARREN'S AND WRIGHT'S CORPS--UPTON PROMOTED ON THE FIELD--GOOD NEWS FROM +BUTLER AND SHERIDAN. + +CHAPTER LIII. HANCOCK'S ASSAULT--LOSSES OF THE CONFEDERATES--PROMOTIONS +RECOMMENDED--DISCOMFITURE OF THE ENEMY--EWELL'S ATTACK--REDUCING THE +ARTILLERY. + +CHAPTER LIV. MOVEMENT BY THE LEFT FLANK--BATTLE OF NORTH ANNA--AN +INCIDENT OF THE MARCH--MOVING ON RICHMOND--SOUTH OF THE PAMUNKEY +--POSITION OF THE NATIONAL ARMY. + +CHAPTER LV. ADVANCE ON COLD HARBOR--AN ANECDOTE OF THE WAR--BATTLE OF +COLD HARBOR--CORRESPONDENCE WITH LEE RETROSPECTIVE. + +CHAPTER LVI. LEFT FLANK MOVEMENT ACROSS THE CHICKAHOMINY AND JAMES +--GENERAL LEE--VISIT TO BUTLER--THE MOVEMENT ON PETERSBURG +--THE INVESTMENT OF PETERSBURG. + +CHAPTER LVII. RAID ON THE VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILROAD--RAID ON THE WELDON +RAILROAD--EARLY'S MOVEMENT UPON WASHINGTON--MINING THE WORKS BEFORE +PETERSBURG--EXPLOSION OF THE MINE BEFORE PETERSBURG--CAMPAIGN IN THE +SHENANDOAH VALLEY--CAPTURE OF THE WELDON RAILROAD. + +CHAPTER LVIII. SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE--VISIT TO SHERIDAN--SHERIDAN'S VICTORY +IN THE SHENANDOAH--SHERIDAN'S RIDE TO WINCHESTER--CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN +FOR THE WINTER. + +CHAPTER LIX. THE CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA--WAR +ANECDOTES--THE MARCH ON SAVANNAH--INVESTMENT OF SAVANNAH--CAPTURE OF +SAVANNAH. + +CHAPTER LX. THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN--THE BATTLE OF NASHVILLE + +CHAPTER LXI. EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT FISHER--ATTACK ON THE FORT--FAILURE +OF THE EXPEDITION--SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FORT--CAPTURE OF FORT +FISHER. + +CHAPTER LXII. SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH--SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG +--CANBY ORDERED TO MOVE AGAINST MOBILE--MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND THOMAS +--CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA--SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS. + +CHAPTER LXIII. ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS--LINCOLN AND THE PEACE +COMMISSIONERS--AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN--THE WINTER BEFORE PETERSBURG +--SHERIDAN DESTROYS THE RAILROAD--GORDON CARRIES THE PICKET LINE--PARKE +RECAPTURES THE LINE--THE BATTLE OF WHITE OAK ROAD. + +CHAPTER LXIV. INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN--GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE +POTOMAC--SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS--BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS--PARKE +AND WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE--BATTLES BEFORE PETERSBURG. + +CHAPTER LXV. THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG--MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN +PETERSBURG--THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND--PURSUING THE ENEMY--VISIT TO +SHERIDAN AND MEADE. + +CHAPTER LXVI. BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--ENGAGEMENT AT FARMVILLE +--CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL LEE--SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS THE ENEMY. + +CHAPTER LXVII. NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT +MCLEAN'S HOUSE--THE TERMS OF SURRENDER--LEE'S SURRENDER--INTERVIEW WITH +LEE AFTER THE SURRENDER. + +CHAPTER LXVIII. MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES--RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE +NORTH AND SOUTH--PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND--ARRIVAL AT +WASHINGTON--PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION--PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S +POLICY. + +CHAPTER LXIX. SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON--JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN +--CAPTURE OF MOBILE--WILSON'S EXPEDITION--CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS +--GENERAL THOMAS'S QUALITIES--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY. + +CHAPTER LXX. THE END OF THE WAR--THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON--ONE OF +LINCOLN'S ANECDOTES--GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON--CHARACTERISTICS OF +LINCOLN AND STANTON--ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS. + +CONCLUSION + +APPENDIX + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +FIRST MEETING WITH SECRETARY STANTON--GENERAL ROSECRANS--COMMANDING +MILITARY DIVISION OF MISSISSIPPI--ANDREW JOHNSON'S ADDRESS--ARRIVAL AT +CHATTANOOGA. + +The reply (to my telegram of October 16, 1863, from Cairo, announcing my +arrival at that point) came on the morning of the 17th, directing me to +proceed immediately to the Galt House, Louisville, where I would meet an +officer of the War Department with my instructions. I left Cairo within +an hour or two after the receipt of this dispatch, going by rail via +Indianapolis. Just as the train I was on was starting out of the depot +at Indianapolis a messenger came running up to stop it, saying the +Secretary of War was coming into the station and wanted to see me. + +I had never met Mr. Stanton up to that time, though we had held frequent +conversations over the wires the year before, when I was in Tennessee. +Occasionally at night he would order the wires between the War +Department and my headquarters to be connected, and we would hold a +conversation for an hour or two. On this occasion the Secretary was +accompanied by Governor Brough of Ohio, whom I had never met, though he +and my father had been old acquaintances. Mr. Stanton dismissed the +special train that had brought him to Indianapolis, and accompanied me +to Louisville. + +Up to this time no hint had been given me of what was wanted after I +left Vicksburg, except the suggestion in one of Halleck's dispatches +that I had better go to Nashville and superintend the operation of +troops sent to relieve Rosecrans. Soon after we started the Secretary +handed me two orders, saying that I might take my choice of them. The +two were identical in all but one particular. Both created the +"Military Division of Mississippi," (giving me the command) composed of +the Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the Tennessee, and all +the territory from the Alleghanies to the Mississippi River north of +Banks's command in the south-west. One order left the department +commanders as they were, while the other relieved Rosecrans and assigned +Thomas to his place. I accepted the latter. We reached Louisville +after night and, if I remember rightly, in a cold, drizzling rain. The +Secretary of War told me afterwards that he caught a cold on that +occasion from which he never expected to recover. He never did. + +A day was spent in Louisville, the Secretary giving me the military news +at the capital and talking about the disappointment at the results of +some of the campaigns. By the evening of the day after our arrival all +matters of discussion seemed exhausted, and I left the hotel to spend +the evening away, both Mrs. Grant (who was with me) and myself having +relatives living in Louisville. In the course of the evening Mr. +Stanton received a dispatch from Mr. C. A. Dana, then in Chattanooga, +informing him that unless prevented Rosecrans would retreat, and +advising peremptory orders against his doing so. + +As stated before, after the fall of Vicksburg I urged strongly upon the +government the propriety of a movement against Mobile. General +Rosecrans had been at Murfreesboro', Tennessee, with a large and +well-equipped army from early in the year 1863, with Bragg confronting +him with a force quite equal to his own at first, considering it was on +the defensive. But after the investment of Vicksburg Bragg's army was +largely depleted to strengthen Johnston, in Mississippi, who was being +reinforced to raise the siege. I frequently wrote General Halleck +suggesting that Rosecrans should move against Bragg. By so doing he +would either detain the latter's troops where they were or lay +Chattanooga open to capture. General Halleck strongly approved the +suggestion, and finally wrote me that he had repeatedly ordered +Rosecrans to advance, but that the latter had constantly failed to +comply with the order, and at last, after having held a council of war, +had replied in effect that it was a military maxim "not to fight two +decisive battles at the same time." If true, the maxim was not +applicable in this case. It would be bad to be defeated in two decisive +battles fought the same day, but it would not be bad to win them. I, +however, was fighting no battle, and the siege of Vicksburg had drawn +from Rosecrans' front so many of the enemy that his chances of victory +were much greater than they would be if he waited until the siege was +over, when these troops could be returned. Rosecrans was ordered to +move against the army that was detaching troops to raise the siege. +Finally he did move, on the 24th of June, but ten days afterwards +Vicksburg surrendered, and the troops sent from Bragg were free to +return. + +It was at this time that I recommended to the general-in-chief the +movement against Mobile. I knew the peril the Army of the Cumberland +was in, being depleted continually, not only by ordinary casualties, but +also by having to detach troops to hold its constantly extending line +over which to draw supplies, while the enemy in front was as constantly +being strengthened. Mobile was important to the enemy, and in the +absence of a threatening force was guarded by little else than +artillery. If threatened by land and from the water at the same time +the prize would fall easily, or troops would have to be sent to its +defence. Those troops would necessarily come from Bragg. My judgment +was overruled, and the troops under my command were dissipated over +other parts of the country where it was thought they could render the +most service. + +Soon it was discovered in Washington that Rosecrans was in trouble and +required assistance. The emergency was now too immediate to allow us to +give this assistance by making an attack in rear of Bragg upon Mobile. +It was therefore necessary to reinforce directly, and troops were sent +from every available point. + +Rosecrans had very skilfully manoeuvred Bragg south of the Tennessee +River, and through and beyond Chattanooga. If he had stopped and +intrenched, and made himself strong there, all would have been right and +the mistake of not moving earlier partially compensated. But he pushed +on, with his forces very much scattered, until Bragg's troops from +Mississippi began to join him. Then Bragg took the initiative. +Rosecrans had to fall back in turn, and was able to get his army +together at Chickamauga, some miles south-east of Chattanooga, before +the main battle was brought on. The battle was fought on the 19th and +20th of September, and Rosecrans was badly defeated, with a heavy loss +in artillery and some sixteen thousand men killed, wounded and captured. +The corps under Major-General George H. Thomas stood its ground, while +Rosecrans, with Crittenden and McCook, returned to Chattanooga. Thomas +returned also, but later, and with his troops in good order. Bragg +followed and took possession of Missionary Ridge, overlooking +Chattanooga. He also occupied Lookout Mountain, west of the town, which +Rosecrans had abandoned, and with it his control of the river and the +river road as far back as Bridgeport. The National troops were now +strongly intrenched in Chattanooga Valley, with the Tennessee River +behind them and the enemy occupying commanding heights to the east and +west, with a strong line across the valley from mountain to mountain, +and with Chattanooga Creek, for a large part of the way, in front of +their line. + +On the 29th Halleck telegraphed me the above results, and directed all +the forces that could be spared from my department to be sent to +Rosecrans. Long before this dispatch was received Sherman was on his +way, and McPherson was moving east with most of the garrison of +Vicksburg. + +A retreat at that time would have been a terrible disaster. It would +not only have been the loss of a most important strategic position to +us, but it would have been attended with the loss of all the artillery +still left with the Army of the Cumberland and the annihilation of that +army itself, either by capture or demoralization. + +All supplies for Rosecrans had to be brought from Nashville. The +railroad between this base and the army was in possession of the +government up to Bridgeport, the point at which the road crosses to the +south side of the Tennessee River; but Bragg, holding Lookout and +Raccoon mountains west of Chattanooga, commanded the railroad, the river +and the shortest and best wagon-roads, both south and north of the +Tennessee, between Chattanooga and Bridgeport. The distance between +these two places is but twenty-six miles by rail, but owing to the +position of Bragg, all supplies for Rosecrans had to be hauled by a +circuitous route north of the river and over a mountainous country, +increasing the distance to over sixty miles. + +This country afforded but little food for his animals, nearly ten +thousand of which had already starved, and not enough were left to draw +a single piece of artillery or even the ambulances to convey the sick. +The men had been on half rations of hard bread for a considerable time, +with but few other supplies except beef driven from Nashville across the +country. The region along the road became so exhausted of food for the +cattle that by the time they reached Chattanooga they were much in the +condition of the few animals left alive there--"on the lift." Indeed, +the beef was so poor that the soldiers were in the habit of saying, with +a faint facetiousness, that they were living on "half rations of hard +bread and BEEF DRIED ON THE HOOF." + +Nothing could be transported but food, and the troops were without +sufficient shoes or other clothing suitable for the advancing season. +What they had was well worn. The fuel within the Federal lines was +exhausted, even to the stumps of trees. There were no teams to draw it +from the opposite bank, where it was abundant. The only way of +supplying fuel, for some time before my arrival, had been to cut trees +on the north bank of the river at a considerable distance up the stream, +form rafts of it and float it down with the current, effecting a landing +on the south side within our lines by the use of paddles or poles. It +would then be carried on the shoulders of the men to their camps. + +If a retreat had occurred at this time it is not probable that any of +the army would have reached the railroad as an organized body, if +followed by the enemy. + +On the receipt of Mr. Dana's dispatch Mr. Stanton sent for me. Finding +that I was out he became nervous and excited, inquiring of every person +he met, including guests of the house, whether they knew where I was, +and bidding them find me and send me to him at once. About eleven +o'clock I returned to the hotel, and on my way, when near the house, +every person met was a messenger from the Secretary, apparently +partaking of his impatience to see me. I hastened to the room of the +Secretary and found him pacing the floor rapidly in his dressing-gown. +Saying that the retreat must be prevented, he showed me the dispatch. I +immediately wrote an order assuming command of the Military Division of +the Mississippi, and telegraphed it to General Rosecrans. I then +telegraphed to him the order from Washington assigning Thomas to the +command of the Army of the Cumberland; and to Thomas that he must hold +Chattanooga at all hazards, informing him at the same time that I would +be at the front as soon as possible. A prompt reply was received from +Thomas, saying, "We will hold the town till we starve." I appreciated +the force of this dispatch later when I witnessed the condition of +affairs which prompted it. It looked, indeed, as if but two courses +were open: one to starve, the other to surrender or be captured. + +On the morning of the 20th of October I started, with my staff, and +proceeded as far as Nashville. At that time it was not prudent to +travel beyond that point by night, so I remained in Nashville until the +next morning. Here I met for the first time Andrew Johnson, Military +Governor of Tennessee. He delivered a speech of welcome. His composure +showed that it was by no means his maiden effort. It was long, and I +was in torture while he was delivering it, fearing something would be +expected from me in response. I was relieved, however, the people +assembled having apparently heard enough. At all events they commenced +a general hand-shaking, which, although trying where there is so much of +it, was a great relief to me in this emergency. + +From Nashville I telegraphed to Burnside, who was then at Knoxville, +that important points in his department ought to be fortified, so that +they could be held with the least number of men; to Admiral Porter at +Cairo, that Sherman's advance had passed Eastport, Mississippi, that +rations were probably on their way from St. Louis by boat for supplying +his army, and requesting him to send a gunboat to convoy them; and to +Thomas, suggesting that large parties should be put at work on the +wagon-road then in use back to Bridgeport. + +On the morning of the 21st we took the train for the front, reaching +Stevenson Alabama, after dark. Rosecrans was there on his way north. +He came into my car and we held a brief interview, in which he described +very clearly the situation at Chattanooga, and made some excellent +suggestions as to what should be done. My only wonder was that he had +not carried them out. We then proceeded to Bridgeport, where we stopped +for the night. From here we took horses and made our way by Jasper and +over Waldron's Ridge to Chattanooga. There had been much rain, and the +roads were almost impassable from mud, knee-deep in places, and from +wash-outs on the mountain sides. I had been on crutches since the time +of my fall in New Orleans, and had to be carried over places where it +was not safe to cross on horseback. The roads were strewn with the +debris of broken wagons and the carcasses of thousands of starved mules +and horses. At Jasper, some ten or twelve miles from Bridgeport, there +was a halt. General O. O. Howard had his headquarters there. From this +point I telegraphed Burnside to make every effort to secure five hundred +rounds of ammunition for his artillery and small-arms. We stopped for +the night at a little hamlet some ten or twelve miles farther on. The +next day we reached Chattanooga a little before dark. I went directly +to General Thomas's headquarters, and remaining there a few days, until +I could establish my own. + +During the evening most of the general officers called in to pay their +respects and to talk about the condition of affairs. They pointed out +on the map the line, marked with a red or blue pencil, which Rosecrans +had contemplated falling back upon. If any of them had approved the +move they did not say so to me. I found General W. F. Smith occupying +the position of chief engineer of the Army of the Cumberland. I had +known Smith as a cadet at West Point, but had no recollection of having +met him after my graduation, in 1843, up to this time. He explained the +situation of the two armies and the topography of the country so plainly +that I could see it without an inspection. I found that he had +established a saw-mill on the banks of the river, by utilizing an old +engine found in the neighborhood; and, by rafting logs from the north +side of the river above, had got out the lumber and completed pontoons +and roadway plank for a second bridge, one flying bridge being there +already. He was also rapidly getting out the materials and constructing +the boats for a third bridge. In addition to this he had far under way +a steamer for plying between Chattanooga and Bridgeport whenever we +might get possession of the river. This boat consisted of a scow, made +of the plank sawed out at the mill, housed in, and a stern wheel +attached which was propelled by a second engine taken from some shop or +factory. + +I telegraphed to Washington this night, notifying General Halleck of my +arrival, and asking to have General Sherman assigned to the command of +the Army of the Tennessee, headquarters in the field. The request was +at once complied with. + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +ASSUMING THE COMMAND AT CHATTANOOGA--OPENING A LINE OF SUPPLIES--BATTLE +OF WAUHATCHIE--ON THE PICKET LINE. + +The next day, the 24th, I started out to make a personal inspection, +taking Thomas and Smith with me, besides most of the members of my +personal staff. We crossed to the north side of the river, and, moving +to the north of detached spurs of hills, reached the Tennessee at +Brown's Ferry, some three miles below Lookout Mountain, unobserved by +the enemy. Here we left our horses back from the river and approached +the water on foot. There was a picket station of the enemy on the +opposite side, of about twenty men, in full view, and we were within +easy range. They did not fire upon us nor seem to be disturbed by our +presence. They must have seen that we were all commissioned officers. +But, I suppose, they looked upon the garrison of Chattanooga as +prisoners of war, feeding or starving themselves, and thought it would +be inhuman to kill any of them except in self-defence. + +That night I issued orders for opening the route to Bridgeport--a +cracker line, as the soldiers appropriately termed it. They had been so +long on short rations that my first thought was the establishment of a +line over which food might reach them. + +Chattanooga is on the south bank of the Tennessee, where that river runs +nearly due west. It is at the northern end of a valley five or six +miles in width, through which Chattanooga Creek runs. To the east of +the valley is Missionary Ridge, rising from five to eight hundred feet +above the creek and terminating somewhat abruptly a half mile or more +before reaching the Tennessee. On the west of the valley is Lookout +Mountain, twenty-two hundred feet above-tide water. Just below the town +the Tennessee makes a turn to the south and runs to the base of Lookout +Mountain, leaving no level ground between the mountain and river. The +Memphis and Charleston Railroad passes this point, where the mountain +stands nearly perpendicular. East of Missionary Ridge flows the South +Chickamauga River; west of Lookout Mountain is Lookout Creek; and west +of that, Raccoon Mountains. Lookout Mountain, at its northern end, +rises almost perpendicularly for some distance, then breaks off in a +gentle slope of cultivated fields to near the summit, where it ends in a +palisade thirty or more feet in height. On the gently sloping ground, +between the upper and lower palisades, there is a single farmhouse, +which is reached by a wagon-road from the valley east. + +The intrenched line of the enemy commenced on the north end of +Missionary Ridge and extended along the crest for some distance south, +thence across Chattanooga valley to Lookout Mountain. Lookout Mountain +was also fortified and held by the enemy, who also kept troops in +Lookout valley west, and on Raccoon Mountain, with pickets extending +down the river so as to command the road on the north bank and render it +useless to us. In addition to this there was an intrenched line in +Chattanooga valley extending from the river east of the town to Lookout +Mountain, to make the investment complete. Besides the fortifications +on Mission Ridge, there was a line at the base of the hill, with +occasional spurs of rifle-pits half-way up the front. The enemy's +pickets extended out into the valley towards the town, so far that the +pickets of the two armies could converse. At one point they were +separated only by the narrow creek which gives its name to the valley +and town, and from which both sides drew water. The Union lines were +shorter than those of the enemy. + +Thus the enemy, with a vastly superior force, was strongly fortified to +the east, south, and west, and commanded the river below. Practically, +the Army of the Cumberland was besieged. The enemy had stopped with his +cavalry north of the river the passing of a train loaded with ammunition +and medical supplies. The Union army was short of both, not having +ammunition enough for a day's fighting. + +General Halleck had, long before my coming into this new field, ordered +parts of the 11th and 12th corps, commanded respectively by Generals +Howard and Slocum, Hooker in command of the whole, from the Army of the +Potomac to reinforce Rosecrans. It would have been folly to send them +to Chattanooga to help eat up the few rations left there. They were +consequently left on the railroad, where supplies could be brought to +them. Before my arrival, Thomas ordered their concentration at +Bridgeport. + +General W. F. Smith had been so instrumental in preparing for the move +which I was now about to make, and so clear in his judgment about the +manner of making it, that I deemed it but just to him that he should +have command of the troops detailed to execute the design, although he +was then acting as a staff officer and was not in command of troops. + +On the 24th of October, after my return to Chattanooga, the following +details were made: General Hooker, who was now at Bridgeport, was +ordered to cross to the south side of the Tennessee and march up by +Whitesides and Wauhatchie to Brown's Ferry. General Palmer, with a +division of the 14th corps, Army of the Cumberland, was ordered to move +down the river on the north side, by a back road, until opposite +Whitesides, then cross and hold the road in Hooker's rear after he had +passed. Four thousand men were at the same time detailed to act under +General Smith directly from Chattanooga. Eighteen hundred of them, under +General Hazen, were to take sixty pontoon boats, and under cover of +night float by the pickets of the enemy at the north base of Lookout, +down to Brown's Ferry, then land on the south side and capture or drive +away the pickets at that point. Smith was to march with the remainder +of the detail, also under cover of night, by the north bank of the river +to Brown's Ferry, taking with him all the material for laying the bridge +as soon as the crossing was secured. + +On the 26th, Hooker crossed the river at Bridgeport and commenced his +eastward march. At three o'clock on the morning of the 27th, Hazen +moved into the stream with his sixty pontoons and eighteen hundred brave +and well-equipped men. Smith started enough in advance to be near the +river when Hazen should arrive. There are a number of detached spurs of +hills north of the river at Chattanooga, back of which is a good road +parallel to the stream, sheltered from the view from the top of Lookout. +It was over this road Smith marched. At five o'clock Hazen landed at +Brown's Ferry, surprised the picket guard, and captured most of it. By +seven o'clock the whole of Smith's force was ferried over and in +possession of a height commanding the ferry. This was speedily +fortified, while a detail was laying the pontoon bridge. By ten o'clock +the bridge was laid, and our extreme right, now in Lookout valley, was +fortified and connected with the rest of the army. The two bridges over +the Tennessee River--a flying one at Chattanooga and the new one at +Brown's Ferry--with the road north of the river, covered from both the +fire and the view of the enemy, made the connection complete. Hooker +found but slight obstacles in his way, and on the afternoon of the 28th +emerged into Lookout valley at Wauhatchie. Howard marched on to Brown's +Ferry, while Geary, who commanded a division in the 12th corps, stopped +three miles south. The pickets of the enemy on the river below were now +cut off, and soon came in and surrendered. + +The river was now opened to us from Lookout valley to Bridgeport. +Between Brown's Ferry and Kelly's Ferry the Tennessee runs through a +narrow gorge in the mountains, which contracts the stream so much as to +increase the current beyond the capacity of an ordinary steamer to stem +it. To get up these rapids, steamers must be cordelled; that is, pulled +up by ropes from the shore. But there is no difficulty in navigating +the stream from Bridgeport to Kelly's Ferry. The latter point is only +eight miles from Chattanooga and connected with it by a good wagon-road, +which runs through a low pass in the Raccoon Mountains on the south side +of the river to Brown's Ferry, thence on the north side to the river +opposite Chattanooga. There were several steamers at Bridgeport, and +abundance of forage, clothing and provisions. + +On the way to Chattanooga I had telegraphed back to Nashville for a good +supply of vegetables and small rations, which the troops had been so +long deprived of. Hooker had brought with him from the east a full +supply of land transportation. His animals had not been subjected to +hard work on bad roads without forage, but were in good condition. In +five days from my arrival in Chattanooga the way was open to Bridgeport +and, with the aid of steamers and Hooker's teams, in a week the troops +were receiving full rations. It is hard for any one not an eye-witness +to realize the relief this brought. The men were soon reclothed and +also well fed, an abundance of ammunition was brought up, and a +cheerfulness prevailed not before enjoyed in many weeks. Neither +officers nor men looked upon themselves any longer as doomed. The weak +and languid appearance of the troops, so visible before, disappeared at +once. I do not know what the effect was on the other side, but assume +it must have been correspondingly depressing. Mr. Davis had visited +Bragg but a short time before, and must have perceived our condition to +be about as Bragg described it in his subsequent report. "These +dispositions," he said, "faithfully sustained, insured the enemy's +speedy evacuation of Chattanooga for want of food and forage. Possessed +of the shortest route to his depot, and the one by which reinforcements +must reach him, we held him at our mercy, and his destruction was only a +question of time." But the dispositions were not "faithfully +sustained," and I doubt not but thousands of men engaged in trying to +"sustain" them now rejoice that they were not. There was no time during +the rebellion when I did not think, and often say, that the South was +more to be benefited by its defeat than the North. The latter had the +people, the institutions, and the territory to make a great and +prosperous nation. The former was burdened with an institution +abhorrent to all civilized people not brought up under it, and one which +degraded labor, kept it in ignorance, and enervated the governing class. +With the outside world at war with this institution, they could not have +extended their territory. The labor of the country was not skilled, nor +allowed to become so. The whites could not toil without becoming +degraded, and those who did were denominated "poor white trash." The +system of labor would have soon exhausted the soil and left the people +poor. The non-slaveholders would have left the country, and the small +slaveholder must have sold out to his more fortunate neighbor. Soon the +slaves would have outnumbered the masters, and, not being in sympathy +with them, would have risen in their might and exterminated them. The +war was expensive to the South as well as to the North, both in blood +and treasure, but it was worth all it cost. + +The enemy was surprised by the movements which secured to us a line of +supplies. He appreciated its importance, and hastened to try to recover +the line from us. His strength on Lookout Mountain was not equal to +Hooker's command in the valley below. From Missionary Ridge he had to +march twice the distance we had from Chattanooga, in order to reach +Lookout Valley; but on the night of the 28th and 29th an attack was made +on Geary at Wauhatchie by Longstreet's corps. When the battle +commenced, Hooker ordered Howard up from Brown's Ferry. He had three +miles to march to reach Geary. On his way he was fired upon by rebel +troops from a foot-hill to the left of the road and from which the road +was commanded. Howard turned to the left, charged up the hill and +captured it before the enemy had time to intrench, taking many +prisoners. Leaving sufficient men to hold this height, he pushed on to +reinforce Geary. Before he got up, Geary had been engaged for about +three hours against a vastly superior force. The night was so dark that +the men could not distinguish one from another except by the light of +the flashes of their muskets. In the darkness and uproar Hooker's +teamsters became frightened and deserted their teams. The mules also +became frightened, and breaking loose from their fastenings stampeded +directly towards the enemy. The latter, no doubt, took this for a +charge, and stampeded in turn. By four o'clock in the morning the +battle had entirely ceased, and our "cracker line" was never afterward +disturbed. + +In securing possession of Lookout Valley, Smith lost one man killed and +four or five wounded. The enemy lost most of his pickets at the ferry, +captured. In the night engagement of the 28th-9th Hooker lost 416 +killed and wounded. I never knew the loss of the enemy, but our troops +buried over one hundred and fifty of his dead and captured more than a +hundred. + +After we had secured the opening of a line over which to bring our +supplies to the army, I made a personal inspection to see the situation +of the pickets of the two armies. As I have stated, Chattanooga Creek +comes down the centre of the valley to within a mile or such a matter of +the town of Chattanooga, then bears off westerly, then north-westerly, +and enters the Tennessee River at the foot of Lookout Mountain. This +creek, from its mouth up to where it bears off west, lay between the two +lines of pickets, and the guards of both armies drew their water from +the same stream. As I would be under short-range fire and in an open +country, I took nobody with me, except, I believe, a bugler, who stayed +some distance to the rear. I rode from our right around to our left. +When I came to the camp of the picket guard of our side, I heard the +call, "Turn out the guard for the commanding general." I replied, +"Never mind the guard," and they were dismissed and went back to their +tents. Just back of these, and about equally distant from the creek, +were the guards of the Confederate pickets. The sentinel on their post +called out in like manner, "Turn out the guard for the commanding +general," and, I believe, added, "General Grant." Their line in a +moment front-faced to the north, facing me, and gave a salute, which I +returned. + +The most friendly relations seemed to exist between the pickets of the +two armies. At one place there was a tree which had fallen across the +stream, and which was used by the soldiers of both armies in drawing +water for their camps. General Longstreet's corps was stationed there +at the time, and wore blue of a little different shade from our uniform. +Seeing a soldier in blue on this log, I rode up to him, commenced +conversing with him, and asked whose corps he belonged to. He was very +polite, and, touching his hat to me, said he belonged to General +Longstreet's corps. I asked him a few questions--but not with a view of +gaining any particular information--all of which he answered, and I rode +off. + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +CONDITION OF THE ARMY--REBUILDING THE RAILROAD--GENERAL BURNSIDE'S +SITUATION--ORDERS FOR BATTLE--PLANS FOR THE ATTACK--HOOKER'S POSITION +--SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS. + +Having got the Army of the Cumberland in a comfortable position, I now +began to look after the remainder of my new command. Burnside was in +about as desperate a condition as the Army of the Cumberland had been, +only he was not yet besieged. He was a hundred miles from the nearest +possible base, Big South Fork of the Cumberland River, and much farther +from any railroad we had possession of. The roads back were over +mountains, and all supplies along the line had long since been +exhausted. His animals, too, had been starved, and their carcasses +lined the road from Cumberland Gap, and far back towards Lexington, Ky. +East Tennessee still furnished supplies of beef, bread and forage, but +it did not supply ammunition, clothing, medical supplies, or small +rations, such as coffee, sugar, salt and rice. + +Sherman had started from Memphis for Corinth on the 11th of October. +His instructions required him to repair the road in his rear in order to +bring up supplies. The distance was about three hundred and thirty +miles through a hostile country. His entire command could not have +maintained the road if it had been completed. The bridges had all been +destroyed by the enemy, and much other damage done. A hostile community +lived along the road; guerilla bands infested the country, and more or +less of the cavalry of the enemy was still in the West. Often Sherman's +work was destroyed as soon as completed, and he only a short distance +away. + +The Memphis and Charleston Railroad strikes the Tennessee River at +Eastport, Mississippi. Knowing the difficulty Sherman would have to +supply himself from Memphis, I had previously ordered supplies sent from +St. Louis on small steamers, to be convoyed by the navy, to meet him at +Eastport. These he got. I now ordered him to discontinue his work of +repairing roads and to move on with his whole force to Stevenson, +Alabama, without delay. This order was borne to Sherman by a messenger, +who paddled down the Tennessee in a canoe and floated over Muscle +Shoals; it was delivered at Iuka on the 27th. In this Sherman was +notified that the rebels were moving a force towards Cleveland, East +Tennessee, and might be going to Nashville, in which event his troops +were in the best position to beat them there. Sherman, with his +characteristic promptness, abandoned the work he was engaged upon and +pushed on at once. On the 1st of November he crossed the Tennessee at +Eastport, and that day was in Florence, Alabama, with the head of +column, while his troops were still crossing at Eastport, with Blair +bringing up the rear. + +Sherman's force made an additional army, with cavalry, artillery, and +trains, all to be supplied by the single track road from Nashville. All +indications pointed also to the probable necessity of supplying +Burnside's command in East Tennessee, twenty-five thousand more, by the +same route. A single track could not do this. I gave, therefore, an +order to Sherman to halt General G. M. Dodge's command, of about eight +thousand men, at Athens, and subsequently directed the latter to arrange +his troops along the railroad from Decatur north towards Nashville, and +to rebuild that road. The road from Nashville to Decatur passes over a +broken country, cut up with innumerable streams, many of them of +considerable width, and with valleys far below the road-bed. All the +bridges over these had been destroyed, and the rails taken up and +twisted by the enemy. All the cars and locomotives not carried off had +been destroyed as effectually as they knew how to destroy them. All +bridges and culverts had been destroyed between Nashville and Decatur, +and thence to Stevenson, where the Memphis and Charleston and the +Nashville and Chattanooga roads unite. The rebuilding of this road +would give us two roads as far as Stevenson over which to supply the +army. From Bridgeport, a short distance farther east, the river +supplements the road. + +General Dodge, besides being a most capable soldier, was an experienced +railroad builder. He had no tools to work with except those of the +pioneers--axes, picks, and spades. With these he was able to intrench +his men and protect them against surprises by small parties of the +enemy. As he had no base of supplies until the road could be completed +back to Nashville, the first matter to consider after protecting his men +was the getting in of food and forage from the surrounding country. He +had his men and teams bring in all the grain they could find, or all +they needed, and all the cattle for beef, and such other food as could +be found. Millers were detailed from the ranks to run the mills along +the line of the army. When these were not near enough to the troops for +protection they were taken down and moved up to the line of the road. +Blacksmith shops, with all the iron and steel found in them, were moved +up in like manner. Blacksmiths were detailed and set to work making the +tools necessary in railroad and bridge building. Axemen were put to +work getting out timber for bridges and cutting fuel for locomotives +when the road should be completed. Car-builders were set to work +repairing the locomotives and cars. Thus every branch of railroad +building, making tools to work with, and supplying the workmen with +food, was all going on at once, and without the aid of a mechanic or +laborer except what the command itself furnished. But rails and cars +the men could not make without material, and there was not enough +rolling stock to keep the road we already had worked to its full +capacity. There were no rails except those in use. To supply these +deficiencies I ordered eight of the ten engines General McPherson had at +Vicksburg to be sent to Nashville, and all the cars he had except ten. +I also ordered the troops in West Tennessee to points on the river and +on the Memphis and Charleston road, and ordered the cars, locomotives +and rails from all the railroads except the Memphis and Charleston to +Nashville. The military manager of railroads also was directed to +furnish more rolling stock and, as far as he could, bridge material. +General Dodge had the work assigned him finished within forty days after +receiving his orders. The number of bridges to rebuild was one hundred +and eighty-two, many of them over deep and wide chasms; the length of +road repaired was one hundred and two miles. + +The enemy's troops, which it was thought were either moving against +Burnside or were going to Nashville, went no farther than Cleveland. +Their presence there, however, alarmed the authorities at Washington, +and, on account of our helpless condition at Chattanooga, caused me much +uneasiness. Dispatches were constantly coming, urging me to do +something for Burnside's relief; calling attention to the importance of +holding East Tennessee; saying the President was much concerned for the +protection of the loyal people in that section, etc. We had not at +Chattanooga animals to pull a single piece of artillery, much less a +supply train. Reinforcements could not help Burnside, because he had +neither supplies nor ammunition sufficient for them; hardly, indeed, +bread and meat for the men he had. There was no relief possible for him +except by expelling the enemy from Missionary Ridge and about +Chattanooga. + +On the 4th of November Longstreet left our front with about fifteen +thousand troops, besides Wheeler's cavalry, five thousand more, to go +against Burnside. The situation seemed desperate, and was more +aggravating because nothing could be done until Sherman should get up. +The authorities at Washington were now more than ever anxious for the +safety of Burnside's army, and plied me with dispatches faster than +ever, urging that something should be done for his relief. On the 7th, +before Longstreet could possibly have reached Knoxville, I ordered +Thomas peremptorily to attack the enemy's right, so as to force the +return of the troops that had gone up the valley. I directed him to +take mules, officers' horses, or animals wherever he could get them to +move the necessary artillery. But he persisted in the declaration that +he could not move a single piece of artillery, and could not see how he +could possibly comply with the order. Nothing was left to be done but +to answer Washington dispatches as best I could; urge Sherman forward, +although he was making every effort to get forward, and encourage +Burnside to hold on, assuring him that in a short time he should be +relieved. All of Burnside's dispatches showed the greatest confidence +in his ability to hold his position as long as his ammunition held out. +He even suggested the propriety of abandoning the territory he held +south and west of Knoxville, so as to draw the enemy farther from his +base and make it more difficult for him to get back to Chattanooga when +the battle should begin. Longstreet had a railroad as far as Loudon; +but from there to Knoxville he had to rely on wagon trains. Burnside's +suggestion, therefore, was a good one, and it was adopted. On the 14th +I telegraphed him: + +"Sherman's advance has reached Bridgeport. His whole force will be +ready to move from there by Tuesday at farthest. If you can hold +Longstreet in check until he gets up, or by skirmishing and falling back +can avoid serious loss to yourself and gain time, I will be able to +force the enemy back from here and place a force between Longstreet and +Bragg that must inevitably make the former take to the mountain-passes +by every available road, to get to his supplies. Sherman would have +been here before this but for high water in Elk River driving him some +thirty miles up that river to cross." + +And again later in the day, indicating my plans for his relief, as +follows: + +"Your dispatch and Dana's just received. Being there, you can tell +better how to resist Longstreet's attack than I can direct. With your +showing you had better give up Kingston at the last moment and save the +most productive part of your possessions. Every arrangement is now made +to throw Sherman's force across the river, just at and below the mouth +of Chickamauga Creek, as soon as it arrives. Thomas will attack on his +left at the same time, and together it is expected to carry Missionary +Ridge, and from there push a force on to the railroad between Cleveland +and Dalton. Hooker will at the same time attack, and, if he can, carry +Lookout Mountain. The enemy now seems to be looking for an attack on +his left flank. This favors us. To further confirm this, Sherman's +advance division will march direct from Whiteside to Trenton. The +remainder of his force will pass over a new road just made from +Whiteside to Kelly's Ferry, thus being concealed from the enemy, and +leave him to suppose the whole force is going up Lookout Valley. +Sherman's advance has only just reached Bridgeport. The rear will only +reach there on the 16th. This will bring it to the 19th as the earliest +day for making the combined movement as desired. Inform me if you think +you can sustain yourself until this time. I can hardly conceive of the +enemy breaking through at Kingston and pushing for Kentucky. If they +should, however, a new problem would be left for solution. Thomas has +ordered a division of cavalry to the vicinity of Sparta. I will +ascertain if they have started, and inform you. It will be entirely out +of the question to send you ten thousand men, not because they cannot be +spared, but how would they be fed after they got even one day east from +here?" + +Longstreet, for some reason or other, stopped at Loudon until the 13th. +That being the terminus of his railroad communications, it is probable +he was directed to remain there awaiting orders. He was in a position +threatening Knoxville, and at the same time where he could be brought +back speedily to Chattanooga. The day after Longstreet left Loudon, +Sherman reached Bridgeport in person and proceeded on to see me that +evening, the 14th, and reached Chattanooga the next day. + +My orders for battle were all prepared in advance of Sherman's arrival +(*15), except the dates, which could not be fixed while troops to be +engaged were so far away. The possession of Lookout Mountain was of no +special advantage to us now. Hooker was instructed to send Howard's +corps to the north side of the Tennessee, thence up behind the hills on +the north side, and to go into camp opposite Chattanooga; with the +remainder of the command, Hooker was, at a time to be afterwards +appointed, to ascend the western slope between the upper and lower +palisades, and so get into Chattanooga valley. + +The plan of battle was for Sherman to attack the enemy's right flank, +form a line across it, extend our left over South Chickamauga River so +as to threaten or hold the railroad in Bragg's rear, and thus force him +either to weaken his lines elsewhere or lose his connection with his +base at Chickamauga Station. Hooker was to perform like service on our +right. His problem was to get from Lookout Valley to Chattanooga Valley +in the most expeditious way possible; cross the latter valley rapidly to +Rossville, south of Bragg's line on Missionary Ridge, form line there +across the ridge facing north, with his right flank extended to +Chickamauga Valley east of the ridge, thus threatening the enemy's rear +on that flank and compelling him to reinforce this also. Thomas, with +the Army of the Cumberland, occupied the centre, and was to assault +while the enemy was engaged with most of his forces on his two flanks. + +To carry out this plan, Sherman was to cross the Tennessee at Brown's +Ferry and move east of Chattanooga to a point opposite the north end of +Mission Ridge, and to place his command back of the foot-hills out of +sight of the enemy on the ridge. There are two streams called +Chickamauga emptying into the Tennessee River east of Chattanooga--North +Chickamauga, taking its rise in Tennessee, flowing south, and emptying +into the river some seven or eight miles east; while the South +Chickamauga, which takes its rise in Georgia, flows northward, and +empties into the Tennessee some three or four miles above the town. +There were now one hundred and sixteen pontoons in the North Chickamauga +River, their presence there being unknown to the enemy. + +At night a division was to be marched up to that point, and at two +o'clock in the morning moved down with the current, thirty men in each +boat. A few were to land east of the mouth of the South Chickamauga, +capture the pickets there, and then lay a bridge connecting the two +banks of the river. The rest were to land on the south side of the +Tennessee, where Missionary Ridge would strike it if prolonged, and a +sufficient number of men to man the boats were to push to the north side +to ferry over the main body of Sherman's command while those left on the +south side intrenched themselves. Thomas was to move out from his lines +facing the ridge, leaving enough of Palmer's corps to guard against an +attack down the valley. Lookout Valley being of no present value to us, +and being untenable by the enemy if we should secure Missionary Ridge, +Hooker's orders were changed. His revised orders brought him to +Chattanooga by the established route north of the Tennessee. He was +then to move out to the right to Rossville. + +Hooker's position in Lookout Valley was absolutely essential to us so +long as Chattanooga was besieged. It was the key to our line for +supplying the army. But it was not essential after the enemy was +dispersed from our front, or even after the battle for this purpose was +begun. Hooker's orders, therefore, were designed to get his force past +Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga Valley, and up to Missionary Ridge. By +crossing the north face of Lookout the troops would come into +Chattanooga Valley in rear of the line held by the enemy across the +valley, and would necessarily force its evacuation. Orders were +accordingly given to march by this route. But days before the battle +began the advantages as well as the disadvantages of this plan of action +were all considered. The passage over the mountain was a difficult one +to make in the face of an enemy. It might consume so much time as to +lose us the use of the troops engaged in it at other points where they +were more wanted. After reaching Chattanooga Valley, the creek of the +same name, quite a formidable stream to get an army over, had to be +crossed. I was perfectly willing that the enemy should keep Lookout +Mountain until we got through with the troops on Missionary Ridge. By +marching Hooker to the north side of the river, thence up the stream, +and recrossing at the town, he could be got in position at any named +time; when in this new position, he would have Chattanooga Creek behind +him, and the attack on Missionary Ridge would unquestionably cause the +evacuation by the enemy of his line across the valley and on Lookout +Mountain. Hooker's order was changed accordingly. As explained +elsewhere, the original order had to be reverted to, because of a flood +in the river rendering the bridge at Brown's Ferry unsafe for the +passage of troops at the exact juncture when it was wanted to bring all +the troops together against Missionary Ridge. + +The next day after Sherman's arrival I took him, with Generals Thomas +and Smith and other officers, to the north side of the river, and showed +them the ground over which Sherman had to march, and pointed out +generally what he was expected to do. I, as well as the authorities in +Washington, was still in a great state of anxiety for Burnside's safety. +Burnside himself, I believe, was the only one who did not share in this +anxiety. Nothing could be done for him, however, until Sherman's troops +were up. As soon, therefore, as the inspection was over, Sherman +started for Bridgeport to hasten matters, rowing a boat himself, I +believe, from Kelly's Ferry. Sherman had left Bridgeport the night +of the 14th, reached Chattanooga the evening of the 15th, made the +above-described inspection on the morning of the 16th, and started back +the same evening to hurry up his command, fully appreciating the +importance of time. + +His march was conducted with as much expedition as the roads and season +would admit of. By the 20th he was himself at Brown's Ferry with the +head of column, but many of his troops were far behind, and one division +(Ewing's) was at Trenton, sent that way to create the impression that +Lookout was to be taken from the south. Sherman received his orders at +the ferry, and was asked if he could not be ready for the assault the +following morning. News had been received that the battle had been +commenced at Knoxville. Burnside had been cut off from telegraphic +communications. The President, the Secretary of War, and General +Halleck, were in an agony of suspense. My suspense was also great, but +more endurable, because I was where I could soon do something to relieve +the situation. It was impossible to get Sherman's troops up for the +next day. I then asked him if they could not be got up to make the +assault on the morning of the 22d, and ordered Thomas to move on that +date. But the elements were against us. It rained all the 20th and +21st. The river rose so rapidly that it was difficult to keep the +pontoons in place. + +General Orlando B. Willcox, a division commander under Burnside, was at +this time occupying a position farther up the valley than Knoxville +--about Maynardville--and was still in telegraphic communication with the +North. A dispatch was received from him saying that he was threatened +from the east. The following was sent in reply: + +"If you can communicate with General Burnside, say to him that our +attack on Bragg will commence in the morning. If successful, such a +move will be made as I think will relieve East Tennessee, if he can hold +out. Longstreet passing through our lines to Kentucky need not cause +alarm. He would find the country so bare that he would lose his +transportation and artillery before reaching Kentucky, and would meet +such a force before he got through, that he could not return." + +Meantime, Sherman continued his crossing without intermission as fast as +his troops could be got up. The crossing had to be effected in full +view of the enemy on the top of Lookout Mountain. Once over, however, +the troops soon disappeared behind the detached hill on the north side, +and would not come to view again, either to watchmen on Lookout Mountain +or Missionary Ridge, until they emerged between the hills to strike the +bank of the river. But when Sherman's advance reached a point opposite +the town of Chattanooga, Howard, who, it will be remembered, had been +concealed behind the hills on the north side, took up his line of march +to join the troops on the south side. His crossing was in full view +both from Missionary Ridge and the top of Lookout, and the enemy of +course supposed these troops to be Sherman's. This enabled Sherman to +get to his assigned position without discovery. + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE--THOMAS CARRIES THE FIRST LINE OF THE ENEMY +--SHERMAN CARRIES MISSIONARY RIDGE--BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN +--GENERAL HOOKER'S FIGHT. + +On the 20th, when so much was occurring to discourage--rains falling so +heavily as to delay the passage of troops over the river at Brown's +Ferry and threatening the entire breaking of the bridge; news coming of +a battle raging at Knoxville; of Willcox being threatened by a force +from the east--a letter was received from Bragg which contained these +words: "As there may still be some non-combatants in Chattanooga, I +deem it proper to notify you that prudence would dictate their early +withdrawal." Of course, I understood that this was a device intended to +deceive; but I did not know what the intended deception was. On the +22d, however, a deserter came in who informed me that Bragg was leaving +our front, and on that day Buckner's division was sent to reinforce +Longstreet at Knoxville, and another division started to follow but was +recalled. The object of Bragg's letter, no doubt, was in some way to +detain me until Knoxville could be captured, and his troops there be +returned to Chattanooga. + +During the night of the 21st the rest of the pontoon boats, completed, +one hundred and sixteen in all, were carried up to and placed in North +Chickamauga. The material for the roadway over these was deposited out +of view of the enemy within a few hundred yards of the bank of the +Tennessee, where the north end of the bridge was to rest. + +Hearing nothing from Burnside, and hearing much of the distress in +Washington on his account, I could no longer defer operations for his +relief. I determined, therefore, to do on the 23d, with the Army of the +Cumberland, what had been intended to be done on the 24th. + +The position occupied by the Army of the Cumberland had been made very +strong for defence during the months it had been besieged. The line was +about a mile from the town, and extended from Citico Creek, a small +stream running near the base of Missionary Ridge and emptying into the +Tennessee about two miles below the mouth of the South Chickamauga, on +the left, to Chattanooga Creek on the right. All commanding points on +the line were well fortified and well equipped with artillery. The +important elevations within the line had all been carefully fortified +and supplied with a proper armament. Among the elevations so fortified +was one to the east of the town, named Fort Wood. It owed its +importance chiefly to the fact that it lay between the town and +Missionary Ridge, where most of the strength of the enemy was. Fort +Wood had in it twenty-two pieces of artillery, most of which would reach +the nearer points of the enemy's line. On the morning of the 23d +Thomas, according to instructions, moved Granger's corps of two +divisions, Sheridan and T. J. Wood commanding, to the foot of Fort Wood, +and formed them into line as if going on parade, Sheridan on the right, +Wood to the left, extending to or near Citico Creek. Palmer, commanding +the 14th corps, held that part of our line facing south and southwest. +He supported Sheridan with one division (Baird's), while his other +division under Johnson remained in the trenches, under arms, ready to be +moved to any point. Howard's corps was moved in rear of the centre. The +picket lines were within a few hundred yards of each other. At two +o'clock in the afternoon all were ready to advance. By this time the +clouds had lifted so that the enemy could see from his elevated position +all that was going on. The signal for advance was given by a booming of +cannon from Fort Wood and other points on the line. The rebel pickets +were soon driven back upon the main guards, which occupied minor and +detached heights between the main ridge and our lines. These too were +carried before halting, and before the enemy had time to reinforce their +advance guards. But it was not without loss on both sides. This +movement secured to us a line fully a mile in advance of the one we +occupied in the morning, and the one which the enemy had occupied up to +this time. The fortifications were rapidly turned to face the other +way. During the following night they were made strong. We lost in this +preliminary action about eleven hundred killed and wounded, while the +enemy probably lost quite as heavily, including the prisoners that were +captured. With the exception of the firing of artillery, kept up from +Missionary Ridge and Fort Wood until night closed in, this ended the +fighting for the first day. + +The advantage was greatly on our side now, and if I could only have been +assured that Burnside could hold out ten days longer I should have +rested more easily. But we were doing the best we could for him and the +cause. + +By the night of the 23d Sherman's command was in a position to move, +though one division (Osterhaus's) had not yet crossed the river at +Brown's Ferry. The continuous rise in the Tennessee had rendered it +impossible to keep the bridge at that point in condition for troops to +cross; but I was determined to move that night even without this +division. Orders were sent to Osterhaus accordingly to report to +Hooker, if he could not cross by eight o'clock on the morning of the +24th. Because of the break in the bridge, Hooker's orders were again +changed, but this time only back to those first given to him. + +General W. F. Smith had been assigned to duty as Chief Engineer of the +Military Division. To him were given the general direction of moving +troops by the boats from North Chickamauga, laying the bridge after they +reached their position, and generally all the duties pertaining to his +office of chief engineer. During the night General Morgan L. Smith's +division was marched to the point where the pontoons were, and the +brigade of Giles A. Smith was selected for the delicate duty of manning +the boats and surprising the enemy's pickets on the south bank of the +river. During this night also General J. M. Brannan, chief of +artillery, moved forty pieces of artillery, belonging to the Army of the +Cumberland, and placed them on the north side of the river so as to +command the ground opposite, to aid in protecting the approach to the +point where the south end of the bridge was to rest. He had to use +Sherman's artillery horses for this purpose, Thomas having none. + +At two o'clock in the morning, November 24th, Giles A. Smith pushed out +from the North Chickamauga with his one hundred and sixteen boats, each +loaded with thirty brave and well-armed men. The boats with their +precious freight dropped down quietly with the current to avoid +attracting the attention of any one who could convey information to the +enemy, until arriving near the mouth of South Chickamauga. Here a few +boats were landed, the troops debarked, and a rush was made upon the +picket guard known to be at that point. The guard were surprised, and +twenty of their number captured. The remainder of the troops effected a +landing at the point where the bridge was to start, with equally good +results. The work of ferrying over Sherman's command from the north +side of the Tennessee was at once commenced, using the pontoons for the +purpose. A steamer was also brought up from the town to assist. The +rest of M. L. Smith's division came first, then the division of John E. +Smith. The troops as they landed were put to work intrenching their +position. By daylight the two entire divisions were over, and well +covered by the works they had built. + +The work of laying the bridge, on which to cross the artillery and +cavalry, was now begun. The ferrying over the infantry was continued +with the steamer and the pontoons, taking the pontoons, however, as fast +as they were wanted to put in their place in the bridge. By a little +past noon the bridge was completed, as well as one over the South +Chickamauga connecting the troops left on that side with their comrades +below, and all the infantry and artillery were on the south bank of the +Tennessee. + +Sherman at once formed his troops for assault on Missionary Ridge. By +one o'clock he started with M. L. Smith on his left, keeping nearly the +course of Chickamauga River; J. E. Smith next to the right and a little +to the rear; and Ewing still farther to the right and also a little to +the rear of J. E. Smith's command, in column, ready to deploy to the +right if an enemy should come from that direction. A good skirmish line +preceded each of these columns. Soon the foot of the hill was reached; +the skirmishers pushed directly up, followed closely by their supports. +By half-past three Sherman was in possession of the height without +having sustained much loss. A brigade from each division was now +brought up, and artillery was dragged to the top of the hill by hand. +The enemy did not seem to be aware of this movement until the top of the +hill was gained. There had been a drizzling rain during the day, and +the clouds were so low that Lookout Mountain and the top of Missionary +Ridge were obscured from the view of persons in the valley. But now the +enemy opened fire upon their assailants, and made several attempts with +their skirmishers to drive them away, but without avail. Later in the +day a more determined attack was made, but this, too, failed, and +Sherman was left to fortify what he had gained. + +Sherman's cavalry took up its line of march soon after the bridge was +completed, and by half-past three the whole of it was over both bridges +and on its way to strike the enemy's communications at Chickamauga +Station. All of Sherman's command was now south of the Tennessee. +During the afternoon General Giles A. Smith was severely wounded and +carried from the field. + +Thomas having done on the 23d what was expected of him on the 24th, +there was nothing for him to do this day except to strengthen his +position. Howard, however, effected a crossing of Citico Creek and a +junction with Sherman, and was directed to report to him. With two or +three regiments of his command he moved in the morning along the banks +of the Tennessee, and reached the point where the bridge was being laid. +He went out on the bridge as far as it was completed from the south end, +and saw Sherman superintending the work from the north side and moving +himself south as fast as an additional boat was put in and the roadway +put upon it. Howard reported to his new chief across the chasm between +them, which was now narrow and in a few minutes closed. + +While these operations were going on to the east of Chattanooga, Hooker +was engaged on the west. He had three divisions: Osterhaus's, of the +15th corps, Army of the Tennessee; Geary's, 12th corps, Army of the +Potomac; and Cruft's, 14th corps, Army of the Cumberland. Geary was on +the right at Wauhatchie, Cruft at the centre, and Osterhaus near Brown's +Ferry. These troops were all west of Lookout Creek. The enemy had the +east bank of the creek strongly picketed and intrenched, and three +brigades of troops in the rear to reinforce them if attacked. These +brigades occupied the summit of the mountain. General Carter L. +Stevenson was in command of the whole. Why any troops, except artillery +with a small infantry guard, were kept on the mountain-top, I do not +see. A hundred men could have held the summit--which is a palisade for +more than thirty feet down--against the assault of any number of men +from the position Hooker occupied. + +The side of Lookout Mountain confronting Hooker's command was rugged, +heavily timbered, and full of chasms, making it difficult to advance +with troops, even in the absence of an opposing force. Farther up, the +ground becomes more even and level, and was in cultivation. On the east +side the slope is much more gradual, and a good wagon road, zigzagging +up it, connects the town of Chattanooga with the summit. + +Early on the morning of the 24th Hooker moved Geary's division, +supported by a brigade of Cruft's, up Lookout Creek, to effect a +crossing. The remainder of Cruft's division was to seize the bridge +over the creek, near the crossing of the railroad. Osterhaus was to move +up to the bridge and cross it. The bridge was seized by Gross's brigade +after a slight skirmish with the pickets guarding it. This attracted +the enemy so that Geary's movement farther up was not observed. A heavy +mist obscured him from the view of the troops on the top of the +mountain. He crossed the creek almost unobserved, and captured the +picket of over forty men on guard near by. He then commenced ascending +the mountain directly in his front. By this time the enemy was seen +coming down from their camps on the mountain slope, and filing into +their rifle-pits to contest the crossing of the bridge. By eleven +o'clock the bridge was complete. Osterhaus was up, and after some sharp +skirmishing the enemy was driven away with considerable loss in killed +and captured. + +While the operations at the bridge were progressing, Geary was pushing +up the hill over great obstacles, resisted by the enemy directly in his +front, and in face of the guns on top of the mountain. The enemy, +seeing their left flank and rear menaced, gave way, and were followed by +Cruft and Osterhaus. Soon these were up abreast of Geary, and the whole +command pushed up the hill, driving the enemy in advance. By noon Geary +had gained the open ground on the north slope of the mountain, with his +right close up to the base of the upper palisade, but there were strong +fortifications in his front. The rest of the command coming up, a line +was formed from the base of the upper palisade to the mouth of +Chattanooga Creek. + +Thomas and I were on the top of Orchard Knob. Hooker's advance now made +our line a continuous one. It was in full view, extending from the +Tennessee River, where Sherman had crossed, up Chickamauga River to the +base of Mission Ridge, over the top of the north end of the ridge to +Chattanooga Valley, then along parallel to the ridge a mile or more, +across the valley to the mouth of Chattanooga Creek, thence up the slope +of Lookout Mountain to the foot of the upper palisade. The day was +hazy, so that Hooker's operations were not visible to us except at +moments when the clouds would rise. But the sound of his artillery and +musketry was heard incessantly. The enemy on his front was partially +fortified, but was soon driven out of his works. During the afternoon +the clouds, which had so obscured the top of Lookout all day as to hide +whatever was going on from the view of those below, settled down and +made it so dark where Hooker was as to stop operations for the time. At +four o'clock Hooker reported his position as impregnable. By a little +after five direct communication was established, and a brigade of troops +was sent from Chattanooga to reinforce him. These troops had to cross +Chattanooga Creek and met with some opposition, but soon overcame it, +and by night the commander, General Carlin, reported to Hooker and was +assigned to his left. I now telegraphed to Washington: "The fight +to-day progressed favorably. Sherman carried the end of Missionary +Ridge, and his right is now at the tunnel, and his left at Chickamauga +Creek. Troops from Lookout Valley carried the point of the mountain, and +now hold the eastern slope and a point high up. Hooker reports two +thousand prisoners taken, besides which a small number have fallen into +our hands from Missionary Ridge." The next day the President replied: +"Your dispatches as to fighting on Monday and Tuesday are here. Well +done. Many thanks to all. Remember Burnside." And Halleck also +telegraphed: "I congratulate you on the success thus far of your plans. +I fear that Burnside is hard pushed, and that any further delay may +prove fatal. I know you will do all in your power to relieve him." + +The division of Jefferson C. Davis, Army of the Cumberland, had been +sent to the North Chickamauga to guard the pontoons as they were +deposited in the river, and to prevent all ingress or egress of +citizens. On the night of the 24th his division, having crossed with +Sherman, occupied our extreme left from the upper bridge over the plain +to the north base of Missionary Ridge. Firing continued to a late hour +in the night, but it was not connected with an assault at any point. + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA--A GALLANT CHARGE--COMPLETE ROUT OF THE ENEMY +--PURSUIT OF THE CONFEDERATES--GENERAL BRAGG--REMARKS ON CHATTANOOGA. + +At twelve o'clock at night, when all was quiet, I began to give orders +for the next day, and sent a dispatch to Willcox to encourage Burnside. +Sherman was directed to attack at daylight. Hooker was ordered to move +at the same hour, and endeavor to intercept the enemy's retreat if he +still remained; if he had gone, then to move directly to Rossville and +operate against the left and rear of the force on Missionary Ridge. +Thomas was not to move until Hooker had reached Missionary Ridge. As I +was with him on Orchard Knob, he would not move without further orders +from me. + +The morning of the 25th opened clear and bright, and the whole field was +in full view from the top of Orchard Knob. It remained so all day. +Bragg's headquarters were in full view, and officers--presumably staff +officers--could be seen coming and going constantly. + +The point of ground which Sherman had carried on the 24th was almost +disconnected from the main ridge occupied by the enemy. A low pass, over +which there is a wagon road crossing the hill, and near which there is a +railroad tunnel, intervenes between the two hills. The problem now was +to get to the main ridge. The enemy was fortified on the point; and back +farther, where the ground was still higher, was a second fortification +commanding the first. Sherman was out as soon as it was light enough to +see, and by sunrise his command was in motion. Three brigades held the +hill already gained. Morgan L. Smith moved along the east base of +Missionary Ridge; Loomis along the west base, supported by two brigades +of John E. Smith's division; and Corse with his brigade was between the +two, moving directly towards the hill to be captured. The ridge is +steep and heavily wooded on the east side, where M. L. Smith's troops +were advancing, but cleared and with a more gentle slope on the west +side. The troops advanced rapidly and carried the extreme end of the +rebel works. Morgan L. Smith advanced to a point which cut the enemy +off from the railroad bridge and the means of bringing up supplies by +rail from Chickamauga Station, where the main depot was located. The +enemy made brave and strenuous efforts to drive our troops from the +position we had gained, but without success. The contest lasted for two +hours. Corse, a brave and efficient commander, was badly wounded in +this assault. Sherman now threatened both Bragg's flank and his stores, +and made it necessary for him to weaken other points of his line to +strengthen his right. From the position I occupied I could see column +after column of Bragg's forces moving against Sherman. Every +Confederate gun that could be brought to bear upon the Union forces was +concentrated upon him. J. E. Smith, with two brigades, charged up the +west side of the ridge to the support of Corse's command, over open +ground and in the face of a heavy fire of both artillery and musketry, +and reached the very parapet of the enemy. He lay here for a time, but +the enemy coming with a heavy force upon his right flank, he was +compelled to fall back, followed by the foe. A few hundred yards +brought Smith's troops into a wood, where they were speedily reformed, +when they charged and drove the attacking party back to his +intrenchments. + +Seeing the advance, repulse, and second advance of J. E. Smith from the +position I occupied, I directed Thomas to send a division to reinforce +him. Baird's division was accordingly sent from the right of Orchard +Knob. It had to march a considerable distance directly under the eye of +the enemy to reach its position. Bragg at once commenced massing in the +same direction. This was what I wanted. But it had now got to be late +in the afternoon, and I had expected before this to see Hooker crossing +the ridge in the neighborhood of Rossville and compelling Bragg to mass +in that direction also. + +The enemy had evacuated Lookout Mountain during the night, as I expected +he would. In crossing the valley he burned the bridge over Chattanooga +Creek, and did all he could to obstruct the roads behind him. Hooker +was off bright and early, with no obstructions in his front but distance +and the destruction above named. He was detained four hours crossing +Chattanooga Creek, and thus was lost the immediate advantage I expected +from his forces. His reaching Bragg's flank and extending across it was +to be the signal for Thomas's assault of the ridge. But Sherman's +condition was getting so critical that the assault for his relief could +not be delayed any longer. + +Sheridan's and Wood's divisions had been lying under arms from early +morning, ready to move the instant the signal was given. I now directed +Thomas to order the charge at once (*16). I watched eagerly to see the +effect, and became impatient at last that there was no indication of any +charge being made. The centre of the line which was to make the charge +was near where Thomas and I stood, but concealed from view by an +intervening forest. Turning to Thomas to inquire what caused the delay, +I was surprised to see Thomas J. Wood, one of the division commanders +who was to make the charge, standing talking to him. I spoke to General +Wood, asking him why he did not charge as ordered an hour before. He +replied very promptly that this was the first he had heard of it, but +that he had been ready all day to move at a moment's notice. I told him +to make the charge at once. He was off in a moment, and in an +incredibly short time loud cheering was heard, and he and Sheridan were +driving the enemy's advance before them towards Missionary Ridge. The +Confederates were strongly intrenched on the crest of the ridge in front +of us, and had a second line half-way down and another at the base. Our +men drove the troops in front of the lower line of rifle-pits so +rapidly, and followed them so closely, that rebel and Union troops went +over the first line of works almost at the same time. Many rebels were +captured and sent to the rear under the fire of their own friends higher +up the hill. Those that were not captured retreated, and were pursued. +The retreating hordes being between friends and pursuers caused the +enemy to fire high to avoid killing their own men. In fact, on that +occasion the Union soldier nearest the enemy was in the safest position. +Without awaiting further orders or stopping to reform, on our troops +went to the second line of works; over that and on for the crest--thus +effectually carrying out my orders of the 18th for the battle and of the +24th (*17) for this charge. + +I watched their progress with intense interest. The fire along the +rebel line was terrific. Cannon and musket balls filled the air: but +the damage done was in small proportion to the ammunition expended. The +pursuit continued until the crest was reached, and soon our men were +seen climbing over the Confederate barriers at different points in front +of both Sheridan's and Wood's divisions. The retreat of the enemy along +most of his line was precipitate and the panic so great that Bragg and +his officers lost all control over their men. Many were captured, and +thousands threw away their arms in their flight. + +Sheridan pushed forward until he reached the Chickamauga River at a +point above where the enemy crossed. He met some resistance from troops +occupying a second hill in rear of Missionary Ridge, probably to cover +the retreat of the main body and of the artillery and trains. It was +now getting dark, but Sheridan, without halting on that account pushed +his men forward up this second hill slowly and without attracting the +attention of the men placed to defend it, while he detached to the right +and left to surround the position. The enemy discovered the movement +before these dispositions were complete, and beat a hasty retreat, +leaving artillery, wagon trains, and many prisoners in our hands. To +Sheridan's prompt movement the Army of the Cumberland, and the nation, +are indebted for the bulk of the capture of prisoners, artillery, and +small-arms that day. Except for his prompt pursuit, so much in this way +would not have been accomplished. + +While the advance up Mission Ridge was going forward, General Thomas +with staff, General Gordon Granger, commander of the corps making the +assault, and myself and staff occupied Orchard Knob, from which the +entire field could be observed. The moment the troops were seen going +over the last line of rebel defences, I ordered Granger to join his +command, and mounting my horse I rode to the front. General Thomas left +about the same time. Sheridan on the extreme right was already in +pursuit of the enemy east of the ridge. Wood, who commanded the +division to the left of Sheridan, accompanied his men on horseback in +the charge, but did not join Sheridan in the pursuit. To the left, in +Baird's front where Bragg's troops had massed against Sherman, the +resistance was more stubborn and the contest lasted longer. I ordered +Granger to follow the enemy with Wood's division, but he was so much +excited, and kept up such a roar of musketry in the direction the enemy +had taken, that by the time I could stop the firing the enemy had got +well out of the way. The enemy confronting Sherman, now seeing +everything to their left giving way, fled also. Sherman, however, was +not aware of the extent of our success until after nightfall, when he +received orders to pursue at daylight in the morning. + +As soon as Sherman discovered that the enemy had left his front he +directed his reserves, Davis's division of the Army of the Cumberland, +to push over the pontoon-bridge at the mouth of the Chickamauga, and to +move forward to Chickamauga Station. He ordered Howard to move up the +stream some two miles to where there was an old bridge, repair it during +the night, and follow Davis at four o'clock in the morning. Morgan L. +Smith was ordered to reconnoitre the tunnel to see if that was still +held. Nothing was found there but dead bodies of men of both armies. +The rest of Sherman's command was directed to follow Howard at daylight +in the morning to get on to the railroad towards Graysville. + +Hooker, as stated, was detained at Chattanooga Creek by the destruction +of the bridge at that point. He got his troops over, with the exception +of the artillery, by fording the stream at a little after three o'clock. +Leaving his artillery to follow when the bridge should be reconstructed, +he pushed on with the remainder of his command. At Rossville he came +upon the flank of a division of the enemy, which soon commenced a +retreat along the ridge. This threw them on Palmer. They could make +but little resistance in the position they were caught in, and as many +of them as could do so escaped. Many, however, were captured. Hooker's +position during the night of the 25th was near Rossville, extending east +of the ridge. Palmer was on his left, on the road to Graysville. + +During the night I telegraphed to Willcox that Bragg had been defeated, +and that immediate relief would be sent to Burnside if he could hold +out; to Halleck I sent an announcement of our victory, and informed him +that forces would be sent up the valley to relieve Burnside. + +Before the battle of Chattanooga opened I had taken measures for the +relief of Burnside the moment the way should be clear. Thomas was +directed to have the little steamer that had been built at Chattanooga +loaded to its capacity with rations and ammunition. Granger's corps was +to move by the south bank of the Tennessee River to the mouth of the +Holston, and up that to Knoxville accompanied by the boat. In addition +to the supplies transported by boat, the men were to carry forty rounds +of ammunition in their cartridge-boxes, and four days' rations in +haversacks. + +In the battle of Chattanooga, troops from the Army of the Potomac, from +the Army of the Tennessee, and from the Army of the Cumberland +participated. In fact, the accidents growing out of the heavy rains and +the sudden rise in the Tennessee River so mingled the troops that the +organizations were not kept together, under their respective commanders, +during the battle. Hooker, on the right, had Geary's division of the +12th corps, Army of the Potomac; Osterhaus's division of the 15th corps, +Army of the Tennessee; and Cruft's division of the Army of the +Cumberland. Sherman had three divisions of his own army, Howard's corps +from the Army of the Potomac, and Jefferson C. Davis's division of the +Army of the Cumberland. There was no jealousy--hardly rivalry. Indeed, +I doubt whether officers or men took any note at the time of the fact of +this intermingling of commands. All saw a defiant foe surrounding them, +and took it for granted that every move was intended to dislodge him, +and it made no difference where the troops came from so that the end was +accomplished. + +The victory at Chattanooga was won against great odds, considering the +advantage the enemy had of position, and was accomplished more easily +than was expected by reason of Bragg's making several grave mistakes: +first, in sending away his ablest corps commander with over twenty +thousand troops; second, in sending away a division of troops on the eve +of battle; third, in placing so much of a force on the plain in front of +his impregnable position. + +It was known that Mr. Jefferson Davis had visited Bragg on Missionary +Ridge a short time before my reaching Chattanooga. It was reported and +believed that he had come out to reconcile a serious difference between +Bragg and Longstreet, and finding this difficult to do, planned the +campaign against Knoxville, to be conducted by the latter general. I +had known both Bragg and Longstreet before the war, the latter very +well. We had been three years at West Point together, and, after my +graduation, for a time in the same regiment. Then we served together in +the Mexican War. I had known Bragg in Mexico, and met him occasionally +subsequently. I could well understand how there might be an +irreconcilable difference between them. + +Bragg was a remarkably intelligent and well-informed man, professionally +and otherwise. He was also thoroughly upright. But he was possessed of +an irascible temper, and was naturally disputatious. A man of the +highest moral character and the most correct habits, yet in the old army +he was in frequent trouble. As a subordinate he was always on the +lookout to catch his commanding officer infringing his prerogatives; as +a post commander he was equally vigilant to detect the slightest +neglect, even of the most trivial order. + +I have heard in the old army an anecdote very characteristic of Bragg. +On one occasion, when stationed at a post of several companies commanded +by a field officer, he was himself commanding one of the companies and +at the same time acting as post quartermaster and commissary. He was +first lieutenant at the time, but his captain was detached on other +duty. As commander of the company he made a requisition upon the +quartermaster--himself--for something he wanted. As quartermaster he +declined to fill the requisition, and endorsed on the back of it his +reasons for so doing. As company commander he responded to this, urging +that his requisition called for nothing but what he was entitled to, and +that it was the duty of the quartermaster to fill it. As quartermaster +he still persisted that he was right. In this condition of affairs +Bragg referred the whole matter to the commanding officer of the post. +The latter, when he saw the nature of the matter referred, exclaimed: +"My God, Mr. Bragg, you have quarrelled with every officer in the army, +and now you are quarrelling with yourself!" + +Longstreet was an entirely different man. He was brave, honest, +intelligent, a very capable soldier, subordinate to his superiors, just +and kind to his subordinates, but jealous of his own rights, which he +had the courage to maintain. He was never on the lookout to detect a +slight, but saw one as soon as anybody when intentionally given. + +It may be that Longstreet was not sent to Knoxville for the reason +stated, but because Mr. Davis had an exalted opinion of his own military +genius, and thought he saw a chance of "killing two birds with one +stone." On several occasions during the war he came to the relief of +the Union army by means of his SUPERIOR MILITARY GENIUS. + +I speak advisedly when I saw Mr. Davis prided himself on his military +capacity. He says so himself, virtually, in his answer to the notice of +his nomination to the Confederate presidency. Some of his generals have +said so in their writings since the downfall of the Confederacy. + +My recollection is that my first orders for the battle of Chattanooga +were as fought. Sherman was to get on Missionary Ridge, as he did; +Hooker to cross the north end of Lookout Mountain, as he did, sweep +across Chattanooga Valley and get across the south end of the ridge near +Rossville. When Hooker had secured that position the Army of the +Cumberland was to assault in the centre. Before Sherman arrived, +however, the order was so changed as that Hooker was directed to come to +Chattanooga by the north bank of the Tennessee River. The waters in the +river, owing to heavy rains, rose so fast that the bridge at Brown's +Ferry could not be maintained in a condition to be used in crossing +troops upon it. For this reason Hooker's orders were changed by +telegraph back to what they were originally.------ + +NOTE.--From this point on this volume was written (with the exception of +the campaign in the Wilderness, which had been previously written) by +General Grant, after his great illness in April, and the present +arrangement of the subject-matter was made by him between the 10th and +18th of July, 1885. + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +THE RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE--HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO NASHVILLE--VISITING +KNOXVILLE-CIPHER CIPHER DISPATCHES--WITHHOLDING ORDERS. + +Chattanooga now being secure to the National troops beyond any doubt, I +immediately turned my attention to relieving Knoxville, about the +situation of which the President, in particular, was very anxious. +Prior to the battles, I had made preparations for sending troops to the +relief of Burnside at the very earliest moment after securing +Chattanooga. We had there two little steamers which had been built and +fitted up from the remains of old boats and put in condition to run. +General Thomas was directed to have one of these boats loaded with +rations and ammunition and move up the Tennessee River to the mouth of +the Holston, keeping the boat all the time abreast of the troops. +General Granger, with the 4th corps reinforced to make twenty thousand +men, was to start the moment Missionary Ridge was carried, and under no +circumstances were the troops to return to their old camps. With the +provisions carried, and the little that could be got in the country, it +was supposed he could hold out until Longstreet was driven away, after +which event East Tennessee would furnish abundance of food for +Burnside's army and his own also. + +While following the enemy on the 26th, and again on the morning of the +27th, part of the time by the road to Ringgold, I directed Thomas, +verbally, not to start Granger until he received further orders from me; +advising him that I was going to the front to more fully see the +situation. I was not right sure but that Bragg's troops might be over +their stampede by the time they reached Dalton. In that case Bragg +might think it well to take the road back to Cleveland, move thence +towards Knoxville, and, uniting with Longstreet, make a sudden dash upon +Burnside. + +When I arrived at Ringgold, however, on the 27th, I saw that the retreat +was most earnest. The enemy had been throwing away guns, caissons and +small-arms, abandoning provisions, and, altogether, seemed to be moving +like a disorganized mob, with the exception of Cleburne's division, +which was acting as rear-guard to cover the retreat. + +When Hooker moved from Rossville toward Ringgold Palmer's division took +the road to Graysville, and Sherman moved by the way of Chickamauga +Station toward the same point. As soon as I saw the situation at +Ringgold I sent a staff officer back to Chattanooga to advise Thomas of +the condition of affairs, and direct him by my orders to start Granger +at once. Feeling now that the troops were already on the march for the +relief of Burnside I was in no hurry to get back, but stayed at Ringgold +through the day to prepare for the return of our troops. + +Ringgold is in a valley in the mountains, situated between East +Chickamauga Creek and Taylor's Ridge, and about twenty miles south-east +from Chattanooga. I arrived just as the artillery that Hooker had left +behind at Chattanooga Creek got up. His men were attacking Cleburne's +division, which had taken a strong position in the adjacent hills so as +to cover the retreat of the Confederate army through a narrow gorge +which presents itself at that point. Just beyond the gorge the valley +is narrow, and the creek so tortuous that it has to be crossed a great +many times in the course of the first mile. This attack was +unfortunate, and cost us some men unnecessarily. Hooker captured, +however, 3 pieces of artillery and 230 prisoners, and 130 rebel dead +were left upon the field. + +I directed General Hooker to collect the flour and wheat in the +neighboring mills for the use of the troops, and then to destroy the +mills and all other property that could be of use to the enemy, but not +to make any wanton destruction. + +At this point Sherman came up, having reached Graysville with his +troops, where he found Palmer had preceded him. Palmer had picked up +many prisoners and much abandoned property on the route. I went back in +the evening to Graysville with Sherman, remained there over night and +did not return to Chattanooga until the following night, the 29th. I +then found that Thomas had not yet started Granger, thus having lost a +full day which I deemed of so much importance in determining the fate of +Knoxville. Thomas and Granger were aware that on the 23d of the month +Burnside had telegraphed that his supplies would last for ten or twelve +days and during that time he could hold out against Longstreet, but if +not relieved within the time indicated he would be obliged to surrender +or attempt to retreat. To effect a retreat would have been an +impossibility. He was already very low in ammunition, and with an army +pursuing he would not have been able to gather supplies. + +Finding that Granger had not only not started but was very reluctant to +go, he having decided for himself that it was a very bad move to make, I +sent word to General Sherman of the situation and directed him to march +to the relief of Knoxville. I also gave him the problem that we had to +solve--that Burnside had now but four to six days supplies left, and +that he must be relieved within that time. + +Sherman, fortunately, had not started on his return from Graysville, +having sent out detachments on the railroad which runs from Dalton to +Cleveland and Knoxville to thoroughly destroy that road, and these +troops had not yet returned to camp. I was very loath to send Sherman, +because his men needed rest after their long march from Memphis and hard +fighting at Chattanooga. But I had become satisfied that Burnside would +not be rescued if his relief depended upon General Granger's movements. + +Sherman had left his camp on the north side of the Tennessee River, near +Chattanooga, on the night of the 23d, the men having two days' cooked +rations in their haversacks. Expecting to be back in their tents by +that time and to be engaged in battle while out, they took with them +neither overcoats nor blankets. The weather was already cold, and at +night they must have suffered more or less. The two days' rations had +already lasted them five days; and they were now to go through a country +which had been run over so much by Confederate troops that there was but +little probability of finding much food. They did, however, succeed in +capturing some flour. They also found a good deal of bran in some of +the mills, which the men made up into bread; and in this and other ways +they eked out an existence until they could reach Knoxville. + +I was so very anxious that Burnside should get news of the steps being +taken for his relief, and thus induce him to hold out a little longer if +it became necessary, that I determined to send a message to him. I +therefore sent a member of my staff, Colonel J. H. Wilson, to get into +Knoxville if he could report to Burnside the situation fully, and give +him all the encouragement possible. Mr. Charles A. Dana was at +Chattanooga during the battle, and had been there even before I assumed +command. Mr. Dana volunteered to accompany Colonel Wilson, and did +accompany him. I put the information of what was being done for the +relief of Knoxville into writing, and directed that in some way or other +it must be secretly managed so as to have a copy of this fall into the +hands of General Longstreet. They made the trip safely; General +Longstreet did learn of Sherman's coming in advance of his reaching +there, and Burnside was prepared to hold out even for a longer time if +it had been necessary. + +Burnside had stretched a boom across the Holston River to catch scows +and flats as they floated down. On these, by previous arrangements with +the loyal people of East Tennessee, were placed flour and corn, with +forage and provisions generally, and were thus secured for the use of +the Union troops. They also drove cattle into Knoxville by the east +side, which was not covered by the enemy; so that when relief arrived +Burnside had more provisions on hand than when he had last reported. + +Our total loss (not including Burnside's) in all these engagements +amounted to 757 killed, 4,529 wounded and 330 missing. We captured +6,142 prisoners--about 50 per cent. more than the enemy reported for +their total loss--40 pieces of artillery, 69 artillery carriages and +caissons and over 7,000 stands of small-arms. The enemy's loss in arms +was probably much greater than here reported, because we picked up a +great many that were found abandoned. + +I had at Chattanooga, in round numbers, about 60,000 men. Bragg had +about half this number, but his position was supposed to be impregnable. +It was his own fault that he did not have more men present. He had sent +Longstreet away with his corps swelled by reinforcements up to over +twenty thousand men, thus reducing his own force more than one-third and +depriving himself of the presence of the ablest general of his command. +He did this, too, after our troops had opened a line of communication by +way of Brown's and Kelly's ferries with Bridgeport, thus securing full +rations and supplies of every kind; and also when he knew reinforcements +were coming to me. Knoxville was of no earthly use to him while +Chattanooga was in our hands. If he should capture Chattanooga, +Knoxville with its garrison would have fallen into his hands without a +struggle. I have never been able to see the wisdom of this move. + +Then, too, after Sherman had arrived, and when Bragg knew that he was on +the north side of the Tennessee River, he sent Buckner's division to +reinforce Longstreet. He also started another division a day later, but +our attack having commenced before it reached Knoxville Bragg ordered it +back. It had got so far, however, that it could not return to +Chattanooga in time to be of service there. It is possible this latter +blunder may have been made by Bragg having become confused as to what +was going on on our side. Sherman had, as already stated, crossed to +the north side of the Tennessee River at Brown's Ferry, in full view of +Bragg's troops from Lookout Mountain, a few days before the attack. +They then disappeared behind foot hills, and did not come to the view of +the troops on Missionary Ridge until they met their assault. Bragg knew +it was Sherman's troops that had crossed, and, they being so long out of +view, may have supposed that they had gone up the north bank of the +Tennessee River to the relief of Knoxville and that Longstreet was +therefore in danger. But the first great blunder, detaching Longstreet, +cannot be accounted for in any way I know of. If he had captured +Chattanooga, East Tennessee would have fallen without a struggle. It +would have been a victory for us to have got our army away from +Chattanooga safely. It was a manifold greater victory to drive away the +besieging army; a still greater one to defeat that army in his chosen +ground and nearly annihilate it. + +The probabilities are that our loss in killed was the heavier, as we +were the attacking party. The enemy reported his loss in killed at 361: +but as he reported his missing at 4,146, while we held over 6,000 of +them as prisoners, and there must have been hundreds if not thousands +who deserted, but little reliance can be placed on this report. There +was certainly great dissatisfaction with Bragg on the part of the +soldiers for his harsh treatment of them, and a disposition to get away +if they could. Then, too, Chattanooga, following in the same half year +with Gettysburg in the East and Vicksburg in the West, there was much +the same feeling in the South at this time that there had been in the +North the fall and winter before. If the same license had been allowed +the people and press in the South that was allowed in the North, +Chattanooga would probably have been the last battle fought for the +preservation of the Union. + +General William F. Smith's services in these battles had been such that +I thought him eminently entitled to promotion. I was aware that he had +previously been named by the President for promotion to the grade of +major-general, but that the Senate had rejected the nomination. I was +not aware of the reasons for this course, and therefore strongly +recommended him for a major-generalcy. My recommendation was heeded and +the appointment made. + +Upon the raising of the siege of Knoxville I, of course, informed the +authorities at Washington--the President and Secretary of War--of the +fact, which caused great rejoicing there. The President especially was +rejoiced that Knoxville had been relieved (*18) without further +bloodshed. The safety of Burnside's army and the loyal people of East +Tennessee had been the subject of much anxiety to the President for +several months, during which time he was doing all he could to relieve +the situation; sending a new commander (*19) with a few thousand troops +by the way of Cumberland Gap, and telegraphing me daily, almost hourly, +to "remember Burnside," "do something for Burnside," and other appeals +of like tenor. He saw no escape for East Tennessee until after our +victory at Chattanooga. Even then he was afraid that Burnside might be +out of ammunition, in a starving condition, or overpowered: and his +anxiety was still intense until he heard that Longstreet had been driven +from the field. + +Burnside followed Longstreet only to Strawberry Plains, some twenty +miles or more east, and then stopped, believing that Longstreet would +leave the State. The latter did not do so, however, but stopped only a +short distance farther on and subsisted his army for the entire winter +off East Tennessee. Foster now relieved Burnside. Sherman made +disposition of his troops along the Tennessee River in accordance with +instructions. I left Thomas in command at Chattanooga, and, about the +20th of December, moved my headquarters to Nashville, Tennessee. + +Nashville was the most central point from which to communicate with my +entire military division, and also with the authorities at Washington. +While remaining at Chattanooga I was liable to have my telegraphic +communications cut so as to throw me out of communication with both my +command and Washington. + +Nothing occurred at Nashville worthy of mention during the winter, (*20) +so I set myself to the task of having troops in positions from which +they could move to advantage, and in collecting all necessary supplies +so as to be ready to claim a due share of the enemy's attention upon the +appearance of the first good weather in the spring. I expected to +retain the command I then had, and prepared myself for the campaign +against Atlanta. I also had great hopes of having a campaign made +against Mobile from the Gulf. I expected after Atlanta fell to occupy +that place permanently, and to cut off Lee's army from the West by way +of the road running through Augusta to Atlanta and thence south-west. I +was preparing to hold Atlanta with a small garrison, and it was my +expectation to push through to Mobile if that city was in our +possession: if not, to Savannah; and in this manner to get possession +of the only east and west railroad that would then be left to the enemy. +But the spring campaign against Mobile was not made. + +The Army of the Ohio had been getting supplies over Cumberland Gap until +their animals had nearly all starved. I now determined to go myself to +see if there was any possible chance of using that route in the spring, +and if not to abandon it. Accordingly I left Nashville in the latter +part of December by rail for Chattanooga. From Chattanooga I took one of +the little steamers previously spoken of as having been built there, +and, putting my horses aboard, went up to the junction of the Clinch +with the Tennessee. From that point the railroad had been repaired up +to Knoxville and out east to Strawberry Plains. I went by rail +therefore to Knoxville, where I remained for several days. General John +G. Foster was then commanding the Department of the Ohio. It was an +intensely cold winter, the thermometer being down as low as zero every +morning for more than a week while I was at Knoxville and on my way from +there on horseback to Lexington, Kentucky, the first point where I could +reach rail to carry me back to my headquarters at Nashville. + +The road over Cumberland Gap, and back of it, was strewn with debris of +broken wagons and dead animals, much as I had found it on my first trip +to Chattanooga over Waldron's Ridge. The road had been cut up to as +great a depth as clay could be by mules and wagons, and in that +condition frozen; so that the ride of six days from Strawberry Plains to +Lexington over these holes and knobs in the road was a very cheerless +one, and very disagreeable. + +I found a great many people at home along that route, both in Tennessee +and Kentucky, and, almost universally, intensely loyal. They would +collect in little places where we would stop of evenings, to see me, +generally hearing of my approach before we arrived. The people +naturally expected to see the commanding general the oldest person in +the party. I was then forty-one years of age, while my medical director +was gray-haired and probably twelve or more years my senior. The crowds +would generally swarm around him, and thus give me an opportunity of +quietly dismounting and getting into the house. It also gave me an +opportunity of hearing passing remarks from one spectator to another +about their general. Those remarks were apt to be more complimentary to +the cause than to the appearance of the supposed general, owing to his +being muffled up, and also owing to the travel-worn condition we were +all in after a hard day's ride. I was back in Nashville by the 13th of +January, 1864. + +When I started on this trip it was necessary for me to have some person +along who could turn dispatches into cipher, and who could also read the +cipher dispatches which I was liable to receive daily and almost hourly. +Under the rules of the War Department at that time, Mr. Stanton had +taken entire control of the matter of regulating the telegraph and +determining how it should be used, and of saying who, and who alone, +should have the ciphers. The operators possessed of the ciphers, as +well as the ciphers used, were practically independent of the commanders +whom they were serving immediately under, and had to report to the War +Department through General Stager all the dispatches which they received +or forwarded. + +I was obliged to leave the telegraphic operator back at Nashville, +because that was the point at which all dispatches to me would come, to +be forwarded from there. As I have said, it was necessary for me also +to have an operator during this inspection who had possession of this +cipher to enable me to telegraph to my division and to the War +Department without my dispatches being read by all the operators along +the line of wires over which they were transmitted. Accordingly I +ordered the cipher operator to turn over the key to Captain Cyrus B. +Comstock, of the Corps of Engineers, whom I had selected as a wise and +discreet man who certainly could be trusted with the cipher if the +operator at my headquarters could. + +The operator refused point blank to turn over the key to Captain +Comstock as directed by me, stating that his orders from the War +Department were not to give it to anybody--the commanding general or any +one else. I told him I would see whether he would or not. He said that +if he did he would be punished. I told him if he did not he most +certainly would be punished. Finally, seeing that punishment was certain +if he refused longer to obey my order, and being somewhat remote (even +if he was not protected altogether from the consequences of his +disobedience to his orders) from the War Department, he yielded. When I +returned from Knoxville I found quite a commotion. The operator had +been reprimanded very severely and ordered to be relieved. I informed +the Secretary of War, or his assistant secretary in charge of the +telegraph, Stager, that the man could not be relieved, for he had only +obeyed my orders. It was absolutely necessary for me to have the +cipher, and the man would most certainly have been punished if he had +not delivered it; that they would have to punish me if they punished +anybody, or words to that effect. + +This was about the only thing approaching a disagreeable difference +between the Secretary of War and myself that occurred until the war was +over, when we had another little spat. Owing to his natural disposition +to assume all power and control in all matters that he had anything +whatever to do with, he boldly took command of the armies, and, while +issuing no orders on the subject, prohibited any order from me going out +of the adjutant-general's office until he had approved it. This was +done by directing the adjutant-general to hold any orders that came from +me to be issued from the adjutant-general's office until he had examined +them and given his approval. He never disturbed himself, either, in +examining my orders until it was entirely convenient for him; so that +orders which I had prepared would often lie there three or four days +before he would sanction them. I remonstrated against this in writing, +and the Secretary apologetically restored me to my rightful position of +General-in-Chief of the Army. But he soon lapsed again and took control +much as before. + +After the relief of Knoxville Sherman had proposed to Burnside that he +should go with him to drive Longstreet out of Tennessee; but Burnside +assured him that with the troops which had been brought by Granger, and +which were to be left, he would be amply prepared to dispose of +Longstreet without availing himself of this offer. As before stated +Sherman's command had left their camps north of the Tennessee, near +Chattanooga, with two days' rations in their haversacks, without coats +or blankets, and without many wagons, expecting to return to their camps +by the end of that time. The weather was now cold and they were +suffering, but still they were ready to make the further sacrifice, had +it been required, for the good of the cause which had brought them into +service. Sherman, having accomplished the object for which he was sent, +marched back leisurely to his old camp on the Tennessee River. + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI--LONGSTREET IN EAST TENNESSEE--COMMISSIONED +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL--COMMANDING THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES--FIRST +INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT LINCOLN. + +Soon after his return from Knoxville I ordered Sherman to distribute his +forces from Stevenson to Decatur and thence north to Nashville; Sherman +suggested that he be permitted to go back to Mississippi, to the limits +of his own department and where most of his army still remained, for the +purpose of clearing out what Confederates might still be left on the +east bank of the Mississippi River to impede its navigation by our +boats. He expected also to have the co-operation of Banks to do the +same thing on the west shore. Of course I approved heartily. + +About the 10th of January Sherman was back in Memphis, where Hurlbut +commanded, and got together his Memphis men, or ordered them collected +and sent to Vicksburg. He then went to Vicksburg and out to where +McPherson was in command, and had him organize his surplus troops so as +to give him about 20,000 men in all. + +Sherman knew that General (Bishop) Polk was occupying Meridian with his +headquarters, and had two divisions of infantry with a considerable +force of cavalry scattered west of him. He determined, therefore, to +move directly upon Meridian. + +I had sent some 2,500 cavalry under General Sooy Smith to Sherman's +department, and they had mostly arrived before Sherman got to Memphis. +Hurlbut had 7,000 cavalry, and Sherman ordered him to reinforce Smith so +as to give the latter a force of about 7,000 with which to go against +Forrest, who was then known to be south-east from Memphis. Smith was +ordered to move about the 1st of February. + +While Sherman was waiting at Vicksburg for the arrival of Hurlbut with +his surplus men, he sent out scouts to ascertain the position and +strength of the enemy and to bring back all the information they could +gather. When these scouts returned it was through them that he got the +information of General Polk's being at Meridian, and of the strength and +disposition of his command. + +Forrest had about 4,000 cavalry with him, composed of thoroughly +well-disciplined men, who under so able a leader were very effective. +Smith's command was nearly double that of Forrest, but not equal, man to +man, for the lack of a successful experience such as Forrest's men had +had. The fact is, troops who have fought a few battles and won, and +followed up their victories, improve upon what they were before to an +extent that can hardly be counted by percentage. The difference in +result is often decisive victory instead of inglorious defeat. This +same difference, too, is often due to the way troops are officered, and +for the particular kind of warfare which Forrest had carried on neither +army could present a more effective officer than he was. + +Sherman got off on the 3d of February and moved out on his expedition, +meeting with no opposition whatever until he crossed the Big Black, and +with no great deal of opposition after that until he reached Jackson, +Mississippi. This latter place he reached on the 6th or 7th, Brandon on +the 8th, and Morton on the 9th. Up to this time he moved in two columns +to enable him to get a good supply of forage, etc., and expedite the +march. Here, however, there were indications of the concentration of +Confederate infantry, and he was obliged to keep his army close +together. He had no serious engagement; but he met some of the enemy +who destroyed a few of his wagons about Decatur, Mississippi, where, by +the way, Sherman himself came near being picked up. + +He entered Meridian on the 14th of the month, the enemy having retreated +toward Demopolis, Alabama. He spent several days in Meridian in +thoroughly destroying the railroad to the north and south, and also for +the purpose of hearing from Sooy Smith, who he supposed had met Forrest +before this time and he hoped had gained a decisive victory because of a +superiority of numbers. Hearing nothing of him, however, he started on +his return trip to Vicksburg. There he learned that Smith, while +waiting for a few of his men who had been ice-bound in the Ohio River, +instead of getting off on the 1st as expected, had not left until the +11th. Smith did meet Forrest, but the result was decidedly in Forrest's +favor. + +Sherman had written a letter to Banks, proposing a co-operative movement +with him against Shreveport, subject to my approval. I disapproved of +Sherman's going himself, because I had other important work for him to +do, but consented that he might send a few troops to the aid of Banks, +though their time to remain absent must be limited. We must have them +for the spring campaign. The trans-Mississippi movement proved +abortive. + +My eldest son, who had accompanied me on the Vicksburg campaign and +siege, had while there contracted disease, which grew worse, until he +had grown so dangerously ill that on the 24th of January I obtained +permission to go to St. Louis, where he was staying at the time, to see +him, hardly expecting to find him alive on my arrival. While I was +permitted to go, I was not permitted to turn over my command to any one +else, but was directed to keep the headquarters with me and to +communicate regularly with all parts of my division and with Washington, +just as though I had remained at Nashville. + +When I obtained this leave I was at Chattanooga, having gone there again +to make preparations to have the troops of Thomas in the southern part +of Tennessee co-operate with Sherman's movement in Mississippi. I +directed Thomas, and Logan who was at Scottsboro, Alabama, to keep up a +threatening movement to the south against J. E. Johnston, who had again +relieved Bragg, for the purpose of making him keep as many troops as +possible there. + +I learned through Confederate sources that Johnston had already sent two +divisions in the direction of Mobile, presumably to operate against +Sherman, and two more divisions to Longstreet in East Tennessee. Seeing +that Johnston had depleted in this way, I directed Thomas to send at +least ten thousand men, besides Stanley's division which was already to +the east, into East Tennessee, and notified Schofield, who was now in +command in East Tennessee, of this movement of troops into his +department and also of the reinforcements Longstreet had received. My +object was to drive Longstreet out of East Tennessee as a part of the +preparations for my spring campaign. + +About this time General Foster, who had been in command of the +Department of the Ohio after Burnside until Schofield relieved him +(*21), advised me that he thought it would be a good thing to keep +Longstreet just where he was; that he was perfectly quiet in East +Tennessee, and if he was forced to leave there, his whole well-equipped +army would be free to go to any place where it could effect the most for +their cause. I thought the advice was good, and, adopting that view, +countermanded the orders for pursuit of Longstreet. + +On the 12th of February I ordered Thomas to take Dalton and hold it, if +possible; and I directed him to move without delay. Finding that he had +not moved, on the 17th I urged him again to start, telling him how +important it was, that the object of the movement was to co-operate with +Sherman, who was moving eastward and might be in danger. Then again on +the 21st, he not yet having started, I asked him if he could not start +the next day. He finally got off on the 22d or 23d. The enemy fell +back from his front without a battle, but took a new position quite as +strong and farther to the rear. Thomas reported that he could not go +any farther, because it was impossible with his poor teams, nearly +starved, to keep up supplies until the railroads were repaired. He soon +fell back. + +Schofield also had to return for the same reason. He could not carry +supplies with him, and Longstreet was between him and the supplies still +left in the country. Longstreet, in his retreat, would be moving +towards his supplies, while our forces, following, would be receding +from theirs. On the 2d of March, however, I learned of Sherman's +success, which eased my mind very much. The next day, the 3d, I was +ordered to Washington. + +The bill restoring the grade of lieutenant-general of the army had +passed through Congress and became a law on the 26th of February. My +nomination had been sent to the Senate on the 1st of March and confirmed +the next day (the 2d). I was ordered to Washington on the 3d to receive +my commission, and started the day following that. The commission was +handed to me on the 9th. It was delivered to me at the Executive +Mansion by President Lincoln in the presence of his Cabinet, my eldest +son, those of my staff who were with me and and a few other visitors. + +The President in presenting my commission read from a paper--stating, +however, as a preliminary, and prior to the delivery of it, that he had +drawn that up on paper, knowing my disinclination to speak in public, +and handed me a copy in advance so that I might prepare a few lines of +reply. The President said: + +"General Grant, the nation's appreciation of what you have done, and its +reliance upon you for what remains to be done in the existing great +struggle, are now presented, with this commission constituting you +lieutenant-general in the Army of the United States. With this high +honor, devolves upon you, also, a corresponding responsibility. As the +country herein trusts you, so, under God, it will sustain you. I +scarcely need to add, that, with what I here speak for the nation, goes +my own hearty personal concurrence." + +To this I replied: "Mr. President, I accept the commission, with +gratitude for the high honor conferred. With the aid of the noble +armies that have fought in so many fields for our common country, it +will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint your expectations. I feel +the full weight of the responsibilities now devolving on me; and I know +that if they are met, it will be due to those armies, and above all, to +the favor of that Providence which leads both nations and men." + +On the 10th I visited the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac at +Brandy Station; then returned to Washington, and pushed west at once to +make my arrangements for turning over the commands there and giving +general directions for the preparations to be made for the spring +campaign. + +It had been my intention before this to remain in the West, even if I +was made lieutenant-general; but when I got to Washington and saw the +situation it was plain that here was the point for the commanding +general to be. No one else could, probably, resist the pressure that +would be brought to bear upon him to desist from his own plans and +pursue others. I determined, therefore, before I started back to have +Sherman advanced to my late position, McPherson to Sherman's in command +of the department, and Logan to the command of McPherson's corps. These +changes were all made on my recommendation and without hesitation. My +commission as lieutenant-general was given to me on the 9th of March, +1864. On the following day, as already stated, I visited General Meade, +commanding the Army of the Potomac, at his headquarters at Brandy +Station, north of the Rapidan. I had known General Meade slightly in +the Mexican war, but had not met him since until this visit. I was a +stranger to most of the Army of the Potomac, I might say to all except +the officers of the regular army who had served in the Mexican war. +There had been some changes ordered in the organization of that army +before my promotion. One was the consolidation of five corps into +three, thus throwing some officers of rank out of important commands. +Meade evidently thought that I might want to make still one more change +not yet ordered. He said to me that I might want an officer who had +served with me in the West, mentioning Sherman specially, to take his +place. If so, he begged me not to hesitate about making the change. He +urged that the work before us was of such vast importance to the whole +nation that the feeling or wishes of no one person should stand in the +way of selecting the right men for all positions. For himself, he would +serve to the best of his ability wherever placed. I assured him that I +had no thought of substituting any one for him. As to Sherman, he could +not be spared from the West. + +This incident gave me even a more favorable opinion of Meade than did +his great victory at Gettysburg the July before. It is men who wait to +be selected, and not those who seek, from whom we may always expect the +most efficient service. + +Meade's position afterwards proved embarrassing to me if not to him. He +was commanding an army and, for nearly a year previous to my taking +command of all the armies, was in supreme command of the Army of the +Potomac--except from the authorities at Washington. All other general +officers occupying similar positions were independent in their commands +so far as any one present with them was concerned. I tried to make +General Meade's position as nearly as possible what it would have been +if I had been in Washington or any other place away from his command. I +therefore gave all orders for the movements of the Army of the Potomac +to Meade to have them executed. To avoid the necessity of having to +give orders direct, I established my headquarters near his, unless there +were reasons for locating them elsewhere. This sometimes happened, and +I had on occasions to give orders direct to the troops affected. On the +11th I returned to Washington and, on the day after, orders were +published by the War Department placing me in command of all the armies. +I had left Washington the night before to return to my old command in +the West and to meet Sherman whom I had telegraphed to join me in +Nashville. + +Sherman assumed command of the military division of the Mississippi on +the 18th of March, and we left Nashville together for Cincinnati. I had +Sherman accompany me that far on my way back to Washington so that we +could talk over the matters about which I wanted to see him, without +losing any more time from my new command than was necessary. The first +point which I wished to discuss was particularly about the co-operation +of his command with mine when the spring campaign should commence. There +were also other and minor points, minor as compared with the great +importance of the question to be decided by sanguinary war--the +restoration to duty of officers who had been relieved from important +commands, namely McClellan, Burnside and Fremont in the East, and Buell, +McCook, Negley and Crittenden in the West. + +Some time in the winter of 1863-64 I had been invited by the +general-in-chief to give my views of the campaign I thought advisable +for the command under me--now Sherman's. General J. E. Johnston was +defending Atlanta and the interior of Georgia with an army, the largest +part of which was stationed at Dalton, about 38 miles south of +Chattanooga. Dalton is at the junction of the railroad from Cleveland +with the one from Chattanooga to Atlanta. + +There could have been no difference of opinion as to the first duty of +the armies of the military division of the Mississippi. Johnston's army +was the first objective, and that important railroad centre, Atlanta, +the second. At the time I wrote General Halleck giving my views of the +approaching campaign, and at the time I met General Sherman, it was +expected that General Banks would be through with the campaign which he +had been ordered upon before my appointment to the command of all the +armies, and would be ready to co-operate with the armies east of the +Mississippi, his part in the programme being to move upon Mobile by land +while the navy would close the harbor and assist to the best of its +ability. (*22) The plan therefore was for Sherman to attack Johnston and +destroy his army if possible, to capture Atlanta and hold it, and with +his troops and those of Banks to hold a line through to Mobile, or at +least to hold Atlanta and command the railroad running east and west, +and the troops from one or other of the armies to hold important points +on the southern road, the only east and west road that would be left in +the possession of the enemy. This would cut the Confederacy in two +again, as our gaining possession of the Mississippi River had done +before. Banks was not ready in time for the part assigned to him, and +circumstances that could not be foreseen determined the campaign which +was afterwards made, the success and grandeur of which has resounded +throughout all lands. + +In regard to restoring officers who had been relieved from important +commands to duty again, I left Sherman to look after those who had been +removed in the West while I looked out for the rest. I directed, +however, that he should make no assignment until I could speak to the +Secretary of War about the matter. I shortly after recommended to the +Secretary the assignment of General Buell to duty. I received the +assurance that duty would be offered to him; and afterwards the +Secretary told me that he had offered Buell an assignment and that the +latter had declined it, saying that it would be degradation to accept +the assignment offered. I understood afterwards that he refused to +serve under either Sherman or Canby because he had ranked them both. +Both graduated before him and ranked him in the old army. Sherman +ranked him as a brigadier-general. All of them ranked me in the old +army, and Sherman and Buell did as brigadiers. The worst excuse a +soldier can make for declining service is that he once ranked the +commander he is ordered to report to. + +On the 23d of March I was back in Washington, and on the 26th took up my +headquarters at Culpeper Court-House, a few miles south of the +headquarters of the Army of the Potomac. + +Although hailing from Illinois myself, the State of the President, I +never met Mr. Lincoln until called to the capital to receive my +commission as lieutenant-general. I knew him, however, very well and +favorably from the accounts given by officers under me at the West who +had known him all their lives. I had also read the remarkable series of +debates between Lincoln and Douglas a few years before, when they were +rival candidates for the United States Senate. I was then a resident of +Missouri, and by no means a "Lincoln man" in that contest; but I +recognized then his great ability. + +In my first interview with Mr. Lincoln alone he stated to me that he had +never professed to be a military man or to know how campaigns should be +conducted, and never wanted to interfere in them: but that +procrastination on the part of commanders, and the pressure from the +people at the North and Congress, WHICH WAS ALWAYS WITH HIM, forced him +into issuing his series of "Military Orders"--one, two, three, etc. He +did not know but they were all wrong, and did know that some of them +were. All he wanted or had ever wanted was some one who would take the +responsibility and act, and call on him for all the assistance needed, +pledging himself to use all the power of the government in rendering +such assistance. Assuring him that I would do the best I could with the +means at hand, and avoid as far as possible annoying him or the War +Department, our first interview ended. + +The Secretary of War I had met once before only, but felt that I knew +him better. + +While commanding in West Tennessee we had occasionally held +conversations over the wires, at night, when they were not being +otherwise used. He and General Halleck both cautioned me against giving +the President my plans of campaign, saying that he was so kind-hearted, +so averse to refusing anything asked of him, that some friend would be +sure to get from him all he knew. I should have said that in our +interview the President told me he did not want to know what I proposed +to do. But he submitted a plan of campaign of his own which he wanted +me to hear and then do as I pleased about. He brought out a map of +Virginia on which he had evidently marked every position occupied by the +Federal and Confederate armies up to that time. He pointed out on the +map two streams which empty into the Potomac, and suggested that the +army might be moved on boats and landed between the mouths of these +streams. We would then have the Potomac to bring our supplies, and the +tributaries would protect our flanks while we moved out. I listened +respectfully, but did not suggest that the same streams would protect +Lee's flanks while he was shutting us up. + +I did not communicate my plans to the President, nor did I to the +Secretary of War or to General Halleck. + +March the 26th my headquarters were, as stated, at Culpeper, and the +work of preparing for an early campaign commenced. + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +THE MILITARY SITUATION--PLANS FOR THE CAMPAIGN--SHERIDAN ASSIGNED TO +COMMAND OF THE CAVALRY--FLANK MOVEMENTS--FORREST AT FORT PILLOW--GENERAL +BANKS'S EXPEDITION--COLONEL MOSBY--AN INCIDENT OF THE WILDERNESS +CAMPAIGN. + +When I assumed command of all the armies the situation was about this: +the Mississippi River was guarded from St. Louis to its mouth; the line +of the Arkansas was held, thus giving us all the North-west north of +that river. A few points in Louisiana not remote from the river were +held by the Federal troops, as was also the mouth of the Rio Grande. +East of the Mississippi we held substantially all north of the Memphis +and Charleston Railroad as far east as Chattanooga, thence along the +line of the Tennessee and Holston rivers, taking in nearly all of the +State of Tennessee. West Virginia was in our hands; and that part of +old Virginia north of the Rapidan and east of the Blue Ridge we also +held. On the sea-coast we had Fortress Monroe and Norfolk in Virginia; +Plymouth, Washington and New Berne in North Carolina; Beaufort, Folly +and Morris islands, Hilton Head, Port Royal and Fort Pulaski in South +Carolina and Georgia; Fernandina, St. Augustine, Key West and Pensacola +in Florida. The balance of the Southern territory, an empire in extent, +was still in the hands of the enemy. + +Sherman, who had succeeded me in the command of the military division of +the Mississippi, commanded all the troops in the territory west of the +Alleghanies and north of Natchez, with a large movable force about +Chattanooga. His command was subdivided into four departments, but the +commanders all reported to Sherman and were subject to his orders. This +arrangement, however, insured the better protection of all lines of +communication through the acquired territory, for the reason that these +different department commanders could act promptly in case of a sudden +or unexpected raid within their respective jurisdictions without +awaiting the orders of the division commander. + +In the East the opposing forces stood in substantially the same +relations towards each other as three years before, or when the war +began; they were both between the Federal and Confederate capitals. It +is true, footholds had been secured by us on the sea-coast, in Virginia +and North Carolina, but, beyond that, no substantial advantage had been +gained by either side. Battles had been fought of as great severity as +had ever been known in war, over ground from the James River and +Chickahominy, near Richmond, to Gettysburg and Chambersburg, in +Pennsylvania, with indecisive results, sometimes favorable to the +National army, sometimes to the Confederate army; but in every instance, +I believe, claimed as victories for the South by the Southern press if +not by the Southern generals. The Northern press, as a whole, did not +discourage these claims; a portion of it always magnified rebel success +and belittled ours, while another portion, most sincerely earnest in +their desire for the preservation of the Union and the overwhelming +success of the Federal armies, would nevertheless generally express +dissatisfaction with whatever victories were gained because they were +not more complete. + +That portion of the Army of the Potomac not engaged in guarding lines of +communication was on the northern bank of the Rapidan. The Army of +Northern Virginia confronting it on the opposite bank of the same river, +was strongly intrenched and commanded by the acknowledged ablest general +in the Confederate army. The country back to the James River is cut up +with many streams, generally narrow, deep, and difficult to cross except +where bridged. The region is heavily timbered, and the roads narrow, +and very bad after the least rain. Such an enemy was not, of course, +unprepared with adequate fortifications at convenient intervals all the +way back to Richmond, so that when driven from one fortified position +they would always have another farther to the rear to fall back into. + +To provision an army, campaigning against so formidable a foe through +such a country, from wagons alone seemed almost impossible. System and +discipline were both essential to its accomplishment. + +The Union armies were now divided into nineteen departments, though four +of them in the West had been concentrated into a single military +division. The Army of the Potomac was a separate command and had no +territorial limits. There were thus seventeen distinct commanders. +Before this time these various armies had acted separately and +independently of each other, giving the enemy an opportunity often of +depleting one command, not pressed, to reinforce another more actively +engaged. I determined to stop this. To this end I regarded the Army of +the Potomac as the centre, and all west to Memphis along the line +described as our position at the time, and north of it, the right wing; +the Army of the James, under General Butler, as the left wing, and all +the troops south, as a force in rear of the enemy. Some of these latter +were occupying positions from which they could not render service +proportionate to their numerical strength. All such were depleted to +the minimum necessary to hold their positions as a guard against +blockade runners; where they could not do this their positions were +abandoned altogether. In this way ten thousand men were added to the +Army of the James from South Carolina alone, with General Gillmore in +command. It was not contemplated that General Gillmore should leave his +department; but as most of his troops were taken, presumably for active +service, he asked to accompany them and was permitted to do so. +Officers and soldiers on furlough, of whom there were many thousands, +were ordered to their proper commands; concentration was the order of +the day, and to have it accomplished in time to advance at the earliest +moment the roads would permit was the problem. + +As a reinforcement to the Army of the Potomac, or to act in support of +it, the 9th army corps, over twenty thousand strong, under General +Burnside, had been rendezvoused at Annapolis, Maryland. This was an +admirable position for such a reinforcement. The corps could be brought +at the last moment as a reinforcement to the Army of the Potomac, or it +could be thrown on the sea-coast, south of Norfolk, in Virginia or North +Carolina, to operate against Richmond from that direction. In fact +Burnside and the War Department both thought the 9th corps was intended +for such an expedition up to the last moment. + +My general plan now was to concentrate all the force possible against +the Confederate armies in the field. There were but two such, as we +have seen, east of the Mississippi River and facing north. The Army of +Northern Virginia, General Robert E. Lee commanding, was on the south +bank of the Rapidan, confronting the Army of the Potomac; the second, +under General Joseph E. Johnston, was at Dalton, Georgia, opposed to +Sherman who was still at Chattanooga. Beside these main armies the +Confederates had to guard the Shenandoah Valley, a great storehouse to +feed their armies from, and their line of communications from Richmond +to Tennessee. Forrest, a brave and intrepid cavalry general, was in the +West with a large force; making a larger command necessary to hold what +we had gained in Middle and West Tennessee. We could not abandon any +territory north of the line held by the enemy because it would lay the +Northern States open to invasion. But as the Army of the Potomac was +the principal garrison for the protection of Washington even while it +was moving on Lee, so all the forces to the west, and the Army of the +James, guarded their special trusts when advancing from them as well as +when remaining at them. Better indeed, for they forced the enemy to +guard his own lines and resources at a greater distance from ours, and +with a greater force. Little expeditions could not so well be sent out +to destroy a bridge or tear up a few miles of railroad track, burn a +storehouse, or inflict other little annoyances. Accordingly I arranged +for a simultaneous movement all along the line. Sherman was to move +from Chattanooga, Johnston's army and Atlanta being his objective +points. (*23) Crook, commanding in West Virginia, was to move from the +mouth of the Gauley River with a cavalry force and some artillery, the +Virginia and Tennessee Railroad to be his objective. Either the enemy +would have to keep a large force to protect their communications, or see +them destroyed and a large amount of forage and provision, which they so +much needed, fall into our hands. Sigel was in command in the Valley of +Virginia. He was to advance up the valley, covering the North from an +invasion through that channel as well while advancing as by remaining +near Harper's Ferry. Every mile he advanced also gave us possession of +stores on which Lee relied. Butler was to advance by the James River, +having Richmond and Petersburg as his objective. + +Before the advance commenced I visited Butler at Fort Monroe. This was +the first time I had ever met him. Before giving him any order as to +the part he was to play in the approaching campaign I invited his views. +They were very much such as I intended to direct, and as I did direct +(*24), in writing, before leaving. + +General W. F. Smith, who had been promoted to the rank of major-general +shortly after the battle of Chattanooga on my recommendation, had not +yet been confirmed. I found a decided prejudice against his +confirmation by a majority of the Senate, but I insisted that his +services had been such that he should be rewarded. My wishes were now +reluctantly complied with, and I assigned him to the command of one of +the corps under General Butler. I was not long in finding out that the +objections to Smith's promotion were well founded. + +In one of my early interviews with the President I expressed my +dissatisfaction with the little that had been accomplished by the +cavalry so far in the war, and the belief that it was capable of +accomplishing much more than it had done if under a thorough leader. I +said I wanted the very best man in the army for that command. Halleck +was present and spoke up, saying: "How would Sheridan do?" I replied: +"The very man I want." The President said I could have anybody I wanted. +Sheridan was telegraphed for that day, and on his arrival was assigned +to the command of the cavalry corps with the Army of the Potomac. This +relieved General Alfred Pleasonton. It was not a reflection on that +officer, however, for I did not know but that he had been as efficient +as any other cavalry commander. + +Banks in the Department of the Gulf was ordered to assemble all the +troops he had at New Orleans in time to join in the general move, Mobile +to be his objective. + +At this time I was not entirely decided as to whether I should move the +Army of the Potomac by the right flank of the enemy, or by his left. +Each plan presented advantages. (*25) If by his right--my left--the +Potomac, Chesapeake Bay and tributaries would furnish us an easy hauling +distance of every position the army could occupy from the Rapidan to the +James River. But Lee could, if he chose, detach or move his whole army +north on a line rather interior to the one I would have to take in +following. A movement by his left--our right--would obviate this; but +all that was done would have to be done with the supplies and ammunition +we started with. All idea of adopting this latter plan was abandoned +when the limited quantity of supplies possible to take with us was +considered. The country over which we would have to pass was so +exhausted of all food or forage that we would be obliged to carry +everything with us. + +While these preparations were going on the enemy was not entirely idle. +In the West Forrest made a raid in West Tennessee up to the northern +border, capturing the garrison of four or five hundred men at Union +City, and followed it up by an attack on Paducah, Kentucky, on the banks +of the Ohio. While he was able to enter the city he failed to capture +the forts or any part of the garrison. On the first intelligence of +Forrest's raid I telegraphed Sherman to send all his cavalry against +him, and not to let him get out of the trap he had put himself into. +Sherman had anticipated me by sending troops against him before he got +my order. + +Forrest, however, fell back rapidly, and attacked the troops at Fort +Pillow, a station for the protection of the navigation of the +Mississippi River. The garrison consisted of a regiment of colored +troops, infantry, and a detachment of Tennessee cavalry. These troops +fought bravely, but were overpowered. I will leave Forrest in his +dispatches to tell what he did with them. + +"The river was dyed," he says, "with the blood of the slaughtered for +two hundred yards. The approximate loss was upward of five hundred +killed, but few of the officers escaping. My loss was about twenty +killed. It is hoped that these facts will demonstrate to the Northern +people that negro soldiers cannot cope with Southerners." Subsequently +Forrest made a report in which he left out the part which shocks +humanity to read. + +At the East, also, the rebels were busy. I had said to Halleck that +Plymouth and Washington, North Carolina, were unnecessary to hold. It +would be better to have the garrisons engaged there added to Butler's +command. If success attended our arms both places, and others too, +would fall into our hands naturally. These places had been occupied by +Federal troops before I took command of the armies, and I knew that the +Executive would be reluctant to abandon them, and therefore explained my +views; but before my views were carried out the rebels captured the +garrison at Plymouth. I then ordered the abandonment of Washington, but +directed the holding of New Berne at all hazards. This was essential +because New Berne was a port into which blockade runners could enter. + +General Banks had gone on an expedition up the Red River long before my +promotion to general command. I had opposed the movement strenuously, +but acquiesced because it was the order of my superior at the time. By +direction of Halleck I had reinforced Banks with a corps of about ten +thousand men from Sherman's command. This reinforcement was wanted back +badly before the forward movement commenced. But Banks had got so far +that it seemed best that he should take Shreveport on the Red River, and +turn over the line of that river to Steele, who commanded in Arkansas, +to hold instead of the line of the Arkansas. Orders were given +accordingly, and with the expectation that the campaign would be ended +in time for Banks to return A. J. Smith's command to where it belonged +and get back to New Orleans himself in time to execute his part in the +general plan. But the expedition was a failure. Banks did not get back +in time to take part in the programme as laid down. Nor was Smith +returned until long after the movements of May, 1864, had been begun. +The services of forty thousand veteran troops, over and above the number +required to hold all that was necessary in the Department of the Gulf, +were thus paralyzed. It is but just to Banks, however, to say that his +expedition was ordered from Washington and he was in no way responsible +except for the conduct of it. I make no criticism on this point. He +opposed the expedition. + +By the 27th of April spring had so far advanced as to justify me in +fixing a day for the great move. On that day Burnside left Annapolis to +occupy Meade's position between Bull Run and the Rappahannock. Meade +was notified and directed to bring his troops forward to his advance. +On the following day Butler was notified of my intended advance on the +4th of May, and he was directed to move the night of the same day and +get as far up the James River as possible by daylight, and push on from +there to accomplish the task given him. He was also notified that +reinforcements were being collected in Washington City, which would be +forwarded to him should the enemy fall back into the trenches at +Richmond. The same day Sherman was directed to get his forces up ready +to advance on the 5th. Sigel was in Winchester and was notified to move +in conjunction with the others. + +The criticism has been made by writers on the campaign from the Rapidan +to the James River that all the loss of life could have been obviated by +moving the army there on transports. Richmond was fortified and +intrenched so perfectly that one man inside to defend was more than +equal to five outside besieging or assaulting. To get possession of +Lee's army was the first great object. With the capture of his army +Richmond would necessarily follow. It was better to fight him outside +of his stronghold than in it. If the Army of the Potomac had been moved +bodily to the James River by water Lee could have moved a part of his +forces back to Richmond, called Beauregard from the south to reinforce +it, and with the balance moved on to Washington. Then, too, I ordered a +move, simultaneous with that of the Army of the Potomac, up the James +River by a formidable army already collected at the mouth of the river. + +While my headquarters were at Culpeper, from the 26th of March to the +4th of May, I generally visited Washington once a week to confer with +the Secretary of War and President. On the last occasion, a few days +before moving, a circumstance occurred which came near postponing my +part in the campaign altogether. Colonel John S. Mosby had for a long +time been commanding a partisan corps, or regiment, which operated in +the rear of the Army of the Potomac. On my return to the field on this +occasion, as the train approached Warrenton Junction, a heavy cloud of +dust was seen to the east of the road as if made by a body of cavalry on +a charge. Arriving at the junction the train was stopped and inquiries +made as to the cause of the dust. There was but one man at the station, +and he informed us that Mosby had crossed a few minutes before at full +speed in pursuit of Federal cavalry. Had he seen our train coming, no +doubt he would have let his prisoners escape to capture the train. I +was on a special train, if I remember correctly, without any guard. + +Since the close of the war I have come to know Colonel Mosby personally, +and somewhat intimately. He is a different man entirely from what I had +supposed. He is slender, not tall, wiry, and looks as if he could +endure any amount of physical exercise. He is able, and thoroughly +honest and truthful. There were probably but few men in the South who +could have commanded successfully a separate detachment in the rear of +an opposing army, and so near the border of hostilities, as long as he +did without losing his entire command. + +On this same visit to Washington I had my last interview with the +President before reaching the James River. He had of course become +acquainted with the fact that a general movement had been ordered all +along the line, and seemed to think it a new feature in war. I +explained to him that it was necessary to have a great number of troops +to guard and hold the territory we had captured, and to prevent +incursions into the Northern States. These troops could perform this +service just as well by advancing as by remaining still; and by +advancing they would compel the enemy to keep detachments to hold them +back, or else lay his own territory open to invasion. His answer was: +"Oh, yes! I see that. As we say out West, if a man can't skin he must +hold a leg while somebody else does." + +There was a certain incident connected with the Wilderness campaign of +which it may not be out of place to speak; and to avoid a digression +further on I will mention it here. + +A few days before my departure from Culpeper the Honorable E. B. +Washburne visited me there, and remained with my headquarters for some +distance south, through the battle in the Wilderness and, I think, to +Spottsylvania. He was accompanied by a Mr. Swinton, whom he presented as +a literary gentleman who wished to accompany the army with a view of +writing a history of the war when it was over. He assured me--and I +have no doubt Swinton gave him the assurance--that he was not present as +a correspondent of the press. I expressed an entire willingness to have +him (Swinton) accompany the army, and would have allowed him to do so as +a correspondent, restricted, however, in the character of the +information he could give. We received Richmond papers with about as +much regularity as if there had been no war, and knew that our papers +were received with equal regularity by the Confederates. It was +desirable, therefore, that correspondents should not be privileged spies +of the enemy within our lines. + +Probably Mr. Swinton expected to be an invited guest at my headquarters, +and was disappointed that he was not asked to become so. At all events +he was not invited, and soon I found that he was corresponding with some +paper (I have now forgotten which one), thus violating his word either +expressed or implied. He knew of the assurance Washburne had given as +to the character of his mission. I never saw the man from the day of +our introduction to the present that I recollect. He accompanied us, +however, for a time at least. + +The second night after crossing the Rapidan (the night of the 5th of +May) Colonel W. R. Rowley, of my staff, was acting as night officer at +my headquarters. A short time before midnight I gave him verbal +instructions for the night. Three days later I read in a Richmond paper +a verbatim report of these instructions. + +A few nights still later (after the first, and possibly after the +second, day's fighting in the Wilderness) General Meade came to my tent +for consultation, bringing with him some of his staff officers. Both +his staff and mine retired to the camp-fire some yards in front of the +tent, thinking our conversation should be private. There was a stump a +little to one side, and between the front of the tent and camp-fire. +One of my staff, Colonel T. S. Bowers, saw what he took to be a man +seated on the ground and leaning against the stump, listening to the +conversation between Meade and myself. He called the attention of +Colonel Rowley to it. The latter immediately took the man by the +shoulder and asked him, in language more forcible than polite, what he +was doing there. The man proved to be Swinton, the "historian," and his +replies to the question were evasive and unsatisfactory, and he was +warned against further eaves-dropping. + +The next I heard of Mr. Swinton was at Cold Harbor. General Meade came +to my headquarters saying that General Burnside had arrested Swinton, +who at some previous time had given great offence, and had ordered him +to be shot that afternoon. I promptly ordered the prisoner to be +released, but that he must be expelled from the lines of the army not to +return again on pain of punishment. + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +COMMENCEMENT OF THE GRAND CAMPAIGN--GENERAL BUTLER'S POSITION +--SHERIDAN'S FIRST RAID. + +The armies were now all ready to move for the accomplishment of a single +object. They were acting as a unit so far as such a thing was possible +over such a vast field. Lee, with the capital of the Confederacy, was +the main end to which all were working. Johnston, with Atlanta, was an +important obstacle in the way of our accomplishing the result aimed at, +and was therefore almost an independent objective. It was of less +importance only because the capture of Johnston and his army would not +produce so immediate and decisive a result in closing the rebellion as +would the possession of Richmond, Lee and his army. All other troops +were employed exclusively in support of these two movements. This was +the plan; and I will now endeavor to give, as concisely as I can, the +method of its execution, outlining first the operations of minor +detached but co-operative columns. + +As stated before, Banks failed to accomplish what he had been sent to do +on the Red River, and eliminated the use of forty thousand veterans +whose cooperation in the grand campaign had been expected--ten thousand +with Sherman and thirty thousand against Mobile. + +Sigel's record is almost equally brief. He moved out, it is true, +according to programme; but just when I was hoping to hear of good work +being done in the valley I received instead the following announcement +from Halleck: "Sigel is in full retreat on Strasburg. He will do +nothing but run; never did anything else." The enemy had intercepted +him about New Market and handled him roughly, leaving him short six +guns, and some nine hundred men out of his six thousand. + +The plan had been for an advance of Sigel's forces in two columns. +Though the one under his immediate command failed ingloriously the other +proved more fortunate. Under Crook and Averell his western column +advanced from the Gauley in West Virginia at the appointed time, and +with more happy results. They reached the Virginia and Tennessee +Railroad at Dublin and destroyed a depot of supplies, besides tearing up +several miles of road and burning the bridge over New River. Having +accomplished this they recrossed the Alleghanies to Meadow Bluffs and +there awaited further orders. + +Butler embarked at Fort Monroe with all his command, except the cavalry +and some artillery which moved up the south bank of the James River. +His steamers moved first up Chesapeake Bay and York River as if +threatening the rear of Lee's army. At midnight they turned back, and +Butler by daylight was far up the James River. He seized City Point and +Bermuda Hundred early in the day, without loss and, no doubt, very much +to the surprise of the enemy. + +This was the accomplishment of the first step contemplated in my +instructions to Butler. He was to act from here, looking to Richmond as +his objective point. I had given him to understand that I should aim to +fight Lee between the Rapidan and Richmond if he would stand; but should +Lee fall back into Richmond I would follow up and make a junction of the +armies of the Potomac and the James on the James River. He was directed +to secure a footing as far up the south side of the river as he could at +as early a date as possible. + +Butler was in position by the 6th of May and had begun intrenching, and +on the 7th he sent out his cavalry from Suffolk to cut the Weldon +Railroad. He also sent out detachments to destroy the railroad between +Petersburg and Richmond, but no great success attended these latter +efforts. He made no great effort to establish himself on that road and +neglected to attack Petersburg, which was almost defenceless. About the +11th he advanced slowly until he reached the works at Drury's Bluff, +about half way between Bermuda Hundred and Richmond. In the mean time +Beauregard had been gathering reinforcements. On the 16th he attacked +Butler with great vigor, and with such success as to limit very +materially the further usefulness of the Army of the James as a distinct +factor in the campaign. I afterward ordered a portion of it to join the +Army of the Potomac, leaving a sufficient force with Butler to man his +works, hold securely the footing he had already gained and maintain a +threatening front toward the rear of the Confederate capital. + +The position which General Butler had chosen between the two rivers, the +James and Appomattox, was one of great natural strength, one where a +large area of ground might be thoroughly inclosed by means of a single +intrenched line, and that a very short one in comparison with the extent +of territory which it thoroughly protected. His right was protected by +the James River, his left by the Appomattox, and his rear by their +junction--the two streams uniting near by. The bends of the two streams +shortened the line that had been chosen for intrenchments, while it +increased the area which the line inclosed. + +Previous to ordering any troops from Butler I sent my chief engineer, +General Barnard, from the Army of the Potomac to that of the James to +inspect Butler's position and ascertain whether I could again safely +make an order for General Butler's movement in co-operation with mine, +now that I was getting so near Richmond; or, if I could not, whether his +position was strong enough to justify me in withdrawing some of his +troops and having them brought round by water to White House to join me +and reinforce the Army of the Potomac. General Barnard reported the +position very strong for defensive purposes, and that I could do the +latter with great security; but that General Butler could not move from +where he was, in co-operation, to produce any effect. He said that the +general occupied a place between the James and Appomattox rivers which +was of great strength, and where with an inferior force he could hold it +for an indefinite length of time against a superior; but that he could +do nothing offensively. I then asked him why Butler could not move out +from his lines and push across the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad to +the rear and on the south side of Richmond. He replied that it was +impracticable, because the enemy had substantially the same line across +the neck of land that General Butler had. He then took out his pencil +and drew a sketch of the locality, remarking that the position was like +a bottle and that Butler's line of intrenchments across the neck +represented the cork; that the enemy had built an equally strong line +immediately in front of him across the neck; and it was therefore as if +Butler was in a bottle. He was perfectly safe against an attack; but, +as Barnard expressed it, the enemy had corked the bottle and with a +small force could hold the cork in its place. This struck me as being +very expressive of his position, particularly when I saw the hasty +sketch which General Barnard had drawn; and in making my subsequent +report I used that expression without adding quotation marks, never +thinking that anything had been said that would attract attention--as +this did, very much to the annoyance, no doubt, of General Butler and, I +know, very much to my own. I found afterwards that this was mentioned +in the notes of General Badeau's book, which, when they were shown to +me, I asked to have stricken out; yet it was retained there, though +against my wishes. + +I make this statement here because, although I have often made it +before, it has never been in my power until now to place it where it +will correct history; and I desire to rectify all injustice that I may +have done to individuals, particularly to officers who were gallantly +serving their country during the trying period of the war for the +preservation of the Union. General Butler certainly gave his very +earnest support to the war; and he gave his own best efforts personally +to the suppression of the rebellion. + +The further operations of the Army of the James can best be treated of +in connection with those of the Army of the Potomac, the two being so +intimately associated and connected as to be substantially one body in +which the individuality of the supporting wing is merged. + +Before giving the reader a summary of Sherman's great Atlanta campaign, +which must conclude my description of the various co-operative movements +preparatory to proceeding with that of the operations of the centre, I +will briefly mention Sheridan's first raid upon Lee's communications +which, though an incident of the operations on the main line and not +specifically marked out in the original plan, attained in its brilliant +execution and results all the proportions of an independent campaign. +By thus anticipating, in point of time, I will be able to more perfectly +observe the continuity of events occurring in my immediate front when I +shall have undertaken to describe our advance from the Rapidan. + +On the 8th of May, just after the battle of the Wilderness and when we +were moving on Spottsylvania I directed Sheridan verbally to cut loose +from the Army of the Potomac, pass around the left of Lee's army and +attack his cavalry: to cut the two roads--one running west through +Gordonsville, Charlottesville and Lynchburg, the other to Richmond, and, +when compelled to do so for want of forage and rations, to move on to +the James River and draw these from Butler's supplies. This move took +him past the entire rear of Lee's army. These orders were also given in +writing through Meade. + +The object of this move was three-fold. First, if successfully +executed, and it was, he would annoy the enemy by cutting his line of +supplies and telegraphic communications, and destroy or get for his own +use supplies in store in the rear and coming up. Second, he would draw +the enemy's cavalry after him, and thus better protect our flanks, rear +and trains than by remaining with the army. Third, his absence would +save the trains drawing his forage and other supplies from +Fredericksburg, which had now become our base. He started at daylight +the next morning, and accomplished more than was expected. It was +sixteen days before he got back to the Army of the Potomac. + +The course Sheridan took was directly to Richmond. Before night Stuart, +commanding the Confederate cavalry, came on to the rear of his command. +But the advance kept on, crossed the North Anna, and at Beaver Dam, a +station on the Virginia Central Railroad, recaptured four hundred Union +prisoners on their way to Richmond, destroyed the road and used and +destroyed a large amount of subsistence and medical stores. + +Stuart, seeing that our cavalry was pushing towards Richmond, abandoned +the pursuit on the morning of the 10th and, by a detour and an +exhausting march, interposed between Sheridan and Richmond at Yellow +Tavern, only about six miles north of the city. Sheridan destroyed the +railroad and more supplies at Ashland, and on the 11th arrived in +Stuart's front. A severe engagement ensued in which the losses were +heavy on both sides, but the rebels were beaten, their leader mortally +wounded, and some guns and many prisoners were captured. + +Sheridan passed through the outer defences of Richmond, and could, no +doubt, have passed through the inner ones. But having no supports near +he could not have remained. After caring for his wounded he struck for +the James River below the city, to communicate with Butler and to rest +his men and horses as well as to get food and forage for them. + +He moved first between the Chickahominy and the James, but in the +morning (the 12th) he was stopped by batteries at Mechanicsville. He +then turned to cross to the north side of the Chickahominy by Meadow +Bridge. He found this barred, and the defeated Confederate cavalry, +reorganized, occupying the opposite side. The panic created by his +first entrance within the outer works of Richmond having subsided troops +were sent out to attack his rear. + +He was now in a perilous position, one from which but few generals could +have extricated themselves. The defences of Richmond, manned, were to +the right, the Chickahominy was to the left with no bridge remaining and +the opposite bank guarded, to the rear was a force from Richmond. This +force was attacked and beaten by Wilson's and Gregg's divisions, while +Sheridan turned to the left with the remaining division and hastily +built a bridge over the Chickahominy under the fire of the enemy, forced +a crossing and soon dispersed the Confederates he found there. The enemy +was held back from the stream by the fire of the troops not engaged in +bridge building. + +On the 13th Sheridan was at Bottom's Bridge, over the Chickahominy. On +the 14th he crossed this stream and on that day went into camp on the +James River at Haxall's Landing. He at once put himself into +communication with General Butler, who directed all the supplies he +wanted to be furnished. + +Sheridan had left the Army of the Potomac at Spottsylvania, but did not +know where either this or Lee's army was now. Great caution therefore +had to be exercised in getting back. On the 17th, after resting his +command for three days, he started on his return. He moved by the way +of White House. The bridge over the Pamunkey had been burned by the +enemy, but a new one was speedily improvised and the cavalry crossed +over it. On the 22d he was at Aylett's on the Matapony, where he +learned the position of the two armies. On the 24th he joined us on the +march from North Anna to Cold Harbor, in the vicinity of Chesterfield. + +Sheridan in this memorable raid passed entirely around Lee's army: +encountered his cavalry in four engagements, and defeated them in all; +recaptured four hundred Union prisoners and killed and captured many of +the enemy; destroyed and used many supplies and munitions of war; +destroyed miles of railroad and telegraph, and freed us from annoyance +by the cavalry of the enemy for more than two weeks. + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +SHERMAN'S CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SIEGE OF ATLANTA--DEATH OF GENERAL +MCPHERSON--ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ANDERSONVILLE--CAPTURE OF ATLANTA. + +After separating from Sherman in Cincinnati I went on to Washington, as +already stated, while he returned to Nashville to assume the duties of +his new command. His military division was now composed of four +departments and embraced all the territory west of the Alleghany +Mountains and east of the Mississippi River, together with the State of +Arkansas in the trans-Mississippi. The most easterly of these was the +Department of the Ohio, General Schofield commanding; the next was the +Department of the Cumberland, General Thomas commanding; the third the +Department of the Tennessee, General McPherson commanding; and General +Steele still commanded the trans-Mississippi, or Department of Arkansas. +The last-named department was so far away that Sherman could not +communicate with it very readily after starting on his spring campaign, +and it was therefore soon transferred from his military division to that +of the Gulf, where General Canby, who had relieved General Banks, was in +command. + +The movements of the armies, as I have stated in a former chapter, were +to be simultaneous, I fixing the day to start when the season should be +far enough advanced, it was hoped, for the roads to be in a condition +for the troops to march. + +General Sherman at once set himself to work preparing for the task which +was assigned him to accomplish in the spring campaign. McPherson lay at +Huntsville with about twenty-four thousand men, guarding those points of +Tennessee which were regarded as most worth holding; Thomas, with over +sixty thousand men of the Army of the Cumberland, was at Chattanooga; +and Schofield, with about fourteen thousand men, was at Knoxville. With +these three armies, numbering about one hundred thousand men in all, +Sherman was to move on the day fixed for the general advance, with a +view of destroying Johnston's army and capturing Atlanta. He visited +each of these commands to inform himself as to their condition, and it +was found to be, speaking generally, good. + +One of the first matters to turn his attention to was that of getting, +before the time arrived for starting, an accumulation of supplies +forward to Chattanooga, sufficiently large to warrant a movement. He +found, when he got to that place, that the trains over the single-track +railroad, which was frequently interrupted for a day or two at a time, +were only sufficient to meet the daily wants of the troops without +bringing forward any surplus of any kind. He found, however, that +trains were being used to transport all the beef cattle, horses for the +cavalry, and even teams that were being brought to the front. He at +once changed all this, and required beef cattle, teams, cavalry horses, +and everything that could travel, even the troops, to be marched, and +used the road exclusively for transporting supplies. In this way he was +able to accumulate an abundance before the time finally fixed upon for +the move, the 4th of May. + +As I have said already, Johnston was at Dalton, which was nearly +one-fourth of the way between Chattanooga and Atlanta. The country is +mountainous all the way to Atlanta, abounding in mountain streams, some +of them of considerable volume. Dalton is on ground where water drains +towards Atlanta and into one of the main streams rising north-east from +there and flowing south-west--this being the general direction which all +the main streams of that section take, with smaller tributaries entering +into them. Johnston had been preparing himself for this campaign during +the entire winter. The best positions for defence had been selected all +the way from Dalton back to Atlanta, and very strongly intrenched; so +that, as he might be forced to fall back from one position, he would +have another to fall into in his rear. His position at Dalton was so +very strongly intrenched that no doubt he expected, or at least hoped, +to hold Sherman there and prevent him from getting any further. With a +less skilful general, and one disposed to take no risks, I have no doubt +that he would have succeeded. + +Sherman's plan was to start Schofield, who was farthest back, a few days +in advance from Knoxville, having him move on the direct road to Dalton. +Thomas was to move out to Ringgold. It had been Sherman's intention to +cross McPherson over the Tennessee River at Huntsville or Decatur, and +move him south from there so as to have him come into the road running +from Chattanooga to Atlanta a good distance to the rear of the point +Johnston was occupying; but when that was contemplated it was hoped that +McPherson alone would have troops enough to cope with Johnston, if the +latter should move against him while unsupported by the balance of the +army. In this he was disappointed. Two of McPherson's veteran +divisions had re-enlisted on the express provision that they were to +have a furlough. This furlough had not yet expired, and they were not +back. + +Then, again, Sherman had lent Banks two divisions under A. J. Smith, the +winter before, to co-operate with the trans-Mississippi forces, and this +with the express pledge that they should be back by a time specified, so +as to be prepared for this very campaign. It is hardly necessary to say +they were not returned. That department continued to absorb troops to +no purpose to the end of the war. This left McPherson so weak that the +part of the plan above indicated had to be changed. He was therefore +brought up to Chattanooga and moved from there on a road to the right of +Thomas--the two coming together about Dalton. The three armies were +abreast, all ready to start promptly on time. + +Sherman soon found that Dalton was so strongly fortified that it was +useless to make any attempt to carry it by assault; and even to carry it +by regular approaches was impracticable. There was a narrowing up in +the mountain, between the National and Confederate armies, through which +a stream, a wagon road and a railroad ran. Besides, the stream had been +dammed so that the valley was a lake. Through this gorge the troops +would have to pass. McPherson was therefore sent around by the right, +to come out by the way of Snake Creek Gap into the rear of the enemy. +This was a surprise to Johnston, and about the 13th he decided to +abandon his position at Dalton. + +On the 15th there was very hard fighting about Resaca; but our cavalry +having been sent around to the right got near the road in the enemy's +rear. Again Johnston fell back, our army pursuing. The pursuit was +continued to Kingston, which was reached on the 19th with very little +fighting, except that Newton's division overtook the rear of Johnston's +army and engaged it. Sherman was now obliged to halt for the purpose of +bringing up his railroad trains. He was depending upon the railroad for +all of his supplies, and as of course the railroad was wholly destroyed +as Johnston fell back, it had to be rebuilt. This work was pushed +forward night and day, and caused much less delay than most persons +would naturally expect in a mountainous country where there were so many +bridges to be rebuilt. + +The campaign to Atlanta was managed with the most consummate skill, the +enemy being flanked out of one position after another all the way there. +It is true this was not accomplished without a good deal of fighting +--some of it very hard fighting, rising to the dignity of very important +battles--neither were single positions gained in a day. On the +contrary, weeks were spent at some; and about Atlanta more than a month +was consumed. + +It was the 23d of May before the road was finished up to the rear of +Sherman's army and the pursuit renewed. This pursuit brought him up to +the vicinity of Allatoona. This place was very strongly intrenched, and +naturally a very defensible position. An assault upon it was not thought +of, but preparations were made to flank the enemy out of it. This was +done by sending a large force around our right, by the way of Dallas, to +reach the rear of the enemy. Before reaching there, however, they found +the enemy fortified in their way, and there resulted hard fighting for +about a week at a place called New Hope Church. On the left our troops +also were fortified, and as close up to the enemy as they could get. +They kept working still farther around to the left toward the railroad. +This was the case more particularly with the cavalry. By the 4th of +June Johnston found that he was being hemmed in so rapidly that he drew +off and Allatoona was left in our possession. + +Allatoona, being an important place, was strongly intrenched for +occupation by our troops before advancing farther, and made a secondary +base of supplies. The railroad was finished up to that point, the +intrenchments completed, storehouses provided for food, and the army got +in readiness for a further advance. The rains, however, were falling in +such torrents that it was impossible to move the army by the side roads +which they would have to move upon in order to turn Johnston out of his +new position. + +While Sherman's army lay here, General F. P. Blair returned to it, +bringing with him the two divisions of veterans who had been on +furlough. + +Johnston had fallen back to Marietta and Kenesaw Mountain, where strong +intrenchments awaited him. At this latter place our troops made an +assault upon the enemy's lines after having got their own lines up close +to him, and failed, sustaining considerable loss. But during the +progress of the battle Schofield was gaining ground to the left; and the +cavalry on his left were gaining still more toward the enemy's rear. +These operations were completed by the 3d of July, when it was found +that Johnston had evacuated the place. He was pursued at once. Sherman +had made every preparation to abandon the railroad, leaving a strong +guard in his intrenchments. He had intended, moving out with twenty +days' rations and plenty of ammunition, to come in on the railroad again +at the Chattahoochee River. Johnston frustrated this plan by himself +starting back as above stated. This time he fell back to the +Chattahoochee. + +About the 5th of July he was besieged again, Sherman getting easy +possession of the Chattahoochee River both above and below him. The +enemy was again flanked out of his position, or so frightened by +flanking movements that on the night of the 9th he fell back across the +river. + +Here Johnston made a stand until the 17th, when Sherman's old tactics +prevailed again and the final movement toward Atlanta began. Johnston +was now relieved of the command, and Hood superseded him. + +Johnston's tactics in this campaign do not seem to have met with much +favor, either in the eyes of the administration at Richmond, or of the +people of that section of the South in which he was commanding. The +very fact of a change of commanders being ordered under such +circumstances was an indication of a change of policy, and that now they +would become the aggressors--the very thing our troops wanted. + +For my own part, I think that Johnston's tactics were right. Anything +that could have prolonged the war a year beyond the time that it did +finally close, would probably have exhausted the North to such an extent +that they might then have abandoned the contest and agreed to a +separation. + +Atlanta was very strongly intrenched all the way around in a circle +about a mile and a half outside of the city. In addition to this, there +were advanced intrenchments which had to be taken before a close siege +could be commenced. + +Sure enough, as indicated by the change of commanders, the enemy was +about to assume the offensive. On the 20th he came out and attacked the +Army of the Cumberland most furiously. Hooker's corps, and Newton's and +Johnson's divisions were the principal ones engaged in this contest, +which lasted more than an hour; but the Confederates were then forced to +fall back inside their main lines. The losses were quite heavy on both +sides. On this day General Gresham, since our Postmaster-General, was +very badly wounded. During the night Hood abandoned his outer lines, +and our troops were advanced. The investment had not been relinquished +for a moment during the day. + +During the night of the 21st Hood moved out again, passing by our left +flank, which was then in motion to get a position farther in rear of +him, and a desperate battle ensued, which lasted most of the day of the +22d. At first the battle went very much in favor of the Confederates, +our troops being somewhat surprised. While our troops were advancing +they were struck in flank, and their flank was enveloped. But they had +become too thorough veterans to be thrown into irreparable confusion by +an unexpected attack when off their guard, and soon they were in order +and engaging the enemy, with the advantage now of knowing where their +antagonist was. The field of battle continued to expand until it +embraced about seven miles of ground. Finally, however, and before +night, the enemy was driven back into the city (*26). + +It was during this battle that McPherson, while passing from one column +to another, was instantly killed. In his death the army lost one of its +ablest, purest and best generals. + +Garrard had been sent out with his cavalry to get upon the railroad east +of Atlanta and to cut it in the direction of Augusta. He was successful +in this, and returned about the time of the battle. Rousseau had also +come up from Tennessee with a small division of cavalry, having crossed +the Tennessee River about Decatur and made a raid into Alabama. Finally, +when hard pressed, he had come in, striking the railroad in rear of +Sherman, and reported to him about this time. + +The battle of the 22d is usually known as the Battle of Atlanta, +although the city did not fall into our hands until the 2d of September. +Preparations went on, as before, to flank the enemy out of his position. +The work was tedious, and the lines that had to be maintained were very +long. Our troops were gradually worked around to the east until they +struck the road between Decatur and Atlanta. These lines were strongly +fortified, as were those to the north and west of the city--all as close +up to the enemy's lines as practicable--in order to hold them with the +smallest possible number of men, the design being to detach an army to +move by our right and try to get upon the railroad down south of +Atlanta. + +On the 27th the movement by the right flank commenced. On the 28th the +enemy struck our right flank, General Logan commanding, with great +vigor. Logan intrenched himself hastily, and by that means was enabled +to resist all assaults and inflict a great deal of damage upon the +enemy. These assaults were continued to the middle of the afternoon, +and resumed once or twice still later in the day. The enemy's losses in +these unsuccessful assaults were fearful. + +During that evening the enemy in Logan's front withdrew into the town. +This now left Sherman's army close up to the Confederate lines, +extending from a point directly east of the city around by the north and +west of it for a distance of fully ten miles; the whole of this line +being intrenched, and made stronger every day they remained there. + +In the latter part of July Sherman sent Stoneman to destroy the +railroads to the south, about Macon. He was then to go east and, if +possible, release our prisoners about Andersonville. There were painful +stories current at the time about the great hardships these prisoners +had to endure in the way of general bad treatment, in the way in which +they were housed, and in the way in which they were fed. Great sympathy +was felt for them; and it was thought that even if they could be turned +loose upon the country it would be a great relief to them. But the +attempt proved a failure. McCook, who commanded a small brigade, was +first reported to have been captured; but he got back, having inflicted +a good deal of damage upon the enemy. He had also taken some prisoners; +but encountering afterwards a largely superior force of the enemy he was +obliged to drop his prisoners and get back as best he could with what +men he had left. He had lost several hundred men out of his small +command. On the 4th of August Colonel Adams, commanding a little +brigade of about a thousand men, returned reporting Stoneman and all but +himself as lost. I myself had heard around Richmond of the capture of +Stoneman, and had sent Sherman word, which he received. The rumor was +confirmed there, also, from other sources. A few days after Colonel +Adams's return Colonel Capron also got in with a small detachment and +confirmed the report of the capture of Stoneman with something less than +a thousand men. + +It seems that Stoneman, finding the escape of all his force was +impossible, had made arrangements for the escape of two divisions. He +covered the movement of these divisions to the rear with a force of +about seven hundred men, and at length surrendered himself and this +detachment to the commanding Confederate. In this raid, however, much +damage was inflicted upon the enemy by the destruction of cars, +locomotives, army wagons, manufactories of military supplies, etc. + +On the 4th and 5th Sherman endeavored to get upon the railroad to our +right, where Schofield was in command, but these attempts failed +utterly. General Palmer was charged with being the cause of this +failure, to a great extent, by both General Sherman and General +Schofield; but I am not prepared to say this, although a question seems +to have arisen with Palmer as to whether Schofield had any right to +command him. If he did raise this question while an action was going +on, that act alone was exceedingly reprehensible. + +About the same time Wheeler got upon our railroad north of Resaca and +destroyed it nearly up to Dalton. This cut Sherman off from +communication with the North for several days. Sherman responded to +this attack on his lines of communication by directing one upon theirs. + +Kilpatrick started on the night of the 18th of August to reach the Macon +road about Jonesboro. He succeeded in doing so, passed entirely around +the Confederate lines of Atlanta, and was back again in his former +position on our left by the 22d. These little affairs, however, +contributed but very little to the grand result. They annoyed, it is +true, but any damage thus done to a railroad by any cavalry expedition +is soon repaired. + +Sherman made preparations for a repetition of his tactics; that is, for +a flank movement with as large a force as could be got together to some +point in the enemy's rear. Sherman commenced this last movement on the +25th of August, and on the 1st of September was well up towards the +railroad twenty miles south of Atlanta. Here he found Hardee +intrenched, ready to meet him. A battle ensued, but he was unable to +drive Hardee away before night set in. Under cover of the night, +however, Hardee left of his own accord. That night Hood blew up his +military works, such as he thought would be valuable in our hands, and +decamped. + +The next morning at daylight General H. W. Slocum, who was commanding +north of the city, moved in and took possession of Atlanta, and notified +Sherman. Sherman then moved deliberately back, taking three days to +reach the city, and occupied a line extending from Decatur on the left +to Atlanta in the centre, with his troops extending out of the city for +some distance to the right. + +The campaign had lasted about four months, and was one of the most +memorable in history. There was but little if anything in the whole +campaign, now that it is over, to criticise at all, and nothing to +criticise severely. It was creditable alike to the general who +commanded and the army which had executed it. Sherman had on this +campaign some bright, wide-awake division and brigade commanders whose +alertness added a host to the efficiency of his command. + +The troops now went to work to make themselves comfortable, and to enjoy +a little rest after their arduous campaign. The city of Atlanta was +turned into a military base. The citizens were all compelled to leave. +Sherman also very wisely prohibited the assembling of the army of +sutlers and traders who always follow in the wake of an army in the +field, if permitted to do so, from trading with the citizens and getting +the money of the soldiers for articles of but little use to them, and +for which they are made to pay most exorbitant prices. He limited the +number of these traders to one for each of his three armies. + +The news of Sherman's success reached the North instantaneously, and set +the country all aglow. This was the first great political campaign for +the Republicans in their canvass of 1864. It was followed later by +Sheridan's campaign in the Shenandoah Valley; and these two campaigns +probably had more effect in settling the election of the following +November than all the speeches, all the bonfires, and all the parading +with banners and bands of music in the North. + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC--CROSSING THE RAPIDAN +--ENTERING THE WILDERNESS--BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. + +Soon after midnight, May 3d-4th, the Army of the Potomac moved out from +its position north Rapidan, to start upon that memorable campaign, +destined to result in the capture of the Confederate capital and the +army defending it. This was not to be accomplished, however, without as +desperate fighting as the world has ever witnessed; not to be +consummated in a day, a week, a month, single season. The losses +inflicted, and endured, were destined to be severe; but the armies now +confronting each other had already been in deadly conflict for a period +of three years, with immense losses in killed, by death from sickness, +captured and wounded; and neither had made any real progress +accomplishing the final end. It is true the Confederates had, so far, +held their capital, and they claimed this to be their sole object. But +previously they had boldly proclaimed their intention to capture +Philadelphia, New York, and the National Capital, and had made several +attempts to do so, and once or twice had come fearfully near making +their boast good--too near for complacent contemplation by the loyal +North. They had also come near losing their own capital on at least one +occasion. So here was a stand-off. The campaign now begun was destined +to result in heavier losses, to both armies, in a given time, than any +previously suffered; but the carnage was to be limited to a single year, +and to accomplish all that had been anticipated or desired at the +beginning in that time. We had to have hard fighting to achieve this. +The two armies had been confronting each other so long, without any +decisive result, that they hardly knew which could whip. + +Ten days' rations, with a supply of forage and ammunition were taken in +wagons. Beef cattle were driven with the trains, and butchered as +wanted. Three days rations in addition, in haversacks, and fifty rounds +of cartridges, were carried on the person of each soldier. + +The country over which the army had to operate, from the Rapidan to the +crossing of the James River, is rather flat, and is cut by numerous +streams which make their way to the Chesapeake Bay. The crossings of +these streams by the army were generally made not far above tide-water, +and where they formed a considerable obstacle to the rapid advance of +troops even when the enemy did not appear in opposition. The country +roads were narrow and poor. Most of the country is covered with a dense +forest, in places, like the Wilderness and along the Chickahominy, +almost impenetrable even for infantry except along the roads. All +bridges were naturally destroyed before the National troops came to +them. + +The Army of the Potomac was composed of three infantry and one cavalry +corps, commanded respectively by Generals W. S. Hancock, G. K. Warren, +(*27) John Sedgwick and P. H. Sheridan. The artillery was commanded by +General Henry J. Hunt. This arm was in such abundance that the fourth +of it could not be used to advantage in such a country as we were +destined to pass through. The surplus was much in the way, taking up as +it did so much of the narrow and bad roads, and consuming so much of the +forage and other stores brought up by the trains. + +The 5th corps, General Warren commanding, was in advance on the right, +and marched directly for Germania Ford, preceded by one division of +cavalry, under General J. H. Wilson. General Sedgwick followed Warren +with the 6th corps. Germania Ford was nine or ten miles below the right +of Lee's line. Hancock, with the 2d corps, moved by another road, +farther east, directly upon Ely's Ford, six miles below Germania, +preceded by Gregg's division of cavalry, and followed by the artillery. +Torbert's division of cavalry was left north of the Rapidan, for the +time, to picket the river and prevent the enemy from crossing and +getting into our rear. The cavalry seized the two crossings before +daylight, drove the enemy's pickets guarding them away, and by six +o'clock A.M. had the pontoons laid ready for the crossing of the +infantry and artillery. This was undoubtedly a surprise to Lee. The +fact that the movement was unopposed proves this. + +Burnside, with the 9th corps, was left back at Warrenton, guarding the +railroad from Bull Run forward to preserve control of it in case our +crossing the Rapidan should be long delayed. He was instructed, however, +to advance at once on receiving notice that the army had crossed; and a +dispatch was sent to him a little after one P.M. giving the information +that our crossing had been successful. + +The country was heavily wooded at all the points of crossing, +particularly on the south side of the river. The battle-field from the +crossing of the Rapidan until the final movement from the Wilderness +toward Spottsylvania was of the same character. There were some +clearings and small farms within what might be termed the battle-field; +but generally the country was covered with a dense forest. The roads +were narrow and bad. All the conditions were favorable for defensive +operations. + +There are two roads, good for that part of Virginia, running from Orange +Court House to the battle-field. The most southerly of these roads is +known as the Orange Court House Plank Road, the northern one as the +Orange Turnpike. There are also roads from east of the battle-field +running to Spottsylvania Court House, one from Chancellorsville, +branching at Aldrich's; the western branch going by Piney Branch Church, +Alsop's, thence by the Brock Road to Spottsylvania; the east branch goes +by Gates's, thence to Spottsylvania. The Brock Road runs from Germania +Ford through the battle-field and on to the Court House. As +Spottsylvania is approached the country is cut up with numerous roads, +some going to the town direct, and others crossing so as to connect the +farms with roads going there. + +Lee's headquarters were at Orange Court House. From there to +Fredericksburg he had the use of the two roads above described running +nearly parallel to the Wilderness. This gave him unusual facilities, +for that country, for concentrating his forces to his right. These +roads strike the road from Germania Ford in the Wilderness. + +As soon as the crossing of the infantry was assured, the cavalry pushed +forward, Wilson's division by Wilderness Tavern to Parker's store, on +the Orange Plank Road; Gregg to the left towards Chancellorsville. +Warren followed Wilson and reached the Wilderness Tavern by noon, took +position there and intrenched. Sedgwick followed Warren. He was across +the river and in camp on the south bank, on the right of Warren, by +sundown. Hancock, with the 2d corps, moved parallel with Warren and +camped about six miles east of him. Before night all the troops, and by +the evening of the 5th the trains of more than four thousand wagons, +were safely on the south side of the river. + +There never was a corps better organized than was the quartermaster's +corps with the Army of the Potomac in 1864. With a wagon-train that +would have extended from the Rapidan to Richmond, stretched along in +single file and separated as the teams necessarily would be when moving, +we could still carry only three days' forage and about ten to twelve +days' rations, besides a supply of ammunition. To overcome all +difficulties, the chief quartermaster, General Rufus Ingalls, had marked +on each wagon the corps badge with the division color and the number of +the brigade. At a glance, the particular brigade to which any wagon +belonged could be told. The wagons were also marked to note the +contents: if ammunition, whether for artillery or infantry; if forage, +whether grain or hay; if rations, whether, bread, pork, beans, rice, +sugar, coffee or whatever it might be. Empty wagons were never allowed +to follow the army or stay in camp. As soon as a wagon was empty it +would return to the base of supply for a load of precisely the same +article that had been taken from it. Empty trains were obliged to leave +the road free for loaded ones. Arriving near the army they would be +parked in fields nearest to the brigades they belonged to. Issues, +except of ammunition, were made at night in all cases. By this system +the hauling of forage for the supply train was almost wholly dispensed +with. They consumed theirs at the depots. + +I left Culpeper Court House after all the troops had been put in motion, +and passing rapidly to the front, crossed the Rapidan in advance of +Sedgwick's corps; and established headquarters for the afternoon and +night in a deserted house near the river. + +Orders had been given, long before this movement began, to cut down the +baggage of officers and men to the lowest point possible. +Notwithstanding this I saw scattered along the road from Culpeper to +Germania Ford wagon-loads of new blankets and overcoats, thrown away by +the troops to lighten their knapsacks; an improvidence I had never +witnessed before. + +Lee, while his pickets and signal corps must have discovered at a very +early hour on the morning of the 4th of May, that the Army of the +Potomac was moving, evidently did not learn until about one o'clock in +the afternoon by what route we would confront his army. This I judge +from the fact that at 1.15 P.M., an hour and a quarter after Warren had +reached Old Wilderness Tavern, our officers took off rebel signals +which, when translated, were seen to be an order to his troops to occupy +their intrenchments at Mine Run. + +Here at night dispatches were received announcing that Sherman, Butler +and Crook had moved according to programme. + +On discovering the advance of the Army of the Potomac, Lee ordered Hill, +Ewell and Longstreet, each commanding corps, to move to the right to +attack us, Hill on the Orange Plank Road, Longstreet to follow on the +same road. Longstreet was at this time--middle of the afternoon--at +Gordonsville, twenty or more miles away. Ewell was ordered by the +Orange Pike. He was near by and arrived some four miles east of Mine +Run before bivouacking for the night. + +My orders were given through General Meade for an early advance on the +morning of the 5th. Warren was to move to Parker's store, and Wilson's +cavalry--then at Parker's store--to move on to Craig's meeting-house. +Sedgwick followed Warren, closing in on his right. The Army of the +Potomac was facing to the west, though our advance was made to the +south, except when facing the enemy. Hancock was to move south-westward +to join on the left of Warren, his left to reach to Shady Grove Church. + +At six o'clock, before reaching Parker's store, Warren discovered the +enemy. He sent word back to this effect, and was ordered to halt and +prepare to meet and attack him. Wright, with his division of Sedgwick's +corps, was ordered, by any road he could find, to join on to Warren's +right, and Getty with his division, also of Sedgwick's corps, was +ordered to move rapidly by Warren's rear and get on his left. This was +the speediest way to reinforce Warren who was confronting the enemy on +both the Orange plank and turnpike roads. + +Burnside had moved promptly on the 4th, on receiving word that the Army +of the Potomac had safely crossed the Rapidan. By making a night march, +although some of his troops had to march forty miles to reach the river, +he was crossing with the head of his column early on the morning of the +5th. Meade moved his headquarters on to Old Wilderness Tavern, four +miles south of the river, as soon as it was light enough to see the +road. I remained to hasten Burnside's crossing and to put him in +position. Burnside at this time was not under Meade's command, and was +his senior in rank. Getting information of the proximity of the enemy, +I informed Meade, and without waiting to see Burnside, at once moved +forward my headquarters to where Meade was. + +It was my plan then, as it was on all other occasions, to take the +initiative whenever the enemy could be drawn from his intrenchments if +we were not intrenched ourselves. Warren had not yet reached the point +where he was to halt, when he discovered the enemy near by. Neither +party had any advantage of position. Warren was, therefore, ordered to +attack as soon as he could prepare for it. At nine o'clock Hancock was +ordered to come up to the support of Getty. He himself arrived at +Getty's front about noon, but his troops were yet far in the rear. +Getty was directed to hold his position at all hazards until relieved. +About this hour Warren was ready, and attacked with favorable though not +decisive results. Getty was somewhat isolated from Warren and was in a +precarious condition for a time. Wilson, with his division of cavalry, +was farther south, and was cut off from the rest of the army. At two +o'clock Hancock's troops began to arrive, and immediately he was ordered +to join Getty and attack the enemy. But the heavy timber and narrow +roads prevented him from getting into position for attack as promptly as +he generally did when receiving such orders. At four o'clock he again +received his orders to attack, and General Getty received orders from +Meade a few minutes later to attack whether Hancock was ready or not. +He met the enemy under Heth within a few hundred yards. + +Hancock immediately sent two divisions, commanded by Birney and Mott, +and later two brigades, Carroll's and Owen's, to the support of Getty. +This was timely and saved Getty. During the battle Getty and Carroll +were wounded, but remained on the field. One of Birney's most gallant +brigade commanders--Alexander Hays--was killed. + +I had been at West Point with Hays for three years, and had served with +him through the Mexican war, a portion of the time in the same regiment. +He was a most gallant officer, ready to lead his command wherever +ordered. With him it was "Come, boys," not "Go." + +Wadsworth's division and Baxter's brigade of the 2d division were sent +to reinforce Hancock and Getty; but the density of the intervening +forest was such that, there being no road to march upon, they did not +get up with the head of column until night, and bivouacked where they +were without getting into position. + +During the afternoon Sheridan sent Gregg's division of cavalry to Todd's +Tavern in search of Wilson. This was fortunate. He found Wilson +engaged with a superior force under General Rosser, supported by +infantry, and falling back before it. Together they were strong enough +to turn the tables upon the enemy and themselves become aggressive. +They soon drove the rebel cavalry back beyond Corbin's Bridge. + +Fighting between Hancock and Hill continued until night put a close to +it. Neither side made any special progress. + +After the close of the battle of the 5th of May my orders were given for +the following morning. We knew Longstreet with 12,000 men was on his +way to join Hill's right, near the Brock Road, and might arrive during +the night. I was anxious that the rebels should not take the initiative +in the morning, and therefore ordered Hancock to make an assault at 4.30 +o'clock. Meade asked to have the hour changed to six. Deferring to his +wishes as far as I was willing, the order was modified and five was +fixed as the hour to move. + +Hancock had now fully one-half of the Army of the Potomac. Wadsworth +with his division, which had arrived the night before, lay in a line +perpendicular to that held by Hill, and to the right of Hancock. He was +directed to move at the same time, and to attack Hill's left. + +Burnside, who was coming up with two divisions, was directed to get in +between Warren and Wadsworth, and attack as soon as he could get in +position to do so. Sedgwick and Warren were to make attacks in their +front, to detain as many of the enemy as they could and to take +advantage of any attempt to reinforce Hill from that quarter. Burnside +was ordered if he should succeed in breaking the enemy's centre, to +swing around to the left and envelop the right of Lee's army. Hancock +was informed of all the movements ordered. + +Burnside had three divisions, but one of them--a colored division--was +sent to guard the wagon train, and he did not see it again until July. + +Lee was evidently very anxious that there should be no battle on his +right until Longstreet got up. This is evident from the fact that +notwithstanding the early hour at which I had ordered the assault, both +for the purpose of being the attacking party and to strike before +Longstreet got up, Lee was ahead in his assault on our right. His +purpose was evident, but he failed. + +Hancock was ready to advance by the hour named, but learning in time +that Longstreet was moving a part of his corps by the Catharpin Road, +thus threatening his left flank, sent a division of infantry, commanded +by General Barlow, with all his artillery, to cover the approaches by +which Longstreet was expected. This disposition was made in time to +attack as ordered. Hancock moved by the left of the Orange Plank Road, +and Wadsworth by the right of it. The fighting was desperate for about +an hour, when the enemy began to break up in great confusion. + +I believed then, and see no reason to change that opinion now, that if +the country had been such that Hancock and his command could have seen +the confusion and panic in the lines of the enemy, it would have been +taken advantage of so effectually that Lee would not have made another +stand outside of his Richmond defences. + +Gibbon commanded Hancock's left, and was ordered to attack, but was not +able to accomplish much. + +On the morning of the 6th Sheridan was sent to connect with Hancock's +left and attack the enemy's cavalry who were trying to get on our left +and rear. He met them at the intersection of the Furnace and Brock +roads and at Todd's Tavern, and defeated them at both places. Later he +was attacked, and again the enemy was repulsed. + +Hancock heard the firing between Sheridan and Stuart, and thinking the +enemy coming by that road, still further reinforced his position +guarding the entrance to the Brock Road. Another incident happened +during the day to further induce Hancock to weaken his attacking column. +Word reached him that troops were seen moving towards him from the +direction of Todd's Tavern, and Brooke's brigade was detached to meet +this new enemy; but the troops approaching proved to be several hundred +convalescents coming from Chancellorsville, by the road Hancock had +advanced upon, to join their respective commands. At 6.50 o'clock A.M., +Burnside, who had passed Wilderness Tavern at six o'clock, was ordered +to send a division to the support of Hancock, but to continue with the +remainder of his command in the execution of his previous order. The +difficulty of making a way through the dense forests prevented Burnside +from getting up in time to be of any service on the forenoon of the +sixth. + +Hancock followed Hill's retreating forces, in the morning, a mile or +more. He maintained this position until, along in the afternoon, +Longstreet came upon him. The retreating column of Hill meeting +reinforcements that had not yet been engaged, became encouraged and +returned with them. They were enabled, from the density of the forest, +to approach within a few hundred yards of our advance before being +discovered. Falling upon a brigade of Hancock's corps thrown to the +advance, they swept it away almost instantly. The enemy followed up his +advantage and soon came upon Mott's division, which fell back in great +confusion. Hancock made dispositions to hold his advanced position, but +after holding it for a time, fell back into the position that he had +held in the morning, which was strongly intrenched. In this engagement +the intrepid Wadsworth while trying to rally his men was mortally +wounded and fell into the hands of the enemy. The enemy followed up, +but made no immediate attack. + +The Confederate General Jenkins was killed and Longstreet seriously +wounded in this engagement. Longstreet had to leave the field, not to +resume command for many weeks. His loss was a severe one to Lee, and +compensated in a great measure for the mishap, or misapprehensions, +which had fallen to our lot during the day. + +After Longstreet's removal from the field Lee took command of his right +in person. He was not able, however, to rally his men to attack +Hancock's position, and withdrew from our front for the purpose of +reforming. Hancock sent a brigade to clear his front of all remnants +that might be left of Longstreet's or Hill's commands. This brigade +having been formed at right angles to the intrenchments held by +Hancock's command, swept down the whole length of them from left to +right. A brigade of the enemy was encountered in this move; but it +broke and disappeared without a contest. + +Firing was continued after this, but with less fury. Burnside had not +yet been able to get up to render any assistance. But it was now only +about nine in the morning, and he was getting into position on Hancock's +right. + +At 4.15 in the afternoon Lee attacked our left. His line moved up to +within a hundred yards of ours and opened a heavy fire. This status was +maintained for about half an hour. Then a part of Mott's division and +Ward's brigade of Birney's division gave way and retired in disorder. +The enemy under R. H. Anderson took advantage of this and pushed through +our line, planting their flags on a part of the intrenchments not on +fire. But owing to the efforts of Hancock, their success was but +temporary. Carroll, of Gibbon's division, moved at a double quick with +his brigade and drove back the enemy, inflicting great loss. Fighting +had continued from five in the morning sometimes along the whole line, +at other times only in places. The ground fought over had varied in +width, but averaged three-quarters of a mile. The killed, and many of +the severely wounded, of both armies, lay within this belt where it was +impossible to reach them. The woods were set on fire by the bursting +shells, and the conflagration raged. The wounded who had not strength +to move themselves were either suffocated or burned to death. Finally +the fire communicated with our breastworks, in places. Being +constructed of wood, they burned with great fury. But the battle still +raged, our men firing through the flames until it became too hot to +remain longer. + +Lee was now in distress. His men were in confusion, and his personal +efforts failed to restore order. These facts, however, were learned +subsequently, or we would have taken advantage of his condition and no +doubt gained a decisive success. His troops were withdrawn now, but I +revoked the order, which I had given previously to this assault, for +Hancock to attack, because his troops had exhausted their ammunition and +did not have time to replenish from the train, which was at some +distance. + +Burnside, Sedgwick, and Warren had all kept up an assault during all +this time; but their efforts had no other effect than to prevent the +enemy from reinforcing his right from the troops in their front. + +I had, on the 5th, ordered all the bridges over the Rapidan to be taken +up except one at Germania Ford. + +The troops on Sedgwick's right had been sent to enforce our left. This +left our right in danger of being turned, and us of being cut off from +all present base of supplies. Sedgwick had refused his right and +intrenched it for protection against attack. But late in the afternoon +of the 6th Early came out from his lines in considerable force and got +in upon Sedgwick's right, notwithstanding the precautions taken, and +created considerable confusion. Early captured several hundred +prisoners, among them two general officers. The defence, however, was +vigorous; and night coming on, the enemy was thrown into as much +confusion as our troops, engaged, were. Early says in his Memoirs that +if we had discovered the confusion in his lines we might have brought +fresh troops to his great discomfort. Many officers, who had not been +attacked by Early, continued coming to my headquarters even after +Sedgwick had rectified his lines a little farther to the rear, with news +of the disaster, fully impressed with the idea that the enemy was +pushing on and would soon be upon me. + +During the night all of Lee's army withdrew within their intrenchments. +On the morning of the 7th General Custer drove the enemy's cavalry from +Catharpin Furnace to Todd's Tavern. Pickets and skirmishers were sent +along our entire front to find the position of the enemy. Some went as +far as a mile and a half before finding him. But Lee showed no +disposition to come out of his Works. There was no battle during the +day, and but little firing except in Warren's front; he being directed +about noon to make a reconnoissance in force. This drew some sharp +firing, but there was no attempt on the part of Lee to drive him back. +This ended the Battle of the Wilderness. + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +AFTER THE BATTLE--TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL SERVICE--MOVEMENT BY THE LEFT +FLANK. + +More desperate fighting has not been witnessed on this continent than +that of the 5th and 6th of May. Our victory consisted in having +successfully crossed a formidable stream, almost in the face of an +enemy, and in getting the army together as a unit. We gained an +advantage on the morning of the 6th, which, if it had been followed up, +must have proven very decisive. In the evening the enemy gained an +advantage; but was speedily repulsed. As we stood at the close, the two +armies were relatively in about the same condition to meet each other as +when the river divided them. But the fact of having safely crossed was +a victory. + +Our losses in the Wilderness were very severe. Those of the +Confederates must have been even more so; but I have no means of +speaking with accuracy upon this point. The Germania Ford bridge was +transferred to Ely's Ford to facilitate the transportation of the +wounded to Washington. + +It may be as well here as elsewhere to state two things connected with +all movements of the Army of the Potomac: first, in every change of +position or halt for the night, whether confronting the enemy or not, +the moment arms were stacked the men intrenched themselves. For this +purpose they would build up piles of logs or rails if they could be +found in their front, and dig a ditch, throwing the dirt forward on the +timber. Thus the digging they did counted in making a depression to +stand in, and increased the elevation in front of them. It was +wonderful how quickly they could in this way construct defences of +considerable strength. When a halt was made with the view of assaulting +the enemy, or in his presence, these would be strengthened or their +positions changed under the direction of engineer officers. The second +was, the use made of the telegraph and signal corps. Nothing could be +more complete than the organization and discipline of this body of brave +and intelligent men. Insulated wires--insulated so that they would +transmit messages in a storm, on the ground or under water--were wound +upon reels, making about two hundred pounds weight of wire to each reel. +Two men and one mule were detailed to each reel. The pack-saddle on +which this was carried was provided with a rack like a sawbuck placed +crosswise of the saddle, and raised above it so that the reel, with its +wire, would revolve freely. There was a wagon, supplied with a +telegraph operator, battery and telegraph instruments for each division, +each corps, each army, and one for my headquarters. There were wagons +also loaded with light poles, about the size and length of a wall tent +pole, supplied with an iron spike in one end, used to hold the wires up +when laid, so that wagons and artillery would not run over them. The +mules thus loaded were assigned to brigades, and always kept with the +command they were assigned to. The operators were also assigned to +particular headquarters, and never changed except by special orders. + +The moment the troops were put in position to go into camp all the men +connected with this branch of service would proceed to put up their +wires. A mule loaded with a coil of wire would be led to the rear of +the nearest flank of the brigade he belonged to, and would be led in a +line parallel thereto, while one man would hold an end of the wire and +uncoil it as the mule was led off. When he had walked the length of the +wire the whole of it would be on the ground. This would be done in rear +of every brigade at the same time. The ends of all the wires would then +be joined, making a continuous wire in the rear of the whole army. The +men, attached to brigades or divisions, would all commence at once +raising the wires with their telegraph poles. This was done by making a +loop in the wire and putting it over the spike and raising the pole to a +perpendicular position. At intervals the wire would be attached to +trees, or some other permanent object, so that one pole was sufficient +at a place. In the absence of such a support two poles would have to be +used, at intervals, placed at an angle so as to hold the wire firm in +its place. While this was being done the telegraph wagons would take +their positions near where the headquarters they belonged to were to be +established, and would connect with the wire. Thus, in a few minutes +longer time than it took a mule to walk the length of its coil, +telegraphic communication would be effected between all the headquarters +of the army. No orders ever had to be given to establish the telegraph. + +The signal service was used on the march. The men composing this corps +were assigned to specified commands. When movements were made, they +would go in advance, or on the flanks, and seize upon high points of +ground giving a commanding view of the country, if cleared, or would +climb tall trees on the highest points if not cleared, and would denote, +by signals, the positions of different parts of our own army, and often +the movements of the enemy. They would also take off the signals of the +enemy and transmit them. It would sometimes take too long a time to +make translations of intercepted dispatches for us to receive any +benefit from them. But sometimes they gave useful information. + +On the afternoon of the 7th I received news from Washington announcing +that Sherman had probably attacked Johnston that day, and that Butler +had reached City Point safely and taken it by surprise on the 5th. I +had given orders for a movement by the left flank, fearing that Lee +might move rapidly to Richmond to crush Butler before I could get there. + +My order for this movement was as follows: + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S., May 7, 1864, 6.30 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Commanding A. P. + +Make all preparations during the day for a night march to take position +at Spottsylvania C. H. with one army corps, at Todd's Tavern with one, +and another near the intersection of the Piney Branch and Spottsylvania +road with the road from Alsop's to Old Court House. If this move is +made the trains should be thrown forward early in the morning to the Ny +River. + +I think it would be advisable in making the change to leave Hancock +where he is until Warren passes him. He could then follow and become +the right of the new line. Burnside will move to Piney Branch Church. +Sedgwick can move along the pike to Chancellorsville and on to his +destination. Burnside will move on the plank road to the intersection +of it with the Orange and Fredericksburg plank road, then follow +Sedgwick to his place of destination. + +All vehicles should be got out of hearing of the enemy before the troops +move, and then move off quietly. + +It is more than probable that the enemy concentrate for a heavy attack +on Hancock this afternoon. In case they do we must be prepared to +resist them, and follow up any success we may gain, with our whole +force. Such a result would necessarily modify these instructions. + +All the hospitals should be moved to-day to Chancellorsville. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +During the 7th Sheridan had a fight with the rebel cavalry at Todd's +Tavern, but routed them, thus opening the way for the troops that were +to go by that route at night. Soon after dark Warren withdrew from the +front of the enemy, and was soon followed by Sedgwick. Warren's march +carried him immediately behind the works where Hancock's command lay on +the Brock Road. With my staff and a small escort of cavalry I preceded +the troops. Meade with his staff accompanied me. The greatest +enthusiasm was manifested by Hancock's men as we passed by. No doubt it +was inspired by the fact that the movement was south. It indicated to +them that they had passed through the "beginning of the end" in the +battle just fought. The cheering was so lusty that the enemy must have +taken it for a night attack. At all events it drew from him a furious +fusillade of artillery and musketry, plainly heard but not felt by us. + +Meade and I rode in advance. We had passed but a little way beyond our +left when the road forked. We looked to see, if we could, which road +Sheridan had taken with his cavalry during the day. It seemed to be the +right-hand one, and accordingly we took it. We had not gone far, +however, when Colonel C. B. Comstock, of my staff, with the instinct of +the engineer, suspecting that we were on a road that would lead us into +the lines of the enemy, if he, too, should be moving, dashed by at a +rapid gallop and all alone. In a few minutes he returned and reported +that Lee was moving, and that the road we were on would bring us into +his lines in a short distance. We returned to the forks of the road, +left a man to indicate the right road to the head of Warren's column +when it should come up, and continued our journey to Todd's Tavern, +where we arrived after midnight. + +My object in moving to Spottsylvania was two-fold: first, I did not +want Lee to get back to Richmond in time to attempt to crush Butler +before I could get there; second, I wanted to get between his army and +Richmond if possible; and, if not, to draw him into the open field. But +Lee, by accident, beat us to Spottsylvania. Our wagon trains had been +ordered easterly of the roads the troops were to march upon before the +movement commenced. Lee interpreted this as a semi-retreat of the Army +of the Potomac to Fredericksburg, and so informed his government. +Accordingly he ordered Longstreet's corps--now commanded by Anderson--to +move in the morning (the 8th) to Spottsylvania. But the woods being +still on fire, Anderson could not go into bivouac, and marched directly +on to his destination that night. By this accident Lee got possession +of Spottsylvania. It is impossible to say now what would have been the +result if Lee's orders had been obeyed as given; but it is certain that +we would have been in Spottsylvania, and between him and his capital. +My belief is that there would have been a race between the two armies to +see which could reach Richmond first, and the Army of the Potomac would +have had the shorter line. Thus, twice since crossing the Rapidan we +came near closing the campaign, so far as battles were concerned, from +the Rapidan to the James River or Richmond. The first failure was +caused by our not following up the success gained over Hill's corps on +the morning of the 6th, as before described: the second, when fires +caused by that battle drove Anderson to make a march during the night of +the 7th-8th which he was ordered to commence on the morning of the 8th. +But accident often decides the fate of battle. + +Sheridan's cavalry had had considerable fighting during the afternoon of +the 7th, lasting at Todd's Tavern until after night, with the field his +at the close. He issued the necessary orders for seizing Spottsylvania +and holding the bridge over the Po River, which Lee's troops would have +to cross to get to Spottsylvania. But Meade changed Sheridan's orders +to Merritt--who was holding the bridge--on his arrival at Todd's Tavern, +and thereby left the road free for Anderson when he came up. Wilson, +who was ordered to seize the town, did so, with his division of cavalry; +but he could not hold it against the Confederate corps which had not +been detained at the crossing of the Po, as it would have been but for +the unfortunate change in Merritt's orders. Had he been permitted to +execute the orders Sheridan gave him, he would have been guarding with +two brigades of cavalry the bridge over the Po River which Anderson had +to cross, and must have detained him long enough to enable Warren to +reinforce Wilson and hold the town. + +Anderson soon intrenched himself--if indeed the intrenchments were not +already made--immediately across Warren's front. Warren was not aware of +his presence, but probably supposed it was the cavalry which Merritt had +engaged earlier in the day. He assaulted at once, but was repulsed. He +soon organized his men, as they were not pursued by the enemy, and made +a second attack, this time with his whole corps. This time he succeeded +in gaining a position immediately in the enemy's front, where he +intrenched. His right and left divisions--the former Crawford's, the +latter Wadsworth's, now commanded by Cutler--drove the enemy back some +distance. + +At this time my headquarters had been advanced to Piney Branch Church. +I was anxious to crush Anderson before Lee could get a force to his +support. To this end Sedgwick who was at Piney Branch Church, was +ordered to Warren's support. Hancock, who was at Todd's Tavern, was +notified of Warren's engagement, and was directed to be in readiness to +come up. Burnside, who was with the wagon trains at Aldrich's on our +extreme left, received the same instructions. Sedgwick was slow in +getting up for some reason--probably unavoidable, because he was never +at fault when serious work was to be done--so that it was near night +before the combined forces were ready to attack. Even then all of +Sedgwick's command did not get into the engagement. Warren led the last +assault, one division at a time, and of course it failed. + +Warren's difficulty was twofold: when he received an order to do +anything, it would at once occur to his mind how all the balance of the +army should be engaged so as properly to co-operate with him. His ideas +were generally good, but he would forget that the person giving him +orders had thought of others at the time he had of him. In like manner, +when he did get ready to execute an order, after giving most intelligent +instructions to division commanders, he would go in with one division, +holding the others in reserve until he could superintend their movements +in person also, forgetting that division commanders could execute an +order without his presence. His difficulty was constitutional and +beyond his control. He was an officer of superior ability, quick +perceptions, and personal courage to accomplish anything that could be +done with a small command. + +Lee had ordered Hill's corps--now commanded by Early--to move by the +very road we had marched upon. This shows that even early in the +morning of the 8th Lee had not yet become acquainted with my move, but +still thought that the Army of the Potomac had gone to Fredericksburg. +Indeed, he informed the authorities at Richmond he had possession of +Spottsylvania and was on my flank. Anderson was in possession of +Spottsylvania, through no foresight of Lee, however. Early only found +that he had been following us when he ran against Hancock at Todd's +Tavern. His coming detained Hancock from the battle-field of +Spottsylvania for that day; but he, in like manner, kept Early back and +forced him to move by another route. + +Had I ordered the movement for the night of the 7th by my left flank, it +would have put Hancock in the lead. It would also have given us an hour +or earlier start. It took all that time for Warren to get the head of +his column to the left of Hancock after he had got his troops out of +their line confronting the enemy. This hour, and Hancock's capacity to +use his whole force when necessary, would, no doubt, have enabled him to +crush Anderson before he could be reinforced. But the movement made was +tactical. It kept the troops in mass against a possible assault by the +enemy. Our left occupied its intrenchments while the two corps to the +right passed. If an attack had been made by the enemy he would have +found the 2d corps in position, fortified, and, practically, the 5th and +6th corps in position as reserves, until his entire front was passed. +By a left flank movement the army would have been scattered while still +passing the front of the enemy, and before the extreme right had got by +it would have been very much exposed. Then, too, I had not yet learned +the special qualifications of the different corps commanders. At that +time my judgment was that Warren was the man I would suggest to succeed +Meade should anything happen to that gallant soldier to take him from +the field. As I have before said, Warren was a gallant soldier, an able +man; and he was beside thoroughly imbued with the solemnity and +importance of the duty he had to perform. + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA--HANCOCK'S POSITION--ASSAULT OF WARREN'S AND +WRIGHT'S CORPS--UPTON PROMOTED ON THE FIELD--GOOD NEWS FROM BUTLER AND +SHERIDAN. + +The Mattapony River is formed by the junction of the Mat, the Ta, the Po +and the Ny rivers, the last being the northernmost of the four. It +takes its rise about a mile south and a little east of the Wilderness +Tavern. The Po rises south-west of the place, but farther away. +Spottsylvania is on the ridge dividing these two streams, and where they +are but a few miles apart. The Brock Road reaches Spottsylvania without +crossing either of these streams. Lee's army coming up by the Catharpin +Road, had to cross the Po at Wooden Bridge. Warren and Hancock came by +the Brock Road. Sedgwick crossed the Ny at Catharpin Furnace. Burnside +coming by Aldrich's to Gates's house, had to cross the Ny near the +enemy. He found pickets at the bridge, but they were soon driven off by +a brigade of Willcox's division, and the stream was crossed. This +brigade was furiously attacked; but the remainder of the division coming +up, they were enabled to hold their position, and soon fortified it. + +About the time I received the news of this attack, word came from +Hancock that Early had left his front. He had been forced over to the +Catharpin Road, crossing the Po at Corbin's and again at Wooden Bridge. +These are the bridges Sheridan had given orders to his cavalry to occupy +on the 8th, while one division should occupy Spottsylvania. These +movements of the enemy gave me the idea that Lee was about to make the +attempt to get to, or towards, Fredericksburg to cut off my supplies. I +made arrangements to attack his right and get between him and Richmond +if he should try to execute this design. If he had any such intention +it was abandoned as soon as Burnside was established south of the Ny. + +The Po and the Ny are narrow little streams, but deep, with abrupt +banks, and bordered by heavily wooded and marshy bottoms--at the time we +were there--and difficult to cross except where bridged. The country +about was generally heavily timbered, but with occasional clearings. It +was a much better country to conduct a defensive campaign in than an +offensive one. + +By noon of the 9th the position of the two armies was as follows: Lee +occupied a semicircle facing north, north-west and north-east, inclosing +the town. Anderson was on his left extending to the Po, Ewell came +next, then Early. Warren occupied our right, covering the Brock and +other roads converging at Spottsylvania; Sedgwick was to his left and +Burnside on our extreme left. Hancock was yet back at Todd's Tavern, +but as soon as it was known that Early had left Hancock's front the +latter was ordered up to Warren's right. He formed a line with three +divisions on the hill overlooking the Po early in the afternoon, and was +ordered to cross the Po and get on the enemy's flank. The fourth +division of Hancock's corps, Mott commanding, was left at Todd's when +the corps first came up; but in the afternoon it was brought up and +placed to the left of Sedgwick's--now Wright's--6th corps. In the +morning General Sedgwick had been killed near the right of his +intrenchments by rebel sharpshooters. His loss was a severe one to the +Army of the Potomac and to the Nation. General H. G. Wright succeeded +him in the command of his corps. + +Hancock was now, nine P.M. of the 9th of May, across the left flank of +Lee's army, but separated from it, and also from the remainder of +Meade's army, by the Po River. But for the lateness of the hour and the +darkness of the night he would have attempted to cross the river again +at Wooden Bridge, thus bringing himself on the same side with both +friend and foe. + +The Po at the points where Hancock's corps crossed runs nearly due east. +Just below his lower crossing--the troops crossed at three points--it +turns due south, and after passing under Wooden Bridge soon resumes a +more easterly direction. During the night this corps built three +bridges over the Po; but these were in rear. + +The position assumed by Hancock's corps forced Lee to reinforce his left +during the night. Accordingly on the morning of the 10th, when Hancock +renewed his effort to get over the Po to his front, he found himself +confronted by some of Early's command, which had been brought from the +extreme right of the enemy during the night. He succeeded in effecting +a crossing with one brigade, however, but finding the enemy intrenched +in his front, no more were crossed. + +Hancock reconnoitred his front on the morning of the 10th, with the view +of forcing a crossing, if it was found that an advantage could be +gained. The enemy was found strongly intrenched on the high ground +overlooking the river, and commanding the Wooden Bridge with artillery. +Anderson's left rested on the Po, where it turns south; therefore, for +Hancock to cross over--although it would bring him to the same side of +the stream with the rest of the army--would still farther isolate him +from it. The stream would have to be crossed twice in the face of the +enemy to unite with the main body. The idea of crossing was therefore +abandoned. + +Lee had weakened the other parts of his line to meet this movement of +Hancock's, and I determined to take advantage of it. Accordingly in the +morning, orders were issued for an attack in the afternoon on the centre +by Warren's and Wright's corps, Hancock to command all the attacking +force. Two of his divisions were brought to the north side of the Po. +Gibbon was placed to the right of Warren, and Birney in his rear as a +reserve. Barlow's division was left south of the stream, and Mott of +the same corps was still to the left of Wright's corps. Burnside was +ordered to reconnoitre his front in force, and, if an opportunity +presented, to attack with vigor. The enemy seeing Barlow's division +isolated from the rest of the army, came out and attacked with fury. +Barlow repulsed the assault with great slaughter, and with considerable +loss to himself. But the enemy reorganized and renewed the assault. +Birney was now moved to the high ground overlooking the river crossings +built by our troops, and covered the crossings. The second assault was +repulsed, again with severe loss to the enemy, and Barlow was withdrawn +without further molestation. General T. G. Stevenson was killed in this +move. + +Between the lines, where Warren's assault was to take place, there was a +ravine grown up with large trees and underbrush, making it almost +impenetrable by man. The slopes on both sides were also covered with a +heavy growth of timber. Warren, before noon, reconnoitred his front +twice, the first time with one and the second with two divisions. He +was repulsed on both occasions, but gained such information of the +ground as to induce him to report recommending the assault. + +Wright also reconnoitred his front and gained a considerably advanced +position from the one he started from. He then organized a storming +party, consisting of twelve regiments, and assigned Colonel Emory Upton, +of the 121st New York Volunteers, to the command of it. About four +o'clock in the afternoon the assault was ordered, Warren's and Wright's +corps, with Mott's division of Hancock's corps, to move simultaneously. +The movement was prompt, and in a few minutes the fiercest of struggles +began. The battle-field was so densely covered with forest that but +little could be seen, by any one person, as to the progress made. Meade +and I occupied the best position we could get, in rear of Warren. + +Warren was repulsed with heavy loss, General J. C. Rice being among the +killed. He was not followed, however, by the enemy, and was thereby +enabled to reorganize his command as soon as covered from the guns of +the enemy. To the left our success was decided, but the advantage was +lost by the feeble action of Mott. Upton with his assaulting party +pushed forward and crossed the enemy's intrenchments. Turning to the +right and left he captured several guns and some hundreds of prisoners. +Mott was ordered to his assistance but failed utterly. So much time was +lost in trying to get up the troops which were in the right position to +reinforce, that I ordered Upton to withdraw; but the officers and men of +his command were so averse to giving up the advantage they had gained +that I withdrew the order. To relieve them, I ordered a renewal of the +assault. By this time Hancock, who had gone with Birney's division to +relieve Barlow, had returned, bringing the division with him. His corps +was now joined with Warren's and Wright's in this last assault. It was +gallantly made, many men getting up to, and over, the works of the +enemy; but they were not able to hold them. At night they were +withdrawn. Upton brought his prisoners with him, but the guns he had +captured he was obliged to abandon. Upton had gained an important +advantage, but a lack in others of the spirit and dash possessed by him +lost it to us. Before leaving Washington I had been authorized to +promote officers on the field for special acts of gallantry. By this +authority I conferred the rank of brigadier-general upon Upton on the +spot, and this act was confirmed by the President. Upton had been badly +wounded in this fight. + +Burnside on the left had got up to within a few hundred yards of +Spottsylvania Court House, completely turning Lee's right. He was not +aware of the importance of the advantage he had gained, and I, being +with the troops where the heavy fighting was, did not know of it at the +time. He had gained his position with but little fighting, and almost +without loss. Burnside's position now separated him widely from +Wright's corps, the corps nearest to him. At night he was ordered to +join on to this. This brought him back about a mile, and lost to us an +important advantage. I attach no blame to Burnside for this, but I do +to myself for not having had a staff officer with him to report to me +his position. + +The enemy had not dared to come out of his line at any point to follow +up his advantage, except in the single instance of his attack on Barlow. +Then he was twice repulsed with heavy loss, though he had an entire +corps against two brigades. Barlow took up his bridges in the presence +of this force. + +On the 11th there was no battle and but little firing; none except by +Mott who made a reconnoissance to ascertain if there was a weak point in +the enemy's line. + +I wrote the following letter to General Halleck: + + +NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., May 11, 1864--8.30 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, D. C. + +We have now ended the 6th day of very hard fighting. The result up to +this time is much in our favor. But our losses have been heavy as well +as those of the enemy. We have lost to this time eleven general +officers killed, wounded and missing, and probably twenty thousand men. +I think the loss of the enemy must be greater--we having taken over four +thousand prisoners in battle, whilst he has taken from us but few except +a few stragglers. I am now sending back to Belle Plain all my wagons +for a fresh supply of provisions and ammunition, and purpose to fight it +out on this line if it takes all summer. + +The arrival of reinforcements here will be very encouraging to the men, +and I hope they will be sent as fast as possible, and in as great +numbers. My object in having them sent to Belle Plain was to use them +as an escort to our supply trains. If it is more convenient to send +them out by train to march from the railroad to Belle Plain or +Fredericksburg, send them so. + +I am satisfied the enemy are very shaky, and are only kept up to the +mark by the greatest exertions on the part of their officers, and by +keeping them intrenched in every position they take. + +Up to this time there is no indication of any portion of Lee's army +being detached for the defence of Richmond. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +And also, I received information, through the War Department, from +General Butler that his cavalry under Kautz had cut the railroad south +of Petersburg, separating Beauregard from Richmond, and had whipped +Hill, killing, wounding and capturing many. Also that he was +intrenched, and could maintain himself. On this same day came news from +Sheridan to the effect that he had destroyed ten miles of the railroad +and telegraph between Lee and Richmond, one and a half million rations, +and most of the medical stores for his army. + +On the 8th I had directed Sheridan verbally to cut loose from the Army +of the Potomac and pass around the left of Lee's army and attack his +cavalry and communications, which was successfully executed in the +manner I have already described. + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + +HANCOCK'S ASSAULT-LOSSES OF THE CONFEDERATES--PROMOTIONS RECOMMENDED +--DISCOMFITURE OF THE ENEMY--EWELL'S ATTACK-REDUCING THE ARTILLERY. + +In the reconnoissance made by Mott on the 11th, a salient was discovered +at the right centre. I determined that an assault should be made at that +point. (*28) Accordingly in the afternoon Hancock was ordered to move +his command by the rear of Warren and Wright, under cover of night, to +Wright's left, and there form it for an assault at four o'clock the next +morning. The night was dark, it rained heavily, and the road was +difficult, so that it was midnight when he reached the point where he +was to halt. It took most of the night to get the men in position for +their advance in the morning. The men got but little rest. Burnside +was ordered to attack (*29) on the left of the salient at the same hour. +I sent two of my staff officers to impress upon him the importance of +pushing forward vigorously. Hancock was notified of this. Warren and +Wright were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to join in the +assault if circumstances made it advisable. I occupied a central +position most convenient for receiving information from all points. +Hancock put Barlow on his left, in double column, and Birney to his +right. Mott followed Birney, and Gibbon was held in reserve. + +The morning of the 12th opened foggy, delaying the start more than half +an hour. + +The ground over which Hancock had to pass to reach the enemy, was +ascending and heavily wooded to within two or three hundred yards of the +enemy's intrenchments. In front of Birney there was also a marsh to +cross. But, notwithstanding all these difficulties, the troops pushed +on in quick time without firing a gun, and when within four or five +hundred yards of the enemy's line broke out in loud cheers, and with a +rush went up to and over the breastworks. Barlow and Birney entered +almost simultaneously. Here a desperate hand-to-hand conflict took +place. The men of the two sides were too close together to fire, but +used their guns as clubs. The hand conflict was soon over. Hancock's +corps captured some four thousand prisoners among them a division and a +brigade commander twenty or more guns with their horses, caissons, and +ammunition, several thousand stand of arms, and many colors. Hancock, +as soon as the hand-to-hand conflict was over, turned the guns of the +enemy against him and advanced inside the rebel lines. About six +o'clock I ordered Warren's corps to the support of Hancock's. Burnside, +on the left, had advanced up east of the salient to the very parapet of +the enemy. Potter, commanding one of his divisions, got over but was +not able to remain there. However, he inflicted a heavy loss upon the +enemy; but not without loss in return. + +This victory was important, and one that Lee could not afford to leave +us in full possession of. He made the most strenuous efforts to regain +the position he had lost. Troops were brought up from his left and +attacked Hancock furiously. Hancock was forced to fall back: but he +did so slowly, with his face to the enemy, inflicting on him heavy loss, +until behind the breastworks he had captured. These he turned, facing +them the other way, and continued to hold. Wright was ordered up to +reinforce Hancock, and arrived by six o'clock. He was wounded soon +after coming up but did not relinquish the command of his corps, +although the fighting lasted until one o'clock the next morning. At +eight o'clock Warren was ordered up again, but was so slow in making his +dispositions that his orders were frequently repeated, and with +emphasis. At eleven o'clock I gave Meade written orders to relieve +Warren from his command if he failed to move promptly. Hancock placed +batteries on high ground in his rear, which he used against the enemy, +firing over the heads of his own troops. + +Burnside accomplished but little on our left of a positive nature, but +negatively a great deal. He kept Lee from reinforcing his centre from +that quarter. If the 5th corps, or rather if Warren, had been as prompt +as Wright was with the 6th corps, better results might have been +obtained. + +Lee massed heavily from his left flank on the broken point of his line. +Five times during the day he assaulted furiously, but without dislodging +our troops from their new position. His losses must have been fearful. +Sometimes the belligerents would be separated by but a few feet. In one +place a tree, eighteen inches in diameter, was cut entirely down by +musket balls. All the trees between the lines were very much cut to +pieces by artillery and musketry. It was three o'clock next morning +before the fighting ceased. Some of our troops had then been twenty +hours under fire. In this engagement we did not lose a single +organization, not even a company. The enemy lost one division with its +commander, one brigade and one regiment, with heavy losses +elsewhere.(*30) Our losses were heavy, but, as stated, no whole company +was captured. At night Lee took a position in rear of his former one, +and by the following morning he was strongly intrenched in it. + +Warren's corps was now temporarily broken up, Cutler's division sent to +Wright, and Griffin's to Hancock. Meade ordered his chief of staff, +General Humphreys, to remain with Warren and the remaining division, and +authorized him to give it orders in his name. + +During the day I was passing along the line from wing to wing +continuously. About the centre stood a house which proved to be +occupied by an old lady and her daughter. She showed such unmistakable +signs of being strongly Union that I stopped. She said she had not seen +a Union flag for so long a time that it did her heart good to look upon +it again. She said her husband and son, being, Union men, had had to +leave early in the war, and were now somewhere in the Union army, if +alive. She was without food or nearly so, so I ordered rations issued +to her, and promised to find out if I could where the husband and son +were. + +There was no fighting on the 13th, further than a little skirmishing +between Mott's division and the enemy. I was afraid that Lee might be +moving out, and I did not want him to go without my knowing it. The +indications were that he was moving, but it was found that he was only +taking his new position back from the salient that had been captured. +Our dead were buried this day. Mott's division was reduced to a +brigade, and assigned to Birney's division. + +During this day I wrote to Washington recommending Sherman and Meade +(*31) for promotion to the grade of Major-General in the regular army; +Hancock for Brigadier-General; Wright, Gibbon and Humphreys to be +Major-Generals of Volunteers; and Upton and Carroll to be Brigadiers. +Upton had already been named as such, but the appointment had to be +confirmed by the Senate on the nomination of the President. + +The night of the 13th Warren and Wright were moved by the rear to the +left of Burnside. The night was very dark and it rained heavily, the +roads were so bad that the troops had to cut trees and corduroy the road +a part of the way, to get through. It was midnight before they got to +the point where they were to halt, and daylight before the troops could +be organized to advance to their position in line. They gained their +position in line, however, without any fighting, except a little in +Wright's front. Here Upton had to contend for an elevation which we +wanted and which the enemy was not disposed to yield. Upton first drove +the enemy, and was then repulsed in turn. Ayres coming to his support +with his brigade (of Griffin's division, Warren's corps), the position +was secured and fortified. There was no more battle during the 14th. +This brought our line east of the Court House and running north and +south and facing west. + +During the night of the 14th-15th Lee moved to cover this new front. +This left Hancock without an enemy confronting him. He was brought to +the rear of our new centre, ready to be moved in any direction he might +be wanted. + +On the 15th news came from Butler and Averill. The former reported the +capture of the outer works at Drury's Bluff, on the James River, and +that his cavalry had cut the railroad and telegraph south of Richmond on +the Danville road: and the latter, the destruction of a depot of +supplies at Dublin, West Virginia, and the breaking of New River Bridge +on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. The next day news came from +Sherman and Sheridan. Sherman had forced Johnston out of Dalton, +Georgia, and was following him south. The report from Sheridan embraced +his operations up to his passing the outer defences of Richmond. The +prospect must now have been dismal in Richmond. The road and telegraph +were cut between the capital and Lee. The roads and wires were cut in +every direction from the rebel capital. Temporarily that city was cut +off from all communication with the outside except by courier. This +condition of affairs, however, was of but short duration. + +I wrote Halleck: + + +NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., May 16, 1864, 8 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Washington, D. C.: + +We have had five days almost constant rain without any prospect yet of +it clearing up. The roads have now become so impassable that ambulances +with wounded men can no longer run between here and Fredericksburg. All +offensive operations necessarily cease until we can have twenty-four +hours of dry weather. The army is in the best of spirits, and feel the +greatest confidence of ultimate success. * * * * +* * You can assure the President and Secretary of War that the +elements alone have suspended hostilities, and that it is in no manner +due to weakness or exhaustion on our part. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +The condition of the roads was such that nothing was done on the 17th. +But that night Hancock and Wright were to make a night march back to +their old positions, and to make an assault at four o'clock in the +morning. Lee got troops back in time to protect his old line, so the +assault was unsuccessful. On this day (18th) the news was almost as +discouraging to us as it had been two days before in the rebel capital. +As stated above, Hancock's and Wright's corps had made an unsuccessful +assault. News came that Sigel had been defeated at New Market, badly, +and was retreating down the valley. Not two hours before, I had sent +the inquiry to Halleck whether Sigel could not get to Staunton to stop +supplies coming from there to Lee. I asked at once that Sigel might be +relieved, and some one else put in his place. Hunter's name was +suggested, and I heartily approved. Further news from Butler reported +him driven from Drury's Bluff, but still in possession of the Petersburg +road. Banks had been defeated in Louisiana, relieved, and Canby put in +his place. This change of commander was not on my suggestion. All this +news was very discouraging. All of it must have been known by the enemy +before it was by me. In fact, the good news (for the enemy) must have +been known to him at the moment I thought he was in despair, and his +anguish had been already relieved when we were enjoying his supposed +discomfiture, But this was no time for repining. I immediately gave +orders for a movement by the left flank, on towards Richmond, to +commence on the night of the 19th. I also asked Halleck to secure the +cooperation of the navy in changing our base of supplies from +Fredericksburg to Port Royal, on the Rappahannock. + +Up to this time I had received no reinforcements, except six thousand +raw troops under Brigadier General Robert O. Tyler, just arrived. They +had not yet joined their command, Hancock's corps, but were on our +right. This corps had been brought to the rear of the centre, ready to +move in any direction. Lee, probably suspecting some move on my part, +and seeing our right entirely abandoned, moved Ewell's corps about five +o'clock in the afternoon, with Early's as a reserve, to attack us in +that quarter. Tyler had come up from Fredericksburg, and had been +halted on the road to the right of our line, near Kitching's brigade of +Warren's corps. Tyler received the attack with his raw troops, and they +maintained their position, until reinforced, in a manner worthy of +veterans. + +Hancock was in a position to reinforce speedily, and was the soldier to +do it without waiting to make dispositions. Birney was thrown to +Tyler's right and Crawford to his left, with Gibbon as a reserve; and +Ewell was whirled back speedily and with heavy loss. + +Warren had been ordered to get on Ewell's flank and in his rear, to cut +him off from his intrenchments. But his efforts were so feeble that +under the cover of night Ewell got back with only the loss of a few +hundred prisoners, besides his killed and wounded. The army being +engaged until after dark, I rescinded the order for the march by our +left flank that night. + +As soon as it was discovered that the enemy were coming out to attack, I +naturally supposed they would detach a force to destroy our trains. The +withdrawal of Hancock from the right uncovered one road from +Spottsylvania to Fredericksburg over which trains drew our supplies. +This was guarded by a division of colored troops, commanded by General +Ferrero, belonging to Burnside's corps. Ferrero was therefore promptly +notified, and ordered to throw his cavalry pickets out to the south and +be prepared to meet the enemy if he should come; if he had to retreat to +do so towards Fredericksburg. The enemy did detach as expected, and +captured twenty-five or thirty wagons which, however, were soon retaken. + +In consequence of the disasters that had befallen us in the past few +days, Lee could be reinforced largely, and I had no doubt he would be. +Beauregard had come up from the south with troops to guard the +Confederate capital when it was in danger. Butler being driven back, +most of the troops could be sent to Lee. Hoke was no longer needed in +North Carolina; and Sigel's troops having gone back to Cedar Creek, +whipped, many troops could be spared from the valley. + +The Wilderness and Spottsylvania battles convinced me that we had more +artillery than could ever be brought into action at any one time. It +occupied much of the road in marching, and taxed the trains in bringing +up forage. Artillery is very useful when it can be brought into action, +but it is a very burdensome luxury where it cannot be used. Before +leaving Spottsylvania, therefore, I sent back to the defences of +Washington over one hundred pieces of artillery, with the horses and +caissons. This relieved the roads over which we were to march of more +than two hundred six-horse teams, and still left us more artillery than +could be advantageously used. In fact, before reaching the James River +I again reduced the artillery with the army largely. + +I believed that, if one corps of the army was exposed on the road to +Richmond, and at a distance from the main army, Lee would endeavor to +attack the exposed corps before reinforcements could come up; in which +case the main army could follow Lee up and attack him before he had time +to intrench. So I issued the following orders: + + +NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., VA., May 18, 1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac. + +Before daylight to-morrow morning I propose to draw Hancock and Burnside +from the position they now hold, and put Burnside to the left of Wright. +Wright and Burnside should then force their way up as close to the enemy +as they can get without a general engagement, or with a general +engagement if the enemy will come out of their works to fight, and +intrench. Hancock should march and take up a position as if in support +of the two left corps. To-morrow night, at twelve or one o'clock, he +will be moved south-east with all his force and as much cavalry as can +be given to him, to get as far towards Richmond on the line of the +Fredericksburg Railroad as he can make, fighting the enemy in whatever +force he can find him. If the enemy make a general move to meet this, +they will be followed by the other three corps of the army, and +attacked, if possible, before time is given to intrench. + +Suitable directions will at once be given for all trains and surplus +artillery to conform to this movement. + +U. S. GRANT. + + +On the 20th, Lee showing no signs of coming out of his lines, orders +were renewed for a left-flank movement, to commence after night. + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +MOVEMENT BY THE LEFT FLANK--BATTLE OF NORTH ANNA--AN INCIDENT OF THE +MARCH--MOVING ON RICHMOND--SOUTH OF THE PAMUNKEY--POSITION OF THE +NATIONAL ARMY. + +We were now to operate in a different country from any we had before +seen in Virginia. The roads were wide and good, and the country well +cultivated. No men were seen except those bearing arms, even the black +man having been sent away. The country, however, was new to us, and we +had neither guides nor maps to tell us where the roads were, or where +they led to. Engineer and staff officers were put to the dangerous duty +of supplying the place of both maps and guides. By reconnoitring they +were enabled to locate the roads in the vicinity of each army corps. +Our course was south, and we took all roads leading in that direction +which would not separate the army too widely. + +Hancock who had the lead had marched easterly to Guiney's Station, on +the Fredericksburg Railroad, thence southerly to Bowling Green and +Milford. He was at Milford by the night of the 21st. Here he met a +detachment of Pickett's division coming from Richmond to reinforce Lee. +They were speedily driven away, and several hundred captured. Warren +followed on the morning of the 21st, and reached Guiney's Station that +night without molestation. Burnside and Wright were retained at +Spottsylvania to keep up the appearance of an intended assault, and to +hold Lee, if possible, while Hancock and Warren should get start enough +to interpose between him and Richmond. + +Lee had now a superb opportunity to take the initiative either by +attacking Wright and Burnside alone, or by following by the Telegraph +Road and striking Hancock's and Warren's corps, or even Hancock's alone, +before reinforcements could come up. But he did not avail himself of +either opportunity. He seemed really to be misled as to my designs; but +moved by his interior line--the Telegraph Road--to make sure of keeping +between his capital and the Army of the Potomac. He never again had +such an opportunity of dealing a heavy blow. + +The evening of the 21st Burnside, 9th corps, moved out followed by +Wright, 6th corps. Burnside was to take the Telegraph Road; but finding +Stanard's Ford, over the Po, fortified and guarded, he turned east to +the road taken by Hancock and Warren without an attempt to dislodge the +enemy. The night of the 21st I had my headquarters near the 6th corps, +at Guiney's Station, and the enemy's cavalry was between us and Hancock. +There was a slight attack on Burnside's and Wright's corps as they moved +out of their lines; but it was easily repulsed. The object probably was +only to make sure that we were not leaving a force to follow upon the +rear of the Confederates. + +By the morning of the 22d Burnside and Wright were at Guiney's Station. +Hancock's corps had now been marching and fighting continuously for +several days, not having had rest even at night much of the time. They +were, therefore, permitted to rest during the 22d. But Warren was +pushed to Harris's Store, directly west of Milford, and connected with +it by a good road, and Burnside was sent to New Bethel Church. Wright's +corps was still back at Guiney's Station. + +I issued the following order for the movement of the troops the next +day: + + +NEW BETHEL, VA., May 22, 1864 + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac. + +Direct corps commanders to hold their troops in readiness to march at +five A.M. to-morrow. At that hour each command will send out cavalry +and infantry on all roads to their front leading south, and ascertain, +if possible, where the enemy is. If beyond the South Anna, the 5th and +6th corps will march to the forks of the road, where one branch leads to +Beaver Dam Station, the other to Jericho Bridge, then south by roads +reaching the Anna, as near to and east of Hawkins Creek as they can be +found. + +The 2d corps will move to Chesterfield Ford. The 9th corps will be +directed to move at the same time to Jericho Bridge. The map only shows +two roads for the four corps to march upon, but, no doubt, by the use of +plantation roads, and pressing in guides, others can be found, to give +one for each corps. + +The troops will follow their respective reconnoitring parties. The +trains will be moved at the same time to Milford Station. + +Headquarters will follow the 9th corps. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +Warren's corps was moved from Harris's Store to Jericho Ford, Wright's +following. Warren arrived at the ford early in the afternoon, and by +five o'clock effected a crossing under the protection of sharpshooters. +The men had to wade in water up to their waists. As soon as enough +troops were over to guard the ford, pontoons were laid and the artillery +and the rest of the troops crossed. The line formed was almost +perpendicular to the course of the river--Crawford on the left, next to +the river, Griffin in the centre, and Cutler on the right. Lee was +found intrenched along the front of their line. The whole of Hill's +corps was sent against Warren's right before it had got in position. A +brigade of Cutler's division was driven back, the enemy following, but +assistance coming up the enemy was in turn driven back into his trenches +with heavy loss in killed and wounded, with about five hundred prisoners +left in our hands. By night Wright's corps was up ready to reinforce +Warren. + +On the 23d Hancock's corps was moved to the wooden bridge which spans +the North Anna River just west of where the Fredericksburg Railroad +crosses. It was near night when the troops arrived. They found the +bridge guarded, with troops intrenched, on the north side. Hancock sent +two brigades, Egan's and Pierce's, to the right and left, and when +properly disposed they charged simultaneously. The bridge was carried +quickly, the enemy retreating over it so hastily that many were shoved +into the river, and some of them were drowned. Several hundred +prisoners were captured. The hour was so late that Hancock did not +cross until next morning. + +Burnside's corps was moved by a middle road running between those +described above, and which strikes the North Anna at Ox Ford, midway +between Telegraph Road and Jericho Ford. The hour of its arrival was +too late to cross that night. + +On the 24th Hancock's corps crossed to the south side of the river +without opposition, and formed line facing nearly west. The railroad in +rear was taken possession of and destroyed as far as possible. Wright's +corps crossed at Jericho early the same day, and took position to the +right of Warren's corps, extending south of the Virginia Central +Railroad. This road was torn up for a considerable distance to the rear +(west), the ties burned, and the rails bent and twisted by heating them +over the burning ties. It was found, however, that Burnside's corps +could not cross at Ox Ford. Lee had taken a position with his centre on +the river at this point, with the two wings thrown back, his line making +an acute angle where it overlooked the river. + +Before the exact position of the whole of Lee's line was accurately +known, I directed Hancock and Warren each to send a brigade to Ox Ford +by the south side of the river. They found the enemy too strong to +justify a serious attack. A third ford was found between Ox Ford and +Jericho. Burnside was directed to cross a division over this ford, and +to send one division to Hancock. Crittenden was crossed by this +newly-discovered ford, and formed up the river to connect with +Crawford's left. Potter joined Hancock by way of the wooden bridge. +Crittenden had a severe engagement with some of Hill's corps on his +crossing the river, and lost heavily. When joined to Warren's corps he +was no further molested. Burnside still guarded Ox Ford from the north +side. + +Lee now had his entire army south of the North Anna. Our lines covered +his front, with the six miles separating the two wings guarded by but a +single division. To get from one wing to the other the river would have +to be crossed twice. Lee could reinforce any part of his line from all +points of it in a very short march; or could concentrate the whole of it +wherever he might choose to assault. We were, for the time, practically +two armies besieging. + +Lee had been reinforced, and was being reinforced, largely. About this +time the very troops whose coming I had predicted, had arrived or were +coming in. Pickett with a full division from Richmond was up; Hoke from +North Carolina had come with a brigade; and Breckinridge was there: in +all probably not less than fifteen thousand men. But he did not attempt +to drive us from the field. + +On the 22d or 23d I received dispatches from Washington saying that +Sherman had taken Kingston, crossed the Etowah River and was advancing +into Georgia. + +I was seated at the time on the porch of a fine plantation house waiting +for Burnside's corps to pass. Meade and his staff, besides my own +staff, were with me. The lady of the house, a Mrs. Tyler, and an +elderly lady, were present. Burnside seeing us, came up on the porch, +his big spurs and saber rattling as he walked. He touched his hat +politely to the ladies, and remarked that he supposed they had never +seen so many "live Yankees" before in their lives. The elderly lady +spoke up promptly saying, "Oh yes, I have; many more." "Where?" said +Burnside. "In Richmond." Prisoners, of course, was understood. + +I read my dispatch aloud, when it was received. This threw the younger +lady into tears. I found the information she had received (and I suppose +it was the information generally in circulation through the South) was +that Lee was driving us from the State in the most demoralized condition +and that in the South-west our troops were but little better than +prisoners of war. Seeing our troops moving south was ocular proof that +a part of her information was incorrect, and she asked me if my news +from Sherman was true. I assured her that there was no doubt about it. +I left a guard to protect the house from intrusion until the troops +should have all passed, and assured her that if her husband was in +hiding she could bring him in and he should be protected also. But I +presume he was in the Confederate army. + +On the 25th I gave orders, through Halleck, to Hunter, who had relieved +Sigel, to move up the Valley of Virginia, cross over the Blue Ridge to +Charlottesville and go as far as Lynchburg if possible, living upon the +country and cutting the railroads and canal as he went. After doing +this he could find his way back to his base, or join me. + +On the same day news was received that Lee was falling back on Richmond. +This proved not to be true. But we could do nothing where we were +unless Lee would assume the offensive. I determined, therefore, to draw +out of our present position and make one more effort to get between him +and Richmond. I had no expectation now, however, of succeeding in this; +but I did expect to hold him far enough west to enable me to reach the +James River high up. Sheridan was now again with the Army of the +Potomac. + +On the 26th I informed the government at Washington of the position of +the two armies; of the reinforcements the enemy had received; of the +move I proposed to make (*32); and directed that our base of supplies +should be shifted to White House, on the Pamunkey. The wagon train and +guards moved directly from Port Royal to White House. Supplies moved +around by water, guarded by the navy. Orders had previously been sent, +through Halleck, for Butler to send Smith's corps to White House. This +order was repeated on the 25th, with directions that they should be +landed on the north side of the Pamunkey, and marched until they joined +the Army of the Potomac. + +It was a delicate move to get the right wing of the Army of the Potomac +from its position south of the North Anna in the presence of the enemy. +To accomplish it, I issued the following order: + + +QUARLES' MILLS, VA., May 25, 1864. + +MAJOR GENERAL MEADE, Commanding A. P. + +Direct Generals Warren and Wright to withdraw all their teams and +artillery, not in position, to the north side of the river to-morrow. +Send that belonging to General Wright's corps as far on the road to +Hanover Town as it can go, without attracting attention to the fact. +Send with it Wright's best division or division under his ablest +commander. Have their places filled up in the line so if possible the +enemy will not notice their withdrawal. Send the cavalry to-morrow +afternoon, or as much of it as you may deem necessary, to watch and +seize, if they can, Littlepage's Bridge and Taylor's Ford, and to remain +on one or other side of the river at these points until the infantry and +artillery all pass. As soon as it is dark to-morrow night start the +division which you withdraw first from Wright's corps to make a forced +march to Hanover Town, taking with them no teams to impede their march. +At the same time this division starts commence withdrawing all of the +5th and 6th corps from the south side of the river, and march them for +the same place. The two divisions of the 9th corps not now with +Hancock, may be moved down the north bank of the river where they will +be handy to support Hancock if necessary, or will be that much on their +road to follow the 5th and 6th corps. Hancock should hold his command +in readiness to follow as soon as the way is clear for him. To-morrow it +will leave nothing for him to do, but as soon as he can he should get +all his teams and spare artillery on the road or roads which he will +have to take. As soon as the troops reach Hanover Town they should get +possession of all the crossings they can in that neighborhood. I think +it would be well to make a heavy cavalry demonstration on the enemy's +left, to-morrow afternoon, also. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +Wilson's division of cavalry was brought up from the left and moved by +our right south to Little River. Here he manoeuvred to give the +impression that we were going to attack the left flank of Lee's army. + +Under cover of night our right wing was withdrawn to the north side of +the river, Lee being completely deceived by Wilson's feint. On the +afternoon of the 26th Sheridan moved, sending Gregg's and Torbert's +cavalry to Taylor's and Littlepage's fords towards Hanover. As soon as +it was dark both divisions moved quietly to Hanover Ferry, leaving small +guards behind to keep up the impression that crossings were to be +attempted in the morning. Sheridan was followed by a division of +infantry under General Russell. On the morning of the 27th the crossing +was effected with but little loss, the enemy losing thirty or forty, +taken prisoners. Thus a position was secured south of the Pamunkey. + +Russell stopped at the crossing while the cavalry pushed on to Hanover +Town. Here Barringer's, formerly Gordon's, brigade of rebel cavalry was +encountered, but it was speedily driven away. + +Warren's and Wright's corps were moved by the rear of Burnside's and +Hancock's corps. When out of the way these latter corps followed, +leaving pickets confronting the enemy. Wilson's cavalry followed last, +watching all the fords until everything had recrossed; then taking up +the pontoons and destroying other bridges, became the rear-guard. + +Two roads were traversed by the troops in this move. The one nearest to +and north of the North Anna and Pamunkey was taken by Wright, followed +by Hancock. Warren, followed by Burnside, moved by a road farther +north, and longer. The trains moved by a road still farther north, and +had to travel a still greater distance. All the troops that had crossed +the Pamunkey on the morning of the 27th remained quiet during the rest +of the day, while the troops north of that stream marched to reach the +crossing that had been secured for them. + +Lee had evidently been deceived by our movement from North Anna; for on +the morning of the 27th he telegraphed to Richmond: "Enemy crossed to +north side, and cavalry and infantry crossed at Hanover Town." The +troops that had then crossed left his front the night of the 25th. + +The country we were now in was a difficult one to move troops over. The +streams were numerous, deep and sluggish, sometimes spreading out into +swamps grown up with impenetrable growths of trees and underbrush. The +banks were generally low and marshy, making the streams difficult to +approach except where there were roads and bridges. + +Hanover Town is about twenty miles from Richmond. There are two roads +leading there; the most direct and shortest one crossing the +Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, near the Virginia Central Railroad, the +second going by New and Old Cold Harbor. A few miles out from Hanover +Town there is a third road by way of Mechanicsville to Richmond. New +Cold Harbor was important to us because while there we both covered the +roads back to White House (where our supplies came from), and the roads +south-east over which we would have to pass to get to the James River +below the Richmond defences. + +On the morning of the 28th the army made an early start, and by noon all +had crossed except Burnside's corps. This was left on the north side +temporarily to guard the large wagon train. A line was at once formed +extending south from the river, Wright's corps on the right, Hancock's +in the centre, and Warren's on the left, ready to meet the enemy if he +should come. + +At the same time Sheridan was directed to reconnoitre towards +Mechanicsville to find Lee's position. At Hawes' Shop, just where the +middle road leaves the direct road to Richmond, he encountered the +Confederate cavalry dismounted and partially intrenched. Gregg attacked +with his division, but was unable to move the enemy. In the evening +Custer came up with a brigade. The attack was now renewed, the cavalry +dismounting and charging as infantry. This time the assault was +successful, both sides losing a considerable number of men. But our +troops had to bury the dead, and found that more Confederate than Union +soldiers had been killed. The position was easily held, because our +infantry was near. + +On the 29th a reconnoissance was made in force, to find the position of +Lee. Wright's corps pushed to Hanover Court House. Hancock's corps +pushed toward Totopotomoy Creek; Warren's corps to the left on the Shady +Grove Church Road, while Burnside was held in reserve. Our advance was +pushed forward three miles on the left with but little fighting. There +was now an appearance of a movement past our left flank, and Sheridan +was sent to meet it. + +On the 30th Hancock moved to the Totopotomoy, where he found the enemy +strongly fortified. Wright was moved to the right of Hancock's corps, +and Burnside was brought forward and crossed, taking position to the +left of Hancock. Warren moved up near Huntley Corners on the Shady +Grove Church Road. There was some skirmishing along the centre, and in +the evening Early attacked Warren with some vigor, driving him back at +first, and threatening to turn our left flank. As the best means of +reinforcing the left, Hancock was ordered to attack in his front. He +carried and held the rifle-pits. While this was going on Warren got his +men up, repulsed Early, and drove him more than a mile. + +On this day I wrote to Halleck ordering all the pontoons in Washington +to be sent to City Point. + +In the evening news was received of the arrival of Smith with his corps +at White House. I notified Meade, in writing, as follows: + + +NEAR HAWES' SHOP, VA., 6.40 P.M., May 30, 1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Commanding A. P. + +General Smith will debark his force at the White House tonight and start +up the south bank of the Pamunkey at an early hour, probably at 3 A.M. +in the morning. It is not improbable that the enemy, being aware of +Smith's movement, will be feeling to get on our left flank for the +purpose of cutting him off, or by a dash to crush him and get back +before we are aware of it. Sheridan ought to be notified to watch the +enemy's movements well out towards Cold Harbor, and also on the +Mechanicsville road. Wright should be got well massed on Hancock's +right, so that, if it becomes necessary, he can take the place of the +latter readily whilst troops are being thrown east of the Totopotomoy if +necessary. + +I want Sheridan to send a cavalry force of at least half a brigade, if +not a whole brigade, at 5 A.M. in the morning, to communicate with Smith +and to return with him. I will send orders for Smith by the messenger +you send to Sheridan with his orders. + +U. S. GRANT. + + +I also notified Smith of his danger, and the precautions that would be +taken to protect him. + +The night of the 30th Lee's position was substantially from Atlee's +Station on the Virginia Central Railroad south and east to the vicinity +of Cold Harbor. Ours was: The left of Warren's corps was on the Shady +Grove Road, extending to the Mechanicsville Road and about three miles +south of the Totopotomoy. Burnside to his right, then Hancock, and +Wright on the extreme right, extending towards Hanover Court House, six +miles south-east of it. Sheridan with two divisions of cavalry was +watching our left front towards Cold Harbor. Wilson with his division +on our right was sent to get on the Virginia Central Railroad and +destroy it as far back as possible. He got possession of Hanover Court +House the next day after a skirmish with Young's cavalry brigade. The +enemy attacked Sheridan's pickets, but reinforcements were sent up and +the attack was speedily repulsed and the enemy followed some distance +towards Cold Harbor. + + + +CHAPTER LV. + +ADVANCE ON COLD HARBOR--AN ANECDOTE OF THE WAR--BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR +--CORRESPONDENCE WITH LEE--RETROSPECTIVE. + +On the 31st Sheridan advanced to near Old Cold Harbor. He found it +intrenched and occupied by cavalry and infantry. A hard fight ensued +but the place was carried. The enemy well knew the importance of Cold +Harbor to us, and seemed determined that we should not hold it. He +returned with such a large force that Sheridan was about withdrawing +without making any effort to hold it against such odds; but about the +time he commenced the evacuation he received orders to hold the place at +all hazards, until reinforcements could be sent to him. He speedily +turned the rebel works to face against them and placed his men in +position for defence. Night came on before the enemy was ready for +assault. + +Wright's corps was ordered early in the evening to march directly to +Cold Harbor passing by the rear of the army. It was expected to arrive +by daylight or before; but the night was dark and the distance great, so +that it was nine o'clock the 1st of June before it reached its +destination. Before the arrival of Wright the enemy had made two +assaults on Sheridan, both of which were repulsed with heavy loss to the +enemy. Wright's corps coming up, there was no further assault on Cold +Harbor. + +Smith, who was coming up from White House, was also directed to march +directly to Cold Harbor, and was expected early on the morning of the +1st of June; but by some blunder the order which reached Smith directed +him to Newcastle instead of Cold Harbor. Through this blunder Smith did +not reach his destination until three o'clock in the afternoon, and then +with tired and worn-out men from their long and dusty march. He landed +twelve thousand five hundred men from Butler's command, but a division +was left at White House temporarily and many men had fallen out of ranks +in their long march. + +Before the removal of Wright's corps from our right, after dark on the +31st, the two lines, Federal and Confederate, were so close together at +that point that either side could detect directly any movement made by +the other. Finding at daylight that Wright had left his front, Lee +evidently divined that he had gone to our left. At all events, soon +after light on the 1st of June Anderson, who commanded the corps on +Lee's left, was seen moving along Warren's front. Warren was ordered to +attack him vigorously in flank, while Wright was directed to move out +and get on his front. Warren fired his artillery at the enemy; but lost +so much time in making ready that the enemy got by, and at three o'clock +he reported the enemy was strongly intrenched in his front, and besides +his lines were so long that he had no mass of troops to move with. He +seemed to have forgotten that lines in rear of an army hold themselves +while their defenders are fighting in their front. Wright reconnoitred +some distance to his front: but the enemy finding Old Cold Harbor +already taken had halted and fortified some distance west. + +By six o'clock in the afternoon Wright and Smith were ready to make an +assault. In front of both the ground was clear for several hundred +yards and then became wooded. Both charged across this open space and +into the wood, capturing and holding the first line of rifle-pits of the +enemy, and also capturing seven or eight hundred prisoners. + +While this was going on, the enemy charged Warren three separate times +with vigor, but were repulsed each time with loss. There was no officer +more capable, nor one more prompt in acting, than Warren when the enemy +forced him to it. There was also an attack upon Hancock's and +Burnside's corps at the same time; but it was feeble and probably only +intended to relieve Anderson who was being pressed by Wright and Smith. + +During the night the enemy made frequent attacks with the view of +dispossessing us of the important position we had gained, but without +effecting their object. + +Hancock was moved from his place in line during the night and ordered to +the left of Wright. I expected to take the offensive on the morning of +the 2d, but the night was so dark, the heat and dust so excessive and +the roads so intricate and hard to keep, that the head of column only +reached Old Cold Harbor at six o'clock, but was in position at 7.30 A.M. +Preparations were made for an attack in the afternoon, but did not take +place until the next morning. Warren's corps was moved to the left to +connect with Smith: Hancock's corps was got into position to the left +of Wright's, and Burnside was moved to Bethesda Church in reserve. While +Warren and Burnside were making these changes the enemy came out several +times and attacked them, capturing several hundred prisoners. The +attacks were repulsed, but not followed up as they should have been. I +was so annoyed at this that I directed Meade to instruct his corps +commanders that they should seize all such opportunities when they +occurred, and not wait for orders, all of our manoeuvres being made for +the very purpose of getting the enemy out of his cover. + +On this day Wilson returned from his raid upon the Virginia Central +Railroad, having damaged it considerably. But, like ourselves, the +rebels had become experts in repairing such damage. Sherman, in his +memoirs, relates an anecdote of his campaign to Atlanta that well +illustrates this point. The rebel cavalry lurking in his rear to burn +bridges and obstruct his communications had become so disgusted at +hearing trains go whistling by within a few hours after a bridge had +been burned, that they proposed to try blowing up some of the tunnels. +One of them said, "No use, boys, Old Sherman carries duplicate tunnels +with him, and will replace them as fast as you can blow them up; better +save your powder." + +Sheridan was engaged reconnoitring the banks of the Chickahominy, to +find crossings and the condition of the roads. He reported favorably. + +During the night Lee moved his left up to make his line correspond to +ours. His lines extended now from the Totopotomoy to New Cold Harbor. +Mine from Bethesda Church by Old Cold Harbor to the Chickahominy, with a +division of cavalry guarding our right. An assault was ordered for the +3d, to be made mainly by the corps of Hancock, Wright and Smith; but +Warren and Burnside were to support it by threatening Lee's left, and to +attack with great earnestness if he should either reinforce more +threatened points by drawing from that quarter or if a favorable +opportunity should present itself. + +The corps commanders were to select the points in their respective +fronts where they would make their assaults. The move was to commence +at half-past four in the morning. Hancock sent Barlow and Gibbon +forward at the appointed hour, with Birney as a reserve. Barlow pushed +forward with great vigor, under a heavy fire of both artillery and +musketry, through thickets and swamps. Notwithstanding all the +resistance of the enemy and the natural obstructions to overcome, he +carried a position occupied by the enemy outside their main line where +the road makes a deep cut through a bank affording as good a shelter for +troops as if it had been made for that purpose. Three pieces of +artillery had been captured here, and several hundred prisoners. The +guns were immediately turned against the men who had just been using +them. No (*33) assistance coming to him, he (Barlow) intrenched under +fire and continued to hold his place. Gibbon was not so fortunate in +his front. He found the ground over which he had to pass cut up with +deep ravines, and a morass difficult to cross. But his men struggled on +until some of them got up to the very parapet covering the enemy. +Gibbon gained ground much nearer the enemy than that which he left, and +here he intrenched and held fast. + +Wright's corps moving in two lines captured the outer rifle-pits in +their front, but accomplished nothing more. Smith's corps also gained +the outer rifle-pits in its front. The ground over which this corps +(18th) had to move was the most exposed of any over which charges were +made. An open plain intervened between the contending forces at this +point, which was exposed both to a direct and a cross fire. Smith, +however, finding a ravine running towards his front, sufficiently deep +to protect men in it from cross fire, and somewhat from a direct fire, +put Martindale's division in it, and with Brooks supporting him on the +left and Devens on the right succeeded in gaining the outer--probably +picket--rifle-pits. Warren and Burnside also advanced and gained +ground--which brought the whole army on one line. + +This assault cost us heavily and probably without benefit to compensate: +but the enemy was not cheered by the occurrence sufficiently to induce +him to take the offensive. In fact, nowhere after the battle of the +Wilderness did Lee show any disposition to leave his defences far behind +him. + +Fighting was substantially over by half-past seven in the morning. At +eleven o'clock I started to visit all the corps commanders to see for +myself the different positions gained and to get their opinion of the +practicability of doing anything more in their respective fronts. + +Hancock gave the opinion that in his front the enemy was too strong to +make any further assault promise success. Wright thought he could gain +the lines of the enemy, but it would require the cooperation of +Hancock's and Smith's corps. Smith thought a lodgment possible, but was +not sanguine: Burnside thought something could be done in his front, +but Warren differed. I concluded, therefore to make no more assaults, +and a little after twelve directed in the following letter that all +offensive action should cease. + + +COLD HARBOR, June 3, 1864.-12.30 P.M. MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, + +Commanding A. P. + +The opinion of corps commanders not being sanguine of success in case an +assault is ordered, you may direct a suspension of farther advance for +the present. Hold our most advanced positions and strengthen them. +Whilst on the defensive our line may be contracted from the right if +practicable. + +Reconnoissances should be made in front of every corps and advances made +to advantageous positions by regular approaches. To aid the expedition +under General Hunter it is necessary that we should detain all the army +now with Lee until the former gets well on his way to Lynchburg. To do +this effectually it will be better to keep the enemy out of the +intrenchments of Richmond than to have them go back there. + +Wright and Hancock should be ready to assault in case the enemy should +break through General Smith's lines, and all should be ready to resist +an assault. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +The remainder of the day was spent in strengthening the line we now +held. By night we were as strong against Lee as he was against us. + +During the night the enemy quitted our right front, abandoning some of +their wounded, and without burying their dead. These we were able to +care for. But there were many dead and wounded men between the lines of +the contending forces, which were now close together, who could not be +cared for without a cessation of hostilities. + +So I wrote the following: + + +COLD HARBOR, VA., June 5, 1864. + +GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding Confederate Army. + +It is reported to me that there are wounded men, probably of both +armies, now lying exposed and suffering between the lines occupied +respectively by the two armies. Humanity would dictate that some +provision should be made to provide against such hardships. I would +propose, therefore, that hereafter, when no battle is raging, either +party be authorized to send to any point between the pickets or skirmish +lines, unarmed men bearing litters to pick up their dead or wounded, +without being fired upon by the other party. Any other method, equally +fair to both parties, you may propose for meeting the end desired will +be accepted by me. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +Lee replied that he feared such an arrangement would lead to +misunderstanding, and proposed that in future, when either party wished +to remove their dead and wounded, a flag of truce be sent. I answered +this immediately by saying: + + +COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1864. + +GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding Army of N. Va. + +Your communication of yesterday's date is received. I will send +immediately, as you propose, to collect the dead and wounded between the +lines of the two armies, and will also instruct that you be allowed to +do the same. I propose that the time for doing this be between the +hours of 12 M. and 3 P.M. to-day. I will direct all parties going out +to bear a white flag, and not to attempt to go beyond where we have dead +or wounded, and not beyond or on ground occupied by your troops. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +Lee's response was that he could not consent to the burial of the dead +and removal of the wounded in the way I proposed, but when either party +desired such permission it should be asked for by flag of truce and he +had directed that any parties I may have sent out, as mentioned in my +letter, to be turned back. I answered: + + +COLD HARBOR, VA, June 6, 1864. + +GENERAL R. E. LEE. Commanding Army, N. Va. + +The knowledge that wounded men are now suffering from want of attention, +between the two armies, compels me to ask a suspension of hostilities +for sufficient time to collect them in, say two hours. Permit me to say +that the hours you may fix upon for this will be agreeable to me, and +the same privilege will be extended to such parties as you may wish to +send out on the same duty without further application. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +Lee acceded to this; but delays in transmitting the correspondence +brought it to the 7th of June--forty-eight hours after it commenced +--before parties were got out to collect the men left upon the field. +In the meantime all but two of the wounded had died. And I wrote to +Lee: + + +COLD HARBOR, VA., June 7, 1864. 10.30 A.M. + +GEN. R. E. LEE, Commanding Army of N. Va. + +I regret that your note of seven P.M. yesterday should have been +received at the nearest corps headquarters, to where it was delivered, +after the hour which had been given for the removal of the dead and +wounded had expired; 10.45 P.M. was the hour at which it was received at +corps headquarters, and between eleven and twelve it reached my +headquarters. As a consequence, it was not understood by the troops of +this army that there was a cessation of hostilities for the purpose of +collecting the dead and wounded, and none were collected. Two officers +and six men of the 8th and 25th North Carolina Regts., who were out in +search of the bodies of officers of their respective regiments, were +captured and brought into our lines, owing to this want of +understanding. I regret this, but will state that as soon as I learned +the fact, I directed that they should not be held as prisoners, but must +be returned to their commands. These officers and men having been +carelessly brought through our lines to the rear have not determined +whether they will be sent back the way they came, or whether they will +be sent by some other route. + +Regretting that all my efforts for alleviating the sufferings of wounded +men left upon the battle-field have been rendered nugatory, I remain, +&c., + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +I have always regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor was ever +made. I might say the same thing of the assault of the 22d of May, +1863, at Vicksburg. At Cold Harbor no advantage whatever was gained to +compensate for the heavy loss we sustained. Indeed, the advantages +other than those of relative losses, were on the Confederate side. +Before that, the Army of Northern Virginia seemed to have acquired a +wholesome regard for the courage, endurance, and soldierly qualities +generally of the Army of the Potomac. They no longer wanted to fight +them "one Confederate to five Yanks." Indeed, they seemed to have given +up any idea of gaining any advantage of their antagonist in the open +field. They had come to much prefer breastworks in their front to the +Army of the Potomac. This charge seemed to revive their hopes +temporarily; but it was of short duration. The effect upon the Army of +the Potomac was the reverse. When we reached the James River, however, +all effects of the battle of Cold Harbor seemed to have disappeared. + +There was more justification for the assault at Vicksburg. We were in a +Southern climate, at the beginning of the hot season. The Army of the +Tennessee had won five successive victories over the garrison of +Vicksburg in the three preceding weeks. They had driven a portion of +that army from Port Gibson with considerable loss, after having flanked +them out of their stronghold at Grand Gulf. They had attacked another +portion of the same army at Raymond, more than fifty miles farther in +the interior of the State, and driven them back into Jackson with great +loss in killed, wounded, captured and missing, besides loss of large and +small arms: they had captured the capital of the State of Mississippi, +with a large amount of materials of war and manufactures. Only a few +days before, they had beaten the enemy then penned up in the town first +at Champion's Hill, next at Big Black River Bridge, inflicting upon him +a loss of fifteen thousand or more men (including those cut off from +returning) besides large losses in arms and ammunition. The Army of the +Tennessee had come to believe that they could beat their antagonist +under any circumstances. There was no telling how long a regular siege +might last. As I have stated, it was the beginning of the hot season in +a Southern climate. There was no telling what the casualties might be +among Northern troops working and living in trenches, drinking surface +water filtered through rich vegetation, under a tropical sun. If +Vicksburg could have been carried in May, it would not only have saved +the army the risk it ran of a greater danger than from the bullets of +the enemy, but it would have given us a splendid army, well equipped and +officered, to operate elsewhere with. These are reasons justifying the +assault. The only benefit we gained--and it was a slight one for so +great a sacrifice--was that the men worked cheerfully in the trenches +after that, being satisfied with digging the enemy out. Had the assault +not been made, I have no doubt that the majority of those engaged in the +siege of Vicksburg would have believed that had we assaulted it would +have proven successful, and would have saved life, health and comfort. + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + +LEFT FLANK MOVEMENT ACROSS THE CHICKAHOMINY AND JAMES--GENERAL LEE +--VISIT TO BUTLER--THE MOVEMENT ON PETERSBURG--THE INVESTMENT OF +PETERSBURG. + +Lee's position was now so near Richmond, and the intervening swamps of +the Chickahominy so great an obstacle to the movement of troops in the +face of an enemy, that I determined to make my next left flank move +carry the Army of the Potomac south of the James River. (*34) +Preparations for this were promptly commenced. The move was a hazardous +one to make: the Chickahominy River, with its marshy and heavily +timbered approaches, had to be crossed; all the bridges over it east of +Lee were destroyed; the enemy had a shorter line and better roads to +travel on to confront me in crossing; more than fifty miles intervened +between me and Butler, by the roads I should have to travel, with both +the James and the Chickahominy unbridged to cross; and last, the Army of +the Potomac had to be got out of a position but a few hundred yards from +the enemy at the widest place. Lee, if he did not choose to follow me, +might, with his shorter distance to travel and his bridges over the +Chickahominy and the James, move rapidly on Butler and crush him before +the army with me could come to his relief. Then too he might spare +troops enough to send against Hunter who was approaching Lynchburg, +living upon the country he passed through, and without ammunition +further than what he carried with him. + +But the move had to be made, and I relied upon Lee's not seeing my +danger as I saw it. Besides we had armies on both sides of the James +River and not far from the Confederate capital. I knew that its safety +would be a matter of the first consideration with the executive, +legislative and judicial branches of the so-called Confederate +government, if it was not with the military commanders. But I took all +the precaution I knew of to guard against all dangers. + +Sheridan was sent with two divisions, to communicate with Hunter and to +break up the Virginia Central Railroad and the James River Canal, on the +7th of June, taking instructions to Hunter to come back with him (*35). +Hunter was also informed by way of Washington and the Valley that +Sheridan was on the way to meet him. The canal and Central Road, and +the regions penetrated by them, were of vast importance to the enemy, +furnishing and carrying a large per cent. of all the supplies for the +Army of Northern Virginia and the people of Richmond. Before Sheridan +got off on the 7th news was received from Hunter reporting his advance +to Staunton and successful engagement with the enemy near that place on +the 5th, in which the Confederate commander, W. S. Jones, was killed. +On the 4th of June the enemy having withdrawn his left corps, Burnside +on our right was moved up between Warren and Smith. On the 5th Birney +returned to Hancock, which extended his left now to the Chickahominy, +and Warren was withdrawn to Cold Harbor. Wright was directed to send +two divisions to the left to extend down the banks of that stream to +Bottom's Bridge. The cavalry extended still farther east to Jones's +Bridge. + +On the 7th Abercrombie--who was in command at White House, and who had +been in command at our base of supplies in all the changes made from the +start--was ordered to take up the iron from the York River Railroad and +put it on boats, and to be in readiness to move by water to City Point. + +On the 8th Meade was directed to fortify a line down the bank +overlooking the Chickahominy, under cover of which the army could move. + +On the 9th Abercrombie was directed to send all organized troops +arriving at White House, without debarking from their transports, to +report to Butler. Halleck was at this time instructed to send all +reinforcements to City Point. + +On the 11th I wrote: + + +COLD HARBOR, VA., June 11, 1864. + +MAJOR-GEN. B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Department of Va. and N. C. + +The movement to transfer this army to the south side of the James River +will commence after dark to-morrow night. Col. Comstock, of my staff, +was sent specially to ascertain what was necessary to make your position +secure in the interval during which the enemy might use most of his +force against you, and also, to ascertain what point on the river we +should reach to effect a crossing if it should not be practicable to +reach this side of the river at Bermuda Hundred. Colonel Comstock has +not yet returned, so that I cannot make instructions as definite as I +would wish, but the time between this and Sunday night being so short in +which to get word to you, I must do the best I can. Colonel Dent goes +to the Chickahominy to take to you the 18th corps. The corps will leave +its position in the trenches as early in the evening, tomorrow, as +possible, and make a forced march to Cole's Landing or Ferry, where it +should reach by ten A.M. the following morning. This corps numbers now +15,300 men. They take with them neither wagons nor artillery; these +latter marching with the balance of the army to the James River. The +remainder of the army will cross the Chickahominy at Long Bridge and at +Jones's, and strike the river at the most practicable crossing below +City Point. + +I directed several days ago that all reinforcements for the army should +be sent to you. I am not advised of the number that may have gone, but +suppose you have received from six to ten thousand. General Smith will +also reach you as soon as the enemy could, going by the way of Richmond. + +The balance of the force will not be more than one day behind, unless +detained by the whole of Lee's army, in which case you will be strong +enough. + +I wish you would direct the proper staff officers, your chief-engineer +and your chief-quartermaster, to commence at once the collection of all +the means in their reach for crossing the army on its arrival. If there +is a point below City Point where a pontoon bridge can be thrown, have +it laid. + +Expecting the arrival of the 18th corps by Monday night, if you deem it +practicable from the force you have to seize and hold Petersburg, you +may prepare to start, on the arrival of troops to hold your present +lines. I do not want Petersburg visited, however, unless it is held, +nor an attempt to take it, unless you feel a reasonable degree of +confidence of success. If you should go there, I think troops should +take nothing with them except what they can carry, depending upon +supplies being sent after the place is secured. If Colonel Dent should +not succeed in securing the requisite amount of transportation for the +18th corps before reaching you, please have the balance supplied. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + +P. S.--On reflection I will send the 18th corps by way of White House. +The distance which they will have to march will be enough shorter to +enable them to reach you about the same time, and the uncertainty of +navigation on the Chickahominy will be avoided. + +U. S. GRANT. + + +COLD HARBOR, VA., June 11,1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL G. G. MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac. + +Colonel Comstock, who visited the James River for the purpose of +ascertaining the best point below Bermuda Hundred to which to march the +army has not yet returned. It is now getting so late, however, that all +preparations may be made for the move to-morrow night without waiting +longer. + +The movement will be made as heretofore agreed upon, that is, the 18th +corps make a rapid march with the infantry alone, their wagons and +artillery accompanying the balance of the army to Cole's Landing or +Ferry, and there embark for City Point, losing no time for rest until +they reach the latter point. + +The 5th corps will seize Long Bridge and move out on the Long Bridge +Road to its junction with Quaker Road, or until stopped by the enemy. + +The other three corps will follow in such order as you may direct, one +of them crossing at Long Bridge, and two at Jones's Bridge. After the +crossing is effected, the most practicable roads will be taken to reach +about Fort Powhattan. Of course, this is supposing the enemy makes no +opposition to our advance. The 5th corps, after securing the passage of +the balance of the army, will join or follow in rear of the corps which +crosses the same bridge with themselves. The wagon trains should be +kept well east of the troops, and if a crossing can be found, or made +lower down than Jones's they should take it. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + +P. S.--In view of the long march to reach Cole's Landing, and the +uncertainty of being able to embark a large number of men there, the +direction of the 18th corps may be changed to White House. They should +be directed to load up transports, and start them as fast as loaded +without waiting for the whole corps or even whole divisions to go +together. + +U. S. GRANT. + + +About this time word was received (through the Richmond papers of the +11th) that Crook and Averell had united and were moving east. This, +with the news of Hunter's successful engagement near Staunton, was no +doubt known to Lee before it was to me. Then Sheridan leaving with two +divisions of cavalry, looked indeed threatening, both to Lee's +communications and supplies. Much of his cavalry was sent after +Sheridan, and Early with Ewell's entire corps was sent to the Valley. +Supplies were growing scarce in Richmond, and the sources from which to +draw them were in our hands. People from outside began to pour into +Richmond to help eat up the little on hand. Consternation reigned +there. + +On the 12th Smith was ordered to move at night to White House, not to +stop until he reached there, and to take boats at once for City Point, +leaving his trains and artillery to move by land. + +Soon after dark some of the cavalry at Long Bridge effected a crossing +by wading and floundering through the water and mud, leaving their +horses behind, and drove away the cavalry pickets. A pontoon bridge was +speedily thrown across, over which the remainder of the army soon passed +and pushed out for a mile or two to watch and detain any advance that +might be made from the other side. Warren followed the cavalry, and by +the morning of the 13th had his whole corps over. Hancock followed +Warren. Burnside took the road to Jones's Bridge, followed by Wright. +Ferrero's division, with the wagon train, moved farther east, by Window +Shades and Cole's Ferry, our rear being covered by cavalry. + +It was known that the enemy had some gunboats at Richmond. These might +run down at night and inflict great damage upon us before they could be +sunk or captured by our navy. General Butler had, in advance, loaded +some vessels with stone ready to be sunk so as to obstruct the channel +in an emergency. On the 13th I sent orders to have these sunk as high +up the river as we could guard them, and prevent their removal by the +enemy. + +As soon as Warren's corps was over the Chickahominy it marched out and +joined the cavalry in holding the roads from Richmond while the army +passed. No attempt was made by the enemy to impede our march, however, +but Warren and Wilson reported the enemy strongly fortified in their +front. By the evening of the 13th Hancock's corps was at Charles City +Court House on the James River. Burnside's and Wright's corps were on +the Chickahominy, and crossed during the night, Warren's corps and the +cavalry still covering the army. The material for a pontoon bridge was +already at hand and the work of laying it was commenced immediately, +under the superintendence of Brigadier-General Benham, commanding the +engineer brigade. On the evening of the 14th the crossing commenced, +Hancock in advance, using both the bridge and boats. + +When the Wilderness campaign commenced the Army of the Potomac, +including Burnside's--which was a separate command until the 24th of May +when it was incorporated with the main army--numbered about 116,000 men. +During the progress of the campaign about 40,000 reinforcements were +received. At the crossing of the James River June 14th-15th the army +numbered about 115,000. Besides the ordinary losses incident to a +campaign of six weeks' nearly constant fighting or skirmishing, about +one-half of the artillery was sent back to Washington, and many men were +discharged by reason of the expiration of their term of service.* In +estimating our strength every enlisted man and every commissioned +officer present is included, no matter how employed; in bands, sick in +field hospitals, hospital attendants, company cooks and all. Operating +in an enemy's country, and being supplied always from a distant base, +large detachments had at all times to be sent from the front, not only +to guard the base of supplies and the roads to it, but all the roads +leading to our flanks and rear. We were also operating in a country +unknown to us, and without competent guides or maps showing the roads +accurately. + +The manner of estimating numbers in the two armies differs materially. +In the Confederate army often only bayonets are taken into account, +never, I believe, do they estimate more than are handling the guns of +the artillery and armed with muskets (*36) or carbines. Generally the +latter are far enough away to be excluded from the count in any one +field. Officers and details of enlisted men are not included. In the +Northern armies the estimate is most liberal, taking in all connected +with the army and drawing pay. + +Estimated in the same manner as ours, Lee had not less than 80,000 men +at the start. His reinforcements were about equal to ours during the +campaign, deducting the discharged men and those sent back. He was on +the defensive, and in a country in which every stream, every road, every +obstacle to the movement of troops and every natural defence was +familiar to him and his army. The citizens were all friendly to him and +his cause, and could and did furnish him with accurate reports of our +every move. Rear guards were not necessary for him, and having always a +railroad at his back, large wagon trains were not required. All +circumstances considered we did not have any advantage in numbers. + +General Lee, who had led the Army of Northern Virginia in all these +contests, was a very highly estimated man in the Confederate army and +States, and filled also a very high place in the estimation of the +people and press of the Northern States. His praise was sounded +throughout the entire North after every action he was engaged in: the +number of his forces was always lowered and that of the National forces +exaggerated. He was a large, austere man, and I judge difficult of +approach to his subordinates. To be extolled by the entire press of the +South after every engagement, and by a portion of the press North with +equal vehemence, was calculated to give him the entire confidence of his +troops and to make him feared by his antagonists. It was not an +uncommon thing for my staff-officers to hear from Eastern officers, +"Well, Grant has never met Bobby Lee yet." There were good and true +officers who believe now that the Army of Northern Virginia was superior +to the Army of the Potomac man to man. I do not believe so, except as +the advantages spoken of above made them so. Before the end I believe +the difference was the other way. The Army of Northern Virginia became +despondent and saw the end. It did not please them. The National army +saw the same thing, and were encouraged by it. + +The advance of the Army of the Potomac reached the James on the 14th of +June. Preparations were at once commenced for laying the pontoon +bridges and crossing the river. As already stated, I had previously +ordered General Butler to have two vessels loaded with stone and carried +up the river to a point above that occupied by our gunboats, where the +channel was narrow, and sunk there so as to obstruct the passage and +prevent Confederate gunboats from coming down the river. Butler had had +these boats filled and put in position, but had not had them sunk before +my arrival. I ordered this done, and also directed that he should turn +over all material and boats not then in use in the river to be used in +ferrying the troops across. + +I then, on the 14th, took a steamer and ran up to Bermuda Hundred to see +General Butler for the purpose of directing a movement against +Petersburg, while our troops of the Army of the Potomac were crossing. + +I had sent General W. F. Smith back from Cold Harbor by the way of White +House, thence on steamers to City Point for the purpose of giving +General Butler more troops with which to accomplish this result. +General Butler was ordered to send Smith with his troops reinforced, as +far as that could be conveniently done, from other parts of the Army of +the James. He gave Smith about six thousand reinforcements, including +some twenty-five hundred cavalry under Kautz, and about thirty-five +hundred colored infantry under Hinks. + +The distance which Smith had to move to reach the enemy's lines was +about six miles, and the Confederate advance line of works was but two +miles outside of Petersburg. Smith was to move under cover of night, up +close to the enemy's works, and assault as soon as he could after +daylight. I believed then, and still believe, that Petersburg could +have been easily captured at that time. It only had about 2,500 men in +the defences besides some irregular troops, consisting of citizens and +employees in the city who took up arms in case of emergency. Smith +started as proposed, but his advance encountered a rebel force +intrenched between City Point and their lines outside of Petersburg. +This position he carried, with some loss to the enemy; but there was so +much delay that it was daylight before his troops really got off from +there. While there I informed General Butler that Hancock's corps would +cross the river and move to Petersburg to support Smith in case the +latter was successful, and that I could reinforce there more rapidly +than Lee could reinforce from his position. + +I returned down the river to where the troops of the Army of the Potomac +now were, communicated to General Meade, in writing, the directions I +had given to General Butler and directed him (Meade) to cross Hancock's +corps over under cover of night, and push them forward in the morning to +Petersburg; halting them, however, at a designated point until they +could hear from Smith. I also informed General Meade that I had ordered +rations from Bermuda Hundred for Hancock's corps, and desired him to +issue them speedily, and to lose no more time than was absolutely +necessary. The rations did not reach him, however, and Hancock, while +he got all his corps over during the night, remained until half-past ten +in the hope of receiving them. He then moved without them, and on the +road received a note from General W. F. Smith, asking him to come on. +This seems to be the first information that General Hancock had received +of the fact that he was to go to Petersburg, or that anything particular +was expected of him. Otherwise he would have been there by four o'clock +in the afternoon. + +Smith arrived in front of the enemy's lines early in the forenoon of the +15th, and spent the day until after seven o'clock in the evening in +reconnoitering what appeared to be empty works. The enemy's line +consisted of redans occupying commanding positions, with rifle-pits +connecting them. To the east side of Petersburg, from the Appomattox +back, there were thirteen of these redans extending a distance of +several miles, probably three. If they had been properly manned they +could have held out against any force that could have attacked them, at +least until reinforcements could have got up from the north of Richmond. + +Smith assaulted with the colored troops, and with success. By nine +o'clock at night he was in possession of five of these redans and, of +course, of the connecting lines of rifle-pits. All of them contained +artillery, which fell into our hands. Hancock came up and proposed to +take any part assigned to him; and Smith asked him to relieve his men +who were in the trenches. + +Next morning, the 16th, Hancock himself was in command, and captured +another redan. Meade came up in the afternoon and succeeded Hancock, +who had to be relieved, temporarily, from the command of his corps on +account of the breaking out afresh of the wound he had received at +Gettysburg. During the day Meade assaulted and carried one more redan +to his right and two to his left. In all this we lost very heavily. +The works were not strongly manned, but they all had guns in them which +fell into our hands, together with the men who were handling them in the +effort to repel these assaults. + +Up to this time Beauregard, who had commanded south of Richmond, had +received no reinforcements, except Hoke's division from Drury's +Bluff,(*37) which had arrived on the morning of the 16th; though he had +urged the authorities very strongly to send them, believing, as he did, +that Petersburg would be a valuable prize which we might seek. + +During the 17th the fighting was very severe and the losses heavy; and +at night our troops occupied about the same position they had occupied +in the morning, except that they held a redan which had been captured by +Potter during the day. During the night, however, Beauregard fell back +to the line which had been already selected, and commenced fortifying +it. Our troops advanced on the 18th to the line which he had abandoned, +and found that the Confederate loss had been very severe, many of the +enemy's dead still remaining in the ditches and in front of them. + +Colonel J. L. Chamberlain, of the 20th Maine, was wounded on the 18th. +He was gallantly leading his brigade at the time, as he had been in +the habit of doing in all the engagements in which he had previously +been engaged. He had several times been recommended for a +brigadier-generalcy for gallant and meritorious conduct. On this +occasion, however, I promoted him on the spot, and forwarded a copy of +my order to the War Department, asking that my act might be confirmed +and Chamberlain's name sent to the Senate for confirmation without any +delay. This was done, and at last a gallant and meritorious officer +received partial justice at the hands of his government, which he had +served so faithfully and so well. + +If General Hancock's orders of the 15th had been communicated to him, +that officer, with his usual promptness, would undoubtedly have been +upon the ground around Petersburg as early as four o'clock in the +afternoon of the 15th. The days were long and it would have given him +considerable time before night. I do not think there is any doubt that +Petersburg itself could have been carried without much loss; or, at +least, if protected by inner detached works, that a line could have been +established very much in rear of the one then occupied by the enemy. +This would have given us control of both the Weldon and South Side +railroads. This would also have saved an immense amount of hard +fighting which had to be done from the 15th to the 18th, and would have +given us greatly the advantage in the long siege which ensued. + +I now ordered the troops to be put under cover and allowed some of the +rest which they had so long needed. They remained quiet, except that +there was more or less firing every day, until the 22d, when General +Meade ordered an advance towards the Weldon Railroad. We were very +anxious to get to that road, and even round to the South Side Railroad +if possible. + +Meade moved Hancock's corps, now commanded by Birney, to the left, with +a view to at least force the enemy to stay within the limits of his own +line. General Wright, with the 6th corps, was ordered by a road farther +south, to march directly for the Weldon road. The enemy passed in +between these two corps and attacked vigorously, and with very serious +results to the National troops, who were then withdrawn from their +advanced position. + +The Army of the Potomac was given the investment of Petersburg, while +the Army of the James held Bermuda Hundred and all the ground we +possessed north of the James River. The 9th corps, Burnside's, was +placed upon the right at Petersburg; the 5th, Warren's, next; the 2d, +Birney's, next; then the 6th, Wright's, broken off to the left and +south. Thus began the siege of Petersburg. + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + +RAID ON THE VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILROAD--RAID ON THE WELDON RAILROAD +--EARLY 'S MOVEMENT UPON WASHINGTON--MINING THE WORKS BEFORE PETERSBURG +--EXPLOSION OF THE MINE BEFORE PETERSBURG--CAMPAIGN IN THE SHENANDOAH +VALLEY--CAPTURE OF THE WELDON RAILROAD. + +On the 7th of June, while at Cold Harbor, I had as already indicated +sent Sheridan with two divisions of cavalry to destroy as much as he +could of the Virginia Central Railroad. General Hunter had been +operating up the Shenandoah Valley with some success, having fought a +battle near Staunton where he captured a great many prisoners, besides +killing and wounding a good many men. After the battle he formed a +junction at Staunton with Averell and Crook, who had come up from the +Kanawha, or Gauley River. It was supposed, therefore, that General +Hunter would be about Charlottesville, Virginia, by the time Sheridan +could get there, doing on the way the damage that he was sent to do. + +I gave Sheridan instructions to have Hunter, in case he should meet him +about Charlottesville, join and return with him to the Army of the +Potomac. Lee, hearing of Hunter's success in the valley, started +Breckinridge out for its defence at once. Learning later of Sheridan's +going with two divisions, he also sent Hampton with two divisions of +cavalry, his own and Fitz-Hugh Lee's. + +Sheridan moved to the north side of the North Anna to get out west, and +learned of the movement of these troops to the south side of the same +stream almost as soon as they had started. He pushed on to get to +Trevilian Station to commence his destruction at that point. On the +night of the 10th he bivouacked some six or seven miles east of +Trevilian, while Fitz-Hugh Lee was the same night at Trevilian Station +and Hampton but a few miles away. + +During the night Hampton ordered an advance on Sheridan, hoping, no +doubt, to surprise and very badly cripple him. Sheridan, however, by a +counter move sent Custer on a rapid march to get between the two +divisions of the enemy and into their rear. This he did successfully, so +that at daylight, when the assault was made, the enemy found himself at +the same time resisted in front and attacked in rear, and broke in some +confusion. The losses were probably very light on both sides in killed +and wounded, but Sheridan got away with some five hundred prisoners and +sent them to City Point. + +During that day, the 11th, Sheridan moved into Trevilian Station, and +the following day proceeded to tear up the road east and west. There +was considerable fighting during the whole of the day, but the work of +destruction went on. In the meantime, at night, the enemy had taken +possession of the crossing which Sheridan had proposed to take to go +north when he left Trevilian. Sheridan learned, however, from some of +the prisoners he had captured here, that General Hunter was about +Lynchburg, and therefore that there was no use of his going on to +Charlottesville with a view to meet him. + +Sheridan started back during the night of the 12th, and made his way +north and farther east, coming around by the north side of White House, +and arriving there on the 21st. Here he found an abundance of forage +for his animals, food for his men, and security while resting. He had +been obliged to leave about ninety of his own men in the field-hospital +which he had established near Trevilian, and these necessarily fell into +the hands of the enemy. + +White House up to this time had been a depot; but now that our troops +were all on the James River, it was no longer wanted as a store of +supplies. Sheridan was, therefore, directed to break it up; which he +did on the 22d of June, bringing the garrison and an immense wagon train +with him. All these were over the James River by the 26th of the month, +and Sheridan ready to follow. + +In the meantime Meade had sent Wilson's division on a raid to destroy +the Weldon and South Side roads. Now that Sheridan was safe and Hampton +free to return to Richmond with his cavalry, Wilson's position became +precarious. Meade therefore, on the 27th, ordered Sheridan over the +river to make a demonstration in favor of Wilson. Wilson got back, +though not without severe loss, having struck both roads, but the damage +done was soon repaired. + +After these events comparative quiet reigned about Petersburg until late +in July. The time, however, was spent in strengthening the +intrenchments and making our position generally more secure against a +sudden attack. In the meantime I had to look after other portions of my +command, where things had not been going on so favorably, always, as I +could have wished. + +General Hunter who had been appointed to succeed Sigel in the Shenandoah +Valley immediately took up the offensive. He met the enemy on the 5th +of June at Piedmont, and defeated him. On the 8th he formed a junction +with Crook and Averell at Staunton, from which place he moved direct on +Lynchburg, via Lexington, which he reached and invested on the 16th. Up +to this time he was very successful; and but for the difficulty of +taking with him sufficient ordnance stores over so long a march, through +a hostile country, he would, no doubt, have captured Lynchburg. The +destruction of the enemy's supplies and manufactories had been very +great. To meet this movement under General Hunter, General Lee sent +Early with his corps, a part of which reached Lynchburg before Hunter. +After some skirmishing on the 17th and 18th, General Hunter, owing to a +want of ammunition to give battle, retired from before the place. +Unfortunately, this want of ammunition left him no choice of route for +his return but by the way of the Gauley and Kanawha rivers, thence up +the Ohio River, returning to Harper's Ferry by way of the Baltimore and +Ohio Railroad. A long time was consumed in making this movement. +Meantime the valley was left open to Early's troops, and others in that +quarter; and Washington also was uncovered. Early took advantage of this +condition of affairs and moved on Washington. + +In the absence of Hunter, General Lew Wallace, with headquarters at +Baltimore, commanded the department in which the Shenandoah lay. His +surplus of troops with which to move against the enemy was small in +number. Most of these were raw and, consequently, very much inferior to +our veterans and to the veterans which Early had with him; but the +situation of Washington was precarious, and Wallace moved with +commendable promptitude to meet the enemy at the Monocacy. He could +hardly have expected to defeat him badly, but he hoped to cripple and +delay him until Washington could be put into a state of preparation for +his reception. I had previously ordered General Meade to send a +division to Baltimore for the purpose of adding to the defences of +Washington, and he had sent Ricketts's division of the 6th corps +(Wright's), which arrived in Baltimore on the 8th of July. Finding that +Wallace had gone to the front with his command, Ricketts immediately +took the cars and followed him to the Monocacy with his entire division. +They met the enemy and, as might have been expected, were defeated; but +they succeeded in stopping him for the day on which the battle took +place. The next morning Early started on his march to the capital of +the Nation, arriving before it on the 11th. + +Learning of the gravity of the situation I had directed General Meade to +also order Wright with the rest of his corps directly to Washington for +the relief of that place, and the latter reached there the very day that +Early arrived before it. The 19th corps, which had been stationed in +Louisiana, having been ordered up to reinforce the armies about +Richmond, had about this time arrived at Fortress Monroe, on their way +to join us. I diverted them from that point to Washington, which place +they reached, almost simultaneously with Wright, on the 11th. The 19th +corps was commanded by Major-General Emory. + +Early made his reconnoissance with a view of attacking on the following +morning, the 12th; but the next morning he found our intrenchments, +which were very strong, fully manned. He at once commenced to retreat, +Wright following. There is no telling how much this result was +contributed to by General Lew Wallace's leading what might well be +considered almost a forlorn hope. If Early had been but one day earlier +he might have entered the capital before the arrival of the +reinforcements I had sent. Whether the delay caused by the battle +amounted to a day or not, General Wallace contributed on this occasion, +by the defeat of the troops under him a greater benefit to the cause +than often falls to the lot of a commander of an equal force to render +by means of a victory. + +Farther west also the troubles were threatening. Some time before, +Forrest had met Sturgis in command of some of our cavalry in Mississippi +and handled him very roughly, gaining a very great victory over him. +This left Forrest free to go almost where he pleased, and to cut the +roads in rear of Sherman who was then advancing. Sherman was abundantly +able to look after the army that he was immediately with, and all of his +military division so long as he could communicate with it; but it was my +place to see that he had the means with which to hold his rear. Two +divisions under A. J. Smith had been sent to Banks in Louisiana some +months before. Sherman ordered these back, with directions to attack +Forrest. Smith met and defeated him very badly. I then directed that +Smith should hang to Forrest and not let him go; and to prevent by all +means his getting upon the Memphis and Nashville Railroad. Sherman had +anticipated me in this matter, and given the same orders in substance; +but receiving my directions for this order to Smith, he repeated it. + +On the 25th of June General Burnside had commenced running a mine from +about the centre of his front under the Confederate works confronting +him. He was induced to do this by Colonel Pleasants, of the +Pennsylvania Volunteers, whose regiment was mostly composed of miners, +and who was himself a practical miner. Burnside had submitted the +scheme to Meade and myself, and we both approved of it, as a means of +keeping the men occupied. His position was very favorable for carrying +on this work, but not so favorable for the operations to follow its +completion. The position of the two lines at that point were only about +a hundred yards apart with a comparatively deep ravine intervening. In +the bottom of this ravine the work commenced. The position was +unfavorable in this particular: that the enemy's line at that point was +re-entering, so that its front was commanded by their own lines both to +the right and left. Then, too, the ground was sloping upward back of +the Confederate line for a considerable distance, and it was presumable +that the enemy had, at least, a detached work on this highest point. +The work progressed, and on the 23d of July the mine was finished ready +for charging; but I had this work of charging deferred until we were +ready for it. + +On the 17th of July several deserters came in and said that there was +great consternation in Richmond, and that Lee was coming out to make an +attack upon us the object being to put us on the defensive so that he +might detach troops to go to Georgia where the army Sherman was +operating against was said to be in great trouble. I put the army +commanders, Meade and Butler, on the lookout, but the attack was not +made. + +I concluded, then, a few days later, to do something in the way of +offensive movement myself, having in view something of the same object +that Lee had had. Wright's and Emory's corps were in Washington, and +with this reduction of my force Lee might very readily have spared some +troops from the defences to send West. I had other objects in view, +however, besides keeping Lee where he was. The mine was constructed and +ready to be exploded, and I wanted to take that occasion to carry +Petersburg if I could. It was the object, therefore, to get as many of +Lee's troops away from the south side of the James River as possible. +Accordingly, on the 26th, we commenced a movement with Hancock's corps +and Sheridan's cavalry to the north side by the way of Deep Bottom, +where Butler had a pontoon bridge laid. The plan, in the main, was to +let the cavalry cut loose and, joining with Kautz's cavalry of the Army +of the James, get by Lee's lines and destroy as much as they could of +the Virginia Central Railroad, while, in the mean time, the infantry was +to move out so as to protect their rear and cover their retreat back +when they should have got through with their work. We were successful +in drawing the enemy's troops to the north side of the James as I +expected. The mine was ordered to be charged, and the morning of the +30th of July was the time fixed for its explosion. I gave Meade minute +orders (*38) on the 24th directing how I wanted the assault conducted, +which orders he amplified into general instructions for the guidance of +the troops that were to be engaged. + +Meade's instructions, which I, of course, approved most heartily, were +all that I can see now was necessary. The only further precaution which +he could have taken, and which he could not foresee, would have been to +have different men to execute them. + +The gallery to the mine was over five hundred feet long from where it +entered the ground to the point where it was under the enemy's works, +and with a cross gallery of something over eighty feet running under +their lines. Eight chambers had been left, requiring a ton of powder +each to charge them. All was ready by the time I had prescribed; and on +the 29th Hancock and Sheridan were brought back near the James River +with their troops. Under cover of night they started to recross the +bridge at Deep Bottom, and to march directly for that part of our lines +in front of the mine. + +Warren was to hold his line of intrenchments with a sufficient number of +men and concentrate the balance on the right next to Burnside's corps, +while Ord, now commanding the 18th corps, temporarily under Meade, was +to form in the rear of Burnside to support him when he went in. All +were to clear off the parapets and the _abatis_ in their front so as to +leave the space as open as possible, and be able to charge the moment +the mine had been sprung and Burnside had taken possession. Burnside's +corps was not to stop in the crater at all but push on to the top of the +hill, supported on the right and left by Ord's and Warren's corps. + +Warren and Ord fulfilled their instructions perfectly so far as making +ready was concerned. Burnside seemed to have paid no attention whatever +to the instructions, and left all the obstruction in his own front for +his troops to get over in the best way they could. The four divisions +of his corps were commanded by Generals Potter, Willcox, Ledlie and +Ferrero. The last was a colored division; and Burnside selected it to +make the assault. Meade interfered with this. Burnside then took +Ledlie's division--a worse selection than the first could have been. In +fact, Potter and Willcox were the only division commanders Burnside had +who were equal to the occasion. Ledlie besides being otherwise +inefficient, proved also to possess disqualification less common among +soldiers. + +There was some delay about the explosion of the mine so that it did not +go off until about five o'clock in the morning. When it did explode it +was very successful, making a crater twenty feet deep and something like +a hundred feet in length. Instantly one hundred and ten cannon and +fifty mortars, which had been placed in the most commanding positions +covering the ground to the right and left of where the troops were to +enter the enemy's lines, commenced playing. Ledlie's division marched +into the crater immediately on the explosion, but most of the men +stopped there in the absence of any one to give directions; their +commander having found some safe retreat to get into before they +started. There was some delay on the left and right in advancing, but +some of the troops did get in and turn to the right and left, carrying +the rifle-pits as I expected they would do. + +There had been great consternation in Petersburg, as we were well aware, +about a rumored mine that we were going to explode. They knew we were +mining, and they had failed to cut our mine off by countermining, though +Beauregard had taken the precaution to run up a line of intrenchments to +the rear of that part of their line fronting where they could see that +our men were at work. We had learned through deserters who had come in +that the people had very wild rumors about what was going on on our +side. They said that we had undermined the whole of Petersburg; that +they were resting upon a slumbering volcano and did not know at what +moment they might expect an eruption. I somewhat based my calculations +upon this state of feeling, and expected that when the mine was exploded +the troops to the right and left would flee in all directions, and that +our troops, if they moved promptly, could get in and strengthen +themselves before the enemy had come to a realization of the true +situation. It was just as I expected it would be. We could see the men +running without any apparent object except to get away. It was half an +hour before musketry firing, to amount to anything, was opened upon our +men in the crater. It was an hour before the enemy got artillery up to +play upon them; and it was nine o'clock before Lee got up reinforcements +from his right to join in expelling our troops. + +The effort was a stupendous failure. It cost us about four thousand +men, mostly, however, captured; and all due to inefficiency on the part +of the corps commander and the incompetency of the division commander +who was sent to lead the assault. + +After being fully assured of the failure of the mine, and finding that +most of that part of Lee's army which had been drawn north of the James +River were still there, I gave Meade directions to send a corps of +infantry and the cavalry next morning, before Lee could get his forces +back, to destroy fifteen or twenty miles of the Weldon Railroad. But +misfortunes never come singly. I learned during that same afternoon +that Wright's pursuit of Early was feeble because of the constant and +contrary orders he had been receiving from Washington, while I was cut +off from immediate communication by reason of our cable across +Chesapeake Bay being broken. Early, however, was not aware of the fact +that Wright was not pursuing until he had reached Strasburg. Finding +that he was not pursued he turned back to Winchester, where Crook was +stationed with a small force, and drove him out. He then pushed north +until he had reached the Potomac, then he sent McCausland across to +Chambersburg, Pa., to destroy that town. Chambersburg was a purely +defenceless town with no garrison whatever, and no fortifications; yet +McCausland, under Early's orders, burned the place and left about three +hundred families houseless. This occurred on the 30th of July. I +rescinded my orders for the troops to go out to destroy the Weldon +Railroad, and directed them to embark for Washington City. After +burning Chambersburg McCausland retreated, pursued by our cavalry, +towards Cumberland. They were met and defeated by General Kelley and +driven into Virginia. + +The Shenandoah Valley was very important to the Confederates, because it +was the principal storehouse they now had for feeding their armies about +Richmond. It was well known that they would make a desperate struggle +to maintain it. It had been the source of a great deal of trouble to us +heretofore to guard that outlet to the north, partly because of the +incompetency of some of the commanders, but chiefly because of +interference from Washington. + +It seemed to be the policy of General Halleck and Secretary Stanton to +keep any force sent there, in pursuit of the invading army, moving right +and left so as to keep between the enemy and our capital; and, generally +speaking, they pursued this policy until all knowledge of the +whereabouts of the enemy was lost. They were left, therefore, free to +supply themselves with horses, beef cattle, and such provisions as they +could carry away from Western Maryland and Pennsylvania. I determined +to put a stop to this. I started Sheridan at once for that field of +operation, and on the following day sent another division of his +cavalry. + +I had previously asked to have Sheridan assigned to that command, but +Mr. Stanton objected, on the ground that he was too young for so +important a command. On the 1st of August when I sent reinforcements +for the protection of Washington, I sent the following orders: + + +CITY POINT, VA., + +August 1, 1864, 11.30 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Washington D. C. + +I am sending General Sheridan for temporary duty whilst the enemy is +being expelled from the border. Unless General Hunter is in the field +in person, I want Sheridan put in command of all the troops in the +field, with instructions to put himself south of the enemy and follow +him to the death. Wherever the enemy goes let our troops go also. Once +started up the valley they ought to be followed until we get possession +of the Virginia Central Railroad. If General Hunter is in the field, +give Sheridan direct command of the 6th corps and cavalry division. All +the cavalry, I presume, will reach Washington in the course of +to-morrow. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +The President in some way or other got to see this dispatch of mine +directing certain instructions to be given to the commanders in the +field, operating against Early, and sent me the following very +characteristic dispatch: + + +OFFICE U. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH, WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., +August 3, 1864. + +Cypher. 6 P.M., + +LT. GENERAL GRANT, City Point, Va. + +I have seen your despatch in which you say, "I want Sheridan put in +command of all the troops in the field, with instructions to put himself +south of the enemy, and follow him to the death. Wherever the enemy +goes, let our troops go also." This, I think, is exactly right, as to +how our forces should move. But please look over the despatches you may +have received from here, even since you made that order, and discover, +if you can, that there is any idea in the head of any one here, of +"putting our army south of the enemy," or of "following him to the +death" in any direction. I repeat to you it will neither be done nor +attempted unless you watch it every day, and hour, and force it. + +A. LINCOLN. + + +I replied to this that "I would start in two hours for Washington," and +soon got off, going directly to the Monocacy without stopping at +Washington on my way. I found General Hunter's army encamped there, +scattered over the fields along the banks of the Monocacy, with many +hundreds of cars and locomotives, belonging to the Baltimore and Ohio +Railroad, which he had taken the precaution to bring back and collect at +that point. I asked the general where the enemy was. He replied that +he did not know. He said the fact was, that he was so embarrassed with +orders from Washington moving him first to the right and then to the +left that he had lost all trace of the enemy. + +I then told the general that I would find out where the enemy was, and +at once ordered steam got up and trains made up, giving directions to +push for Halltown, some four miles above Harper's Ferry, in the +Shenandoah Valley. The cavalry and the wagon trains were to march, but +all the troops that could be transported by the cars were to go in that +way. I knew that the valley was of such importance to the enemy that, +no matter how much he was scattered at that time, he would in a very +short time be found in front of our troops moving south. + +I then wrote out General Hunter's instructions. (*39) I told him that +Sheridan was in Washington, and still another division was on its way; +and suggested that he establish the headquarters of the department at +any point that would suit him best, Cumberland, Baltimore, or elsewhere, +and give Sheridan command of the troops in the field. The general +replied to this, that he thought he had better be relieved entirely. He +said that General Halleck seemed so much to distrust his fitness for the +position he was in that he thought somebody else ought to be there. He +did not want, in any way, to embarrass the cause; thus showing a +patriotism that was none too common in the army. There were not many +major-generals who would voluntarily have asked to have the command of a +department taken from them on the supposition that for some particular +reason, or for any reason, the service would be better performed. I +told him, "very well then," and telegraphed at once for Sheridan to come +to the Monocacy, and suggested that I would wait and meet him there. + +Sheridan came at once by special train, but reached there after the +troops were all off. I went to the station and remained there until he +arrived. Myself and one or two of my staff were about all the Union +people, except General Hunter and his staff, who were left at the +Monocacy when Sheridan arrived. I hastily told Sheridan what had been +done and what I wanted him to do, giving him, at the same time, the +written instructions which had been prepared for General Hunter and +directed to that officer. + +Sheridan now had about 30,000 men to move with, 8,000 of them being +cavalry. Early had about the same number, but the superior ability of +the National commander over the Confederate commander was so great that +all the latter's advantage of being on the defensive was more than +counterbalanced by this circumstance. As I had predicted, Early was +soon found in front of Sheridan in the valley, and Pennsylvania and +Maryland were speedily freed from the invaders. The importance of the +valley was so great to the Confederates that Lee reinforced Early, but +not to the extent that we thought and feared he would. + +To prevent as much as possible these reinforcements from being sent out +from Richmond, I had to do something to compel Lee to retain his forces +about his capital. I therefore gave orders for another move to the +north side of the James River, to threaten Richmond. Hancock's corps, +part of the 10th corps under Birney, and Gregg's division of cavalry +were crossed to the north side of the James during the night of the +13th-14th of August. A threatening position was maintained for a number +of days, with more or less skirmishing, and some tolerably hard +fighting; although it was my object and my instructions that anything +like a battle should be avoided, unless opportunities should present +themselves which would insure great success. General Meade was left in +command of the few troops around Petersburg, strongly intrenched; and +was instructed to keep a close watch upon the enemy in that quarter, and +himself to take advantage of any weakening that might occur through an +effort on the part of the enemy to reinforce the north side. There was +no particular victory gained on either side; but during that time no +more reinforcements were sent to the valley. + +I informed Sheridan of what had been done to prevent reinforcements +being sent from Richmond against him, and also that the efforts we had +made had proven that one of the divisions which we supposed had gone to +the valley was still at Richmond, because we had captured six or seven +hundred prisoners from that division, each of its four brigades having +contributed to our list of captures. I also informed him that but one +division had gone, and it was possible that I should be able to prevent +the going of any more. + +To add to my embarrassment at this time Sherman, who was now near +Atlanta, wanted reinforcements. He was perfectly willing to take the +raw troops then being raised in the North-west, saying that he could +teach them more soldiering in one day among his troops than they would +learn in a week in a camp of instruction. I therefore asked that all +troops in camps of instruction in the North-west be sent to him. +Sherman also wanted to be assured that no Eastern troops were moving out +against him. I informed him of what I had done and assured him that I +would hold all the troops there that it was possible for me to hold, and +that up to that time none had gone. I also informed him that his real +danger was from Kirby Smith, who commanded the trans-Mississippi +Department. If Smith should escape Steele, and get across the +Mississippi River, he might move against him. I had, therefore, asked +to have an expedition ready to move from New Orleans against Mobile in +case Kirby Smith should get across. This would have a tendency to draw +him to the defence of that place, instead of going against Sherman. + +Right in the midst of all these embarrassments Halleck informed me that +there was an organized scheme on foot in the North to resist the draft, +and suggested that it might become necessary to draw troops from the +field to put it down. He also advised taking in sail, and not going too +fast. + +The troops were withdrawn from the north side of the James River on the +night of the 20th. Before they were withdrawn, however, and while most +of Lee's force was on that side of the river, Warren had been sent with +most of the 5th corps to capture the Weldon Railroad. He took up his +line of march well back to the rear, south of the enemy, while the +troops remaining in the trenches extended so as to cover that part of +the line which he had vacated by moving out. From our left, near the +old line, it was about three miles to the Weldon Railroad. A division +was ordered from the right of the Petersburg line to reinforce Warren, +while a division was brought back from the north side of the James River +to take its place. + +This road was very important to the enemy. The limits from which his +supplies had been drawn were already very much contracted, and I knew +that he must fight desperately to protect it. Warren carried the road, +though with heavy loss on both sides. He fortified his new position, +and our trenches were then extended from the left of our main line to +connect with his new one. Lee made repeated attempts to dislodge +Warren's corps, but without success, and with heavy loss. + +As soon as Warren was fortified and reinforcements reached him, troops +were sent south to destroy the bridges on the Weldon Railroad; and with +such success that the enemy had to draw in wagons, for a distance of +about thirty miles, all the supplies they got thereafter from that +source. It was on the 21st that Lee seemed to have given up the Weldon +Railroad as having been lost to him; but along about the 24th or 25th he +made renewed attempts to recapture it; again he failed and with very +heavy losses to him as compared with ours. + +On the night of the 20th our troops on the north side of the James were +withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg were sent south to destroy the Weldon +Railroad. They were attacked on the 25th at Reams's Station, and after +desperate fighting a part of our line gave way, losing five pieces of +artillery. But the Weldon Railroad never went out of our possession +from the 18th of August to the close of the war. + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + +SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE--VISIT TO SHERIDAN--SHERIDAN'S VICTORY IN THE +SHENANDOAH--SHERIDAN'S RIDE TO WINCHESTER--CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE +WINTER. + +We had our troops on the Weldon Railroad contending against a large +force that regarded this road of so much importance that they could +afford to expend many lives in retaking it; Sherman just getting through +to Atlanta with great losses of men from casualties, discharges and +detachments left along as guards to occupy and hold the road in rear of +him; Washington threatened but a short time before, and now Early being +strengthened in the valley so as, probably, to renew that attempt. It +kept me pretty active in looking after all these points. + +On the 10th of August Sheridan had advanced on Early up the Shenandoah +Valley, Early falling back to Strasburg. On the 12th I learned that Lee +had sent twenty pieces of artillery, two divisions of infantry and a +considerable cavalry force to strengthen Early. It was important that +Sheridan should be informed of this, so I sent the information to +Washington by telegraph, and directed a courier to be sent from there to +get the message to Sheridan at all hazards, giving him the information. +The messenger, an officer of the army, pushed through with great energy +and reached Sheridan just in time. The officer went through by way of +Snicker's Gap, escorted by some cavalry. He found Sheridan just making +his preparations to attack Early in his chosen position. Now, however, +he was thrown back on the defensive. + +On the 15th of September I started to visit General Sheridan in the +Shenandoah Valley. My purpose was to have him attack Early, or drive +him out of the valley and destroy that source of supplies for Lee's +army. I knew it was impossible for me to get orders through Washington +to Sheridan to make a move, because they would be stopped there and such +orders as Halleck's caution (and that of the Secretary of War) would +suggest would be given instead, and would, no doubt, be contradictory to +mine. I therefore, without stopping at Washington, went directly +through to Charlestown, some ten miles above Harper's Ferry, and waited +there to see General Sheridan, having sent a courier in advance to +inform him where to meet me. + +When Sheridan arrived I asked him if he had a map showing the positions +of his army and that of the enemy. He at once drew one out of his side +pocket, showing all roads and streams, and the camps of the two armies. +He said that if he had permission he would move so and so (pointing out +how) against the Confederates, and that he could "whip them." Before +starting I had drawn up a plan of campaign for Sheridan, which I had +brought with me; but, seeing that he was so clear and so positive in his +views and so confident of success, I said nothing about this and did not +take it out of my pocket. + +Sheridan's wagon trains were kept at Harper's Ferry, where all of his +stores were. By keeping the teams at that place, their forage did not +have to be hauled to them. As supplies of ammunition, provisions and +rations for the men were wanted, trains would be made up to deliver the +stores to the commissaries and quartermasters encamped at Winchester. +Knowing that he, in making preparations to move at a given day, would +have to bring up wagons trains from Harper's Ferry, I asked him if he +could be ready to get off by the following Tuesday. This was on Friday. +"O Yes," he said, he "could be off before daylight on Monday." I told +him then to make the attack at that time and according to his own plan; +and I immediately started to return to the army about Richmond. After +visiting Baltimore and Burlington, New Jersey, I arrived at City Point +on the 19th. + +On the way out to Harper's Ferry I had met Mr. Robert Garrett, President +of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. He seemed very anxious to know when +workmen might be put upon the road again so as to make repairs and put +it in shape for running. It was a large piece of property to have +standing idle. I told him I could not answer then positively but would +try and inform him before a great while. On my return Mr. Garrett met +me again with the same and I told him I thought that by the Wednesday he +might send his workmen out on his road. I gave him no further +information however, and he had no suspicion of how I expected to have +the road cleared for his workmen. + +Sheridan moved at the time he had fixed upon. He met Early at the +crossing of Opequon Creek, a most decisive victory--one which the +country. Early had invited this attack himself by his bad generalship +and made the victory easy. He had sent G. T. Anderson's division east +of the Blue Ridge before I went to Harper's Ferry; and about the time I +arrived there he started other divisions (leaving but two in their +camps) to march to Martinsburg for the purpose destroying the Baltimore +and Ohio Railroad at that point. Early here learned that I had been +with Sheridan and, supposing there was some movement on foot, started +back as soon as he got the information. But his forces were separated +and, as I have said, he was very badly defeated. He fell back to +Fisher's Hill, Sheridan following. + +The valley is narrow at that point, and Early made another stand there, +behind works which extended across. But Sheridan turned both his flanks +and again sent him speeding up the valley, following in hot pursuit. +The pursuit was continued up the valley to Mount Jackson and New Market. +Sheridan captured about eleven hundred prisoners and sixteen guns. The +houses which he passed all along the route were found to be filled with +Early's wounded, and the country swarmed with his deserters. Finally, +on the 25th, Early turned from the valley eastward, leaving Sheridan at +Harrisonburg in undisputed possession. + +Now one of the main objects of the expedition began to be accomplished. +Sheridan went to work with his command, gathering in the crops, cattle, +and everything in the upper part of the valley required by our troops; +and especially taking what might be of use to the enemy. What he could +not take away he destroyed, so that the enemy would not be invited to +come back there. I congratulated Sheridan upon his recent great victory +and had a salute of a hundred guns fired in honor of it, the guns being +aimed at the enemy around Petersburg. I also notified the other +commanders throughout the country, who also fired salutes in honor of +his victory. + +I had reason to believe that the administration was a little afraid to +have a decisive battle at that time, for fear it might go against us and +have a bad effect on the November elections. The convention which had +met and made its nomination of the Democratic candidate for the +presidency had declared the war a failure. Treason was talked as boldly +in Chicago at that convention as ever been in Charleston. It was a +question whether the government would then have had the power to make +arrests and punish those who talked treason. But this decisive victory +was the most effective campaign argument made in the canvass. + +Sheridan, in his pursuit, got beyond where they could hear from him in +Washington, and the President became very much frightened about him. He +was afraid that the hot pursuit had been a little like that of General +Cass was said to have been, in one of our Indian wars, when he was an +officer of army. Cass was pursuing the Indians so closely that the +first thing he knew he found himself in front, and the Indians pursuing +him. The President was afraid that Sheridan had got on the other side +of Early and that Early was in behind him. He was afraid that Sheridan +was getting so far away that reinforcements would be sent out from +Richmond to enable Early to beat him. I replied to the President that I +had taken steps to prevent Lee from sending reinforcements to Early, by +attacking the former where he was. + +On the 28th of September, to retain Lee in his position, I sent Ord with +the 18th corps and Birney with the 10th corps to make an advance on +Richmond, to threaten it. Ord moved with the left wing up to Chaffin's +Bluff; Birney with the 10th corps took a road farther north; while Kautz +with the cavalry took the Darby road, still farther to the north. They +got across the river by the next morning, and made an effort to surprise +the enemy. In that, however, they were unsuccessful. + +The enemy's lines were very strong and very intricate. Stannard's +division of the 18th corps with General Burnham's brigade leading, tried +an assault against Fort Harrison and captured it with sixteen guns and a +good many prisoners. Burnham was killed in the assault. Colonel Stevens +who succeeded him was badly wounded; and his successor also fell in the +same way. Some works to the right and left were also carried with the +guns in them--six in number--and a few more prisoners. Birney's troops +to the right captured the enemy's intrenched picket-lines, but were +unsuccessful in their efforts upon the main line. + +Our troops fortified their new position, bringing Fort Harrison into the +new line and extending it to the river. This brought us pretty close to +the enemy on the north side of the James, and the two opposing lines +maintained their relative positions to the close of the siege. + +In the afternoon a further attempt was made to advance, but it failed. +Ord fell badly wounded, and had to be relieved; the command devolved +upon General Heckman, and later General Weitzel was assigned to the +command of the 18th corps. During the night Lee reinforced his troops +about Fort Gilmer, which was at the right of Fort Harrison, by eight +additional brigades from Petersburg, and attempted to retake the works +which we had captured by concentrating ten brigades against them. All +their efforts failed, their attacks being all repulsed with very heavy +loss. In one of these assaults upon us General Stannard, a gallant +officer who was defending Fort Harrison, lost an arm. Our casualties +during these operations amounted to 394 killed, I,554 wounded and 324 +missing. + +Whilst this was going on General Meade was instructed to keep up an +appearance of moving troops to our extreme left. Parke and Warren were +kept with two divisions, each under arms, ready to move leaving their +enclosed batteries manned, with a scattering line on the other +intrenchments. The object of this was to prevent reinforcements from +going to the north side of the river. Meade was instructed to watch the +enemy closely and, if Lee weakened his lines, to make an attack. + +On the 30th these troops moved out, under Warren, and captured an +advanced intrenched camp at Peeble's farm, driving the enemy back to the +main line. Our troops followed and made an attack in the hope of +carrying the enemy's main line; but in this they were unsuccessful and +lost a large number of men, mostly captured. The number of killed and +wounded was not large. The next day our troops advanced again and +established themselves, intrenching a new line about a mile in front of +the enemy. This advanced Warren's position on the Weldon Railroad very +considerably. + +Sheridan having driven the enemy out of the valley, and taken the +productions of the valley so that instead of going there for supplies +the enemy would have to bring his provisions with him if he again +entered it, recommended a reduction of his own force, the surplus to be +sent where it could be of more use. I approved of his suggestion, and +ordered him to send Wright's corps back to the James River. I further +directed him to repair the railroad up the Shenandoah Valley towards the +advanced position which we would hold with a small force. The troops +were to be sent to Washington by the way of Culpeper, in order to watch +the east side of the Blue Ridge, and prevent the enemy from getting into +the rear of Sheridan while he was still doing his work of destruction. + +The valley was so very important, however, to the Confederate army that, +contrary to our expectations, they determined to make one more strike, +and save it if possible before the supplies should be all destroyed. +Reinforcements were sent therefore to Early, and this before any of our +troops had been withdrawn. Early prepared to strike Sheridan at +Harrisonburg; but the latter had not remained there. + +On the 6th of October Sheridan commenced retiring down the valley, +taking or destroying all the food and forage and driving the cattle +before him, Early following. At Fisher's Hill Sheridan turned his +cavalry back on that of Early, which, under the lead of Rosser, was +pursuing closely, and routed it most completely, capturing eleven guns +and a large number of prisoners. Sheridan lost only about sixty men. +His cavalry pursued the enemy back some twenty-five miles. On the 10th +of October the march down the valley was again resumed, Early again +following. + +I now ordered Sheridan to halt, and to improve the opportunity if +afforded by the enemy's having been sufficiently weakened, to move back +again and cut the James River Canal and Virginia Central Railroad. But +this order had to go through Washington where it was intercepted; and +when Sheridan received what purported to be a statement of what I wanted +him to do it was something entirely different. Halleck informed +Sheridan that it was my wish for him to hold a forward position as a +base from which to act against Charlottesville and Gordonsville; that he +should fortify this position and provision it. + +Sheridan objected to this most decidedly; and I was impelled to +telegraph him, on the 14th, as follows: + + +CITY POINT, VA., October 14, 1864.--12.30 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Cedar Creek, Va. + +What I want is for you to threaten the Virginia Central Railroad and +canal in the manner your judgment tells you is best, holding yourself +ready to advance, if the enemy draw off their forces. If you make the +enemy hold a force equal to your own for the protection of those +thoroughfares, it will accomplish nearly as much as their destruction. +If you cannot do this, then the next best thing to do is to send here +all the force you can. I deem a good cavalry force necessary for your +offensive, as well as defensive operations. You need not therefore send +here more than one division of cavalry. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +Sheridan having been summoned to Washington City, started on the 15th +leaving Wright in command. His army was then at Cedar Creek, some +twenty miles south of Winchester. The next morning while at Front +Royal, Sheridan received a dispatch from Wright, saying that a dispatch +from Longstreet to Early had been intercepted. It directed the latter +to be ready to move and to crush Sheridan as soon as he, Longstreet, +arrived. On the receipt of this news Sheridan ordered the cavalry up +the valley to join Wright. + +On the 18th of October Early was ready to move, and during the night +succeeded in getting his troops in the rear of our left flank, which +fled precipitately and in great confusion down the valley, losing +eighteen pieces of artillery and a thousand or more prisoners. The +right under General Getty maintained a firm and steady front, falling +back to Middletown where it took a position and made a stand. The +cavalry went to the rear, seized the roads leading to Winchester and +held them for the use of our troops in falling back, General Wright +having ordered a retreat back to that place. + +Sheridan having left Washington on the 18th, reached Winchester that +night. The following morning he started to join his command. He had +scarcely got out of town, when he met his men returning in panic from +the front and also heard heavy firing to the south. He immediately +ordered the cavalry at Winchester to be deployed across the valley to +stop the stragglers. Leaving members of his staff to take care of +Winchester and the public property there, he set out with a small escort +directly for the scene of battle. As he met the fugitives he ordered +them to turn back, reminding them that they were going the wrong way. +His presence soon restored confidence. Finding themselves worse +frightened than hurt the men did halt and turn back. Many of those who +had run ten miles got back in time to redeem their reputation as gallant +soldiers before night. + +When Sheridan got to the front he found Getty and Custer still holding +their ground firmly between the Confederates and our retreating troops. +Everything in the rear was now ordered up. Sheridan at once proceeded to +intrench his position; and he awaited an assault from the enemy. This +was made with vigor, and was directed principally against Emory's corps, +which had sustained the principal loss in the first attack. By one +o'clock the attack was repulsed. Early was so badly damaged that he +seemed disinclined to make another attack, but went to work to intrench +himself with a view to holding the position he had already gained. He +thought, no doubt, that Sheridan would be glad enough to leave him +unmolested; but in this he was mistaken. + +About the middle of the afternoon Sheridan advanced. He sent his +cavalry by both flanks, and they penetrated to the enemy's rear. The +contest was close for a time, but at length the left of the enemy broke, +and disintegration along the whole line soon followed. Early tried to +rally his men, but they were followed so closely that they had to give +way very quickly every time they attempted to make a stand. Our +cavalry, having pushed on and got in the rear of the Confederates, +captured twenty-four pieces of artillery, besides retaking what had been +lost in the morning. This victory pretty much closed the campaigning in +the Valley of Virginia. All the Confederate troops were sent back to +Richmond with the exception of one division of infantry and a little +cavalry. Wright's corps was ordered back to the Army of the Potomac, +and two other divisions were withdrawn from the valley. Early had lost +more men in killed, wounded and captured in the valley than Sheridan had +commanded from first to last. + +On more than one occasion in these engagements General R. B. Hayes, who +succeeded me as President of the United States, bore a very honorable +part. His conduct on the field was marked by conspicuous gallantry as +well as the display of qualities of a higher order than that of mere +personal daring. This might well have been expected of one who could +write at the time he is said to have done so: "Any officer fit for duty +who at this crisis would abandon his post to electioneer for a seat in +Congress, ought to be scalped." Having entered the army as a Major of +Volunteers at the beginning of the war, General Hayes attained by +meritorious service the rank of Brevet Major-General before its close. + +On the north side of the James River the enemy attacked Kautz's cavalry +on the 7th of October, and drove it back with heavy loss in killed, +wounded and prisoners, and the loss of all the artillery. This was +followed up by an attack on our intrenched infantry line, but was +repulsed with severe slaughter. On the 13th a reconnoissance was sent +out by General Butler, with a view to drive the enemy from some new +works he was constructing, which resulted in heavy loss to us. + +On the 24th I ordered General Meade to attempt to get possession of the +South Side Railroad, and for that purpose to advance on the 27th. The +attempt proved a failure, however, the most advanced of our troops not +getting nearer than within six miles of the point aimed for. Seeing the +impossibility of its accomplishment I ordered the troops to withdraw, +and they were all back in their former positions the next day. + +Butler, by my directions, also made a demonstration on the north side of +the James River in order to support this move, by detaining there the +Confederate troops who were on that side. He succeeded in this, but +failed of further results by not marching past the enemy's left before +turning in on the Darby road and by reason of simply coming up against +their lines in place. + +This closed active operations around Richmond for the winter. Of course +there was frequent skirmishing between pickets, but no serious battle +was fought near either Petersburg or Richmond. It would prolong this +work to give a detailed account of all that took place from day to day +around Petersburg and at other parts of my command, and it would not +interest the general reader if given. All these details can be found by +the military student in a series of books published by the Scribners, +Badeau's history of my campaigns, and also in the publications of the +War Department, including both the National and Confederate reports. + +In the latter part of November General Hancock was relieved from the +command of the 2d corps by the Secretary of War and ordered to +Washington, to organize and command a corps of veteran troops to be +designated the 1st corps. It was expected that this would give him a +large command to co-operate with in the spring. It was my expectation, +at the time, that in the final operations Hancock should move either up +the valley, or else east of the Blue Ridge to Lynchburg; the idea being +to make the spring campaign the close of the war. I expected, with +Sherman coming up from the South, Meade south of Petersburg and around +Richmond, and Thomas's command in Tennessee with depots of supplies +established in the eastern part of that State, to move from the +direction of Washington or the valley towards Lynchburg. We would then +have Lee so surrounded that his supplies would be cut off entirely, +making it impossible for him to support his army. + +General Humphreys, chief-of-staff of the Army of the Potomac, was +assigned to the command of the 2d corps, to succeed Hancock. + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + +THE CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA--WAR ANECDOTES--THE +MARCH ON SAVANNAH--INVESTMENT OF SAVANNAH--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH. + +Let us now return to the operations in the military division of the +Mississippi, and accompany Sherman in his march to the sea. + +The possession of Atlanta by us narrowed the territory of the enemy very +materially and cut off one of his two remaining lines of roads from east +to west. + +A short time after the fall of Atlanta Mr. Davis visited Palmetto and +Macon and made speeches at each place. He spoke at Palmetto on the 20th +of September, and at Macon on the 22d. Inasmuch as he had relieved +Johnston and appointed Hood, and Hood had immediately taken the +initiative, it is natural to suppose that Mr. Davis was disappointed +with General Johnston's policy. My own judgment is that Johnston acted +very wisely: he husbanded his men and saved as much of his territory as +he could, without fighting decisive battles in which all might be lost. +As Sherman advanced, as I have show, his army became spread out, until, +if this had been continued, it would have been easy to destroy it in +detail. I know that both Sherman and I were rejoiced when we heard of +the change. Hood was unquestionably a brave, gallant soldier and not +destitute of ability; but unfortunately his policy was to fight the +enemy wherever he saw him, without thinking much of the consequences of +defeat. + +In his speeches Mr. Davis denounced Governor Brown, of Georgia, and +General Johnston in unmeasured terms, even insinuating that their +loyalty to the Southern cause was doubtful. So far as General Johnston +is concerned, I think Davis did him a great injustice in this +particular. I had know the general before the war and strongly believed +it would be impossible for him to accept a high commission for the +purpose of betraying the cause he had espoused. There, as I have said, +I think that his policy was the best one that could have been pursued by +the whole South--protract the war, which was all that was necessary to +enable them to gain recognition in the end. The North was already +growing weary, as the South evidently was also, but with this +difference. In the North the people governed, and could stop +hostilities whenever they chose to stop supplies. The South was a +military camp, controlled absolutely by the government with soldiers to +back it, and the war could have been protracted, no matter to what +extent the discontent reached, up to the point of open mutiny of the +soldiers themselves. Mr. Davis's speeches were frank appeals to the +people of Georgia and that portion of the South to come to their relief. +He tried to assure his frightened hearers that the Yankees were rapidly +digging their own graves; that measures were already being taken to cut +them off from supplies from the North; and that with a force in front, +and cut off from the rear, they must soon starve in the midst of a +hostile people. Papers containing reports of these speeches immediately +reached the Northern States, and they were republished. Of course, that +caused no alarm so long as telegraphic communication was kept up with +Sherman. + +When Hood was forced to retreat from Atlanta he moved to the south-west +and was followed by a portion of Sherman's army. He soon appeared upon +the railroad in Sherman's rear, and with his whole army began destroying +the road. At the same time also the work was begun in Tennessee and +Kentucky which Mr. Davis had assured his hearers at Palmetto and Macon +would take place. He ordered Forrest (about the ablest cavalry general +in the South) north for this purpose; and Forrest and Wheeler carried +out their orders with more or less destruction, occasionally picking up +a garrison. Forrest indeed performed the very remarkable feat of +capturing, with cavalry, two gunboats and a number of transports, +something the accomplishment of which is very hard to account for. +Hood's army had been weakened by Governor Brown's withdrawing the +Georgia State troops for the purpose of gathering in the season's crops +for the use of the people and for the use of the army. This not only +depleted Hood's forces but it served a most excellent purpose in +gathering in supplies of food and forage for the use of our army in its +subsequent march. Sherman was obliged to push on with his force and go +himself with portions of it hither and thither, until it was clearly +demonstrated to him that with the army he then had it would be +impossible to hold the line from Atlanta back and leave him any force +whatever with which to take the offensive. Had that plan been adhered +to, very large reinforcements would have been necessary; and Mr. Davis's +prediction of the destruction of the army would have been realized, or +else Sherman would have been obliged to make a successful retreat, which +Mr. Davis said in his speeches would prove more disastrous than +Napoleon's retreat from Moscow. + +These speeches of Mr. Davis were not long in reaching Sherman. He took +advantage of the information they gave, and made all the preparation +possible for him to make to meet what now became expected, attempts to +break his communications. Something else had to be done: and to +Sherman's sensible and soldierly mind the idea was not long in dawning +upon him, not only that something else had to be done, but what that +something else should be. + +On September 10th I telegraphed Sherman as follows: + + +CITY POINT, VA., Sept. 10, 1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN, Atlanta, Georgia. + +So soon as your men are sufficiently rested, and preparations can be +made, it is desirable that another campaign should be commenced. We +want to keep the enemy constantly pressed to the end of the war. If we +give him no peace whilst the war lasts, the end cannot be distant. Now +that we have all of Mobile Bay that is valuable, I do not know but it +will be the best move to transfer Canby's troops to act upon Savannah, +whilst you move on Augusta. I should like to hear from you, however, in +this matter. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +Sherman replied promptly: + +"If I could be sure of finding provisions and ammunition at Augusta, or +Columbus, Georgia, I can march to Milledgeville, and compel Hood to give +up Augusta or Macon, and then turn on the other. * * * If you can +manage to take the Savannah River as high up as Augusta, or the +Chattahoochee as far up as Columbus, I can sweep the whole State of +Georgia." + +On the 12th I sent a special messenger, one of my own staff, with a +letter inviting Sherman's views about the next campaign. + +CITY POINT, VA., Sept. 12, 1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Mill Division of the +Mississippi. + +I send Lieutenant-Colonel Porter, of my staff, with this. Colonel Porter +will explain to you the exact condition of affairs here better than I +can do in the limits of a letter. Although I feel myself strong enough +for offensive operations, I am holding on quietly to get advantage of +recruits and convalescents, who are coming forward very rapidly. My +lines are necessarily very long, extending from Deep Bottom north of the +James across the peninsula formed by the Appomattox and the James, and +south of the Appomattox to the Weldon Road. This line is very strongly +fortified, and can be held with comparatively few men, but from its +great length takes many in the aggregate. I propose, when I do move, to +extend my left so as to control what is known as the South Side, or +Lynchburg and Petersburg Road, then if possible to keep the Danville +Road cut. At the same time this move is made, I want to send a force of +from six to ten thousand men against Wilmington. + +The way I propose to do this is to land the men north of Fort Fisher, +and hold that point. At the same time a large naval fleet will be +assembled there, and the iron-clads will run the batteries as they did +at Mobile. This will give us the same control of the harbor of +Wilmington that we now have of the harbor of Mobile. What you are to do +with the forces at your command, I do not see. The difficulties of +supplying your army, except when you are constantly moving, beyond where +you are, I plainly see. If it had not been for Price's movements Canby +would have sent twelve thousand more men to Mobile. From your command +on the Mississippi an equal number could have been taken. With these +forces my idea would have been to divide them, sending one half to +Mobile and the other half to Savannah. You could then move as proposed +in your telegram, so as to threaten Macon and Augusta equally. +Whichever was abandoned by the enemy you could take and open up a new +base of supplies. My object now in sending a staff officer is not so +much to suggest operations for you, as to get your views and have plans +matured by the time everything can be got ready. It will probably be +the 5th of October before any of the plans herein indicated will be +executed. + +If you have any promotions to recommend, send the names forward and I +will approve them. * * * + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +This reached Sherman on September 20th. + +On the 25th of September Sherman reported to Washington that Hood's +troops were in his rear. He had provided against this by sending a +division to Chattanooga and a division to Rome, Georgia, which was in +the rear of Hood, supposing that Hood would fall back in the direction +from which he had come to reach the railroad. At the same time Sherman +and Hood kept up a correspondence relative to the exchange of prisoners, +the treatment of citizens, and other matters suitable to be arranged +between hostile commanders in the field. On the 27th of September I +telegraphed Sherman as follows: + + +CITY POINT, VA., September 27, 1864--10.30 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN: + +I have directed all recruits and new troops from the Western States to +be sent to Nashville, to receive their further orders from you. * * * + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +On the 29th Sherman sent Thomas back to Chattanooga, and afterwards to +Nashville, with another division (Morgan's) of the advanced army. +Sherman then suggested that, when he was prepared, his movements should +take place against Milledgeville and then to Savannah. His expectation +at that time was, to make this movement as soon as he could get up his +supplies. Hood was moving in his own country, and was moving light so +that he could make two miles to Sherman's one. He depended upon the +country to gather his supplies, and so was not affected by delays. + +As I have said, until this unexpected state of affairs happened, Mobile +had been looked upon as the objective point of Sherman's army. It had +been a favorite move of mine from 1862, when I first suggested to the +then commander-in-chief that the troops in Louisiana, instead of +frittering away their time in the trans-Mississippi, should move +against Mobile. I recommended this from time to time until I came into +command of the army, the last of March 1864. Having the power in my own +hands, I now ordered the concentration of supplies, stores and troops, +in the department of the Gulf about New Orleans, with a view to a move +against Mobile, in support of, and in conjunction with, the other armies +operating in the field. Before I came into command, these troops had +been scattered over the trans-Mississippi department in such a way that +they could not be, or were not, gotten back in time to take any part in +the original movement; hence the consideration, which had caused Mobile +to be selected as the objective point for Sherman's army to find his +next base of supplies after having cut loose from Atlanta, no longer +existed. + +General G. M. Dodge, an exceedingly efficient officer, having been badly +wounded, had to leave the army about the first of October. He was in +command of two divisions of the 16th corps, consolidated into one. +Sherman then divided his army into the right and left wings the right +commanded by General O. O. Howard and the left by General Slocum. +General Dodge's two divisions were assigned, one to each of these wings. +Howard's command embraced the 15th and 17th corps, and Slocum's the 14th +and 20th corps, commanded by Generals Jeff. C. Davis and A. S. Williams. +Generals Logan and Blair commanded the two corps composing the right +wing. About this time they left to take part in the presidential +election, which took place that year, leaving their corps to Osterhaus +and Ransom. I have no doubt that their leaving was at the earnest +solicitation of the War Department. General Blair got back in time to +resume his command and to proceed with it throughout the march to the +sea and back to the grand review at Washington. General Logan did not +return to his command until after it reached Savannah. + +Logan felt very much aggrieved at the transfer of General Howard from +that portion of the Army of the Potomac which was then with the Western +Army, to the command of the Army of the Tennessee, with which army +General Logan had served from the battle of Belmont to the fall of +Atlanta--having passed successively through all grades from colonel +commanding a regiment to general commanding a brigade, division and army +corps, until upon the death of McPherson the command of the entire Army +of the Tennessee devolved upon him in the midst of a hotly contested +battle. He conceived that he had done his full duty as commander in +that engagement; and I can bear testimony, from personal observation, +that he had proved himself fully equal to all the lower positions which +he had occupied as a soldier. I will not pretend to question the motive +which actuated Sherman in taking an officer from another army to +supersede General Logan. I have no doubt, whatever, that he did this +for what he considered would be to the good of the service, which was +more important than that the personal feelings of any individual should +not be aggrieved; though I doubt whether he had an officer with him who +could have filled the place as Logan would have done. Differences of +opinion must exist between the best of friends as to policies in war, +and of judgment as to men's fitness. The officer who has the command, +however, should be allowed to judge of the fitness of the officers under +him, unless he is very manifestly wrong. + +Sherman's army, after all the depletions, numbered about sixty thousand +effective men. All weak men had been left to hold the rear, and those +remaining were not only well men, but strong and hardy, so that he had +sixty thousand as good soldiers as ever trod the earth; better than any +European soldiers, because they not only worked like a machine but the +machine thought. European armies know very little what they are fighting +for, and care less. Included in these sixty thousand troops, there were +two small divisions of cavalry, numbering altogether about four thousand +men. Hood had about thirty-five to forty thousand men, independent of +Forrest, whose forces were operating in Tennessee and Kentucky, as Mr. +Davis had promised they should. This part of Mr. Davis's military plan +was admirable, and promised the best results of anything he could have +done, according to my judgment. I say this because I have criticised his +military judgment in the removal of Johnston, and also in the +appointment of Hood. I am aware, however, that there was high feeling +existing at that time between Davis and his subordinate, whom I regarded +as one of his ablest lieutenants. + +On the 5th of October the railroad back from Atlanta was again very +badly broken, Hood having got on the track with his army. Sherman saw +after night, from a high point, the road burning for miles. The defence +of the railroad by our troops was very gallant, but they could not hold +points between their intrenched positions against Hood's whole army; in +fact they made no attempt to do so; but generally the intrenched +positions were held, as well as important bridges, and store located at +them. Allatoona, for instance, was defended by a small force of men +under the command of General Corse, one of the very able and efficient +volunteer officers produced by the war. He, with a small force, was cut +off from the remainder of the National army and was attacked with great +vigor by many times his own number. Sherman from his high position could +see the battle raging, with the Confederate troops between him and his +subordinate. He sent men, of course, to raise the temporary siege, but +the time that would be necessarily consumed in reaching Corse, would be +so great that all occupying the intrenchments might be dead. Corse was +a man who would never surrender. From a high position some of Sherman's +signal corps discovered a signal flag waving from a hole in the block +house at Allatoona. It was from Corse. He had been shot through the +face, but he signalled to his chief a message which left no doubt of his +determination to hold his post at all hazards. It was at this point +probably, that Sherman first realized that with the forces at his +disposal, the keeping open of his line of communication with the North +would be impossible if he expected to retain any force with which to +operate offensively beyond Atlanta. He proposed, therefore, to destroy +the roads back to Chattanooga, when all ready to move, and leave the +latter place garrisoned. Yet, before abandoning the railroad, it was +necessary that he should repair damages already done, and hold the road +until he could get forward such supplies, ordnance stores and small +rations, as he wanted to carry with him on his proposed march, and to +return to the north his surplus artillery; his object being to move +light and to have no more artillery than could be used to advantage on +the field. + +Sherman thought Hood would follow him, though he proposed to prepare for +the contingency of the latter moving the other way while he was moving +south, by making Thomas strong enough to hold Tennessee and Kentucky. +I, myself, was thoroughly satisfied that Hood would go north, as he did. +On the 2d of November I telegraphed Sherman authorizing him definitely +to move according to the plan he had proposed: that is, cutting loose +from his base, giving up Atlanta and the railroad back to Chattanooga. +To strengthen Thomas he sent Stanley (4th corps) back, and also ordered +Schofield, commanding the Army of the Ohio, twelve thousand strong, to +report to him. In addition to this, A. J. Smith, who, with two +divisions of Sherman's army, was in Missouri aiding Rosecrans in driving +the enemy from that State, was under orders to return to Thomas and, +under the most unfavorable circumstances, might be expected to arrive +there long before Hood could reach Nashville. + +In addition to this, the new levies of troops that were being raised in +the North-west went to Thomas as rapidly as enrolled and equipped. +Thomas, without any of these additions spoken of, had a garrison at +Chattanooga which had been strengthened by one division and garrisons at +Bridgeport, Stevenson, Decatur, Murfreesboro, and Florence. There were +already with him in Nashville ten thousand soldiers in round numbers, +and many thousands of employees in the quartermaster's and other +departments who could be put in the intrenchments in front of Nashville, +for its defence. Also, Wilson was there with ten thousand dismounted +cavalrymen, who were being equipped for the field. Thomas had at this +time about forty-five thousand men without any of the reinforcements +here above enumerated. These reinforcements gave him altogether about +seventy thousand men, without counting what might be added by the new +levies already spoken of. + +About this time Beauregard arrived upon the field, not to supersede Hood +in command, but to take general charge over the entire district in which +Hood and Sherman were, or might be, operating. He made the most frantic +appeals to the citizens for assistance to be rendered in every way: by +sending reinforcements, by destroying supplies on the line of march of +the invaders, by destroying the bridges over which they would have to +cross, and by, in every way, obstructing the roads to their front. But +it was hard to convince the people of the propriety of destroying +supplies which were so much needed by themselves, and each one hoped +that his own possessions might escape. + +Hood soon started north, and went into camp near Decatur, Alabama, where +he remained until the 29th of October, but without making an attack on +the garrison of that place. + +The Tennessee River was patrolled by gunboats, from Muscle Shoals east; +and, also, below the second shoals out to the Ohio River. These, with +the troops that might be concentrated from the garrisons along the river +at any point where Hood might choose to attempt to cross, made it +impossible for him to cross the Tennessee at any place where it was +navigable. But Muscle Shoals is not navigable, and below them again is +another shoal which also obstructs navigation. Hood therefore moved +down to a point nearly opposite Florence, Alabama, crossed over and +remained there for some time, collecting supplies of food, forage and +ammunition. All of these had to come from a considerable distance south, +because the region in which he was then situated was mountainous, with +small valleys which produced but little, and what they had produced had +long since been exhausted. On the 1st of November I suggested to +Sherman, and also asked his views thereon, the propriety of destroying +Hood before he started on his campaign. + +On the 2d of November, as stated, I approved definitely his making his +proposed campaign through Georgia, leaving Hood behind to the tender +mercy of Thomas and the troops in his command. Sherman fixed the 10th +of November as the day of starting. + +Sherman started on that day to get back to Atlanta, and on the 15th the +real march to the sea commenced. The right wing, under Howard, and the +cavalry went to Jonesboro, Milledgeville, then the capital of Georgia, +being Sherman's objective or stopping place on the way to Savannah. The +left wing moved to Stone Mountain, along roads much farther east than +those taken by the right wing. Slocum was in command, and threatened +Augusta as the point to which he was moving, but he was to turn off and +meet the right wing at Milledgeville. + +Atlanta was destroyed so far as to render it worthless for military +purposes before starting, Sherman himself remaining over a day to +superintend the work, and see that it was well done. Sherman's orders +for this campaign were perfect. Before starting, he had sent back all +sick, disabled and weak men, retaining nothing but the hardy, +well-inured soldiers to accompany him on his long march in prospect. +His artillery was reduced to sixty-five guns. The ammunition carried +with them was two hundred rounds for musket and gun. Small rations were +taken in a small wagon train, which was loaded to its capacity for rapid +movement. The army was expected to live on the country, and to always +keep the wagons full of forage and provisions against a possible delay +of a few days. + +The troops, both of the right and left wings, made most of their advance +along the line of railroads, which they destroyed. The method adopted +to perform this work, was to burn and destroy all the bridges and +culverts, and for a long distance, at places, to tear up the track and +bend the rails. Soldiers to do this rapidly would form a line along one +side of the road with crowbars and poles, place these under the rails +and, hoisting all at once, turn over many rods of road at one time. The +ties would then be placed in piles, and the rails, as they were +loosened, would be carried and put across these log heaps. When a +sufficient number of rails were placed upon a pile of ties it would be +set on fire. This would heat the rails very much more in the middle, +that being over the main part of the fire, than at the ends, so that +they would naturally bend of their own weight; but the soldiers, to +increase the damage, would take tongs and, one or two men at each end of +the rail, carry it with force against the nearest tree and twist it +around, thus leaving rails forming bands to ornament the forest trees of +Georgia. All this work was going on at the same time, there being a +sufficient number of men detailed for that purpose. Some piled the logs +and built the fire; some put the rails upon the fire; while others would +bend those that were sufficiently heated: so that, by the time the last +bit of road was torn up, that it was designed to destroy at a certain +place, the rails previously taken up were already destroyed. + +The organization for supplying the army was very complete. Each brigade +furnished a company to gather supplies of forage and provisions for the +command to which they belonged. Strict injunctions were issued against +pillaging, or otherwise unnecessarily annoying the people; but +everything in shape of food for man and forage for beast was taken. The +supplies were turned over to the brigade commissary and quartermaster, +and were issued by them to their respective commands precisely the same +as if they had been purchased. The captures consisted largely of +cattle, sheep, poultry, some bacon, cornmeal, often molasses, and +occasionally coffee or other small rations. + +The skill of these men, called by themselves and the army "bummers," in +collecting their loads and getting back to their respective commands, +was marvellous. When they started out in the morning, they were always +on foot; but scarcely one of them returned in the evening without being +mounted on a horse or mule. These would be turned in for the general use +of the army, and the next day these men would start out afoot and return +again in the evening mounted. + +Many of the exploits of these men would fall under the head of romance; +indeed, I am afraid that in telling some of their experiences, the +romance got the better of the truth upon which the story was founded, +and that, in the way many of these anecdotes are told, very little of +the foundation is left. I suspect that most of them consist chiefly of +the fiction added to make the stories better. In one instance it was +reported that a few men of Sherman's army passed a house where they +discovered some chickens under the dwelling. They immediately proceeded +to capture them, to add to the army's supplies. The lady of the house, +who happened to be at home, made piteous appeals to have these spared, +saying they were a few she had put away to save by permission of other +parties who had preceded and who had taken all the others that she had. +The soldiers seemed moved at her appeal; but looking at the chickens +again they were tempted and one of them replied: "The rebellion must be +suppressed if it takes the last chicken in the Confederacy," and +proceeded to appropriate the last one. + +Another anecdote characteristic of these times has been told. The South, +prior to the rebellion, kept bloodhounds to pursue runaway slaves who +took refuge in the neighboring swamps, and also to hunt convicts. +Orders were issued to kill all these animals as they were met with. On +one occasion a soldier picked up a poodle, the favorite pet of its +mistress, and was carrying it off to execution when the lady made a +strong appeal to him to spare it. The soldier replied, "Madam, our +orders are to kill every bloodhound." "But this is not a bloodhound," +said the lady. "Well, madam, we cannot tell what it will grow into if +we leave it behind," said the soldier as he went off with it. + +Notwithstanding these anecdotes, and the necessary hardship they would +seem to imply, I do not believe there was much unwarrantable pillaging +considering that we were in the enemy's territory and without any +supplies except such as the country afforded. + +On the 23d Sherman, with the left wing, reached Milledgeville. The right +wing was not far off: but proceeded on its way towards Savannah +destroying the road as it went. The troops at Milledgeville remained +over a day to destroy factories, buildings used for military purposes, +etc., before resuming its march. + +The governor, who had been almost defying Mr. Davis before this, now +fled precipitately, as did the legislature of the State and all the +State officers. The governor, Sherman says, was careful to carry away +even his garden vegetables, while he left the archives of the State to +fall into our hands. The only military force that was opposed to +Sherman's forward march was the Georgia militia, a division under the +command of General G. W. Smith, and a battalion under Harry Wayne. +Neither the quality of the forces nor their numbers was sufficient to +even retard the progress of Sherman's army. + +The people at the South became so frantic at this time at the successful +invasion of Georgia that they took the cadets from the military college +and added them to the ranks of the militia. They even liberated the +State convicts under promise from them that they would serve in the +army. I have but little doubt that the worst acts that were attributed +to Sherman's army were committed by these convicts, and by other +Southern people who ought to have been under sentence--such people as +could be found in every community, North and South--who took advantage +of their country being invaded to commit crime. They were in but little +danger of detection, or of arrest even if detected. + +The Southern papers in commenting upon Sherman's movements pictured him +as in the most deplorable condition: stating that his men were +starving, that they were demoralized and wandering about almost without +object, aiming only to reach the sea coast and get under the protection +of our navy. These papers got to the North and had more or less effect +upon the minds of the people, causing much distress to all loyal persons +particularly to those who had husbands, sons or brothers with Sherman. +Mr. Lincoln seeing these accounts, had a letter written asking me if I +could give him anything that he could say to the loyal people that would +comfort them. I told him there was not the slightest occasion for +alarm; that with 60,000 such men as Sherman had with him, such a +commanding officer as he was could not be cut off in the open country. +He might possibly be prevented from reaching the point he had started +out to reach, but he would get through somewhere and would finally get +to his chosen destination: and even if worst came to worst he could +return North. I heard afterwards of Mr. Lincoln's saying, to those who +would inquire of him as to what he thought about the safety of Sherman's +army, that Sherman was all right: "Grant says they are safe with such a +general, and that if they cannot get out where they want to, they can +crawl back by the hole they went in at." + +While at Milledgeville the soldiers met at the State House, organized a +legislature, and proceeded to business precisely as if they were the +legislative body belonging to the State of Georgia. The debates were +exciting, and were upon the subject of the situation the South was in at +that time, particularly the State of Georgia. They went so far as to +repeal, after a spirited and acrimonious debate, the ordinance of +secession. + +The next day (24th) Sherman continued his march, going by the way of +Waynesboro and Louisville, Millen being the next objective and where the +two columns (the right and left wings) were to meet. The left wing +moved to the left of the direct road, and the cavalry still farther off +so as to make it look as though Augusta was the point they were aiming +for. They moved on all the roads they could find leading in that +direction. The cavalry was sent to make a rapid march in hope of +surprising Millen before the Union prisoners could be carried away; but +they failed in this. + +The distance from Milledgeville to Millen was about one hundred miles. +At this point Wheeler, who had been ordered from Tennessee, arrived and +swelled the numbers and efficiency of the troops confronting Sherman. +Hardee, a native of Georgia, also came, but brought no troops with him. +It was intended that he should raise as large an army as possible with +which to intercept Sherman's march. He did succeed in raising some +troops, and with these and those under the command of Wheeler and Wayne, +had an army sufficient to cause some annoyance but no great detention. +Our cavalry and Wheeler's had a pretty severe engagement, in which +Wheeler was driven towards Augusta, thus giving the idea that Sherman +was probably making for that point. + +Millen was reached on the 3d of December, and the march was resumed the +following day for Savannah, the final objective. Bragg had now been sent +to Augusta with some troops. Wade Hampton was there also trying to +raise cavalry sufficient to destroy Sherman's army. If he ever raised a +force it was too late to do the work expected of it. Hardee's whole +force probably numbered less than ten thousand men. + +From Millen to Savannah the country is sandy and poor, and affords but +very little forage other than rice straw, which was then growing. This +answered a very good purpose as forage, and the rice grain was an +addition to the soldier's rations. No further resistance worthy of note +was met with, until within a few miles of Savannah. This place was +found to be intrenched and garrisoned. Sherman proceeded at once on his +arrival to invest the place, and found that the enemy had placed +torpedoes in the ground, which were to explode when stepped on by man or +beast. One of these exploded under an officer's horse, blowing the +animal to pieces and tearing one of the legs of the officer so badly +that it had to be amputated. Sherman at once ordered his prisoners to +the front, moving them in a compact body in advance, to either explode +the torpedoes or dig them up. No further explosion took place. + +On the 10th of December the siege of Savannah commenced. Sherman then, +before proceeding any further with operations for the capture of the +place, started with some troops to open communication with our fleet, +which he expected to find in the lower harbor or as near by as the forts +of the enemy would permit. In marching to the coast he encountered Fort +McAllister, which it was necessary to reduce before the supplies he +might find on shipboard could be made available. Fort McAllister was +soon captured by an assault made by General Hazen's division. +Communication was then established with the fleet. The capture of +Savannah then only occupied a few days, and involved no great loss of +life. The garrison, however, as we shall see, was enabled to escape by +crossing the river and moving eastward. + +When Sherman had opened communication with the fleet he found there a +steamer, which I had forwarded to him, carrying the accumulated mails +for his army, also supplies which I supposed he would be in need of. +General J. G. Foster, who commanded all the troops south of North +Carolina on the Atlantic sea-board, visited General Sherman before he +had opened communication with the fleet, with the view of ascertaining +what assistance he could be to him. Foster returned immediately to his +own headquarters at Hilton Head, for the purpose of sending Sherman +siege guns, and also if he should find he had them to spare, supplies of +clothing, hard bread, etc., thinking that these articles might not be +found outside. The mail on the steamer which I sent down, had been +collected by Colonel A. H. Markland of the Post Office Department, who +went in charge of it. On this same vessel I sent an officer of my staff +(Lieutenant Dunn) with the following letter to General Sherman: + + +CITY POINT, VA., Dec. 3, 1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Armies near Savannah, Ga. + +The little information gleaned from the Southern press, indicating no +great obstacle to your progress, I have directed your mails (which had +been previously collected at Baltimore by Colonel Markland, Special +Agent of the Post Office Department) to be sent as far as the blockading +squadron off Savannah, to be forwarded to you as soon as heard from on +the coast. + +Not liking to rejoice before the victory is assured, I abstain from +congratulating you and those under your command, until bottom has been +struck. I have never had a fear, however, for the result. + +Since you left Atlanta, no very great progress has been made here. The +enemy has been closely watched though, and prevented from detaching +against you. I think not one man has gone from here, except some twelve +or fifteen hundred dismounted cavalry. Bragg has gone from Wilmington. +I am trying to take advantage of his absence to get possession of that +place. Owing to some preparations Admiral Porter and General Butler are +making to blow up Fort Fisher (which, while hoping for the best, I do +not believe a particle in), there is a delay in getting this expedition +off. I hope they will be ready to start by the 7th, and that Bragg will +not have started back by that time. + +In this letter I do not intend to give you anything like directions for +future action, but will state a general idea I have, and will get your +views after you have established yourself on the sea-coast. With your +veteran army I hope to get control of the only two through routes from +east to west possessed by the enemy before the fall of Atlanta. The +condition will be filled by holding Savannah and Augusta, or by holding +any other port to the east of Savannah and Branchville. If Wilmington +falls, a force from there can co-operate with you. + +Thomas has got back into the defences of Nashville, with Hood close upon +him. Decatur has been abandoned, and so have all the roads except the +main one leading to Chattanooga. Part of this falling back was +undoubtedly necessary and all of it may have been. It did not look so, +however, to me. In my opinion, Thomas far outnumbers Hood in infantry. +In cavalry, Hood has the advantage in morale and numbers. I hope yet +that Hood will be badly crippled if not destroyed. The general news you +will learn from the papers better than I could give it. + +After all becomes quiet, and roads become so bad up here that there is +likely to be a week or two when nothing can be done, I will run down the +coast to see you. If you desire it, I will ask Mrs. Sherman to go with +me. + +Yours truly, U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General + + +I quote this letter because it gives the reader a full knowledge of the +events of that period. + +Sherman now (the 15th) returned to Savannah to complete its investment +and insure the surrender of the garrison. The country about Savannah is +low and marshy, and the city was well intrenched from the river above to +the river below; and assaults could not be made except along a +comparatively narrow causeway. For this reason assaults must have +resulted in serious destruction of life to the Union troops, with the +chance of failing altogether. Sherman therefore decided upon a complete +investment of the place. When he believed this investment completed, he +summoned the garrison to surrender. General Hardee, who was in command, +replied in substance that the condition of affairs was not such as +Sherman had described. He said he was in full communication with his +department and was receiving supplies constantly. + +Hardee, however, was cut off entirely from all communication with the +west side of the river, and by the river itself to the north and south. +On the South Carolina side the country was all rice fields, through +which it would have been impossible to bring supplies so that Hardee had +no possible communication with the outside world except by a dilapidated +plank road starting from the west bank of the river. Sherman, receiving +this reply, proceeded in person to a point on the coast, where General +Foster had troops stationed under General Hatch, for the purpose of +making arrangements with the latter officer to go through by one of the +numerous channels running inland along that part of the coast of South +Carolina, to the plank road which General Hardee still possessed, and +thus to cut him off from the last means he had of getting supplies, if +not of communication. + +While arranging for this movement, and before the attempt to execute the +plan had been commenced, Sherman received information through one of his +staff officers that the enemy had evacuated Savannah the night before. +This was the night of the 21st of December. Before evacuating the place +Hardee had blown up the navy yard. Some iron-clads had been destroyed, +as well as other property that might have been valuable to us; but he +left an immense amount of stores untouched, consisting of cotton, +railroad cars, workshops, numerous pieces of artillery, and several +thousand stands of small arms. + +A little incident occurred, soon after the fall of Savannah, which +Sherman relates in his Memoirs, and which is worthy of repetition. +Savannah was one of the points where blockade runners entered. Shortly +after the city fell into our possession, a blockade runner came sailing +up serenely, not doubting but the Confederates were still in possession. +It was not molested, and the captain did not find out his mistake until +he had tied up and gone to the Custom House, where he found a new +occupant of the building, and made a less profitable disposition of his +vessel and cargo than he had expected. + +As there was some discussion as to the authorship of Sherman's march to +the sea, by critics of his book when it appeared before the public, I +want to state here that no question upon that subject was ever raised +between General Sherman and myself. Circumstances made the plan on which +Sherman expected to act impracticable, as as commander of the forces he +necessarily had to devise a new on which would give more promise of +success: consequently he recommended the destruction of the railroad +back to Chattanooga, and that he should be authorized then to move, as +he did, from Atlanta forward. His suggestions were finally approved, +although they did not immediately find favor in Washington. Even when +it came to the time of starting, the greatest apprehension, as to the +propriety of the campaign he was about commence, filled the mind of the +President, induced no doubt by his advisers. This went so far as to +move the President to ask me to suspend Sherman's march for a day or two +until I could think the matter over. My recollection is, though I find +no record to show it, that out of deference to the President's wish I +did send a dispatch to Sherman asking him to wait a day or two, or else +the connections between us were already cut so that I could not do so. +However this may be, the question of who devised the plan of march from +Atlanta to Savannah is easily answered: it was clearly Sherman, and to +him also belongs the credit of its brilliant execution. It was hardly +possible that any one else than those on the spot could have devised a +new plan of campaign to supersede one that did not promise success. +(*40) + +I was in favor of Sherman's plan from the time it was first submitted to +me. My chief of staff, however, was very bitterly opposed to it and, as +I learned subsequently, finding that he could not move me, he appealed +to the authorities at Washington to stop it. + + + +CHAPTER LX. + +THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN--THE BATTLE OF NASHVILLE. + +As we have seen, Hood succeeded in crossing the Tennessee River between +Muscle Shoals and the lower shoals at the end of October, 1864. Thomas +sent Schofield with the 4th and 23d corps, together with three brigades +of Wilson's cavalry to Pulaski to watch him. On the 17th of November +Hood started and moved in such a manner as to avoid Schofield, thereby +turning his position. Hood had with him three infantry corps, commanded +respectively by Stephen D. Lee, Stewart and Cheatham. These, with his +cavalry, numbered about forty-five thousand men. Schofield had, of all +arms, about thirty thousand. Thomas's orders were, therefore, for +Schofield to watch the movements of the enemy, but not to fight a battle +if he could avoid it; but to fall back in case of an advance on +Nashville, and to fight the enemy, as he fell back, so as to retard the +enemy's movements until he could be reinforced by Thomas himself. As +soon as Schofield saw this movement of Hood's, he sent his trains to the +rear, but did not fall back himself until the 21st, and then only to +Columbia. At Columbia there was a slight skirmish but no battle. From +this place Schofield then retreated to Franklin. He had sent his wagons +in advance, and Stanley had gone with them with two divisions to protect +them. Cheatham's corps of Hood's army pursued the wagon train and went +into camp at Spring Hill, for the night of the 29th. + +Schofield retreating from Columbia on the 29th, passed Spring Hill, +where Cheatham was bivouacked, during the night without molestation, +though within half a mile of where the Confederates were encamped. On +the morning of the 30th he had arrived at Franklin. + +Hood followed closely and reached Franklin in time to make an attack the +same day. The fight was very desperate and sanguinary. The Confederate +generals led their men in the repeated charges, and the loss among them +was of unusual proportions. This fighting continued with great severity +until long after the night closed in, when the Confederates drew off. +General Stanley, who commanded two divisions of the Union troops, and +whose troops bore the brunt of the battle, was wounded in the fight, but +maintained his position. + +The enemy's loss at Franklin, according to Thomas's report, was 1,750 +buried upon the field by our troops, 3,800 in the hospital, and 702 +prisoners besides. Schofield's loss, as officially reported, was 189 +killed, 1,033 wounded, and 1,104 captured and missing. + +Thomas made no effort to reinforce Schofield at Franklin, as it seemed +to me at the time he should have done, and fight out the battle there. +He simply ordered Schofield to continue his retreat to Nashville, which +the latter did during that night and the next day. + +Thomas, in the meantime, was making his preparations to receive Hood. +The road to Chattanooga was still well guarded with strong garrisons at +Murfreesboro, Stevenson, Bridgeport and Chattanooga. Thomas had +previously given up Decatur and had been reinforced by A. J. Smith's two +divisions just returned from Missouri. He also had Steedman's division +and R. S. Granger's, which he had drawn from the front. His +quartermaster's men, about ten thousand in number, had been organized +and armed under the command of the chief quartermaster, General J. L. +Donaldson, and placed in the fortifications under the general +supervision of General Z. B. Tower, of the United States Engineers. + +Hood was allowed to move upon Nashville, and to invest that place almost +without interference. Thomas was strongly fortified in his position, so +that he would have been safe against the attack of Hood. He had troops +enough even to annihilate him in the open field. To me his delay was +unaccountable--sitting there and permitting himself to be invested, so +that, in the end, to raise the siege he would have to fight the enemy +strongly posted behind fortifications. It is true the weather was very +bad. The rain was falling and freezing as it fell, so that the ground +was covered with a sheet of ice, that made it very difficult to move. +But I was afraid that the enemy would find means of moving, elude Thomas +and manage to get north of the Cumberland River. If he did this, I +apprehended most serious results from the campaign in the North, and was +afraid we might even have to send troops from the East to head him off +if he got there, General Thomas's movements being always so deliberate +and so slow, though effective in defence. + +I consequently urged Thomas in frequent dispatches sent from City +Point(*41) to make the attack at once. The country was alarmed, the +administration was alarmed, and I was alarmed lest the very thing would +take place which I have just described that is, Hood would get north. +It was all without avail further than to elicit dispatches from Thomas +saying that he was getting ready to move as soon as he could, that he +was making preparations, etc. At last I had to say to General Thomas +that I should be obliged to remove him unless he acted promptly. He +replied that he was very sorry, but he would move as soon as he could. + +General Logan happening to visit City Point about that time, and knowing +him as a prompt, gallant and efficient officer, I gave him an order to +proceed to Nashville to relieve Thomas. I directed him, however, not to +deliver the order or publish it until he reached there, and if Thomas +had moved, then not to deliver it at all, but communicate with me by +telegraph. After Logan started, in thinking over the situation, I +became restless, and concluded to go myself. I went as far as +Washington City, when a dispatch was received from General Thomas +announcing his readiness at last to move, and designating the time of +his movement. I concluded to wait until that time. He did move, and was +successful from the start. This was on the 15th of December. General +Logan was at Louisville at the time this movement was made, and +telegraphed the fact to Washington, and proceeded no farther himself. + +The battle during the 15th was severe, but favorable to the Union +troops, and continued until night closed in upon the combat. The next +day the battle was renewed. After a successful assault upon Hood's men +in their intrenchments the enemy fled in disorder, routed and broken, +leaving their dead, their artillery and small arms in great numbers on +the field, besides the wounded that were captured. Our cavalry had +fought on foot as infantry, and had not their horses with them; so that +they were not ready to join in the pursuit the moment the enemy +retreated. They sent back, however, for their horses, and endeavored to +get to Franklin ahead of Hood's broken army by the Granny White Road, +but too much time was consumed in getting started. They had got but a +few miles beyond the scene of the battle when they found the enemy's +cavalry dismounted and behind intrenchments covering the road on which +they were advancing. Here another battle ensued, our men dismounting and +fighting on foot, in which the Confederates were again routed and driven +in great disorder. Our cavalry then went into bivouac, and renewed the +pursuit on the following morning. They were too late. The enemy +already had possession of Franklin, and was beyond them. It now became a +chase in which the Confederates had the lead. + +Our troops continued the pursuit to within a few miles of Columbia, +where they found the rebels had destroyed the railroad bridge as well as +all other bridges over Duck River. The heavy rains of a few days before +had swelled the stream into a mad torrent, impassable except on bridges. +Unfortunately, either through a mistake in the wording of the order or +otherwise, the pontoon bridge which was to have been sent by rail out to +Franklin, to be taken thence with the pursuing column, had gone toward +Chattanooga. There was, consequently, a delay of some four days in +building bridges out of the remains of the old railroad bridge. Of +course Hood got such a start in this time that farther pursuit was +useless, although it was continued for some distance, but without coming +upon him again. + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + +EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT FISHER--ATTACK ON THE FORT--FAILURE OF THE +EXPEDITION--SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FORT--CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER. + +Up to January, 1865, the enemy occupied Fort Fisher, at the mouth of +Cape Fear River and below the City of Wilmington. This port was of +immense importance to the Confederates, because it formed their +principal inlet for blockade runners by means of which they brought in +from abroad such supplies and munitions of war as they could not produce +at home. It was equally important to us to get possession of it, not +only because it was desirable to cut off their supplies so as to insure +a speedy termination of the war, but also because foreign governments, +particularly the British Government, were constantly threatening that +unless ours could maintain the blockade of that coast they should cease +to recognize any blockade. For these reasons I determined, with the +concurrence of the Navy Department, in December, to send an expedition +against Fort Fisher for the purpose of capturing it. + +To show the difficulty experienced in maintaining the blockade, I will +mention a circumstance that took place at Fort Fisher after its fall. +Two English blockade runners came in at night. Their commanders, not +supposing the fort had fallen, worked their way through all our fleet +and got into the river unobserved. They then signalled the fort, +announcing their arrival. There was a colored man in the fort who had +been there before and who understood these signals. He informed General +Terry what reply he should make to have them come in, and Terry did as +he advised. The vessels came in, their officers entirely unconscious +that they were falling into the hands of the Union forces. Even after +they were brought in to the fort they were entertained in conversation +for some little time before suspecting that the Union troops were +occupying the fort. They were finally informed that their vessels and +cargoes were prizes. + +I selected General Weitzel, of the Army of the James, to go with the +expedition, but gave instructions through General Butler. He commanded +the department within whose geographical limits Fort Fisher was +situated, as well as Beaufort and other points on that coast held by our +troops; he was, therefore, entitled to the right of fitting out the +expedition against Fort Fisher. + +General Butler conceived the idea that if a steamer loaded heavily with +powder could be run up to near the shore under the fort and exploded, it +would create great havoc and make the capture an easy matter. Admiral +Porter, who was to command the naval squadron, seemed to fall in with +the idea, and it was not disapproved of in Washington; the navy was +therefore given the task of preparing the steamer for this purpose. I +had no confidence in the success of the scheme, and so expressed myself; +but as no serious harm could come of the experiment, and the authorities +at Washington seemed desirous to have it tried, I permitted it. The +steamer was sent to Beaufort, North Carolina, and was there loaded with +powder and prepared for the part she was to play in the reduction of +Fort Fisher. + +General Butler chose to go in command of the expedition himself, and was +all ready to sail by the 9th of December (1864). Very heavy storms +prevailed, however, at that time along that part of the sea-coast, and +prevented him from getting off until the 13th or 14th. His advance +arrived off Fort Fisher on the 15th. The naval force had been already +assembled, or was assembling, but they were obliged to run into Beaufort +for munitions, coal, etc.; then, too, the powder-boat was not yet fully +prepared. The fleet was ready to proceed on the 18th; but Butler, who +had remained outside from the 15th up to that time, now found himself +out of coal, fresh water, etc., and had to put into Beaufort to +replenish. Another storm overtook him, and several days more were lost +before the army and navy were both ready at the same time to co-operate. + +On the night of the 23d the powder-boat was towed in by a gunboat as +near to the fort as it was safe to run. She was then propelled by her +own machinery to within about five hundred yards of the shore. There +the clockwork, which was to explode her within a certain length of time, +was set and she was abandoned. Everybody left, and even the vessels put +out to sea to prevent the effect of the explosion upon them. At two +o'clock in the morning the explosion took place--and produced no more +effect on the fort, or anything else on land, than the bursting of a +boiler anywhere on the Atlantic Ocean would have done. Indeed when the +troops in Fort Fisher heard the explosion they supposed it was the +bursting of a boiler in one of the Yankee gunboats. + +Fort Fisher was situated upon a low, flat peninsula north of Cape Fear +River. The soil is sandy. Back a little the peninsula is very heavily +wooded, and covered with fresh-water swamps. The fort ran across this +peninsula, about five hundred yards in width, and extended along the sea +coast about thirteen hundred yards. The fort had an armament of 21 guns +and 3 mortars on the land side, and 24 guns on the sea front. At that +time it was only garrisoned by four companies of infantry, one light +battery and the gunners at the heavy guns less than seven hundred men +with a reserve of less than a thousand men five miles up the peninsula. +General Whiting of the Confederate army was in command, and General +Bragg was in command of the force at Wilmington. Both commenced calling +for reinforcements the moment they saw our troops landing. The Governor +of North Carolina called for everybody who could stand behind a parapet +and shoot a gun, to join them. In this way they got two or three +hundred additional men into Fort Fisher; and Hoke's division, five or +six thousand strong, was sent down from Richmond. A few of these troops +arrived the very day that Butler was ready to advance. + +On the 24th the fleet formed for an attack in arcs of concentric +circles, their heavy iron-clads going in very close range, being nearest +the shore, and leaving intervals or spaces so that the outer vessels +could fire between them. Porter was thus enabled to throw one hundred +and fifteen shells per minute. The damage done to the fort by these +shells was very slight, only two or three cannon being disabled in the +fort. But the firing silenced all the guns by making it too hot for the +men to maintain their positions about them and compelling them to seek +shelter in the bomb-proofs. + +On the next day part of Butler's troops under General Adelbert Ames +effected a landing out of range of the fort without difficulty. This +was accomplished under the protection of gunboats sent for the purpose, +and under cover of a renewed attack upon the fort by the fleet. They +formed a line across the peninsula and advanced, part going north and +part toward the fort, covering themselves as they did so. Curtis pushed +forward and came near to Fort Fisher, capturing the small garrison at +what was called the Flag Pond Battery. Weitzel accompanied him to +within a half a mile of the works. Here he saw that the fort had not +been injured, and so reported to Butler, advising against an assault. +Ames, who had gone north in his advance, captured 228 of the reserves. +These prisoners reported to Butler that sixteen hundred of Hoke's +division of six thousand from Richmond had already arrived and the rest +would soon be in his rear. + +Upon these reports Butler determined to withdraw his troops from the +peninsula and return to the fleet. At that time there had not been a +man on our side injured except by one of the shells from the fleet. +Curtis had got within a few yards of the works. Some of his men had +snatched a flag from the parapet of the fort, and others had taken a +horse from the inside of the stockade. At night Butler informed Porter +of his withdrawal, giving the reasons above stated, and announced his +purpose as soon as his men could embark to start for Hampton Roads. +Porter represented to him that he had sent to Beaufort for more +ammunition. He could fire much faster than he had been doing, and would +keep the enemy from showing himself until our men were within twenty +yards of the fort, and he begged that Butler would leave some brave +fellows like those who had snatched the flag from the parapet and taken +the horse from the fort. + +Butler was unchangeable. He got all his troops aboard, except Curtis's +brigade, and started back. In doing this, Butler made a fearful +mistake. My instructions to him, or to the officer who went in command +of the expedition, were explicit in the statement that to effect a +landing would be of itself a great victory, and if one should be +effected, the foothold must not be relinquished; on the contrary, a +regular siege of the fort must be commenced and, to guard against +interference by reason of storms, supplies of provisions must be laid in +as soon as they could be got on shore. But General Butler seems to have +lost sight of this part of his instructions, and was back at Fort Monroe +on the 28th. + +I telegraphed to the President as follows: + + +CITY POINT, VA., Dec. 28, 1864.--8.30 P.M. + +The Wilmington expedition has proven a gross and culpable failure. Many +of the troops are back here. Delays and free talk of the object of the +expedition enabled the enemy to move troops to Wilmington to defeat it. +After the expedition sailed from Fort Monroe, three days of fine weather +were squandered, during which the enemy was without a force to protect +himself. Who is to blame will, I hope, be known. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +Porter sent dispatches to the Navy Department in which he complained +bitterly of having been abandoned by the army just when the fort was +nearly in our possession, and begged that our troops might be sent back +again to cooperate, but with a different commander. As soon as I heard +this I sent a messenger to Porter with a letter asking him to hold on. +I assured him that I fully sympathized with him in his disappointment, +and that I would send the same troops back with a different commander, +with some reinforcements to offset those which the enemy had received. +I told him it would take some little time to get transportation for the +additional troops; but as soon as it could be had the men should be on +their way to him, and there would be no delay on my part. I selected A. +H. Terry to command. + +It was the 6th of January before the transports could be got ready and +the troops aboard. They sailed from Fortress Monroe on that day. The +object and destination of the second expedition were at the time kept a +secret to all except a few in the Navy Department and in the army to +whom it was necessary to impart the information. General Terry had not +the slightest idea of where he was going or what he was to do. He +simply knew that he was going to sea and that he had his orders with +him, which were to be opened when out at sea. + +He was instructed to communicate freely with Porter and have entire +harmony between army and navy, because the work before them would +require the best efforts of both arms of service. They arrived off +Beaufort on the 8th. A heavy storm, however, prevented a landing at +Forth Fisher until the 13th. The navy prepared itself for attack about +as before, and the same time assisted the army in landing, this time +five miles away. Only iron-clads fired at first; the object being to +draw the fire of the enemy's guns so as to ascertain their positions. +This object being accomplished, they then let in their shots thick and +fast. Very soon the guns were all silenced, and the fort showed evident +signs of being much injured. + +Terry deployed his men across the peninsula as had been done before, and +at two o'clock on the following morning was up within two miles of the +fort with a respectable abatis in front of his line. His artillery was +all landed on that day, the 14th. Again Curtis's brigade of Ame's +division had the lead. By noon they had carried an unfinished work less +than a half mile from the fort, and turned it so as to face the other +way. + +Terry now saw Porter and arranged for an assault on the following day. +The two commanders arranged their signals so that they could communicate +with each other from time to time as they might have occasion. At day +light the fleet commenced its firing. The time agreed upon for the +assault was the middle of the afternoon, and Ames who commanded the +assaulting column moved at 3.30. Porter landed a force of sailors and +marines to move against the sea-front in co-operation with Ames's +assault. They were under Commander Breese of the navy. These sailors +and marines had worked their way up to within a couple of hundred yards +of the fort before the assault. The signal was given and the assault +was made; but the poor sailors and marines were repulsed and very badly +handled by the enemy, losing 280 killed and wounded out of their number. + +Curtis's brigade charged successfully though met by a heavy fire, some +of the men having to wade through the swamp up to their waists to reach +the fort. Many were wounded, of course, and some killed; but they soon +reached the palisades. These they cut away, and pushed on through. The +other troops then came up, Pennypacker's following Curtis, and Bell, who +commanded the 3d brigade of Ames's division, following Pennypacker. But +the fort was not yet captured though the parapet was gained. + +The works were very extensive. The large parapet around the work would +have been but very little protection to those inside except when they +were close up under it. Traverses had, therefore, been run until really +the work was a succession of small forts enclosed by a large one. The +rebels made a desperate effort to hold the fort, and had to be driven +from these traverses one by one. The fight continued till long after +night. Our troops gained first one traverse and then another, and by 10 +o'clock at night the place was carried. During this engagement the +sailors, who had been repulsed in their assault on the bastion, rendered +the best service they could by reinforcing Terry's northern line--thus +enabling him to send a detachment to the assistance of Ames. The fleet +kept up a continuous fire upon that part of the fort which was still +occupied by the enemy. By means of signals they could be informed where +to direct their shots. + +During the succeeding nights the enemy blew up Fort Caswell on the +opposite side of Cape Fear River, and abandoned two extensive works on +Smith's Island in the river. + +Our captures in all amounted to 169 guns, besides small-arms, with full +supplies of ammunition, and 2,083 prisoners. In addition to these, +there were about 700 dead and wounded left there. We had lost 110 +killed and 536 wounded. + +In this assault on Fort Fisher, Bell, one of the brigade commanders, was +killed, and two, Curtis and Pennypacker, were badly wounded. + +Secretary Stanton, who was on his way back from Savannah, arrived off +Fort Fisher soon after it fell. When he heard the good news he promoted +all the officers of any considerable rank for their conspicuous +gallantry. Terry had been nominated for major-general, but had not been +confirmed. This confirmed him; and soon after I recommended him for a +brigadier-generalcy in the regular army, and it was given to him for +this victory. + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + +SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH--SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG--CANBY ORDERED TO +MOVE AGAINST MOBILE--MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND THOMAS--CAPTURE OF +COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA--SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS. + +When news of Sherman being in possession of Savannah reached the North, +distinguished statesmen and visitors began to pour in to see him. Among +others who went was the Secretary of War, who seemed much pleased at the +result of his campaign. Mr. Draper, the collector of customs of New +York, who was with Mr. Stanton's party, was put in charge of the public +property that had been abandoned and captured. Savannah was then turned +over to General Foster's command to hold, so that Sherman might have his +own entire army free to operate as might be decided upon in the future. +I sent the chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac (General Barnard) +with letters to General Sherman. He remained some time with the +general, and when he returned brought back letters, one of which +contained suggestions from Sherman as to what ought to be done in +co-operation with him, when he should have started upon his march +northward. + +I must not neglect to state here the fact that I had no idea originally +of having Sherman march from Savannah to Richmond, or even to North +Carolina. The season was bad, the roads impassable for anything except +such an army as he had, and I should not have thought of ordering such a +move. I had, therefore, made preparations to collect transports to +carry Sherman and his army around to the James River by water, and so +informed him. On receiving this letter he went to work immediately to +prepare for the move, but seeing that it would require a long time to +collect the transports, he suggested the idea then of marching up north +through the Carolinas. I was only too happy to approve this; for if +successful, it promised every advantage. His march through Georgia had +thoroughly destroyed all lines of transportation in that State, and had +completely cut the enemy off from all sources of supply to the west of +it. If North and South Carolina were rendered helpless so far as +capacity for feeding Lee's army was concerned, the Confederate garrison +at Richmond would be reduced in territory, from which to draw supplies, +to very narrow limits in the State of Virginia; and, although that +section of the country was fertile, it was already well exhausted of +both forage and food. I approved Sherman's suggestion therefore at +once. + +The work of preparation was tedious, because supplies, to load the +wagons for the march, had to be brought from a long distance. Sherman +would now have to march through a country furnishing fewer provisions +than that he had previously been operating in during his march to the +sea. Besides, he was confronting, or marching toward, a force of the +enemy vastly superior to any his troops had encountered on their +previous march; and the territory through which he had to pass had now +become of such vast importance to the very existence of the Confederate +army, that the most desperate efforts were to be expected in order to +save it. + +Sherman, therefore, while collecting the necessary supplies to start +with, made arrangements with Admiral Dahlgren, who commanded that part +of the navy on the South Carolina and Georgia coast, and General Foster, +commanding the troops, to take positions, and hold a few points on the +sea coast, which he (Sherman) designated, in the neighborhood of +Charleston. + +This provision was made to enable him to fall back upon the sea coast, +in case he should encounter a force sufficient to stop his onward +progress. He also wrote me a letter, making suggestions as to what he +would like to have done in support of his movement farther north. This +letter was brought to City Point by General Barnard at a time when I +happened to be going to Washington City, where I arrived on the 21st of +January. I cannot tell the provision I had already made to co-operate +with Sherman, in anticipation of his expected movement, better than by +giving my reply to this letter. + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 21, +1865. + +MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Mill Div. of the Mississippi. + +GENERAL:--Your letters brought by General Barnard were received at City +Point, and read with interest. Not having them with me, however, I +cannot say that in this I will be able to satisfy you on all points of +recommendation. As I arrived here at one P.M., and must leave at six +P.M., having in the meantime spent over three hours with the Secretary +and General Halleck, I must be brief. Before your last request to have +Thomas make a campaign into the heart of Alabama, I had ordered +Schofield to Annapolis, Md., with his corps. The advance (six thousand) +will reach the seaboard by the 23d, the remainder following as rapidly +as railroad transportation can be procured from Cincinnati. The corps +numbers over twenty-one thousand men. I was induced to do this because +I did not believe Thomas could possibly be got off before spring. His +pursuit of Hood indicated a sluggishness that satisfied me that he would +never do to conduct one of your campaigns. The command of the advance +of the pursuit was left to subordinates, whilst Thomas followed far +behind. When Hood had crossed the Tennessee, and those in pursuit had +reached it, Thomas had not much more than half crossed the State, from +whence he returned to Nashville to take steamer for Eastport. He is +possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness and honesty, but he is +not good on a pursuit. He also reported his troops fagged, and that it +was necessary to equip up. This report and a determination to give the +enemy no rest determined me to use his surplus troops elsewhere. + +Thomas is still left with a sufficient force surplus to go to Selma +under an energetic leader. He has been telegraphed to, to know whether +he could go, and, if so, which of the several routes he would select. +No reply is yet received. Canby has been ordered to act offensively +from the sea-coast to the interior, towards Montgomery and Selma. +Thomas's forces will move from the north at an early day, or some of his +troops will be sent to Canby. Without further reinforcements Canby will +have a moving column of twenty thousand men. + +Fort Fisher, you are aware, has been captured. We have a force there of +eight thousand effective. At New Bern about half the number. It is +rumored, through deserters, that Wilmington also has fallen. I am +inclined to believe the rumor, because on the 17th we knew the enemy +were blowing up their works about Fort Caswell, and that on the 18th +Terry moved on Wilmington. + +If Wilmington is captured, Schofield will go there. If not, he will be +sent to New Bern. In either event, all the surplus forces at the two +points will move to the interior toward Goldsboro' in co-operation with +your movements. From either point, railroad communications can be run +out, there being here abundance of rolling-stock suited to the gauge of +those roads. + +There have been about sixteen thousand men sent from Lee's army south. +Of these, you will have fourteen thousand against you, if Wilmington is +not held by the enemy, casualties at Fort Fisher having overtaken about +two thousand. + +All these troops are subject to your orders as you come in communication +with them. They will be so instructed. From about Richmond I will +watch Lee closely, and if he detaches much more, or attempts to +evacuate, will pitch in. In the meantime, should you be brought to a +halt anywhere, I can send two corps of thirty thousand effective men to +your support, from the troops about Richmond. + +To resume: Canby is ordered to operate to the interior from the Gulf. +A. J. Smith may go from the north, but I think it doubtful. A force of +twenty-eight or thirty thousand will co-operate with you from New Bern +or Wilmington, or both. You can call for reinforcements. + +This will be handed you by Captain Hudson, of my staff, who will return +with any message you may have for me. If there is anything I can do for +you in the way of having supplies on ship-board, at any point on the +sea-coast, ready for you, let me know it. + +Yours truly, U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +I had written on the 18th of January to General Sherman, giving him the +news of the battle of Nashville. He was much pleased at the result, +although, like myself, he had been very much disappointed at Thomas for +permitting Hood to cross the Tennessee River and nearly the whole State +of Tennessee, and come to Nashville to be attacked there. He, however, +as I had done, sent Thomas a warm congratulatory letter. + +On the 10th of January, 1865, the resolutions of thanks to Sherman and +his army passed by Congress were approved. + +Sherman, after the capture, at once had the debris cleared up, +commencing the work by removing the piling and torpedoes from the river, +and taking up all obstructions. He had then intrenched the city, so +that it could be held by a small garrison. By the middle of January all +his work was done, except the accumulation of supplies to commence his +movement with. + +He proposed to move in two columns, one from Savannah, going along by +the river of the same name, and the other by roads farther east, +threatening Charleston. He commenced the advance by moving his right +wing to Beaufort, South Carolina, then to Pocotaligo by water. This +column, in moving north, threatened Charleston, and, indeed, it was not +determined at first that they would have a force visit Charleston. +South Carolina had done so much to prepare the public mind of the South +for secession, and had been so active in precipitating the decision of +the question before the South was fully prepared to meet it, that there +was, at that time, a feeling throughout the North and also largely +entertained by people of the South, that the State of South Carolina, +and Charleston, the hot-bed of secession in particular, ought to have a +heavy hand laid upon them. In fact, nothing but the decisive results +that followed, deterred the radical portion of the people from +condemning the movement, because Charleston had been left out. To pass +into the interior would, however, be to insure the evacuation of the +city, and its possession by the navy and Foster's troops. It is so +situated between two formidable rivers that a small garrison could have +held it against all odds as long as their supplies would hold out. +Sherman therefore passed it by. + +By the first of February all preparations were completed for the final +march, Columbia, South Carolina, being the first objective; +Fayetteville, North Carolina, the second; and Goldsboro, or +neighborhood, the final one, unless something further should be +determined upon. The right wing went from Pocotaligo, and the left from +about Hardeeville on the Savannah River, both columns taking a pretty +direct route for Columbia. The cavalry, however, were to threaten +Charleston on the right, and Augusta on the left. + +On the 15th of January Fort Fisher had fallen, news of which Sherman had +received before starting out on his march. We already had New Bern and +had soon Wilmington, whose fall followed that of Fort Fisher; as did +other points on the sea coast, where the National troops were now in +readiness to co-operate with Sherman's advance when he had passed +Fayetteville. + +On the 18th of January I ordered Canby, in command at New Orleans, to +move against Mobile, Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, for the purpose of +destroying roads, machine shops, etc. On the 8th of February I ordered +Sheridan, who was in the Valley of Virginia, to push forward as soon as +the weather would permit and strike the canal west of Richmond at or +about Lynchburg; and on the 20th I made the order to go to Lynchburg as +soon as the roads would permit, saying: "As soon as it is possible to +travel, I think you will have no difficulty about reaching Lynchburg +with a cavalry force alone. From there you could destroy the railroad +and canal in every direction, so as to be of no further use to the +rebellion. * * * This additional raid, with one starting from East +Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering about four or five thousand cavalry; +one from Eastport, Mississippi, ten thousand cavalry; Canby, from Mobile +Bay, with about eighteen thousand mixed troops--these three latter +pushing for Tuscaloosa, Selma and Montgomery; and Sherman with a large +army eating out the vitals of South Carolina--is all that will be wanted +to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon. I would advise you to +overcome great obstacles to accomplish this. Charleston was evacuated +on Tuesday last." + +On the 27th of February, more than a month after Canby had received his +orders, I again wrote to him, saying that I was extremely anxious to +hear of his being in Alabama. I notified him, also, that I had sent +Grierson to take command of his cavalry, he being a very efficient +officer. I further suggested that Forrest was probably in Mississippi, +and if he was there, he would find him an officer of great courage and +capacity whom it would be difficult to get by. I still further informed +him that Thomas had been ordered to start a cavalry force into +Mississippi on the 20th of February, or as soon as possible thereafter. +This force did not get off however. + +All these movements were designed to be in support of Sherman's march, +the object being to keep the Confederate troops in the West from leaving +there. But neither Canby nor Thomas could be got off in time. I had +some time before depleted Thomas's army to reinforce Canby, for the +reason that Thomas had failed to start an expedition which he had been +ordered to send out, and to have the troops where they might do +something. Canby seemed to be equally deliberate in all of his +movements. I ordered him to go in person; but he prepared to send a +detachment under another officer. General Granger had got down to New +Orleans, in some way or other, and I wrote Canby that he must not put +him in command of troops. In spite of this he asked the War Department +to assign Granger to the command of a corps. + +Almost in despair of having adequate service rendered to the cause in +that quarter, I said to Canby: "I am in receipt of a dispatch * * * +informing me that you have made requisitions for a construction corps +and material to build seventy miles of railroad. I have directed that +none be sent. Thomas's army has been depleted to send a force to you +that they might be where they could act in winter, and at least detain +the force the enemy had in the West. If there had been any idea of +repairing railroads, it could have been done much better from the North, +where we already had the troops. I expected your movements to be +co-operative with Sherman's last. This has now entirely failed. I +wrote to you long ago, urging you to push promptly and to live upon the +country, and destroy railroads, machine shops, etc., not to build them. +Take Mobile and hold it, and push your forces to the interior--to +Montgomery and to Selma. Destroy railroads, rolling stock, and +everything useful for carrying on war, and, when you have done this, +take such positions as can be supplied by water. By this means alone +you can occupy positions from which the enemy's roads in the interior +can be kept broken." + +Most of these expeditions got off finally, but too late to render any +service in the direction for which they were designed. + +The enemy, ready to intercept his advance, consisted of Hardee's troops +and Wheeler's cavalry, perhaps less than fifteen thousand men in all; +but frantic efforts were being made in Richmond, as I was sure would be +the case, to retard Sherman's movements. Everything possible was being +done to raise troops in the South. Lee dispatched against Sherman the +troops which had been sent to relieve Fort Fisher, which, including +those of the other defences of the harbor and its neighborhood, +amounted, after deducting the two thousand killed, wounded and captured, +to fourteen thousand men. After Thomas's victory at Nashville what +remained, of Hood's army were gathered together and forwarded as rapidly +as possible to the east to co-operate with these forces; and, finally, +General Joseph E. Johnston, one of the ablest commanders of the South +though not in favor with the administration (or at least with Mr. +Davis), was put in command of all the troops in North and South +Carolina. + +Schofield arrived at Annapolis in the latter part of January, but before +sending his troops to North Carolina I went with him down the coast to +see the situation of affairs, as I could give fuller directions after +being on the ground than I could very well have given without. We soon +returned, and the troops were sent by sea to Cape Fear River. Both New +Bern and Wilmington are connected with Raleigh by railroads which unite +at Goldsboro. Schofield was to land troops at Smithville, near the +mouth of the Cape Fear River on the west side, and move up to secure the +Wilmington and Charlotteville Railroad. This column took their pontoon +bridges with them, to enable them to cross over to the island south of +the city of Wilmington. A large body was sent by the north side to +co-operate with them. They succeeded in taking the city on the 22d of +February. I took the precaution to provide for Sherman's army, in case +he should be forced to turn in toward the sea coast before reaching +North Carolina, by forwarding supplies to every place where he was +liable to have to make such a deflection from his projected march. I +also sent railroad rolling stock, of which we had a great abundance, now +that we were not operating the roads in Virginia. The gauge of the +North Carolina railroads being the same as the Virginia railroads had +been altered too; these cars and locomotives were ready for use there +without any change. + +On the 31st of January I countermanded the orders given to Thomas to +move south to Alabama and Georgia. (I had previously reduced his force +by sending a portion of it to Terry.) I directed in lieu of this +movement, that he should send Stoneman through East Tennessee, and push +him well down toward Columbia, South Carolina, in support of Sherman. +Thomas did not get Stoneman off in time, but, on the contrary, when I +had supposed he was on his march in support of Sherman I heard of his +being in Louisville, Kentucky. I immediately changed the order, and +directed Thomas to send him toward Lynchburg. Finally, however, on the +12th of March, he did push down through the north-western end of South +Carolina, creating some consternation. I also ordered Thomas to send +the 4th corps (Stanley's) to Bull Gap and to destroy no more roads east +of that. I also directed him to concentrate supplies at Knoxville, with +a view to a probable movement of his army through that way toward +Lynchburg. + +Goldsboro is four hundred and twenty-five miles from Savannah. Sherman's +march was without much incident until he entered Columbia, on the 17th +of February. He was detained in his progress by having to repair and +corduroy the roads, and rebuild the bridges. There was constant +skirmishing and fighting between the cavalry of the two armies, but this +did not retard the advance of the infantry. Four days, also, were lost +in making complete the destruction of the most important railroads south +of Columbia; there was also some delay caused by the high water, and the +destruction of the bridges on the line of the road. A formidable river +had to be crossed near Columbia, and that in the face of a small +garrison under General Wade Hampton. There was but little delay, +however, further than that caused by high water in the stream. Hampton +left as Sherman approached, and the city was found to be on fire. + +There has since been a great deal of acrimony displayed in discussions +of the question as to who set Columbia on fire. Sherman denies it on the +part of his troops, and Hampton denies it on the part of the +Confederates. One thing is certain: as soon as our troops took +possession, they at once proceeded to extinguish the flames to the best +of their ability with the limited means at hand. In any case, the +example set by the Confederates in burning the village of Chambersburg, +Pa., a town which was not garrisoned, would seem to make a defence of +the act of firing the seat of government of the State most responsible +for the conflict then raging, not imperative. + +The Confederate troops having vacated the city, the mayor took +possession, and sallied forth to meet the commander of the National +forces for the purpose of surrendering the town, making terms for the +protection of property, etc. Sherman paid no attention at all to the +overture, but pushed forward and took the town without making any +conditions whatever with its citizens. He then, however, co-operated +with the mayor in extinguishing the flames and providing for the people +who were rendered destitute by this destruction of their homes. When he +left there he even gave the mayor five hundred head of cattle to be +distributed among the citizens, to tide them over until some arrangement +could be made for their future supplies. He remained in Columbia until +the roads, public buildings, workshops and everything that could be +useful to the enemy were destroyed. While at Columbia, Sherman learned +for the first time that what remained of Hood's army was confronting +him, under the command of General Beauregard. + +Charleston was evacuated on the 18th of February, and Foster garrisoned +the place. Wilmington was captured on the 22d. Columbia and Cheraw +farther north, were regarded as so secure from invasion that the wealthy +people of Charleston and Augusta had sent much of their valuable +property to these two points to be stored. Among the goods sent there +were valuable carpets, tons of old Madeira, silverware, and furniture. +I am afraid much of these goods fell into the hands of our troops. +There was found at Columbia a large amount of powder, some artillery, +small-arms and fixed ammunition. These, of course were among the +articles destroyed. While here, Sherman also learned of Johnston's +restoration to command. The latter was given, as already stated, all +troops in North and South Carolina. After the completion of the +destruction of public property about Columbia, Sherman proceeded on his +march and reached Cheraw without any special opposition and without +incident to relate. The railroads, of course, were thoroughly destroyed +on the way. Sherman remained a day or two at Cheraw; and, finally, on +the 6th of March crossed his troops over the Pedee and advanced straight +for Fayetteville. Hardee and Hampton were there, and barely escaped. +Sherman reached Fayetteville on the 11th of March. He had dispatched +scouts from Cheraw with letters to General Terry, at Wilmington, asking +him to send a steamer with some supplies of bread, clothing and other +articles which he enumerated. The scouts got through successfully, and +a boat was sent with the mail and such articles for which Sherman had +asked as were in store at Wilmington; unfortunately, however, those +stores did not contain clothing. + +Four days later, on the 15th, Sherman left Fayetteville for Goldsboro. +The march, now, had to be made with great caution, for he was +approaching Lee's army and nearing the country that still remained open +to the enemy. Besides, he was confronting all that he had had to +confront in his previous march up to that point, reinforced by the +garrisons along the road and by what remained of Hood's army. Frantic +appeals were made to the people to come in voluntarily and swell the +ranks of our foe. I presume, however, that Johnston did not have in all +over 35,000 or 40,000 men. The people had grown tired of the war, and +desertions from the Confederate army were much more numerous than the +voluntary accessions. + +There was some fighting at Averysboro on the 16th between Johnston's +troops and Sherman's, with some loss; and at Bentonville on the 19th and +21st of March, but Johnston withdrew from the contest before the morning +of the 22d. Sherman's loss in these last engagements in killed, +wounded, and missing, was about sixteen hundred. Sherman's troops at +last reached Goldsboro on the 23d of the month and went into bivouac; +and there his men were destined to have a long rest. Schofield was +there to meet him with the troops which had been sent to Wilmington. + +Sherman was no longer in danger. He had Johnston confronting him; but +with an army much inferior to his own, both in numbers and morale. He +had Lee to the north of him with a force largely superior; but I was +holding Lee with a still greater force, and had he made his escape and +gotten down to reinforce Johnston, Sherman, with the reinforcements he +now had from Schofield and Terry, would have been able to hold the +Confederates at bay for an indefinite period. He was near the sea-shore +with his back to it, and our navy occupied the harbors. He had a +railroad to both Wilmington and New Bern, and his flanks were thoroughly +protected by streams, which intersect that part of the country and +deepen as they approach the sea. Then, too, Sherman knew that if Lee +should escape me I would be on his heels, and he and Johnson together +would be crushed in one blow if they attempted to make a stand. With +the loss of their capital, it is doubtful whether Lee's army would have +amounted to much as an army when it reached North Carolina. Johnston's +army was demoralized by constant defeat and would hardly have made an +offensive movement, even if they could have been induced to remain on +duty. The men of both Lee's and Johnston's armies were, like their +brethren of the North, as brave as men can be; but no man is so brave +that he may not meet such defeats and disasters as to discourage him and +dampen his ardor for any cause, no matter how just he deems it. + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + +ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS--LINCOLN AND THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS +--AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN--THE WINTER BEFORE PETERSBURG--SHERIDAN DESTROYS +THE RAILROAD--GORDON CARRIES THE PICKET LINE--PARKE RECAPTURES THE LINE +--THE LINE OF BATTLE OF WHITE OAK ROAD. + +On the last of January, 1865, peace commissioners from the so-called +Confederate States presented themselves on our lines around Petersburg, +and were immediately conducted to my headquarters at City Point. They +proved to be Alexander H. Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy, +Judge Campbell, Assistant-Secretary of War, and R. M. T. Hunt, formerly +United States Senator and then a member of the Confederate Senate. + +It was about dark when they reached my headquarters, and I at once +conducted them to the steam Mary Martin, a Hudson River boat which was +very comfortably fitted up for the use of passengers. I at once +communicated by telegraph with Washington and informed the Secretary of +War and the President of the arrival of these commissioners and that +their object was to negotiate terms of peace between he United States +and, as they termed it, the Confederate Government. I was instructed to +retain them at City Point, until the President, or some one whom he +would designate, should come to meet them. They remained several days +as guests on board the boat. I saw them quite frequently, though I have +no recollection of having had any conversation whatever with them on the +subject of their mission. It was something I had nothing to do with, +and I therefore did not wish to express any views on the subject. For +my own part I never had admitted, and never was ready to admit, that +they were the representatives of a GOVERNMENT. There had been too great +a waste of blood and treasure to concede anything of the kind. As long +as they remained there, however, our relations were pleasant and I found +them all very agreeable gentlemen. I directed the captain to furnish +them with the best the boat afforded, and to administer to their comfort +in every way possible. No guard was placed over them and no restriction +was put upon their movements; nor was there any pledge asked that they +would not abuse the privileges extended to them. They were permitted to +leave the boat when they felt like it, and did so, coming up on the bank +and visiting me at my headquarters. + +I had never met either of these gentlemen before the war, but knew them +well by reputation and through their public services, and I had been a +particular admirer of Mr. Stephens. I had always supposed that he was a +very small man, but when I saw him in the dusk of the evening I was very +much surprised to find so large a man as he seemed to be. When he got +down on to the boat I found that he was wearing a coarse gray woollen +overcoat, a manufacture that had been introduced into the South during +the rebellion. The cloth was thicker than anything of the kind I had +ever seen, even in Canada. The overcoat extended nearly to his feet, +and was so large that it gave him the appearance of being an +average-sized man. He took this off when he reached the cabin of the +boat, and I was struck with the apparent change in size, in the coat and +out of it. + +After a few days, about the 2d of February, I received a dispatch from +Washington, directing me to send the commissioners to Hampton Roads to +meet the President and a member of the cabinet. Mr. Lincoln met them +there and had an interview of short duration. It was not a great while +after they met that the President visited me at City Point. He spoke of +his having met the commissioners, and said he had told them that there +would be no use in entering into any negotiations unless they would +recognize, first: that the Union as a whole must be forever preserved, +and second: that slavery must be abolished. If they were willing to +concede these two points, then he was ready to enter into negotiations +and was almost willing to hand them a blank sheet of paper with his +signature attached for them to fill in the terms upon which they were +willing to live with us in the Union and be one people. He always +showed a generous and kindly spirit toward the Southern people, and I +never heard him abuse an enemy. Some of the cruel things said about +President Lincoln, particularly in the North, used to pierce him to the +heart; but never in my presence did he evince a revengeful disposition +and I saw a great deal of him at City Point, for he seemed glad to get +away from the cares and anxieties of the capital. + +Right here I might relate an anecdote of Mr. Lincoln. It was on the +occasion of his visit to me just after he had talked with the peace +commissioners at Hampton Roads. After a little conversation, he asked +me if I had seen that overcoat of Stephens's. I replied that I had. +"Well," said he, "did you see him take it off?" I said yes. "Well," +said he, "didn't you think it was the biggest shuck and the littlest ear +that ever you did see?" Long afterwards I told this story to the +Confederate General J. B. Gordon, at the time a member of the Senate. +He repeated it to Stephens, and, as I heard afterwards, Stephens laughed +immoderately at the simile of Mr. Lincoln. + +The rest of the winter, after the departure of the peace commissioners, +passed off quietly and uneventfully, except for two or three little +incidents. On one occasion during this period, while I was visiting +Washington City for the purpose of conferring with the administration, +the enemy's cavalry under General Wade Hampton, passing our extreme left +and then going to the south, got in east of us. Before their presence +was known, they had driven off a large number of beef cattle that were +grazing in that section. It was a fair capture, and they were +sufficiently needed by the Confederates. It was only retaliating for +what we had done, sometimes for many weeks at a time, when out of +supplies taking what the Confederate army otherwise would have gotten. +As appears in this book, on one single occasion we captured five +thousand head of cattle which were crossing the Mississippi River near +Port Hudson on their way from Texas to supply the Confederate army in +the East. + +One of the most anxious periods of my experience during the rebellion +was the last few weeks before Petersburg. I felt that the situation of +the Confederate army was such that they would try to make an escape at +the earliest practicable moment, and I was afraid, every morning, that I +would awake from my sleep to hear that Lee had gone, and that nothing +was left but a picket line. He had his railroad by the way of Danville +south, and I was afraid that he was running off his men and all stores +and ordnance except such as it would be necessary to carry with him for +his immediate defence. I knew he could move much more lightly and more +rapidly than I, and that, if he got the start, he would leave me behind +so that we would have the same army to fight again farther south and the +war might be prolonged another year. + +I was led to this fear by the fact that I could not see how it was +possible for the Confederates to hold out much longer where they were. +There is no doubt that Richmond would have been evacuated much sooner +than it was, if it had not been that it was the capital of the so-called +Confederacy, and the fact of evacuating the capital would, of course, +have had a very demoralizing effect upon the Confederate army. When it +was evacuated (as we shall see further on), the Confederacy at once +began to crumble and fade away. Then, too, desertions were taking +place, not only among those who were with General Lee in the +neighborhood of their capital, but throughout the whole Confederacy. I +remember that in a conversation with me on one occasion long prior to +this, General Butler remarked that the Confederates would find great +difficulty in getting more men for their army; possibly adding, though I +am not certain as to this, "unless they should arm the slave." + +The South, as we all knew, were conscripting every able-bodied man +between the ages of eighteen and forty-five; and now they had passed a +law for the further conscription of boys from fourteen to eighteen, +calling them the junior reserves, and men from forty-five to sixty to be +called the senior reserves. The latter were to hold the necessary +points not in immediate danger, and especially those in the rear. +General Butler, in alluding to this conscription, remarked that they +were thus "robbing both the cradle and the grave," an expression which I +afterwards used in writing a letter to Mr. Washburn. + +It was my belief that while the enemy could get no more recruits they +were losing at least a regiment a day, taking it throughout the entire +army, by desertions alone. Then by casualties of war, sickness, and +other natural causes, their losses were much heavier. It was a mere +question of arithmetic to calculate how long they could hold out while +that rate of depletion was going on. Of course long before their army +would be thus reduced to nothing the army which we had in the field +would have been able to capture theirs. Then too I knew from the great +number of desertions, that the men who had fought so bravely, so +gallantly and so long for the cause which they believed in--and as +earnestly, I take it, as our men believed in the cause for which they +were fighting--had lost hope and become despondent. Many of them were +making application to be sent North where they might get employment +until the war was over, when they could return to their Southern homes. + +For these and other reasons I was naturally very impatient for the time +to come when I could commence the spring campaign, which I thoroughly +believed would close the war. + +There were two considerations I had to observe, however, and which +detained me. One was the fact that the winter had been one of heavy +rains, and the roads were impassable for artillery and teams. It was +necessary to wait until they had dried sufficiently to enable us to move +the wagon trains and artillery necessary to the efficiency of an army +operating in the enemy's country. The other consideration was that +General Sheridan with the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac was +operating on the north side of the James River, having come down from +the Shenandoah. It was necessary that I should have his cavalry with me, +and I was therefore obliged to wait until he could join me south of the +James River. + +Let us now take account of what he was doing. + +On the 5th of March I had heard from Sheridan. He had met Early between +Staunton and Charlottesville and defeated him, capturing nearly his +entire command. Early and some of his officers escaped by finding +refuge in the neighboring houses or in the woods. + +On the 12th I heard from him again. He had turned east, to come to +White House. He could not go to Lynchburg as ordered, because the rains +had been so very heavy and the streams were so very much swollen. He +had a pontoon train with him, but it would not reach half way across +some of the streams, at their then stage of water, which he would have +to get over in going south as first ordered. + +I had supplies sent around to White House for him, and kept the depot +there open until he arrived. We had intended to abandon it because the +James River had now become our base of supplies. + +Sheridan had about ten thousand cavalry with him, divided into two +divisions commanded respectively by Custer and Devin. General Merritt +was acting as chief of cavalry. Sheridan moved very light, carrying +only four days' provisions with him, with a larger supply of coffee, +salt and other small rations, and a very little else besides ammunition. +They stopped at Charlottesville and commenced tearing up the railroad +back toward Lynchburg. He also sent a division along the James River +Canal to destroy locks, culverts etc. All mills and factories along the +lines of march of his troops were destroyed also. + +Sheridan had in this way consumed so much time that his making a march +to White House was now somewhat hazardous. He determined therefore to +fight his way along the railroad and canal till he was as near to +Richmond as it was possible to get, or until attacked. He did this, +destroying the canal as far as Goochland, and the railroad to a point as +near Richmond as he could get. On the 10th he was at Columbia. Negroes +had joined his column to the number of two thousand or more, and they +assisted considerably in the work of destroying the railroads and the +canal. His cavalry was in as fine a condition as when he started, +because he had been able to find plenty of forage. He had captured most +of Early's horses and picked up a good many others on the road. When he +reached Ashland he was assailed by the enemy in force. He resisted +their assault with part of his command, moved quickly across the South +and North Anna, going north, and reached White House safely on the 19th. + +The time for Sherman to move had to be fixed with reference to the time +he could get away from Goldsboro where he then was. Supplies had to be +got up to him which would last him through a long march, as there would +probably not be much to be obtained in the country through which he +would pass. I had to arrange, therefore, that he should start from +where he was, in the neighborhood of Goldsboro on the 18th of April, the +earliest day at which he supposed he could be ready. + +Sherman was anxious that I should wait where I was until he could come +up, and make a sure thing of it; but I had determined to move as soon as +the roads and weather would admit of my doing so. I had been tied down +somewhat in the matter of fixing any time at my pleasure for starting, +until Sheridan, who was on his way from the Shenandoah Valley to join +me, should arrive, as both his presence and that of his cavalry were +necessary to the execution of the plans which I had in mind. However, +having arrived at White House on the 19th of March, I was enabled to +make my plans. + +Prompted by my anxiety lest Lee should get away some night before I was +aware of it, and having the lead of me, push into North Carolina to join +with Johnston in attempting to crush out Sherman, I had, as early as the +1st of the month of March, given instructions to the troops around +Petersburg to keep a sharp lookout to see that such a movement should +not escape their notice, and to be ready strike at once if it was +undertaken. + +It is now known that early in the month of March Mr. Davis and General +Lee had a consultation about the situation of affairs in and about and +Petersburg, and they both agreed places were no longer tenable for them, +and that they must get away as soon as possible. They, too, were +waiting for dry roads, or a condition of the roads which would make it +possible to move. + +General Lee, in aid of his plan of escape, and to secure a wider opening +to enable them to reach the Danville Road with greater security than he +would have in the way the two armies were situated, determined upon an +assault upon the right of our lines around Petersburg. The night of the +24th of March was fixed upon for this assault, and General Gordon was +assigned to the execution of the plan. The point between Fort Stedman +and Battery No. 10, where our lines were closest together, was selected +as the point of his attack. The attack was to be made at night, and the +troops were to get possession of the higher ground in the rear where +they supposed we had intrenchments, then sweep to the right and left, +create a panic in the lines of our army, and force me to contract my +lines. Lee hoped this would detain me a few days longer and give him an +opportunity of escape. The plan was well conceived and the execution of +it very well done indeed, up to the point of carrying a portion of our +line. + +Gordon assembled his troops under the cover of night, at the point at +which they were to make their charge, and got possession of our +picket-line, entirely without the knowledge of the troops inside of our +main line of intrenchments; this reduced the distance he would have to +charge over to not much more than fifty yards. For some time before the +deserters had been coming in with great frequency, often bringing their +arms with them, and this the Confederate general knew. Taking advantage +of this knowledge he sent his pickets, with their arms, creeping through +to ours as if to desert. When they got to our lines they at once took +possession and sent our pickets to the rear as prisoners. In the main +line our men were sleeping serenely, as if in great security. This plan +was to have been executed and much damage done before daylight; but the +troops that were to reinforce Gordon had to be brought from the north +side of the James River and, by some accident on the railroad on their +way over, they were detained for a considerable time; so that it got to +be nearly daylight before they were ready to make the charge. + +The charge, however, was successful and almost without loss, the enemy +passing through our lines between Fort Stedman and Battery No. 10. Then +turning to the right and left they captured the fort and the battery, +with all the arms and troops in them. Continuing the charge, they also +carried batteries Eleven and Twelve to our left, which they turned +toward City Point. + +Meade happened to be at City Point that night, and this break in his +line cut him off from all communication with his headquarters. Parke, +however, commanding the 9th corps when this breach took place, +telegraphed the facts to Meade's headquarters, and learning that the +general was away, assumed command himself and with commendable +promptitude made all preparations to drive the enemy back. General +Tidball gathered a large number of pieces of artillery and planted them +in rear of the captured works so as to sweep the narrow space of ground +between the lines very thoroughly. Hartranft was soon out with his +division, as also was Willcox. Hartranft to the right of the breach +headed the rebels off in that direction and rapidly drove them back into +Fort Stedman. On the other side they were driven back into the +intrenchments which they had captured, and batteries eleven and twelve +were retaken by Willcox early in the morning. + +Parke then threw a line around outside of the captured fort and +batteries, and communication was once more established. The artillery +fire was kept up so continuously that it was impossible for the +Confederates to retreat, and equally impossible for reinforcements to +join them. They all, therefore, fell captives into our hands. This +effort of Lee's cost him about four thousand men, and resulted in their +killing, wounding and capturing about two thousand of ours. + +After the recapture of the batteries taken by the Confederates, our +troops made a charge and carried the enemy's intrenched picket line, +which they strengthened and held. This, in turn, gave us but a short +distance to charge over when our attack came to be made a few days +later. + +The day that Gordon was making dispositions for this attack (24th of +March) I issued my orders for the movement to commence on the 29th. +Ord, with three divisions of infantry and Mackenzie's cavalry, was to +move in advance on the night of the 27th, from the north side of the +James River and take his place on our extreme left, thirty miles away. +He left Weitzel with the rest of the Army of the James to hold Bermuda +Hundred and the north of the James River. The engineer brigade was to +be left at City Point, and Parke's corps in the lines about Petersburg. +(*42) + +Ord was at his place promptly. Humphreys and Warren were then on our +extreme left with the 2d and 5th corps. They were directed on the +arrival of Ord, and on his getting into position in their places, to +cross Hatcher's Run and extend out west toward Five Forks, the object +being to get into a position from which we could strike the South Side +Railroad and ultimately the Danville Railroad. There was considerable +fighting in taking up these new positions for the 2d and 5th corps, in +which the Army of the James had also to participate somewhat, and the +losses were quite severe. + +This was what was known as the Battle of White Oak Road. + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + +INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN--GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC +--SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS--BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS--PARKE AND +WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE--BATTLES BEFORE PETERSBURG. + +Sheridan reached City Point on the 26th day of March. His horses, of +course, were jaded and many of them had lost their shoes. A few days of +rest were necessary to recuperate the animals and also to have them shod +and put in condition for moving. Immediately on General Sheridan's +arrival at City Point I prepared his instructions for the move which I +had decided upon. The movement was to commence on the 29th of the +month. + +After reading the instructions I had given him, Sheridan walked out of +my tent, and I followed to have some conversation with him by himself +--not in the presence of anybody else, even of a member of my staff. In +preparing his instructions I contemplated just what took place; that is +to say, capturing Five Forks, driving the enemy from Petersburg and +Richmond and terminating the contest before separating from the enemy. +But the Nation had already become restless and discouraged at the +prolongation of the war, and many believed that it would never terminate +except by compromise. Knowing that unless my plan proved an entire +success it would be interpreted as a disastrous defeat, I provided in +these instructions that in a certain event he was to cut loose from the +Army of the Potomac and his base of supplies, and living upon the +country proceed south by the way of the Danville Railroad, or near it, +across the Roanoke, get in the rear of Johnston, who was guarding that +road, and cooperate with Sherman in destroying Johnston; then with these +combined forces to help carry out the instructions which Sherman already +had received, to act in cooperation with the armies around Petersburg +and Richmond. + +I saw that after Sheridan had read his instructions he seemed somewhat +disappointed at the idea, possibly, of having to cut loose again from +the Army of the Potomac, and place himself between the two main armies +of the enemy. I said to him: "General, this portion of your +instructions I have put in merely as a blind;" and gave him the reason +for doing so, heretofore described. I told him that, as a matter of +fact, I intended to close the war right here, with this movement, and +that he should go no farther. His face at once brightened up, and +slapping his hand on his leg he said: "I am glad to hear it, and we can +do it." + +Sheridan was not however to make his movement against Five Forks until +he got further instructions from me. + +One day, after the movement I am about to describe had commenced, and +when his cavalry was on our extreme left and far to the rear, south, +Sheridan rode up to where my headquarters were then established, at +Dabney's Mills. He met some of my staff officers outside, and was +highly jubilant over the prospects of success, giving reasons why he +believed this would prove the final and successful effort. Although my +chief-of-staff had urged very strongly that we return to our position +about City Point and in the lines around Petersburg, he asked Sheridan +to come in to see me and say to me what he had been saying to them. +Sheridan felt a little modest about giving his advice where it had not +been asked; so one of my staff came in and told me that Sheridan had +what they considered important news, and suggested that I send for him. +I did so, and was glad to see the spirit of confidence with which he was +imbued. Knowing as I did from experience, of what great value that +feeling of confidence by a commander was, I determined to make a +movement at once, although on account of the rains which had fallen +after I had started out the roads were still very heavy. Orders were +given accordingly. + +Finally the 29th of March came, and fortunately there having been a few +days free from rain, the surface of the ground was dry, giving +indications that the time had come when we could move. On that date I +moved out with all the army available after leaving sufficient force to +hold the line about Petersburg. It soon set in raining again however, +and in a very short time the roads became practically impassable for +teams, and almost so for cavalry. Sometimes a horse or mule would be +standing apparently on firm ground, when all at once one foot would +sink, and as he commenced scrambling to catch himself all his feet would +sink and he would have to be drawn by hand out of the quicksands so +common in that part of Virginia and other southern States. It became +necessary therefore to build corduroy roads every foot of the way as we +advanced, to move our artillery upon. The army had become so accustomed +to this kind of work, and were so well prepared for it, that it was done +very rapidly. The next day, March 30th, we had made sufficient progress +to the south-west to warrant me in starting Sheridan with his cavalry +over by Dinwiddie with instructions to then come up by the road leading +north-west to Five Forks, thus menacing the right of Lee's line. + +This movement was made for the purpose of extending our lines to the +west as far as practicable towards the enemy's extreme right, or Five +Forks. The column moving detached from the army still in the trenches +was, excluding the cavalry, very small. The forces in the trenches were +themselves extending to the left flank. Warren was on the extreme left +when the extension began, but Humphreys was marched around later and +thrown into line between him and Five Forks. + +My hope was that Sheridan would be able to carry Five Forks, get on the +enemy's right flank and rear, and force them to weaken their centre to +protect their right so that an assault in the centre might be +successfully made. General Wright's corps had been designated to make +this assault, which I intended to order as soon as information reached +me of Sheridan's success. He was to move under cover as close to the +enemy as he could get. + +It is natural to suppose that Lee would understand my design to be to +get up to the South Side and ultimately to the Danville Railroad, as +soon as he had heard of the movement commenced on the 29th. These roads +were so important to his very existence while he remained in Richmond +and Petersburg, and of such vital importance to him even in case of +retreat, that naturally he would make most strenuous efforts to defend +them. He did on the 30th send Pickett with five brigades to reinforce +Five Forks. He also sent around to the right of his army some two or +three other divisions, besides directing that other troops be held in +readiness on the north side of the James River to come over on call. He +came over himself to superintend in person the defence of his right +flank. + +Sheridan moved back to Dinwiddie Court-House on the night of the 30th, +and then took a road leading north-west to Five Forks. He had only his +cavalry with him. Soon encountering the rebel cavalry he met with a +very stout resistance. He gradually drove them back however until in +the neighborhood of Five Forks. Here he had to encounter other troops +besides those he had been contending with, and was forced to give way. + +In this condition of affairs he notified me of what had taken place and +stated that he was falling back toward Dinwiddie gradually and slowly, +and asked me to send Wright's corps to his assistance. I replied to him +that it was impossible to send Wright's corps because that corps was +already in line close up to the enemy, where we should want to assault +when the proper time came, and was besides a long distance from him; but +the 2d (Humphreys's) and 5th (Warren's) corps were on our extreme left +and a little to the rear of it in a position to threaten the left flank +of the enemy at Five Forks, and that I would send Warren. + +Accordingly orders were sent to Warren to move at once that night (the +31st) to Dinwiddie Court House and put himself in communication with +Sheridan as soon as possible, and report to him. He was very slow in +moving, some of his troops not starting until after 5 o'clock next +morning. When he did move it was done very deliberately, and on +arriving at Gravelly Run he found the stream swollen from the recent +rains so that he regarded it as not fordable. Sheridan of course knew +of his coming, and being impatient to get the troops up as soon as +possible, sent orders to him to hasten. He was also hastened or at +least ordered to move up rapidly by General Meade. He now felt that he +could not cross that creek without bridges, and his orders were changed +to move so as to strike the pursuing enemy in flank or get in their +rear; but he was so late in getting up that Sheridan determined to move +forward without him. However, Ayres's division of Warren's corps +reached him in time to be in the fight all day, most of the time +separated from the remainder of the 5th corps and fighting directly +under Sheridan. + +Warren reported to Sheridan about 11 o'clock on the 1st, but the whole +of his troops were not up so as to be much engaged until late in the +afternoon. Griffin's division in backing to get out of the way of a +severe cross fire of the enemy was found marching away from the +fighting. This did not continue long, however; the division was brought +back and with Ayres's division did most excellent service during the +day. Crawford's division of the same corps had backed still farther +off, and although orders were sent repeatedly to bring it up, it was +late before it finally got to where it could be of material assistance. +Once there it did very excellent service. + +Sheridan succeeded by the middle of the afternoon or a little later, in +advancing up to the point from which to make his designed assault upon +Five Forks itself. He was very impatient to make the assault and have +it all over before night, because the ground he occupied would be +untenable for him in bivouac during the night. Unless the assault was +made and was successful, he would be obliged to return to Dinwiddie +Court-House, or even further than that for the night. + +It was at this junction of affairs that Sheridan wanted to get +Crawford's division in hand, and he also wanted Warren. He sent staff +officer after staff officer in search of Warren, directing that general +to report to him, but they were unable to find him. At all events +Sheridan was unable to get that officer to him. Finally he went +himself. He issued an order relieving Warren and assigning Griffin to +the command of the 5th corps. The troops were then brought up and the +assault successfully made. + +I was so much dissatisfied with Warren's dilatory movements in the +battle of White Oak Road and in his failure to reach Sheridan in time, +that I was very much afraid that at the last moment he would fail +Sheridan. He was a man of fine intelligence, great earnestness, quick +perception, and could make his dispositions as quickly as any officer, +under difficulties where he was forced to act. But I had before +discovered a defect which was beyond his control, that was very +prejudicial to his usefulness in emergencies like the one just before +us. He could see every danger at a glance before he had encountered it. +He would not only make preparations to meet the danger which might +occur, but he would inform his commanding officer what others should do +while he was executing his move. + +I had sent a staff officer to General Sheridan to call his attention to +these defects, and to say that as much as I liked General Warren, now +was not a time when we could let our personal feelings for any one stand +in the way of success; and if his removal was necessary to success, not +to hesitate. It was upon that authorization that Sheridan removed +Warren. I was very sorry that it had been done, and regretted still +more that I had not long before taken occasion to assign him to another +field of duty. + +It was dusk when our troops under Sheridan went over the parapets of the +enemy. The two armies were mingled together there for a time in such +manner that it was almost a question which one was going to demand the +surrender of the other. Soon, however, the enemy broke and ran in every +direction; some six thousand prisoners, besides artillery and small-arms +in large quantities, falling into our hands. The flying troops were +pursued in different directions, the cavalry and 5th corps under +Sheridan pursuing the larger body which moved north-west. + +This pursuit continued until about nine o'clock at night, when Sheridan +halted his troops, and knowing the importance to him of the part of the +enemy's line which had been captured, returned, sending the 5th corps +across Hatcher's Run to just south-west of Petersburg, and facing them +toward it. Merritt, with the cavalry, stopped and bivouacked west of +Five Forks. + +This was the condition which affairs were in on the night of the 1st of +April. I then issued orders for an assault by Wright and Parke at four +o'clock on the morning of the 2d. I also ordered the 2d corps, General +Humphreys, and General Ord with the Army of the James, on the left, to +hold themselves in readiness to take any advantage that could be taken +from weakening in their front. + +I notified Mr. Lincoln at City Point of the success of the day; in fact +I had reported to him during the day and evening as I got news, because +he was so much interested in the movements taking place that I wanted to +relieve his mind as much as I could. I notified Weitzel on the north +side of the James River, directing him, also, to keep close up to the +enemy, and take advantage of the withdrawal of troops from there to +promptly enter the city of Richmond. + +I was afraid that Lee would regard the possession of Five Forks as of so +much importance that he would make a last desperate effort to retake it, +risking everything upon the cast of a single die. It was for this +reason that I had ordered the assault to take place at once, as soon as +I had received the news of the capture of Five Forks. The corps +commanders, however, reported that it was so dark that the men could not +see to move, and it would be impossible to make the assault then. But we +kept up a continuous artillery fire upon the enemy around the whole line +including that north of the James River, until it was light enough to +move, which was about a quarter to five in the morning. + +At that hour Parke's and Wright's corps moved out as directed, brushed +the abatis from their front as they advanced under a heavy fire of +musketry and artillery, and went without flinching directly on till they +mounted the parapets and threw themselves inside of the enemy's line. +Parke, who was on the right, swept down to the right and captured a very +considerable length of line in that direction, but at that point the +outer was so near the inner line which closely enveloped the city of +Petersburg that he could make no advance forward and, in fact, had a +very serious task to turn the lines which he had captured to the defence +of his own troops and to hold them; but he succeeded in this. + +Wright swung around to his left and moved to Hatcher's Run, sweeping +everything before him. The enemy had traverses in rear of his captured +line, under cover of which he made something of a stand, from one to +another, as Wright moved on; but the latter met no serious obstacle. As +you proceed to the left the outer line becomes gradually much farther +from the inner one, and along about Hatcher's Run they must be nearly +two miles apart. Both Parke and Wright captured a considerable amount of +artillery and some prisoners--Wright about three thousand of them. + +In the meantime Ord and Humphreys, in obedience to the instructions they +had received, had succeeded by daylight, or very early in the morning, +in capturing the intrenched picket-lines in their front; and before +Wright got up to that point, Ord had also succeeded in getting inside of +the enemy's intrenchments. The second corps soon followed; and the +outer works of Petersburg were in the hands of the National troops, +never to be wrenched from them again. When Wright reached Hatcher's +Run, he sent a regiment to destroy the South Side Railroad just outside +of the city. + +My headquarters were still at Dabney's saw-mills. As soon as I received +the news of Wright's success, I sent dispatches announcing the fact to +all points around the line, including the troops at Bermuda Hundred and +those on the north side of the James, and to the President at City +Point. Further dispatches kept coming in, and as they did I sent the +additional news to these points. Finding at length that they were all +in, I mounted my horse to join the troops who were inside the works. +When I arrived there I rode my horse over the parapet just as Wright's +three thousand prisoners were coming out. I was soon joined inside by +General Meade and his staff. + +Lee made frantic efforts to recover at least part of the lost ground. +Parke on our right was repeatedly assaulted, but repulsed every effort. +Before noon Longstreet was ordered up from the north side of the James +River thus bringing the bulk of Lee's army around to the support of his +extreme right. As soon as I learned this I notified Weitzel and +directed him to keep up close to the enemy and to have Hartsuff, +commanding the Bermuda Hundred front, to do the same thing, and if they +found any break to go in; Hartsuff especially should do so, for this +would separate Richmond and Petersburg. + +Sheridan, after he had returned to Five Forks, swept down to Petersburg, +coming in on our left. This gave us a continuous line from the +Appomattox River below the city to the same river above. At eleven +o'clock, not having heard from Sheridan, I reinforced Parke with two +brigades from City Point. With this additional force he completed his +captured works for better defence, and built back from his right, so as +to protect his flank. He also carried in and made an abatis between +himself and the enemy. Lee brought additional troops and artillery +against Parke even after this was done, and made several assaults with +very heavy losses. + +The enemy had in addition to their intrenched line close up to +Petersburg, two enclosed works outside of it, Fort Gregg and Fort +Whitworth. We thought it had now become necessary to carry them by +assault. About one o'clock in the day, Fort Gregg was assaulted by +Foster's division of the 24th corps (Gibbon's), supported by two +brigades from Ord's command. The battle was desperate and the National +troops were repulsed several times; but it was finally carried, and +immediately the troops in Fort Whitworth evacuated the place. The guns +of Fort Gregg were turned upon the retreating enemy, and the commanding +officer with some sixty of the men of Fort Whitworth surrendered. + +I had ordered Miles in the morning to report to Sheridan. In moving to +execute this order he came upon the enemy at the intersection of the +White Oak Road and the Claiborne Road. The enemy fell back to +Sutherland Station on the South Side Road and were followed by Miles. +This position, naturally a strong and defensible one, was also strongly +intrenched. Sheridan now came up and Miles asked permission from him to +make the assault, which Sheridan gave. By this time Humphreys had got +through the outer works in his front, and came up also and assumed +command over Miles, who commanded a division in his corps. I had sent +an order to Humphreys to turn to his right and move towards Petersburg. +This order he now got, and started off, thus leaving Miles alone. The +latter made two assaults, both of which failed, and he had to fall back +a few hundred yards. + +Hearing that Miles had been left in this position, I directed Humphreys +to send a division back to his relief. He went himself. + +Sheridan before starting to sweep down to Petersburg had sent Merritt +with his cavalry to the west to attack some Confederate cavalry that had +assembled there. Merritt drove them north to the Appomattox River. +Sheridan then took the enemy at Sutherland Station on the reverse side +from where Miles was, and the two together captured the place, with a +large number of prisoners and some pieces of artillery, and put the +remainder, portions of three Confederate corps, to flight. Sheridan +followed, and drove them until night, when further pursuit was stopped. +Miles bivouacked for the night on the ground which he with Sheridan had +carried so handsomely by assault. I cannot explain the situation here +better than by giving my dispatch to City Point that evening: + + +BOYDTON ROAD, NEAR PETERSBURG, April 2, 1865.--4.40 P.M. + +COLONEL T. S. BOWERS, City Point. + +We are now up and have a continuous line of troops, and in a few hours +will be intrenched from the Appomattox below Petersburg to the river +above. Heth's and Wilcox's divisions, such part of them as were not +captured, were cut off from town, either designedly on their part or +because they could not help it. Sheridan with the cavalry and 5th corps +is above them. Miles's division, 2d corps, was sent from the White Oak +Road to Sutherland Station on the South Side Railroad, where he met +them, and at last accounts was engaged with them. Not knowing whether +Sheridan would get up in time, General Humphreys was sent with another +division from here. The whole captures since the army started out +gunning will amount to not less than twelve thousand men, and probably +fifty pieces of artillery. I do not know the number of men and guns +accurately however. * * * I think the President might come out and pay +us a visit tomorrow. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +During the night of April 2d our line was intrenched from the river +above to the river below. I ordered a bombardment to be commenced the +next morning at five A.M., to be followed by an assault at six o'clock; +but the enemy evacuated Petersburg early in the morning. + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + +THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG--MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN PETERSBURG--THE +CAPTURE OF RICHMOND--PURSUING THE ENEMY--VISIT TO SHERIDAN AND MEADE. + +General Meade and I entered Petersburg on the morning of the 3d and took +a position under cover of a house which protected us from the enemy's +musketry which was flying thick and fast there. As we would +occasionally look around the corner we could see the streets and the +Appomattox bottom, presumably near the bridge, packed with the +Confederate army. I did not have artillery brought up, because I was +sure Lee was trying to make his escape, and I wanted to push immediately +in pursuit. At all events I had not the heart to turn the artillery +upon such a mass of defeated and fleeing men, and I hoped to capture +them soon. + +Soon after the enemy had entirely evacuated Petersburg, a man came in +who represented himself to be an engineer of the Army of Northern +Virginia. He said that Lee had for some time been at work preparing a +strong enclosed intrenchment, into which he would throw himself when +forced out of Petersburg, and fight his final battle there; that he was +actually at that time drawing his troops from Richmond, and falling back +into this prepared work. This statement was made to General Meade and +myself when we were together. I had already given orders for the +movement up the south side of the Appomattox for the purpose of heading +off Lee; but Meade was so much impressed by this man's story that he +thought we ought to cross the Appomattox there at once and move against +Lee in his new position. I knew that Lee was no fool, as he would have +been to have put himself and his army between two formidable streams +like the James and Appomattox rivers, and between two such armies as +those of the Potomac and the James. Then these streams coming together +as they did to the east of him, it would be only necessary to close up +in the west to have him thoroughly cut off from all supplies or +possibility of reinforcement. It would only have been a question of +days, and not many of them, if he had taken the position assigned to him +by the so-called engineer, when he would have been obliged to surrender +his army. Such is one of the ruses resorted to in war to deceive your +antagonist. My judgment was that Lee would necessarily have to evacuate +Richmond, and that the only course for him to pursue would be to follow +the Danville Road. Accordingly my object was to secure a point on that +road south of Lee, and I told Meade this. He suggested that if Lee was +going that way we would follow him. My reply was that we did not want +to follow him; we wanted to get ahead of him and cut him off, and if he +would only stay in the position he (Meade) believed him to be in at that +time, I wanted nothing better; that when we got in possession of the +Danville Railroad, at its crossing of the Appomattox River, if we still +found him between the two rivers, all we had to do was to move eastward +and close him up. That we would then have all the advantage we could +possibly have by moving directly against him from Petersburg, even if he +remained in the position assigned him by the engineer officer. + +I had held most of the command aloof from the intrenchments, so as to +start them out on the Danville Road early in the morning, supposing that +Lee would be gone during the night. During the night I strengthened +Sheridan by sending him Humphreys's corps. + +Lee, as we now know, had advised the authorities at Richmond, during the +day, of the condition of affairs, and told them it would be impossible +for him to hold out longer than night, if he could hold out that long. +Davis was at church when he received Lee's dispatch. The congregation +was dismissed with the notice that there would be no evening service. +The rebel government left Richmond about two o'clock in the afternoon of +the 2d. + +At night Lee ordered his troops to assemble at Amelia Court House, his +object being to get away, join Johnston if possible, and to try to crush +Sherman before I could get there. As soon as I was sure of this I +notified Sheridan and directed him to move out on the Danville Railroad +to the south side of the Appomattox River as speedily as possible. He +replied that he already had some of his command nine miles out. I then +ordered the rest of the Army of the Potomac under Meade to follow the +same road in the morning. Parke's corps followed by the same road, and +the Army of the James was directed to follow the road which ran +alongside of the South Side Railroad to Burke's Station, and to repair +the railroad and telegraph as they proceeded. That road was a 5 feet +gauge, while our rolling stock was all of the 4 feet 8 1/2 inches gauge; +consequently the rail on one side of the track had to be taken up +throughout the whole length and relaid so as to conform to the gauge of +our cars and locomotives. + +Mr. Lincoln was at City Point at the time, and had been for some days. +I would have let him know what I contemplated doing, only while I felt a +strong conviction that the move was going to be successful, yet it might +not prove so; and then I would have only added another to the many +disappointments he had been suffering for the past three years. But +when we started out he saw that we were moving for a purpose, and +bidding us Godspeed, remained there to hear the result. + +The next morning after the capture of Petersburg, I telegraphed Mr. +Lincoln asking him to ride out there and see me, while I would await his +arrival. I had started all the troops out early in the morning, so that +after the National army left Petersburg there was not a soul to be seen, +not even an animal in the streets. There was absolutely no one there, +except my staff officers and, possibly, a small escort of cavalry. We +had selected the piazza of a deserted house, and occupied it until the +President arrived. + +About the first thing that Mr. Lincoln said to me, after warm +congratulations for the victory, and thanks both to myself and to the +army which had accomplished it, was: "Do you know, general, that I have +had a sort of a sneaking idea for some days that you intended to do +something like this." Our movements having been successful up to this +point, I no longer had any object in concealing from the President all +my movements, and the objects I had in view. He remained for some days +near City Point, and I communicated with him frequently and fully by +telegraph. + +Mr. Lincoln knew that it had been arranged for Sherman to join me at a +fixed time, to co-operate in the destruction of Lee's army. I told him +that I had been very anxious to have the Eastern armies vanquish their +old enemy who had so long resisted all their repeated and gallant +attempts to subdue them or drive them from their capital. The Western +armies had been in the main successful until they had conquered all the +territory from the Mississippi River to the State of North Carolina, and +were now almost ready to knock at the back door of Richmond, asking +admittance. I said to him that if the Western armies should be even +upon the field, operating against Richmond and Lee, the credit would be +given to them for the capture, by politicians and non-combatants from +the section of country which those troops hailed from. It might lead to +disagreeable bickerings between members of Congress of the East and +those of the West in some of their debates. Western members might be +throwing it up to the members of the East that in the suppression of the +rebellion they were not able to capture an army, or to accomplish much +in the way of contributing toward that end, but had to wait until the +Western armies had conquered all the territory south and west of them, +and then come on to help them capture the only army they had been +engaged with. + +Mr. Lincoln said he saw that now, but had never thought of it before, +because his anxiety was so great that he did not care where the aid came +from so the work was done. + +The Army of the Potomac has every reason to be proud of its four years' +record in the suppression of the rebellion. The army it had to fight +was the protection to the capital of a people which was attempting to +found a nation upon the territory of the United States. Its loss would +be the loss of the cause. Every energy, therefore, was put forth by the +Confederacy to protect and maintain their capital. Everything else +would go if it went. Lee's army had to be strengthened to enable it to +maintain its position, no matter what territory was wrested from the +South in another quarter. + +I never expected any such bickering as I have indicated, between the +soldiers of the two sections; and, fortunately, there has been none +between the politicians. Possibly I am the only one who thought of the +liability of such a state of things in advance. + +When our conversation was at an end Mr. Lincoln mounted his horse and +started on his return to City Point, while I and my staff started to +join the army, now a good many miles in advance. Up to this time I had +not received the report of the capture of Richmond. + +Soon after I left President Lincoln I received a dispatch from General +Weitzel which notified me that he had taken possession of Richmond at +about 8.15 o'clock in the morning of that day, the 3d, and that he had +found the city on fire in two places. The city was in the most utter +confusion. The authorities had taken the precaution to empty all the +liquor into the gutter, and to throw out the provisions which the +Confederate government had left, for the people to gather up. The city +had been deserted by the authorities, civil and military, without any +notice whatever that they were about to leave. In fact, up to the very +hour of the evacuation the people had been led to believe that Lee had +gained an important victory somewhere around Petersburg. + +Weitzel's command found evidence of great demoralization in Lee's army, +there being still a great many men and even officers in the town. The +city was on fire. Our troops were directed to extinguish the flames, +which they finally succeeded in doing. The fire had been started by some +one connected with the retreating army. All authorities deny that it +was authorized, and I presume it was the work of excited men who were +leaving what they regarded as their capital and may have felt that it +was better to destroy it than have it fall into the hands of their +enemy. Be that as it may, the National troops found the city in flames, +and used every effort to extinguish them. + +The troops that had formed Lee's right, a great many of them, were cut +off from getting back into Petersburg, and were pursued by our cavalry +so hotly and closely that they threw away caissons, ammunition, +clothing, and almost everything to lighten their loads, and pushed along +up the Appomattox River until finally they took water and crossed over. + +I left Mr. Lincoln and started, as I have already said, to join the +command, which halted at Sutherland Station, about nine miles out. We +had still time to march as much farther, and time was an object; but the +roads were bad and the trains belonging to the advance corps had blocked +up the road so that it was impossible to get on. Then, again, our +cavalry had struck some of the enemy and were pursuing them; and the +orders were that the roads should be given up to the cavalry whenever +they appeared. This caused further delay. + +General Wright, who was in command of one of the corps which were left +back, thought to gain time by letting his men go into bivouac and trying +to get up some rations for them, and clearing out the road, so that when +they did start they would be uninterrupted. Humphreys, who was far +ahead, was also out of rations. They did not succeed in getting them up +through the night; but the Army of the Potomac, officers and men, were +so elated by the reflection that at last they were following up a +victory to its end, that they preferred marching without rations to +running a possible risk of letting the enemy elude them. So the march +was resumed at three o'clock in the morning. + +Merritt's cavalry had struck the enemy at Deep Creek, and driven them +north to the Appomattox, where, I presume, most of them were forced to +cross. + +On the morning of the 4th I learned that Lee had ordered rations up from +Danville for his famishing army, and that they were to meet him at +Farmville. This showed that Lee had already abandoned the idea of +following the railroad down to Danville, but had determined to go +farther west, by the way of Farmville. I notified Sheridan of this and +directed him to get possession of the road before the supplies could +reach Lee. He responded that he had already sent Crook's division to +get upon the road between Burkesville and Jetersville, then to face +north and march along the road upon the latter place; and he thought +Crook must be there now. The bulk of the army moved directly for +Jetersville by two roads. + +After I had received the dispatch from Sheridan saying that Crook was on +the Danville Road, I immediately ordered Meade to make a forced march +with the Army of the Potomac, and to send Parke's corps across from the +road they were on to the South Side Railroad, to fall in the rear of the +Army of the James and to protect the railroad which that army was +repairing as it went along. + +Our troops took possession of Jetersville and in the telegraph office, +they found a dispatch from Lee, ordering two hundred thousand rations +from Danville. The dispatch had not been sent, but Sheridan sent a +special messenger with it to Burkesville and had it forwarded from +there. In the meantime, however, dispatches from other sources had +reached Danville, and they knew there that our army was on the line of +the road; so that they sent no further supplies from that quarter. + +At this time Merritt and Mackenzie, with the cavalry, were off between +the road which the Army of the Potomac was marching on and the +Appomattox River, and were attacking the enemy in flank. They picked up +a great many prisoners and forced the abandonment of some property. + +Lee intrenched himself at Amelia Court House, and also his advance north +of Jetersville, and sent his troops out to collect forage. The country +was very poor and afforded but very little. His foragers scattered a +great deal; many of them were picked up by our men, and many others +never returned to the Army of Northern Virginia. + +Griffin's corps was intrenched across the railroad south of Jetersville, +and Sheridan notified me of the situation. I again ordered Meade up +with all dispatch, Sheridan having but the one corps of infantry with a +little cavalry confronting Lee's entire army. Meade, always prompt in +obeying orders, now pushed forward with great energy, although he was +himself sick and hardly able to be out of bed. Humphreys moved at two, +and Wright at three o'clock in the morning, without rations, as I have +said, the wagons being far in the rear. + +I stayed that night at Wilson's Station on the South Side Railroad. On +the morning of the 5th I sent word to Sheridan of the progress Meade was +making, and suggested that he might now attack Lee. We had now no other +objective than the Confederate armies, and I was anxious to close the +thing up at once. + +On the 5th I marched again with Ord's command until within about ten +miles of Burkesville, where I stopped to let his army pass. I then +received from Sheridan the following dispatch: + +"The whole of Lee's army is at or near Amelia Court House, and on this +side of it. General Davies, whom I sent out to Painesville on their +right flank, has just captured six pieces of artillery and some wagons. +We can capture the Army of Northern Virginia if force enough can be +thrown to this point, and then advance upon it. My cavalry was at +Burkesville yesterday, and six miles beyond, on the Danville Road, last +night. General Lee is at Amelia Court House in person. They are out of +rations, or nearly so. They were advancing up the railroad towards +Burkesville yesterday, when we intercepted them at this point." + +It now became a life and death struggle with Lee to get south to his +provisions. + +Sheridan, thinking the enemy might turn off immediately towards +Farmville, moved Davies's brigade of cavalry out to watch him. Davies +found the movement had already commenced. He attacked and drove away +their cavalry which was escorting wagons to the west, capturing and +burning 180 wagons. He also captured five pieces of artillery. The +Confederate infantry then moved against him and probably would have +handled him very roughly, but Sheridan had sent two more brigades of +cavalry to follow Davies, and they came to his relief in time. A sharp +engagement took place between these three brigades of cavalry and the +enemy's infantry, but the latter was repulsed. + +Meade himself reached Jetersville about two o'clock in the afternoon, +but in advance of all his troops. The head of Humphreys's corps +followed in about an hour afterwards. Sheridan stationed the troops as +they came up, at Meade's request, the latter still being very sick. He +extended two divisions of this corps off to the west of the road to the +left of Griffin's corps, and one division to the right. The cavalry by +this time had also come up, and they were put still farther off to the +left, Sheridan feeling certain that there lay the route by which the +enemy intended to escape. He wanted to attack, feeling that if time was +given, the enemy would get away; but Meade prevented this, preferring to +wait till his troops were all up. + +At this juncture Sheridan sent me a letter which had been handed to him +by a colored man, with a note from himself saying that he wished I was +there myself. The letter was dated Amelia Court House, April 5th, and +signed by Colonel Taylor. It was to his mother, and showed the +demoralization of the Confederate army. Sheridan's note also gave me the +information as here related of the movements of that day. I received a +second message from Sheridan on the 5th, in which he urged more +emphatically the importance of my presence. This was brought to me by a +scout in gray uniform. It was written on tissue paper, and wrapped up +in tin-foil such as chewing tobacco is folded in. This was a precaution +taken so that if the scout should be captured he could take this +tin-foil out of his pocket and putting it into his mouth, chew it. It +would cause no surprise at all to see a Confederate soldier chewing +tobacco. It was nearly night when this letter was received. I gave Ord +directions to continue his march to Burkesville and there intrench +himself for the night, and in the morning to move west to cut off all +the roads between there and Farmville. + +I then started with a few of my staff and a very small escort of +cavalry, going directly through the woods, to join Meade's army. The +distance was about sixteen miles; but the night being dark our progress +was slow through the woods in the absence of direct roads. However, we +got to the outposts about ten o'clock in the evening, and after some +little parley convinced the sentinels of our identity and were conducted +in to where Sheridan was bivouacked. We talked over the situation for +some little time, Sheridan explaining to me what he thought Lee was +trying to do, and that Meade's orders, if carried out, moving to the +right flank, would give him the coveted opportunity of escaping us and +putting us in rear of him. + +We then together visited Meade, reaching his headquarters about +midnight. I explained to Meade that we did not want to follow the +enemy; we wanted to get ahead of him, and that his orders would allow +the enemy to escape, and besides that, I had no doubt that Lee was +moving right then. Meade changed his orders at once. They were now +given for an advance on Amelia Court House, at an early hour in the +morning, as the army then lay; that is, the infantry being across the +railroad, most of it to the west of the road, with the cavalry swung out +still farther to the left. + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + +BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--ENGAGEMENT AT FARMVILLE--CORRESPONDENCE WITH +GENERAL LEE--SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS THE ENEMY. + +The Appomattox, going westward, takes a long sweep to the south-west +from the neighborhood of the Richmond and Danville Railroad bridge, and +then trends north-westerly. Sailor's Creek, an insignificant stream, +running northward, empties into the Appomattox between the High Bridge +and Jetersville. Near the High Bridge the stage road from Petersburg to +Lynchburg crosses the Appomattox River, also on a bridge. The railroad +runs on the north side of the river to Farmville, a few miles west, and +from there, recrossing, continues on the south side of it. The roads +coming up from the south-east to Farmville cross the Appomattox River +there on a bridge and run on the north side, leaving the Lynchburg and +Petersburg Railroad well to the left. + +Lee, in pushing out from Amelia Court House, availed himself of all the +roads between the Danville Road and Appomattox River to move upon, and +never permitted the head of his columns to stop because of any fighting +that might be going on in his rear. In this way he came very near +succeeding in getting to his provision trains and eluding us with at +least part of his army. + +As expected, Lee's troops had moved during the night before, and our +army in moving upon Amelia Court House soon encountered them. There was +a good deal of fighting before Sailor's Creek was reached. Our cavalry +charged in upon a body of theirs which was escorting a wagon train in +order to get it past our left. A severe engagement ensued, in which we +captured many prisoners, and many men also were killed and wounded. +There was as much gallantry displayed by some of the Confederates in +these little engagements as was displayed at any time during the war, +notwithstanding the sad defeats of the past week. + +The armies finally met on Sailor's Creek, when a heavy engagement took +place, in which infantry, artillery and cavalry were all brought into +action. Our men on the right, as they were brought in against the +enemy, came in on higher ground, and upon his flank, giving us every +advantage to be derived from the lay of the country. Our firing was +also very much more rapid, because the enemy commenced his retreat +westward and in firing as he retreated had to turn around every time he +fired. The enemy's loss was very heavy, as well in killed and wounded +as in captures. Some six general officers fell into our hands in this +engagement, and seven thousand men were made prisoners. This engagement +was commenced in the middle of the afternoon of the 6th, and the retreat +and pursuit were continued until nightfall, when the armies bivouacked +upon the ground where the night had overtaken them. + +When the move towards Amelia Court House had commenced that morning, I +ordered Wright's corps, which was on the extreme right, to be moved to +the left past the whole army, to take the place of Griffin's, and +ordered the latter at the same time to move by and place itself on the +right. The object of this movement was to get the 6th corps, Wright's, +next to the cavalry, with which they had formerly served so harmoniously +and so efficiently in the valley of Virginia. + +The 6th corps now remained with the cavalry and under Sheridan's direct +command until after the surrender. + +Ord had been directed to take possession of all the roads southward +between Burkesville and the High Bridge. On the morning of the 6th he +sent Colonel Washburn with two infantry regiments with instructions to +destroy High Bridge and to return rapidly to Burkesville Station; and he +prepared himself to resist the enemy there. Soon after Washburn had +started Ord became a little alarmed as to his safety and sent Colonel +Read, of his staff, with about eighty cavalrymen, to overtake him and +bring him back. Very shortly after this he heard that the head of Lee's +column had got up to the road between him and where Washburn now was, +and attempted to send reinforcements, but the reinforcements could not +get through. Read, however, had got through ahead of the enemy. He +rode on to Farmville and was on his way back again when he found his +return cut off, and Washburn confronting apparently the advance of Lee's +army. Read drew his men up into line of battle, his force now +consisting of less than six hundred men, infantry and cavalry, and rode +along their front, making a speech to his men to inspire them with the +same enthusiasm that he himself felt. He then gave the order to charge. +This little band made several charges, of course unsuccessful ones, but +inflicted a loss upon the enemy more than equal to their own entire +number. Colonel Read fell mortally wounded, and then Washburn; and at +the close of the conflict nearly every officer of the command and most +of the rank and file had been either killed or wounded. The remainder +then surrendered. The Confederates took this to be only the advance of +a larger column which had headed them off, and so stopped to intrench; +so that this gallant band of six hundred had checked the progress of a +strong detachment of the Confederate army. + +This stoppage of Lee's column no doubt saved to us the trains following. +Lee himself pushed on and crossed the wagon road bridge near the High +Bridge, and attempted to destroy it. He did set fire to it, but the +flames had made but little headway when Humphreys came up with his corps +and drove away the rear-guard which had been left to protect it while it +was being burned up. Humphreys forced his way across with some loss, +and followed Lee to the intersection of the road crossing at Farmville +with the one from Petersburg. Here Lee held a position which was very +strong, naturally, besides being intrenched. Humphreys was alone, +confronting him all through the day, and in a very hazardous position. +He put on a bold face, however, and assaulted with some loss, but was +not assaulted in return. + +Our cavalry had gone farther south by the way of Prince Edward's Court +House, along with the 5th corps (Griffin's), Ord falling in between +Griffin and the Appomattox. Crook's division of cavalry and Wright's +corps pushed on west of Farmville. When the cavalry reached Farmville +they found that some of the Confederates were in ahead of them, and had +already got their trains of provisions back to that point; but our +troops were in time to prevent them from securing anything to eat, +although they succeeded in again running the trains off, so that we did +not get them for some time. These troops retreated to the north side of +the Appomattox to join Lee, and succeeded in destroying the bridge after +them. Considerable fighting ensued there between Wright's corps and a +portion of our cavalry and the Confederates, but finally the cavalry +forded the stream and drove them away. Wright built a foot-bridge for +his men to march over on and then marched out to the junction of the +roads to relieve Humphreys, arriving there that night. I had stopped +the night before at Burkesville Junction. Our troops were then pretty +much all out of the place, but we had a field hospital there, and Ord's +command was extended from that point towards Farmville. + +Here I met Dr. Smith, a Virginian and an officer of the regular army, +who told me that in a conversation with General Ewell, one of the +prisoners and a relative of his, Ewell had said that when we had got +across the James River he knew their cause was lost, and it was the duty +of their authorities to make the best terms they could while they still +had a right to claim concessions. The authorities thought differently, +however. Now the cause was lost and they had no right to claim +anything. He said further, that for every man that was killed after +this in the war somebody is responsible, and it would be but very little +better than murder. He was not sure that Lee would consent to surrender +his army without being able to consult with the President, but he hoped +he would. + +I rode in to Farmville on the 7th, arriving there early in the day. +Sheridan and Ord were pushing through, away to the south. Meade was +back towards the High Bridge, and Humphreys confronting Lee as before +stated. After having gone into bivouac at Prince Edward's Court House, +Sheridan learned that seven trains of provisions and forage were at +Appomattox, and determined to start at once and capture them; and a +forced march was necessary in order to get there before Lee's army could +secure them. He wrote me a note telling me this. This fact, together +with the incident related the night before by Dr. Smith, gave me the +idea of opening correspondence with General Lee on the subject of the +surrender of his army. I therefore wrote to him on this day, as +follows: + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S., 5 P.M., April 7, 1865. + +GENERAL R. E. LEE Commanding C. S. A. + +The result of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of +further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this +struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from +myself the responsibility of any further effusion of blood, by asking of +you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States army known +as the Army of Northern Virginia. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +Lee replied on the evening of the same day as follows: + + +April 7, 1865. + +GENERAL: I have received your note of this day. Though not +entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of further +resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate +your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore before +considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition +of its surrender. + +R. E. LEE, General. + +LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commanding Armies of the U. S. + + +This was not satisfactory, but I regarded it as deserving another letter +and wrote him as follows: + + +April 8, 1865. + +GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. A. + +Your note of last evening in reply to mine of same date, asking the +condition on which I will accept the surrender of the Army of Northern +Virginia is just received. In reply I would say that, peace being my +great desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon, namely: +that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking +up arms again against the Government of the United States until properly +exchanged. I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet any +officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to +you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon which the +surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia will be received. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +Lee's army was rapidly crumbling. Many of his soldiers had enlisted +from that part of the State where they now were, and were continually +dropping out of the ranks and going to their homes. I know that I +occupied a hotel almost destitute of furniture at Farmville, which had +probably been used as a Confederate hospital. The next morning when I +came out I found a Confederate colonel there, who reported to me and +said that he was the proprietor of that house, and that he was a colonel +of a regiment that had been raised in that neighborhood. He said that +when he came along past home, he found that he was the only man of the +regiment remaining with Lee's army, so he just dropped out, and now +wanted to surrender himself. I told him to stay there and he would not +be molested. That was one regiment which had been eliminated from Lee's +force by this crumbling process. + +Although Sheridan had been marching all day, his troops moved with +alacrity and without any straggling. They began to see the end of what +they had been fighting four years for. Nothing seemed to fatigue them. +They were ready to move without rations and travel without rest until +the end. Straggling had entirely ceased, and every man was now a rival +for the front. The infantry marched about as rapidly as the cavalry +could. + +Sheridan sent Custer with his division to move south of Appomattox +Station, which is about five miles south-west of the Court House, to get +west of the trains and destroy the roads to the rear. They got there +the night of the 8th, and succeeded partially; but some of the train men +had just discovered the movement of our troops and succeeded in running +off three of the trains. The other four were held by Custer. + +The head of Lee's column came marching up there on the morning of the +9th, not dreaming, I suppose, that there were any Union soldiers near. +The Confederates were surprised to find our cavalry had possession of +the trains. However, they were desperate and at once assaulted, hoping +to recover them. In the melee that ensued they succeeded in burning one +of the trains, but not in getting anything from it. Custer then ordered +the other trains run back on the road towards Farmville, and the fight +continued. + +So far, only our cavalry and the advance of Lee's army were engaged. +Soon, however, Lee's men were brought up from the rear, no doubt +expecting they had nothing to meet but our cavalry. But our infantry +had pushed forward so rapidly that by the time the enemy got up they +found Griffin's corps and the Army of the James confronting them. A +sharp engagement ensued, but Lee quickly set up a white flag. + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + +NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT MCLEAN'S HOUSE--THE +TERMS OF SURRENDER--LEE'S SURRENDER--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AFTER THE +SURRENDER. + +On the 8th I had followed the Army of the Potomac in rear of Lee. I was +suffering very severely with a sick headache, and stopped at a farmhouse +on the road some distance in rear of the main body of the army. I spent +the night in bathing my feet in hot water and mustard, and putting +mustard plasters on my wrists and the back part of my neck, hoping to be +cured by morning. During the night I received Lee's answer to my letter +of the 8th, inviting an interview between the lines on the following +morning. (*43) But it was for a different purpose from that of +surrendering his army, and I answered him as follows: + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S., April 9, 1865. + +GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. A. + +Your note of yesterday is received. As I have no authority to treat on +the subject of peace, the meeting proposed for ten A.M. to-day could +lead to no good. I will state, however, General, that I am equally +anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains the same +feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are well understood. By +the South laying down their arms they will hasten that most desirable +event, save thousands of human lives and hundreds of millions of +property not yet destroyed. Sincerely hoping that all our difficulties +may be settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself, +etc., + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +I proceeded at an early hour in the morning, still suffering with the +headache, to get to the head of the column. I was not more than two or +three miles from Appomattox Court House at the time, but to go direct I +would have to pass through Lee's army, or a portion of it. I had +therefore to move south in order to get upon a road coming up from +another direction. + +When the white flag was put out by Lee, as already described, I was in +this way moving towards Appomattox Court House, and consequently could +not be communicated with immediately, and be informed of what Lee had +done. Lee, therefore, sent a flag to the rear to advise Meade and one +to the front to Sheridan, saying that he had sent a message to me for +the purpose of having a meeting to consult about the surrender of his +army, and asked for a suspension of hostilities until I could be +communicated with. As they had heard nothing of this until the fighting +had got to be severe and all going against Lee, both of these commanders +hesitated very considerably about suspending hostilities at all. They +were afraid it was not in good faith, and we had the Army of Northern +Virginia where it could not escape except by some deception. They, +however, finally consented to a suspension of hostilities for two hours +to give an opportunity of communicating with me in that time, if +possible. It was found that, from the route I had taken, they would +probably not be able to communicate with me and get an answer back +within the time fixed unless the messenger should pass through the rebel +lines. + +Lee, therefore, sent an escort with the officer bearing this message +through his lines to me. + + +April 9, 1865. + +GENERAL: I received your note of this morning on the picket-line +whither I had come to meet you and ascertain definitely what terms were +embraced in your proposal of yesterday with reference to the surrender +of this army. I now request an interview in accordance with the offer +contained in your letter of yesterday for that purpose. + +R. E. LEE, General. + +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT Commanding U. S. Armies. + + +When the officer reached me I was still suffering with the sick +headache, but the instant I saw the contents of the note I was cured. I +wrote the following note in reply and hastened on: + + +April 9, 1865. + +GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. Armies. + +Your note of this date is but this moment (11.50 A.M.) received, in +consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and Lynchburg road to +the Farmville and Lynchburg road. I am at this writing about four miles +west of Walker's Church and will push forward to the front for the +purpose of meeting you. Notice sent to me on this road where you wish +the interview to take place will meet me. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +I was conducted at once to where Sheridan was located with his troops +drawn up in line of battle facing the Confederate army near by. They +were very much excited, and expressed their view that this was all a +ruse employed to enable the Confederates to get away. They said they +believed that Johnston was marching up from North Carolina now, and Lee +was moving to join him; and they would whip the rebels where they now +were in five minutes if I would only let them go in. But I had no doubt +about the good faith of Lee, and pretty soon was conducted to where he +was. I found him at the house of a Mr. McLean, at Appomattox Court +House, with Colonel Marshall, one of his staff officers, awaiting my +arrival. The head of his column was occupying a hill, on a portion of +which was an apple orchard, beyond a little valley which separated it +from that on the crest of which Sheridan's forces were drawn up in line +of battle to the south. + +Before stating what took place between General Lee and myself, I will +give all there is of the story of the famous apple tree. + +Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told until they +are believed to be true. The war of the rebellion was no exception to +this rule, and the story of the apple tree is one of those fictions +based on a slight foundation of fact. As I have said, there was an apple +orchard on the side of the hill occupied by the Confederate forces. +Running diagonally up the hill was a wagon road, which, at one point, +ran very near one of the trees, so that the wheels of vehicles had, on +that side, cut off the roots of this tree, leaving a little embankment. +General Babcock, of my staff, reported to me that when he first met +General Lee he was sitting upon this embankment with his feet in the +road below and his back resting against the tree. The story had no +other foundation than that. Like many other stories, it would be very +good if it was only true. + +I had known General Lee in the old army, and had served with him in the +Mexican War; but did not suppose, owing to the difference in our age and +rank, that he would remember me, while I would more naturally remember +him distinctly, because he was the chief of staff of General Scott in +the Mexican War. + +When I had left camp that morning I had not expected so soon the result +that was then taking place, and consequently was in rough garb. I was +without a sword, as I usually was when on horseback on the field, and +wore a soldier's blouse for a coat, with the shoulder straps of my rank +to indicate to the army who I was. When I went into the house I found +General Lee. We greeted each other, and after shaking hands took our +seats. I had my staff with me, a good portion of whom were in the room +during the whole of the interview. + +What General Lee's feelings were I do not know. As he was a man of much +dignity, with an impassible face, it was impossible to say whether he +felt inwardly glad that the end had finally come, or felt sad over the +result, and was too manly to show it. Whatever his feelings, they were +entirely concealed from my observation; but my own feelings, which had +been quite jubilant on the receipt of his letter, were sad and +depressed. I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall +of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much +for a cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for +which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least +excuse. I do not question, however, the sincerity of the great mass of +those who were opposed to us. + +General Lee was dressed in a full uniform which was entirely new, and +was wearing a sword of considerable value, very likely the sword which +had been presented by the State of Virginia; at all events, it was an +entirely different sword from the one that would ordinarily be worn in +the field. In my rough traveling suit, the uniform of a private with +the straps of a lieutenant-general, I must have contrasted very +strangely with a man so handsomely dressed, six feet high and of +faultless form. But this was not a matter that I thought of until +afterwards. + +We soon fell into a conversation about old army times. He remarked that +he remembered me very well in the old army; and I told him that as a +matter of course I remembered him perfectly, but from the difference in +our rank and years (there being about sixteen years' difference in our +ages), I had thought it very likely that I had not attracted his +attention sufficiently to be remembered by him after such a long +interval. Our conversation grew so pleasant that I almost forgot the +object of our meeting. After the conversation had run on in this style +for some time, General Lee called my attention to the object of our +meeting, and said that he had asked for this interview for the purpose +of getting from me the terms I proposed to give his army. I said that I +meant merely that his army should lay down their arms, not to take them +up again during the continuance of the war unless duly and properly +exchanged. He said that he had so understood my letter. + +Then we gradually fell off again into conversation about matters foreign +to the subject which had brought us together. This continued for some +little time, when General Lee again interrupted the course of the +conversation by suggesting that the terms I proposed to give his army +ought to be written out. I called to General Parker, secretary on my +staff, for writing materials, and commenced writing out the following +terms: + + +APPOMATTOX C. H., VA., + +Ap 19th, 1865. + +GEN. R. E. LEE, Comd'g C. S. A. + +GEN: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th +inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of N. Va. on the +following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made +in duplicate. One copy to be given to an officer designated by me, the +other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. +The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms +against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged, +and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men +of their commands. The arms, artillery and public property to be parked +and stacked, and turned over to the officer appointed by me to receive +them. This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their +private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be +allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States +authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force +where they may reside. + +Very respectfully, U. S. GRANT, Lt. Gen. + + +When I put my pen to the paper I did not know the first word that I +should make use of in writing the terms. I only knew what was in my +mind, and I wished to express it clearly, so that there could be no +mistaking it. As I wrote on, the thought occurred to me that the +officers had their own private horses and effects, which were important +to them, but of no value to us; also that it would be an unnecessary +humiliation to call upon them to deliver their side arms. + +No conversation, not one word, passed between General Lee and myself, +either about private property, side arms, or kindred subjects. He +appeared to have no objections to the terms first proposed; or if he had +a point to make against them he wished to wait until they were in +writing to make it. When he read over that part of the terms about side +arms, horses and private property of the officers, he remarked, with +some feeling, I thought, that this would have a happy effect upon his +army. + +Then, after a little further conversation, General Lee remarked to me +again that their army was organized a little differently from the army +of the United States (still maintaining by implication that we were two +countries); that in their army the cavalrymen and artillerists owned +their own horses; and he asked if he was to understand that the men who +so owned their horses were to be permitted to retain them. I told him +that as the terms were written they would not; that only the officers +were permitted to take their private property. He then, after reading +over the terms a second time, remarked that that was clear. + +I then said to him that I thought this would be about the last battle of +the war--I sincerely hoped so; and I said further I took it that most of +the men in the ranks were small farmers. The whole country had been so +raided by the two armies that it was doubtful whether they would be able +to put in a crop to carry themselves and their families through the next +winter without the aid of the horses they were then riding. The United +States did not want them and I would, therefore, instruct the officers I +left behind to receive the paroles of his troops to let every man of the +Confederate army who claimed to own a horse or mule take the animal to +his home. Lee remarked again that this would have a happy effect. + +He then sat down and wrote out the following letter: + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865. + +GENERAL:--I received your letter of this date containing the terms of +the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you. As +they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the +8th inst., they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper +officers to carry the stipulations into effect. + +R. E. LEE, General. LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. + + +While duplicates of the two letters were being made, the Union generals +present were severally presented to General Lee. + +The much talked of surrendering of Lee's sword and my handing it back, +this and much more that has been said about it is the purest romance. +The word sword or side arms was not mentioned by either of us until I +wrote it in the terms. There was no premeditation, and it did not occur +to me until the moment I wrote it down. If I had happened to omit it, +and General Lee had called my attention to it, I should have put it in +the terms precisely as I acceded to the provision about the soldiers +retaining their horses. + +General Lee, after all was completed and before taking his leave, +remarked that his army was in a very bad condition for want of food, and +that they were without forage; that his men had been living for some +days on parched corn exclusively, and that he would have to ask me for +rations and forage. I told him "certainly," and asked for how many men +he wanted rations. His answer was "about twenty-five thousand;" and I +authorized him to send his own commissary and quartermaster to +Appomattox Station, two or three miles away, where he could have, out of +the trains we had stopped, all the provisions wanted. As for forage, we +had ourselves depended almost entirely upon the country for that. + +Generals Gibbon, Griffin and Merritt were designated by me to carry into +effect the paroling of Lee's troops before they should start for their +homes--General Lee leaving Generals Longstreet, Gordon and Pendleton for +them to confer with in order to facilitate this work. Lee and I then +separated as cordially as we had met, he returning to his own lines, and +all went into bivouac for the night at Appomattox. + +Soon after Lee's departure I telegraphed to Washington as follows: + + +HEADQUARTERS APPOMATTOX C. H., VA., April 9th, 1865, 4.30 P.M. + +HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington. + +General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia this afternoon on +terms proposed by myself. The accompanying additional correspondence +will show the conditions fully. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +When news of the surrender first reached our lines our men commenced +firing a salute of a hundred guns in honor of the victory. I at once +sent word, however, to have it stopped. The Confederates were now our +prisoners, and we did not want to exult over their downfall. + +I determined to return to Washington at once, with a view to putting a +stop to the purchase of supplies, and what I now deemed other useless +outlay of money. Before leaving, however, I thought I (*44) would like +to see General Lee again; so next morning I rode out beyond our lines +towards his headquarters, preceded by a bugler and a staff-officer +carrying a white flag. + +Lee soon mounted his horse, seeing who it was, and met me. We had there +between the lines, sitting on horseback, a very pleasant conversation of +over half an hour, in the course of which Lee said to me that the South +was a big country and that we might have to march over it three or four +times before the war entirely ended, but that we would now be able to do +it as they could no longer resist us. He expressed it as his earnest +hope, however, that we would not be called upon to cause more loss and +sacrifice of life; but he could not foretell the result. I then +suggested to General Lee that there was not a man in the Confederacy +whose influence with the soldiery and the whole people was as great as +his, and that if he would now advise the surrender of all the armies I +had no doubt his advice would be followed with alacrity. But Lee said, +that he could not do that without consulting the President first. I +knew there was no use to urge him to do anything against his ideas of +what was right. + +I was accompanied by my staff and other officers, some of whom seemed to +have a great desire to go inside the Confederate lines. They finally +asked permission of Lee to do so for the purpose of seeing some of their +old army friends, and the permission was granted. They went over, had a +very pleasant time with their old friends, and brought some of them back +with them when they returned. + +When Lee and I separated he went back to his lines and I returned to the +house of Mr. McLean. Here the officers of both armies came in great +numbers, and seemed to enjoy the meeting as much as though they had been +friends separated for a long time while fighting battles under the same +flag. For the time being it looked very much as if all thought of the +war had escaped their minds. After an hour pleasantly passed in this +way I set out on horseback, accompanied by my staff and a small escort, +for Burkesville Junction, up to which point the railroad had by this +time been repaired. + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. + +MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES--RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH +--PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND--ARRIVAL AT WASHINGTON--PRESIDENT +LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION--PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S POLICY. + +After the fall of Petersburg, and when the armies of the Potomac and the +James were in motion to head off Lee's army, the morale of the National +troops had greatly improved. There was no more straggling, no more rear +guards. The men who in former times had been falling back, were now, as +I have already stated, striving to get to the front. For the first time +in four weary years they felt that they were now nearing the time when +they could return to their homes with their country saved. On the other +hand, the Confederates were more than correspondingly depressed. Their +despondency increased with each returning day, and especially after the +battle of Sailor's Creek. They threw away their arms in constantly +increasing numbers, dropping out of the ranks and betaking themselves to +the woods in the hope of reaching their homes. I have already instanced +the case of the entire disintegration of a regiment whose colonel I met +at Farmville. As a result of these and other influences, when Lee +finally surrendered at Appomattox, there were only 28,356 officers and +men left to be paroled, and many of these were without arms. It was +probably this latter fact which gave rise to the statement sometimes +made, North and South, that Lee surrendered a smaller number of men than +what the official figures show. As a matter of official record, and in +addition to the number paroled as given above, we captured between March +29th and the date of surrender 19,132 Confederates, to say nothing of +Lee's other losses, killed, wounded and missing, during the series of +desperate conflicts which marked his headlong and determined flight. +The same record shows the number of cannon, including those at +Appomattox, to have been 689 between the dates named. + +There has always been a great conflict of opinion as to the number of +troops engaged in every battle, or all important battles, fought between +the sections, the South magnifying the number of Union troops engaged +and belittling their own. Northern writers have fallen, in many +instances, into the same error. I have often heard gentlemen, who were +thoroughly loyal to the Union, speak of what a splendid fight the South +had made and successfully continued for four years before yielding, with +their twelve million of people against our twenty, and of the twelve +four being colored slaves, non-combatants. I will add to their +argument. We had many regiments of brave and loyal men who volunteered +under great difficulty from the twelve million belonging to the South. + +But the South had rebelled against the National government. It was not +bound by any constitutional restrictions. The whole South was a +military camp. The occupation of the colored people was to furnish +supplies for the army. Conscription was resorted to early, and embraced +every male from the age of eighteen to forty-five, excluding only those +physically unfit to serve in the field, and the necessary number of +civil officers of State and intended National government. The old and +physically disabled furnished a good portion of these. The slaves, the +non-combatants, one-third of the whole, were required to work in the +field without regard to sex, and almost without regard to age. Children +from the age of eight years could and did handle the hoe; they were not +much older when they began to hold the plough. The four million of +colored non-combatants were equal to more than three times their number +in the North, age for age and sex for sex, in supplying food from the +soil to support armies. Women did not work in the fields in the North, +and children attended school. + +The arts of peace were carried on in the North. Towns and cities grew +during the war. Inventions were made in all kinds of machinery to +increase the products of a day's labor in the shop, and in the field. +In the South no opposition was allowed to the government which had been +set up and which would have become real and respected if the rebellion +had been successful. No rear had to be protected. All the troops in +service could be brought to the front to contest every inch of ground +threatened with invasion. The press of the South, like the people who +remained at home, were loyal to the Southern cause. + +In the North, the country, the towns and the cities presented about the +same appearance they do in time of peace. The furnace was in blast, the +shops were filled with workmen, the fields were cultivated, not only to +supply the population of the North and the troops invading the South, +but to ship abroad to pay a part of the expense of the war. In the +North the press was free up to the point of open treason. The citizen +could entertain his views and express them. Troops were necessary in +the Northern States to prevent prisoners from the Southern army being +released by outside force, armed and set at large to destroy by fire our +Northern cities. Plans were formed by Northern and Southern citizens to +burn our cities, to poison the water supplying them, to spread infection +by importing clothing from infected regions, to blow up our river and +lake steamers--regardless of the destruction of innocent lives. The +copperhead disreputable portion of the press magnified rebel successes, +and belittled those of the Union army. It was, with a large following, +an auxiliary to the Confederate army. The North would have been much +stronger with a hundred thousand of these men in the Confederate ranks +and the rest of their kind thoroughly subdued, as the Union sentiment +was in the South, than we were as the battle was fought. + +As I have said, the whole South was a military camp. The colored +people, four million in number, were submissive, and worked in the field +and took care of the families while the able-bodied white men were at +the front fighting for a cause destined to defeat. The cause was +popular, and was enthusiastically supported by the young men. The +conscription took all of them. Before the war was over, further +conscriptions took those between fourteen and eighteen years of age as +junior reserves, and those between forty-five and sixty as senior +reserves. It would have been an offence, directly after the war, and +perhaps it would be now, to ask any able-bodied man in the South, who +was between the ages of fourteen and sixty at any time during the war, +whether he had been in the Confederate army. He would assert that he +had, or account for his absence from the ranks. Under such +circumstances it is hard to conceive how the North showed such a +superiority of force in every battle fought. I know they did not. + +During 1862 and '3, John H. Morgan, a partisan officer, of no military +education, but possessed of courage and endurance, operated in the rear +of the Army of the Ohio in Kentucky and Tennessee. He had no base of +supplies to protect, but was at home wherever he went. The army +operating against the South, on the contrary, had to protect its lines +of communication with the North, from which all supplies had to come to +the front. Every foot of road had to be guarded by troops stationed at +convenient distances apart. These guards could not render assistance +beyond the points where stationed. Morgan Was foot-loose and could +operate where, his information--always correct--led him to believe he +could do the greatest damage. During the time he was operating in this +way he killed, wounded and captured several times the number he ever had +under his command at any one time. He destroyed many millions of +property in addition. Places he did not attack had to be guarded as if +threatened by him. Forrest, an abler soldier, operated farther west, +and held from the National front quite as many men as could be spared +for offensive operations. It is safe to say that more than half the +National army was engaged in guarding lines of supplies, or were on +leave, sick in hospital or on detail which prevented their bearing arms. +Then, again, large forces were employed where no Confederate army +confronted them. I deem it safe to say that there were no large +engagements where the National numbers compensated for the advantage of +position and intrenchment occupied by the enemy. + +While I was in pursuit of General Lee, the President went to Richmond in +company with Admiral Porter, and on board his flagship. He found the +people of that city in great consternation. The leading citizens among +the people who had remained at home surrounded him, anxious that +something should be done to relieve them from suspense. General Weitzel +was not then in the city, having taken offices in one of the neighboring +villages after his troops had succeeded in subduing the conflagration +which they had found in progress on entering the Confederate capital. +The President sent for him, and, on his arrival, a short interview was +had on board the vessel, Admiral Porter and a leading citizen of +Virginia being also present. After this interview the President wrote an +order in about these words, which I quote from memory: "General Weitzel +is authorized to permit the body calling itself the Legislature of +Virginia to meet for the purpose of recalling the Virginia troops from +the Confederate armies." + +Immediately some of the gentlemen composing that body wrote out a call +for a meeting and had it published in their papers. This call, however, +went very much further than Mr. Lincoln had contemplated, as he did not +say the "Legislature of Virginia" but "the body which called itself the +Legislature of Virginia." Mr. Stanton saw the call as published in the +Northern papers the very next issue and took the liberty of +countermanding the order authorizing any meeting of the Legislature, or +any other body, and this notwithstanding the fact that the President was +nearer the spot than he was. + +This was characteristic of Mr. Stanton. He was a man who never +questioned his own authority, and who always did in war time what he +wanted to do. He was an able constitutional lawyer and jurist; but the +Constitution was not an impediment to him while the war lasted. In this +latter particular I entirely agree with the view he evidently held. The +Constitution was not framed with a view to any such rebellion as that of +1861-5. While it did not authorize rebellion it made no provision +against it. Yet the right to resist or suppress rebellion is as +inherent as the right of self-defence, and as natural as the right of an +individual to preserve his life when in jeopardy. The Constitution was +therefore in abeyance for the time being, so far as it in any way +affected the progress and termination of the war. + +Those in rebellion against the government of the United States were not +restricted by constitutional provisions, or any other, except the acts +of their Congress, which was loyal and devoted to the cause for which +the South was then fighting. It would be a hard case when one-third of +a nation, united in rebellion against the national authority, is +entirely untrammeled, that the other two-thirds, in their efforts to +maintain the Union intact, should be restrained by a Constitution +prepared by our ancestors for the express purpose of insuring the +permanency of the confederation of the States. + +After I left General Lee at Appomattox Station, I went with my staff and +a few others directly to Burkesville Station on my way to Washington. +The road from Burkesville back having been newly repaired and the ground +being soft, the train got off the track frequently, and, as a result, it +was after midnight of the second day when I reached City Point. As soon +as possible I took a dispatch-boat thence to Washington City. + +While in Washington I was very busy for a time in preparing the +necessary orders for the new state of affairs; communicating with my +different commanders of separate departments, bodies of troops, etc. +But by the 14th I was pretty well through with this work, so as to be +able to visit my children, who were then in Burlington, New Jersey, +attending school. Mrs. Grant was with me in Washington at the time, and +we were invited by President and Mrs. Lincoln to accompany them to the +theatre on the evening of that day. I replied to the President's verbal +invitation to the effect, that if we were in the city we would take +great pleasure in accompanying them; but that I was very anxious to get +away and visit my children, and if I could get through my work during +the day I should do so. I did get through and started by the evening +train on the 14th, sending Mr. Lincoln word, of course, that I would not +be at the theatre. + +At that time the railroad to New York entered Philadelphia on Broad +Street; passengers were conveyed in ambulances to the Delaware River, +and then ferried to Camden, at which point they took the cars again. +When I reached the ferry, on the east side of the City of Philadelphia, +I found people awaiting my arrival there; and also dispatches informing +me of the assassination of the President and Mr. Seward, and of the +probable assassination of the Vice President, Mr. Johnson, and +requesting my immediate return. + +It would be impossible for me to describe the feeling that overcame me +at the news of these assassinations, more especially the assassination +of the President. I knew his goodness of heart, his generosity, his +yielding disposition, his desire to have everybody happy, and above all +his desire to see all the people of the United States enter again upon +the full privileges of citizenship with equality among all. I knew also +the feeling that Mr. Johnson had expressed in speeches and conversation +against the Southern people, and I feared that his course towards them +would be such as to repel, and make them unwilling citizens; and if they +became such they would remain so for a long while. I felt that +reconstruction had been set back, no telling how far. + +I immediately arranged for getting a train to take me back to Washington +City; but Mrs. Grant was with me; it was after midnight and Burlington +was but an hour away. Finding that I could accompany her to our house +and return about as soon as they would be ready to take me from the +Philadelphia station, I went up with her and returned immediately by the +same special train. The joy that I had witnessed among the people in +the street and in public places in Washington when I left there, had +been turned to grief; the city was in reality a city of mourning. I +have stated what I believed then the effect of this would be, and my +judgment now is that I was right. I believe the South would have been +saved from very much of the hardness of feeling that was engendered by +Mr. Johnson's course towards them during the first few months of his +administration. Be this as it may, Mr. Lincoln's assassination was +particularly unfortunate for the entire nation. + +Mr. Johnson's course towards the South did engender bitterness of +feeling. His denunciations of treason and his ever-ready remark, +"Treason is a crime and must be made odious," was repeated to all those +men of the South who came to him to get some assurances of safety so +that they might go to work at something with the feeling that what they +obtained would be secure to them. He uttered his denunciations with +great vehemence, and as they were accompanied with no assurances of +safety, many Southerners were driven to a point almost beyond endurance. + +The President of the United States is, in a large degree, or ought to +be, a representative of the feeling, wishes and judgment of those over +whom he presides; and the Southerners who read the denunciations of +themselves and their people must have come to the conclusion that he +uttered the sentiments of the Northern people; whereas, as a matter of +fact, but for the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, I believe the great +majority of the Northern people, and the soldiers unanimously, would +have been in favor of a speedy reconstruction on terms that would be the +least humiliating to the people who had rebelled against their +government. They believed, I have no doubt, as I did, that besides +being the mildest, it was also the wisest, policy. + +The people who had been in rebellion must necessarily come back into the +Union, and be incorporated as an integral part of the nation. Naturally +the nearer they were placed to an equality with the people who had not +rebelled, the more reconciled they would feel with their old +antagonists, and the better citizens they would be from the beginning. +They surely would not make good citizens if they felt that they had a +yoke around their necks. + +I do not believe that the majority of the Northern people at that time +were in favor of negro suffrage. They supposed that it would naturally +follow the freedom of the negro, but that there would be a time of +probation, in which the ex-slaves could prepare themselves for the +privileges of citizenship before the full right would be conferred; but +Mr. Johnson, after a complete revolution of sentiment, seemed to regard +the South not only as an oppressed people, but as the people best +entitled to consideration of any of our citizens. This was more than +the people who had secured to us the perpetuation of the Union were +prepared for, and they became more radical in their views. The +Southerners had the most power in the executive branch, Mr. Johnson +having gone to their side; and with a compact South, and such sympathy +and support as they could get from the North, they felt that they would +be able to control the nation at once, and already many of them acted as +if they thought they were entitled to do so. + +Thus Mr. Johnson, fighting Congress on the one hand, and receiving the +support of the South on the other, drove Congress, which was +overwhelmingly republican, to the passing of first one measure and then +another to restrict his power. There being a solid South on one side +that was in accord with the political party in the North which had +sympathized with the rebellion, it finally, in the judgment of Congress +and of the majority of the legislatures of the States, became necessary +to enfranchise the negro, in all his ignorance. In this work, I shall +not discuss the question of how far the policy of Congress in this +particular proved a wise one. It became an absolute necessity, however, +because of the foolhardiness of the President and the blindness of the +Southern people to their own interest. As to myself, while strongly +favoring the course that would be the least humiliating to the people +who had been in rebellion, I gradually worked up to the point where, +with the majority of the people, I favored immediate enfranchisement. + + + +CHAPTER LXIX. + +SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON--JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN--CAPTURE OF +MOBILE--WILSON'S EXPEDITION--CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS--GENERAL +THOMAS'S QUALITIES--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY. + +When I left Appomattox I ordered General Meade to proceed leisurely back +to Burkesville Station with the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the +James, and to go into camp there until further orders from me. General +Johnston, as has been stated before, was in North Carolina confronting +General Sherman. It could not be known positively, of course, whether +Johnston would surrender on the news of Lee's surrender, though I +supposed he would; and if he did not, Burkesville Station was the +natural point from which to move to attack him. The army which I could +have sent against him was superior to his, and that with which Sherman +confronted him was also superior; and between the two he would +necessarily have been crushed, or driven away. With the loss of their +capital and the Army of Northern Virginia it was doubtful whether +Johnston's men would have the spirit to stand. My belief was that he +would make no such attempt; but I adopted this course as a precaution +against what might happen, however improbable. + +Simultaneously with my starting from City Point, I sent a messenger to +North Carolina by boat with dispatches to General Sherman, informing him +of the surrender of Lee and his army; also of the terms which I had +given him; and I authorized Sherman to give the same terms to Johnston +if the latter chose to accept them. The country is familiar with the +terms that Sherman agreed to CONDITIONALLY, because they embraced a +political question as well as a military one and he would therefore have +to confer with the government before agreeing to them definitely. + +General Sherman had met Mr. Lincoln at City Point while visiting there +to confer with me about our final movement, and knew what Mr. Lincoln +had said to the peace commissioners when he met them at Hampton Roads, +viz.: that before he could enter into negotiations with them they would +have to agree to two points: one being that the Union should be +preserved, and the other that slavery should be abolished; and if they +were ready to concede these two points he was almost ready to sign his +name to a blank piece of paper and permit them to fill out the balance +of the terms upon which we would live together. He had also seen +notices in the newspapers of Mr. Lincoln's visit to Richmond, and had +read in the same papers that while there he had authorized the convening +of the Legislature of Virginia. + +Sherman thought, no doubt, in adding to the terms that I had made with +general Lee, that he was but carrying out the wishes of the President of +the United States. But seeing that he was going beyond his authority, +he made it a point that the terms were only conditional. They signed +them with this understanding, and agreed to a truce until the terms +could be sent to Washington for approval; if approved by the proper +authorities there, they would then be final; if not approved, then he +would give due notice, before resuming hostilities. As the world knows, +Sherman, from being one of the most popular generals of the land +(Congress having even gone so far as to propose a bill providing for a +second lieutenant-general for the purpose of advancing him to that +grade), was denounced by the President and Secretary of War in very +bitter terms. Some people went so far as to denounce him as a traitor +--a most preposterous term to apply to a man who had rendered so much +service as he had, even supposing he had made a mistake in granting such +terms as he did to Johnston and his army. If Sherman had taken +authority to send Johnston with his army home, with their arms to be put +in the arsenals of their own States, without submitting the question to +the authorities at Washington, the suspicions against him might have +some foundation. But the feeling against Sherman died out very rapidly, +and it was not many weeks before he was restored to the fullest +confidence of the American people. + +When, some days after my return to Washington, President Johnson and the +Secretary of war received the terms which General Sherman had forwarded +for approval, a cabinet meeting was immediately called and I was sent +for. There seemed to be the greatest consternation, lest Sherman would +commit the government to terms which they were not willing to accede to +and which he had no right to grant. A message went out directing the +troops in the South not to obey General Sherman. I was ordered to +proceed at once to North Carolina and take charge of matter there +myself. Of course I started without delay, and reached there as soon as +possible. I repaired to Raleigh, where Sherman was, as quietly as +possible, hoping to see him without even his army learning of my +presence. + +When I arrived I went to Sherman's headquarters, and we were at once +closeted together. I showed him the instruction and orders under which +I visited him. I told him that I wanted him to notify General Johnston +that the terms which they had conditionally agreed upon had not been +approved in Washington, and that he was authorized to offer the same +terms I had given General Lee. I sent Sherman to do this himself. I +did not wish the knowledge of my presence to be known to the army +generally; so I left it to Sherman to negotiate the terms of the +surrender solely by himself, and without the enemy knowing that I was +anywhere near the field. As soon as possible I started to get away, to +leave Sherman quite free and untrammelled. + +At Goldsboro', on my way back, I met a mail, containing the last +newspapers, and I found in them indications of great excitement in the +North over the terms Sherman had given Johnston; and harsh orders that +had been promulgated by the President and Secretary of War. I knew that +Sherman must see these papers, and I fully realized what great +indignation they would cause him, though I do not think his feelings +could have been more excited than were my own. But like the true and +loyal soldier that he was, he carried out the instructions I had given +him, obtained the surrender of Johnston's army, and settled down in his +camp about Raleigh, to await final orders. + +There were still a few expeditions out in the South that could not be +communicated with, and had to be left to act according to the judgment +of their respective commanders. With these it was impossible to tell +how the news of the surrender of Lee and Johnston, of which they must +have heard, might affect their judgment as to what was best to do. + +The three expeditions which I had tried so hard to get off from the +commands of Thomas and Canby did finally get off: one under Canby +himself, against Mobile, late in March; that under Stoneman from East +Tennessee on the 20th; and the one under Wilson, starting from Eastport, +Mississippi, on the 22d of March. They were all eminently successful, +but without any good result. Indeed much valuable property was destroyed +and many lives lost at a time when we would have liked to spare them. +The war was practically over before their victories were gained. They +were so late in commencing operations, that they did not hold any troops +away that otherwise would have been operating against the armies which +were gradually forcing the Confederate armies to a surrender. The only +possible good that we may have experienced from these raids was by +Stoneman's getting near Lynchburg about the time the armies of the +Potomac and the James were closing in on Lee at Appomattox. + +Stoneman entered North Carolina and then pushed north to strike the +Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. He got upon that road, destroyed its +bridges at different places and rendered the road useless to the enemy +up to within a few miles of Lynchburg. His approach caused the +evacuation of that city about the time we were at Appomattox, and was +the cause of a commotion we heard of there. He then pushed south, and +was operating in the rear of Johnston's army about the time the +negotiations were going on between Sherman and Johnston for the latter's +surrender. In this raid Stoneman captured and destroyed a large amount +of stores, while fourteen guns and nearly two thousand prisoners were +the trophies of his success. + +Canby appeared before Mobile on the 27th of March. The city of Mobile +was protected by two forts, besides other intrenchments--Spanish Fort, +on the east side of the bay, and Fort Blakely, north of the city. These +forts were invested. On the night of the 8th of April, the National +troops having carried the enemy's works at one point, Spanish Fort was +evacuated; and on the 9th, the very day of Lee's surrender, Blakely was +carried by assault, with a considerable loss to us. On the 11th the +city was evacuated. + +I had tried for more than two years to have an expedition sent against +Mobile when its possession by us would have been of great advantage. It +finally cost lives to take it when its possession was of no importance, +and when, if left alone, it would within a few days have fallen into our +hands without any bloodshed whatever. + +Wilson moved out with full 12,000 men, well equipped and well armed. He +was an energetic officer and accomplished his work rapidly. Forrest was +in his front, but with neither his old-time army nor his old-time +prestige. He now had principally conscripts. His conscripts were +generally old men and boys. He had a few thousand regular cavalry left, +but not enough to even retard materially the progress of Wilson's +cavalry. Selma fell on the 2d of April, with a large number of +prisoners and a large quantity of war material, machine shops, etc., to +be disposed of by the victors. Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and West Point +fell in quick succession. These were all important points to the enemy +by reason of their railroad connections, as depots of supplies, and +because of their manufactories of war material. They were fortified or +intrenched, and there was considerable fighting before they were +captured. Macon surrendered on the 21st of April. Here news was +received of the negotiations for the surrender of Johnston's army. +Wilson belonged to the military division commanded by Sherman, and of +course was bound by his terms. This stopped all fighting. + +General Richard Taylor had now become the senior Confederate officer +still at liberty east of the Mississippi River, and on the 4th of May he +surrendered everything within the limits of this extensive command. +General E. Kirby Smith surrendered the trans-Mississippi department on +the 26th of May, leaving no other Confederate army at liberty to +continue the war. + +Wilson's raid resulted in the capture of the fugitive president of the +defunct confederacy before he got out of the country. This occurred at +Irwinsville, Georgia, on the 11th of May. For myself, and I believe Mr. +Lincoln shared the feeling, I would have been very glad to have seen Mr. +Davis succeed in escaping, but for one reason: I feared that if not +captured, he might get into the trans-Mississippi region and there set +up a more contracted confederacy. The young men now out of homes and +out of employment might have rallied under his standard and protracted +the war yet another year. The Northern people were tired of the war, +they were tired of piling up a debt which would be a further mortgage +upon their homes. + +Mr. Lincoln, I believe, wanted Mr. Davis to escape, because he did not +wish to deal with the matter of his punishment. He knew there would be +people clamoring for the punishment of the ex-Confederate president, for +high treason. He thought blood enough had already been spilled to atone +for our wickedness as a nation. At all events he did not wish to be the +judge to decide whether more should be shed or not. But his own life +was sacrificed at the hands of an assassin before the ex-president of +the Confederacy was a prisoner in the hands of the government which he +had lent all his talent and all his energies to destroy. + +All things are said to be wisely directed, and for the best interest of +all concerned. This reflection does not, however, abate in the +slightest our sense of bereavement in the untimely loss of so good and +great a man as Abraham Lincoln. + +He would have proven the best friend the South could have had, and saved +much of the wrangling and bitterness of feeling brought out by +reconstruction under a President who at first wished to revenge himself +upon Southern men of better social standing than himself, but who still +sought their recognition, and in a short time conceived the idea and +advanced the proposition to become their Moses to lead them triumphantly +out of all their difficulties. + +The story of the legislation enacted during the reconstruction period to +stay the hands of the President is too fresh in the minds of the people +to be told now. Much of it, no doubt, was unconstitutional; but it was +hoped that the laws enacted would serve their purpose before the +question of constitutionality could be submitted to the judiciary and a +decision obtained. These laws did serve their purpose, and now remain "a +dead letter" upon the statute books of the United States, no one taking +interest enough in them to give them a passing thought. + +Much was said at the time about the garb Mr. Davis was wearing when he +was captured. I cannot settle this question from personal knowledge of +the facts; but I have been under the belief, from information given to +me by General Wilson shortly after the event, that when Mr. Davis +learned that he was surrounded by our cavalry he was in his tent dressed +in a gentleman's dressing gown. Naturally enough, Mr. Davis wanted to +escape, and would not reflect much how this should be accomplished +provided it might be done successfully. If captured, he would be no +ordinary prisoner. He represented all there was of that hostility to +the government which had caused four years of the bloodiest war--and the +most costly in other respects of which history makes any record. Every +one supposed he would be tried for treason if captured, and that he +would be executed. Had he succeeded in making his escape in any +disguise it would have been adjudged a good thing afterwards by his +admirers. + +As my official letters on file in the War Department, as well as my +remarks in this book, reflect upon General Thomas by dwelling somewhat +upon his tardiness, it is due to myself, as well as to him, that I give +my estimate of him as a soldier. The same remark will apply also in the +case of General Canby. I had been at West Point with Thomas one year, +and had known him later in the old army. He was a man of commanding +appearance, slow and deliberate in speech and action; sensible, honest +and brave. He possessed valuable soldierly qualities in an eminent +degree. He gained the confidence of all who served under him, and +almost their love. This implies a very valuable quality. It is a +quality which calls out the most efficient services of the troops +serving under the commander possessing it. + +Thomas's dispositions were deliberately made, and always good. He could +not be driven from a point he was given to hold. He was not as good, +however, in pursuit as he was in action. I do not believe that he could +ever have conducted Sherman's army from Chattanooga to Atlanta against +the defences and the commander guarding that line in 1864. On the other +hand, if it had been given him to hold the line which Johnston tried to +hold, neither that general nor Sherman, nor any other officer could have +done it better. + +Thomas was a valuable officer, who richly deserved, as he has received, +the plaudits of his countrymen for the part he played in the great +tragedy of 1861-5. + +General Canby was an officer of great merit. He was naturally studious, +and inclined to the law. There have been in the army but very few, if +any, officers who took as much interest in reading and digesting every +act of Congress and every regulation for the government of the army as +he. His knowledge gained in this way made him a most valuable staff +officer, a capacity in which almost all his army services were rendered +up to the time of his being assigned to the Military Division of the +Gulf. He was an exceedingly modest officer, though of great talent and +learning. I presume his feelings when first called upon to command a +large army against a fortified city, were somewhat like my own when +marching a regiment against General Thomas Harris in Missouri in 1861. +Neither of us would have felt the slightest trepidation in going into +battle with some one else commanding. Had Canby been in other +engagements afterwards, he would, I have no doubt, have advanced without +any fear arising from a sense of the responsibility. He was afterwards +killed in the lava beds of Southern Oregon, while in pursuit of the +hostile Modoc Indians. His character was as pure as his talent and +learning were great. His services were valuable during the war, but +principally as a bureau officer. I have no idea that it was from choice +that his services were rendered in an office, but because of his +superior efficiency there. + + + +CHAPTER LXX. + +THE END OF THE WAR--THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON--ONE OF LINCOLN'S ANECDOTES +--GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON--CHARACTERISTICS OF LINCOLN AND STANTON +--ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS. + +Things began to quiet down, and as the certainty that there would be no +more armed resistance became clearer, the troops in North Carolina and +Virginia were ordered to march immediately to the capital, and go into +camp there until mustered out. Suitable garrisons were left at the +prominent places throughout the South to insure obedience to the laws +that might be enacted for the government of the several States, and to +insure security to the lives and property of all classes. I do not know +how far this was necessary, but I deemed it necessary, at that time, +that such a course should be pursued. I think now that these garrisons +were continued after they ceased to be absolutely required; but it is +not to be expected that such a rebellion as was fought between the +sections from 1861 to 1865 could terminate without leaving many serious +apprehensions in the mind of the people as to what should be done. + +Sherman marched his troops from Goldsboro, up to Manchester, on the +south side of the James River, opposite Richmond, and there put them in +camp, while he went back to Savannah to see what the situation was +there. + +It was during this trip that the last outrage was committed upon him. +Halleck had been sent to Richmond to command Virginia, and had issued +orders prohibiting even Sherman's own troops from obeying his, +Sherman's, orders. Sherman met the papers on his return, containing +this order of Halleck, and very justly felt indignant at the outrage. +On his arrival at Fortress Monroe returning from Savannah, Sherman +received an invitation from Halleck to come to Richmond and be his +guest. This he indignantly refused, and informed Halleck, furthermore, +that he had seen his order. He also stated that he was coming up to +take command of his troops, and as he marched through it would probably +be as well for Halleck not to show himself, because he (Sherman) would +not be responsible for what some rash person might do through +indignation for the treatment he had received. Very soon after that, +Sherman received orders from me to proceed to Washington City, and to go +into camp on the south side of the city pending the mustering-out of the +troops. + +There was no incident worth noting in the march northward from +Goldsboro, to Richmond, or in that from Richmond to Washington City. +The army, however, commanded by Sherman, which had been engaged in all +the battles of the West and had marched from the Mississippi through the +Southern States to the sea, from there to Goldsboro, and thence to +Washington City, had passed over many of the battle-fields of the Army +of the Potomac, thus having seen, to a greater extent than any other +body of troops, the entire theatre of the four years' war for the +preservation of the Union. + +The march of Sherman's army from Atlanta to the sea and north to +Goldsboro, while it was not accompanied with the danger that was +anticipated, yet was magnificent in its results, and equally magnificent +in the way it was conducted. It had an important bearing, in various +ways, upon the great object we had in view, that of closing the war. +All the States east of the Mississippi River up to the State of Georgia, +had felt the hardships of the war. Georgia, and South Carolina, and +almost all of North Carolina, up to this time, had been exempt from +invasion by the Northern armies, except upon their immediate sea coasts. +Their newspapers had given such an account of Confederate success, that +the people who remained at home had been convinced that the Yankees had +been whipped from first to last, and driven from pillar to post, and +that now they could hardly be holding out for any other purpose than to +find a way out of the war with honor to themselves. + +Even during this march of Sherman's the newspapers in his front were +proclaiming daily that his army was nothing better than a mob of men who +were frightened out of their wits and hastening, panic-stricken, to try +to get under the cover of our navy for protection against the Southern +people. As the army was seen marching on triumphantly, however, the +minds of the people became disabused and they saw the true state of +affairs. In turn they became disheartened, and would have been glad to +submit without compromise. + +Another great advantage resulting from this march, and which was +calculated to hasten the end, was the fact that the great storehouse of +Georgia was entirely cut off from the Confederate armies. As the troops +advanced north from Savannah, the destruction of the railroads in South +Carolina and the southern part of North Carolina, further cut off their +resources and left the armies still in Virginia and North Carolina +dependent for supplies upon a very small area of country, already very +much exhausted of food and forage. + +In due time the two armies, one from Burkesville Junction and the other +from the neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina, arrived and went into +camp near the Capital, as directed. The troops were hardy, being inured +to fatigue, and they appeared in their respective camps as ready and fit +for duty as they had ever been in their lives. I doubt whether an equal +body of men of any nation, take them man for man, officer for officer, +was ever gotten together that would have proved their equal in a great +battle. + +The armies of Europe are machines; the men are brave and the officers +capable; but the majority of the soldiers in most of the nations of +Europe are taken from a class of people who are not very intelligent and +who have very little interest in the contest in which they are called +upon to take part. Our armies were composed of men who were able to +read, men who knew what they were fighting for, and could not be induced +to serve as soldiers, except in an emergency when the safety of the +nation was involved, and so necessarily must have been more than equal +to men who fought merely because they were brave and because they were +thoroughly drilled and inured to hardships. + +There was nothing of particular importance occurred during the time +these troops were in camp before starting North. + +I remember one little incident which I will relate as an anecdote +characteristic of Mr. Lincoln. It occurred a day after I reached +Washington, and about the time General Meade reached Burkesville with +the army. Governor Smith of Virginia had left Richmond with the +Confederate States government, and had gone to Danville. Supposing I +was necessarily with the army at Burkesville, he addressed a letter to +me there informing me that, as governor of the Commonwealth of the State +of Virginia, he had temporarily removed the State capital from Richmond +to Danville, and asking if he would be permitted to perform the +functions of his office there without molestation by the Federal +authorities. I give this letter only in substance. He also inquired of +me whether in case he was not allowed to perform the duties of his +office, he with a few others might not be permitted to leave the country +and go abroad without interference. General Meade being informed that a +flag of truce was outside his pickets with a letter to me, at once sent +out and had the letter brought in without informing the officer who +brought it that I was not present. He read the letter and telegraphed +me its contents. Meeting Mr. Lincoln shortly after receiving this +dispatch, I repeated its contents to him. Mr. Lincoln, supposing I was +asking for instructions, said, in reply to that part of Governor Smith's +letter which inquired whether he with a few friends would be permitted +to leave the country unmolested, that his position was like that of a +certain Irishman (giving the name) he knew in Springfield who was very +popular with the people, a man of considerable promise, and very much +liked. Unfortunately he had acquired the habit of drinking, and his +friends could see that the habit was growing on him. These friends +determined to make an effort to save him, and to do this they drew up a +pledge to abstain from all alcoholic drinks. They asked Pat to join +them in signing the pledge, and he consented. He had been so long out +of the habit of using plain water as a beverage that he resorted to +soda-water as a substitute. After a few days this began to grow +distasteful to him. So holding the glass behind him, he said: "Doctor, +couldn't you drop a bit of brandy in that unbeknownst to myself." + +I do not remember what the instructions were the President gave me, but +I know that Governor Smith was not permitted to perform the duties of +his office. I also know that if Mr. Lincoln had been spared, there +would have been no efforts made to prevent any one from leaving the +country who desired to do so. He would have been equally willing to +permit the return of the same expatriated citizens after they had time +to repent of their choice. + +On the 18th of May orders were issued by the adjutant-general for a +grand review by the President and his cabinet of Sherman's and Meade's +armies. The review commenced on the 23d and lasted two days. Meade's +army occupied over six hours of the first day in passing the grand stand +which had been erected in front of the President's house. Sherman +witnessed this review from the grand stand which was occupied by the +President and his cabinet. Here he showed his resentment for the cruel +and harsh treatment that had unnecessarily been inflicted upon him by +the Secretary of War, by refusing to take his extended hand. + +Sherman's troops had been in camp on the south side of the Potomac. +During the night of the 23d he crossed over and bivouacked not far from +the Capitol. Promptly at ten o'clock on the morning of the 24th, his +troops commenced to pass in review. Sherman's army made a different +appearance from that of the Army of the Potomac. The latter had been +operating where they received directly from the North full supplies of +food and clothing regularly: the review of this army therefore was the +review of a body of 65,000 well-drilled, well-disciplined and orderly +soldiers inured to hardship and fit for any duty, but without the +experience of gathering their own food and supplies in an enemy's +country, and of being ever on the watch. Sherman's army was not so +well-dressed as the Army of the Potomac, but their marching could not +be excelled; they gave the appearance of men who had been thoroughly +drilled to endure hardships, either by long and continuous marches or +through exposure to any climate, without the ordinary shelter of a camp. +They exhibited also some of the order of march through Georgia where the +"sweet potatoes sprung up from the ground" as Sherman's army went +marching through. In the rear of a company there would be a captured +horse or mule loaded with small cooking utensils, captured chickens and +other food picked up for the use of the men. Negro families who had +followed the army would sometimes come along in the rear of a company, +with three or four children packed upon a single mule, and the mother +leading it. + +The sight was varied and grand: nearly all day for two successive days, +from the Capitol to the Treasury Building, could be seen a mass of +orderly soldiers marching in columns of companies. The National flag +was flying from almost every house and store; the windows were filled +with spectators; the door-steps and side-walks were crowded with colored +people and poor whites who did not succeed in securing better quarters +from which to get a view of the grand armies. The city was about as +full of strangers who had come to see the sights as it usually is on +inauguration day when a new President takes his seat. + +It may not be out of place to again allude to President Lincoln and the +Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, who were the great conspicuous figures in +the executive branch of the government. There is no great difference of +opinion now, in the public mind, as to the characteristics of the +President. With Mr. Stanton the case is different. They were the very +opposite of each other in almost every particular, except that each +possessed great ability. Mr. Lincoln gained influence over men by +making them feel that it was a pleasure to serve him. He preferred +yielding his own wish to gratify others, rather than to insist upon +having his own way. It distressed him to disappoint others. In matters +of public duty, however, he had what he wished, but in the least +offensive way. Mr. Stanton never questioned his own authority to +command, unless resisted. He cared nothing for the feeling of others. +In fact it seemed to be pleasanter to him to disappoint than to gratify. +He felt no hesitation in assuming the functions of the executive, or in +acting without advising with him. If his act was not sustained, he +would change it--if he saw the matter would be followed up until he did +so. + +It was generally supposed that these two officials formed the complement +of each other. The Secretary was required to prevent the President's +being imposed upon. The President was required in the more responsible +place of seeing that injustice was not done to others. I do not know +that this view of these two men is still entertained by the majority of +the people. It is not a correct view, however, in my estimation. Mr. +Lincoln did not require a guardian to aid him in the fulfilment of a +public trust. + +Mr. Lincoln was not timid, and he was willing to trust his generals in +making and executing their plans. The Secretary was very timid, and it +was impossible for him to avoid interfering with the armies covering the +capital when it was sought to defend it by an offensive movement against +the army guarding the Confederate capital. He could see our weakness, +but he could not see that the enemy was in danger. The enemy would not +have been in danger if Mr. Stanton had been in the field. These +characteristics of the two officials were clearly shown shortly after +Early came so near getting into the capital. + +Among the army and corps commanders who served with me during the war +between the States, and who attracted much public attention, but of +whose ability as soldiers I have not yet given any estimate, are Meade, +Hancock, Sedgwick, Burnside, Terry and Hooker. There were others of +great merit, such as Griffin, Humphreys, Wright and Mackenzie. Of those +first named, Burnside at one time had command of the Army of the +Potomac, and later of the Army of the Ohio. Hooker also commanded the +Army of the Potomac for a short time. + +General Meade was an officer of great merit, with drawbacks to his +usefulness that were beyond his control. He had been an officer of the +engineer corps before the war, and consequently had never served with +troops until he was over forty-six years of age. He never had, I +believe, a command of less than a brigade. He saw clearly and +distinctly the position of the enemy, and the topography of the country +in front of his own position. His first idea was to take advantage of +the lay of the ground, sometimes without reference to the direction we +wanted to move afterwards. He was subordinate to his superiors in rank +to the extent that he could execute an order which changed his own plans +with the same zeal he would have displayed if the plan had been his own. +He was brave and conscientious, and commanded the respect of all who +knew him. He was unfortunately of a temper that would get beyond his +control, at times, and make him speak to officers of high rank in the +most offensive manner. No one saw this fault more plainly than he +himself, and no one regretted it more. This made it unpleasant at +times, even in battle, for those around him to approach him even with +information. In spite of this defect he was a most valuable officer and +deserves a high place in the annals of his country. + +General Burnside was an officer who was generally liked and respected. +He was not, however, fitted to command an army. No one knew this better +than himself. He always admitted his blunders, and extenuated those of +officers under him beyond what they were entitled to. It was hardly his +fault that he was ever assigned to a separate command. + +Of Hooker I saw but little during the war. I had known him very well +before, however. Where I did see him, at Chattanooga, his achievement +in bringing his command around the point of Lookout Mountain and into +Chattanooga Valley was brilliant. I nevertheless regarded him as a +dangerous man. He was not subordinate to his superiors. He was +ambitious to the extent of caring nothing for the rights of others. His +disposition was, when engaged in battle, to get detached from the main +body of the army and exercise a separate command, gathering to his +standard all he could of his juniors. + +Hancock stands the most conspicuous figure of all the general officers +who did not exercise a separate command. He commanded a corps longer +than any other one, and his name was never mentioned as having committed +in battle a blunder for which he was responsible. He was a man of very +conspicuous personal appearance. Tall, well-formed and, at the time of +which I now write, young and fresh-looking, he presented an appearance +that would attract the attention of an army as he passed. His genial +disposition made him friends, and his personal courage and his presence +with his command in the thickest of the fight won for him the confidence +of troops serving under him. No matter how hard the fight, the 2d corps +always felt that their commander was looking after them. + +Sedgwick was killed at Spottsylvania before I had an opportunity of +forming an estimate of his qualifications as a soldier from personal +observation. I had known him in Mexico when both of us were +lieutenants, and when our service gave no indication that either of us +would ever be equal to the command of a brigade. He stood very high in +the army, however, as an officer and a man. He was brave and +conscientious. His ambition was not great, and he seemed to dread +responsibility. He was willing to do any amount of battling, but always +wanted some one else to direct. He declined the command of the Army of +the Potomac once, if not oftener. + +General Alfred H. Terry came into the army as a volunteer without a +military education. His way was won without political influence up to +an important separate command--the expedition against Fort Fisher, in +January, 1865. His success there was most brilliant, and won for him +the rank of brigadier-general in the regular army and of major-general +of volunteers. He is a man who makes friends of those under him by his +consideration of their wants and their dues. As a commander, he won +their confidence by his coolness in action and by his clearness of +perception in taking in the situation under which he was placed at any +given time. + +Griffin, Humphreys, and Mackenzie were good corps commanders, but came +into that position so near to the close of the war as not to attract +public attention. All three served as such, in the last campaign of the +armies of the Potomac and the James, which culminated at Appomattox +Court House, on the 9th of April, 1865. The sudden collapse of the +rebellion monopolized attention to the exclusion of almost everything +else. I regarded Mackenzie as the most promising young officer in the +army. Graduating at West Point, as he did, during the second year of +the war, he had won his way up to the command of a corps before its +close. This he did upon his own merit and without influence. + + + +CONCLUSION. + +The cause of the great War of the Rebellion against the United Status +will have to be attributed to slavery. For some years before the war +began it was a trite saying among some politicians that "A state half +slave and half free cannot exist." All must become slave or all free, +or the state will go down. I took no part myself in any such view of +the case at the time, but since the war is over, reviewing the whole +question, I have come to the conclusion that the saying is quite true. + +Slavery was an institution that required unusual guarantees for its +security wherever it existed; and in a country like ours where the +larger portion of it was free territory inhabited by an intelligent and +well-to-do population, the people would naturally have but little +sympathy with demands upon them for its protection. Hence the people of +the South were dependent upon keeping control of the general government +to secure the perpetuation of their favorite institution. They were +enabled to maintain this control long after the States where slavery +existed had ceased to have the controlling power, through the assistance +they received from odd men here and there throughout the Northern +States. They saw their power waning, and this led them to encroach upon +the prerogatives and independence of the Northern States by enacting +such laws as the Fugitive Slave Law. By this law every Northern man +was obliged, when properly summoned, to turn out and help apprehend +the runaway slave of a Southern man. Northern marshals became +slave-catchers, and Northern courts had to contribute to the support +and protection of the institution. + +This was a degradation which the North would not permit any longer than +until they could get the power to expunge such laws from the statute +books. Prior to the time of these encroachments the great majority of +the people of the North had no particular quarrel with slavery, so long +as they were not forced to have it themselves. But they were not +willing to play the role of police for the South in the protection of +this particular institution. + +In the early days of the country, before we had railroads, telegraphs +and steamboats--in a word, rapid transit of any sort--the States were +each almost a separate nationality. At that time the subject of slavery +caused but little or no disturbance to the public mind. But the country +grew, rapid transit was established, and trade and commerce between the +States got to be so much greater than before, that the power of the +National government became more felt and recognized and, therefore, had +to be enlisted in the cause of this institution. + +It is probably well that we had the war when we did. We are better off +now than we would have been without it, and have made more rapid +progress than we otherwise should have made. The civilized nations of +Europe have been stimulated into unusual activity, so that commerce, +trade, travel, and thorough acquaintance among people of different +nationalities, has become common; whereas, before, it was but the few +who had ever had the privilege of going beyond the limits of their own +country or who knew anything about other people. Then, too, our +republican institutions were regarded as experiments up to the breaking +out of the rebellion, and monarchical Europe generally believed that our +republic was a rope of sand that would part the moment the slightest +strain was brought upon it. Now it has shown itself capable of dealing +with one of the greatest wars that was ever made, and our people have +proven themselves to be the most formidable in war of any nationality. + +But this war was a fearful lesson, and should teach us the necessity of +avoiding wars in the future. + +The conduct of some of the European states during our troubles shows the +lack of conscience of communities where the responsibility does not come +upon a single individual. Seeing a nation that extended from ocean to +ocean, embracing the better part of a continent, growing as we were +growing in population, wealth and intelligence, the European nations +thought it would be well to give us a check. We might, possibly, after +a while threaten their peace, or, at least, the perpetuity of their +institutions. Hence, England was constantly finding fault with the +administration at Washington because we were not able to keep up an +effective blockade. She also joined, at first, with France and Spain in +setting up an Austrian prince upon the throne in Mexico, totally +disregarding any rights or claims that Mexico had of being treated as an +independent power. It is true they trumped up grievances as a pretext, +but they were only pretexts which can always be found when wanted. + +Mexico, in her various revolutions, had been unable to give that +protection to the subjects of foreign nations which she would have liked +to give, and some of her revolutionary leaders had forced loans from +them. Under pretence of protecting their citizens, these nations seized +upon Mexico as a foothold for establishing a European monarchy upon our +continent, thus threatening our peace at home. I, myself, regarded this +as a direct act of war against the United States by the powers engaged, +and supposed as a matter of course that the United States would treat it +as such when their hands were free to strike. I often spoke of the +matter to Mr. Lincoln and the Secretary of War, but never heard any +special views from them to enable me to judge what they thought or felt +about it. I inferred that they felt a good deal as I did, but were +unwilling to commit themselves while we had our own troubles upon our +hands. + +All of the powers except France very soon withdrew from the armed +intervention for the establishment of an Austrian prince upon the throne +of Mexico; but the governing people of these countries continued to the +close of the war to throw obstacles in our way. After the surrender of +Lee, therefore, entertaining the opinion here expressed, I sent Sheridan +with a corps to the Rio Grande to have him where he might aid Juarez in +expelling the French from Mexico. These troops got off before they +could be stopped; and went to the Rio Grande, where Sheridan distributed +them up and down the river, much to the consternation of the troops in +the quarter of Mexico bordering on that stream. This soon led to a +request from France that we should withdraw our troops from the Rio +Grande and to negotiations for the withdrawal of theirs. Finally +Bazaine was withdrawn from Mexico by order of the French Government. +From that day the empire began to totter. Mexico was then able to +maintain her independence without aid from us. + +France is the traditional ally and friend of the United States. I did +not blame France for her part in the scheme to erect a monarchy upon the +ruins of the Mexican Republic. That was the scheme of one man, an +imitator without genius or merit. He had succeeded in stealing the +government of his country, and made a change in its form against the +wishes and instincts of his people. He tried to play the part of the +first Napoleon, without the ability to sustain that role. He sought by +new conquests to add to his empire and his glory; but the signal failure +of his scheme of conquest was the precursor of his own overthrow. + +Like our own war between the States, the Franco-Prussian war was an +expensive one; but it was worth to France all it cost her people. It +was the completion of the downfall of Napoleon III. The beginning was +when he landed troops on this continent. Failing here, the prestige of +his name--all the prestige he ever had--was gone. He must achieve a +success or fall. He tried to strike down his neighbor, Prussia--and +fell. + +I never admired the character of the first Napoleon; but I recognize his +great genius. His work, too, has left its impress for good on the face +of Europe. The third Napoleon could have no claim to having done a good +or just act. + +To maintain peace in the future it is necessary to be prepared for war. +There can scarcely be a possible chance of a conflict, such as the last +one, occurring among our own people again; but, growing as we are, in +population, wealth and military power, we may become the envy of nations +which led us in all these particulars only a few years ago; and unless +we are prepared for it we may be in danger of a combined movement being +some day made to crush us out. Now, scarcely twenty years after the +war, we seem to have forgotten the lessons it taught, and are going on +as if in the greatest security, without the power to resist an invasion +by the fleets of fourth-rate European powers for a time until we could +prepare for them. + +We should have a good navy, and our sea-coast defences should be put in +the finest possible condition. Neither of these cost much when it is +considered where the money goes, and what we get in return. Money +expended in a fine navy, not only adds to our security and tends to +prevent war in the future, but is very material aid to our commerce with +foreign nations in the meantime. Money spent upon sea-coast defences is +spent among our own people, and all goes back again among the people. +The work accomplished, too, like that of the navy, gives us a feeling of +security. + +England's course towards the United States during the rebellion +exasperated the people of this country very much against the mother +country. I regretted it. England and the United States are natural +allies, and should be the best of friends. They speak one language, and +are related by blood and other ties. We together, or even either +separately, are better qualified than any other people to establish +commerce between all the nationalities of the world. + +England governs her own colonies, and particularly those embracing +the people of different races from her own, better than any other +nation. She is just to the conquered, but rigid. She makes them +self-supporting, but gives the benefit of labor to the laborer. She +does not seem to look upon the colonies as outside possessions which she +is at liberty to work for the support and aggrandizement of the home +government. + +The hostility of England to the United States during our rebellion was +not so much real as it was apparent. It was the hostility of the +leaders of one political party. I am told that there was no time during +the civil war when they were able to get up in England a demonstration +in favor of secession, while these were constantly being gotten up in +favor of the Union, or, as they called it, in favor of the North. Even +in Manchester, which suffered so fearfully by having the cotton cut off +from her mills, they had a monster demonstration in favor of the North +at the very time when their workmen were almost famishing. + +It is possible that the question of a conflict between races may come up +in the future, as did that between freedom and slavery before. The +condition of the colored man within our borders may become a source of +anxiety, to say the least. But he was brought to our shores by +compulsion, and he now should be considered as having as good a right to +remain here as any other class of our citizens. It was looking to a +settlement of this question that led me to urge the annexation of Santo +Domingo during the time I was President of the United States. + +Santo Domingo was freely offered to us, not only by the administration, +but by all the people, almost without price. The island is upon our +shores, is very fertile, and is capable of supporting fifteen millions +of people. The products of the soil are so valuable that labor in her +fields would be so compensated as to enable those who wished to go there +to quickly repay the cost of their passage. I took it that the colored +people would go there in great numbers, so as to have independent states +governed by their own race. They would still be States of the Union, +and under the protection of the General Government; but the citizens +would be almost wholly colored. + +By the war with Mexico, we had acquired, as we have seen, territory +almost equal in extent to that we already possessed. It was seen that +the volunteers of the Mexican war largely composed the pioneers to +settle up the Pacific coast country. Their numbers, however, were +scarcely sufficient to be a nucleus for the population of the important +points of the territory acquired by that war. After our rebellion, when +so many young men were at liberty to return to their homes, they found +they were not satisfied with the farm, the store, or the work-shop of +the villages, but wanted larger fields. The mines of the mountains +first attracted them; but afterwards they found that rich valleys and +productive grazing and farming lands were there. This territory, the +geography of which was not known to us at the close of the rebellion, is +now as well mapped as any portion of our country. Railroads traverse it +in every direction, north, south, east, and west. The mines are worked. +The high lands are used for grazing purposes, and rich agricultural +lands are found in many of the valleys. This is the work of the +volunteer. It is probable that the Indians would have had control of +these lands for a century yet but for the war. We must conclude, +therefore, that wars are not always evils unmixed with some good. + +Prior to the rebellion the great mass of the people were satisfied to +remain near the scenes of their birth. In fact an immense majority of +the whole people did not feel secure against coming to want should they +move among entire strangers. So much was the country divided into small +communities that localized idioms had grown up, so that you could almost +tell what section a person was from by hearing him speak. Before, new +territories were settled by a "class"; people who shunned contact with +others; people who, when the country began to settle up around them, +would push out farther from civilization. Their guns furnished meat, +and the cultivation of a very limited amount of the soil, their bread +and vegetables. All the streams abounded with fish. Trapping would +furnish pelts to be brought into the States once a year, to pay for +necessary articles which they could not raise--powder, lead, whiskey, +tobacco and some store goods. Occasionally some little articles of +luxury would enter into these purchases--a quarter of a pound of tea, +two or three pounds of coffee, more of sugar, some playing cards, and if +anything was left over of the proceeds of the sale, more whiskey. + +Little was known of the topography of the country beyond the settlements +of these frontiersmen. This is all changed now. The war begot a spirit +of independence and enterprise. The feeling now is, that a youth must +cut loose from his old surroundings to enable him to get up in the +world. There is now such a commingling of the people that particular +idioms and pronunciation are no longer localized to any great extent; +the country has filled up "from the centre all around to the sea"; +railroads connect the two oceans and all parts of the interior; maps, +nearly perfect, of every part of the country are now furnished the +student of geography. + +The war has made us a nation of great power and intelligence. We have +but little to do to preserve peace, happiness and prosperity at home, +and the respect of other nations. Our experience ought to teach us the +necessity of the first; our power secures the latter. + +I feel that we are on the eve of a new era, when there is to be great +harmony between the Federal and Confederate. I cannot stay to be a +living witness to the correctness of this prophecy; but I feel it within +me that it is to be so. The universally kind feeling expressed for me +at a time when it was supposed that each day would prove my last, seemed +to me the beginning of the answer to "Let us have peace." + +The expression of these kindly feelings were not restricted to a section +of the country, nor to a division of the people. They came from +individual citizens of all nationalities; from all denominations--the +Protestant, the Catholic, and the Jew; and from the various societies of +the land--scientific, educational, religious or otherwise. Politics did +not enter into the matter at all. + +I am not egotist enough to suppose all this significance should be given +because I was the object of it. But the war between the States was a +very bloody and a very costly war. One side or the other had to yield +principles they deemed dearer than life before it could be brought to an +end. I commanded the whole of the mighty host engaged on the victorious +side. I was, no matter whether deservedly so or not, a representative +of that side of the controversy. It is a significant and gratifying +fact that Confederates should have joined heartily in this spontaneous +move. I hope the good feeling inaugurated may continue to the end. + + + +APPENDIX. + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMIES +1864-65. + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C., July 22, +1865. + +HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + +SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations +of the Armies of the United States from the date of my appointment to +command the same. + +From an early period in the rebellion I had been impressed with the idea +that active and continuous operations of all the troops that could be +brought into the field, regardless of season and weather, were necessary +to a speedy termination of the war. The resources of the enemy and his +numerical strength were far inferior to ours; but as an offset to this, +we had a vast territory, with a population hostile to the government, to +garrison, and long lines of river and railroad communications to +protect, to enable us to supply the operating armies. + +The armies in the East and West acted independently and without concert, +like a balky team, no two ever pulling together, enabling the enemy to +use to great advantage his interior lines of communication for +transporting troops from East to West, reinforcing the army most +vigorously pressed, and to furlough large numbers, during seasons of +inactivity on our part, to go to their homes and do the work of +producing, for the support of their armies. It was a question whether +our numerical strength and resources were not more than balanced by +these disadvantages and the enemy's superior position. + +From the first, I was firm in the conviction that no peace could be had +that would be stable and conducive to the happiness of the people, both +North and South, until the military power of the rebellion was entirely +broken. + +I therefore determined, first, to use the greatest number of troops +practicable against the armed force of the enemy; preventing him from +using the same force at different seasons against first one and then +another of our armies, and the possibility of repose for refitting and +producing necessary supplies for carrying on resistance. Second, to +hammer continuously against the armed force of the enemy and his +resources, until by mere attrition, if in no other way, there should be +nothing left to him but an equal submission with the loyal section of +our common country to the constitution and laws of the land. + +These views have been kept constantly in mind, and orders given and +campaigns made to carry them out. Whether they might have been better +in conception and execution is for the people, who mourn the loss of +friends fallen, and who have to pay the pecuniary cost, to say. All I +can say is, that what I have done has been done conscientiously, to the +best of my ability, and in what I conceived to be for the best interests +of the whole country. + +At the date when this report begins, the situation of the contending +forces was about as follows: The Mississippi River was strongly +garrisoned by Federal troops, from St. Louis, Missouri, to its mouth. +The line of the Arkansas was also held, thus giving us armed possession +of all west of the Mississippi, north of that stream. A few points in +Southern Louisiana, not remote from the river, were held by us, together +with a small garrison at and near the mouth of the Rio Grande. All the +balance of the vast territory of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas was in +the almost undisputed possession of the enemy, with an army of probably +not less than eighty thousand effective men, that could have been +brought into the field had there been sufficient opposition to have +brought them out. The let-alone policy had demoralized this force so +that probably but little more than one-half of it was ever present in +garrison at any one time. But the one-half, or forty thousand men, with +the bands of guerillas scattered through Missouri, Arkansas, and along +the Mississippi River, and the disloyal character of much of the +population, compelled the use of a large number of troops to keep +navigation open on the river, and to protect the loyal people to the +west of it. To the east of the Mississippi we held substantially with +the line of the Tennessee and Holston rivers, running eastward to +include nearly all of the State of Tennessee. South of Chattanooga, a +small foothold had been obtained in Georgia, sufficient to protect East +Tennessee from incursions from the enemy's force at Dalton, Georgia. +West Virginia was substantially within our lines. Virginia, with the +exception of the northern border, the Potomac River, a small area about +the mouth of James River, covered by the troops at Norfolk and Fort +Monroe, and the territory covered by the Army of the Potomac lying along +the Rapidan, was in the possession of the enemy. Along the sea-coast +footholds had been obtained at Plymouth, Washington, and New Bern, in +North Carolina; Beaufort, Folly and Morris Islands, Hilton Head, Fort +Pulaski, and Port Royal, in South Carolina; Fernandina and St. +Augustine, in Florida. Key West and Pensacola were also in our +possession, while all the important ports were blockaded by the navy. +The accompanying map, a copy of which was sent to General Sherman and +other commanders in March, 1864, shows by red lines the territory +occupied by us at the beginning of the rebellion, and at the opening of +the campaign of 1864, while those in blue are the lines which it was +proposed to occupy. + +Behind the Union lines there were many bands of guerillas and a large +population disloyal to the government, making it necessary to guard +every foot of road or river used in supplying our armies. In the South, +a reign of military despotism prevailed, which made every man and boy +capable of bearing arms a soldier; and those who could not bear arms in +the field acted as provosts for collecting deserters and returning them. +This enabled the enemy to bring almost his entire strength into the +field. + +The enemy had concentrated the bulk of his forces east of the +Mississippi into two armies, commanded by Generals R. E. Lee and J. E. +Johnston, his ablest and best generals. The army commanded by Lee +occupied the south bank of the Rapidan, extending from Mine Run +westward, strongly intrenched, covering and defending Richmond, the +rebel capital, against the Army of the Potomac. The army under Johnston +occupied a strongly intrenched position at Dalton, Georgia, covering and +defending Atlanta, Georgia, a place of great importance as a railroad +centre, against the armies under Major-General W. T. Sherman. In +addition to these armies he had a large cavalry force under Forrest, in +North-east Mississippi; a considerable force, of all arms, in the +Shenandoah Valley, and in the western part of Virginia and extreme +eastern part of Tennessee; and also confronting our sea-coast garrisons, +and holding blockaded ports where we had no foothold upon land. + +These two armies, and the cities covered and defended by them, were the +main objective points of the campaign. + +Major-General W. T. Sherman, who was appointed to the command of the +Military Division of the Mississippi, embracing all the armies and +territory east of the Mississippi River to the Alleghanies and the +Department of Arkansas, west of the Mississippi, had the immediate +command of the armies operating against Johnston. + +Major-General George G. Meade had the immediate command of the Army of +the Potomac, from where I exercised general supervision of the movements +of all our armies. + +General Sherman was instructed to move against Johnston's army, to break +it up, and to go into the interior of the enemy's country as far as he +could, inflicting all the damage he could upon their war resources. If +the enemy in his front showed signs of joining Lee, to follow him up to +the full extent of his ability, while I would prevent the concentration +of Lee upon him, if it was in the power of the Army of the Potomac to do +so. More specific written instructions were not given, for the reason +that I had talked over with him the plans of the campaign, and was +satisfied that he understood them and would execute them to the fullest +extent possible. + +Major-General N. P. Banks, then on an expedition up Red River against +Shreveport, Louisiana (which had been organized previous to my +appointment to command), was notified by me on the 15th of March, of the +importance it was that Shreveport should be taken at the earliest +possible day, and that if he found that the taking of it would occupy +from ten to fifteen days' more time than General Sherman had given his +troops to be absent from their command, he would send them back at the +time specified by General Sherman, even if it led to the abandonment of +the main object of the Red River expedition, for this force was +necessary to movements east of the Mississippi; that should his +expedition prove successful, he would hold Shreveport and the Red River +with such force as he might deem necessary, and return the balance of +his troops to the neighborhood of New Orleans, commencing no move for +the further acquisition of territory, unless it was to make that then +held by him more easily held; that it might be a part of the spring +campaign to move against Mobile; that it certainly would be, if troops +enough could be obtained to make it without embarrassing other +movements; that New Orleans would be the point of departure for such an +expedition; also, that I had directed General Steele to make a real move +from Arkansas, as suggested by him (General Banks), instead of a +demonstration, as Steele thought advisable. + +On the 31st of March, in addition to the foregoing notification and +directions, he was instructed as follows: + + +"1st. If successful in your expedition against Shreveport, that you +turn over the defence of the Red River to General Steele and the navy. + +"2d. That you abandon Texas entirely, with the exception of your hold +upon the Rio Grande. This can be held with four thousand men, if they +will turn their attention immediately to fortifying their positions. At +least one-half of the force required for this service might be taken +from the colored troops. + +"3d. By properly fortifying on the Mississippi River, the force to +guard it from Port Hudson to New Orleans can be reduced to ten thousand +men, if not to a less number. Six thousand more would then hold all the +rest of the territory necessary to hold until active operations can +again be resumed west of the river. According to your last return, this +would give you a force of over thirty thousand effective men with which +to move against Mobile. To this I expect to add five thousand men from +Missouri. If however, you think the force here stated too small to hold +the territory regarded as necessary to hold possession of, I would say +concentrate at least twenty-five thousand men of your present command +for operations against Mobile. With these and such additions as I can +give you from elsewhere, lose no time in making a demonstration, to be +followed by an attack upon Mobile. Two or more iron-clads will be +ordered to report to Admiral Farragut. This gives him a strong naval +fleet with which to co-operate. You can make your own arrangements with +the admiral for his co-operation, and select your own line of approach. +My own idea of the matter is that Pascagoula should be your base; but, +from your long service in the Gulf Department, you will know best about +the matter. It is intended that your movements shall be co-operative +with movements elsewhere, and you cannot now start too soon. All I +would now add is, that you commence the concentration of your forces at +once. Preserve a profound secrecy of what you intend doing, and start +at the earliest possible moment. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL N. P. BANKS." + + +Major-General Meade was instructed that Lee's army would be his +objective point; that wherever Lee went he would go also. For his +movement two plans presented themselves: One to cross the Rapidan below +Lee, moving by his right flank; the other above, moving by his left. +Each presented advantages over the other, with corresponding objections. +By crossing above, Lee would be cut off from all chance of ignoring +Richmond or going north on a raid. But if we took this route, all we +did would have to be done whilst the rations we started with held out; +besides, it separated us from Butler, so that he could not be directed +how to cooperate. If we took the other route, Brandy Station could be +used as a base of supplies until another was secured on the York or +James rivers. Of these, however, it was decided to take the lower +route. + +The following letter of instruction was addressed to Major-General B. F. +Butler: + + +"FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA, April 2, 1864. + +"GENERAL:-In the spring campaign, which it is desirable shall commence +at as early a day as practicable, it is proposed to have cooperative +action of all the armies in the field, as far as this object can be +accomplished. + +"It will not be possible to unite our armies into two or three large +ones to act as so many units, owing to the absolute necessity of holding +on to the territory already taken from the enemy. But, generally +speaking, concentration can be practically effected by armies moving to +the interior of the enemy's country from the territory they have to +guard. By such movement, they interpose themselves between the enemy +and the country to be guarded, thereby reducing the number necessary to +guard important points, or at least occupy the attention of a part of +the enemy's force, if no greater object is gained. Lee's army and +Richmond being the greater objects towards which our attention must be +directed in the next campaign, it is desirable to unite all the force we +can against them. The necessity of covering Washington with the Army of +the Potomac, and of covering your department with your army, makes it +impossible to unite these forces at the beginning of any move. I +propose, therefore, what comes nearest this of anything that seems +practicable: The Army of the Potomac will act from its present base, +Lee's army being the objective point. You will collect all the forces +from your command that can be spared from garrison duty--I should say +not less than twenty thousand effective men--to operate on the south +side of James River, Richmond being your objective point. To the force +you already have will be added about ten thousand men from South +Carolina, under Major-General Gillmore, who will command them in person. +Major-General W. F. Smith is ordered to report to you, to command the +troops sent into the field from your own department. + +"General Gillmore will be ordered to report to you at Fortress Monroe, +with all the troops on transports, by the 18th instant, or as soon +thereafter as practicable. Should you not receive notice by that time +to move, you will make such disposition of them and your other forces as +you may deem best calculated to deceive the enemy as to the real move to +be made. + +"When you are notified to move, take City Point with as much force as +possible. Fortify, or rather intrench, at once, and concentrate all +your troops for the field there as rapidly as you can. From City Point +directions cannot be given at this time for your further movements. + +"The fact that has already been stated--that is, that Richmond is to be +your objective point, and that there is to be co-operation between your +force and the Army of the Potomac--must be your guide. This indicates +the necessity of your holding close to the south bank of the James River +as you advance. Then, should the enemy be forced into his intrenchments +in Richmond, the Army of the Potomac would follow, and by means of +transports the two armies would become a unit. + +"All the minor details of your advance are left entirely to your +direction. If, however, you think it practicable to use your cavalry +south of you, so as to cut the railroad about Hicksford, about the time +of the general advance, it would be of immense advantage. + +"You will please forward for my information, at the earliest practicable +day, all orders, details, and instructions you may give for the +execution of this order. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER." + + +On the 16th these instructions were substantially reiterated. On the +19th, in order to secure full co-operation between his army and that of +General Meade, he was informed that I expected him to move from Fort +Monroe the same day that General Meade moved from Culpeper. The exact +time I was to telegraph him as soon as it was fixed, and that it would +not be earlier than the 27th of April; that it was my intention to fight +Lee between Culpeper and Richmond, if he would stand. Should he, +however, fall back into Richmond, I would follow up and make a junction +with his (General Butler's) army on the James River; that, could I be +certain he would be able to invest Richmond on the south side, so as to +have his left resting on the James, above the city, I would form the +junction there; that circumstances might make this course advisable +anyhow; that he should use every exertion to secure footing as far up +the south side of the river as he could, and as soon as possible after +the receipt of orders to move; that if he could not carry the city, he +should at least detain as large a force there as possible. + +In co-operation with the main movements against Lee and Johnston, I was +desirous of using all other troops necessarily kept in departments +remote from the fields of immediate operations, and also those kept in +the background for the protection of our extended lines between the +loyal States and the armies operating against them. + +A very considerable force, under command of Major-General Sigel, was so +held for the protection of West Virginia, and the frontiers of Maryland +and Pennsylvania. Whilst these troops could not be withdrawn to distant +fields without exposing the North to invasion by comparatively small +bodies of the enemy, they could act directly to their front, and give +better protection than if lying idle in garrison. By such a movement +they would either compel the enemy to detach largely for the protection +of his supplies and lines of communication, or he would lose them. +General Sigel was therefore directed to organize all his available force +into two expeditions, to move from Beverly and Charleston, under command +of Generals Ord and Crook, against the East Tennessee and Virginia +Railroad. Subsequently, General Ord having been relieved at his own +request, General Sigel was instructed at his own suggestion, to give up +the expedition by Beverly, and to form two columns, one under General +Crook, on the Kanawha, numbering about ten thousand men, and one on the +Shenandoah, numbering about seven thousand men. The one on the +Shenandoah to assemble between Cumberland and the Shenandoah, and the +infantry and artillery advanced to Cedar Creek with such cavalry as +could be made available at the moment, to threaten the enemy in the +Shenandoah Valley, and advance as far as possible; while General Crook +would take possession of Lewisburg with part of his force and move down +the Tennessee Railroad, doing as much damage as he could, destroying the +New River Bridge and the salt-works, at Saltville, Va. + +Owing to the weather and bad condition of the roads, operations were +delayed until the 1st of May, when, everything being in readiness and +the roads favorable, orders were given for a general movement of all the +armies not later than the 4th of May. + +My first object being to break the military power of the rebellion, and +capture the enemy's important strongholds, made me desirous that General +Butler should succeed in his movement against Richmond, as that would +tend more than anything else, unless it were the capture of Lee's army, +to accomplish this desired result in the East. If he failed, it was my +determination, by hard fighting, either to compel Lee to retreat, or to +so cripple him that he could not detach a large force to go north, and +still retain enough for the defence of Richmond. It was well +understood, by both Generals Butler and Meade, before starting on the +campaign, that it was my intention to put both their armies south of the +James River, in case of failure to destroy Lee without it. + +Before giving General Butler his instructions, I visited him at Fort +Monroe, and in conversation pointed out the apparent importance of +getting possession of Petersburg, and destroying railroad communication +as far south as possible. Believing, however, in the practicability of +capturing Richmond unless it was reinforced, I made that the objective +point of his operations. As the Army of the Potomac was to move +simultaneously with him, Lee could not detach from his army with safety, +and the enemy did not have troops elsewhere to bring to the defence of +the city in time to meet a rapid movement from the north of James River. + +I may here state that, commanding all the armies as I did, I tried, as +far as possible, to leave General Meade in independent command of the +Army of the Potomac. My instructions for that army were all through +him, and were general in their nature, leaving all the details and the +execution to him. The campaigns that followed proved him to be the +right man in the right place. His commanding always in the presence of +an officer superior to him in rank, has drawn from him much of that +public attention that his zeal and ability entitle him to, and which he +would otherwise have received. + +The movement of the Army of the Potomac commenced early on the morning +of the 4th of May, under the immediate direction and orders of +Major-General Meade, pursuant to instructions. Before night, the whole +army was across the Rapidan (the fifth and sixth corps crossing at +Germania Ford, and the second corps at Ely's Ford, the cavalry, under +Major-General Sheridan, moving in advance,) with the greater part of its +trains, numbering about four thousand wagons, meeting with but slight +opposition. The average distance travelled by the troops that day was +about twelve miles. This I regarded as a great success, and it removed +from my mind the most serious apprehensions I had entertained, that of +crossing the river in the face of an active, large, well-appointed, and +ably commanded army, and how so large a train was to be carried through +a hostile country, and protected. Early on the 5th, the advance corps +(the fifth, Major-General G. K. Warren commanding) met and engaged the +enemy outside his intrenchments near Mine Run. The battle raged +furiously all day, the whole army being brought into the fight as fast +as the corps could be got upon the field, which, considering the density +of the forest and narrowness of the roads, was done with commendable +promptness. + +General Burnside, with the ninth corps, was, at the time the Army of the +Potomac moved, left with the bulk of his corps at the crossing of the +Rappahannock River and Alexandria Railroad, holding the road back to +Bull Run, with instructions not to move until he received notice that a +crossing of the Rapidan was secured, but to move promptly as soon as +such notice was received. This crossing he was apprised of on the +afternoon of the 4th. By six o'clock of the morning of the 6th he was +leading his corps into action near the Wilderness Tavern, some of his +troops having marched a distance of over thirty miles, crossing both the +Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers. Considering that a large proportion, +probably two-thirds of his command, was composed of new troops, +unaccustomed to marches, and carrying the accoutrements of a soldier, +this was a remarkable march. + +The battle of the Wilderness was renewed by us at five o'clock on the +morning of the 6th, and continued with unabated fury until darkness set +in, each army holding substantially the same position that they had on +the evening of the 5th. After dark, the enemy made a feeble attempt to +turn our right flank, capturing several hundred prisoners and creating +considerable confusion. But the promptness of General Sedgwick, who was +personally present and commanded that part of our line, soon reformed it +and restored order. On the morning of the 7th, reconnoissances showed +that the enemy had fallen behind his intrenched lines, with pickets to +the front, covering a part of the battle-field. From this it was +evident to my mind that the two days' fighting had satisfied him of his +inability to further maintain the contest in the open field, +notwithstanding his advantage of position, and that he would wait an +attack behind his works. I therefore determined to push on and put my +whole force between him and Richmond; and orders were at once issued for +a movement by his right flank. On the night of the 7th, the march was +commenced towards Spottsylvania Court House, the fifth corps moving on +the most direct road. But the enemy having become apprised of our +movement, and having the shorter line, was enabled to reach there first. +On the 8th, General Warren met a force of the enemy, which had been sent +out to oppose and delay his advance, to gain time to fortify the line +taken up at Spottsylvania. This force was steadily driven back on the +main force, within the recently constructed works, after considerable +fighting, resulting in severe loss to both sides. On the morning of the +9th, General Sheridan started on a raid against the enemy's lines of +communication with Richmond. The 9th, 10th, and 11th were spent in +manoeuvring and fighting, without decisive results. Among the killed on +the 9th was that able and distinguished soldier Major-General John +Sedgwick, commanding the sixth army corps. Major-General H. G. Wright +succeeded him in command. Early on the morning of the 12th a general +attack was made on the enemy in position. The second corps, +Major-General Hancock commanding, carried a salient of his line, +capturing most of Johnson's division of Ewell's corps and twenty pieces +of artillery. But the resistance was so obstinate that the advantage +gained did not prove decisive. The 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and +18th, were consumed in manoeuvring and awaiting the arrival of +reinforcements from Washington. Deeming it impracticable to make any +further attack upon the enemy at Spottsylvania Court House, orders were +issued on the 15th with a view to a movement to the North Anna, to +commence at twelve o'clock on the night of the 19th. Late in the +afternoon of the 19th, Ewell's corps came out of its works on our +extreme right flank; but the attack was promptly repulsed, with heavy +loss. This delayed the movement to the North Anna until the night of the +21st, when it was commenced. But the enemy again, having the shorter +line, and being in possession of the main roads, was enabled to reach +the North Anna in advance of us, and took position behind it. The fifth +corps reached the North Anna on the afternoon of the 23d, closely +followed by the sixth corps. The second and ninth corps got up about the +same time, the second holding the railroad bridge, and the ninth lying +between that and Jericho Ford. General Warren effected a crossing the +same afternoon, and got a position without much opposition. Soon after +getting into position he was violently attacked, but repulsed the enemy +with great slaughter. On the 25th, General Sheridan rejoined the Army +of the Potomac from the raid on which he started from Spottsylvania, +having destroyed the depots at Beaver Dam and Ashland stations, four +trains of cars, large supplies of rations, and many miles of +railroad-track; recaptured about four hundred of our men on their way to +Richmond as prisoners of war; met and defeated the enemy's cavalry at +Yellow Tavern; carried the first line of works around Richmond (but +finding the second line too strong to be carried by assault), recrossed +to the north bank of the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge under heavy fire, +and moved by a detour to Haxall's Landing, on the James River, where he +communicated with General Butler. This raid had the effect of drawing +off the whole of the enemy's cavalry force, making it comparatively easy +to guard our trains. + +General Butler moved his main force up the James River, in pursuance of +instructions, on the 4th of May, General Gillmore having joined him with +the tenth corps. At the same time he sent a force of one thousand eight +hundred cavalry, by way of West Point, to form a junction with him +wherever he might get a foothold, and a force of three thousand cavalry, +under General Kautz, from Suffolk, to operate against the road south of +Petersburg and Richmond. On the 5th, he occupied, without opposition, +both City Point and Bermuda Hundred, his movement being a complete +surprise. On the 6th, he was in position with his main army, and +commenced intrenching. On the 7th he made a reconnoissance against the +Petersburg and Richmond Railroad, destroying a portion of it after some +fighting. On the 9th he telegraphed as follows: + + +"HEADQUARTERS, NEAR BERMUDA LANDING, May 9, 1864. + +"HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + +"Our operations may be summed up in a few words. With one thousand +seven hundred cavalry we have advanced up the Peninsula, forced the +Chickahominy, and have safely, brought them to their present position. +These were colored cavalry, and are now holding our advance pickets +towards Richmond. + +"General Kautz, with three thousand cavalry from Suffolk, on the same +day with our movement up James River, forced the Black Water, burned the +railroad bridge at Stony Creek, below Petersburg, cutting into +Beauregard's force at that point. + +"We have landed here, intrenched ourselves, destroyed many miles of +railroad, and got a position which, with proper supplies, we can hold +out against the whole of Lee's army. I have ordered up the supplies. + +"Beauregard, with a large portion of his force, was left south by the +cutting of the railroads by Kautz. That portion which reached +Petersburg under Hill I have whipped to-day, killing and wounding many, +and taking many prisoners, after a severe and well-contested fight. + +"General Grant will not be troubled with any further reinforcements to +Lee from Beauregard's force. + +"BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General." + + +On the evening of the 13th and morning of the 14th he carried a portion +of the enemy's first line of defences at Drury's Bluff, or Fort Darling, +with small loss. The time thus consumed from the 6th lost to us the +benefit of the surprise and capture of Richmond and Petersburg, +enabling, as it did, Beauregard to collect his loose forces in North and +South Carolina, and bring them to the defence of those places. On the +16th, the enemy attacked General Butler in his position in front of +Drury's Bluff. He was forced back, or drew back, into his intrenchments +between the forks of the James and Appomattox rivers, the enemy +intrenching strongly in his front, thus covering his railroads, the +city, and all that was valuable to him. His army, therefore, though in +a position of great security, was as completely shut off from further +operations directly against Richmond as if it had been in a bottle +strongly corked. It required but a comparatively small force of the +enemy to hold it there. + +On the 12th, General Kautz, with his cavalry, was started on a raid +against the Danville Railroad, which he struck at Coalfield, Powhatan, +and Chula Stations, destroying them, the railroad-track, two freight +trains, and one locomotive, together with large quantities of commissary +and other stores; thence, crossing to the South Side Road, struck it at +Wilson's, Wellsville, and Black's and White's Stations, destroying the +road and station-houses; thence he proceeded to City Point, which he +reached on the 18th. + +On the 19th of April, and prior to the movement of General Butler, the +enemy, with a land force under General Hoke and an iron-clad ram, +attacked Plymouth, N. C., commanded by General H. W. Wessells, and our +gunboats there, and, after severe fighting, the place was carried by +assault, and the entire garrison and armament captured. The gunboat +Smithfield was sunk, and the Miami disabled. + +The army sent to operate against Richmond having hermetically sealed +itself up at Bermuda Hundred, the enemy was enabled to bring the most, +if not all, the reinforcements brought from the south by Beauregard +against the Army of the Potomac. In addition to this reinforcement, a +very considerable one, probably not less than fifteen thousand men, was +obtained by calling in the scattered troops under Breckinridge from the +western part of Virginia. + +The position of Bermuda Hundred was as easy to defend as it was +difficult to operate from against the enemy. I determined, therefore, +to bring from it all available forces, leaving enough only to secure +what had been gained; and accordingly, on the 22d, I directed that they +be sent forward, under command of Major-General W. F. Smith, to join the +Army of the Potomac. + +On the 24th of May, the 9th army corps, commanded by Major-General A. E. +Burnside, was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and from this time +forward constituted a portion of Major-General Meade's command. + +Finding the enemy's position on the North Anna stronger than either of +his previous ones, I withdrew on the night of the 26th to the north bank +of the North Anna, and moved via Hanover Town to turn the enemy's +position by his right. + +Generals Torbert's and Merritt's divisions of cavalry, under Sheridan, +and the 6th corps, led the advance, crossed the Pamunkey River at +Hanover Town, after considerable fighting, and on the 28th the two +divisions of cavalry had a severe, but successful engagement with the +enemy at Hawes's Shop. On the 29th and 30th we advanced, with heavy +skirmishing, to the Hanover Court House and Cold Harbor Road, and +developed the enemy's position north of the Chickahominy. Late on the +evening of the last day the enemy came out and attacked our left, but +was repulsed with very considerable loss. An attack was immediately +ordered by General Meade, along his whole line, which resulted in +driving the enemy from a part of his intrenched skirmish line. + +On the 31st, General Wilson's division of cavalry destroyed the railroad +bridges over the South Anna River, after defeating the enemy's cavalry. +General Sheridan, on the same day, reached Cold Harbor, and held it +until relieved by the 6th corps and General Smith's command, which had +just arrived, via White House, from General Butler's army. + +On the 1st day of June an attack was made at five P.M. by the 6th corps +and the troops under General Smith, the other corps being held in +readiness to advance on the receipt of orders. This resulted in our +carrying and holding the enemy's first line of works in front of the +right of the 6th corps, and in front of General Smith. During the +attack the enemy made repeated assaults on each of the corps not engaged +in the main attack, but was repulsed with heavy loss in every instance. +That night he made several assaults to regain what he had lost in the +day, but failed. The 2d was spent in getting troops into position for +an attack on the 3d. On the 3d of June we again assaulted the enemy's +works, in the hope of driving him from his position. In this attempt +our loss was heavy, while that of the enemy, I have reason to believe, +was comparatively light. It was the only general attack made from the +Rapidan to the James which did not inflict upon the enemy losses to +compensate for our own losses. I would not be understood as saying that +all previous attacks resulted in victories to our arms, or accomplished +as much as I had hoped from them; but they inflicted upon the enemy +severe losses, which tended, in the end, to the complete overthrow of +the rebellion. + +From the proximity of the enemy to his defences around Richmond, it was +impossible, by any flank movement, to interpose between him and the +city. I was still in a condition to either move by his left flank, and +invest Richmond from the north side, or continue my move by his right +flank to the south side of the James. While the former might have been +better as a covering for Washington, yet a full survey of all the ground +satisfied me that it would be impracticable to hold a line north and +east of Richmond that would protect the Fredericksburg Railroad, a long, +vulnerable line, which would exhaust much of our strength to guard, and +that would have to be protected to supply the army, and would leave open +to the enemy all his lines of communication on the south side of the +James. My idea, from the start, had been to beat Lee's army north of +Richmond, if possible. Then, after destroying his lines of +communication north of the James River, to transfer the army to the +south side, and besiege Lee in Richmond, or follow him south if he +should retreat. After the battle of the Wilderness, it was evident that +the enemy deemed it of the first importance to run no risks with the +army he then had. He acted purely on the defensive, behind breastworks, +or feebly on the offensive immediately in front of them, and where, in +case of repulse, he could easily retire behind them. Without a greater +sacrifice of life than I was willing to make, all could not be +accomplished that I had designed north of Richmond. I therefore +determined to continue to hold substantially the ground we then +occupied, taking advantage of any favorable circumstances that might +present themselves, until the cavalry could be sent to Charlottesville +and Gordonsville to effectually break up the railroad connection between +Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley and Lynchburg; and when the cavalry +got well off, to move the army to the south side of the James River, by +the enemy's right flank, where I felt I could cut off all his sources of +supply, except by the canal. + +On the 7th, two divisions of cavalry, under General Sheridan, got off on +the expedition against the Virginia Central Railroad, with instructions +to Hunter, whom I hoped he would meet near Charlottesville, to join his +forces to Sheridan's, and after the work laid out for them was +thoroughly done, to join the Army of the Potomac by the route laid down +in Sheridan's instructions. + +On the 10th of June, General Butler sent a force of infantry, under +General Gillmore, and of cavalry under General Kautz, to capture +Petersburg, if possible, and destroy the railroad and common bridges +across the Appomattox. The cavalry carried the works on the south side, +and penetrated well in towards the town, but were forced to retire. +General Gillmore, finding the works which he approached very strong, and +deeming an assault impracticable, returned to Bermuda Hundred without +attempting one. + +Attaching great importance to the possession of Petersburg, I sent back +to Bermuda Hundred and City Point, General Smith's command by water, via +the White House, to reach there in advance of the Army of the Potomac. +This was for the express purpose of securing Petersburg before the +enemy, becoming aware of our intention, could reinforce the place. + +The movement from Cold Harbor commenced after dark on the evening of the +12th. One division of cavalry, under General Wilson, and the 5th corps, +crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, and moved out to White Oak +Swamp, to cover the crossings of the other corps. The advance corps +reached James River, at Wilcox's Landing and Charles City Court House, +on the night of the 13th. + +During three long years the Armies of the Potomac and Northern Virginia +had been confronting each other. In that time they had fought more +desperate battles than it probably ever before fell to the lot of two +armies to fight, without materially changing the vantage ground of +either. The Southern press and people, with more shrewdness than was +displayed in the North, finding that they had failed to capture +Washington and march on to New York, as they had boasted they would do, +assumed that they only defended their Capital and Southern territory. +Hence, Antietam, Gettysburg, and all the other battles that had been +fought, were by them set down as failures on our part, and victories for +them. Their army believed this. It produced a morale which could only +be overcome by desperate and continuous hard fighting. The battles of +the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna and Cold Harbor, bloody and +terrible as they were on our side, were even more damaging to the enemy, +and so crippled him as to make him wary ever after of taking the +offensive. His losses in men were probably not so great, owing to the +fact that we were, save in the Wilderness, almost invariably the +attacking party; and when he did attack, it was in the open field. The +details of these battles, which for endurance and bravery on the part of +the soldiery, have rarely been surpassed, are given in the report of +Major-General Meade, and the subordinate reports accompanying it. + +During the campaign of forty-three days, from the Rapidan to the James +River, the army had to be supplied from an ever-shifting base, by +wagons, over narrow roads, through a densely wooded country, with a lack +of wharves at each new base from which to conveniently discharge +vessels. Too much credit cannot, therefore, be awarded to the +quartermaster and commissary departments for the zeal and efficiency +displayed by them. Under the general supervision of the chief +quartermaster, Brigadier-General R. Ingalls, the trains were made to +occupy all the available roads between the army and our water-base, and +but little difficulty was experienced in protecting them. + +The movement in the Kanawha and Shenandoah valleys, under General Sigel, +commenced on the 1st of May. General Crook, who had the immediate +command of the Kanawha expedition, divided his forces into two columns, +giving one, composed of cavalry, to General Averell. They crossed the +mountains by separate routes. Averell struck the Tennessee and Virginia +Railroad, near Wytheville, on the 10th, and proceeding to New River and +Christiansburg, destroyed the road, several important bridges and +depots, including New River Bridge, forming a junction with Crook at +Union on the 15th. General Sigel moved up the Shenandoah Valley, met +the enemy at New Market on the 15th, and, after a severe engagement, was +defeated with heavy loss, and retired behind Cedar Creek. Not regarding +the operations of General Sigel as satisfactory, I asked his removal +from command, and Major-General Hunter appointed to supersede him. His +instructions were embraced in the following dispatches to Major-General +H. W. Halleck, chief of staff of the army: + + +"NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, VA. "May 20, 1864. + +* * * * * * * "The enemy are +evidently relying for supplies greatly on such as are brought over the +branch road running through Staunton. On the whole, therefore, I think +it would be better for General Hunter to move in that direction; reach +Staunton and Gordonsville or Charlottesville, if he does not meet too +much opposition. If he can hold at bay a force equal to his own, he +will be doing good service. * * * + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK." + + +"JERICHO FORD, VA., May 25, 1864. + +"If Hunter can possibly get to Charlottesville and Lynchburg, he should +do so, living on the country. The railroads and canal should be +destroyed beyond possibility of repairs for weeks. Completing this, he +could find his way back to his original base, or from about Gordonsville +join this army. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK." + + +General Hunter immediately took up the offensive, and, moving up the +Shenandoah Valley, met the enemy on the 5th of June at Piedmont, and, +after a battle of ten hours, routed and defeated him, capturing on the +field of battle one thousand five hundred men, three pieces of +artillery, and three hundred stand of small arms. On the 8th of the +same month he formed a junction with Crook and Averell at Staunton, from +which place he moved direct on Lynchburg, via Lexington, which place he +reached and invested on the 16th day of June. Up to this time he was +very successful; and but for the difficulty of taking with him +sufficient ordnance stores over so long a march, through a hostile +country, he would, no doubt, have captured that, to the enemy important, +point. The destruction of the enemy's supplies and manufactories was +very great. To meet this movement under General Hunter, General Lee +sent a force, perhaps equal to a corps, a part of which reached +Lynchburg a short time before Hunter. After some skirmishing on the +17th and 18th, General Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition to give +battle, retired from before the place. Unfortunately, this want of +ammunition left him no choice of route for his return but by way of +Kanawha. This lost to us the use of his troops for several weeks from +the defence of the North. + +Had General Hunter moved by way of Charlottesville, instead of +Lexington, as his instructions contemplated, he would have been in a +position to have covered the Shenandoah Valley against the enemy, should +the force he met have seemed to endanger it. If it did not, he would +have been within easy distance of the James River Canal, on the main +line of communication between Lynchburg and the force sent for its +defence. I have never taken exception to the operations of General +Hunter, and am not now disposed to find fault with him, for I have no +doubt he acted within what he conceived to be the spirit of his +instructions and the interests of the service. The promptitude of his +movements and his gallantry should entitle him to the commendation of +his country. + +To return to the Army of the Potomac: The 2d corps commenced crossing +the James River on the morning of the 14th by ferry-boats at Wilcox's +Landing. The laying of the pontoon-bridge was completed about midnight +of the 14th, and the crossing of the balance of the army was rapidly +pushed forward by both bridge and ferry. + +After the crossing had commenced, I proceeded by steamer to Bermuda +Hundred to give the necessary orders for the immediate capture of +Petersburg. + +The instructions to General Butler were verbal, and were for him to send +General Smith immediately, that night, with all the troops he could give +him without sacrificing the position he then held. I told him that I +would return at once to the Army of the Potomac, hasten its crossing and +throw it forward to Petersburg by divisions as rapidly as it could be +done, that we could reinforce our armies more rapidly there than the +enemy could bring troops against us. General Smith got off as directed, +and confronted the enemy's pickets near Petersburg before daylight next +morning, but for some reason that I have never been able to +satisfactorily understand, did not get ready to assault his main lines +until near sundown. Then, with a part of his command only, he made the +assault, and carried the lines north-east of Petersburg from the +Appomattox River, for a distance of over two and a half miles, capturing +fifteen pieces of artillery and three hundred prisoners. This was about +seven P.M. Between the line thus captured and Petersburg there were no +other works, and there was no evidence that the enemy had reinforced +Petersburg with a single brigade from any source. The night was clear +the moon shining brightly and favorable to further operations. General +Hancock, with two divisions of the 2d corps, reached General Smith just +after dark, and offered the service of these troops as he (Smith) might +wish, waiving rank to the named commander, who he naturally supposed +knew best the position of affairs, and what to do with the troops. But +instead of taking these troops and pushing at once into Petersburg, he +requested General Hancock to relieve a part of his line in the captured +works, which was done before midnight. + +By the time I arrived the next morning the enemy was in force. An attack +was ordered to be made at six o'clock that evening by the troops under +Smith and the 2d and 9th corps. It required until that time for the 9th +corps to get up and into position. The attack was made as ordered, and +the fighting continued with but little intermission until six o'clock +the next morning, and resulted in our carrying the advance and some of +the main works of the enemy to the right (our left) of those previously +captured by General Smith, several pieces of artillery, and over four +hundred prisoners. + +The 5th corps having got up, the attacks were renewed and persisted in +with great vigor on the 17th and 18th, but only resulted in forcing the +enemy into an interior line, from which he could not be dislodged. The +advantages of position gained by us were very great. The army then +proceeded to envelop Petersburg towards the South Side Railroad as far +as possible without attacking fortifications. + +On the 16th the enemy, to reinforce Petersburg, withdrew from a part of +his intrenchment in front of Bermuda Hundred, expecting, no doubt, to +get troops from north of the James to take the place of those withdrawn +before we could discover it. General Butler, taking advantage of this, +at once moved a force on the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond. +As soon as I was apprised of the advantage thus gained, to retain it I +ordered two divisions of the 6th corps, General Wright commanding, that +were embarking at Wilcox's Landing, under orders for City Point, to +report to General Butler at Bermuda Hundred, of which General Butler was +notified, and the importance of holding a position in advance of his +present line urged upon him. + +About two o'clock in the afternoon General Butler was forced back to the +line the enemy had withdrawn from in the morning. General Wright, with +his two divisions, joined General Butler on the forenoon of the 17th, +the latter still holding with a strong picket-line the enemy's works. +But instead of putting these divisions into the enemy's works to hold +them, he permitted them to halt and rest some distance in the rear of +his own line. Between four and five o'clock in the afternoon the enemy +attacked and drove in his pickets and re-occupied his old line. + +On the night of the 20th and morning of the 21st a lodgment was effected +by General Butler, with one brigade of infantry, on the north bank of +the James, at Deep Bottom, and connected by pontoon-bridge with Bermuda +Hundred. + +On the 19th, General Sheridan, on his return from his expedition against +the Virginia Central Railroad, arrived at the White House just as the +enemy's cavalry was about to attack it, and compelled it to retire. The +result of this expedition was, that General Sheridan met the enemy's +cavalry near Trevilian Station, on the morning of the 11th of June, whom +he attacked, and after an obstinate contest drove from the field in +complete rout. He left his dead and nearly all his wounded in our +hands, and about four hundred prisoners and several hundred horses. On +the 12th he destroyed the railroad from Trevilian Station to Louisa +Court House. This occupied until three o'clock P.M., when he advanced +in the direction of Gordonsville. He found the enemy reinforced by +infantry, behind well-constructed rifle-pits, about five miles from the +latter place and too strong to successfully assault. On the extreme +right, however, his reserve brigade carried the enemy's works twice, and +was twice driven therefrom by infantry. Night closed the contest. Not +having sufficient ammunition to continue the engagement, and his animals +being without forage (the country furnishing but inferior grazing), and +hearing nothing from General Hunter, he withdrew his command to the +north side of the North Anna, and commenced his return march, reaching +White House at the time before stated. After breaking up the depot at +that place, he moved to the James River, which he reached safely after +heavy fighting. He commenced crossing on the 25th, near Fort Powhatan, +without further molestation, and rejoined the Army of the Potomac. + +On the 22d, General Wilson, with his own division of cavalry of the Army +of the Potomac, and General Kautz's division of cavalry of the Army of +the James moved against the enemy's railroads south of Richmond. +Striking the Weldon Railroad at Reams's Station, destroying the depot +and several miles of the road, and the South Side road about fifteen +miles from Petersburg, to near Nottoway Station, where he met and +defeated a force of the enemy's cavalry. He reached Burkesville Station +on the afternoon of the 23d, and from there destroyed the Danville +Railroad to Roanoke Bridge, a distance of twenty-five miles, where he +found the enemy in force, and in a position from which he could not +dislodge him. He then commenced his return march, and on the 28th met +the enemy's cavalry in force at the Weldon Railroad crossing of Stony +Creek, where he had a severe but not decisive engagement. Thence he +made a detour from his left with a view of reaching Reams's Station +(supposing it to be in our possession). At this place he was met by the +enemy's cavalry, supported by infantry, and forced to retire, with the +loss of his artillery and trains. In this last encounter, General +Kautz, with a part of his command, became separated, and made his way +into our lines. General Wilson, with the remainder of his force, +succeeded in crossing the Nottoway River and coming in safely on our +left and rear. The damage to the enemy in this expedition more than +compensated for the losses we sustained. It severed all connection by +railroad with Richmond for several weeks. + +With a view of cutting the enemy's railroad from near Richmond to the +Anna rivers, and making him wary of the situation of his army in the +Shenandoah, and, in the event of failure in this, to take advantage of +his necessary withdrawal of troops from Petersburg, to explode a mine +that had been prepared in front of the 9th corps and assault the enemy's +lines at that place, on the night of the 26th of July the 2d corps and +two divisions of the cavalry corps and Kautz's cavalry were crossed to +the north bank of the James River and joined the force General Butler +had there. On the 27th the enemy was driven from his intrenched +position, with the loss of four pieces of artillery. On the 28th our +lines were extended from Deep Bottom to New Market Road, but in getting +this position were attacked by the enemy in heavy force. The fighting +lasted for several hours, resulting in considerable loss to both sides. +The first object of this move having failed, by reason of the very large +force thrown there by the enemy, I determined to take advantage of the +diversion made, by assaulting Petersburg before he could get his force +back there. One division of the 2d corps was withdrawn on the night of +the 28th, and moved during the night to the rear of the 18th corps, to +relieve that corps in the line, that it might be foot-loose in the +assault to be made. The other two divisions of the 2d corps and +Sheridan's cavalry were crossed over on the night of the 29th and moved +in front of Petersburg. On the morning of the 30th, between four and +five o'clock, the mine was sprung, blowing up a battery and most of a +regiment, and the advance of the assaulting column, formed of the 9th +corps, immediately took possession of the crater made by the explosion, +and the line for some distance to the right and left of it, and a +detached line in front of it, but for some cause failed to advance +promptly to the ridge beyond. Had they done this, I have every reason +to believe that Petersburg would have fallen. Other troops were +immediately pushed forward, but the time consumed in getting them up +enabled the enemy to rally from his surprise (which had been complete), +and get forces to this point for its defence. The captured line thus +held being untenable, and of no advantage to us, the troops were +withdrawn, but not without heavy loss. Thus terminated in disaster what +promised to be the most successful assault of the campaign. + +Immediately upon the enemy's ascertaining that General Hunter was +retreating from Lynchburg by way of the Kanawha River, thus laying the +Shenandoah Valley open for raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania, he +returned northward and moved down that valley. As soon as this movement +of the enemy was ascertained, General Hunter, who had reached the +Kanawha River, was directed to move his troops without delay, by river +and railroad, to Harper's Ferry; but owing to the difficulty of +navigation by reason of low water and breaks in the railroad, great +delay was experienced in getting there. It became necessary, therefore, +to find other troops to check this movement of the enemy. For this +purpose the 6th corps was taken from the armies operating against +Richmond, to which was added the 19th corps, then fortunately beginning +to arrive in Hampton Roads from the Gulf Department, under orders issued +immediately after the ascertainment of the result of the Red River +expedition. The garrisons of Baltimore and Washington were at this time +made up of heavy-artillery regiments, hundred days' men, and detachments +from the invalid corps. One division under command of General Ricketts, +of the 6th corps, was sent to Baltimore, and the remaining two divisions +of the 6th corps, under General Wright, were subsequently sent to +Washington. On the 3d of July the enemy approached Martinsburg. +General Sigel, who was in command of our forces there, retreated across +the Potomac at Shepherdtown; and General Weber, commanding at Harper's +Ferry, crossed the occupied Hagerstown, moving a strong column towards +Frederick City. General Wallace, with Rickett's division and his own +command, the latter mostly new and undisciplined troops, pushed out from +Baltimore with great promptness, and met the enemy in force on the +Monocacy, near the crossing of the railroad bridge. His force was not +sufficient to insure success, but he fought the enemy nevertheless, and +although it resulted in a defeat to our arms, yet it detained the enemy, +and thereby served to enable General Wright to reach Washington with two +division of the 6th corps, and the advance of the 19th corps, before +him. From Monocacy the enemy moved on Washington, his cavalry advance +reaching Rockville on the evening of the 10th. On the 12th a +reconnoissance was thrown out in front of Fort Stevens, to ascertain the +enemy's position and force. A severe skirmish ensued, in which we lost +about two hundred and eighty in killed and wounded. The enemy's loss +was probably greater. He commenced retreating during the night. +Learning the exact condition of affairs at Washington, I requested by +telegraph, at forty-five minutes past eleven P.M., on the 12th, the +assignment of Major-General H. G. Wright to the command of all the +troops that could be made available to operate in the field against the +enemy, and directed that he should get outside of the trenches with all +the force he could, and push Early to the last moment. General Wright +commenced the pursuit on the 13th; on the 18th the enemy was overtaken +at Snicker's Ferry, on the Shenandoah, when a sharp skirmish occurred; +and on the 20th, General Averell encountered and defeated a portion of +the rebel army at Winchester, capturing four pieces of artillery and +several hundred prisoners. + +Learning that Early was retreating south towards Lynchburg or Richmond, +I directed that the 6th and 19th corps be got back to the armies +operating against Richmond, so that they might be used in a movement +against Lee before the return of the troops sent by him into the valley; +and that Hunter should remain in the Shenandoah Valley, keeping between +any force of the enemy and Washington, acting on the defensive as much +as possible. I felt that if the enemy had any notion of returning, the +fact would be developed before the 6th and 19th corps could leave +Washington. Subsequently, the 19th corps was excepted form the order to +return to the James. + +About the 25th it became evident that the enemy was again advancing upon +Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the 6th corps, then at Washington, was +ordered back to the vicinity of Harper's Ferry. The rebel force moved +down the valley, and sent a raiding party into Pennsylvania which on the +30th burned Chambersburg, and then retreated, pursued by our cavalry, +towards Cumberland. They were met and defeated by General Kelley, and +with diminished numbers escaped into the mountains of West Virginia. +From the time of the first raid the telegraph wires were frequently down +between Washington and City Point, making it necessary to transmit +messages a part of the way by boat. It took from twenty-four to +thirty-six hours to get dispatches through and return answers would be +received showing a different state of facts from those on which they +were based, causing confusion and apparent contradiction of orders that +must have considerably embarrassed those who had to execute them, and +rendered operations against the enemy less effective than they otherwise +would have been. To remedy this evil, it was evident to my mind that +some person should have the supreme command of all the forces in the +Department of West Virginia, Washington, Susquehanna, and the Middle +Department, and I so recommended. + +On the 2d of August, I ordered General Sheridan to report in person to +Major-General Halleck, chief of staff, at Washington, with a view to his +assignment to the command of all the forces against Early. At this time +the enemy was concentrated in the neighborhood of Winchester, while our +forces, under General Hunter, were concentrated on the Monocacy, at the +crossing of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, leaving open to the enemy +Western Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. From where I was, I +hesitated to give positive orders for the movement of our forces at +Monocacy, lest by so doing I should expose Washington. Therefore, on the +4th, I left City Point to visit Hunter's command, and determine for +myself what was best to be done. On arrival there, and after +consultation with General Hunter, I issued to him the following +instructions: + + +"MONOCACY BRIDGE, MARYLAND, August 5, 1864--8 P.M. + +"GENERAL:--Concentrate all your available force without delay in the +vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards and +garrisons for public property as may be necessary. Use, in this +concentrating, the railroad, if by so doing time can be saved. From +Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the enemy has moved north of the +Potomac in large force, push north, following him and attacking him +wherever found; follow him, if driven south of the Potomac, as long as +it is safe to do so. If it is ascertained that the enemy has but a +small force north of the Potomac, then push south with the main force, +detaching under a competent commander, a sufficient force to look after +the raiders, and drive them to their homes. In detaching such a force, +the brigade of the cavalry now en route from Washington via Rockville +may be taken into account. + +"There are now on their way to join you three other brigades of the best +cavalry, numbering at least five thousand men and horses. These will be +instructed, in the absence of further orders, to join you by the south +side of the Potomac. One brigade will probably start to-morrow. In +pushing up the Shenandoah Valley, where it is expected you will have to +go first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left to invite +the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and stock wanted for +the use of your command; such as cannot be consumed, destroy. It is not +desirable that the buildings should be destroyed--they should rather be +protected; but the people should be informed that, so long as an army +can subsist among them, recurrence of theses raids must be expected, and +we are determined to stop them at all hazards. + +"Bear in mind, the object is to drive the enemy south; and to do this +you want to keep him always in sight. Be guided in your course by the +course he takes. + +"Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving regular +vouchers for such as may be taken from loyal citizens in the country +through which you march. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER." + + +The troops were immediately put in motion, and the advance reached +Halltown that night. + +General Hunter having, in our conversation, expressed a willingness to +be relieved from command, I telegraphed to have General Sheridan, then +at Washington, sent to Harper's Ferry by the morning train, with orders +to take general command of all the troops in the field, and to call on +General Hunter at Monocacy, who would turn over to him my letter of +instructions. I remained at Monocacy until General Sheridan arrived, on +the morning of the 6th, and, after a conference with him in relation to +military affairs in that vicinity, I returned to City Point by way of +Washington. + +On the 7th of August, the Middle Department, and the Departments of West +Virginia, Washington, and Susquehanna, were constituted into the "Middle +Military Division," and Major-General Sheridan was assigned to +temporary command of the same. + +Two divisions of cavalry, commanded by Generals Torbert and Wilson, were +sent to Sheridan from the Army of the Potomac. The first reached him at +Harper's Ferry about the 11th of August. + +His operations during the month of August and the fore part of September +were both of an offensive and defensive character, resulting in many +severe skirmishes, principally by the cavalry, in which we were +generally successful, but no general engagement took place. The two +armies lay in such a position--the enemy on the west bank of the Opequon +Creek covering Winchester, and our forces in front of Berryville--that +either could bring on a battle at any time. Defeat to us would lay open +to the enemy the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania for long distances +before another army could be interposed to check him. Under these +circumstances I hesitated about allowing the initiative to be taken. +Finally, the use of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the Chesapeake +and Ohio Canal, which were both obstructed by the enemy, became so +indispensably necessary to us, and the importance of relieving +Pennsylvania and Maryland from continuously threatened invasion so +great, that I determined the risk should be taken. But fearing to +telegraph the order for an attack without knowing more than I did of +General Sheridan's feelings as to what would be the probable result, I +left City Point on the 15th of September to visit him at his +headquarters, to decide, after conference with him, what should be done. +I met him at Charlestown, and he pointed out so distinctly how each army +lay; what he could do the moment he was authorized, and expressed such +confidence of success, that I saw there were but two words of +instructions necessary--Go in! For the conveniences of forage, the +teams for supplying the army were kept at Harper's Ferry. I asked him +if he could get out his teams and supplies in time to make an attack on +the ensuing Tuesday morning. His reply was, that he could before +daylight on Monday. He was off promptly to time, and I may here add, +that the result was such that I have never since deemed it necessary to +visit General Sheridan before giving him orders. + +Early on the morning of the 19th, General Sheridan attacked General +Early at the crossing on the Opequon Creek, and after a most sanguinary +and bloody battle, lasting until five o'clock in the evening, defeated +him with heavy loss, carrying his entire position from Opequon Creek to +Winchester, capturing several thousand prisoners and five pieces of +artillery. The enemy rallied, and made a stand in a strong position at +Fisher's Hill, where he was attacked, and again defeated with heavy loss +on the 20th [22d]. Sheridan pursued him with great energy through +Harrisonburg, Staunton, and the gaps of the Blue Ridge. After stripping +the upper valley of most of the supplies and provisions for the rebel +army, he returned to Strasburg, and took position on the north side of +Cedar Creek. + +Having received considerable reinforcements, General Early again +returned to the valley, and, on the 9th of October, his cavalry +encountered ours near Strasburg, where the rebels were defeated, with +the loss of eleven pieces of artillery and three hundred and fifty +prisoners. On the night of the 18th, the enemy crossed the mountains +which separate the branches of the Shenandoah, forded the North Fork, +and early on the morning of the 19th, under cover of the darkness and +the fog, surprised and turned our left flank, and captured the batteries +which enfiladed our whole line. Our troops fell back with heavy loss +and in much confusion, but were finally rallied between Middletown and +Newtown. At this juncture, General Sheridan, who was at Winchester when +the battle commenced arrived on the field, arranged his lines just in +time to repulse a heavy attack of the enemy, and immediately assuming +the offensive, he attacked in turn with great vigor. The enemy was +defeated with great slaughter, and the loss of most of his artillery and +trains, and the trophies he had captured in the morning. The wreck of +his army escaped during the night, and fled in the direction of Staunton +and Lynchburg. Pursuit was made to Mount Jackson. Thus ended this, the +enemy's last attempt to invade the North via the Shenandoah Valley. I +was now enabled to return the 6th corps to the Army of the Potomac, and +to send one division from Sheridan's army to the Army of the James, and +another to Savannah, Georgia, to hold Sherman's new acquisitions on the +sea-coast, and thus enable him to move without detaching from his force +for that purpose. + +Reports from various sources led me to believe that the enemy had +detached three divisions from Petersburg to reinforce Early in the +Shenandoah Valley. I therefore sent the 2d corps and Gregg's division +of cavalry, of the Army of the Potomac, and a force of General Butler's +army, on the night of the 13th of August, to threaten Richmond from the +north side of the James, to prevent him from sending troops away, and, +if possible, to draw back those sent. In this move we captured six +pieces of artillery and several hundred prisoners, detained troops that +were under marching orders, and ascertained that but one division +(Kershaw's), of the three reputed detached, had gone. + +The enemy having withdrawn heavily from Petersburg to resist this +movement, the 5th corps, General Warren commanding, was moved out on the +18th, and took possession of the Weldon Railroad. During the day he had +considerable fighting. To regain possession of the road, the enemy made +repeated and desperate assaults, but was each time repulsed with great +loss. On the night of the 20th, the troops on the north side of the +James were withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg returned to the front at +Petersburg. On the 25th, the 2d corps and Gregg's division of cavalry, +while at Reams's Station destroying the railroad, were attacked, and +after desperate fighting, a part of our line gave way, and five pieces +of artillery fell into the hands of the enemy. + +By the 12th of September, a branch railroad was completed from the City +Point and Petersburg Railroad to the Weldon Railroad, enabling us to +supply, without difficulty, in all weather, the army in front of +Petersburg. + +The extension of our lines across the Weldon Railroad compelled the +enemy to so extend his, that it seemed he could have but few troops +north of the James for the defence of Richmond. On the night of the +28th, the 10th corps, Major-General Birney, and the 18th corps, +Major-General Ord commanding, of General Butler's army, were crossed to +the north side of the James, and advanced on the morning of the 29th, +carrying the very strong fortifications and intrenchments below +Chaffin's Farm, known as Fort Harrison, capturing fifteen pieces of +artillery, and the New Market Road and intrenchments. This success was +followed up by a gallant assault upon Fort Gilmer, immediately in front +of the Chaffin Farm fortifications, in which we were repulsed with heavy +loss. Kautz's cavalry was pushed forward on the road to the right of +this, supported by infantry, and reached the enemy's inner line, but was +unable to get further. The position captured from the enemy was so +threatening to Richmond, that I determined to hold it. The enemy made +several desperate attempts to dislodge us, all of which were +unsuccessful, and for which he paid dearly. On the morning of the 30th, +General Meade sent out a reconnoissance with a view to attacking the +enemy's line, if it was found sufficiently weakened by withdrawal of +troops to the north side. In this reconnoissance we captured and held +the enemy's works near Poplar Spring Church. In the afternoon, troops +moving to get to the left of the point gained were attacked by the enemy +in heavy force, and compelled to fall back until supported by the forces +holding the captured works. Our cavalry under Gregg was also attacked, +but repulsed the enemy with great loss. + +On the 7th of October, the enemy attacked Kautz's cavalry north of the +James, and drove it back with heavy loss in killed, wounded, and +prisoners, and the loss of all the artillery eight or nine pieces. This +he followed up by an attack on our intrenched infantry line, but was +repulsed with severe slaughter. On the 13th, a reconnoissance was sent +out by General Butler, with a view to drive the enemy from some new +works he was constructing, which resulted in very heavy loss to us. + +On the 27th, the Army of the Potomac, leaving only sufficient men to +hold its fortified line, moved by the enemy's right flank. The 2d +corps, followed by two divisions of the 5th corps, with the cavalry in +advance and covering our left flank, forced a passage of Hatcher's Run, +and moved up the south side of it towards the South Side Railroad, until +the 2d corps and part of the cavalry reached the Boydton Plank Road +where it crosses Hatcher's Run. At this point we were six miles distant +from the South Side Railroad, which I had hoped by this movement to +reach and hold. But finding that we had not reached the end of the +enemy's fortifications, and no place presenting itself for a successful +assault by which he might be doubled up and shortened, I determined to +withdraw to within our fortified line. Orders were given accordingly. +Immediately upon receiving a report that General Warren had connected +with General Hancock, I returned to my headquarters. Soon after I left +the enemy moved out across Hatcher's Run, in the gap between Generals +Hancock and Warren, which was not closed as reported, and made a +desperate attack on General Hancock's right and rear. General Hancock +immediately faced his corps to meet it, and after a bloody combat drove +the enemy within his works, and withdrew that night to his old position. + +In support of this movement, General Butler made a demonstration on the +north side of the James, and attacked the enemy on the Williamsburg +Road, and also on the York River Railroad. In the former he was +unsuccessful; in the latter he succeeded in carrying a work which was +afterwards abandoned, and his forces withdrawn to their former +positions. + +From this time forward the operations in front of Petersburg and +Richmond, until the spring campaign of 1865, were confined to the +defence and extension of our lines, and to offensive movements for +crippling the enemy's lines of communication, and to prevent his +detaching any considerable force to send south. By the 7th of February, +our lines were extended to Hatcher's Run, and the Weldon Railroad had +been destroyed to Hicksford. + +General Sherman moved from Chattanooga on the 6th of May, with the +Armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio, commanded, respectively, +by Generals Thomas McPherson, and Schofield, upon Johnston's army at +Dalton; but finding the enemy's position at Buzzard's Roost, covering +Dalton, too strong to be assaulted, General McPherson was sent through +Snake Gap to turn it, while Generals Thomas and Schofield threatened it +in front and on the north. This movement was successful. Johnston, +finding his retreat likely to be cut off, fell back to his fortified +position at Resaca, where he was attacked on the afternoon of May 15th. +A heavy battle ensued. During the night the enemy retreated south. +Late on the 17th, his rear-guard was overtaken near Adairsville, and +heavy skirmishing followed. The next morning, however, he had again +disappeared. He was vigorously pursued, and was overtaken at Cassville +on the 19th, but during the ensuing night retreated across the Etowah. +While these operations were going on, General Jefferson C. Davis's +division of Thomas's army was sent to Rome, capturing it with its forts +and artillery, and its valuable mills and foundries. General Sherman, +having give his army a few days' rest at this point, again put it in +motion on the 23d, for Dallas, with a view of turning the difficult pass +at Allatoona. On the afternoon of the 25th, the advance, under General +Hooker, had a severe battle with the enemy, driving him back to New Hope +Church, near Dallas. Several sharp encounters occurred at this point. +The most important was on the 28th, when the enemy assaulted General +McPherson at Dallas, but received a terrible and bloody repulse. + +On the 4th of June, Johnston abandoned his intrenched position at New +Hope Church, and retreated to the strong positions of Kenesaw, Pine, and +Lost mountains. He was forced to yield the two last-named places, and +concentrate his army on Kenesaw, where, on the 27th, Generals Thomas and +McPherson made a determined but unsuccessful assault. On the night of +the 2d of July, Sherman commenced moving his army by the right flank, +and on the morning of the 3d, found that the enemy, in consequence of +this movement, had abandoned Kenesaw and retreated across the +Chattahoochee. + +General Sherman remained on the Chattahoochee to give his men rest and +get up stores until the 17th of July, when he resumed his operations, +crossed the Chattahoochee, destroyed a large portion of the railroad to +Augusta, and drove the enemy back to Atlanta. At this place General Hood +succeeded General Johnston in command of the rebel army, and assuming +the offensive-defensive policy, made several severe attacks upon Sherman +in the vicinity of Atlanta, the most desperate and determined of which +was on the 22d of July. About one P.M. of this day the brave, +accomplished, and noble-hearted McPherson was killed. General Logan +succeeded him, and commanded the Army of the Tennessee through this +desperate battle, and until he was superseded by Major-General Howard, +on the 26th, with the same success and ability that had characterized +him in the command of a corps or division. + +In all these attacks the enemy was repulsed with great loss. Finding it +impossible to entirely invest the place, General Sherman, after securing +his line of communications across the Chattahoochee, moved his main +force round by the enemy's left flank upon the Montgomery and Macon +roads, to draw the enemy from his fortifications. In this he succeeded, +and after defeating the enemy near Rough-and-Ready, Jonesboro, and +Lovejoy's, forcing him to retreat to the south, on the 2d of September +occupied Atlanta, the objective point of his campaign. + +About the time of this move, the rebel cavalry, under Wheeler, attempted +to cut his communications in the rear, but was repulsed at Dalton, and +driven into East Tennessee, whence it proceeded west to McMinnville, +Murfreesboro, and Franklin, and was finally driven south of the +Tennessee. The damage done by this raid was repaired in a few days. + +During the partial investment of Atlanta, General Rousseau joined +General Sherman with a force of cavalry from Decatur, having made a +successful raid upon the Atlanta and Montgomery Railroad, and its +branches near Opelika. Cavalry raids were also made by Generals McCook, +Garrard, and Stoneman, to cut the remaining Railroad communication with +Atlanta. The first two were successful the latter, disastrous. + +General Sherman's movement from Chattanooga to Atlanta was prompt, +skilful, and brilliant. The history of his flank movements and battles +during that memorable campaign will ever be read with an interest +unsurpassed by anything in history. + +His own report, and those of his subordinate commanders, accompanying +it, give the details of that most successful campaign. + +He was dependent for the supply of his armies upon a single-track +railroad from Nashville to the point where he was operating. This +passed the entire distance through a hostile country, and every foot of +it had to be protected by troops. The cavalry force of the enemy under +Forrest, in Northern Mississippi, was evidently waiting for Sherman to +advance far enough into the mountains of Georgia, to make a retreat +disastrous, to get upon this line and destroy it beyond the possibility +of further use. To guard against this danger, Sherman left what he +supposed to be a sufficient force to operate against Forrest in West +Tennessee. He directed General Washburn, who commanded there, to send +Brigadier-General S. D. Sturgis in command of this force to attack him. +On the morning of the 10th of June, General Sturgis met the enemy near +Guntown, Mississippi, was badly beaten, and driven back in utter rout +and confusion to Memphis, a distance of about one hundred miles, hotly +pursued by the enemy. By this, however, the enemy was defeated in his +designs upon Sherman's line of communications. The persistency with +which he followed up this success exhausted him, and made a season for +rest and repairs necessary. In the meantime, Major-General A. J. Smith, +with the troops of the Army of the Tennessee that had been sent by +General Sherman to General Banks, arrived at Memphis on their return +from Red River, where they had done most excellent service. He was +directed by General Sherman to immediately take the offensive against +Forrest. This he did with the promptness and effect which has +characterized his whole military career. On the 14th of July, he met +the enemy at Tupelo, Mississippi, and whipped him badly. The fighting +continued through three days. Our loss was small compared with that of +the enemy. Having accomplished the object of his expedition, General +Smith returned to Memphis. + +During the months of March and April this same force under Forrest +annoyed us considerably. On the 24th of March it captured Union City, +Kentucky, and its garrison, and on the 24th attacked Paducah, commanded +by Colonel S. G. Hicks, 40th Illinois Volunteers. Colonel H., having +but a small force, withdrew to the forts near the river, from where he +repulsed the enemy and drove him from the place. + +On the 13th of April, part of this force, under the rebel General +Buford, summoned the garrison of Columbus, Kentucky, to surrender, but +received for reply from Colonel Lawrence, 34th New Jersey Volunteers, +that being placed there by his Government with adequate force to hold +his post and repel all enemies from it, surrender was out of the +question. + +On the morning of the same day Forrest attacked Fort Pillow, Tennessee, +garrisoned by a detachment of Tennessee cavalry and the 1st Regiment +Alabama colored troops, commanded by Major Booth. The garrison fought +bravely until about three o'clock in the afternoon, when the enemy +carried the works by assault; and, after our men threw down their arms, +proceeded to an inhuman and merciless massacre of the garrison. + +On the 14th, General Buford, having failed at Columbus, appeared before +Paducah, but was again driven off. + +Guerillas and raiders, seemingly emboldened by Forrest's operations, +were also very active in Kentucky. The most noted of these was Morgan. +With a force of from two to three thousand cavalry, he entered the State +through Pound Gap in the latter part of May. On the 11th of June they +attacked and captured Cynthiana, with its entire garrison. On the 12th +he was overtaken by General Burbridge, and completely routed with heavy +loss, and was finally driven out of the State. This notorious guerilla +was afterwards surprised and killed near Greenville, Tennessee, and his +command captured and dispersed by General Gillem. + +In the absence of official reports of the commencement of the Red River +expedition, except so far as relates to the movements of the troops sent +by General Sherman under General A. J. Smith, I am unable to give the +date of its starting. The troops under General Smith, comprising two +divisions of the 16th and a detachment of the 17th army corps, left +Vicksburg on the 10th of March, and reached the designated point on Red +River one day earlier than that appointed by General Banks. The rebel +forces at Fort de Russy, thinking to defeat him, left the fort on the +14th to give him battle in the open field; but, while occupying the +enemy with skirmishing and demonstrations, Smith pushed forward to Fort +de Russy, which had been left with a weak garrison, and captured it with +its garrison about three hundred and fifty men, eleven pieces of +artillery, and many small-arms. Our loss was but slight. On the 15th +he pushed forward to Alexandria, which place he reached on the 18th. On +the 21st he had an engagement with the enemy at Henderson's Hill, in +which he defeated him, capturing two hundred and ten prisoners and four +pieces of artillery. + +On the 28th, he again attacked and defeated the enemy under the rebel +General Taylor, at Cane River. By the 26th, General Banks had assembled +his whole army at Alexandria, and pushed forward to Grand Ecore. On the +morning of April 6th he moved from Grand Ecore. On the afternoon of the +7th, he advanced and met the enemy near Pleasant Hill, and drove him +from the field. On the same afternoon the enemy made a stand eight +miles beyond Pleasant Hill, but was again compelled to retreat. On the +8th, at Sabine Cross Roads and Peach Hill, the enemy attacked and +defeated his advance, capturing nineteen pieces of artillery and an +immense amount of transportation and stores. During the night, General +Banks fell back to Pleasant Hill, where another battle was fought on the +9th, and the enemy repulsed with great loss. During the night, General +Banks continued his retrograde movement to Grand Ecore, and thence to +Alexandria, which he reached on the 27th of April. Here a serious +difficulty arose in getting Admiral Porter's fleet which accompanied the +expedition, over the rapids, the water having fallen so much since they +passed up as to prevent their return. At the suggestion of Colonel (now +Brigadier-General) Bailey, and under his superintendence, wing-dams were +constructed, by which the channel was contracted so that the fleet +passed down the rapids in safety. + +The army evacuated Alexandria on the 14th of May, after considerable +skirmishing with the enemy's advance, and reached Morganzia and Point +Coupee near the end of the month. The disastrous termination of this +expedition, and the lateness of the season, rendered impracticable the +carrying out of my plans of a movement in force sufficient to insure the +capture of Mobile. + +On the 23d of March, Major-General Steele left Little Rock with the 7th +army corps, to cooperate with General Banks's expedition on the Red +River, and reached Arkadelphia on the 28th. On the 16th of April, after +driving the enemy before him, he was joined, near Elkin's Ferry, in +Washita County, by General Thayer, who had marched from Fort Smith. +After several severe skirmishes, in which the enemy was defeated, +General Steele reached Camden, which he occupied about the middle of +April. + +On learning the defeat and consequent retreat of General Banks on Red +River, and the loss of one of his own trains at Mark's Mill, in Dallas +County, General Steele determined to fall back to the Arkansas River. +He left Camden on the 26th of April, and reached Little Rock on the 2d +of May. On the 30th of April, the enemy attacked him while crossing +Saline River at Jenkins's Ferry, but was repulsed with considerable +loss. Our loss was about six hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners. + +Major-General Canby, who had been assigned to the command of the +"Military Division of the West Mississippi," was therefore directed to +send the 19th army corps to join the armies operating against Richmond, +and to limit the remainder of his command to such operations as might be +necessary to hold the positions and lines of communications he then +occupied. + +Before starting General A. J. Smith's troops back to Sherman, General +Canby sent a part of it to disperse a force of the enemy that was +collecting near the Mississippi River. General Smith met and defeated +this force near Lake Chicot on the 5th of June. Our loss was about +forty killed and seventy wounded. + +In the latter part of July, General Canby sent Major-General Gordon +Granger, with such forces as he could collect, to co-operate with +Admiral Farragut against the defences of Mobile Bay. On the 8th of +August, Fort Gaines surrendered to the combined naval and land forces. +Fort Powell was blown up and abandoned. + +On the 9th, Fort Morgan was invested, and, after a severe bombardment, +surrendered on the 23d. The total captures amounted to one thousand +four hundred and sixty-four prisoners, and one hundred and four pieces +of artillery. + +About the last of August, it being reported that the rebel General +Price, with a force of about ten thousand men, had reached Jacksonport, +on his way to invade Missouri, General A. J. Smith's command, then en +route from Memphis to join Sherman, was ordered to Missouri. A cavalry +force was also, at the same time, sent from Memphis, under command of +Colonel Winslow. This made General Rosecrans's forces superior to those +of Price, and no doubt was entertained he would be able to check Price +and drive him back; while the forces under General Steele, in Arkansas, +would cut off his retreat. On the 26th day of September, Price attacked +Pilot Knob and forced the garrison to retreat, and thence moved north to +the Missouri River, and continued up that river towards Kansas. General +Curtis, commanding Department of Kansas, immediately collected such +forces as he could to repel the invasion of Kansas, while General +Rosecrans's cavalry was operating in his rear. + +The enemy was brought to battle on the Big Blue and defeated, with the +loss of nearly all his artillery and trains and a large number of +prisoners. He made a precipitate retreat to Northern Arkansas. The +impunity with which Price was enabled to roam over the State of Missouri +for a long time, and the incalculable mischief done by him, show to how +little purpose a superior force may be used. There is no reason why +General Rosecrans should not have concentrated his forces, and beaten +and driven Price before the latter reached Pilot Knob. + +September 20th, the enemy's cavalry, under Forrest, crossed the +Tennessee near Waterloo, Alabama, and on the 23d attacked the garrison +at Athens, consisting of six hundred men, which capitulated on the 24th. +Soon after the surrender two regiments of reinforcements arrived, and +after a severe fight were compelled to surrender. Forrest destroyed the +railroad westward, captured the garrison at Sulphur Branch trestle, +skirmished with the garrison at Pulaski on the 27th, and on the same day +cut the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad near Tullahoma and Dechard. +On the morning of the 30th, one column of Forrest's command, under +Buford, appeared before Huntsville, and summoned the surrender of the +garrison. Receiving an answer in the negative, he remained in the +vicinity of the place until next morning, when he again summoned its +surrender, and received the same reply as on the night before. He +withdrew in the direction of Athens which place had been regarrisoned, +and attacked it on the afternoon of the 1st of October, but without +success. On the morning of the 2d he renewed his attack, but was +handsomely repulsed. + +Another column under Forrest appeared before Columbia on the morning of +the 1st, but did not make an attack. On the morning of the 3d he moved +towards Mount Pleasant. While these operations were going on, every +exertion was made by General Thomas to destroy the forces under Forrest +before he could recross the Tennessee, but was unable to prevent his +escape to Corinth, Mississippi. + +In September, an expedition under General Burbridge was sent to destroy +the saltworks at Saltville, Virginia. He met the enemy on the 2d of +October, about three miles and a half from Saltville, and drove him into +his strongly intrenched position around the salt-works, from which he +was unable to dislodge him. During the night he withdrew his command +and returned to Kentucky. + +General Sherman, immediately after the fall of Atlanta, put his armies +in camp in and about the place, and made all preparations for refitting +and supplying them for future service. The great length of road from +Atlanta to the Cumberland River, however, which had to be guarded, +allowed the troops but little rest. + +During this time Jefferson Davis made a speech in Macon, Georgia, which +was reported in the papers of the South, and soon became known to the +whole country, disclosing the plans of the enemy, thus enabling General +Sherman to fully meet them. He exhibited the weakness of supposing that +an army that had been beaten and fearfully decimated in a vain attempt +at the defensive, could successfully undertake the offensive against the +army that had so often defeated it. + +In execution of this plan, Hood, with this army, was soon reported to +the south-west of Atlanta. Moving far to Sherman's right, he succeeded +in reaching the railroad about Big Shanty, and moved north on it. + +General Sherman, leaving a force to hold Atlanta, with the remainder of +his army fell upon him and drove him to Gadsden, Alabama. Seeing the +constant annoyance he would have with the roads to his rear if he +attempted to hold Atlanta, General Sherman proposed the abandonment and +destruction of that place, with all the railroads leading to it, and +telegraphed me as follows: + + +"CENTREVILLE, GEORGIA", October 10--noon. + +"Dispatch about Wilson just received. Hood is now crossing Coosa River, +twelve miles below Rome, bound west. If he passes over the Mobile and +Ohio road, had I not better execute the plan of my letter sent by +Colonel Porter, and leave General Thomas with the troops now in +Tennessee to defend the State? He will have an ample force when the +reinforcements ordered reach Nashville. + +"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT." + + +For a full understanding of the plan referred to in this dispatch, I +quote from the letter sent by Colonel Porter: + +"I will therefore give my opinion, that your army and Canby's should be +reinforced to the maximum; that after you get Wilmington, you strike for +Savannah and the river; that Canby be instructed to hold the Mississippi +River, and send a force to get Columbus, Georgia, either by the way of +the Alabama or the Appalachicola, and that I keep Hood employed and put +my army in final order for a march on Augusta, Columbia, and Charleston, +to be ready as soon as Wilmington is sealed as to commerce and the city +of Savannah is in our possession." This was in reply to a letter of +mine of date September 12th, in answer to a dispatch of his containing +substantially the same proposition, and in which I informed him of a +proposed movement against Wilmington, and of the situation in Virginia, +etc. + + +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, + +"October 11, 1864--11 A.M. + +"Your dispatch of October 10th received. Does it not look as if Hood +was going to attempt the invasion of Middle Tennessee, using the Mobile +and Ohio and Memphis and Charleston roads to supply his base on the +Tennessee River, about Florence or Decatur? If he does this, he ought +to be met and prevented from getting north of the Tennessee River. If +you were to cut loose, I do not believe you would meet Hood's army, but +would be bushwhacked by all the old men and little boys, and such +railroad guards as are still left at home. Hood would probably strike +for Nashville, thinking that by going north he could inflict greater +damage upon us than we could upon the rebels by going south. If there +is any way of getting at Hood's army, I would prefer that, but I must +trust to your own judgment. I find I shall not be able to send a force +from here to act with you on Savannah. Your movements, therefore, will +be independent of mine; at least until the fall of Richmond takes place. +I am afraid Thomas, with such lines of road as he has to protect, could +not prevent Hood from going north. With Wilson turned loose, with all +your cavalry, you will find the rebels put much more on the defensive +than heretofore. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN." + + +"KINGSTON, GEORGIA, "October 11--11 A.M. + +"Hood moved his army from Palmetto Station across by Dallas and +Cedartown, and is now on the Coosa River, south of Rome. He threw one +corps on my road at Acworth, and I was forced to follow. I hold Atlanta +with the 20th corps, and have strong detachments along my line. This +reduces my active force to a comparatively small army. We cannot remain +here on the defensive. With the twenty-five thousand men, and the bold +cavalry he has, he can constantly break my roads. I would infinitely +prefer to make a wreck of the road, and of the country from Chattanooga +to Atlanta including the latter city send back all my wounded and +worthless, and with my effective army, move through Georgia, smashing +things, to the sea. Hood may turn into Tennessee and Kentucky, but I +believe he will be forced to follow me. Instead of my being on the +defensive, I would be on the offensive; instead of guessing at what he +means to do, he would have to guess at my plans. The difference in war +is full twenty-five per cent. I can make Savannah, Charleston, or the +mouth of the Chattahoochee. + +"Answer quick, as I know we will not have the telegraph long. + +"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT." + + +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, "October 11,1864--11.30 P.M. + +"Your dispatch of to-day received. If you are satisfied the trip to the +sea-coast can be made, holding the line of the Tennessee River firmly, +you may make it, destroying all the railroad south of Dalton or +Chattanooga, as you think best. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN." + + +It was the original design to hold Atlanta, and by getting through to +the coast, with a garrison left on the southern railroads, leading east +and west, through Georgia, to effectually sever the east from the west. +In other words, cut the would-be Confederacy in two again, as it had +been cut once by our gaining possession of the Mississippi River. +General Sherman's plan virtually effected this object. + +General Sherman commenced at once his preparations for his proposed +movement, keeping his army in position in the meantime to watch Hood. +Becoming satisfied that Hood had moved westward from Gadsden across Sand +Mountain, General Sherman sent the 4th corps, Major-General Stanley +commanding, and the 23d corps, Major-General Schofield commanding, back +to Chattanooga to report to Major-General Thomas, at Nashville, whom he +had placed in command of all the troops of his military division, save +the four army corps and cavalry division he designed to move with +through Georgia. With the troops thus left at his disposal, there was +little doubt that General Thomas could hold the line of the Tennessee, +or, in the event Hood should force it, would be able to concentrate and +beat him in battle. It was therefore readily consented to that Sherman +should start for the sea-coast. + +Having concentrated his troops at Atlanta by the 14th of November, he +commenced his march, threatening both Augusta and Macon. His coming-out +point could not be definitely fixed. Having to gather his subsistence as +he marched through the country, it was not impossible that a force +inferior to his own might compel him to head for such point as he could +reach, instead of such as he might prefer. The blindness of the enemy, +however, in ignoring his movement, and sending Hood's army, the only +considerable force he had west of Richmond and east of the Mississippi +River, northward on an offensive campaign, left the whole country open, +and Sherman's route to his own choice. + +How that campaign was conducted, how little opposition was met with, the +condition of the country through which the armies passed, the capture of +Fort McAllister, on the Savannah River, and the occupation of Savannah +on the 21st of December, are all clearly set forth in General Sherman's +admirable report. + +Soon after General Sherman commenced his march from Atlanta, two +expeditions, one from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and one from Vicksburg, +Mississippi, were started by General Canby to cut the enemy's lines of +communication with Mobile and detain troops in that field. General +Foster, commanding Department of the South, also sent an expedition, via +Broad River, to destroy the railroad between Charleston and Savannah. +The expedition from Vicksburg, under command of Brevet Brigadier-General +E. D. Osband (colonel 3d United States colored cavalry), captured, on +the 27th of November, and destroyed the Mississippi Central Railroad +bridge and trestle-work over Big Black River, near Canton, thirty miles +of the road, and two locomotives, besides large amounts of stores. The +expedition from Baton Rouge was without favorable results. The +expedition from the Department of the South, under the immediate command +of Brigadier-General John P. Hatch, consisting of about five thousand +men of all arms, including a brigade from the navy, proceeded up Broad +River and debarked at Boyd's Neck on the 29th of November, from where it +moved to strike the railroad at Grahamsville. At Honey Hill, about +three miles from Grahamsville, the enemy was found and attacked in a +strongly fortified position, which resulted, after severe fighting, in +our repulse with a loss of seven hundred and forty-six in killed, +wounded, and missing. During the night General Hatch withdrew. On the +6th of December General Foster obtained a position covering the +Charleston and Savannah Railroad, between the Coosawhatchie and +Tulifinny rivers. + +Hood, instead of following Sherman, continued his move northward, which +seemed to me to be leading to his certain doom. At all events, had I +had the power to command both armies, I should not have changed the +orders under which he seemed to be acting. On the 26th of October, the +advance of Hood's army attacked the garrison at Decatur, Alabama, but +failing to carry the place, withdrew towards Courtland, and succeeded, +in the face of our cavalry, in effecting a lodgment on the north side of +the Tennessee River, near Florence. On the 28th, Forrest reached the +Tennessee, at Fort Heiman, and captured a gunboat and three transports. +On the 2d of November he planted batteries above and below Johnsonville, +on the opposite side of the river, isolating three gunboats and eight +transports. On the 4th the enemy opened his batteries upon the place, +and was replied to from the gunboats and the garrison. The gunboats +becoming disabled were set on fire, as also were the transports, to +prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. About a million and +a half dollars' worth of store and property on the levee and in +storehouses was consumed by fire. On the 5th the enemy disappeared and +crossed to the north side of the Tennessee River, above Johnsonville, +moving towards Clifton, and subsequently joined Hood. On the night of +the 5th, General Schofield, with the advance of the 23d corps, reached +Johnsonville, but finding the enemy gone, was ordered to Pulaski, and +was put in command of all the troopers there, with instruction to watch +the movements of Hood and retard his advance, but not to risk a general +engagement until the arrival of General A. J. Smith's command from +Missouri, and until General Wilson could get his cavalry remounted. + +On the 19th, General Hood continued his advance. General Thomas, +retarding him as much as possible, fell back towards Nashville for the +purpose of concentrating his command and gaining time for the arrival of +reinforcements. The enemy coming up with our main force, commanded by +General Schofield, at Franklin, on the 30th, assaulted our works +repeatedly during the afternoon until late at night, but were in every +instance repulsed. His loss in this battle was one thousand seven +hundred and fifty killed, seven hundred and two prisoners, and three +thousand eight hundred wounded. Among his losses were six general +officers killed, six wounded, and one captured. Our entire loss was two +thousand three hundred. This was the first serious opposition the enemy +met with, and I am satisfied was the fatal blow to all his expectations. +During the night, General Schofield fell back towards Nashville. This +left the field to the enemy--not lost by battle, but voluntarily +abandoned--so that General Thomas's whole force might be brought +together. The enemy followed up and commenced the establishment of his +line in front of Nashville on the 2d of December. + +As soon as it was ascertained that Hood was crossing the Tennessee +River, and that Price was going out of Missouri, General Rosecrans was +ordered to send to General Thomas the troops of General A. J. Smith's +command, and such other troops as he could spare. The advance of this +reinforcement reached Nashville on the 30th of November. + +On the morning of the 15th December, General Thomas attacked Hood in +position, and, in a battle lasting two days, defeated and drove him from +the field in the utmost confusion, leaving in our hand most of his +artillery and many thousand prisoners, including four general officers. + +Before the battle of Nashville I grew very impatient over, as it +appeared to me, the unnecessary delay. This impatience was increased +upon learning that the enemy had sent a force of cavalry across the +Cumberland into Kentucky. I feared Hood would cross his whole army and +give us great trouble there. After urging upon General Thomas the +necessity of immediately assuming the offensive, I started West to +superintend matters there in person. Reaching Washington City, I +received General Thomas's dispatch announcing his attack upon the enemy, +and the result as far as the battle had progressed. I was delighted. +All fears and apprehensions were dispelled. I am not yet satisfied but +that General Thomas, immediately upon the appearance of Hood before +Nashville, and before he had time to fortify, should have moved out with +his whole force and given him battle, instead of waiting to remount his +cavalry, which delayed him until the inclemency of the weather made it +impracticable to attack earlier than he did. But his final defeat of +Hood was so complete, that it will be accepted as a vindication of that +distinguished officer's judgment. + +After Hood's defeat at Nashville he retreated, closely pursued by +cavalry and infantry, to the Tennessee River, being forced to abandon +many pieces of artillery and most of his transportation. On the 28th of +December our advanced forces ascertained that he had made good his +escape to the south side of the river. + +About this time, the rains having set in heavily in Tennessee and North +Alabama, making it difficult to move army transportation and artillery, +General Thomas stopped the pursuit by his main force at the Tennessee +River. A small force of cavalry, under Colonel W. J. Palmer, 15th +Pennsylvania Volunteers, continued to follow Hood for some distance, +capturing considerable transportation and all the enemy's +pontoon-bridge. The details of these operations will be found +clearly set forth in General Thomas's report. + +A cavalry expedition, under Brevet Major-General Grierson, started from +Memphis on the 21st of December. On the 25th he surprised and captured +Forrest's dismounted camp at Verona, Mississippi, on the Mobile and Ohio +Railroad, destroyed the railroad, sixteen cars loaded with wagons and +pontoons for Hood's army, four thousand new English carbines, and large +amounts of public stores. On the morning of the 28th he attacked and +captured a force of the enemy at Egypt, and destroyed a train of +fourteen cars; thence turning to the south-west, he struck the +Mississippi Central Railroad at Winona, destroyed the factories and +large amounts of stores at Bankston, and the machine-shops and public +property at Grenada, arriving at Vicksburg January 5th. + +During the operations in Middle Tennessee, the enemy, with a force under +General Breckinridge, entered East Tennessee. On the 13th of November +he attacked General Gillem, near Morristown, capturing his artillery and +several hundred prisoners. Gillem, with what was left of his command, +retreated to Knoxville. Following up his success, Breckinridge moved to +near Knoxville, but withdrew on the 18th, followed by General Ammen. +Under the directions of General Thomas, General Stoneman concentrated +the commands of Generals Burbridge and Gillem near Bean's Station to +operate against Breckinridge, and destroy or drive him into Virginia +--destroy the salt-works at Saltville, and the railroad into Virginia +as far as he could go without endangering his command. On the 12th of +December he commenced his movement, capturing and dispersing the enemy's +forces wherever he met them. On the 16th he struck the enemy, under +Vaughn, at Marion, completely routing and pursuing him to Wytheville, +capturing all his artillery, trains, and one hundred and ninety-eight +prisoners; and destroyed Wytheville, with its stores and supplies, and +the extensive lead-works near there. Returning to Marion, he met a force +under Breckinridge, consisting, among other troops, of the garrison of +Saltville, that had started in pursuit. He at once made arrangements to +attack it the next morning; but morning found Breckinridge gone. He +then moved directly to Saltville, and destroyed the extensive salt-works +at that place, a large amount of stores, and captured eight pieces of +artillery. Having thus successfully executed his instructions, he +returned General Burbridge to Lexington and General Gillem to Knoxville. + +Wilmington, North Carolina, was the most important sea-coast port left +to the enemy through which to get supplies from abroad, and send cotton +and other products out by blockade-runners, besides being a place of +great strategic value. The navy had been making strenuous exertions to +seal the harbor of Wilmington, but with only partial effect. The nature +of the outlet of Cape Fear River was such, that it required watching for +so great a distance that, without possession of the land north of New +Inlet, or Fort Fisher, it was impossible for the navy to entirely close +the harbor against the entrance of blockade-runners. + +To secure the possession of this land required the co-operation of a +land force, which I agreed to furnish. Immediately commenced the +assemblage in Hampton Roads, under Admiral D. D. Porter, of the most +formidable armada ever collected for concentration upon one given point. +This necessarily attracted the attention of the enemy, as well as that +of the loyal North; and through the imprudence of the public press, and +very likely of officers of both branches of service, the exact object of +the expedition became a subject of common discussion in the newspapers +both North and South. The enemy, thus warned, prepared to meet it. +This caused a postponement of the expedition until the later part of +November, when, being again called upon by Hon. G. V. Fox, Assistant +Secretary of the Navy, I agreed to furnish the men required at once, and +went myself, in company with Major-General Butler, to Hampton Roads, +where we had a conference with Admiral Porter as to the force required +and the time of starting. A force of six thousand five hundred men was +regarded as sufficient. The time of starting was not definitely +arranged, but it was thought all would be ready by the 6th of December, +if not before. Learning, on the 30th of November, that Bragg had gone +to Georgia, taking with him most of the forces about Wilmington, I +deemed it of the utmost importance that the expedition should reach its +destination before the return of Bragg, and directed General Butler to +make all arrangements for the departure of Major-General Weitzel, who +had been designated to command the land forces, so that the navy might +not be detained one moment. + +On the 6th of December, the following instructions were given: + + +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, December 6, 1864. + +"GENERAL: The first object of the expedition under General Weitzel is +to close to the enemy the port of Wilmington. If successful in this, +the second will be to capture Wilmington itself. There are reasonable +grounds to hope for success, if advantage can be taken of the absence of +the greater part of the enemy's forces now looking after Sherman in +Georgia. The directions you have given for the numbers and equipment of +the expedition are all right, except in the unimportant matter of where +they embark and the amount of intrenching tools to be taken. The object +of the expedition will be gained by effecting a landing on the main land +between Cape Fear River and the Atlantic, north of the north entrance to +the river. Should such landing be effected while the enemy still holds +Fort Fisher and the batteries guarding the entrance to the river, then +the troops should intrench themselves, and, by co-operating with the +navy, effect the reduction and capture of those places. These in our +hands, the navy could enter the harbor, and the port of Wilmington would +be sealed. Should Fort Fisher and the point of land on which it is +built fall into the hands of our troops immediately on landing, then it +will be worth the attempt to capture Wilmington by a forced march and +surprise. If time is consumed in gaining the first object of the +expedition, the second will become a matter of after consideration. + +"The details for execution are intrusted to you and the officer +immediately in command of the troops. + +"Should the troops under General Weitzel fail to effect a landing at or +near Fort Fisher, they will be returned to the armies operating against +Richmond without delay. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER." + + +General Butler commanding the army from which the troops were taken for +this enterprise, and the territory within which they were to operate, +military courtesy required that all orders and instructions should go +through him. They were so sent, but General Weitzel has since +officially informed me that he never received the foregoing +instructions, nor was he aware of their existence, until he read General +Butler's published official report of the Fort Fisher failure, with my +indorsement and papers accompanying it. I had no idea of General +Butler's accompanying the expedition until the evening before it got off +from Bermuda Hundred, and then did not dream but that General Weitzel +had received all the instructions, and would be in command. I rather +formed the idea that General Butler was actuated by a desire to witness +the effect of the explosion of the powder-boat. The expedition was +detained several days at Hampton Roads, awaiting the loading of the +powder-boat. + +The importance of getting the Wilmington expedition off without any +delay, with or without the powder-boat, had been urged upon General +Butler, and he advised to so notify Admiral Porter. + +The expedition finally got off on the 13th of December, and arrived at +the place of rendezvous, off New Inlet, near Fort Fisher, on the evening +of the 15th. Admiral Porter arrived on the evening of the 18th, having +put in at Beaufort to get ammunition for the monitors. The sea becoming +rough, making it difficult to land troops, and the supply of water and +coal being about exhausted, the transport fleet put back to Beaufort to +replenish; this, with the state of the weather, delayed the return to +the place of rendezvous until the 24th. The powder-boat was exploded on +the morning of the 24th, before the return of General Butler from +Beaufort; but it would seem, from the notice taken of it in the Southern +newspapers, that the enemy were never enlightened as to the object of +the explosion until they were informed by the Northern press. + +On the 25th a landing was effected without opposition, and a +reconnoissance, under Brevet Brigadier-General Curtis, pushed up towards +the fort. But before receiving a full report of the result of this +reconnoissance, General Butler, in direct violation of the instructions +given, ordered the re-embarkation of the troops and the return of the +expedition. The re-embarkation was accomplished by the morning of the +27th. + +On the return of the expedition officers and men among them Brevet +Major-General (then Brevet Brigadier-General) N. M. Curtis, +First-Lieutenant G. W. Ross, 117th Regiment New York Volunteers, +First-Lieutenant William H. Walling, and Second-Lieutenant George +Simpson, 142d New York Volunteers voluntarily reported to me that when +recalled they were nearly into the fort, and, in their opinion, it could +have been taken without much loss. + +Soon after the return of the expedition, I received a dispatch from the +Secretary of the Navy, and a letter from Admiral Porter, informing me +that the fleet was still off Fort Fisher, and expressing the conviction +that, under a proper leader, the place could be taken. The natural +supposition with me was, that when the troops abandoned the expedition, +the navy would do so also. Finding it had not, however, I answered on +the 30th of December, advising Admiral Porter to hold on, and that I +would send a force and make another attempt to take the place. This +time I selected Brevet Major-General (now Major-General) A. H. Terry to +command the expedition. The troops composing it consisted of the same +that composed the former, with the addition of a small brigade, +numbering about one thousand five hundred, and a small siege train. The +latter it was never found necessary to land. I communicated direct to +the commander of the expedition the following instructions: + + +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, January 3, 1865. + +"GENERAL: The expedition intrusted to your command has been fitted out +to renew the attempt to capture Fort Fisher, N. C., and Wilmington +ultimately, if the fort falls. You will then proceed with as little +delay as possible to the naval fleet lying off Cape Fear River, and +report the arrival of yourself and command to Admiral D. D. Porter, +commanding North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. + +"It is exceedingly desirable that the most complete understanding should +exist between yourself and the naval commander. I suggest, therefore, +that you consult with Admiral Porter freely, and get from him the part +to be performed by each branch of the public service, so that there may +be unity of action. It would be well to have the whole programme laid +down in writing. I have served with Admiral Porter, and know that you +can rely on his judgment and his nerve to undertake what he proposes. I +would, therefore, defer to him as much as is consistent with your own +responsibilities. The first object to be attained is to get a firm +position on the spit of land on which Fort Fisher is built, from which +you can operate against that fort. You want to look to the +practicability of receiving your supplies, and to defending yourself +against superior forces sent against you by any of the avenues left open +to the enemy. If such a position can be obtained, the siege of Fort +Fisher will not be abandoned until its reduction is accomplished, or +another plan of campaign is ordered from these headquarters. + +"My own views are, that if you effect a landing, the navy ought to run a +portion of their fleet into Cape Fear River, while the balance of it +operates on the outside. Land forces cannot invest Fort Fisher, or cut +it off from supplies or reinforcements, while the river is in possession +of the enemy. + +"A siege-train will be loaded on vessels and sent to Fort Monroe, in +readiness to be sent to you if required. All other supplies can be +drawn from Beaufort as you need them. + +"Keep the fleet of vessels with you until your position is assured. +When you find they can be spared, order them back, or such of them as +you can spare, to Fort Monroe, to report for orders. + +"In case of failure to effect a landing, bring your command back to +Beaufort, and report to these headquarters for further instructions. +You will not debark at Beaufort until so directed. + +"General Sheridan has been ordered to send a division of troops to +Baltimore and place them on sea-going vessels. These troops will be +brought to Fort Monroe and kept there on the vessels until you are heard +from. Should you require them, they will be sent to you. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL A. H. TERRY." + + +Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Comstock, aide-de-camp (now brevet +brigadier-general), who accompanied the former expedition, +was assigned, in orders, as chief-engineer to this. + +It will be seen that these instructions did not differ materially from +those given for the first expedition, and that in neither instance was +there an order to assault Fort Fisher. This was a matter left entirely +to the discretion of the commanding officer. + +The expedition sailed from Fort Monroe on the morning of the 6th, +arriving at the rendezvous, off Beaufort, on the 8th, where, owing to +the difficulties of the weather, it lay until the morning of the 12th, +when it got under way and reached its destination that evening. Under +cover of the fleet, the disembarkation of the troops commenced on the +morning of the 13th, and by three o'clock P.M. was completed without +loss. On the 14th a reconnoissance was pushed to within five hundred +yards of Fort Fisher, and a small advance work taken possession of and +turned into a defensive line against any attempt that might be made from +the fort. This reconnoissance disclosed the fact that the front of the +work had been seriously injured by the navy fire. In the afternoon of +the 15th the fort was assaulted, and after most desperate fighting was +captured, with its entire garrison and armament. Thus was secured, by +the combined efforts of the navy and army, one of the most important +successes of the war. Our loss was: killed, one hundred and ten; +wounded, five hundred and thirty-six. On the 16th and the 17th the +enemy abandoned and blew up Fort Caswell and the works on Smith's +Island, which were immediately occupied by us. This gave us entire +control of the mouth of the Cape Fear River. + +At my request, Mayor-General B. F. Butler was relieved, and +Major-General E. O. C. Ord assigned to the Department of Virginia and +North Carolina. + +The defence of the line of the Tennessee no longer requiring the force +which had beaten and nearly destroyed the only army now threatening it, +I determined to find other fields of operation for General Thomas's +surplus troops--fields from which they would co-operate with other +movements. General Thomas was therefore directed to collect all troops, +not essential to hold his communications at Eastport, in readiness for +orders. On the 7th of January, General Thomas was directed, if he was +assured of the departure of Hood south from Corinth, to send General +Schofield with his corps east with as little delay as possible. This +direction was promptly complied with, and the advance of the corps +reached Washington on the 23d of the same month, whence it was sent to +Fort Fisher and New Bern. On the 26th he was directed to send General +A. J. Smith's command and a division of cavalry to report to General +Canby. By the 7th of February the whole force was en route for its +destination. + +The State of North Carolina was constituted into a military department, +and General Schofield assigned to command, and placed under the orders +of Major-General Sherman. The following instructions were given him: + + +"CITY POINT, VA., January 31, 1865. + +"GENERAL:-- * * * Your movements are intended as co-operative +with Sherman's through the States of South and North Carolina. The +first point to be attained is to secure Wilmington. Goldsboro' will +then be your objective point, moving either from Wilmington or New Bern, +or both, as you deem best. Should you not be able to reach Goldsboro', +you will advance on the line or lines of railway connecting that place +with the sea-coast--as near to it as you can, building the road behind +you. The enterprise under you has two objects: the first is to give +General Sherman material aid, if needed, in his march north; the second, +to open a base of supplies for him on his line of march. As soon, +therefore, as you can determine which of the two points, Wilmington or +New Bern, you can best use for throwing supplies from, to the interior, +you will commence the accumulation of twenty days' rations and forage +for sixty thousand men and twenty thousand animals. You will get of +these as many as you can house and protect to such point in the interior +as you may be able to occupy. I believe General Palmer has received +some instructions direct from General Sherman on the subject of securing +supplies for his army. You will learn what steps he has taken, and be +governed in your requisitions accordingly. A supply of ordnance stores +will also be necessary. + +"Make all requisitions upon the chiefs of their respective departments +in the field with me at City Point. Communicate with me by every +opportunity, and should you deem it necessary at any time, send a +special boat to Fortress Monroe, from which point you can communicate by +telegraph. + +"The supplies referred to in these instructions are exclusive of those +required for your own command. + +"The movements of the enemy may justify, or even make it your imperative +duty, to cut loose from your base, and strike for the interior to aid +Sherman. In such case you will act on your own judgment without waiting +for instructions. You will report, however, what you purpose doing. +The details for carrying out these instructions are necessarily left to +you. I would urge, however, if I did not know that you are already +fully alive to the importance of it, prompt action. Sherman may be +looked for in the neighborhood of Goldsboro' any time from the 22d to +the 28th of February; this limits your time very materially. + +"If rolling-stock is not secured in the capture of Wilmington, it can be +supplied from Washington. A large force of railroad men have already +been sent to Beaufort, and other mechanics will go to Fort Fisher in a +day or two. On this point I have informed you by telegraph. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD." + + +Previous to giving these instructions I had visited Fort Fisher, +accompanied by General Schofield, for the purpose of seeing for myself +the condition of things, and personally conferring with General Terry +and Admiral Porter as to what was best to be done. + +Anticipating the arrival of General Sherman at Savannah his army +entirely foot-loose, Hood being then before Nashville, Tennessee, the +Southern railroads destroyed, so that it would take several months to +re-establish a through line from west to east, and regarding the capture +of Lee's army as the most important operation towards closing the +rebellion--I sent orders to General Sherman on the 6th of December, that +after establishing a base on the sea-coast, with necessary garrison, to +include all his artillery and cavalry, to come by water to City Point +with the balance of his command. + +On the 18th of December, having received information of the defeat and +utter rout of Hood's army by General Thomas, and that, owing to the +great difficulty of procuring ocean transportation, it would take over +two months to transport Sherman's army, and doubting whether he might +not contribute as much towards the desired result by operating from +where he was, I wrote to him to that effect, and asked him for his views +as to what would be best to do. A few days after this I received a +communication from General Sherman, of date 16th December, acknowledging +the receipt of my order of the 6th, and informing me of his preparations +to carry it into effect as soon as he could get transportation. Also +that he had expected, upon reducing Savannah, instantly to march to +Columbia, South Carolina, thence to Raleigh, and thence to report to me; +but that this would consume about six weeks' time after the fall of +Savannah, whereas by sea he could probably reach me by the middle of +January. The confidence he manifested in this letter of being able to +march up and join me pleased me, and, without waiting for a reply to my +letter of the 18th, I directed him, on the 28th of December, to make +preparations to start as he proposed, without delay, to break up the +railroads in North and South Carolina, and join the armies operating +against Richmond as soon as he could. + +On the 21st of January I informed General Sherman that I had ordered the +23d corps, Major-General Schofield commanding, east; that it numbered +about twenty-one thousand men; that we had at Fort Fisher, about eight +thousand men; at New Bern, about four thousand; that if Wilmington was +captured, General Schofield would go there; if not, he would be sent to +New Bern; that, in either event, all the surplus force at both points +would move to the interior towards Goldsboro', in co-operation with his +movement; that from either point railroad communication could be run +out; and that all these troops would be subject to his orders as he came +into communication with them. + +In obedience to his instructions, General Schofield proceeded to reduce +Wilmington, North Carolina, in co-operation with the navy under Admiral +Porter, moving his forces up both sides of the Cape Fear River. Fort +Anderson, the enemy's main defence on the west bank of the river, was +occupied on the morning of the 19th, the enemy having evacuated it after +our appearance before it. + +After fighting on 20th and 21st, our troops entered Wilmington on the +morning of the 22d, the enemy having retreated towards Goldsboro' during +the night. Preparations were at once made for a movement on Goldsboro' +in two columns--one from Wilmington, and the other from New Bern--and to +repair the railroad leading there from each place, as well as to supply +General Sherman by Cape Fear River, towards Fayetteville, if it became +necessary. The column from New Bern was attacked on the 8th of March, +at Wise's Forks, and driven back with the loss of several hundred +prisoners. On the 11th the enemy renewed his attack upon our intrenched +position, but was repulsed with severe loss, and fell back during the +night. On the 14th the Neuse River was crossed and Kinston occupied, +and on the 21st Goldsboro' was entered. The column from Wilmington +reached Cox's Bridge, on the Neuse River, ten miles above Goldsboro', on +the 22d. + +By the 1st of February, General Sherman's whole army was in motion from +Savannah. He captured Columbia, South Carolina, on the 17th; thence +moved on Goldsboro', North Carolina, via Fayetteville, reaching the +latter place on the 12th of March, opening up communication with General +Schofield by way of Cape Fear River. On the 15th he resumed his march +on Goldsboro'. He met a force of the enemy at Averysboro', and after a +severe fight defeated and compelled it to retreat. Our loss in this +engagement was about six hundred. The enemy's loss was much greater. +On the 18th the combined forces of the enemy, under Joe Johnston, +attacked his advance at Bentonville, capturing three guns and driving it +back upon the main body. General Slocum, who was in the advance +ascertaining that the whole of Johnston's army was in the front, +arranged his troops on the defensive, intrenched himself and awaited +reinforcements, which were pushed forward. On the night of the 21st the +enemy retreated to Smithfield, leaving his dead and wounded in our +hands. From there Sherman continued to Goldsboro', which place had been +occupied by General Schofield on the 21st (crossing the Neuse River ten +miles above there, at Cox's Bridge, where General Terry had got +possession and thrown a pontoon-bridge on the 22d), thus forming a +junction with the columns from New Bern and Wilmington. + +Among the important fruits of this campaign was the fall of Charleston, +South Carolina. It was evacuated by the enemy on the night of the 17th +of February, and occupied by our forces on the 18th. + +On the morning of the 31st of January, General Thomas was directed to +send a cavalry expedition, under General Stoneman, from East Tennessee, +to penetrate South Carolina well down towards Columbia, to destroy the +railroads and military resources of the country, and return, if he was +able, to East Tennessee by way of Salisbury, North Carolina, releasing +our prisoners there, if possible. Of the feasibility of this latter, +however, General Stoneman was to judge. Sherman's movements, I had no +doubt, would attract the attention of all the force the enemy could +collect, and facilitate the execution of this. General Stoneman was so +late in making his start on this expedition (and Sherman having passed +out of the State of South Carolina), on the 27th of February I directed +General Thomas to change his course, and order him to repeat his raid of +last fall, destroying the railroad towards Lynchburg as far as he could. +This would keep him between our garrisons in East Tennessee and the +enemy. I regarded it not impossible that in the event of the enemy +being driven from Richmond, he might fall back to Lynchburg and attempt +a raid north through East Tennessee. On the 14th of February the +following communication was sent to General Thomas: + + +"CITY POINT, VA., February 14, 1865. + +"General Canby is preparing a movement from Mobile Bay against Mobile +and the interior of Alabama. His force will consist of about twenty +thousand men, besides A. J. Smith's command. The cavalry you have sent +to Canby will be debarked at Vicksburg. It, with the available cavalry +already in that section, will move from there eastward, in co-operation. +Hood's army has been terribly reduced by the severe punishment you gave +it in Tennessee, by desertion consequent upon their defeat, and now by +the withdrawal of many of them to oppose Sherman. (I take it a large +portion of the infantry has been so withdrawn. It is so asserted in the +Richmond papers, and a member of the rebel Congress said a few days +since in a speech, that one-half of it had been brought to South +Carolina to oppose Sherman.) This being true, or even if it is not +true, Canby's movement will attract all the attention of the enemy, and +leave the advance from your standpoint easy. I think it advisable, +therefore, that you prepare as much of a cavalry force as you can spare, +and hold it in readiness to go south. The object would be threefold: +first, to attract as much of the enemy's force as possible, to insure +success to Canby; second, to destroy the enemy's line of communications +and military resources; third, to destroy or capture their forces +brought into the field. Tuscaloosa and Selma would probably be the +points to direct the expedition against. This, however, would not be so +important as the mere fact of penetrating deep into Alabama. Discretion +should be left to the officer commanding the expedition to go where, +according to the information he may receive, he will best secure the +objects named above. + +"Now that your force has been so much depleted, I do not know what +number of men you can put into the field. If not more than five +thousand men, however, all cavalry, I think it will be sufficient. It +is not desirable that you should start this expedition until the one +leaving Vicksburg has been three or four days out, or even a week. I do +not know when it will start, but will inform you by telegraph as soon as +I learn. If you should hear through other sources before hearing from +me, you can act on the information received. + +"To insure success your cavalry should go with as little wagon-train as +possible, relying upon the country for supplies. I would also reduce +the number of guns to a battery, or the number of batteries, and put the +extra teams to the guns taken. No guns or caissons should be taken with +less than eight horses. + +"Please inform me by telegraph, on receipt of this, what force you think +you will be able to send under these directions. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS." + + +On the 15th, he was directed to start the expedition as soon after the +20th as he could get it off. + +I deemed it of the utmost importance, before a general movement of the +armies operating against Richmond, that all communications with the +city, north of James River, should be cut off. The enemy having +withdrawn the bulk of his force from the Shenandoah Valley and sent it +south, or replaced troops sent from Richmond, and desiring to reinforce +Sherman, if practicable, whose cavalry was greatly inferior in numbers +to that of the enemy, I determined to make a move from the Shenandoah, +which, if successful, would accomplish the first at least, and possibly +the latter of the objects. I therefore telegraphed General Sheridan as +follows: + + +"CITY POINT, VA., February 20, 1865--1 P.M. + +"GENERAL:--As soon as it is possible to travel, I think you will have no +difficulty about reaching Lynchburg with a cavalry force alone. From +there you could destroy the railroad and canal in every direction, so as +to be of no further use to the rebellion. Sufficient cavalry should be +left behind to look after Mosby's gang. From Lynchburg, if information +you might get there would justify it, you will strike south, heading the +streams in Virgina to the westward of Danville, and push on and join +General Sherman. This additional raid, with one now about starting from +East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering four or give thousand cavalry, +one from Vicksburg, numbering seven or eight thousand cavalry, one from +Eastport, Mississippi, then thousand cavalry, Canby from Mobile Bay, +with about thirty-eight thousand mixed troops, these three latter +pushing for Tuscaloosa, Selma, and Montgomery, and Sherman with a large +army eating out the vitals of South Carolina, is all that will be wanted +to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon. I would advise you to +overcome great obstacles to accomplish this. Charleston was evacuated +on Tuesday 1st. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN." + + +On the 25th I received a dispatch from General Sheridan, inquiring where +Sherman was aiming for, and if I could give him definite information as +to the points he might be expected to move on, this side of Charlotte, +North Carolina. In answer, the following telegram was sent him: + + +"CITY POINT, VA., February 25, 1865. + +"GENERAL:--Sherman's movements will depend on the amount of opposition +he meets with from the enemy. If strongly opposed, he may possibly have +to fall back to Georgetown, S. C., and fit out for a new start. I +think, however, all danger for the necessity of going to that point has +passed. I believe he has passed Charlotte. He may take Fayetteville on +his way to Goldsboro'. If you reach Lynchburg, you will have to be +guided in your after movements by the information you obtain. Before +you could possibly reach Sherman, I think you would find him moving from +Goldsboro' towards Raleigh, or engaging the enemy strongly posted at one +or the other of these places, with railroad communications opened from +his army to Wilmington or New Bern. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN." + + +General Sheridan moved from Winchester on the 27th of February, with two +divisions of cavalry, numbering about five thousand each. On the 1st of +March he secured the bridge, which the enemy attempted to destroy, +across the middle fork of the Shenandoah, at Mount Crawford, and entered +Staunton on the 2d, the enemy having retreated to Waynesboro'. Thence +he pushed on to Waynesboro', where he found the enemy in force in an +intrenched position, under General Early. Without stopping to make a +reconnoissance, an immediate attack was made, the position was carried, +and sixteen hundred prisoners, eleven pieces of artillery, with horses +and caissons complete, two hundred wagons and teams loaded with +subsistence, and seventeen battle-flags, were captured. The prisoners, +under an escort of fifteen hundred men, were sent back to Winchester. +Thence he marched on Charlottesville, destroying effectually the +railroad and bridges as he went, which place he reached on the 3d. Here +he remained two days, destroying the railroad towards Richmond and +Lynchburg, including the large iron bridges over the north and south +forks of the Rivanna River and awaited the arrival of his trains. This +necessary delay caused him to abandon the idea of capturing Lynchburg. +On the morning of the 6th, dividing his force into two columns, he sent +one to Scottsville, whence it marched up the James River Canal to New +Market, destroying every lock, and in many places the bank of the canal. +From here a force was pushed out from this column to Duiguidsville, to +obtain possession of the bridge across the James River at that place, +but failed. The enemy burned it on our approach. The enemy also burned +the bridge across the river at Hardwicksville. The other column moved +down the railroad towards Lynchburg, destroying it as far as Amherst +Court House, sixteen miles from Lynchburg; thence across the country, +uniting with the column at New Market. The river being very high, his +pontoons would not reach across it; and the enemy having destroyed the +bridges by which he had hoped to cross the river and get on the South +Side Railroad about Farmville, and destroy it to Appomattox Court House, +the only thing left for him was to return to Winchester or strike a base +at the White House. Fortunately, he chose the latter. From New Market +he took up his line of march, following the canal towards Richmond, +destroying every lock upon it and cutting the banks wherever +practicable, to a point eight miles east of Goochland, concentrating the +whole force at Columbia on the 10th. Here he rested one day, and sent +through by scouts information of his whereabouts and purposes, and a +request for supplies to meet him at White House, which reached me on the +night of the 12th. An infantry force was immediately sent to get +possession of White House, and supplies were forwarded. Moving from +Columbia in a direction to threaten Richmond, to near Ashland Station, +he crossed the Annas, and after having destroyed all the bridges and +many miles of the railroad, proceeded down the north bank of the +Pamunkey to White House, which place he reached on the 19th. + +Previous to this the following communication was sent to General Thomas: + + +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, March 7, 1865--9.30 A.M. + +"GENERAL:--I think it will be advisable now for you to repair the +railroad in East Tennessee, and throw a good force up to Bull's Gap and +fortify there. Supplies at Knoxville could always be got forward as +required. With Bull's Gap fortified, you can occupy as outposts about +all of East Tennessee, and be prepared, if it should be required of you +in the spring, to make a campaign towards Lynchburg, or into North +Carolina. I do not think Stoneman should break the road until he gets +into Virginia, unless it should be to cut off rolling-stock that may be +caught west of that. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS." + + +Thus it will be seen that in March, 1865, General Canby was moving an +adequate force against Mobile and the army defending it under General +Dick Taylor; Thomas was pushing out two large and well-appointed cavalry +expeditions--one from Middle Tennessee under Brevet Major-General Wilson +against the enemy's vital points in Alabama, the other from East +Tennessee, under Major-General Stoneman, towards Lynchburg--and +assembling the remainder of his available forces, preparatory to +commence offensive operations from East Tennessee; General Sheridan's +cavalry was at White House; the armies of the Potomac and James were +confronting the enemy, under Lee, in his defences of Richmond and +Petersburg; General Sherman with his armies, reinforced by that of +General Schofield, was at Goldsboro'; General Pope was making +preparations for a spring campaign against the enemy under Kirby Smith +and Price, west of the Mississippi; and General Hancock was +concentrating a force in the vicinity of Winchester, Virginia, to guard +against invasion or to operate offensively, as might prove necessary. + +After the long march by General Sheridan's cavalry over winter roads, it +was necessary to rest and refit at White House. At this time the +greatest source of uneasiness to me was the fear that the enemy would +leave his strong lines about Petersburg and Richmond for the purpose of +uniting with Johnston, and before he was driven from them by battle, or +I was prepared to make an effectual pursuit. On the 24th of March, +General Sheridan moved from White House, crossed the James River at +Jones's Landing, and formed a junction with the Army of the Potomac in +front of Petersburg on the 27th. During this move, General Ord sent +forces to cover the crossings of the Chickahominy. + +On the 24th of March the following instructions for a general movement +of the armies operating against Richmond were issued: + + +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, March 24, 1865. + +"GENERAL: On the 29th instant the armies operating against Richmond +will be moved by our left, for the double purpose of turning the enemy +out of his present position around Petersburg, and to insure the success +of the cavalry under General Sheridan, which will start at the same +time, in its efforts to reach and destroy the South Side and Danville +railroads. Two corps of the Army of the Potomac will be moved at first +in two columns, taking the two roads crossing Hatcher's Run, nearest +where the present line held by us strikes that stream, both moving +towards Dinwiddie Court House. + +"The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now under +General Davies, will move at the same time by the Weldon Road and the +Jerusalem Plank Road, turning west from the latter before crossing the +Nottoway, and west with the whole column before reaching Stony Creek. +General Sheridan will then move independently, under other instructions +which will be given him. All dismounted cavalry belonging to the Army +of the Potomac, and the dismounted cavalry from the Middle Military +Division not required for guarding property belonging to their arm of +service, will report to Brigadier-General Benham, to be added to the +defences of City Point. Major-General Parke will be left in command of +all the army left for holding the lines about Petersburg and City Point, +subject of course to orders from the commander of the Army of the +Potomac. The 9th army corps will be left intact, to hold the present +line of works so long as the whole line now occupied by us is held. If, +however, the troops to the left of the 9th corps are withdrawn, then the +left of the corps may be thrown back so as to occupy the position held +by the army prior to the capture of the Weldon Road. All troops to the +left of the 9th corps will be held in readiness to move at the shortest +notice by such route as may be designated when the order is given. + +"General Ord will detach three divisions, two white and one colored, or +so much of them as he can, and hold his present lines, and march for the +present left of the Army of the Potomac. In the absence of further +orders, or until further orders are given, the white divisions will +follow the left column of the Army of the Potomac, and the colored +division the right column. During the movement Major-General Weitzel +will be left in command of all the forces remaining behind from the Army +of the James. + +"The movement of troops from the Army of the James will commence on the +night of the 27th instant. General Ord will leave behind the minimum +number of cavalry necessary for picket duty, in the absence of the main +army. A cavalry expedition, from General Ord's command, will also be +started from Suffolk, to leave there on Saturday, the 1st of April, +under Colonel Sumner, for the purpose of cutting the railroad about +Hicksford. This, if accomplished, will have to be a surprise, and +therefore from three to five hundred men will be sufficient. They +should, however, be supported by all the infantry that can be spared +from Norfolk and Portsmouth, as far out as to where the cavalry crosses +the Blackwater. The crossing should probably be at Uniten. Should +Colonel Sumner succeed in reaching the Weldon Road, he will be +instructed to do all the damage possible to the triangle of roads +between Hicksford, Weldon, and Gaston. The railroad bridge at Weldon +being fitted up for the passage of carriages, it might be practicable to +destroy any accumulation of supplies the enemy may have collected south +of the Roanoke. All the troops will move with four days' rations in +haversacks and eight days' in wagons. To avoid as much hauling as +possible, and to give the Army of the James the same number of days' +supplies with the Army of the Potomac, General Ord will direct his +commissary and quartermaster to have sufficient supplies delivered at +the terminus of the road to fill up in passing. Sixty rounds of +ammunition per man will be taken in wagons, and as much grain as the +transportation on hand will carry, after taking the specified amount of +other supplies. The densely wooded country in which the army has to +operate making the use of much artillery impracticable, the amount taken +with the army will be reduced to six or eight guns to each division, at +the option of the army commanders. + +"All necessary preparations for carrying these directions into operation +may be commenced at once. The reserves of the 9th corps should be +massed as much as possible. While I would not now order an +unconditional attack on the enemy's line by them, they should be ready +and should make the attack if the enemy weakens his line in their front, +without waiting for orders. In case they carry the line, then the whole +of the 9th corps could follow up so as to join or co-operate with the +balance of the army. To prepare for this, the 9th corps will have +rations issued to them, same as the balance of the army. General +Weitzel will keep vigilant watch upon his front, and if found at all +practicable to break through at any point, he will do so. A success +north of the James should be followed up with great promptness. An +attack will not be feasible unless it is found that the enemy has +detached largely. In that case it may be regarded as evident that the +enemy are relying upon their local reserves principally for the defence +of Richmond. Preparations may be made for abandoning all the line north +of the James, except inclosed works only to be abandoned, however, after +a break is made in the lines of the enemy. + +"By these instructions a large part of the armies operating against +Richmond is left behind. The enemy, knowing this, may, as an only +chance, strip their lines to the merest skeleton, in the hope of +advantage not being taken of it, while they hurl everything against the +moving column, and return. It cannot be impressed too strongly upon +commanders of troops left in the trenches not to allow this to occur +without taking advantage of it. The very fact of the enemy coming out +to attack, if he does so, might be regarded as almost conclusive +evidence of such a weakening of his lines. I would have it particularly +enjoined upon corps commanders that, in case of an attack from the +enemy, those not attacked are not to wait for orders from the commanding +officer of the army to which they belong, but that they will move +promptly, and notify the commander of their action. I would also enjoin +the same action on the part of division commanders when other parts of +their corps are engaged. In like manner, I would urge the importance of +following up a repulse of the enemy. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERALS MEADE, ORD, AND SHERIDAN." + + +Early on the morning of the 25th the enemy assaulted our lines in front +of the 9th corps (which held from the Appomattox River towards our +left), and carried Fort Stedman, and a part of the line to the right and +left of it, established themselves and turned the guns of the fort +against us, but our troops on either flank held their ground until the +reserves were brought up, when the enemy was driven back with a heavy +loss in killed and wounded, and one thousand nine hundred prisoners. +Our loss was sixty-eight killed, three hundred and thirty-seven wounded, +and five hundred and six missing. General Meade at once ordered the +other corps to advance and feel the enemy in their respective fronts. +Pushing forward, they captured and held the enemy's strongly intrenched +picket-line in front of the 2d and 6th corps, and eight hundred and +thirty-four prisoners. The enemy made desperate attempts to retake this +line, but without success. Our loss in front of these was fifty-two +killed, eight hundred and sixty-four wounded, and two hundred and seven +missing. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was far greater. + +General Sherman having got his troops all quietly in camp about +Goldsboro', and his preparations for furnishing supplies to them +perfected, visited me at City Point on the 27th of March, and stated +that he would be ready to move, as he had previously written me, by the +10th of April, fully equipped and rationed for twenty days, if it should +become necessary to bring his command to bear against Lee's army, in +co-operation with our forces in front of Richmond and Petersburg. +General Sherman proposed in this movement to threaten Raleigh, and then, +by turning suddenly to the right, reach the Roanoke at Gaston or +thereabouts, whence he could move on to the Richmond and Danville +Railroad, striking it in the vicinity of Burkesville, or join the armies +operating against Richmond, as might be deemed best. This plan he was +directed to carry into execution, if he received no further directions +in the meantime. I explained to him the movement I had ordered to +commence on the 29th of March. That if it should not prove as entirely +successful as I hoped, I would cut the cavalry loose to destroy the +Danville and South Side railroads, and thus deprive the enemy of further +supplies, and also to prevent the rapid concentration of Lee's and +Johnston's armies. + +I had spent days of anxiety lest each morning should bring the report +that the enemy had retreated the night before. I was firmly convinced +that Sherman's crossing the Roanoke would be the signal for Lee to +leave. With Johnston and him combined, a long, tedious, and expensive +campaign, consuming most of the summer, might become necessary. By +moving out I would put the army in better condition for pursuit, and +would at least, by the destruction of the Danville Road, retard the +concentration of the two armies of Lee and Johnston, and cause the enemy +to abandon much material that he might otherwise save. I therefore +determined not to delay the movement ordered. + +On the night of the 27th, Major-General Ord, with two divisions of the +24th corps, Major-General Gibbon commanding, and one division of the +25th corps, Brigadier-General Birney commanding, and MacKenzie's +cavalry, took up his line of march in pursuance of the foregoing +instructions, and reached the position assigned him near Hatcher's Run +on the morning of the 29th. On the 28th the following instructions were +given to General Sheridan: + + +"CITY POINT, VA., March 28, 1865. + +"GENERAL:--The 5th army corps will move by the Vaughn Road at three A.M. +to-morrow morning. The 2d moves at about nine A.M., having but about +three miles to march to reach the point designated for it to take on the +right of the 5th corps, after the latter reaching Dinwiddie Court House. +Move your cavalry at as early an hour as you can, and without being +confined to any particular road or roads. You may go out by the nearest +roads in rear of the 5th corps, pass by its left, and passing near to or +through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the enemy as soon as you +can. It is not the intention to attack the enemy in his intrenched +position, but to force him out, if possible. Should he come out and +attack us, or get himself where he can be attacked, move in with your +entire force in your own way, and with the full reliance that the army +will engage or follow, as circumstances will dictate. I shall be on the +field, and will probably be able to communicate with you. Should I not +do so, and you find that the enemy keeps within his main intrenched +line, you may cut loose and push for the Danville Road. If you find it +practicable, I would like you to cross the South Side Road, between +Petersburg and Burkesville, and destroy it to some extent. I would not +advise much detention, however, until you reach the Danville Road, which +I would like you to strike as near to the Appomattox as possible. Make +your destruction on that road as complete as possible. You can then +pass on to the South Side Road, west of Burkesville, and destroy that in +like manner. + +"After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads, which +are now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may return to this +army, selecting your road further south, or you may go on into North +Carolina and join General Sherman. Should you select the latter course, +get the information to me as early as possible, so that I may send +orders to meet you at Goldsboro'. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN." + + +On the morning of the 29th the movement commenced. At night the cavalry +was at Dinwiddie Court House, and the left of our infantry line extended +to the Quaker Road, near its intersection with the Boydton Plank Road. +The position of the troops from left to right was as follows: Sheridan, +Warren, Humphreys, Ord, Wright, Parke. + +Everything looked favorable to the defeat of the enemy and the capture +of Petersburg and Richmond, if the proper effort was made. I therefore +addressed the following communication to General Sheridan, having +previously informed him verbally not to cut loose for the raid +contemplated in his orders until he received notice from me to do so: + + +"GRAVELLY CREEK, March 29, 1865. + +"GENERAL:--Our line is now unbroken from the Appomattox to Dinwiddie. +We are all ready, however, to give up all, from the Jerusalem Plank Road +to Hatcher's Run, whenever the forces can be used advantageously. After +getting into line south of Hatcher's, we pushed forward to find the +enemy's position. General Griffin was attacked near where the Quaker +Road intersects the Boydton Road, but repulsed it easily, capturing +about one hundred men. Humphreys reached Dabney's Mill, and was pushing +on when last heard from. + +"I now feel like ending the matter, if it is possible to do so, before +going back. I do not want you, therefore, to cut loose and go after the +enemy's roads at present. In the morning push around the enemy, if you +can, and get on to his right rear. The movements of the enemy's cavalry +may, of course, modify your action. We will act all together as one +army here, until it is seen what can be done with the enemy. The +signal-officer at Cobb's Hill reported, at half-past eleven A.M., that a +cavalry column had passed that point from Richmond towards Petersburg, +taking forty minutes to pass. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN." + + +From the night of the 29th to the morning of the 31st the rain fell in +such torrents as to make it impossible to move a wheeled vehicle, except +as corduroy roads were laid in front of them. During the 30th, Sheridan +advanced from Dinwiddie Court House towards Five Forks, where he found +the enemy in full force. General Warren advanced and extended his line +across the Boydton Plank Road to near the White Oak Road, with a view of +getting across the latter; but, finding the enemy strong in his front +and extending beyond his left, was directed to hold on where he was, and +fortify. General Humphreys drove the enemy from his front into his main +line on the Hatcher, near Burgess's Mills. Generals Ord, Wright, and +Parke made examinations in their fronts to determine the feasibility of +an assault on the enemy's lines. The two latter reported favorably. +The enemy confronting us as he did, at every point from Richmond to our +extreme left, I conceived his lines must be weakly held, and could be +penetrated if my estimate of his forces was correct. I determined, +therefore, to extend our line no farther, but to reinforce General +Sheridan with a corps of infantry, and thus enable him to cut loose and +turn the enemy's right flank, and with the other corps assault the +enemy's lines. The result of the offensive effort of the enemy the week +before, when he assaulted Fort Stedman, particularly favored this. The +enemy's intrenched picket-line captured by us at that time threw the +lines occupied by the belligerents so close together at some points that +it was but a moment's run from one to the other. Preparations were at +once made to relieve General Humphreys's corps, to report to General +Sheridan; but the condition of the roads prevented immediate movement. +On the morning of the 31st, General Warren reported favorably to getting +possession of the White Oak Road, and was directed to do so. To +accomplish this, he moved with one division, instead of his whole corps, +which was attacked by the enemy in superior force and driven back on the +2d division before it had time to form, and it, in turn, forced back +upon the 3d division, when the enemy was checked. A division of the 2d +corps was immediately sent to his support, the enemy driven back with +heavy loss, and possession of the White Oak Road gained. Sheridan +advanced, and with a portion of his cavalry got possession of the Five +Forks; but the enemy, after the affair with the 5th corps, reinforced +the rebel cavalry, defending that point with infantry, and forced him +back towards Dinwiddie Court House. Here General Sheridan displayed +great generalship. Instead of retreating with his whole command on the +main army, to tell the story of superior forces encountered, he deployed +his cavalry on foot, leaving only mounted men enough to take charge of +the horses. This compelled the enemy to deploy over a vast extent of +wooded and broken country, and made his progress slow. At this juncture +he dispatched to me what had taken place, and that he was dropping back +slowly on Dinwiddie Court House. General Mackenzie's cavalry and one +division of the 5th corps were immediately ordered to his assistance. +Soon after receiving a report from General Meade that Humphreys could +hold our position on the Boydton Road, and that the other two divisions +of the 5th corps could go to Sheridan, they were so ordered at once. +Thus the operations of the day necessitated the sending of Warren, +because of his accessibility, instead of Humphreys, as was intended, and +precipitated intended movements. On the morning of the 1st of April, +General Sheridan, reinforced by General Warren, drove the enemy back on +Five Forks, where, late in the evening, he assaulted and carried his +strongly fortified position, capturing all his artillery and between +five and six thousand prisoners. + +About the close of this battle, Brevet Major-General Charles Griffin +relieved Major-General Warren in command of the 5th corps. The report +of this reached me after nightfall. Some apprehensions filled my mind +lest the enemy might desert his lines during the night, and by falling +upon General Sheridan before assistance could reach him, drive him from +his position and open the way for retreat. To guard against this, +General Miles's division of Humphreys's corps was sent to reinforce him, +and a bombardment was commenced and kept up until four o'clock in the +morning (April 2), when an assault was ordered on the enemy's lines. +General Wright penetrated the lines with his whole corps, sweeping +everything before him, and to his left towards Hatcher's Run, capturing +many guns and several thousand prisoners. He was closely followed by +two divisions of General Ord's command, until he met the other division +of General Ord's that had succeeded in forcing the enemy's lines near +Hatcher's Run. Generals Wright and Ord immediately swung to the right, +and closed all of the enemy on that side of them in Petersburg, while +General Humphreys pushed forward with two divisions and joined General +Wright on the left. General Parke succeeded in carrying the enemy's +main line, capturing guns and prisoners, but was unable to carry his +inner line. General Sheridan being advised of the condition of affairs, +returned General Miles to his proper command. On reaching the enemy's +lines immediately surrounding Petersburg, a portion of General Gibbon's +corps, by a most gallant charge, captured two strong inclosed works--the +most salient and commanding south of Petersburg--thus materially +shortening the line of investment necessary for taking in the city. The +enemy south of Hatcher's Run retreated westward to Sutherland's Station, +where they were overtaken by Miles's division. A severe engagement +ensued, and lasted until both his right and left flanks were threatened +by the approach of General Sheridan, who was moving from Ford's Station +towards Petersburg, and a division sent by General Meade from the front +of Petersburg, when he broke in the utmost confusion, leaving in our +hands his guns and many prisoners. This force retreated by the main +road along the Appomattox River. During the night of the 2d the enemy +evacuated Petersburg and Richmond, and retreated towards Danville. On +the morning of the 3d pursuit was commenced. General Sheridan pushed +for the Danville Road, keeping near the Appomattox, followed by General +Meade with the 2d and 6th corps, while General Ord moved for +Burkesville, along the South Side Road; the 9th corps stretched along +that road behind him. On the 4th, General Sheridan struck the Danville +Road near Jetersville, where he learned that Lee was at Amelia Court +House. He immediately intrenched himself and awaited the arrival of +General Meade, who reached there the next day. General Ord reached +Burkesville on the evening of the 5th. + +On the morning of the 5th, I addressed Major-General Sherman the +following communication: + + +"WILSON'S STATION, April 5, 1865. + +"GENERAL: All indications now are that Lee will attempt to reach +Danville with the remnant of his force. Sheridan, who was up with him +last night, reports all that is left, horse, foot, and dragoons, at +twenty thousand, much demoralized. We hope to reduce this number +one-half. I shall push on to Burkesville, and if a stand is made at +Danville, will in a very few days go there. If you can possibly do so, +push on from where you are, and let us see if we cannot finish the job +with Lee's and Johnston's armies. Whether it will be better for you to +strike for Greensboro', or nearer to Danville, you will be better able +to judge when you receive this. Rebel armies now are the only strategic +points to strike at. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN." + + +On the morning of the 6th, it was found that General Lee was moving west +of Jetersville, towards Danville. General Sheridan moved with his +cavalry (the 5th corps having been returned to General Meade on his +reaching Jetersville) to strike his flank, followed by the 6th corps, +while the 2d and 5th corps pressed hard after, forcing him to abandon +several hundred wagons and several pieces of artillery. General Ord +advanced from Burkesville towards Farmville, sending two regiments of +infantry and a squadron of cavalry, under Brevet Brigadier-General +Theodore Read, to reach and destroy the bridges. This advance met the +head of Lee's column near Farmville, which it heroically attacked and +detained until General Read was killed and his small force overpowered. +This caused a delay in the enemy's movements, and enabled General Ord to +get well up with the remainder of his force, on meeting which, the enemy +immediately intrenched himself. In the afternoon, General Sheridan +struck the enemy south of Sailors' Creek, captured sixteen pieces of +artillery and about four hundred wagons, and detained him until the 6th +corps got up, when a general attack of infantry and cavalry was made, +which resulted in the capture of six or seven thousand prisoners, among +whom were many general officers. The movements of the 2d corps and +General Ord's command contributed greatly to the day's success. + +On the morning of the 7th the pursuit was renewed, the cavalry, except +one division, and the 5th corps moving by Prince Edward's Court House; +the 6th corps, General Ord's command, and one division of cavalry, on +Farmville; and the 2d corps by the High Bridge Road. It was soon found +that the enemy had crossed to the north side of the Appomattox; but so +close was the pursuit, that the 2d corps got possession of the common +bridge at High Bridge before the enemy could destroy it, and immediately +crossed over. The 6th corps and a division of cavalry crossed at +Farmville to its support. + +Feeling now that General Lee's chance of escape was utterly hopeless, I +addressed him the following communication from Farmville: + + +"April 7, 1865. + +"GENERAL--The result of the last week must convince you of the +hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern +Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my +duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion of +blood, by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate +States army known as the Army of Northern Virginia. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"GENERAL R. E. LEE." + + +Early on the morning of the 8th, before leaving, I received at Farmville +the following: + + +"April 7, 1865. + +"GENERAL: I have received your note of this date. Though not +entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of further +resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate +your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before +considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition +of its surrender. + +"R. E. LEE, General. +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT." + + +To this I immediately replied: + + +"April 8, 1865. + +"GENERAL:--Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same date, +asking the condition on which I will accept the surrender of the Army of +Northern Virginia, is just received. In reply, I would say, that peace +being my great desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon +--namely, That the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for +taking up arms again against the Government of the United States until +properly exchanged. I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet +any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable +to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon which the +surrender of the Army of the Northern Virginia will be received. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"GENERAL R. E. LEE." + + +Early on the morning of the 8th the pursuit was resumed. General Meade +followed north of the Appomattox, and General Sheridan, with all the +cavalry, pushed straight ahead for Appomattox Station, followed by +General Ord's command and the 5th corps. During the day General Meade's +advance had considerable fighting with the enemy's rear-guard, but was +unable to bring on a general engagement. Late in the evening General +Sheridan struck the railroad at Appomattox Station, drove the enemy from +there, and captured twenty-five pieces of artillery, a hospital train, +and four trains of cars loaded with supplies for Lee's army. During +this day I accompanied General Meade's column, and about midnight +received the following communication from General Lee: + + +April 8, 1865. + +"GENERAL:--I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day. In mine of +yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of +Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be +frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender +of this army; but as the restoration of peace should be the sole object +of all, I desired to know whether your proposals would lead to that end. +I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to the surrender of the Army +of Northern Virginia; but as far as your proposal may affect the +Confederate States forces under my command, and tend to the restoration +of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at ten A.M. to-morrow on the +old stage-road to Richmond, between the picket-lines of the two armies. + +"R. E. LEE, General. +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT." + + +Early on the morning of the 9th I returned him an answer as follows, and +immediately started to join the column south of the Appomattox: + + +"April 9, 1865. + +"GENERAL:--Your note of yesterday is received. I have no authority to +treat on the subject of peace; the meeting proposed for ten A.M. to-day +could lead to no good. I will state, however, general, that I am +equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains +the same feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are well +understood. By the South laying down their arms they will hasten that +most desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of +millions of property not yet destroyed. Seriously hoping that all our +difficulties may be settled without the loss of another life, I +subscribe myself, etc. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"GENERAL R. E. LEE." + + +On this morning of the 9th, General Ord's command and the 5th corps +reached Appomattox Station just as the enemy was making a desperate +effort to break through our cavalry. The infantry was at once thrown +in. Soon after a white flag was received, requesting a suspension of +hostilities pending negotiations for a surrender. + +Before reaching General Sheridan's headquarters, I received the +following from General Lee: + + +"April 9, 1865. + +"GENERAL:--I received your note of this morning on the picket-line, +whither I had come to meet you, and ascertain definitely what terms were +embraced in your proposal of yesterday with reference to the surrender +of this army. I now ask an interview, in accordance with the offer +contained in your letter of yesterday, for that purpose. + +"R. E. LEE, General. +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT." + + +The interview was held at Appomattox Court-House, the result of which is +set forth in the following correspondence: + + +APPOMATTOX COURT-HOUSE, Virginia, April 9, 1865. + +"GENERAL: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the +8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern +Virginia on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and +men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be +designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers +as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not +to take up arms against the Government of the United States until +properly exchanged; and each company or regimental commander sign a like +parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and public +property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officers +appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms of +the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each +officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be +disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their +paroles and the laws in force where they may reside. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"GENERAL R. E. LEE." + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865. + +"GENERAL: I have received your letter of this date containing the terms +of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you. As +they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the +8th instant, they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper +officers to carry the stipulations into effect. + +"R. E. LEE, General. +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT." + + +The command of Major-General Gibbon, the 5th army corps under Griffin, +and Mackenzie's cavalry, were designated to remain at Appomattox +Court-House until the paroling of the surrendered army was completed, +and to take charge of the public property. The remainder of the army +immediately returned to the vicinity of Burkesville. + +General Lee's great influence throughout the whole South caused his +example to be followed, and to-day the result is that the armies lately +under his leadership are at their homes, desiring peace and quiet, and +their arms are in the hands of our ordnance officers. + +On the receipt of my letter of the 5th, General Sherman moved directly +against Joe Johnston, who retreated rapidly on and through Raleigh, +which place General Sherman occupied on the morning of the 13th. The +day preceding, news of the surrender of General Lee reached him at +Smithfield. + +On the 14th a correspondence was opened between General Sherman and +General Johnston, which resulted on the 18th in an agreement for a +suspension of hostilities, and a memorandum or basis for peace, subject +to the approval of the President. This agreement was disapproved by the +President on the 21st, which disapproval, together with your +instructions, was communicated to General Sherman by me in person on the +morning of the 24th, at Raleigh, North Carolina, in obedience to your +orders. Notice was at once given by him to General Johnston for the +termination of the truce that had been entered into. On the 25th +another meeting between them was agreed upon, to take place on the 26th, +which terminated in the surrender and disbandment of Johnston's army +upon substantially the same terms as were given to General Lee. + +The expedition under General Stoneman from East Tennessee got off on the +20th of March, moving by way of Boone, North Carolina, and struck the +railroad at Wytheville, Chambersburg, and Big Lick. The force striking +it at Big Lick pushed on to within a few miles of Lynchburg, destroying +the important bridges, while with the main force he effectually +destroyed it between New River and Big Lick, and then turned for +Greensboro', on the North Carolina Railroad; struck that road and +destroyed the bridges between Danville and Greensboro', and between +Greensboro' and the Yadkin, together with the depots of supplies along +it, and captured four hundred prisoners. At Salisbury he attacked and +defeated a force of the enemy under General Gardiner, capturing fourteen +pieces of artillery and one thousand three hundred and sixty-four +prisoners, and destroyed large amounts of army stores. At this place he +destroyed fifteen miles of railroad and the bridges towards Charlotte. +Thence he moved to Slatersville. + +General Canby, who had been directed in January to make preparations for +a movement from Mobile Bay against Mobile and the interior of Alabama, +commenced his movement on the 20th of March. The 16th corps, +Major-General A. J. Smith commanding, moved from Fort Gaines by water to +Fish River; the 13th corps, under Major-General Gordon Granger, moved +from Fort Morgan and joined the 16th corps on Fish River, both moving +thence on Spanish Fort and investing it on the 27th; while Major-General +Steele's command moved from Pensacola, cut the railroad leading from +Tensas to Montgomery, effected a junction with them, and partially +invested Fort Blakely. After a severe bombardment of Spanish Fort, a +part of its line was carried on the 8th of April. During the night the +enemy evacuated the fort. Fort Blakely was carried by assault on the +9th, and many prisoners captured; our loss was considerable. These +successes practically opened to us the Alabama River, and enabled us to +approach Mobile from the north. On the night of the 11th the city was +evacuated, and was taken possession of by our forces on the morning of +the 12th. + +The expedition under command of Brevet Major-General Wilson, consisting +of twelve thousand five hundred mounted men, was delayed by rains until +March 22d, when it moved from Chickasaw, Alabama. On the 1st of April, +General Wilson encountered the enemy in force under Forrest near +Ebenezer Church, drove him in confusion, captured three hundred +prisoners and three guns, and destroyed the central bridge over the +Cahawba River. On the 2d he attacked and captured the fortified city of +Selma, defended by Forrest, with seven thousand men and thirty-two guns, +destroyed the arsenal, armory, naval foundry, machine-shops, vast +quantities of stores, and captured three thousand prisoners. On the 4th +he captured and destroyed Tuscaloosa. On the 10th he crossed the +Alabama River, and after sending information of his operations to +General Canby, marched on Montgomery, which place he occupied on the +14th, the enemy having abandoned it. At this place many stores and five +steamboats fell into our hands. Thence a force marched direct on +Columbus, and another on West Point, both of which places were assaulted +and captured on the 16th. At the former place we got one thousand five +hundred prisoners and fifty-two field-guns, destroyed two gunboats, the +navy yard, foundries, arsenal, many factories, and much other public +property. At the latter place we got three hundred prisoners, four +guns, and destroyed nineteen locomotives and three hundred cars. On the +20th he took possession of Macon, Georgia, with sixty field-guns, one +thousand two hundred militia, and five generals, surrendered by General +Howell Cobb. General Wilson, hearing that Jeff. Davis was trying to +make his escape, sent forces in pursuit and succeeded in capturing him +on the morning of May 11th. + +On the 4th day of May, General Dick Taylor surrendered to General Canby +all the remaining rebel forces east of the Mississippi. + +A force sufficient to insure an easy triumph over the enemy under Kirby +Smith, west of the Mississippi, was immediately put in motion for Texas, +and Major-General Sheridan designated for its immediate command; but on +the 26th day of May, and before they reached their destination, General +Kirby Smith surrendered his entire command to Major-General Canby. This +surrender did not take place, however, until after the capture of the +rebel President and Vice-President; and the bad faith was exhibited of +first disbanding most of his army and permitting an indiscriminate +plunder of public property. + +Owing to the report that many of those lately in arms against the +government had taken refuge upon the soil of Mexico, carrying with them +arms rightfully belonging to the United States, which had been +surrendered to us by agreement among them some of the leaders who had +surrendered in person and the disturbed condition of affairs on the Rio +Grande, the orders for troops to proceed to Texas were not changed. + +There have been severe combats, raids, expeditions, and movements to +defeat the designs and purposes of the enemy, most of them reflecting +great credit on our arms, and which contributed greatly to our final +triumph, that I have not mentioned. Many of these will be found clearly +set forth in the reports herewith submitted; some in the telegrams and +brief dispatches announcing them, and others, I regret to say, have not +as yet been officially reported. + +For information touching our Indian difficulties, I would respectfully +refer to the reports of the commanders of departments in which they have +occurred. + +It has been my fortune to see the armies of both the West and the East +fight battles, and from what I have seen I know there is no difference +in their fighting qualities. All that it was possible for men to do in +battle they have done. The Western armies commenced their battles in +the Mississippi Valley, and received the final surrender of the remnant +of the principal army opposed to them in North Carolina. The armies of +the East commenced their battles on the river from which the Army of the +Potomac derived its name, and received the final surrender of their old +antagonists at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. The splendid +achievements of each have nationalized our victories removed all +sectional jealousies (of which we have unfortunately experienced too +much), and the cause of crimination and recrimination that might have +followed had either section failed in its duty. All have a proud +record, and all sections can well congratulate themselves and each other +for having done their full share in restoring the supremacy of law over +every foot of territory belonging to the United States. Let them hope +for perpetual peace and harmony with that enemy, whose manhood, however +mistaken the cause, drew forth such herculean deeds of valor. + +I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. +GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + +THE END + + + __________ + FOOTNOTES + + (*1) Afterwards General Gardner, C.S.A. + + + (*2) General Garland expressed a wish to get a message back to + General Twiggs, his division commander, or General Taylor, to + the effect that he was nearly out of ammunition and must have + more sent to him, or otherwise be reinforced. Deeming the + return dangerous he did not like to order any one to carry it, + so he called for a volunteer. Lieutenant Grant offered his + services, which were accepted.--PUBLISHERS. + + + (*3) Mentioned in the reports of Major Lee, Colonel Garland and + General Worth.--PUBLISHERS. + + + (*4) NOTE.--It had been a favorite idea with General Scott for a + great many years before the Mexican war to have established in + the United States a soldiers' home, patterned after something of + the kind abroad, particularly, I believe, in France. He + recommended this uniformly, or at least frequently, in his + annual reports to the Secretary of War, but never got any + hearing. Now, as he had conquered the state, he made + assessments upon the different large towns and cities occupied + by our troops, in proportion to their capacity to pay, and + appointed officers to receive the money. In addition to the sum + thus realized he had derived, through capture at Cerro Gordo, + sales of captured government tobacco, etc., sums which swelled + the fund to a total of about $220,000. Portions of this fund + were distributed among the rank and file, given to the wounded + in hospital, or applied in other ways, leaving a balance of some + $118,000 remaining unapplied at the close of the war. After the + war was over and the troops all home, General Scott applied to + have this money, which had never been turned into the Treasury + of the United States, expended in establishing such homes as he + had previously recommended. This fund was the foundation of the + Soldiers' Home at Washington City, and also one at Harrodsburgh, + Kentucky. + + The latter went into disuse many years ago. In fact it never + had many soldiers in it, and was, I believe, finally sold. + + + (*5) The Mexican war made three presidential candidates, Scott, + Taylor and Pierce--and any number of aspirants for that high + office. It made also governors of States, members of the + cabinet, foreign ministers and other officers of high rank both + in state and nation. The rebellion, which contained more war in + a single day, at some critical periods, than the whole Mexican + war in two years, has not been so fruitful of political results + to those engaged on the Union side. On the other side, the side + of the South, nearly every man who holds office of any sort + whatever, either in the state or in the nation, was a + Confederate soldier, but this is easily accounted for from the + fact that the South was a military camp, and there were very few + people of a suitable age to be in the army who were not in it. + + + (*6) C. B. Lagow, the others not yet having joined me. + + + (*7) NOTE.--Since writing this chapter I have received from Mrs. + W. H. L. Wallace, widow of the gallant general who was killed in + the first day's fight on the field of Shiloh, a letter from + General Lew. Wallace to him dated the morning of the 5th. At + the date of this letter it was well known that the Confederates + had troops out along the Mobile & Ohio railroad west of Crump's + landing and Pittsburg landing, and were also collecting near + Shiloh. This letter shows that at that time General Lew. + Wallace was making preparations for the emergency that might + happen for the passing of reinforcements between Shiloh and his + position, extending from Crump's landing westward, and he sends + it over the road running from Adamsville to the Pittsburg + landing and Purdy road. These two roads intersect nearly a mile + west of the crossing of the latter over Owl Creek, where our + right rested. In this letter General Lew. Wallace advises + General W. H. L. Wallace that he will send "to-morrow" (and his + letter also says "April 5th," which is the same day the letter + was dated and which, therefore, must have been written on the + 4th) some cavalry to report to him at his headquarters, and + suggesting the propriety of General W. H. L. Wallace's sending a + company back with them for the purpose of having the cavalry at + the two landings familiarize themselves with the road so that + they could "act promptly in case of emergency as guides to and + from the different camps." + + This modifies very materially what I have said, and what has + been said by others, of the conduct of General Lew. Wallace at + the battle of Shiloh. It shows that he naturally, with no more + experience than he had at the time in the profession of arms, + would take the particular road that he did start upon in the + absence of orders to move by a different road. + + The mistake he made, and which probably caused his apparent + dilatoriness, was that of advancing some distance after he found + that the firing, which would be at first directly to his front + and then off to the left, had fallen back until it had got very + much in rear of the position of his advance. This falling back + had taken place before I sent General Wallace orders to move up + to Pittsburg landing and, naturally, my order was to follow the + road nearest the river. But my order was verbal, and to a staff + officer who was to deliver it to General Wallace, so that I am + not competent to say just what order the General actually + received. + + General Wallace's division was stationed, the First brigade at + Crump's landing, the Second out two miles, and the Third two and + a half miles out. Hearing the sounds of battle General Wallace + early ordered his First and Third brigades to concentrate on the + Second. If the position of our front had not changed, the road + which Wallace took would have been somewhat shorter to our right + than the River road. + + U. S. GRANT. + + MOUNT MACGREGOR, NEW YORK, June 21, 1885. + + + (*8) NOTE: In an article on the battle of Shiloh which I wrote + for the Century Magazine, I stated that General A. McD. McCook, + who commanded a division of Buell's army, expressed some + unwillingness to pursue the enemy on Monday, April 7th, because + of the condition of his troops. General Badeau, in his history, + also makes the same statement, on my authority. Out of justice + to General McCook and his command, I must say that they left a + point twenty-two miles east of Savannah on the morning of the + 6th. From the heavy rains of a few days previous and the + passage of trains and artillery, the roads were necessarily deep + in mud, which made marching slow. The division had not only + marched through this mud the day before, but it had been in the + rain all night without rest. It was engaged in the battle of + the second day and did as good service as its position + allowed. In fact an opportunity occurred for it to perform a + conspicuous act of gallantry which elicited the highest + commendation from division commanders in the Army of the + Tennessee. General Sherman both in his memoirs and report makes + mention of this fact. General McCook himself belongs to a family + which furnished many volunteers to the army. I refer to these + circumstances with minuteness because I did General McCook + injustice in my article in the Century, though not to the extent + one would suppose from the public press. I am not willing to do + any one an injustice, and if convinced that I have done one, I + am always willing to make the fullest admission. + + + (*9) NOTE.--For gallantry in the various engagements, from the + time I was left in command down to 26th of October and on my + recommendation, Generals McPherson and C. S. Hamilton were + promoted to be Major-Generals, and Colonels C. C. Marsh, 20th + Illinois, M. M. Crocker, 13th Iowa J. A. Mower, 11th Missouri, + M. D. Leggett, 78th Ohio, J. D. Stevenson, 7th Missouri, and + John E. Smith, 45th Illinois, to be Brigadiers. + + + (*10) Colonel Ellet reported having attacked a Confederate + battery on the Red River two days before with one of his boats, + the De Soto. Running aground, he was obliged to abandon his + vessel. However, he reported that he set fire to her and blew + her up. Twenty of his men fell into the hands of the enemy. + With the balance he escaped on the small captured steamer, the + New Era, and succeeded in passing the batteries at Grand Gulf + and reaching the vicinity of Vicksburg. + + + (*11) One of Colonel Ellet's vessels which had run the blockade + on February the 2d and been sunk in the Red River. + + + (*12) NOTE.--On this occasion Governor Richard Yates, of + Illinois, happened to be on a visit to the army and accompanied + me to Carthage. I furnished an ambulance for his use and that + of some of the State officers who accompanied him. + + + (*13) NOTE.--When General Sherman first learned of the move I + proposed to make, he called to see me about it. I recollect + that I had transferred my headquarters from a boat in the river + to a house a short distance back from the levee. I was seated + on the piazza engaged in conversation with my staff when Sherman + came up. After a few moments' conversation he said that he would + like to see me alone. We passed into the house together and shut + the door after us. Sherman then expressed his alarm at the move + I had ordered, saying that I was putting myself in a position + voluntarily which an enemy would be glad to manoeuvre a year--or + a long time--to get me in. I was going into the enemy's country, + with a large river behind me and the enemy holding points + strongly fortified above and below. He said that it was an + axiom in war that when any great body of troops moved against an + enemy they should do so from a base of supplies, which they would + guard as they would the apple of the eye, etc. He pointed out + all the difficulties that might be encountered in the campaign + proposed, and stated in turn what would be the true campaign to + make. This was, in substance, to go back until high ground + could be reached on the east bank of the river; fortify there + and establish a depot of supplies, and move from there, being + always prepared to fall back upon it in case of disaster. I + said this would take us back to Memphis. Sherman then said that + was the very place he would go to, and would move by railroad + from Memphis to Grenada, repairing the road as we advanced. To + this I replied, the country is already disheartened over the + lack of success on the part of our armies; the last election + went against the vigorous prosecution of the war, voluntary + enlistments had ceased throughout most of the North and + conscription was already resorted to, and if we went back so far + as Memphis it would discourage the people so much that bases of + supplies would be of no use: neither men to hold them nor + supplies to put in them would be furnished. The problem for us + was to move forward to a decisive victory, or our cause was + lost. No progress was being made in any other field, and we had + to go on. + + Sherman wrote to my adjutant general, Colonel J. A. Rawlins, + embodying his views of the campaign that should be made, and + asking him to advise me to at least get the views of my generals + upon the subject. Colonel Rawlins showed me the letter, but I + did not see any reason for changing my plans. The letter was + not answered and the subject was not subsequently mentioned + between Sherman and myself to the end of the war, that I + remember of. I did not regard the letter as official, and + consequently did not preserve it. General Sherman furnished a + copy himself to General Badeau, who printed it in his history of + my campaigns. I did not regard either the conversation between + us or the letter to my adjutant-general as protests, but simply + friendly advice which the relations between us fully + justified. Sherman gave the same energy to make the campaign a + success that he would or could have done if it had been ordered + by himself. I make this statement here to correct an impression + which was circulated at the close of the war to Sherman's + prejudice, and for which there was no fair foundation. + + + (*14) Meant Edward's Station. + + (*15) CHATTANOOGA, November 18, 1863. + + MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN: + + Enclosed herewith I send you copy of instructions to + Major-General Thomas. You having been over the ground in + person, and having heard the whole matter discussed, further + instructions will not be necessary for you. It is particularly + desirable that a force should be got through to the railroad + between Cleveland and Dalton, and Longstreet thus cut off from + communication with the South, but being confronted by a large + force here, strongly located, it is not easy to tell how this is + to be effected until the result of our first effort is known. + + I will add, however, what is not shown in my instructions to + Thomas, that a brigade of cavalry has been ordered here which, + if it arrives in time, will be thrown across the Tennessee above + Chickamauga, and may be able to make the trip to Cleveland or + thereabouts. + + U. S. GRANT + Maj.-Gen'l. + + + CHATTANOOGA, November 18, 1863. + + MAJOR-GENERAL GEO. H. THOMAS, + Chattanooga: + + All preparations should be made for attacking the enemy's + position on Missionary Ridge by Saturday at daylight. Not being + provided with a map giving names of roads, spurs of the + mountains, and other places, such definite instructions cannot + be given as might be desirable. However, the general plan, you + understand, is for Sherman, with the force brought with him + strengthened by a division from your command, to effect a + crossing of the Tennessee River just below the mouth of + Chickamauga; his crossing to be protected by artillery from the + heights on the north bank of the river (to be located by your + chief of artillery), and to secure the heights on the northern + extremity to about the railroad tunnel before the enemy can + concentrate against him. You will co-operate with Sherman. The + troops in Chattanooga Valley should be well concentrated on your + left flank, leaving only the necessary force to defend + fortifications on the right and centre, and a movable column of + one division in readiness to move wherever ordered. This + division should show itself as threateningly as possible on the + most practicable line for making an attack up the valley. Your + effort then will be to form a junction with Sherman, making your + advance well towards the northern end of Missionary Ridge, and + moving as near simultaneously with him as possible. The + junction once formed and the ridge carried, communications will + be at once established between the two armies by roads on the + south bank of the river. Further movements will then depend on + those of the enemy. Lookout Valley, I think, will be easily + held by Geary's division and what troops you may still have + there belonging to the old Army of the Cumberland. Howard's + corps can then be held in readiness to act either with you at + Chattanooga or with Sherman. It should be marched on Friday + night to a position on the north side of the river, not lower + down than the first pontoon-bridge, and there held in readiness + for such orders as may become necessary. All these troops will + be provided with two days' cooked rations in haversacks, and one + hundred rounds of ammunition on the person of each infantry + soldier. Special care should be taken by all officers to see + that ammunition is not wasted or unnecessarily fired away. You + will call on the engineer department for such preparations as + you may deem necessary for carrying your infantry and artillery + over the creek. + + U. S. GRANT, + Major-General. + + + (*16) In this order authority was given for the troops to reform + after taking the first line of rifle-pits preparatory to carrying + the ridge. + + (*17) CHATTANOOGA, November 24,1863. + + MAJOR-GENERAL. CEO. H. THOMAS, + Chattanooga + + General Sherman carried Missionary Ridge as far as the tunnel + with only slight skirmishing. His right now rests at the tunnel + and on top of the hill, his left at Chickamauga Creek. I have + instructed General Sherman to advance as soon as it is light in + the morning, and your attack, which will be simultaneous, will + be in cooperation. Your command will either carry the + rifle-pits and ridge directly in front of them, or move to the + left, as the presence of the enemy may require. If Hooker's + position on the mountain [cannot be maintained] with a small + force, and it is found impracticable to carry the top from where + he is, it would be advisable for him to move up the valley with + all the force he can spare, and ascend by the first practicable + road. + + U. S. GRANT, + + Major-General. + + + (*18) WASHINGTON, D. C., + December 8, 1863, 10.2 A.M. + + MAJ.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT: + + Understanding that your lodgment at Knoxville and at Chattanooga + is now secure, I wish to tender you, and all under your command, + my more than thanks, my profoundest gratitude for the skill, + courage, and perseverance with which you and they, over so great + difficulties, have effected that important object. God bless you + all, + + A. LINCOLN, + + President U. S. + + + (*19) General John G. Foster. + + + (*20) During this winter the citizens of Jo Davies County, Ill., + subscribed for and had a diamond-hilled sword made for General + Grant, which was always known as the Chattanooga sword. The + scabbard was of gold, and was ornamented with a scroll running + nearly its entire length, displaying in engraved letters the + names of the battles in which General Grant had participated. + + Congress also gave him a vote of thanks for the victories at + Chattanooga, and voted him a gold medal for Vicksburg and + Chattanooga. All such things are now in the possession of the + government at Washington. + + + (*21) WASHINGTON, D. C. + December 29, 1863. + + MAJ.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT: + + General Foster has asked to be relieved from his command on + account of disability from old wounds. Should his request be + granted, who would you like as his successor? It is possible + that Schofield will be sent to your command. + + H. W. HALLECK + General-in-Chief. + (OFFICIAL.) + + + (*22) See letter to Banks, in General Grant's report, Appendix. + + + (*23) [PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.] + + HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C., + April 4, 1864. + + MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, + Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi. + + GENERAL:--It is my design, if the enemy keep quiet and allow me + to take the initiative in the spring campaign, to work all parts + of the army together, and somewhat towards a common centre. For + your information I now write you my programme, as at present + determined upon. + + I have sent orders to Banks, by private messenger, to finish up + his present expedition against Shreveport with all dispatch; to + turn over the defence of Red River to General Steele and the + navy and to return your troops to you and his own to New + Orleans; to abandon all of Texas, except the Rio Grande, and to + hold that with not to exceed four thousand men; to reduce the + number of troops on the Mississippi to the lowest number + necessary to hold it, and to collect from his command not less + than twenty-five thousand men. To this I will add five thousand + men from Missouri. With this force he is to commence operations + against Mobile as soon as he can. It will be impossible for him + to commence too early. + + Gillmore joins Butler with ten thousand men, and the two operate + against Richmond from the south side of the James River. This + will give Butler thirty-three thousand men to operate with, W. + F. Smith commanding the right wing of his forces and Gillmore + the left wing. I will stay with the Army of the Potomac, + increased by Burnside's corps of not less than twenty-five + thousand effective men, and operate directly against Lee's army, + wherever it may be found. + + Sigel collects all his available force in two columns, one, + under Ord and Averell, to start from Beverly, Virginia, and the + other, under Crook, to start from Charleston on the Kanawha, to + move against the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. + + Crook will have all cavalry, and will endeavor to get in about + Saltville, and move east from there to join Ord. His force will + be all cavalry, while Ord will have from ten to twelve thousand + men of all arms. + + You I propose to move against Johnston's army, to break it up + and to get into the interior of the enemy's country as far as + you can, inflicting all the damage you can against their war + resources. + + I do not propose to lay down for you a plan of campaign, but + simply lay down the work it is desirable to have done and leave + you free to execute it in your own way. Submit to me, however, + as early as you can, your plan of operations. + + As stated, Banks is ordered to commence operations as soon as he + can. Gillmore is ordered to report at Fortress Monroe by the + 18th inst., or as soon thereafter as practicable. Sigel is + concentrating now. None will move from their places of + rendezvous until I direct, except Banks. I want to be ready to + move by the 25th inst., if possible. But all I can now direct + is that you get ready as soon as possible. I know you will have + difficulties to encounter in getting through the mountains to + where supplies are abundant, but I believe you will accomplish + it. + + From the expedition from the Department of West Virginia I do + not calculate on very great results; but it is the only way I + can take troops from there. With the long line of railroad + Sigel has to protect, he can spare no troops except to move + directly to his front. In this way he must get through to + inflict great damage on the enemy, or the enemy must detach from + one of his armies a large force to prevent it. In other words, + if Sigel can't skin himself he can hold a leg while some one + else skins. + + I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General. + + + (*24) See instructions to Butler, in General Grant's report, + Appendix. + + + (*25) IN FIELD, CULPEPER C. H., VA., + April 9, 1864. + + MAJ.-GENERAL GEO. G. MEADE + Com'd'g Army of the Potomac. + + For information and as instruction to govern your preparations + for the coming campaign, the following is communicated + confidentially for your own perusal alone. + + So far as practicable all the armies are to move together, and + towards one common centre. Banks has been instructed to turn + over the guarding of the Red River to General Steele and the + navy, to abandon Texas with the exception of the Rio Grande, and + to concentrate all the force he can, not less than 25,000 men, to + move on Mobile. This he is to do without reference to other + movements. From the scattered condition of his command, + however, he cannot possibly get it together to leave New Orleans + before the 1st of May, if so soon. Sherman will move at the same + time you do, or two or three days in advance, Jo. Johnston's army + being his objective point, and the heart of Georgia his ultimate + aim. If successful he will secure the line from Chattanooga to + Mobile with the aid of Banks. + + Sigel cannot spare troops from his army to reinforce either of + the great armies, but he can aid them by moving directly to his + front. This he has been directed to do, and is now making + preparations for it. Two columns of his command will make south + at the same time with the general move; one from Beverly, from + ten to twelve thousand strong, under Major-General Ord; the + other from Charleston, Va., principally cavalry, under + Brig.-General Crook. The former of these will endeavor to reach + the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, about south of Covington, + and if found practicable will work eastward to Lynchburg and + return to its base by way of the Shenandoah Valley, or join + you. The other will strike at Saltville, Va., and come eastward + to join Ord. The cavalry from Ord's command will try tributaries + would furnish us an easy line over which to bring all supplies to + within easy hauling distance of every position the army could + occupy from the Rapidan to the James River. But Lee could, if + he chose, detach or move his whole army north on a line rather + interior to the one I would have to take in following. A + movement by his left--our right--would obviate this; but all + that was done would have to be done with the supplies and + ammunition we started with. All idea of adopting this latter + plan was abandoned when the limited quantity of supplies + possible to take with us was considered. The country over which + we would have to pass was so exhausted of all food or forage that + we would be obliged to carry everything with us. + + While these preparations were going on the enemy was not + entirely idle. In the West Forrest made a raid in West + Tennessee up to the northern border, capturing the garrison of + four or five hundred men at Union City, and followed it up by an + attack on Paducah, Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio. While he + was able to enter the city he failed to capture the forts or any + part of the garrison. On the first intelligence of Forrest's + raid I telegraphed Sherman to send all his cavalry against him, + and not to let him get out of the trap he had put himself + into. Sherman had anticipated me by sending troops against him + before he got my order. + + Forrest, however, fell back rapidly, and attacked the troops at + Fort Pillow, a station for the protection of the navigation of + the Mississippi River. The garrison to force a passage + southward, if they are successful in reaching the Virginia and + Tennessee Railroad, to cut the main lines of the road connecting + Richmond with all the South and South-west. + + Gillmore will join Butler with about 10,000 men from South + Carolina. Butler can reduce his garrison so as to take 23,000 + men into the field directly to his front. The force will be + commanded by Maj.-General W. F. Smith. With Smith and Gillmore, + Butler will seize City Point, and operate against Richmond from + the south side of the river. His movement will be simultaneous + with yours. + + Lee's army will be your objective point. Wherever Lee goes, + there you will go also. The only point upon which I am now in + doubt is, whether it will be better to cross the Rapidan above + or below him. Each plan presents great advantages over the + other with corresponding objections. By crossing above, Lee is + cut off from all chance of ignoring Richmond and going north on + a raid. But if we take this route, all we do must be done + whilst the rations we start with hold out. We separate from + Butler so that he cannot be directed how to co-operate. By the + other route Brandy Station can be used as a base of supplies + until another is secured on the York or James rivers. + + These advantages and objections I will talk over with you more + fully than I can write them. + + Burnside with a force of probably 25,000 men will reinforce + you. Immediately upon his arrival, which will be shortly after + the 20th inst., I will give him the defence of the road from + Bull Run as far south as we wish to hold it. This will enable + you to collect all your strength about Brandy Station and to the + front. + + There will be naval co-operation on the James River, and + transports and ferries will be provided so that should Lee fall + back into his intrenchments at Richmond, Butler's force and + yours will be a unit, or at least can be made to act as such. + What I would direct then, is that you commence at once reducing + baggage to the very lowest possible standard. Two wagons to a + regiment of five hundred men is the greatest number that should + be allowed, for all baggage, exclusive of subsistence stores and + ordnance stores. One wagon to brigade and one to division + headquarters is sufficient and about two to corps headquarters. + + Should by Lee's right flank be our route, you will want to make + arrangements for having supplies of all sorts promptly forwarded + to White House on the Pamunkey. Your estimates for this + contingency should be made at once. If not wanted there, there + is every probability they will be wanted on the James River or + elsewhere. + + If Lee's left is turned, large provision will have to be made + for ordnance stores. I would say not much short of five hundred + rounds of infantry ammunition would do. By the other, half the + amount would be sufficient. + + U. S. GRANT, + + Lieutenant-General. + + (*26) General John A. Logan, upon whom devolved the command of + the Army of the Tennessee during this battle, in his report gave + our total loss in killed, wounded and missing at 3,521; and + estimated that of the enemy to be not less than 10,000: and + General G. M. Dodge, graphically describing to General Sherman + the enemy's attack, the full weight of which fell first upon and + was broken by his depleted command, remarks: "The disparity of + forces can be seen from the fact that in the charge made by my + two brigades under Fuller and Mersy they took 351 prisoners, + representing forty-nine different regiments, eight brigades and + three divisions; and brought back eight battle flags from the + enemy." + + + (*27) + UNION ARMY ON THE RAPIDAN, MAY 5, 1864. + + [COMPILED.] + + LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief. + + MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac. + + + MAJ.-GEN. W. S. HANCOCK, commanding Second Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. Francis C. Barlow. + First Brigade, Col. Nelson A. Miles. + Second Brigade, Col. Thomas A. Smyth. + Third Brigade, Col. Paul Frank. + Fourth Brigade, Col. John R. Brooke. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John Gibbon. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alex. S. Webb. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Joshua T. Owen. + Third Brigade, Col. Samuel S. Carroll. + + Third Division, Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. H. H. Ward. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Hays. + + Fourth Divisin, Brig.-Gen. Gershom Mott. + First Brigade, Col. Robert McAllister. + Second Brigade, Col. Wm. R. Brewster. + + Artillery Brigade, Col. John C. Tidball. + + + MAJ.-GEN. G. K. WARREN, commanding Fifth Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. Charles Griffin. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Romeyn B. Ayres. + Second Brigade, Col. Jacob B. Sweitzer. + Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. J. Bartlett. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John C. Robinson. + First Brigade, Col. Samuel H. Leonard. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry Baxter. + Third Brigade, Col. Andrew W. Denison. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Samuel W. Crawford. + First Brigade, Col. Wm McCandless. + Third Brigade, Col. Joseph W. Fisher. + + Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. James S. Wadsworth. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Lysander Cutler. + Second Brigade Brig.-Gen. James C. Rice. + Third Brigade, Col. Roy Stone + + Artillery Brigade, Col. S. S. Wainwright. + + + MAJ.-GEN. JOHN SEDGWICK, commanding Sixth Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. H. G. Wright. + First Brigade, Col. Henry W. Brown. + Second Brigade, Col. Emory Upton. + Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. D. A. Russell. + Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Shaler. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. George W. Getty. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Frank Wheaton. + Second Brigade, Col. Lewis A. Grant. + Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Thos. H. Neill. + Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry L. Eustis. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. James Ricketts. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wm. H. Morris. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. T. Seymour. + + Artillery Brigade, Col. C. H. Tompkins + + + MAJ.-GEN. P. H. SHERIDAN, commanding Cavalry Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. A. T. A. Torbert. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. G. A. Custer. + Second Brigade, Col. Thos. C. Devin. + Reserve Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wesley Merritt + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. D. McM. Gregg. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry E. Davies, Jr. + Second Brigade, Col. J. Irvin Gregg. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. J. H. Wilson. + First Brigade, Col. T. M. Bryan, Jr. + Second Brigade, Col. Geo. H. Chapman. + + + MAJ.-GEN. A. E. BURNSIDE, commanding Ninth Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. T. G. Stevenson. + First Brigade, Col. Sumner Carruth. + Second Brigade, Col. Daniel Leasure. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. Robert B. Potter. + First Brigade, Col. Zenas R. Bliss. + Second Brigade, Col. Simon G. Griffin. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Orlando Willcox. + First Brigade, Col. John F. Hartranft. + Second Brigade, Col. Benj. C. Christ. + + Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. Edward Ferrero. + First Brigade, Col. Joshua K. Sigfried. + Second Brigade, Col. Henry G. Thomas. + + Provisional Brigade, Col. Elisha G. Marshall. + + + BRIG.-GEN. HENRY J. HUNT, commanding Artillery. + + Reserve, Col. H. S. Burton. + First Brigade, Col. J. H. Kitching. + Second Brigade, Maj. J. A. Tompkins. + First Brig. Horse Art., Capt. J. M. Robertson. + Second Brigade, Horse Art., Capt. D. R. Ransom. + Third Brigade, Maj. R. H. Fitzhugh. + + + GENERAL HEADQUARTERS....... + Provost Guard, Brig.-Gen. M. R. Patrick. + Volunteer Engineers, Brig.-Gen. H. W. Benham. + + + + CONFEDERATE ARMY. + + Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, Commanded by + GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, August 31st, 1834. + + First Army Corps: LIEUT.-GEN. R. H. ANDERSON, Commanding. + + MAJ.-GEN. GEO. E. PICKETT'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. Seth M. Barton's Brigade. (a) + Brig.-Gen. M. D. Corse's " + " Eppa Hunton's " + " Wm. R. Terry's " + + MAJ.-GEN. C. W. FIELD'S Division. (b) + Brig.-Gen. G. T. Anderson's Brigade + " E. M. Law's (c) " + " John Bratton's " + + MAJ.-GEN. J. B. KERSHAW'S Division. (d) + Brig.-Gen. W. T. Wofford's Brigade + " B. G. Humphreys' " + " Goode Bryan's " + " Kershaw's (Old) " + + + Second Army Corps: MAJOR-GENERAL JUBAL A. EARLY, Commanding + + MAJ.-GEN. JOHN B. GORDON'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. H. T. Hays' Brigade. (e) + " John Pegram 's " (f) + " Gordon's " (g) + Brig.-Gen. R. F. Hoke's " + + MAJ.-GEN. EDWARD JOHNSON'S Division. + Stonewall Brig. (Brig.-Gen. J. A. Walker). (h) + Brig.-Gen. J M Jones' Brigade. (h) + " Geo H. Stewart's " (h) + " L. A. Stafford's " (e) + + MAJ.-GEN. R. E. RODES' Division. + Brig.-Gen. J. Daniel's Brigade. (i) + " Geo. Dole's " (k) + " S. D. Ramseur's Brigade. + " C. A. Battle's " + " R. D. Johnston's " (f) + + + Third Army Corps: LIEUT.-GEN. A. P. HILL, Commanding. + + MAJ.-GEN. WM. MAHONE'S Division. (l) + Brig.-Gen. J. C. C. Sanders' Brigade. + Mahone's " + Brig.-Gen. N. H. Harris's " (m) + " A. R. Wright's " + " Joseph Finegan's " + + MAJ.-GEN. C. M. WILCOX'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. E. L. Thomas's Brigade (n) + " James H. Lane's " + " Sam'l McCowan's " + " Alfred M. Scale's " + + MAJ.-GEN. H. HETH'S Division. (o) + Brig.-Gen. J. R. Davis's Brigade. + " John R. Cooke's " + " D. McRae's " + " J. J. Archer's " + " H. H. Walker's " + + _unattached_: 5th Alabama Battalion. + + + Cavalry Corps: LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WADE HAMPTON, Commanding.(p) + + MAJ.-GEN. FITZHUGH LEE'S Division + Brig.-Gen. W. C. Wickham's Brigade + " L. L. Lomax's " + + MAJ.-GEN. M. C. BUTLER'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. John Dunovant's Brigade. + " P. M. B. Young's " + " Thomas L. Rosser's " + + MAJ.-GEN. W. H. F. LEE'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. Rufus Barringer's Brigade. + " J. R. Chambliss's " + + + Artillery Reserve: BRIG.-GEN. W. N. PENDLETON, Commanding. + + BRIG.-GEN. E. P. ALEXANDER'S DIVISION.* + Cabell's Battalion. + Manly's Battery. + 1st Co. Richmond Howitzers. + Carleton's Battery. + Calloway's Battery. + + Haskell's Battalion. + Branch's Battery. + Nelson's " + Garden's " + Rowan " + + Huger's Battalion. + Smith's Battery. + Moody " + Woolfolk " + Parker's " + Taylor's " + Fickling's " + Martin's " + + Gibb's Battalion. + Davidson's Battery. + Dickenson's " + Otey's " + + + BRIG.-GEN. A. L. LONG'S DIVISION. + + Braxton's Battalion. + Lee Battery. + 1st Md. Artillery. + Stafford " + Alleghany " + + Cutshaw's Battalion. + Charlotteville Artillery. + Staunton " + Courtney " + + Carter's Battalion. + Morris Artillery. + Orange " + King William Artillery. + Jeff Davis " + + Nelson's Battalion. + Amherst Artillery. + Milledge " + Fluvauna " + + Brown's Battalion. + Powhatan Artillery. + 2d Richmond Howitzers. + 3d " " + Rockbridge Artillery. + Salem Flying Artillery. + + + COL R. L.WALKER'S DIVISION. + + Cutt's Battalion. + Ross's Battery. + Patterson's Battery. + Irwin Artillery. + + Richardson's Battalion. + Lewis Artillery. + Donaldsonville Artillery. + Norfolk Light " + Huger " + + Mclntosh 's Battalion. + Johnson's Battery. + Hardaway Artillery. + Danville " + 2d Rockbridge Artillery. + + Pegram's Battalion. + Peedee Artillery. + Fredericksburg Artillery. + Letcher " + Purcell Battery. + Crenshaw's Battery. + + Poague's Battalion. + Madison Artillery. + Albemarle " + Brooke " + Charlotte " + + + NOTE. + (a) COL. W. R. Aylett was in command Aug. 29th, and probably at + above date. + (b) Inspection report of this division shows that it also + contained Benning's and Gregg's Brigades. (c) Commanded by + Colonel P. D. Bowles. + (d) Only two brigadier-generals reported for duty; names not + indicated. + + Organization of the Army of the Valley District. + (e) Constituting York's Brigade. + (f) In Ramseur's Division. + (g) Evan's Brigade, Colonel E. N. Atkinson commanding, and + containing 12th Georgia Battalion. + (h) The Virginia regiments constituted Terry's Brigade, Gordon's + Division. + (i) Grimes' Brigade. + (k) Cook's " + + (l) Returns report but one general officer present for duty; + name not indicated. + (m) Colonel Joseph M. Jayne, commanding. + (n) Colonel Thomas J. Simmons, commanding. (o) Four + brigadier-generals reported present for duty; names not + indicated. + (p) On face of returns appears to have consisted of Hampton's, + Fitz-Lee's, and W. H. F. Lee's Division, and Dearing's Brigade. + + *But one general officer reported present for duty in the + artillery, and Alexander's name not on the original. + + + (*28) HEADQUARTERS ARMIES U. S., + May II, 1864.--3 P.M. + + MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, + Commanding Army of the Potomac. + + Move three divisions of the 2d corps by the rear of the 5th and + 6th corps, under cover of night, so as to join the 9th corps in + a vigorous assault on the enemy at four o'clock A.M. to-morrow. + will send one or two staff officers over to-night to stay with + Burnside, and impress him with the importance of a prompt and + vigorous attack. Warren and Wright should hold their corps as + close to the enemy as possible, to take advantage of any + diversion caused by this attack, and to push in if any + opportunity presents itself. There is but little doubt in my + mind that the assault last evening would have proved entirely + successful if it had commenced one hour earlier and had been + heartily entered into by Mott's division and the 9th corps. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieut.-General. + + + (*29) HEADQUARTERS, ARMIES U. S., + May 11, 1864.-4 P.M. + + MAJOR-GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE, + Commanding 9th Army Corps. + + Major-General Hancock has been ordered to move his corps under + cover of night to join you in a vigorous attack against the + enemy at 4 o'clock A.M. to-morrow. You will move against the + enemy with your entire force promptly and with all possible + vigor at precisely 4 o'clock A.M. to-morrow the 12th inst. Let + your preparations for this attack be conducted with the utmost + secrecy and veiled entirely from the enemy. + + I send two of my staff officers, Colonels Comstock and Babcock, + in whom I have great confidence and who are acquainted with the + direction the attack is to be made from here, to remain with you + and General Hancock with instructions to render you every + assistance in their power. Generals Warren and Wright will hold + their corps as close to the enemy as possible, to take advantage + of any diversion caused by yours and Hancock's attack, and will + push in their whole force if any opportunity presents itself. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieut.-General. + + + (*30) HEADQUARTERS ARMIES U. S., + May 12, 1864, 6.30 P.M. + + MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, + Washington, D. C. + + The eighth day of the battle closes, leaving between three and + four thousand prisoners in our hands for the day's work, + including two general officers, and over thirty pieces of + artillery. The enemy are obstinate, and seem to have found the + last ditch. We have lost no organizations, not even that of a + company, whilst we have destroyed and captured one division + (Johnson's), one brigade (Doles'), and one regiment entire from + the enemy. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieut.-General. + + + (*31) SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., May 13, 1864. + + HON E. M. STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR, + Washington, D. C. + + I beg leave to recommend the following promotions be made for + gallant and distinguished services in the last eight days' + battles, to wit: Brigadier-General H. G. Wright and + Brigadier-General John Gibbon to be Major-Generals; Colonel S. + S. Carroll, 8th Ohio Volunteers Colonel E. Upton, 121st New York + Volunteers; Colonel William McCandless, 2d Pennsylvania Reserves, + to be Brigadier-Generals. I would also recommend Major-General W. + S. Hancock for Brigadier-General in the regular army. His + services and qualifications are eminently deserving of this + recognition. In making these recommendations I do not wish the + claims of General G. M. Dodge for promotion forgotten, but + recommend his name to be sent in at the same time. I would also + ask to have General Wright assigned to the command of the Sixth + Army Corps. I would further ask the confirmation of General + Humphreys to the rank of Major-General. + + General Meade has more than met my most sanguine expectations. + He and Sherman are the fittest officers for large commands I + have come in contact with. If their services can be rewarded by + promotion to the rank of Major-Generals in the regular army the + honor would be worthily bestowed, and I would feel personally + gratified. I would not like to see one of these promotions at + this time without seeing both. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieut.-General. + + + (*32) QUARLES' MILLS, VA., May 26, 1864. + + MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, + Washington, D. C. + + The relative position of the two armies is now as follows: Lee's + right rests on a swamp east of the Richmond and Fredericksburg + road and south of the North Anna, his centre on the river at Ox + Ford, and his left at Little River with the crossings of Little + River guarded as far up as we have gone. Hancock with his corps + and one division of the 9th corps crossed at Chesterfield Ford + and covers the right wing of Lee's army. One division of the 9th + corps is on the north bank of the Anna at Ox Ford, with bridges + above and below at points nearest to it where both banks are + held by us, so that it could reinforce either wing of our army + with equal facility. The 5th and 6th corps with one division of + the 9th corps run from the south bank of the Anna from a short + distance above Ox Ford to Little River, and parallel with and + near to the enemy. + + To make a direct attack from either wing would cause a slaughter + of our men that even success would not justify. To turn the + enemy by his right, between the two Annas is impossible on + account of the swamp upon which his right rests. To turn him by + the left leaves Little River, New Found River and South Anna + River, all of them streams presenting considerable obstacles to + the movement of our army, to be crossed. I have determined + therefore to turn the enemy's right by crossing at or near + Hanover Town. This crosses all three streams at once, and + leaves us still where we can draw supplies. + + During the last night the teams and artillery not in position, + belonging to the right wing of our army, and one division of + that wing were quietly withdrawn to the north bank of the river + and moved down to the rear of the left. As soon as it is dark + this division with most of the cavalry will commence a forced + march for Hanover Town to seize and hold the crossings. The + balance of the right wing will withdraw at the same hour, and + follow as rapidly as possible. The left wing will also withdraw + from the south bank of the river to-night and follow in rear of + the right wing. Lee's army is really whipped. The prisoners we + now take show it, and the action of his army shows it + unmistakably. A battle with them outside of intrenchments + cannot be had. Our men feel that they have gained the MORALE + over the enemy, and attack him with confidence. I may be + mistaken, but I feel that our success over Lee's army is already + assured. The promptness and rapidity with which you have + forwarded reinforcements has contributed largely to the feeling + of confidence inspired in our men, and to break down that of the + enemy. + + We are destroying all the rails we can on the Central and + Fredericksburg roads. I want to leave a gap on the roads north + of Richmond so big that to get a single track they will have to + import rail from elsewhere. Even if a crossing is not effected + at Hanover Town it will probably be necessary for us to move on + down the Pamunkey until a crossing is effected. I think it + advisable therefore to change our base of supplies from Port + Royal to the White House. I wish you would direct this change + at once, and also direct Smith to put the railroad bridge there + in condition for crossing troops and artillery and leave men to + hold it. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieut.-General. + + + (*33) NEAR COLD HARBOR, June 3, 1864, 7 A.M. + + MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, + Commanding A. P. + + The moment it becomes certain that an assault cannot succeed, + suspend the offensive; but when one does succeed, push it + vigorously and if necessary pile in troops at the successful + point from wherever they can be taken. I shall go to where you + are in the course of an hour. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieut.-General. + + + (*34) COLD HARBOR, June 5,1864. + + MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, + D. C. + + A full survey of all the ground satisfies me that it would be + impracticable to hold a line north-east of Richmond that would + protect the Fredericksburg Railroad to enable us to use that + road for supplying the army. To do so would give us a long + vulnerable line of road to protect, exhausting much of our + strength to guard it, and would leave open to the enemy all of + his lines of communication on the south side of the James. My + idea from the start has been to beat Lee's army if possible + north of Richmond; then after destroying his lines of + communication on the north side of the James River to transfer + the army to the south side and besiege Lee in Richmond, or + follow him south if he should retreat. + + I now find, after over thirty days of trial, the enemy deems it + of the first importance to run no risks with the armies they now + have. They act purely on the defensive behind breastworks, or + feebly on the offensive immediately in front of them, and where + in case of repulse they can instantly retire behind them. + Without a greater sacrifice of human life than I am willing to + make all cannot be accomplished that I had designed outside of + the city. I have therefore resolved upon the following plan: + + I will continue to hold substantially the ground now occupied by + the Army of the Potomac, taking advantage of any favorable + circumstance that may present itself until the cavalry can be + sent west to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad from about + Beaver Dam for some twenty-five or thirty miles west. When this + is effected I will move the army to the south side of the James + River, either by crossing the Chickahominy and marching near to + City Point, or by going to the mouth of the Chickahominy on + north side and crossing there. To provide for this last and + most possible contingency, several ferry-boats of the largest + class ought to be immediately provided. + + Once on the south side of the James River, I can cut off all + sources of supply to the enemy except what is furnished by the + canal. If Hunter succeeds in reaching Lynchburg, that will be + lost to him also. Should Hunter not succeed, I will still make + the effort to destroy the canal by sending cavalry up the south + side of the river with a pontoon train to cross wherever they + can. + + The feeling of the two armies now seems to be that the rebels + can protect themselves only by strong intrenchments, whilst our + army is not only confident of protecting itself without + intrenchments, but that it can beat and drive the enemy wherever + and whenever he can be found without this protection. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General. + + + (*35) COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1864. + + MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER + + Commanding Dept. W. Va. + + General Sheridan leaves here to-morrow morning, with + instructions to proceed to Charlottesville, Va., and to commence + there the destruction of the Va. Cen. R. R., destroying this way + as much as possible. The complete destruction of this road and + of the canal on James River is of great importance to us. + According to the instructions I sent to General Halleck for your + guidance, you were to proceed to Lynchburg and commence there. It + would be of great value to us to get possession of Lynchburg for + a single day. But that point is of so much importance to the + enemy, that in attempting to get it such resistance may be met + as to defeat your getting onto the road or canal at all. I see, + in looking over the letter to General Halleck on the subject of + your instructions, that it rather indicates that your route + should be from Staunton via Charlottesville. If you have so + understood it, you will be doing just what I want. The + direction I would now give is, that if this letter reaches you + in the valley between Staunton and Lynchburg, you immediately + turn east by the most practicable road. From thence move + eastward along the line of the road, destroying it completely + and thoroughly, until you join General Sheridan. After the work + laid out for General Sheridan and yourself is thoroughly done, + proceed to join the Army of the Potomac by the route laid out in + General Sheridan's instructions. + + If any portion of your force, especially your cavalry, is needed + back in your Department, you are authorized to send it back. + + If on receipt of this you should be near to Lynchburg and deem + it practicable to detach a cavalry force to destroy the canal. + Lose no opportunity to destroy the canal. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieut.-General. + + + (*36) FROM A STATEMENT OF LOSSES COMPILED IN THE + ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE. + + FIELD OF ACTION AND DATE. | KILLED. | WOUNDED. | MISSING. | + AGGREGATE. | + + + Wilderness, May 5th to 7th | 2,261 | 8,785 | 2,902 |13,948 | + Spottsylvania, May 8th to 21st | 2,271 | 9,360 | 1,970 | 13,601| + North Anna, May 23d to 27th | 186 | 792 | 165 | 1,143 | + Totopotomoy, May 27th to 31st | 99 | 358 | 52 | 509 | Cold + Harbor, May 31st to June 12th | 1,769 | 6,752 | 1,537 |10,058 | + Total ................ | 6,586 | 26,047 | 6,626 | 39,259 | + + + (*37) CITY POINT, VA., June 17, 1864. 11 A.M. + + MAJOR-GEN. HALLECK, + Washington, D. C. + + * * * * * * * + + The enemy in their endeavor to reinforce Petersburg abandoned + their intrenchments in front of Bermuda Hundred. They no doubt + expected troops from north of the James River to take their + place before we discovered it. General Butler took advantage of + this and moved a force at once upon the railroad and plank road + between Richmond and Petersburg, which I hope to retain + possession of. + + Too much credit cannot be given to the troops and their + commanders for the energy and fortitude displayed during the + last five days. Day and night has been all the same, no delays + being allowed on any account. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieut.-General. + + + (*38) CITY POINT, VA., July 24, 1864. + + MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, + Commanding, etc. + + The engineer officers who made a survey of the front from + Bermuda Hundred report against the probability of success from + an attack there. The chances they think will be better on + Burnside's front. If this is attempted it will be necessary to + concentrate all the force possible at the point in the enemy's + line we expect to penetrate. All officers should be fully + impressed with the absolute necessity of pushing entirely beyond + the enemy's present line, if they should succeed in penetrating + it, and of getting back to their present line promptly if they + should not succeed in breaking through. + + To the right and left of the point of assault all the artillery + possible should be brought to play upon the enemy in front + during the assault. Their lines would be sufficient for the + support of the artillery, and all the reserves could be brought + on the flanks of their commands nearest to the point of assault, + ready to follow in if successful. The field artillery and + infantry held in the lines during the first assault should be in + readiness to move at a moment's notice either to their front or + to follow the main assault, as they should receive orders. One + thing, however, should be impressed on corps commanders. If + they see the enemy giving away on their front or moving from it + to reinforce a heavily assaulted portion of their line, they + should take advantage of such knowledge and act promptly without + waiting for orders from army commanders. General Ord can + co-operate with his corps in this movement, and about five + thousand troops from Bermuda Hundred can be sent to reinforce + you or can be used to threaten an assault between the Appomattox + and James rivers, as may be deemed best. + + This should be done by Tuesday morning, if done at all. If not + attempted, we will then start at the date indicated to destroy + the railroad as far as Hicksford at least, and to Weldon if + possible. + + * * * * * * * + + Whether we send an expedition on the road or assault at + Petersburg, Burnside's mine will be blown up.... + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General. + + + (*39) See letter, August 5th, Appendix. + + + (*40) See Appendix, letters of Oct. 11th. + + + (*41) CITY POINT, VA., December 2,1864. + + MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, + Nashville Tenn. + + If Hood is permitted to remain quietly about Nashville, you will + lose all the road back to Chattanooga and possibly have to + abandon the line of the Tennessee. Should he attack you it is + all well, but if he does not you should attack him before he + fortifies. Arm and put in the trenches your quartermaster + employees, citizens, etc. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General. + + + CITY POINT, VA., December 2, 1864.--1.30 P.M. + + MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, + Nashville, Tenn. + + With your citizen employees armed, you can move out of Nashville + with all your army and force the enemy to retire or fight upon + ground of your own choosing. After the repulse of Hood at + Franklin, it looks to me that instead of falling back to + Nashville we should have taken the offensive against the enemy + where he was. At this distance, however, I may err as to the + best method of dealing with the enemy. You will now suffer + incalculable injury upon your railroads if Hood is not speedily + disposed of. Put forth therefore every possible exertion to + attain this end. Should you get him to retreating give him no + peace. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General. + + + CITY POINT, VA., December 5, 1864. + + MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, + Nashville, Tenn. + + Is there not danger of Forrest moving down the Cumberland to + where he can cross it? It seems to me whilst you should be + getting up your cavalry as rapidly as possible to look after + Forrest, Hood should be attacked where he is. Time strengthens + him in all possibility as much as it does you. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General. + + + CITY POINT, VA., December 6, 1864--4 P.M. + + MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, + Nashville, Tenn. + + Attack Hood at once and wait no longer for a remnant of your + cavalry. There is great danger of delay resulting in a campaign + back to the Ohio River. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General. + + + CITY POINT, VA., December 8, 1864.--8.30 P.M. + + MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, + Nashville, Tenn. + + Your dispatch of yesterday received. It looks to me evident the + enemy are trying to cross the Cumberland River, and are + scattered. Why not attack at once? By all means avoid the + contingency of a foot race to see which, you or Hood, can beat + to the Ohio. If you think necessary call on the governors of + States to send a force into Louisville to meet the enemy if he + should cross the river. You clearly never should cross except + in rear of the enemy. Now is one of the finest opportunities + ever presented of destroying one of the three armies of the + enemy. If destroyed he never can replace it. Use the means at + your command, and you can do this and cause a rejoicing that + will resound from one end of the land to the other. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General. + + + CITY POINT, VA., December 11, 1864.--4 P.M. + + MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, + Nashville, Tenn. + + If you delay attack longer the mortifying spectacle will be + witnessed of a rebel army moving for the Ohio River, and you + will be forced to act, accepting such weather as you find. Let + there be no further delay. Hood cannot even stand a drawn + battle so far from his supplies of ordnance stores. If he + retreats and you follow, he must lose his material and much of + his army. I am in hopes of receiving a dispatch from you to-day + announcing that you have moved. Delay no longer for weather or + reinforcements. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General. + + + WASHINGTON, D. C., December 15, 1864. + + MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, + Nashville, Tenn. + + I was just on my way to Nashville, but receiving a dispatch from + Van Duzer detailing your splendid success of to-day, I shall go + no further. Push the enemy now and give him no rest until he is + entirely destroyed. Your army will cheerfully suffer many + privations to break up Hood's army and render it useless for + future operations. Do not stop for trains or supplies, but take + them from the country as the enemy have done. Much is now + expected. + + U. S. GRANT, + Lieutenant-General. + + + (*42) See orders to Major-General Meade, Ord, and Sheridan, + March 24th, Appendix. + + + (*43) See Appendix. + + + (*44) NOTE.--The fac-simile of the terms of Lee's surrender + inserted at this place, was copied from the original document + furnished the publishers through the courtesy of General Ely S. + Parker, Military Secretary on General Grant's staff at the time + of the surrender. + + Three pages of paper were prepared in General Grant's manifold + order book on which he wrote the terms, and the interlineations + and erasures were added by General Parker at the suggestion of + General Grant. After such alteration it was handed to General + Lee, who put on his glasses, read it, and handed it back to + General Grant. The original was then transcribed by General + Parker upon official headed paper and a copy furnished General + Lee. + + The fac-simile herewith shows the color of the paper of the + original document and all interlineations and erasures. + + There is a popular error to the effect that Generals Grant and + Lee each signed the articles of surrender. The document in the + form of a letter was signed only by General Grant, in the parlor + of McLean's house while General Lee was sitting in the room, and + General Lee immediately wrote a letter accepting the terms and + handed it to General Grant. + + + + +............................................................... + + + + +MEMOIRS OF GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN + +By William T. Sherman + + + + +GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN + +HIS COMRADES IN ARMS, + +VOLUNTEERS AND REGULARS. + +Nearly ten years have passed since the close of the civil war in +America, and yet no satisfactory history thereof is accessible to +the public; nor should any be attempted until the Government has +published, and placed within the reach of students, the abundant +materials that are buried in the War Department at Washington. +These are in process of compilation; but, at the rate of progress +for the past ten years, it is probable that a new century will come +before they are published and circulated, with full indexes to +enable the historian to make a judicious selection of materials. + +What is now offered is not designed as a history of the war, or +even as a complete account of all the incidents in which the writer +bore a part, but merely his recollection of events, corrected by a +reference to his own memoranda, which may assist the future +historian when he comes to describe the whole, and account for the +motives and reasons which influenced some of the actors in the +grand drama of war. + +I trust a perusal of these pages will prove interesting to the +survivors, who have manifested so often their intense love of the +"cause" which moved a nation to vindicate its own authority; and, +equally so, to the rising generation, who therefrom may learn that +a country and government such as ours are worth fighting for, and +dying for, if need be. + +If successful in this, I shall feel amply repaid for departing from +the usage of military men, who seldom attempt to publish their own +deeds, but rest content with simply contributing by their acts to +the honor and glory of their country. + +WILLIAM T. SHERMAN, +General + +St. Louis, Missouri, January 21, 1875. + + + + + +PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. + +Another ten years have passed since I ventured to publish my +Memoirs, and, being once more at leisure, I have revised them in +the light of the many criticisms public and private. + +My habit has been to note in pencil the suggestions of critics, and +to examine the substance of their differences; for critics must +differ from the author, to manifest their superiority. + +Where I have found material error I have corrected; and I have +added two chapters, one at the beginning, another at the end, both +of the most general character, and an appendix. + +I wish my friends and enemies to understand that I disclaim the +character of historian, but assume to be a witness on the stand +before the great tribunal of history, to assist some future Napier, +Alison, or Hume to comprehend the feelings and thoughts of the +actors in the grand conflicts of the recent past, and thereby to +lessen his labors in the compilation necessary for the future +benefit of mankind. + +In this free country every man is at perfect liberty to publish his +own thoughts and impressions, and any witness who may differ from +me should publish his own version of facts in the truthful +narration of which he is interested. I am publishing my own +memoirs, not theirs, and we all know that no three honest witnesses +of a simple brawl can agree on all the details. How much more +likely will be the difference in a great battle covering a vast +space of broken ground, when each division, brigade, regiment, and +even company, naturally and honestly believes that it was the focus +of the whole affair! Each of them won the battle. None ever lost. +That was the fate of the old man who unhappily commanded. + +In this edition I give the best maps which I believe have ever been +prepared, compiled by General O. M. Poe, from personal knowledge +and official surveys, and what I chiefly aim to establish is the +true cause of the results which are already known to the whole +world; and it may be a relief to many to know that I shall publish +no other, but, like the player at cards, will "stand;" not that I +have accomplished perfection, but because I can do no better with +the cards in hand. Of omissions there are plenty, but of wilful +perversion of facts, none. + +In the preface to the first edition, in 1875, I used these words: +"Nearly ten years have passed since the close of the civil war in +America, and yet no satisfactory history thereof is accessible to +the public; nor should any be attempted until the Government has +published, and placed within the reach of students, the abundant +materials that are buried in the War Department at Washington. +These are in process of compilation; but, at the rate of progress +for the past ten years, it is probable that a new century will come +before they are published and circulated, with full indexes to +enable the historian to make a judicious selection of materials" + +Another decade is past, and I am in possession of all these +publications, my last being Volume XI, Part 3, Series 1, the last +date in which is August 30, 1862. I am afraid that if I assume +again the character of prophet, I must extend the time deep into +the next century, and pray meanwhile that the official records of +the war, Union and Confederate, may approach completion before the +"next war," or rather that we, as a people, may be spared another +war until the last one is officially recorded. Meantime the rising +generation must be content with memoirs and histories compiled from +the best sources available. + +In this sense I offer mine as to the events of which I was an +eye-witness and participant, or for which I was responsible. + +WILLIAM T. SHERMAN, +General (retired). + +St. Louis, Missouri, March 30, 1885. + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF GENERAL WILLIAM T. SHERMAN. + + + +CHAPTER I. + +FROM 1820 TO THE MEXICAN WAR. + +1820-1846. + +According to Cothren, in his "History of Ancient Woodbury, +Connecticut," the Sherman family came from Dedham, Essex County, +England. The first recorded name is of Edmond Sherman, with his +three sons, Edmond, Samuel, and John, who were at Boston before +1636; and farther it is distinctly recorded that Hon. Samuel +Sherman, Rev. John, his brother, and Captain John, his first +cousin, arrived from Dedham, Essex County, England, in 1634. +Samuel afterward married Sarah Mitchell, who had come (in the same +ship) from England, and finally settled at Stratford, Connecticut. +The other two (Johns) located at Watertown, Massachusetts. + +From Captain John Sherman are descended Roger Sherman, the signer +of the Declaration of Independence, Hon. William M. Evarts, the +Messrs. Hoar, of Massachusetts, and many others of national fame. +Our own family are descended from the Hon. Samuel Sherman and his +son; the Rev. John, who was born in 1650-'51; then another John, +born in 1687; then Judge Daniel, born in 1721; then Taylor Sherman, +our grandfather, who was born in 1758. Taylor Sherman was a lawyer +and judge in Norwalk, Connecticut, where he resided until his +death, May 4, 1815; leaving a widow, Betsey Stoddard Sherman, and +three children, Charles R. (our father), Daniel, and Betsey. + +When the State of Connecticut, in 1786, ceded to the United States +her claim to the western part of her public domain, as defined by +her Royal Charter, she reserved a large district in what is now +northern Ohio, a portion of which (five hundred thousand acres) +composed the "Fire-Land District," which was set apart to indemnify +the parties who had lost property in Connecticut by the raids of +Generals Arnold, Tryon, and others during the latter part of the +Revolutionary War. + +Our grandfather, Judge Taylor Sherman, was one of the commissioners +appointed by the State of Connecticut to quiet the Indian title, +and to survey and subdivide this Fire-Land District, which includes +the present counties of Huron and Erie. In his capacity as +commissioner he made several trips to Ohio in the early part of +this century, and it is supposed that he then contracted the +disease which proved fatal. For his labor and losses he received a +title to two sections of land, which fact was probably the prime +cause of the migration of our family to the West. My father +received a good education, and was admitted to the bar at Norwalk, +Connecticut, where, in 1810, he, at twenty years of age, married +Mary Hoyt, also of Norwalk, and at once migrated to Ohio, leaving +his wife (my mother) for a time. His first purpose was to settle +at Zanesville, Ohio, but he finally chose Lancaster, Fairfield +County, where he at once engaged in the practice of his +profession. In 1811 he returned to Norwalk, where, meantime, was +born Charles Taylor Sherman, the eldest of the family, who with his +mother was carried to Ohio on horseback. + +Judge Taylor Sherman's family remained in Norwalk till 1815, when +his death led to the emigration of the remainder of the family, +viz., of Uncle Daniel Sherman, who settled at Monroeville, Ohio, as +a farmer, where he lived and died quite recently, leaving children +and grandchildren; and an aunt, Betsey, who married Judge Parker, +of Mansfield, and died in 1851, leaving children and grandchildren; +also Grandmother Elizabeth Stoddard Sherman, who resided with her +daughter, Mrs. Betsey Parker, in Mansfield until her death, August +1,1848. + +Thus my father, Charles R. Sherman, became finally established at +Lancaster, Ohio, as a lawyer, with his own family in the year 1811, +and continued there till the time of his death, in 1829. I have no +doubt that he was in the first instance attracted to Lancaster by +the natural beauty of its scenery, and the charms of its already +established society. He continued in the practice of his +profession, which in those days was no sinecure, for the ordinary +circuit was made on horseback, and embraced Marietta, Cincinnati, +and Detroit. Hardly was the family established there when the War +of 1812 caused great alarm and distress in all Ohio. The English +captured Detroit and the shores of Lake Erie down to the Maumee +River; while the Indians still occupied the greater part of the +State. Nearly every man had to be somewhat of a soldier, but I +think my father was only a commissary; still, he seems to have +caught a fancy for the great chief of the Shawnees, "Tecumseh." + +Perry's victory on Lake Erie was the turning-point of the Western +campaign, and General Harrison's victory over the British and +Indians at the river Thames in Canada ended the war in the West, +and restored peace and tranquillity to the exposed settlers of +Ohio. My father at once resumed his practice at the bar, and was +soon recognized as an able and successful lawyer. When, in 1816, +my brother James was born, he insisted on engrafting the Indian +name "Tecumseh" on the usual family list. My mother had already +named her first son after her own brother Charles; and insisted on +the second son taking the name of her other brother James, and when +I came along, on the 8th of February, 1820, mother having no more +brothers, my father succeeded in his original purpose, and named me +William Tecumseh. + +The family rapidly increased till it embraced six boys and five +girls, all of whom attained maturity and married; of these six are +still living. + +In the year 1821 a vacancy occurred in the Supreme Court of Ohio, +and I find this petition: + + +Somerset, Ohio, July 6, 1821. + +May it please your Excellency: + +We ask leave to recommend to your Excellency's favorable notice +Charles R. Sherman, Esq., of Lancaster, as a man possessing in an +eminent degree those qualifications so much to be desired in a +Judge of the Supreme Court. + +From a long acquaintance with Mr. Sherman, we are happy to be able +to state to your Excellency that our minds are led to the +conclusion that that gentleman possesses a disposition noble and +generous, a mind discriminating, comprehensive, and combining a +heart pure, benevolent and humane. Manners dignified, mild, and +complaisant, and a firmness not to be shaken and of unquestioned +integrity. + +But Mr. Sherman's character cannot be unknown to your Excellency, +and on that acquaintance without further comment we might safely +rest his pretensions. + +We think we hazard little in assuring your Excellency that his +appointment would give almost universal satisfaction to the +citizens of Perry County. + +With great consideration, we have the honor to be + +Your Excellency's most obedient humble servants, +CHARLES A. HOOD, +GEORGE TREAT, +PETER DITTOR, +P. ODLIN, +J. B. ORTEN, +T. BECKWITH, +WILLIAM P. DORST, +JOHN MURRAY, +JACOB MOINS, +B. EATON, +DANIEL GRIGGS, +HENRY DITTOE, +NICHOLAS McCARTY. + + + +His Excellency ETHAN A. BROWN, +Governor of Ohio, Columbus. + + +He was soon after appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court, and +served in that capacity to the day of his death. + +My memory extends back to about 1827, and I recall him, returning +home on horseback, when all the boys used to run and contend for +the privilege of riding his horse from the front door back to the +stable. On one occasion, I was the first, and being mounted rode +to the stable; but "Old Dick" was impatient because the stable-door +was not opened promptly, so he started for the barn of our neighbor +Mr. King; there, also, no one was in waiting to open the gate, and, +after a reasonable time, "Dick" started back for home somewhat in a +hurry, and threw me among a pile of stones, in front of preacher +Wright's house, where I was picked up apparently a dead boy; but my +time was not yet, and I recovered, though the scars remain to this +day. + +The year 1829 was a sad one to our family. We were then ten +children, my eldest brother Charles absent at the State University, +Athens, Ohio; my next brother, James, in a store at Cincinnati; and +the rest were at home, at school. Father was away on the circuit. +One day Jane Sturgeon came to the school, called us out, and when +we reached home all was lamentation: news had come that father was +ill unto death, at Lebanon, a hundred miles away. Mother started +at once, by coach, but met the news of his death about Washington, +and returned home. He had ridden on horseback from Cincinnati to +Lebanon to hold court, during a hot day in June. On the next day +he took his seat on the bench, opened court in the forenoon, but in +the afternoon, after recess, was seized with a severe chill and had +to adjourn the court. The best medical aid was called in, and for +three days with apparent success, but the fever then assumed a more +dangerous type, and he gradually yielded to it, dying on the sixth +day, viz., June 24, 1829. + +My brother James had been summoned from Cincinnati, and was present +at his bedside, as was also Henry Stoddard, Esq., of Dayton, Ohio, +our cousin. Mr. Stoddard once told me that the cause of my +father's death was cholera; but at that time, 1829, there was no +Asiatic cholera in the United States, and the family, attributed +his death to exposure to the hot sun of June, and a consequent +fever, "typhoid." + +From the resolutions of the bench, bar, and public generally, now +in my possession, his death was universally deplored; more +especially by his neighbors in Lancaster, and by the Society of +Freemasons, of which he was the High-Priest of Arch Chapter No. 11. + + +His death left the family very poor, but friends rose up with +proffers of generous care and assistance; for all the neighbors +knew that mother could not maintain so large a family without help. +My eldest brother, Charles, had nearly completed his education at +the university at Athens, and concluded to go to his uncle, Judge +Parker, at Mansfield, Ohio, to study law. My eldest sister, +Elizabeth, soon after married William J. Reese, Esq.; James was +already in a store at Cincinnati; and, with the exception of the +three youngest children, the rest of us were scattered. I fell to +the charge of the Hon. Thomas Ewing, who took me to his family, and +ever after treated me as his own son. + +I continued at the Academy in Lancaster, which was the best in the +place; indeed, as good a school as any in Ohio. We studied all the +common branches of knowledge, including Latin, Greek, and French. +At first the school was kept by Mr. Parsons; he was succeeded by +Mr. Brown, and he by two brothers, Samuel and Mark How. These were +all excellent teachers, and we made good progress, first at the old +academy and afterward at a new school-house, built by Samuel How, +in the orchard of Hugh Boyle, Esq. + +Time passed with us as with boys generally. Mr. Ewing was in the +United States Senate, and I was notified to prepare for West Point, +of which institution we had little knowledge, except that it was +very strict, and that the army was its natural consequence. In +1834 I was large for my age, and the construction of canals was the +rage in Ohio. A canal was projected to connect with the great Ohio +Canal at Carroll (eight miles above Lancaster), down the valley of +the Hock Hocking to Athens (forty-four miles), and thence to the +Ohio River by slack water. + +Preacher Carpenter, of Lancaster, was appointed to make the +preliminary surveys, and selected the necessary working party out +of the boys of the town. From our school were chosen ____Wilson, +Emanuel Geisy, William King, and myself. Geisy and I were the +rod-men. We worked during that fall and next spring, marking two +experimental lines, and for our work we each received a silver +half-dollar for each day's actual work, the first money any of us +had ever earned. + +In June, 1835, one of our school-fellows, William Irvin, was +appointed a cadet to West Point, and, as it required sixteen years +of age for admission, I had to wait another year. During the +autumn of 1835 and spring of 1836 I devoted myself chiefly to +mathematics and French, which were known to be the chief requisites +for admission to West Point. + +Some time in the spring of 1836 I received through Mr. Ewing, then +at Washington, from the Secretary of War, Mr. Poinsett, the letter +of appointment as a cadet, with a list of the articles of clothing +necessary to be taken along, all of which were liberally provided +by Mrs. Ewing; and with orders to report to Mr. Ewing, at +Washington, by a certain date, I left Lancaster about the 20th of +May in the stage-coach for Zanesville. There we transferred to the +coaches of the Great National Road, the highway of travel from the +West to the East. The stages generally travelled in gangs of from +one to six coaches, each drawn by four good horses, carrying nine +passengers inside and three or four outside. + +In about three days, travelling day and night, we reached +Frederick, Maryland. There we were told that we could take +rail-cars to Baltimore, and thence to Washington; but there was +also a two-horse hack ready to start for Washington direct. Not +having full faith in the novel and dangerous railroad, I stuck to +the coach, and in the night reached Gadsby's Hotel in Washington +City. + +The next morning I hunted up Mr. Ewing, and found him boarding with +a mess of Senators at Mrs. Hill's, corner of Third and C Streets, +and transferred my trunk to the same place. I spent a week in +Washington, and think I saw more of the place in that time than I +ever have since in the many years of residence there. General +Jackson was President, and was at the zenith of his fame. I recall +looking at him a full hour, one morning, through the wood railing +on Pennsylvania Avenue, as he paced up and down the gravel walk on +the north front of the White House. He wore a cap and an overcoat +so full that his form seemed smaller than I had expected. I also +recall the appearance of Postmaster-General Amos Kendall, of +Vice-President Van Buren, Messrs. Calhoun, Webster, Clay, Cass, +Silas Wright, etc. + +In due time I took my departure for West Point with Cadets Belt and +Bronaugh. These were appointed cadets as from Ohio, although +neither had ever seen that State. But in those days there were +fewer applicants from Ohio than now, and near the close of the term +the vacancies unasked for were usually filled from applicants on +the spot. Neither of these parties, however, graduated, so the +State of Ohio lost nothing. We went to Baltimore by rail, there +took a boat up to Havre de Grace, then the rail to Wilmington, +Delaware, and up the Delaware in a boat to Philadelphia. I staid +over in Philadelphia one day at the old Mansion House, to visit the +family of my brother-in-law, Mr. Reese. I found his father a fine +sample of the old merchant gentleman, in a good house in Arch +Street, with his accomplished daughters, who had been to Ohio, and +whom I had seen there. From Philadelphia we took boat to +Bordentown, rail to Amboy, and boat again to New York City, +stopping at the American Hotel. I staid a week in New York City, +visiting my uncle, Charles Hoyt, at his beautiful place on Brooklyn +Heights, and my uncle James, then living in White Street. My +friend William Scott was there, the young husband of my cousin, +Louise Hoyt; a neatly-dressed young fellow, who looked on me as an +untamed animal just caught in the far West--"fit food for +gunpowder," and good for nothing else. + +About June 12th I embarked in the steamer Cornelius Vanderbilt for +West Point; registered in the office of Lieutenant C. F. Smith, +Adjutant of the Military Academy, as a new cadet of the class of +1836, and at once became installed as the "plebe" of my +fellow-townsman, William Irvin, then entering his Third Class. + +Colonel R. E. De Russy was Superintendent; Major John Fowle, Sixth +United States Infantry, Commandant. The principal Professors were: +Mahan, Engineering; Bartlett, Natural Philosophy; Bailey, +Chemistry; Church, Mathematics; Weir, Drawing; and Berard, French. + +The routine of military training and of instruction was then fully +established, and has remained almost the same ever since. To give +a mere outline would swell this to an inconvenient size, and I +therefore merely state that I went through the regular course of +four years, graduating in June, 1840, number six in a class of +forty-three. These forty-three were all that remained of more than +one hundred which originally constituted the class. At the Academy +I was not considered a good soldier, for at no time was I selected +for any office, but remained a private throughout the whole four +years. Then, as now, neatness in dress and form, with a strict +conformity to the rules, were the qualifications required for +office, and I suppose I was found not to excel in any of these. In +studies I always held a respectable reputation with the professors, +and generally ranked among the best, especially in drawing, +chemistry, mathematics, and natural philosophy. My average +demerits, per annum, were about one hundred and fifty, which. +reduced my final class standing from number four to six. + +In June, 1840, after the final examination, the class graduated and +we received our diplomas. Meantime, Major Delafield, United States +Engineers, had become Superintendent; Major C. F. Smith, Commandant +of Cadets; but the corps of professors and assistants remained +almost unchanged during our whole term. We were all granted the +usual furlough of three months, and parted for our homes, there to +await assignment to our respective corps and regiments. In due +season I was appointed and commissioned second-lieutenant, Third +Artillery, and ordered to report at Governor's Island, New York +Harbor, at the end of September. I spent my furlough mostly at +Lancaster and Mansfield, Ohio; toward the close of September +returned to New York, reported to Major Justin Dimock, commanding +the recruiting rendezvous at Governor's Island, and was assigned to +command a company of recruits preparing for service in Florida. +Early in October this company was detailed, as one of four, to +embark in a sailing-vessel for Savannah, Georgia, under command of +Captain and Brevet Major Penrose. We embarked and sailed, reaching +Savannah about the middle of October, where we transferred to a +small steamer and proceeded by the inland route to St. Augustine, +Florida. We reached St. Augustine at the same time with the Eighth +Infantry, commanded by Colonel and Brevet Brigadier-General William +J. Worth. At that time General Zachary Taylor was in chief command +in Florida, and had his headquarters at Tampa Bay. My regiment, +the Third Artillery, occupied the posts along the Atlantic coast of +Florida, from St. Augustine south to Key Biscayne, and my own +company, A, was at Fort Pierce, Indian River. At St. Augustine I +was detached from the company of recruits, which was designed for +the Second Infantry, and was ordered to join my proper company at +Fort Pierce. Colonel William Gates commanded the regiment, with +Lieutenant William Austine Brown as adjutant of the regiment. +Lieutenant Bragg commanded the post of St. Augustine with his own +company, E, and G (Garner's), then commanded by Lieutenant Judd. +In, a few days I embarked in the little steamer William Gaston down +the coast, stopping one day at New Smyrna, held by John R. Vinton's +company (B), with which was serving Lieutenant William H. Shover. + +In due season we arrived off the bar of Indian River and anchored. +A whale-boat came off with a crew of four men, steered by a +character of some note, known as the Pilot Ashlock. I transferred +self and baggage to this boat, and, with the mails, was carried +through the surf over the bar, into the mouth of Indian River +Inlet. It was then dark; we transferred to a smaller boat, and the +same crew pulled us up through a channel in the middle of Mangrove +Islands, the roosting-place of thousands of pelicans and birds that +rose in clouds and circled above our heads. The water below was +alive with fish, whose course through it could be seen by the +phosphoric wake; and Ashlock told me many a tale of the Indian war +then in progress, and of his adventures in hunting and fishing, +which he described as the best in the world. About two miles from +the bar, we emerged into the lagoon, a broad expanse of shallow +water that lies parallel with the coast, separated from it by a +narrow strip of sand, backed by a continuous series of islands and +promontories, covered with a dense growth of mangrove and +saw-palmetto. Pulling across this lagoon, in about three more +miles we approached the lights of Fort Pierce. Reaching a +small wharf, we landed, and were met by the officers of the +post, Lieutenants George Taylor and Edward J. Steptoe, and +Assistant-Surgeon James Simons. Taking the mail-bag, we walked up +a steep sand-bluff on which the fort was situated, and across the +parade-ground to the officers' quarters. These were six or seven +log-houses, thatched with palmetto-leaves, built on high posts, +with a porch in front, facing the water. The men's quarters were +also of logs forming the two sides of a rectangle, open toward the +water; the intervals and flanks were closed with log stockades. I +was assigned to one of these rooms, and at once began service with +my company, A, then commanded by Lieutenant Taylor. + +The season was hardly yet come for active operations against the +Indians, so that the officers were naturally attracted to Ashlock, +who was the best fisherman I ever saw. He soon initiated us into +the mysteries of shark-spearing, trolling for red-fish, and taking +the sheep's-head and mullet. These abounded so that we could at +any time catch an unlimited quantity at pleasure. The companies +also owned nets for catching green turtles. These nets had meshes +about a foot square, were set across channels in the lagoon, the +ends secured to stakes driven into the mad, the lower line sunk +with lead or stone weights and the upper line floated with cork. +We usually visited these nets twice a day, and found from one to +six green turtles entangled in the meshes. Disengaging them, they +were carried to pens, made with stakes stuck in the mud, where they +were fed with mangrove-leaves, and our cooks had at all times an +ample supply of the best of green turtles. They were so cheap and +common that the soldiers regarded it as an imposition when +compelled to eat green turtle steaks, instead of poor Florida beef, +or the usual barrelled mess-pork. I do not recall in my whole +experience a spot on earth where fish, oysters, and green turtles +so abound as at Fort Pierce, Florida. + +In November, Major Childs arrived with Lieutenant Van Vliet and a +detachment of recruits to fill our two companies, and preparations +were at once begun for active operations in the field. At that +time the Indians in the Peninsula of Florida were scattered, and +the war consisted in hunting up and securing the small fragments, +to be sent to join the others of their tribe of Seminoles already +established in the Indian Territory west of Arkansas. Our +expeditions were mostly made in boats in the lagoons extending from +the "Haul-over," near two hundred miles above the fort, down to +Jupiter Inlet, about fifty miles below, and in the many streams +which emptied therein. Many such expeditions were made during that +winter, with more or less success, in which we succeeded in picking +up small parties of men, women, and children. On one occasion, +near the "Haul-over," when I was not present, the expedition was +more successful. It struck a party of nearly fifty Indians, killed +several warriors, and captured others. In this expedition my +classmate, lieutenant Van Vliet, who was an excellent shot, killed +a warrior who was running at full speed among trees, and one of the +sergeants of our company (Broderick) was said to have dispatched +three warriors, and it was reported that he took the scalp of one +and brought it in to the fort as a trophy. Broderick was so elated +that, on reaching the post, he had to celebrate his victory by a +big drunk. + +There was at the time a poor, weakly soldier of our company whose +wife cooked for our mess. She was somewhat of a flirt, and rather +fond of admiration. Sergeant Broderick was attracted to her, and +hung around the mess-house more than the husband fancied; so he +reported the matter to Lieutenant Taylor, who reproved Broderick +for his behavior. A few days afterward the husband again appealed +to his commanding officer (Taylor), who exclaimed: "Haven't you got +a musket? Can't you defend your own family?" Very soon after a +shot was heard down by the mess-house, and it transpired that the +husband had actually shot Broderick, inflicting a wound which +proved mortal. The law and army regulations required that the man +should be sent to the nearest civil court, which was at St. +Augustine; accordingly, the prisoner and necessary witnesses were +sent up by the next monthly steamer. Among the latter were +lieutenant Taylor and the pilot Ashlock. + +After they had been gone about a month, the sentinel on the roof-top +of our quarters reported the smoke of a steamer approaching the bar, +and, as I was acting quartermaster, I took a boat and pulled down to +get the mail. I reached the log-but in which the pilots lived, and +saw them start with their boat across the bar, board the steamer, +and then return. Ashlock was at his old post at the steering-oar, +with two ladies, who soon came to the landing, having passed through +a very heavy surf, and I was presented to one as Mrs. Ashlock, and +the other as her sister, a very pretty little Minorcan girl of about +fourteen years of age. Mrs. Ashlock herself was probably eighteen +or twenty years old, and a very handsome woman. I was hurriedly +informed that the murder trial was in progress at St. Augustine; +that Ashlock had given his testimony, and had availed himself of the +chance to take a wife to share with him the solitude of his desolate +hut on the beach at Indian River. He had brought ashore his wife, +her sister, and their chests, with the mail, and had orders to +return immediately to the steamer (Gaston or Harney) to bring ashore +some soldiers belonging to another company, E (Braggs), which had +been ordered from St. Augustine to Fort Pierce. Ashlock left his +wife and her sister standing on the beach near the pilot-hut, and +started back with his whale-boat across the bar. I also took the +mail and started up to the fort, and had hardly reached the wharf +when I observed another boat following me. As soon as this reached +the wharf the men reported that Ashlock and all his crew, with the +exception of one man, had been drowned a few minutes after I had +left the beach. They said his surf-boat had reached the steamer, had +taken on board a load of soldiers, some eight or ten, and had +started back through the surf, when on the bar a heavy breaker upset +the boat, and all were lost except the boy who pulled the bow-oar, +who clung to the rope or painter, hauled himself to the upset boat, +held on, drifted with it outside the breakers, and was finally +beached near a mile down the coast. They reported also that the +steamer had got up anchor, run in as close to the bar as she could, +paused awhile, and then had started down the coast. + +I instantly took a fresh crew of soldiers and returned to the bar; +there sat poor Mrs. Ashlock on her chest of clothes, a weeping +widow, who had seen her husband perish amid sharks and waves; she +clung to the hope that the steamer had picked him up, but, strange +to say, he could not swim, although he had been employed on the +water all his life. + +Her sister was more demonstrative, and wailed as one lost to all +hope and life. She appealed to us all to do miracles to save the +struggling men in the waves, though two hours had already passed, +and to have gone out then among those heavy breakers, with an +inexperienced crew, would have been worse than suicide. All I +could do was to reorganize the guard at the beach, take the two +desolate females up to the fort, and give them the use of my own +quarters. Very soon their anguish was quieted, and they began to +look, for the return of their steamer with Ashlock and his rescued +crew. The next day I went again to the beach with Lieutenant Ord, +and we found that one or two bodies had been washed ashore, torn +all to pieces by the sharks, which literally swarmed the inlet at +every new tide. In a few days the weather moderated, and the +steamer returned from the south, but the surf was so high that she +anchored a mile off. I went out myself, in the whale or surf boat, +over that terrible bar with a crew of soldiers, boarded the +steamer, and learned that none other of Ashlock's crew except the +one before mentioned had been saved; but, on the contrary, the +captain of the steamer had sent one of his own boats to their +rescue, which was likewise upset in the surf, and, out of the three +men in her, one had drifted back outside the breakers, clinging to +the upturned boat, and was picked up. This sad and fatal +catastrophe made us all afraid of that bar, and in returning to the +shore I adopted the more prudent course of beaching the boat below +the inlet, which insured us a good ducking, but was attended with +less risk to life. + +I had to return to the fort and bear to Mrs. Ashlock the absolute +truth, that her husband was lost forever. + +Meantime her sister had entirely recovered her equilibrium, and +being the guest of the officers, who were extremely courteous to +her, she did not lament so loudly the calamity that saved them a +long life of banishment on the beach of Indian River. By the first +opportunity they were sent back to St. Augustine, the possessors of +all of Ashlock's worldly goods and effects, consisting of a good +rifle, several cast-nets, hand-lines, etc., etc., besides some +three hundred dollars in money, which was due him by the +quartermaster for his services as pilot. I afterward saw these +ladies at St. Augustine, and years afterward the younger one came +to Charleston, South Carolina, the wife of the somewhat famous +Captain Thistle, agent for the United States for live-oak in +Florida, who was noted as the first of the troublesome class of +inventors of modern artillery. He was the inventor of a gun that +"did not recoil at all," or "if anything it recoiled a little +forward." + +One day, in the summer of 1841, the sentinel on the housetop at +Fort Pierce called out, "Indians! Indians!" Everybody sprang to +his gun, the companies formed promptly on the parade-ground, and +soon were reported as approaching the post, from the pine-woods in +rear, four Indians on horseback. They rode straight up to the +gateway, dismounted, and came in. They were conducted by the +officer of the day to the commanding officer, Major Childs, who sat +on the porch in front of his own room. After the usual pause, one +of them, a black man named Joe, who spoke English, said they had +been sent in by Coacoochee (Wild Cat), one of the most noted of the +Seminole chiefs, to see the big chief of the post. He gradually +unwrapped a piece of paper, which was passed over to Major Childs, +who read it, and it was in the nature of a "Safe Guard" for "Wild +Cat" to come into Fort Pierce to receive provisions and assistance +while collecting his tribe, with the purpose of emigrating to their +reservation west of Arkansas. The paper was signed by General +Worth, who had succeeded General Taylor, at Tampa Bay, in command +of all the troops in Florida. Major Childs inquired, "Where is +Coacoochee?" and was answered, "Close by," when Joe explained that +he had been sent in by his chief to see if the paper was all right. +Major Childs said it was "all right," and that Coacoochee ought to +come in himself. Joe offered to go out and bring him in, when +Major Childs ordered me to take eight or ten mounted men and go out +to escort him in. Detailing ten men to saddle up, and taking Joe +and one Indian boy along on their own ponies, I started out under +their guidance. + +We continued to ride five or six miles, when I began to suspect +treachery, of which I had heard so much in former years, and had +been specially cautioned against by the older officers; but Joe +always answered, "Only a little way." At last we approached one +of those close hammocks, so well known in Florida, standing like an +island in the interminable pine-forest, with a pond of water near +it. On its edge I noticed a few Indians loitering, which Joe +pointed out as the place. Apprehensive of treachery, I halted the +guard, gave orders to the sergeant to watch me closely, and rode +forward alone with the two Indian guides. As we neared the +hammock, about a dozen Indian warriors rose up and waited for us. +When in their midst I inquired for the chief, Coacoochee. He +approached my horse and, slapping his breast, said, "Me +Coacoochee." He was a very handsome young Indian warrior, not more +than twenty-five years old, but in his then dress could hardly be +distinguished from the rest. I then explained to him, through Joe, +that I had been sent by my "chief" to escort him into the fort. He +wanted me to get down and "talk" I told him that I had no "talk" in +me, but that, on his reaching the post, he could talk as much as he +pleased with the "big chief," Major Childs. They all seemed to be +indifferent, and in no hurry; and I noticed that all their guns +were leaning against a tree. I beckoned to the sergeant, who +advanced rapidly with his escort, and told him to secure the +rifles, which he proceeded to do. Coacoochee pretended to be very +angry, but I explained to him that his warriors were tired and mine +were not, and that the soldiers would carry the guns on their +horses. I told him I would provide him a horse to ride, and the +sooner he was ready the better for all. He then stripped, washed +himself in the pond, and began to dress in all his Indian finery, +which consisted of buckskin leggins, moccasins, and several shirts. +He then began to put on vests, one after another, and one of them +had the marks of a bullet, just above the pocket, with the stain of +blood. In the pocket was a one-dollar Tallahassee Bank note, and +the rascal had the impudence to ask me to give him silver coin for +that dollar. He had evidently killed the wearer, and was +disappointed because the pocket contained a paper dollar instead of +one in silver. In due time he was dressed with turban and +ostrich-feathers, and mounted the horse reserved for him, and thus +we rode back together to Fort Pierce. Major Childs and all the +officers received him on the porch, and there we had a regular +"talk." Coacoochee "was tired of the war." "His people were +scattered and it would take a 'moon' to collect them for +emigration," and he "wanted rations for that time," etc., etc. + +All this was agreed to, and a month was allowed for him to get +ready with his whole band (numbering some one hundred and fifty or +one hundred and sixty) to migrate. The "talk" then ceased, and +Coacoochee and his envoys proceeded to get regularly drunk, which +was easily done by the agency of commissary whiskey. They staid at +Fort Pierce daring the night, and the next day departed. Several +times during the month there came into the post two or more of +these same Indians, always to beg for something to eat or drink, +and after a full month Coacoochee and about twenty of his warriors +came in with several ponies, but with none of their women or +children. Major Childs had not from the beginning the least faith +in his sincerity; had made up his mind to seize the whole party and +compel them to emigrate. He arranged for the usual council, and +instructed Lieutenant Taylor to invite Coacoochee and his uncle +(who was held to be a principal chief) to his room to take some +good brandy, instead of the common commissary whiskey. At a signal +agreed on I was to go to the quarters of Company A, to dispatch the +first-sergeant and another man to Lieutenant Taylor's room, there +to seize the two chiefs and secure them; and with the company I was +to enter Major Childs's room and secure the remainder of the party. +Meantime Lieutenant Van Vliet was ordered to go to the quarters of +his company, F, and at the same signal to march rapidly to the rear +of the officers' quarters, so as to catch any who might attempt to +escape by the open windows to the rear. + +All resulted exactly as prearranged, and in a few minutes the whole +party was in irons. At first they claimed that we had acted +treacherously, but very soon they admitted that for a month +Coacoochee had been quietly removing his women and children toward +Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades; and that this visit to our post +was to have been their last. It so happened that almost at the +instant of our seizing these Indians a vessel arrived off the bar +with reenforcements from St. Augustine. These were brought up to +Fort Pierce, and we marched that night and next day rapidly, some +fifty miles, to Lake Okeechobee, in hopes to capture the balance of +the tribe, especially the families, but they had taken the alarm +and escaped. Coacoochee and his warriors were sent by Major Childs +in a schooner to New Orleans en route to their reservation, but +General Worth recalled them to Tampa Bay, and by sending out +Coacoochee himself the women and children came in voluntarily, and +then all were shipped to their destination. This was a heavy loss +to the Seminoles, but there still remained in the Peninsula a few +hundred warriors with their families scattered into very small +parcels, who were concealed in the most inaccessible hammocks and +swamps. These had no difficulty in finding plenty of food anywhere +and everywhere. Deer and wild turkey were abundant, and as for +fish there was no end to them. Indeed, Florida was the Indian's +paradise, was of little value to us, and it was a great pity to +remove the Seminoles at all, for we could have collected there all +the Choctaws, Creeks, Cherokees, and Chickasaws, in addition to the +Seminoles. They would have thrived in the Peninsula, whereas they +now occupy lands that are very valuable, which are coveted by their +white neighbors on all sides, while the Peninsula, of Florida still +remains with a population less than should make a good State. + +During that and preceding years General W. S. Harney had penetrated +and crossed through the Everglades, capturing and hanging Chekika +and his band, and had brought in many prisoners, who were also +shipped West. We at Fort Pierce made several other excursions to +Jupiter, Lake Worth, Lauderdale, and into the Everglades, picking +up here and there a family, so that it was absurd any longer to +call it a "war." These excursions, however, possessed to us a +peculiar charm, for the fragrance of the air, the abundance of game +and fish, and just enough of adventure, gave to life a relish. I +had just returned to Lauderdale from one of these scouts with +Lieutenants Rankin, Ord, George H. Thomas, Field, Van Vliet, and +others, when I received notice of my promotion to be first +lieutenant of Company G, which occurred November 30, 1841, and I +was ordered to return to Fort Pierce, turn over the public property +for which I was accountable to Lieutenant H. S. Burton, and then to +join my new company at St. Augustine. + +I reached St. Augustine before Christmas, and was assigned to +command a detachment of twenty men stationed at Picolata, on the +St. John's River, eighteen miles distant. At St. Augustine were +still the headquarters of the regiment, Colonel William Gates, with +Company E, Lieutenant Bragg, and Company G, Lieutenant H. B. Judd. +The only buildings at Picolata were the one occupied by my +detachment, which had been built for a hospital, and the dwelling +of a family named Williams, with whom I boarded. On the other +hand, St. Augustine had many pleasant families, among whom was +prominent that of United States Judge Bronson. I was half my time +in St. Augustine or on the road, and remember the old place with +pleasure. In February we received orders transferring the whole +regiment to the Gulf posts, and our company, G, was ordered to +escort Colonel Gates and his family across to the Suwanee River, en +route for Pensacola. The company, with the colonel and his family, +reached Picolata (where my detachment joined), and we embarked in a +steamboat for Pilatka. Here Lieutenant Judd discovered that he had +forgotten something and had to return to St. Augustine, so +that I commanded the company on the march, having with me +Second-Lieutenant George B. Ayres. Our first march was to Fort +Russell, then Micanopy, Wacahoota, and Wacasassee, all which posts +were garrisoned by the Second or Seventh Infantry. At Wacasassee we +met General Worth and his staff, en route for Pilatka. Lieutenant +Judd overtook us about the Suwanee, where we embarked on a small +boat for Cedar Keys, and there took a larger one for Pensacola, +where the colonel and his family landed, and our company proceeded +on in the same vessel to our post--Fort Morgan, Mobile Point. + +This fort had not been occupied by troops for many years, was very +dirty, and we found little or no stores there. Major Ogden, of the +engineers, occupied a house outside the fort. I was quartermaster +and commissary, and, taking advantage of one of the engineer +schooners engaged in bringing materials for the fort, I went up to +Mobile city, and, through the agency of Messrs. Deshon, Taylor, +and Myers, merchants, procured all essentials for the troops, and +returned to the post. In the course of a week or ten days arrived +another company, H, commanded by Lieutenant James Ketchum, with +Lieutenants Rankin and Sewall L. Fish, and an assistant surgeon +(Wells.) Ketchum became the commanding officer, and Lieutenant +Rankin quartermaster. We proceeded to put the post in as good +order as possible; had regular guard-mounting and parades, but +little drill. We found magnificent fishing with the seine on the +outer beach, and sometimes in a single haul we would take ten or +fifteen barrels of the best kind of fish, embracing pompinos, +red-fish, snappers, etc. + +We remained there till June, when the regiment was ordered to +exchange from the Gulf posts to those on the Atlantic, extending +from Savannah to North Carolina. The brig Wetumpka was chartered, +and our company (G) embarked and sailed to Pensacola, where we took +on board another company (D) (Burke's), commanded by Lieutenant H. +S. Burton, with Colonel Gates, the regimental headquarters, and +some families. From Pensacola we sailed for Charleston, South +Carolina. The weather was hot, the winds light, and we made a long +passage but at last reached Charleston Harbor, disembarked, and +took post in Fort Moultrie. + +Soon after two other companies arrived, Bragg's (B) and Keyes's +(K). The two former companies were already quartered inside of +Fort Moultrie, and these latter were placed in gun-sheds, outside, +which were altered into barracks. We remained at Fort Moultrie +nearly five years, until the Mexican War scattered us forever. Our +life there was of strict garrison duty, with plenty of leisure for +hunting and social entertainments. We soon formed many and most +pleasant acquaintances in the city of Charleston; and it so +happened that many of the families resided at Sullivan's Island in +the summer season, where we could reciprocate the hospitalities +extended to us in the winter. + +During the summer of 1843, having been continuously on duty for +three years, I applied for and received a leave of absence for +three months, which I spent mostly in Ohio. In November I started +to return to my post at Charleston by way of New Orleans; took the +stage to Chillicothe, Ohio, November 16th, having Henry Stanberry, +Esq., and wife, as travelling companions, We continued by stage. +next day to Portsmouth, Ohio. + +At Portsmouth Mr. Stanberry took a boat up the river, and I one +down to Cincinnati. There I found my brothers Lampson and Hoyt +employed in the "Gazette" printing-office, and spent much time with +them and Charles Anderson, Esq., visiting his brother Larz, Mr. +Longworth, some of his artist friends, and especially Miss Sallie +Carneal, then quite a belle, and noted for her fine voice, + +On the 20th I took passage on the steamboat Manhattan for St. +Louis; reached Louisville, where Dr. Conrad, of the army, joined +me, and in the Manhattan we continued on to St. Louis, with a mixed +crowd. We reached the Mississippi at Cairo the 23d, and St. Louis, +Friday, November 24, 1843. At St. Louis we called on Colonel S. W. +Kearney and Major Cooper, his adjutant-general, and found my +classmate, Lieutenant McNutt, of the ordnance, stationed at the +arsenal; also Mr. Deas, an artist, and Pacificus Ord, who was +studying law. I spent a week at St. Louis, visiting the arsenal, +Jefferson Barracks, and most places of interest, and then became +impressed with its great future. It then contained about forty +thousand people, and my notes describe thirty-six good steamboats +receiving and discharging cargo at the levee. + +I took passage December 4th in the steamer John Aull for New +Orleans. As we passed Cairo the snow was falling, and the country +was wintery and devoid of verdure. Gradually, however, as we +proceeded south, the green color came; grass and trees showed the +change of latitude, and when in the course of a week we had reached +New Orleans, the roses were in full bloom, the sugar-cane just +ripe, and a tropical air prevalent. We reached New Orleans +December 11, 1843, where I spent about a week visiting the +barracks, then occupied by the Seventh Infantry; the theatres, +hotels, and all the usual places of interest of that day. + +On the 16th of December I continued on to Mobile in the steamer +Fashion by way of Lake Pontchartrain; saw there most of my personal +friends, Mr. and Mrs. Bull, Judge Bragg and his brother Dunbar, +Deshon, Taylor, and Myers, etc., and on the 19th of December took +passage in the steamboat Bourbon for Montgomery, Alabama, by way of +the Alabama River. We reached Montgomery at noon, December 23d, +and took cars at 1 p. m. for Franklin, forty miles, which we reached +at 7 p. m., thence stages for Griffin, Georgia, via La Grange and +Greenville. This took the whole night of the 23d and the day of +the 24th. At Griffin we took cars for Macon, and thence to +Savannah, which we reached Christmas-night, finding Lieutenants +Ridgley and Ketchum at tea, where we were soon joined by Rankin and +Beckwith. + +On the 26th I took the boat for Charleston, reaching my post, and +reported for duty Wednesday morning, December 27, 1843. + +I had hardly got back to my post when, on the 21st of January, +1844, I received from Lieutenant R. P. Hammond, at Marietta, +Georgia, an intimation that Colonel Churchill, Inspector-General of +the Army, had applied for me to assist him in taking depositions in +upper Georgia and Alabama; concerning certain losses by volunteers +in Florida of horses and equipments by reason of the failure of the +United States to provide sufficient forage, and for which Congress +had made an appropriation. On the 4th of February the order came +from the Adjutant-General in Washington for me to proceed to +Marietta, Georgia, and report to Inspector-General Churchill. I +was delayed till the 14th of February by reason of being on a +court-martial, when I was duly relieved and started by rail to +Augusta, Georgia, and as far as Madison, where I took the +mail-coach, reaching Marietta on the 17th. There I reported for +duty to Colonel Churchill, who was already engaged on his work, +assisted by Lieutenant R. P. Hammond, Third Artillery, and a +citizen named Stockton. The colonel had his family with him, +consisting of Mrs. Churchill, Mary, now Mrs. Professor Baird, and +Charles Churchill, then a boy of about fifteen years of age. + +We all lived in a tavern, and had an office convenient. The duty +consisted in taking individual depositions of the officers and men +who had composed two regiments and a battalion of mounted +volunteers that had served in Florida. An oath was administered to +each man by Colonel Churchill, who then turned the claimant over to +one of us to take down and record his deposition according to +certain forms, which enabled them to be consolidated and tabulated. +We remained in Marietta about six weeks, during which time I +repeatedly rode to Kenesaw Mountain, and over the very ground where +afterward, in 1864, we had some hard battles. + +After closing our business at Marietta the colonel ordered us to +transfer our operations to Bellefonte, Alabama. As he proposed to +take his family and party by the stage, Hammond lent me his +riding-horse, which I rode to Allatoona and the Etowah River. +Hearing of certain large Indian mounds near the way, I turned to +one side to visit them, stopping a couple of days with Colonel +Lewis Tumlin, on whose plantation these mounds were. We struck up +such an acquaintance that we corresponded for some years, and as I +passed his plantation during the war, in 1864, I inquired for him, +but he was not at home. From Tumlin's I rode to Rome, and by way +of Wills Valley over Sand Mountain and the Raccoon Range to the +Tennessee River at Bellefonte, Alabama. We all assembled there in +March, and continued our work for nearly two months, when, having +completed the business, Colonel Churchill, with his family, went +North by way of Nashville; Hammond, Stockton, and I returning South +on horseback, by Rome, Allatoona, Marietta, Atlanta, and Madison, +Georgia. Stockton stopped at Marietta, where he resided. Hammond +took the cars at Madison, and I rode alone to Augusta, Georgia, +where I left the horse and returned to Charleston and Fort Moultrie +by rail. + +Thus by a mere accident I was enabled to traverse on horseback the +very ground where in after-years I had to conduct vast armies and +fight great battles. That the knowledge thus acquired was of +infinite use to me, and consequently to the Government, I have +always felt and stated. + +During the autumn of 1844, a difficulty arose among the officers of +Company B, Third Artillery (John R. Yinton's), garrisoning Augusta +Arsenal, and I was sent up from Fort Moultrie as a sort of +peace-maker. After staying there some months, certain transfers of +officers were made, which reconciled the difficulty, and I returned +to my post, Fort Moultrie. During that winter, 1844-'45, I was +visiting at the plantation of Mr. Poyas, on the east branch of the +Cooper, about fifty miles from Fort Moultrie, hunting deer with his +son James, and Lieutenant John F. Reynolds, Third Artillery. We +had taken our stands, and a deer came out of the swamp near that of +Mr. James Poyas, who fired, broke the leg of the deer, which turned +back into the swamp and came out again above mine. I could follow +his course by the cry of the hounds, which were in close pursuit. +Hastily mounting my horse, I struck across the pine-woods to head +the deer off, and when at full career my horse leaped a fallen log +and his fore-foot caught one of those hard, unyielding pineknots +that brought him with violence to the ground. I got up as quick as +possible, and found my right arm out of place at the shoulder, +caused by the weight of the double-barrelled gun. + +Seeing Reynolds at some distance, I called out lustily and brought +him to me. He soon mended the bridle and saddle, which had been +broken by the fall, helped me on my horse, and we followed the +coarse of the hounds. At first my arm did not pain me much, but it +soon began to ache so that it was almost unendurable. In about +three miles we came to a negro hut, where I got off and rested till +Reynolds could overtake Poyas and bring him back. They came at +last, but by that time the arm was so swollen and painful that I +could not ride. They rigged up an old gig belonging to the negro, +in which I was carried six miles to the plantation of Mr. Poyas, +Sr. A neighboring physician was sent for, who tried the usual +methods of setting the arm, but without success; each time making +the operation more painful. At last he sent off, got a set of +double pulleys and cords, with which he succeeded in extending the +muscles and in getting the bone into place. I then returned to +Fort Moultrie, but being disabled, applied for a short leave and +went North. + +I started January 25,1845; went to Washington, Baltimore, and +Lancaster, Ohio, whence I went to Mansfield, and thence back by +Newark to Wheeling, Cumberland, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New +York, whence I sailed back for Charleston on the ship Sullivan, +reaching Fort Moultrie March 9, 1845. + +About that time (March 1, 1845) Congress had, by a joint +resolution, provided for the annexation of Texas, then an +independent Republic, subject to certain conditions requiring the +acceptance of the Republic of Texas to be final and conclusive. We +all expected war as a matter of course. At that time General +Zachary Taylor had assembled a couple of regiments of infantry and +one of dragoons at Fort Jessup, Louisiana, and had orders to extend +military protection to Texas against the Indians, or a "foreign +enemy," the moment the terms of annexation were accepted. He +received notice of such acceptance July 7th, and forthwith +proceeded to remove his troops to Corpus Christi, Texas, where, +during the summer and fall of 1845, was assembled that force with +which, in the spring of 1846, was begun the Mexican War. + +Some time during that summer came to Fort Moultrie orders for +sending Company E, Third Artillery, Lieutenant Bragg, to New +Orleans, there to receive a battery of field-guns, and thence to +the camp of General Taylor at Corpus Christi. This was the first +company of our regiment sent to the seat of war, and it embarked on +the brig Hayne. This was the only company that left Fort Moultrie +till after I was detached for recruiting service on the 1st of May, +1846. + +Inasmuch as Charleston afterward became famous, as the spot where +began our civil war, a general description of it, as it was in +1846, will not be out of place. + +The city lies on a long peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper +Rivers--a low, level peninsula, of sand. Meeting Street is its +Broadway, with King Street, next west and parallel, the street of +shops and small stores. These streets are crossed at right angles +by many others, of which Broad Street was the principal; and the +intersection of Meeting and Broad was the heart of the city, marked +by the Guard-House and St. Michael's Episcopal Church. The +Custom-House, Post-Office, etc., were at the foot of Broad Street, +near the wharves of the Cooper River front. At the extremity of +the peninsula was a drive, open to the bay, and faced by some of +the handsomest houses of the city, called the "Battery." Looking +down the bay on the right, was James Island, an irregular triangle +of about seven miles, the whole island in cultivation with +sea-island cotton. At the lower end was Fort Johnson, then simply +the station of Captain Bowman, United States Engineers, engaged in +building Fort Sumter. This fort (Sumter) was erected on an +artificial island nearly in mid-channel, made by dumping rocks, +mostly brought as ballast in cotton-ships from the North. As the +rock reached the surface it was levelled, and made the foundation +of Fort Sumter. In 1846 this fort was barely above the water. +Still farther out beyond James Island, and separated from it by a +wide space of salt marsh with crooked channels, was Morris Island, +composed of the sand-dunes thrown up by the wind and the sea, +backed with the salt marsh. On this was the lighthouse, but no +people. + +On the left, looking down the bay from the Battery of Charleston, +was, first, Castle Pinckney, a round brick fort, of two tiers of +guns, one in embrasure, the other in barbette, built on a marsh +island, which was not garrisoned. Farther down the bay a point of +the mainland reached the bay, where there was a group of houses, +called Mount Pleasant; and at the extremity of the bay, distant six +miles, was Sullivan's Island, presenting a smooth sand-beach to the +sea, with the line of sand-hills or dunes thrown up by the waves +and winds, and the usual backing of marsh and crooked salt-water +channels. + +At the shoulder of this island was Fort Moultrie, an irregular +fort, without ditch or counterscarp, with a brick scarp wall about +twelve feet high, which could be scaled anywhere, and this was +surmounted by an earth parapet capable of mounting about forty +twenty-four and thirty-two pounder smooth-bore iron guns. Inside +the fort were three two-story brick barracks, sufficient to quarter +the officers and men of two companies of artillery. + +At sea was the usual "bar," changing slightly from year to year, +but generally the main ship-channel came from the south, parallel +to Morris Island, till it was well up to Fort Moultrie, where it +curved, passing close to Fort Sumter and up to the wharves of the +city, which were built mostly along the Cooper River front. + +Charleston was then a proud, aristocratic city, and assumed a +leadership in the public opinion of the South far out of proportion +to her population, wealth, or commerce. On more than one occasion +previously, the inhabitants had almost inaugurated civil war, by +their assertion and professed belief that each State had, in the +original compact of government, reserved to itself the right to +withdraw from the Union at its own option, whenever the people +supposed they had sufficient cause. We used to discuss these +things at our own mess-tables, vehemently and sometimes quite +angrily; but I am sure that I never feared it would go further than +it had already gone in the winter of 1832-'33, when the attempt at +"nullification" was promptly suppressed by President Jackson's +famous declaration, "The Union must and shall be preserved!" and by +the judicious management of General Scott. + +Still, civil war was to be; and, now that it has come and gone, we +can rest secure in the knowledge that as the chief cause, slavery, +has been eradicated forever, it is not likely to come again. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +EARLY RECOLLECTIONS of CALIFORNIA. + +1846-1848. + + +In the spring of 1846 I was a first lieutenant of Company C,1, +Third Artillery, stationed at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina. The +company was commanded by Captain Robert Anderson; Henry B. Judd was +the senior first-lieutenant, and I was the junior first-lieutenant, +and George B. Ayres the second-lieutenant. Colonel William Gates +commanded the post and regiment, with First-Lieutenant William +Austine as his adjutant. Two other companies were at the post, +viz., Martin Burke's and E. D. Keyes's, and among the officers were +T. W. Sherman, Morris Miller, H. B. Field, William Churchill, +Joseph Stewart, and Surgeon McLaren. + +The country now known as Texas had been recently acquired, and war +with Mexico was threatening. One of our companies (Bragg's), with +George H. Thomas, John F. Reynolds, and Frank Thomas, had gone the +year previous and was at that time with General Taylor's army at +Corpus Christi, Texas. + +In that year (1846) I received the regular detail for recruiting +service, with orders to report to the general superintendent at +Governor's Island, New York; and accordingly left Fort Moultrie in +the latter part of April, and reported to the superintendent, +Colonel R. B. Mason, First Dragoons, at New York, on the 1st day of +May. I was assigned to the Pittsburg rendezvous, whither I +proceeded and relieved Lieutenant Scott. Early in May I took up my +quarters at the St. Charles Hotel, and entered upon the discharge +of my duties. There was a regular recruiting-station already +established, with a sergeant, corporal, and two or three men, with +a citizen physician, Dr. McDowell, to examine the recruits. The +threatening war with Mexico made a demand for recruits, and I +received authority to open another sub-rendezvous at Zanesville, +Ohio, whither I took the sergeant and established him. This was +very handy to me, as my home was at Lancaster, Ohio, only +thirty-six miles off, so that I was thus enabled to visit my +friends there quite often. + +In the latter part of May, when at Wheeling, Virginia, on my way +back from Zanesville to Pittsburg, I heard the first news of the +battle of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, which occurred on the +8th and 9th of May, and, in common with everybody else, felt +intensely excited. That I should be on recruiting service, when my +comrades were actually fighting, was intolerable, and I hurried +on to my post, Pittsburg. At that time the railroad did not +extend west of the Alleghanies, and all journeys were made by +stage-coaches. In this instance I traveled from Zanesville to +Wheeling, thence to Washington (Pennsylvania), and thence to +Pittsburg by stage-coach. On reaching Pittsburg I found many +private letters; one from Ord, then a first-lieutenant in Company +F, Third Artillery, at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, saying that his +company had just received orders for California, and asking me to +apply for it. Without committing myself to that project, I wrote +to the Adjutant-General, R. Jones, at Washington, D. C., asking him +to consider me as an applicant for any active service, and saying +that I would willingly forego the recruiting detail, which I well +knew plenty of others would jump at. Impatient to approach the +scene of active operations, without authority (and I suppose +wrongfully), I left my corporal in charge of the rendezvous, and +took all the recruits I had made, about twenty-five, in a steamboat +to Cincinnati, and turned them over to Major N. C. McCrea, +commanding at Newport Barracks. I then reported in Cincinnati, to +the superintendent of the Western recruiting service, Colonel +Fanning, an old officer with one arm, who inquired by what +authority I had come away from my post. I argued that I took it +for granted he wanted all the recruits he could get to forward to +the army at Brownsville, Texas; and did not know but that he might +want me to go along. Instead of appreciating my volunteer zeal, he +cursed and swore at me for leaving my post without orders, and told +me to go back to Pittsburg. I then asked for an order that would +entitle me to transportation back, which at first he emphatically +refused, but at last he gave the order, and I returned to +Pittsburg, all the way by stage, stopping again at Lancaster, where +I attended the wedding of my schoolmate Mike Effinger, and also +visited my sub-rendezvous at Zanesville. R. S. Ewell, of my class, +arrived to open a cavalry rendezvous, but, finding my depot there, +he went on to Columbus, Ohio. Tom Jordan afterward was ordered +to Zanesville, to take charge of that rendezvous, under +the general War Department orders increasing the number of +recruiting-stations. I reached Pittsburg late in June, and found +the order relieving me from recruiting service, and detailing my +classmate H. B. Field to my place. I was assigned to Company F, +then under orders for California. By private letters from +Lieutenant Ord, I heard that the company had already started from +Fort McHenry for Governor's Island, New York Harbor, to take passage +for California in a naval transport. I worked all that night, made +up my accounts current, and turned over the balance of cash to the +citizen physician, Dr. McDowell; and also closed my clothing and +property returns, leaving blank receipts with the same gentleman for +Field's signature, when he should get there, to be forwarded to the +Department at Washington, and the duplicates to me. These I did not +receive for more than a year. I remember that I got my orders about +8 p. m. one night, and took passage in the boat for Brownsville, the +next morning traveled by stage from Brownsville to Cumberland, +Maryland, and thence by cars to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New +York, in a great hurry lest the ship might sail without me. I found +Company F at Governor's Island, Captain C. Q. Tompkins in command, +Lieutenant E. O. C. Ord senior first-lieutenant, myself +junior first-lieutenant, Lucien Loeser and Charles Minor the +second-lieutenants. + +The company had been filled up to one hundred privates, twelve +non-commissioned officers, and one ordnance sergeant (Layton), +making one hundred and thirteen enlisted men and five officers. +Dr. James L. Ord had been employed as acting assistant surgeon to +accompany the expedition, and Lieutenant H. W. Halleck, of the +engineers, was also to go along. The United States store-ship +Lexington was then preparing at the Navy-Yard, Brooklyn, to carry +us around Cape Horn to California. She was receiving on board the +necessary stores for the long voyage, and for service after our +arrival there. Lieutenant-Commander Theodorus Bailey was in +command of the vessel, Lieutenant William H. Macomb executive +officer, and Passed-Midshipmen Muse, Spotts, and J. W. A. +Nicholson, were the watch-officers; Wilson purser, and Abernethy +surgeon. The latter was caterer of the mess, and we all made an +advance of cash for him to lay in the necessary mess-stores. To +enable us to prepare for so long a voyage and for an indefinite +sojourn in that far-off country, the War Department had authorized +us to draw six months' pay in advance, which sum of money we +invested in surplus clothing and such other things as seemed to us +necessary. At last the ship was ready, and was towed down abreast +of Fort Columbus, where we were conveyed on board, and on the 14th +of July, 1846, we were towed to sea by a steam-tug, and cast off: +Colonel R. B. Mason, still superintendent of the general recruiting +service, accompanied us down the bay and out to sea, returning with +the tug. A few other friends were of the party, but at last they +left us, and we were alone upon the sea, and the sailors were busy +with the sails and ropes. The Lexington was an old ship, changed +from a sloop-of-war to a store-ship, with an after-cabin, a +"ward-room," and "between-decks." In the cabin were Captains +Bailey and Tompkins, with whom messed the purser, Wilson. In the +ward-room were all the other officers, two in each state-room; and +Minor, being an extra lieutenant, had to sleep in a hammock slung +in the ward-room. Ord and I roomed together; Halleck and Loeser +and the others were scattered about. The men were arranged in +bunks "between-decks," one set along the sides of the ship, and +another, double tier, amidships. The crew were slung in hammocks +well forward. Of these there were about fifty. We at once +subdivided the company into four squads, under the four lieutenants +of the company, and arranged with the naval officers that our men +should serve on deck by squads, after the manner of their watches; +that the sailors should do all the work aloft, and the soldiers on +deck. + +On fair days we drilled our men at the manual, and generally kept +them employed as much as possible, giving great attention to the +police and cleanliness of their dress and bunks; and so successful +were we in this, that, though the voyage lasted nearly two hundred +days, every man was able to leave the ship and march up the hill to +the fort at Monterey, California, carrying his own knapsack and +equipments. + +The voyage from New York to Rio Janeiro was without accident or any +thing to vary the usual monotony. We soon settled down to the +humdrum of a long voyage, reading some, not much; playing games, +but never gambling; and chiefly engaged in eating our meals +regularly. In crossing the equator we had the usual visit of +Neptune and his wife, who, with a large razor and a bucket of +soapsuds, came over the sides and shaved some of the greenhorns; +but naval etiquette exempted the officers, and Neptune was not +permitted to come aft of the mizzen-mast. At last, after sixty +days of absolute monotony, the island of Raza, off Rio Janeiro, was +descried, and we slowly entered the harbor, passing a fort on our +right hand, from which came a hail, in the Portuguese language, +from a huge speaking-trumpet, and our officer of the deck answered +back in gibberish, according to a well-understood custom of the +place. Sugar-loaf Mountain, on the south of the entrance, is very +remarkable and well named; is almost conical, with a slight lean. +The man-of-war anchorage is about five miles inside the heads, +directly in front of the city of Rio Janeiro. Words will not +describe the beauty of this perfect harbor, nor the delightful +feeling after a long voyage of its fragrant airs, and the entire +contrast between all things there and what we had left in New York. + +We found the United Staten frigate Columbia anchored there, and +after the Lexington was properly moored, nearly all the officers +went on shore for sight-seeing and enjoyment. We landed at a wharf +opposite which was a famous French restaurant, Farroux, and after +ordering supper we all proceeded to the Rua da Ouvador, where most +of the shops were, especially those for making feather flowers, as +much to see the pretty girls as the flowers which they so +skillfully made; thence we went to the theatre, where, besides some +opera, we witnessed the audience and saw the Emperor Dom Pedro, and +his Empress, the daughter of the King of Sicily. After the +theatre, we went back to the restaurant, where we had an excellent +supper, with fruits of every variety and excellence, such as we had +never seen before, or even knew the names of. Supper being over, +we called for the bill, and it was rendered in French, with +Brazilian currency. It footed up some twenty-six thousand reis. +The figures alarmed us, so we all put on the waiters' plate various +coins in gold, which he took to the counter and returned the +change, making the total about sixteen dollars. The millreis is +about a dollar, but being a paper-money was at a discount, so as +only to be worth about fifty-six cents in coin. + +The Lexington remained in Rio about a week, during which we visited +the Palace, a few miles in the country, also the Botanic Gardens, a +place of infinite interest, with its specimens of tropical fruits, +spices; etc., etc., and indeed every place of note. The thing I +best recall is a visit Halleck and I made to the Corcovado, a high +mountain whence the water is conveyed for the supply of the city. +We started to take a walk, and passed along the aqueduct, which +approaches the city by a aeries of arches; thence up the point of +the hill to a place known as the Madre, or fountain, to which all +the water that drips from the leaves is conducted by tile gutters, +and is carried to the city by an open stone aqueduct. + +Here we found Mr. Henry A. Wise, of Virginia, the United States +minister to Brazil, and a Dr. Garnett, United States Navy, his +intended son-in-law. We had a very interesting conversation, in +which Mr. Wise enlarged on the fact that Rio was supplied from the +"dews of heaven," for in the dry season the water comes from the +mists and fogs which hang around the Corcovado, drips from the +leaves of the trees, and is conducted to the Madre fountain by +miles of tile gutters. Halleck and I continued our ascent of the +mountain, catching from points of the way magnificent views of the +scenery round about Rio Janeiro. We reached near the summit what +was called the emperor's coffee-plantation, where we saw +coffee-berries in their various stages, and the scaffolds on which +the berries were dried before being cleaned. The coffee-tree +reminded me of the red haw-tree of Ohio, and the berries were +somewhat like those of the same tree, two grains of coffee being +inclosed in one berry. These were dried and cleaned of the husk by +hand or by machinery. A short, steep ascent from this place +carried us to the summit, from which is beheld one of the most +picturesque views on earth. The Organ Mountains to the west and +north, the ocean to the east, the city of Rio with its red-tiled +houses at our feet, and the entire harbor like a map spread out, +with innumerable bright valleys, make up a landscape that cannot be +described by mere words. This spot is universally visited by +strangers, and has often been described. After enjoying it +immeasurably, we returned to the city by another route, tired but +amply repaid by our long walk. + +In due time all had been done that was requisite, and the Lexington +put to sea and resumed her voyage. In October we approached Cape +Horn, the first land descried was Staten Island, white with snow, +and the ship seemed to be aiming for the channel to its west, +straits of Le Maire, but her course was changed and we passed +around to the east. In time we saw Cape Horn; an island rounded +like an oven, after which it takes its name (Ornos) oven. Here we +experienced very rough weather, buffeting about under storm +stay-sails, and spending nearly a month before the wind favored our +passage and enabled the course of the ship to be changed for +Valparaiso. One day we sailed parallel with a French sloop-of-war, +and it was sublime to watch the two ships rising and falling in +those long deep swells of the ocean. All the time we were followed +by the usual large flocks of Cape-pigeons and albatrosses of every +color. The former resembled the common barn-pigeon exactly, but +are in fact gulls of beautiful and varied colors, mostly +dove-color. We caught many with fishing-lines baited with pork. +We also took in the same way many albatrosses. The white ones are +very large, and their down is equal to that of the swan. At last +Cape Horn and its swelling seas were left behind, and we reached +Valparaiso in about sixty days from Rio. We anchored in the open +roadstead, and spent there about ten days, visiting all the usual +places of interest, its foretop, main-top, mizzen-top, etc. +Halleck and Ord went up to Santiago, the capital of Chili, some +sixty miles inland, but I did not go. Valparaiso did not impress +me favorably at all. Seen from the sea, it looked like a long +string of houses along the narrow beach, surmounted with red banks +of earth, with little verdure, and no trees at all. Northward the +space widened out somewhat, and gave room for a plaza, but the mass +of houses in that quarter were poor. We were there in November, +corresponding to our early spring, and we enjoyed the large +strawberries which abounded. The Independence frigate, Commodore +Shubrick, came in while we were there, having overtaken us, bound +also for California. We met there also the sloop-of-war levant, +from California, and from the officers heard of many of the events +that had transpired about the time the navy, under Commodore Sloat, +had taken possession of the country. + +All the necessary supplies being renewed in Valparaiso, the voyage +was resumed. For nearly forty days we had uninterrupted favorable +winds, being in the "trades," and, having settled down to sailor +habits, time passed without notice. We had brought with us all the +books we could find in New York about California, and had read them +over and over again: Wilkes's "Exploring Expedition;" Dana's "Two +Years before the Mast;" and Forbes's "Account of the Missions." It +was generally understood we were bound for Monterey, then the +capital of Upper California. We knew, of course, that General +Kearney was enroute for the same country overland; that Fremont was +therewith his exploring party; that the navy had already taken +possession, and that a regiment of volunteers, Stevenson's, was +to follow us from New York; but nevertheless we were impatient to +reach our destination. About the middle of January the ship began +to approach the California coast, of which the captain was duly +cautious, because the English and Spanish charts differed some +fifteen miles in the longitude, and on all the charts a current of +two miles an hour was indicated northward along the coast. At last +land was made one morning, and here occurred one of those accidents +so provoking after a long and tedious voyage. Macomb, the master +and regular navigator, had made the correct observations, but +Nicholson during the night, by an observation on the north star, +put the ship some twenty miles farther south than was the case by +the regular reckoning, so that Captain Bailey gave directions to +alter the course of the ship more to the north, and to follow the +coast up, and to keep a good lookout for Point Pinos that marks the +location of Monterey Bay. The usual north wind slackened, so that +when noon allowed Macomb to get a good observation, it was found +that we were north of Ano Nuevo, the northern headland of Monterey +Bay. The ship was put about, but little by little arose one of +those southeast storms so common on the coast in winter, and we +buffeted about for several days, cursing that unfortunate +observation on the north star, for, on first sighting the coast, +had we turned for Monterey, instead of away to the north, we would +have been snugly anchored before the storm. But the southeaster +abated, and the usual northwest wind came out again, and we sailed +steadily down into the roadstead of Monterey Bay. This is shaped +somewhat like a fish hook, the barb being the harbor, the point +being Point Pinos, the southern headland. Slowly the land came out +of the water, the high mountains about Santa Cruz, the low beach of +the Saunas, and the strongly-marked ridge terminating in the sea in +a point of dark pine-trees. Then the line of whitewashed houses of +adobe, backed by the groves of dark oaks, resembling old +apple-trees; and then we saw two vessels anchored close to the +town. One was a small merchant-brig and another a large ship +apparently dismasted. At last we saw a boat coming out to meet us, +and when it came alongside, we were surprised to find Lieutenant +Henry Wise, master of the Independence frigate, that we had left at +Valparaiso. Wise had come off to pilot us to our anchorage. While +giving orders to the man at the wheel, he, in his peculiar fluent +style, told to us, gathered about him, that the Independence had +sailed from Valparaiso a week after us and had been in Monterey a +week; that the Californians had broken out into an insurrection; +that the naval fleet under Commodore Stockton was all down the +coast about San Diego; that General Kearney had reached the +country, but had had a severe battle at San Pascual, and had been +worsted, losing several officers and men, himself and others +wounded; that war was then going on at Los Angeles; that the whole +country was full of guerrillas, and that recently at Yerba Buena +the alcalde, Lieutenant Bartlett, United States Navy, while out +after cattle, had been lassoed, etc., etc. Indeed, in the short +space of time that Wise was piloting our ship in, he told us more +news than we could have learned on shore in a week, and, being +unfamiliar with the great distances, we imagined that we should +have to debark and begin fighting at once. Swords were brought +out, guns oiled and made ready, and every thing was in a bustle +when the old Lexington dropped her anchor on January 26, 1847, in +Monterey Bay, after a voyage of one hundred and ninety-eight days +from New York. Every thing on shore looked bright and beautiful, +the hills covered with grass and flowers, the live-oaks so serene +and homelike, and the low adobe houses, with red-tiled roofs and +whitened walls, contrasted well with the dark pine-trees behind, +making a decidedly good impression upon us who had come so far to +spy out the land. Nothing could be more peaceful in its looks than +Monterey in January, 1847. We had already made the acquaintance of +Commodore Shubrick and the officers of the Independence in +Valparaiso, so that we again met as old friends. Immediate +preparations were made for landing, and, as I was quartermaster and +commissary, I had plenty to do. There was a small wharf and an +adobe custom-house in possession of the navy; also a barrack of two +stories, occupied by some marines, commanded by Lieutenant Maddox; +and on a hill to the west of the town had been built a two-story +block-house of hewed logs occupied by a guard of sailors under +command of Lieutenant Baldwin, United States Navy. Not a single +modern wagon or cart was to be had in Monterey, nothing but the old +Mexican cart with wooden wheels, drawn by two or three pairs of +oxen, yoked by the horns. A man named Tom Cole had two or more of +these, and he came into immediate requisition. The United States +consul, and most prominent man there at the time, was Thomas O. +Larkin, who had a store and a pretty good two-story house occupied +by his family. It was soon determined that our company was to land +and encamp on the hill at the block-house, and we were also to have +possession of the warehouse, or custom-house, for storage. The +company was landed on the wharf, and we all marched in full dress +with knapsacks and arms, to the hill and relieved the guard under +Lieutenant Baldwin. Tents and camp-equipage were hauled up, and +soon the camp was established. I remained in a room at the +customhouse, where I could superintend the landing of the stores +and their proper distribution. I had brought out from New York +twenty thousand dollars commissary funds, and eight thousand +dollars quartermaster funds, and as the ship contained about six +months' supply of provisions, also a saw-mill, grist-mill, and +almost every thing needed, we were soon established comfortably. +We found the people of Monterey a mixed set of Americans, native +Mexicans, and Indians, about one thousand all told. They were kind +and pleasant, and seemed to have nothing to do, except such as +owned ranches in the country for the rearing of horses and cattle. +Horses could be bought at any price from four dollars up to +sixteen, but no horse was ever valued above a doubloon or Mexican +ounce (sixteen dollars). Cattle cost eight dollars fifty cents for +the best, and this made beef net about two cents a pound, but at +that time nobody bought beef by the pound, but by the carcass. + +Game of all kinds--elk, deer, wild geese, and ducks--was abundant; +but coffee, sugar, and small stores, were rare and costly. + +There were some half-dozen shops or stores, but their shelves were +empty. The people were very fond of riding, dancing, and of shows +of any kind. The young fellows took great delight in showing off +their horsemanship, and would dash along, picking up a half-dollar +from the ground, stop their horses in full career and turn about on +the space of a bullock's hide, and their skill with the lasso was +certainly wonderful. At full speed they could cast their lasso +about the horns of a bull, or so throw it as to catch any +particular foot. These fellows would work all day on horseback in +driving cattle or catching wildhorses for a mere nothing, but all +the money offered would not have hired one of them to walk a mile. +The girls were very fond of dancing, and they did dance gracefully +and well. Every Sunday, regularly, we had a baile, or dance, and +sometimes interspersed through the week. + +I remember very well, soon after our arrival, that we were all +invited to witness a play called "Adam and Eve." Eve was +personated by a pretty young girl known as Dolores Gomez, who, +however, was dressed very unlike Eve, for she was covered with a +petticoat and spangles. Adam was personated by her brother--the +same who has since become somewhat famous as the person on whom is +founded the McGarrahan claim. God Almighty was personated, and +heaven's occupants seemed very human. Yet the play was pretty, +interesting, and elicited universal applause. All the month of +February we were by day preparing for our long stay in the country, +and at night making the most of the balls and parties of the most +primitive kind, picking up a smattering of Spanish, and extending +our acquaintance with the people and the costumbrea del pais. I +can well recall that Ord and I, impatient to look inland, got +permission and started for the Mission of San Juan Bautista. +Mounted on horses, and with our carbines, we took the road by El +Toro, quite a prominent hill, around which passes the road to the +south, following the Saunas or Monterey River. After about twenty +miles over a sandy country covered with oak-bushes and scrub, we +entered quite a pretty valley in which there was a ranch at the +foot of the Toro. Resting there a while and getting some +information, we again started in the direction of a mountain to the +north of the Saunas, called the Gavillano. It was quite dark when +we reached the Saunas River, which we attempted to pass at several +points, but found it full of water, and the quicksands were bad. +Hearing the bark of a dog, we changed our course in that direction, +and, on hailing, were answered by voices which directed us where to +cross. Our knowledge of the language was limited, but we managed +to understand, and to founder through the sand and water, and +reached a small adobe-house on the banks of the Salinas, where we +spent the night: The house was a single room, without floor or +glass; only a rude door, and window with bars. Not a particle of +food but meat, yet the man and woman entertained us with the +language of lords put themselves, their house, and every thing, at +our "disposition," and made little barefoot children dance for our +entertainment. We made our supper of beef, and slept on a +bullock's hide on the dirt-floor. In the morning we crossed the +Salinas Plain, about fifteen miles of level ground, taking a shot +occasionally at wild-geese, which abounded there, and entering the +well-wooded valley that comes out from the foot of the Gavillano. +We had cruised about all day, and it was almost dark when we +reached the house of a Senor Gomez, father of those who at Monterey +had performed the parts of Adam and Eve. His house was a two-story +adobe, and had a fence in front. It was situated well up among the +foot-hills of the Gavillano, and could not be seen until within a +few yards. We hitched our horses to the fence and went in just as +Gomez was about to sit down to a tempting supper of stewed hare and +tortillas. We were officers and caballeros and could not be +ignored. After turning our horses to grass, at his invitation we +joined him at supper. The allowance, though ample for one, was +rather short for three, and I thought the Spanish grandiloquent +politeness of Gomez, who was fat and old, was not over-cordial. +However, down we sat, and I was helped to a dish of rabbit, with +what I thought to be an abundant sauce of tomato. Taking a good +mouthful, I felt as though I had taken liquid fire; the tomato was +chile colorado, or red pepper, of the purest kind. It nearly +killed me, and I saw Gomez's eyes twinkle, for he saw that his +share of supper was increased.--I contented myself with bits of +the meat, and an abundant supply of tortillas. Ord was better +case-hardened, and stood it better. We staid at Gomez's that +night, sleeping, as all did, on the ground, and the next morning we +crossed the hill by the bridle-path to the old Mission of San Juan +Bautista. The Mission was in a beautiful valley, very level, and +bounded on all sides by hills. The plain was covered with +wild-grasses and mustard, and had abundant water. Cattle and +horses were seen in all directions, and it was manifest that the +priests who first occupied the country were good judges of land. +It was Sunday, and all the people, about, a hundred, had come to +church from the country round about. Ord was somewhat of a +Catholic, and entered the church with his clanking spars and +kneeled down, attracting the attention of all, for he had on the +uniform of an American officer. As soon as church was out, all +rushed to the various sports. I saw the priest, with his gray +robes tucked up, playing at billiards, others were cock fighting, +and some at horse-racing. My horse had become lame, and I resolved +to buy another. As soon as it was known that I wanted a horse, +several came for me, and displayed their horses by dashing past and +hauling them up short. There was a fine black stallion that +attracted my notice, and, after trying him myself, I concluded a +purchase. I left with the seller my own lame horse, which he was +to bring to me at Monterey, when I was to pay him ten dollars for +the other. The Mission of San Juan bore the marks of high +prosperity at a former period, and had a good pear-orchard just +under the plateau where stood the church. After spending the day, +Ord and I returned to Monterey, about thirty-five miles, by a +shorter route, Thus passed the month of February, and, though there +were no mails or regular expresses, we heard occasionally from +Yerba Buena and Sutter's Fort to the north, and from the army and +navy about Los Angeles at the south. We also knew that a quarrel +had grown up at Los Angeles, between General Kearney, Colonel +Fremont, and Commodore Stockton, as to the right to control affairs +in California. Kearney had with him only the fragments of the two +companies of dragoons, which had come across from New Mexico with +him, and had been handled very roughly by Don Andreas Pico, at San +Pascual, in which engagement Captains Moore and Johnson, and +Lieutenant Hammond, were killed, and Kearney himself wounded. +There remained with him Colonel Swords, quartermaster; Captain H. +S. Turner, First Dragoons; Captains Emory and Warner, Topographical +Engineers; Assistant Surgeon Griffin, and Lieutenant J. W. +Davidson. Fremont had marched down from the north with a battalion +of volunteers; Commodore Stockton had marched up from San Diego to +Los Angeles, with General Kearney, his dragoons, and a battalion of +sailors and marines, and was soon joined there by Fremont, and they +jointly received the surrender of the insurgents under Andreas +Pico. We also knew that General R. B. Mason had been ordered to +California; that Colonel John D. Stevenson was coming out to +California with a regiment of New York Volunteers; that Commodore +Shubrick had orders also from the Navy Department to control +matters afloat; that General Kearney, by virtue of his rank, had +the right to control all the land-forces in the service of the +United States; and that Fremont claimed the same right by virtue of +a letter he had received from Colonel Benton, then a Senator, and a +man of great influence with Polk's Administration. So that among +the younger officers the query was very natural, "Who the devil is +Governor of California?" One day I was on board the Independence +frigate, dining with the ward-room officers, when a war-vessel was +reported in the offing, which in due time was made out to be the +Cyane, Captain DuPont. After dinner we were all on deck to watch +the new arrival, the ships meanwhile exchanging signals, which were +interpreted that General Kearney was on board. As the Cyane +approached, a boat was sent to meet her, with Commodore Shubrick's +flag-officer, Lieutenant Lewis, to carry the usual messages, and to +invite General Kearney to come on board the Independence as the +guest of Commodore Shubrick. Quite a number of officers were on +deck, among them Lieutenants Wise, Montgomery Lewis, William +Chapman, and others, noted wits and wags of the navy. In due time +the Cyane anchored close by, and our boat was seen returning with a +stranger in the stern-sheets, clothed in army blue. As the boat +came nearer, we saw that it was General Kearney with an old dragoon +coat on, and an army-cap, to which the general had added the broad +vizor, cut from a full-dress hat, to shade his face and eyes +against the glaring sun of the Gila region. Chapman exclaimed: +"Fellows, the problem is solved; there is the grand-vizier (visor) +by G-d! He is Governor of California." + +All hands received the general with great heartiness, and he soon +passed out of our sight into the commodore's cabin. Between +Commodore Shubrick and General Kearney existed from that time +forward the greatest harmony and good feeling, and no further +trouble existed as to the controlling power on the Pacific coast. +General Kearney had dispatched from San Diego his quartermaster, +Colonel Swords, to the Sandwich Islands, to purchase clothing and +stores for his men, and had come up to Monterey, bringing with him +Turner and Warner, leaving Emory and the company of dragoons below. +He was delighted to find a full strong company of artillery, +subject to his orders, well supplied with clothing and money in all +respects, and, much to the disgust of our Captain Tompkins, he took +half of his company clothing and part of the money held by me for +the relief of his worn-out and almost naked dragoons left behind at +Los Angeles. In a few days he moved on shore, took up his quarters +at Larkin's house, and established his headquarters, with Captain +Turner as his adjutant general. One day Turner and Warner were at +my tent, and, seeing a store-bag full of socks, drawers, and calico +shirts, of which I had laid in a three years' supply, and of which +they had none, made known to me their wants, and I told them to +help themselves, which Turner and Warner did. The latter, however, +insisted on paying me the cost, and from that date to this Turner +and I have been close friends. Warner, poor fellow, was afterward +killed by Indians. Things gradually came into shape, a +semi-monthly courier line was established from Yerba Buena to San +Diego, and we were thus enabled to keep pace with events throughout +the country. In March Stevenson's regiment arrived. Colonel Mason +also arrived by sea from Callao in the store-ship Erie, and P. St. +George Cooke's battalion of Mormons reached San Luis Rey. A. J. +Smith and George Stoneman were with him, and were assigned to the +company of dragoons at Los Angeles. All these troops and the navy +regarded General Kearney as the rightful commander, though Fremont +still remained at Los Angeles, styling himself as Governor, issuing +orders and holding his battalion of California Volunteers in +apparent defiance of General Kearney. Colonel Mason and Major +Turner were sent down by sea with a paymaster, with muster-rolls and +orders to muster this battalion into the service of the United +States, to pay and then to muster them out; but on their reaching +Los Angeles Fremont would not consent to it, and the controversy +became so angry that a challenge was believed to have passed between +Mason and Fremont, but the duel never came about. Turner rode up by +land in four or five days, and Fremont, becoming alarmed, followed +him, as we supposed, to overtake him, but he did not succeed. On +Fremont's arrival at Monterey, he camped in a tent about a mile out +of town and called on General Kearney, and it was reported that the +latter threatened him very severely and ordered him back to Los +Angeles immediately, to disband his volunteers, and to cease the +exercise of authority of any kind in the country. Feeling a natural +curiosity to see Fremont, who was then quite famous by reason of his +recent explorations and the still more recent conflicts with Kearney +and Mason, I rode out to his camp, and found him in a conical tent +with one Captain Owens, who was a mountaineer, trapper, etc., but +originally from Zanesville, Ohio. I spent an hour or so with Fremont +in his tent, took some tea with him, and left, without being much +impressed with him. In due time Colonel Swords returned from the +Sandwich Islands and relieved me as quartermaster. Captain William +G. Marcy, son of the Secretary of War, had also come out in one of +Stevenson's ships as an assistant commissary of subsistence, and was +stationed at Monterey and relieved me as commissary, so that I +reverted to the condition of a company-officer. While acting as a +staff officer I had lived at the custom-house in Monterey, but when +relieved I took a tent in line with the other company-officers on +the hill, where we had a mess. + +Stevenson'a regiment reached San Francisco Bay early in March, +1847. Three companies were stationed at the Presidio under Major +James A. Hardier one company (Brackett's) at Sonoma; three, under +Colonel Stevenson, at Monterey; and three, under Lieutenant-Colonel +Burton, at Santa Barbara. One day I was down at the headquarters +at Larkin's horse, when General Kearney remarked to me that he was +going down to Los Angeles in the ship Lexington, and wanted me to +go along as his aide. Of course this was most agreeable to me. +Two of Stevenson's companies, with the headquarters and the +colonel, were to go also. They embarked, and early in May we +sailed for San Pedro. Before embarking, the United States +line-of-battle-ship Columbus had reached the coast from China with +Commodore Biddle, whose rank gave him the supreme command of the +navy on the coast. He was busy in calling in--"lassooing "--from +the land-service the various naval officers who under Stockton had +been doing all sorts of military and civil service on shore. +Knowing that I was to go down the coast with General Kearney, he +sent for me and handed me two unsealed parcels addressed to +Lieutenant Wilson, United States Navy, and Major Gillespie, United +States Marines, at Los Angeles. These were written orders pretty +much in these words: "On receipt of this order you will repair at +once on board the United States ship Lexington at San Pedro, and on +reaching Monterey you will report to the undersigned.-JAMES +BIDDLE." Of course, I executed my part to the letter, and these +officers were duly "lassooed." We sailed down the coast with a +fair wind, and anchored inside the kelp, abreast of Johnson's +house. Messages were forthwith dispatched up to Los Angeles, +twenty miles off, and preparations for horses made for us to ride +up. We landed, and, as Kearney held to my arm in ascending the +steep path up the bluff, he remarked to himself, rather than to me, +that it was strange that Fremont did not want to return north by +the Lexington on account of sea-sickness, but preferred to go by +land over five hundred miles. The younger officers had been +discussing what the general would do with Fremont, who was supposed +to be in a state of mutiny. Some, thought he would be tried and +shot, some that he would be carried back in irons; and all agreed +that if any one else than Fremont had put on such airs, and had +acted as he had done, Kearney would have shown him no mercy, for he +was regarded as the strictest sort of a disciplinarian. We had a +pleasant ride across the plain which lies between the seashore and +Los Angeles, which we reached in about three hours, the infantry +following on foot. We found Colonel P. St. George Cooke living at +the house of a Mr. Pryor, and the company of dragoons, with A. J. +Smith, Davidson, Stoneman, and Dr. Griffin, quartered in an +adobe-house close by. Fremont held his court in the only two-story +frame-house in the place. After sometime spent at Pryor's house, +General Kearney ordered me to call on Fremont to notify him of his +arrival, and that he desired to see him. I walked round to the +house which had been pointed out to me as his, inquired of a man at +the door if the colonel was in, was answered "Yea," and was +conducted to a large room on the second floor, where very soon +Fremont came in, and I delivered my message. As I was on the point +of leaving, he inquired where I was going to, and I answered that I +was going back to Pryor's house, where the general was, when he +remarked that if I would wait a moment he would go along. Of +course I waited, and he soon joined me, dressed much as a +Californian, with the peculiar high, broad-brimmed hat, with a +fancy cord, and we walked together back to Pryor's, where I left +him with General Kearney. We spent several days very pleasantly at +Los Angeles, then, as now, the chief pueblo of the south, famous +for its grapes, fruits, and wines. There was a hill close to the +town, from which we had a perfect view of the place. The +surrounding country is level, utterly devoid of trees, except the +willows and cotton-woods that line the Los Angeles Creek and the +acequias, or ditches, which lead from it. The space of ground +cultivated in vineyards seemed about five miles by one, embracing +the town. Every house had its inclosure of vineyard, which +resembled a miniature orchard, the vines being very old, ranged in +rows, trimmed very close, with irrigating ditches so arranged that +a stream of water could be diverted between each row of vines. The +Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers are fed by melting snows from a +range of mountains to the east, and the quantity of cultivated land +depends upon the amount of water. This did not seem to be very +large; but the San Gabriel River, close by, was represented to +contain a larger volume of water, affording the means of greatly +enlarging the space for cultivation. The climate was so moderate +that oranges, figs, pomegranates, etc.... were generally to be +found in every yard or inclosure. + +At the time of our visit, General Kearney was making his +preparations to return overland to the United States, and he +arranged to secure a volunteer escort out of the battalion of +Mormons that was then stationed at San Luis Rey, under Colonel +Cooke and a Major Hunt. This battalion was only enlisted for one +year, and the time for their discharge was approaching, and it was +generally understood that the majority of the men wanted to be +discharged so as to join the Mormons who had halted at Salt Lake, +but a lieutenant and about forty men volunteered to return to +Missouri as the escort of General Kearney. These were mounted on +mules and horses, and I was appointed to conduct them to Monterey +by land. Leaving the party at Los Angeles to follow by sea in the +Lexington, I started with the Mormon detachment and traveled by +land. We averaged about thirty miles a day, stopped one day at +Santa Barbara, where I saw Colonel Burton, and so on by the usually +traveled road to Monterey, reaching it in about fifteen days, +arriving some days in advance of the Lexington. This gave me the +best kind of an opportunity for seeing the country, which was very +sparsely populated indeed, except by a few families at the various +Missions. We had no wheeled vehicles, but packed our food and +clothing on mules driven ahead, and we slept on the ground in the +open air, the rainy season having passed. Fremont followed me by +land in a few days, and, by the end of May, General Kearney was all +ready at Monterey to take his departure, leaving to succeed him in +command Colonel R. B. Mason, First Dragoons. Our Captain +(Tompkins), too, had become discontented at his separation from his +family, tendered his resignation to General Kearney, and availed +himself of a sailing-vessel bound for Callao to reach the East. +Colonel Mason selected me as his adjutant-general; and on the very +last day of May General Kearney, with his Mormon escort, with +Colonel Cooke, Colonel Swords (quartermaster), Captain Turner, and +a naval officer, Captain Radford, took his departure for the East +overland, leaving us in full possession of California and its fate. +Fremont also left California with General Kearney, and with him +departed all cause of confusion and disorder in the country. From +that time forth no one could dispute the authority of Colonel Mason +as in command of all the United States forces on shore, while the +senior naval officer had a like control afloat. This was Commodore +James Biddle, who had reached the station from China in the +Columbus, and he in turn was succeeded by Commodore T. Ap Catesby +Jones in the line-of-battle-ship Ohio. At that time Monterey was +our headquarters, and the naval commander for a time remained +there, but subsequently San Francisco Bay became the chief naval +rendezvous. + +Colonel R. B. Mason, First Dragoons, was an officer of great +experience, of stern character, deemed by some harsh and severe, +but in all my intercourse with him he was kind and agreeable. He +had a large fund of good sense, and, during our long period of +service together, I enjoyed his unlimited confidence. He had been +in his day a splendid shot and hunter, and often entertained me +with characteristic anecdotes of Taylor, Twiggs, Worth, Harvey, +Martin Scott, etc., etc, who were then in Mexico, gaining a +national fame. California had settled down to a condition of +absolute repose, and we naturally repined at our fate in being +so remote from the war in Mexico, where our comrades were +reaping large honors. Mason dwelt in a house not far from the +Custom-House, with Captain Lanman, United States Navy; I had a small +adobe-house back of Larkin's. Halleck and Dr. Murray had a small +log-house not far off. The company of artillery was still on the +hill, under the command of Lieutenant Ord, engaged in building a +fort whereon to mount the guns we had brought out in the Lexington, +and also in constructing quarters out of hewn pine-logs for the men. +Lieutenant Minor, a very clever young officer, had taken violently +sick and died about the time I got back from Los Angeles, leaving +Lieutenants Ord and Loeser alone with the company, with +Assistant-Surgeon Robert Murray. Captain William G. Marcy was the +quartermaster and commissary. Naglee's company of Stevenson's +regiment had been mounted and was sent out against the Indians in +the San Joaquin Valley, and Shannon's company occupied the barracks. +Shortly after General Kearney had gone East, we found an order of +his on record, removing one Mr. Nash, the Alcalde of Sonoma, and +appointing to his place ex-Governor L. W. Boggs. A letter came to +Colonel and Governor Mason from Boggs, whom he had personally known +in Missouri, complaining that, though he had been appointed alcalde, +the then incumbent (Nash) utterly denied Kearney's right to remove +him, because he had been elected by the people under the +proclamation of Commodore Sloat, and refused to surrender his office +or to account for his acts as alcalde. Such a proclamation had been +made by Commodore Sloat shortly after the first occupation of +California, announcing that the people were free and enlightened +American citizens, entitled to all the rights and privileges as +such, and among them the right to elect their own officers, etc. +The people of Sonoma town and valley, some forty or fifty immigrants +from the United States, and very few native Californians, had +elected Mr. Nash, and, as stated, he refused to recognize the right +of a mere military commander to eject him and to appoint another to +his place. Neither General Kearney nor Mason had much respect for +this land of "buncombe," but assumed the true doctrine that +California was yet a Mexican province, held by right of conquest, +that the military commander was held responsible to the country, and +that the province should be held in statu quo until a treaty of +peace. This letter of Boggs was therefore referred to Captain +Brackett, whose company was stationed at Sonoma, with orders to +notify Nash that Boggs was the rightful alcalde; that he must +quietly surrender his office, with the books and records thereof, +and that he must account for any moneys received from the sale of +town-lots, etc., etc.; and in the event of refusal he (Captain +Brackett) must compel him by the use of force. In due time we got +Brackett's answer, saying that the little community of Sonoma was in +a dangerous state of effervescence caused by his orders; that Nash +was backed by most of the Americans there who had come across from +Missouri with American ideas; that as he (Brackett) was a volunteer +officer, likely to be soon discharged, and as he designed to settle +there, he asked in consequence to be excused from the execution of +this (to him) unpleasant duty. Such a request, coming to an old +soldier like Colonel Mason, aroused his wrath, and he would have +proceeded rough-shod against Brackett, who, by-the-way, was a West +Point graduate, and ought to have known better; but I suggested to +the colonel that, the case being a test one, he had better send me +up to Sonoma, and I would settle it quick enough. He then gave me +an order to go to Sonoma to carry out the instructions already given +to Brackett. + +I took one soldier with me, Private Barnes, with four horses, two +of which we rode, and the other two we drove ahead. The first day +we reached Gilroy's and camped by a stream near three or four +adobe-huts known as Gilroy's ranch. The next day we passed +Murphy's, San Jose, and Santa Clara Mission, camping some four +miles beyond, where a kind of hole had been dug in the ground for +water. The whole of this distance, now so beautifully improved and +settled, was then scarcely occupied, except by poor ranches +producing horses and cattle. The pueblo of San Jose was a string +of low adobe-houses festooned with red peppers and garlic; and the +Mission of Santa Clara was a dilapidated concern, with its church +and orchard. The long line of poplar-trees lining the road from +San Jose to Santa Clara bespoke a former period when the priests +had ruled the land. Just about dark I was lying on the ground near +the well, and my soldier Barnes had watered our horses and picketed +them to grass, when we heard a horse crushing his way through the +high mustard-bushes which filled the plain, and soon a man came to +us to inquire if we had seen a saddle-horse pass up the road. We +explained to him what we had heard, and he went off in pursuit of +his horse. Before dark he came back unsuccessful, and gave his +name as Bidwell, the same gentleman who has since been a member of +Congress, who is married to Miss Kennedy, of Washington City, and +now lives in princely style at Chico, California. + +He explained that he was a surveyor, and had been in the lower +country engaged in surveying land; that the horse had escaped him +with his saddle-bags containing all his notes and papers, and some +six hundred dollars in money, all the money he had earned. He +spent the night with us on the ground, and the next morning we left +him there to continue the search for his horse, and I afterward +heard that he had found his saddle-bags all right, but never +recovered the horse. The next day toward night we approached the +Mission of San Francisco, and the village of Yerba Buena, tired and +weary--the wind as usual blowing a perfect hurricane, and a more +desolate region it was impossible to conceive of. Leaving Barnes +to work his way into the town as best he could with the tired +animals, I took the freshest horse and rode forward. I fell in +with Lieutenant Fabius Stanley, United States Navy, and we rode +into Yerba Buena together about an hour before sundown, there being +nothing but a path from the Mission into the town, deep and heavy +with drift-sand. My horse could hardly drag one foot after the +other when we reached the old Hudson Bay Company's house, which was +then the store of Howard and Mellus. There I learned where Captain +Folsom, the quartermaster, was to be found. He was staying with a +family of the name of Grimes, who had a small horse back of +Howard's store, which must have been near where Sacramento Street +now crosses Kearney. Folsom was a classmate of mine, had come out +with Stevenson's regiment as quartermaster, and was at the time the +chief-quartermaster of the department. His office was in the old +custom-horse standing at the northwest corner of the Plaza. He had +hired two warehouses, the only ones there at the time, of one +Liedsdorff, the principal man of Yerba Buena, who also owned the +only public-house, or tavern, called the City Hotel, on Kearney +Street, at the southeast corner of the Plaza. I stopped with +Folsom at Mrs. Grimes's, and he sent my horse, as also the other +three when Barnes had got in after dark, to a coral where he had a +little barley, but no hay. At that time nobody fed a horse, but he +was usually turned out to pick such scanty grass as he could find +on the side-hills. The few government horses used in town were +usually sent out to the Presidio, where the grass was somewhat +better. At that time (July, 1847), what is now called San +Francisco was called Yerba Buena. A naval officer, Lieutenant +Washington A. Bartlett, its first alcalde, had caused it to be +surveyed and laid out into blocks and lots, which were being sold +at sixteen dollars a lot of fifty vuras square; the understanding +being that no single person could purchase of the alcalde more than +one in-lot of fifty varas, and one out-lot of a hundred varas. +Folsom, however, had got his clerks, orderlies, etc., to buy lots, +and they, for a small consideration, conveyed them to him, so that +he was nominally the owner of a good many lots. Lieutenant Halleck +had bought one of each kind, and so had Warner. Many naval +officers had also invested, and Captain Folsom advised me to buy +some, but I felt actually insulted that he should think me such a +fool as to pay money for property in such a horrid place as Yerba +Buena, especially ridiculing his quarter of the city, then called +Happy Valley. At that day Montgomery Street was, as now, the +business street, extending from Jackson to Sacramento, the water of +the bay leaving barely room for a few houses on its east side, and +the public warehouses were on a sandy beach about where the Bank of +California now stands, viz., near the intersection of Sansome and +California, Streets. Along Montgomery Street were the stores of +Howard & Mellus, Frank Ward, Sherman & Ruckel, Ross & Co., and it +may be one or two others. Around the Plaza were a few houses, +among them the City Hotel and the Custom-House, single-story adobes +with tiled roofs, and they were by far the most substantial and +best houses in the place. The population was estimated at about +four hundred, of whom Kanakas (natives of the Sandwich Islands) +formed the bulk. + +At the foot of Clay Street was a small wharf which small boats +could reach at high tide; but the principal landing-place was where +some stones had fallen into the water, about where Broadway now +intersects Battery Street. On the steep bluff above had been +excavated, by the navy, during the year before, a bench, wherein +were mounted a couple of navy-guns, styled the battery, which, I +suppose, gave name to the street. I explained to Folsom the object +of my visit, and learned from him that he had no boat in which to +send me to Sonoma, and that the only, chance to get there was to +borrow a boat from the navy. The line-of-battle-ship Columbus was +then lying at anchor off the town, and he said if I would get up +early the next morning I could go off to her in one of the +market-boats. + +Accordingly, I was up bright and early, down at the wharf, found a +boat, and went off to the Columbus to see Commodore Biddle. On +reaching the ship and stating to the officer of the deck my +business, I was shown into the commodore's cabin, and soon made +known to him my object. Biddle was a small-sized man, but +vivacious in the extreme. He had a perfect contempt for all +humbug, and at once entered into the business with extreme +alacrity. I was somewhat amused at the importance he attached to +the step. He had a chaplain, and a private secretary, in a small +room latticed off from his cabin, and he first called on them to go +out, and, when we were alone, he enlarged on the folly of Sloat's +proclamation, giving the people the right to elect their own +officers, and commended Kearney and Mason for nipping that idea in +the bud, and keeping the power in their own hands. He then sent +for the first lieutenant (Drayton), and inquired if there were +among the officers on board any who had ever been in the Upper Bay, +and learning that there was a midshipman (Whittaker) he was sent +for. It so happened that this midshipman had been on a frolic on +shore a few nights before, and was accordingly much frightened when +summoned into the commodore's presence, but as soon as he was +questioned as to his knowledge of the bay, he was sensibly +relieved, and professed to know every thing about it. + +Accordingly, the long boat was ordered with this midshipman and +eight sailors, prepared with water and provisions for several days +absence. Biddle then asked me if I knew any of his own officers, +and which one of them I would prefer to accompany me. I knew most +of them, and we settled down on Louis McLane. He was sent for, and +it was settled that McLane and I were to conduct this important +mission, and the commodore enjoined on us complete secrecy, so as +to insure success, and he especially cautioned us against being +pumped by his ward-room officers, Chapman, Lewis, Wise, etc., while +on board his ship. With this injunction I was dismissed to the +wardroom, where I found Chapman, Lewis, and Wise, dreadfully +exercised at our profound secrecy. The fact that McLane and I had +been closeted with the commodore for an hour, that orders for the +boat and stores had been made, that the chaplain and clerk had been +sent out of the cabin, etc., etc., all excited their curiosity; but +McLane and I kept our secret well. The general impression was, +that we had some knowledge about the fate of Captain Montgomery's +two sons and the crew that had been lost the year before. In 1846 +Captain Montgomery commanded at Yerba Buena, on board the St. Mary +sloop-of-war, and he had a detachment of men stationed up at +Sonoma. Occasionally a boat was sent up with provisions or +intelligence to them. Montgomery had two sons on board his ship, +one a midshipman, the other his secretary. Having occasion to send +some money up to Sonoma, he sent his two sons with a good boat and +crew. The boat started with a strong breeze and a very large sail, +was watched from the deck until she was out of sight, and has never +been heard of since. There was, of coarse, much speculation as to +their fate, some contending that the boat must have been capsized +in San Pablo Bay, and that all were lost; others contending that +the crew had murdered the officers for the money, and then escaped; +but, so far as I know, not a man of that crew has ever been seen or +heard of since. When at last the boat was ready for us, we +started, leaving all hands, save the commodore, impressed with the +belief that we were going on some errand connected with the loss of +the missing boat and crew of the St. Mary. We sailed directly +north, up the bay and across San Pablo, reached the month of Sonoma +Creek about dark, and during the night worked up the creek some +twelve miles by means of the tide, to a landing called the +Embarcadero. To maintain the secrecy which the commodore had +enjoined on us, McLane and I agreed to keep up the delusion by +pretending to be on a marketing expedition to pick up chickens, +pigs, etc., for the mess of the Columbus, soon to depart for home. + +Leaving the midshipman and four sailors to guard the boat, we +started on foot with the other four for Sonoma Town, which we soon +reached. It was a simple open square, around which were some +adobe-houses, that of General Vallejo occupying one side. On +another was an unfinished two-story adobe building, occupied as a +barrack by Bracken's company. We soon found Captain Brackett, and +I told him that I intended to take Nash a prisoner and convey him +back to Monterey to answer for his mutinous behavior. I got an old +sergeant of his company, whom I had known in the Third Artillery, +quietly to ascertain the whereabouts of Nash, who was a bachelor, +stopping with the family of a lawyer named Green. The sergeant +soon returned, saying that Nash had gone over to Napa, but would be +back that evening; so McLane and I went up to a farm of some +pretensions, occupied by one Andreas Hoepner, with a pretty Sitka +wife, who lived a couple of miles above Sonoma, and we bought of +him some chickens, pigs, etc. We then visited Governor Boggs's +family and that of General Vallejo, who was then, as now, one of +the most prominent and influential natives of California. About +dark I learned that Nash had come back, and then, giving Brackett +orders to have a cart ready at the corner of the plaza, McLane and +I went to the house of Green. Posting an armed sailor on each side +of the house, we knocked at the door and walked in. We found +Green, Nash, and two women, at supper. I inquired if Nash were in, +and was first answered "No," but one of the women soon pointed to +him, and he rose. We were armed with pistols, and the family was +evidently alarmed. I walked up to him and took his arm, and told +him to come along with me. He asked me, "Where?" and I said, +"Monterey." "Why?" I would explain that more at leisure. Green +put himself between me and the door, and demanded, in theatrical +style, why I dared arrest a peaceable citizen in his house. I +simply pointed to my pistol, and told him to get out of the way, +which he did. Nash asked to get some clothing, but I told him he +should want for nothing. We passed out, Green following us with +loud words, which brought the four sailors to the front-door, when +I told him to hush up or I would take him prisoner also. About +that time one of the sailors, handling his pistol carelessly, +discharged it, and Green disappeared very suddenly. We took Nash +to the cart, put him in, and proceeded back to our boat. The next +morning we were gone. + +Nash being out of the way, Boggs entered on his office, and the +right to appoint or remove from civil office was never again +questioned in California during the military regime. Nash was an +old man, and was very much alarmed for his personal safety. He had +come across the Plains, and had never yet seen the sea. While on +our way down the bay, I explained fully to him the state of things +in California, and he admitted he had never looked on it in that +light before, and professed a willingness to surrender his office; +but, having gone so far, I thought it best to take him to Monterey. +On our way down the bay the wind was so strong, as we approached +the Columbus, that we had to take refuge behind Yerba Buena Island, +then called Goat Island, where we landed, and I killed a gray seal. +The next morning, the wind being comparatively light, we got out +and worked our way up to the Columbus, where I left my prisoner on +board, and went on shore to find Commodore Biddle, who had gone to +dine with Frank Ward. I found him there, and committed Nash to his +charge, with the request that he would send him down to Monterey, +which he did in the sloop-of-war Dale, Captain Selfridge +commanding. I then returned to Monterey by land, and, when the +Dale arrived, Colonel Mason and I went on board, found poor old Mr. +Nash half dead with sea-sickness and fear, lest Colonel Mason would +treat him with extreme military rigor. But, on the contrary, the +colonel spoke to him kindly, released him as a prisoner on his +promise to go back to Sonoma, surrender his office to Boggs, and +account to him for his acts while in office. He afterward came on +shore, was provided with clothing and a horse, returned to Sonoma, +and I never have seen him since. + +Matters and things settled down in Upper California, and all moved +along with peace and harmony. The war still continued in Mexico, +and the navy authorities resolved to employ their time with the +capture of Mazatlan and Guaymas. Lower California had already been +occupied by two companies of Stevenson's regiment, under +Lieutenant-Colonel Burton, who had taken post at La Paz, and a +small party of sailors was on shore at San Josef, near Cape San +Lucas, detached from the Lexington, Lieutenant-Commander Bailey. +The orders for this occupation were made by General Kearney before +he left, in pursuance of instructions from the War Department, +merely to subserve a political end, for there were few or no people +in Lower California, which is a miserable, wretched, dried-up +peninsula. I remember the proclamation made by Burton and Captain +Bailey, in taking possession, which was in the usual florid style. +Bailey signed his name as the senior naval officer at the station, +but, as it was necessary to put it into Spanish to reach the +inhabitants of the newly-acquired country, it was interpreted, "El +mas antiguo de todos los oficiales de la marina," etc., which, +literally, is "the most ancient of all the naval officers," etc., +a translation at which we made some fun. + +The expedition to Mazatlan was, however, for a different purpose, +viz., to get possession of the ports of Mazatlan and Guaymas, as a +part of the war against Mexico, and not for permanent conquest. + +Commodore Shubrick commanded this expedition, and took Halleck +along as his engineer-officer. They captured Mazatlan and Guaymas, +and then called on Colonel Mason to send soldiers down to hold +possession, but he had none to spare, and it was found impossible +to raise other volunteers either in California or Oregon, and the +navy held these places by detachments of sailors and marines till +the end of the war. Burton also called for reenforcements, and +Naglee'a company was sent to him from Monterey, and these three +companies occupied Lower California at the end of the Mexican War. +Major Hardie still commanded at San Francisco and above; Company F, +Third Artillery, and Shannon's company of volunteers, were at +Monterey; Lippett's company at Santa Barbara; Colonel Stevenson, +with one company of his regiment, and the company of the First +Dragoons, was at Los Angeles; and a company of Mormons, reenlisted +out of the Mormon Battalion, garrisoned San Diego--and thus matters +went along throughout 1847 into 1848. I had occasion to make +several trips to Yerba Buena and back, and in the spring of 1848 +Colonel Mason and I went down to Santa Barbara in the sloop-of-war +Dale. + +I spent much time in hunting deer and bear in the mountains back of +the Carmel Mission, and ducks and geese in the plains of the +Salinas. As soon as the fall rains set in, the young oats would +sprout up, and myriads of ducks, brant, and geese, made their +appearance. In a single day, or rather in the evening of one day +and the morning of the next, I could load a pack-mule with geese +and ducks. They had grown somewhat wild from the increased number +of hunters, yet, by marking well the place where a flock lighted, I +could, by taking advantage of gullies or the shape of the ground, +creep up within range; and, giving one barrel on the ground, and +the other as they rose, I have secured as many as nine at one +discharge. Colonel Mason on one occasion killed eleven geese by +one discharge of small shot. The seasons in California are well +marked. About October and November the rains begin, and the whole +country, plains and mountains, becomes covered with a bright-green +grass, with endless flowers. The intervals between the rains give +the finest weather possible. These rains are less frequent in +March, and cease altogether in April and May, when gradually the +grass dies and the whole aspect of things changes, first to yellow, +then to brown, and by midsummer all is burnt up and dry as an +ashheap. + +When General Kearney first departed we took his office at Larkin's; +but shortly afterward we had a broad stairway constructed to lead +from the outside to the upper front porch of the barracks. By +cutting a large door through the adobe-wall, we made the upper room +in the centre our office; and another side-room, connected with it +by a door, was Colonel Mason's private office. + +I had a single clerk, a soldier named Baden; and William E. P. +Hartnell, citizen, also had a table in the same room. He was the +government interpreter, and had charge of the civil archives. +After Halleck's return from Mazatlan, he was, by Colonel Mason, +made Secretary of State; and he then had charge of the civil +archives, including the land-titles, of which Fremont first had +possession, but which had reverted to us when he left the country. + +I remember one day, in the spring of 1848, that two men, Americans, +came into the office and inquired for the Governor. I asked their +business, and one answered that they had just come down from +Captain Sutter on special business, and they wanted to see Governor +Mason in person. I took them in to the colonel, and left them +together. After some time the colonel came to his door and called +to me. I went in, and my attention was directed to a series of +papers unfolded on his table, in which lay about half an ounce of +placer gold. Mason said to me, "What is that?" I touched it and +examined one or two of the larger pieces, and asked, "Is it gold?" +Mason asked me if I had ever seen native gold. I answered that, in +1844, I was in Upper Georgia, and there saw some native gold, but +it was much finer than this, and that it was in phials, or in +transparent quills; but I said that, if this were gold, it could be +easily tested, first, by its malleability, and next by acids. I +took a piece in my teeth, and the metallic lustre was perfect. I +then called to the clerk, Baden, to bring an axe and hatchet from +the backyard. When these were brought, I took the largest piece +and beat it out flat, and beyond doubt it was metal, and a pure +metal. Still, we attached little importance to the fact, for gold +was known to exist at San Fernando, at the south, and yet was not +considered of much value. Colonel Mason then handed me a letter +from Captain Sutter, addressed to him, stating that he (Sutter) was +engaged in erecting a saw-mill at Coloma, about forty miles up the +American Fork, above his fort at New Helvetia, for the general +benefit of the settlers in that vicinity; that he had incurred +considerable expense, and wanted a "preemption" to the +quarter-section of land on which the mill was located, embracing the +tail-race in which this particular gold had been found. Mason +instructed me to prepare a letter, in answer, for his signature. I +wrote off a letter, reciting that California was yet a Mexican +province, simply held by us as a conquest; that no laws of the +United States yet applied to it, much less the land laws or +preemption laws, which could only apply after a public survey. +Therefore it was impossible for the Governor to promise him (Sutter) +a title to the land; yet, as there were no settlements within forty +miles, he was not likely to be disturbed by trespassers. Colonel +Mason signed the letter, handed it to one of the gentlemen who had +brought the sample of gold, and they departed. That gold was the +first discovered in the Sierra Nevada, which soon revolutionized the +whole country, and actually moved the whole civilized world. About +this time (May and June, 1848), far more importance was attached to +quicksilver. One mine, the New Almaden, twelve miles south of San +Jose, was well known, and was in possession of the agent of a Scotch +gentleman named Forties, who at the time was British consul at +Tepic, Mexico. Mr. Forties came up from San Blas in a small brig, +which proved to be a Mexican vessel; the vessel was seized, +condemned, and actually sold, but Forties was wealthy, and bought +her in. His title to the quicksilver-mine was, however, never +disputed, as he had bought it regularly, before our conquest of the +country, from another British subject, also named Forties, a +resident of Santa Clara Mission, who had purchased it of the +discoverer, a priest; but the boundaries of the land attached to the +mine were even then in dispute. Other men were in search of +quicksilver; and the whole range of mountains near the New Almaden +mine was stained with the brilliant red of the sulphuret of mercury +(cinnabar). A company composed of T. O. Larkin, J. R. Snyder, and +others, among them one John Ricord (who was quite a character), also +claimed a valuable mine near by. Ricord was a lawyer from about +Buffalo, and by some means had got to the Sandwich Islands, where he +became a great favorite of the king, Kamehameha; was his +attorney-general, and got into a difficulty with the Rev. Mr. Judd, +who was a kind of prime-minister to his majesty. One or the other +had to go, and Ricord left for San Francisco, where he arrived while +Colonel Mason and I were there on some business connected with the +customs. Ricord at once made a dead set at Mason with flattery, and +all sorts of spurious arguments, to convince him that our military +government was too simple in its forms for the new state of facts, +and that he was the man to remodel it. I had heard a good deal to +his prejudice, and did all I could to prevent Mason taking him, into +his confidence. We then started back for Monterey. Ricord was +along, and night and day he was harping on his scheme; but he +disgusted Colonel Mason with his flattery, and, on reaching +Monterey, he opened what he called a law-office, but there were +neither courts nor clients, so necessity forced him to turn his +thoughts to something else, and quicksilver became his hobby. In +the spring of 1848 an appeal came to our office from San Jose, which +compelled the Governor to go up in person. Lieutenant Loeser and I, +with a couple of soldiers, went along. At San Jose the Governor +held some kind of a court, in which Ricord and the alcalde had a +warm dispute about a certain mine which Ricord, as a member of the +Larkin Company, had opened within the limits claimed by the New +Almaden Company. On our way up we had visited the ground, and were +therefore better prepared to understand the controversy. We had +found at New Almaden Mr. Walkinshaw, a fine Scotch gentleman, the +resident agent of Mr. Forbes. He had built in the valley, near a +small stream, a few board-houses, and some four or five furnaces for +the distillation of the mercury. These were very simple in their +structure, being composed of whalers' kettles, set in masonry. +These kettles were filled with broken ore about the size of +McAdam-stone, mingled with lime. Another kettle, reversed, formed +the lid, and the seam was luted with clay. On applying heat, the +mercury was volatilized and carried into a chimney-stack, where it +condensed and flowed back into a reservoir, and then was led in +pipes into another kettle outside. After witnessing this process, +we visited the mine itself, which outcropped near the apex of the +hill, about a thousand feet above the furnaces. We found wagons +hauling the mineral down the hill and returning empty, and in the +mines quite a number of Sonora miners were blasting and driving for +the beautiful ore (cinnabar). It was then, and is now, a most +valuable mine. The adit of the mine was at the apex of the hill, +which drooped off to the north. We rode along this hill, and saw +where many openings had been begun, but these, proving of little or +no value, had been abandoned. Three miles beyond, on the west face +of the bill, we came to the opening of the "Larkin Company." There +was evidence of a good deal of work, but the mine itself was filled +up by what seemed a land-slide. The question involved in the +lawsuit before the alcalde at San Jose was, first, whether the mine +was or was not on the land belonging to the New Almaden property; +and, next, whether the company had complied with all the conditions +of the mite laws of Mexico, which were construed to be still in +force in California. + +These laws required that any one who discovered a valuable mine on +private land should first file with the alcalde, or judge of the +district, a notice and claim for the benefits of such discovery; +then the mine was to be opened and followed for a distance of at +least one hundred feet within a specified time, and the claimants +must take out samples of the mineral and deposit the same with the +alcalde, who was then required to inspect personally the mine, to +see that it fulfilled all the conditions of the law, before he +could give a written title. In this case the alcalde had been to +the mine and had possession of samples of the ore; but, as the +mouth of the mine was closed up, as alleged, from the act of God, +by a land-slide, it was contended by Ricord and his associates that +it was competent to prove by good witnesses that the mine had been +opened into the hill one hundred feet, and that, by no negligence +of theirs, it had caved in. It was generally understood that +Robert J. Walker, United States Secretary of the Treasury, was then +a partner in this mining company; and a vessel, the bark Gray +Eagle, was ready at San Francisco to sail for New York with the +title-papers on which to base a joint-stock company for speculative +uses. I think the alcalde was satisfied that the law had been +complied with, that he had given the necessary papers, and, as at +that time there was nothing developed to show fraud, the Governor +(Mason) did not interfere. At that date there was no public house +or tavern in San Jose where we could stop, so we started toward +Santa Cruz and encamped about ten miles out, to the west of the +town, where we fell in with another party of explorers, of whom +Ruckel, of San Francisco, was the head; and after supper, as we sat +around the camp-fire, the conversation turned on quicksilver in +general, and the result of the contest in San Jose in particular. +Mason was relating to Ruckel the points and the arguments of +Ricord, that the company should not suffer from an act of God, +viz., the caving in of the mouth of the mine, when a man named +Cash, a fellow who had once been in the quartermaster's employ as a +teamster, spoke up: "Governor Mason, did Judge Ricord say that?" +"Yes," said the Governor; and then Cash related how he and another +man, whose name he gave, had been employed by Ricord to undermine a +heavy rock that rested above the mouth of the mine, so that it +tumbled down, carrying with it a large quantity of earth, and +completely filled it up, as we had seen; "and," said Cash, "it took +us three days of the hardest kind of work." This was the act of +God, and on the papers procured from the alcalde at that time, I +understand, was built a huge speculation, by which thousands of +dollars changed hands in the United States and were lost. This +happened long before the celebrated McGarrahan claim, which has +produced so much noise, and which still is being prosecuted in the +courts and in Congress. + +On the next day we crossed over the Santa Cruz Mountains, from +which we had sublime views of the scenery, first looking east +toward the lower Bay of San Francisco, with the bright plains of +Santa Clara and San Jose, and then to the west upon the ocean, the +town of Monterey being visible sixty miles off. If my memory is +correct, we beheld from that mountain the firing of a salute from +the battery at Monterey, and counted the number of guns from the +white puffs of smoke, but could not hear the sound. That night we +slept on piles of wheat in a mill at Soquel, near Santa Cruz, and, +our supplies being short, I advised that we should make an early +start next morning, so as to reach the ranch of Don Juan Antonio +Vallejo, a particular friend, who had a large and valuable +cattle-ranch on the Pajaro River, about twenty miles on our way to +Monterey. Accordingly, we were off by the first light of day, and +by nine o'clock we had reached the ranch. It was on a high point +of the plateau, overlooking the plain of the Pajaro, on which were +grazing numbers of horses and cattle. The house was of adobe, with +a long range of adobe-huts occupied by the semi-civilized Indians, +who at that time did all the labor of a ranch, the herding and +marking of cattle, breaking of horses, and cultivating the little +patches of wheat and vegetables which constituted all the farming +of that day. Every thing about the house looked deserted, and, +seeing a small Indian boy leaning up against a post, I approached +him and asked him in Spanish, "Where is the master?" "Gone to the +Presidio" (Monterey). "Is anybody in the house?" "No." "Is it +locked up?" "Yes." "Is no one about who can get in?" "No." +"Have you any meat?" "No." "Any flour or grain?" "No." "Any +chickens?" "No." "Any eggs?" "No." "What do you live on?" +"Nada" (nothing). The utter indifference of this boy, and the +tone of his answer "Nada," attracted the attention of Colonel +Mason, who had been listening to our conversation, and who +knew enough of Spanish to catch the meaning, and he exclaimed +with some feeling, "So we get nada for our breakfast." I felt +mortified, for I had held out the prospect of a splendid +breakfast of meat and tortillas with rice, chickens, eggs, etc., at +the ranch of my friend Josh Antonio, as a justification for +taking the Governor, a man of sixty years of age, more than +twenty miles at a full canter for his breakfast. But there was +no help for it, and we accordingly went a short distance to a +pond, where we unpacked our mules and made a slim breakfast; on +some scraps of hard bread and a bone of pork that remained in our +alforjas. This was no uncommon thing in those days, when many +a ranchero with his eleven leagues of land, his hundreds of +horses and thousands of cattle, would receive us with all the +grandiloquence of a Spanish lord, and confess that he had nothing +in his house to eat except the carcass of a beef hung up, from +which the stranger might cut and cook, without money or price, what +he needed. That night we slept on Salinas Plain, and the next +morning reached Monterey. All the missions and houses at that +period were alive with fleas, which the natives looked on as +pleasant titillators, but they so tortured me that I always gave +them a wide berth, and slept on a saddle-blanket, with the saddle +for a pillow and the serape, or blanket, for a cover. We never +feared rain except in winter. As the spring and summer of 1848 +advanced, the reports came faster and faster from the gold-mines at +Sutter's saw-mill. Stories reached us of fabulous discoveries, and +spread throughout the land. Everybody was talking of "Gold! +gold!" until it assumed the character of a fever. Some of our +soldiers began to desert; citizens were fitting out trains of +wagons and packmules to go to the mines. We heard of men earning +fifty, five hundred, and thousands of dollars per day, and for a +time it seemed as though somebody would reach solid gold. Some of +this gold began to come to Yerba Buena in trade, and to disturb the +value of merchandise, particularly of mules, horses, tin pans, and +articles used in mining: I of course could not escape the +infection, and at last convinced Colonel Mason that it was our duty +to go up and see with our own eyes, that we might report the truth +to our Government. As yet we had no regular mail to any part of +the United States, but mails had come to us at long intervals, +around Cape Horn, and one or two overland. I well remember the +first overland mail. It was brought by Kit Carson in saddle-bags +from Taos in New Mexico. We heard of his arrival at Los Angeles, +and waited patiently for his arrival at headquarters. His fame +then was at its height, from the publication of Fremont's books, +and I was very anxious to see a man who had achieved such feats of +daring among the wild animals of the Rocky Mountains, and still +wilder Indians of the Plains. At last his arrival was reported at +the tavern at Monterey, and I hurried to hunt him up. I cannot +express my surprise at beholding a small, stoop-shouldered man, +with reddish hair, freckled face, soft blue eyes, and nothing to +indicate extraordinary courage or daring. He spoke but little, and +answered questions in monosyllables. I asked for his mail, and he +picked up his light saddle-bags containing the great overland mail, +and we walked together to headquarters, where he delivered his +parcel into Colonel Mason's own hands. He spent some days in +Monterey, during which time we extracted with difficulty some items +of his personal history. He was then by commission a lieutenant in +the regiment of Mounted Rifles serving in Mexico under Colonel +Sumner, and, as he could not reach his regiment from California, +Colonel Mason ordered that for a time he should be assigned to duty +with A. J. Smith's company, First Dragoons, at Los Angeles. He +remained at Los Angeles some months, and was then sent back to the +United Staten with dispatches, traveling two thousand miles almost +alone, in preference to being encumbered by a large party. + +Toward the close of June, 1848, the gold-fever being at its height, +by Colonel Mason's orders I made preparations for his trip to the +newly-discovered gold-mines at Sutter's Fort. I selected four good +soldiers, with Aaron, Colonel Mason's black servant, and a good +outfit of horses and pack-mules, we started by the usually traveled +route for Yerba Buena. There Captain Fulsom and two citizens +joined our party. The first difficulty was to cross the bay to +Saucelito. Folsom, as quartermaster, had a sort of scow with a +large sail, with which to discharge the cargoes of ships, that +could not come within a mile of the shore. It took nearly the +whole day to get the old scow up to the only wharf there, and then +the water was so shallow that the scow, with its load of horses, +would not float at the first high tide, but by infinite labor on +the next tide she was got off and safely crossed over to Saucelito. +We followed in a more comfortable schooner. Having safely landed +our horses and mules, we picked up and rode to San Rafael Mission, +stopping with Don Timoteo Murphy. The next day's journey took us +to Bodega, where lived a man named Stephen Smith, who had the only +steam saw-mill in California. He had a Peruvian wife, and employed +a number of absolutely naked Indians in making adobes. We spent a +day very pleasantly with him, and learned that he had come to +California some years before, at the personal advice of Daniel +Webster, who had informed him that sooner or later the United +States would be in possession of California, and that in +consequence it would become a great country. From Bodega we +traveled to Sonoma, by way of Petaluma, and spent a day with +General Vallejo. I had been there before, as related, in the +business of the alcalde Nash. From Sonoma we crossed over by way +of Napa, Suisun, and Vaca's ranch, to the Puta. In the rainy +season, the plain between the Puta and Sacramento Rivers is +impassable, but in July the waters dry up; and we passed without +trouble, by the trail for Sutter's Embarcadero. We reached the +Sacramento River, then full of water, with a deep, clear current. +The only means of crossing over was by an Indian dugout canoe. We +began by carrying across our packs and saddles, and then our +people. When all things were ready, the horses were driven into +the water, one being guided ahead by a man in the canoe. Of +course, the horses and mules at first refused to take to the water, +and it was nearly a day's work to get them across, and even then +some of our animals after crossing escaped into the woods and +undergrowth that lined the river, but we secured enough of them to +reach Sutter's Fort, three miles back from the embcarcadero, where +we encamped at the old slough, or pond, near the fort. On +application, Captain Butter sent some Indians back into the bushes, +who recovered and brought in all our animals. At that time there +was not the sign of a habitation there or thereabouts, except the +fort, and an old adobe-house, east of the fort, known as the +hospital. The fort itself was one of adobe-walls, about twenty +feet high, rectangular in form, with two-story block houses at +diagonal corners. The entrance was by a large gate, open by day +and closed at night, with two iron ship's guns near at hand. +Inside there was a large house, with a good shingle-roof, used as a +storehouse, and all round the walls were ranged rooms, the fort +wall being the outer wall of the house. The inner wall also was of +adobe. These rooms were used by Captain Sutter himself and by his +people. He had a blacksmith's shop, carpenter's shop, etc., and +other rooms where the women made blankets. Sutter was monarch of +all he surveyed, and had authority to inflict punishment even unto +death, a power he did not fail to use. He had horses, cattle, and +sheep, and of these he gave liberally and without price to all in +need. He caused to be driven into our camp a beef and some sheep, +which were slaughtered for our use. Already the goldmines were +beginning to be felt. Many people were then encamped, some going +and some coming, all full of gold-stories, and each surpassing the +other. We found preparations in progress for celebrating the +Fourth of July, then close at hand, and we agreed to remain over to +assist on the occasion; of course, being the high officials, we +were the honored guests. People came from a great distance to +attend this celebration of the Fourth of July, and the tables were +laid in the large room inside the storehouse of the fort. A man of +some note, named Sinclair, presided, and after a substantial meal +and a reasonable supply of aguardiente we began the toasts. All +that I remember is that Folsom and I spoke for our party; others, +Captain Sutter included, made speeches, and before the celebration +was over Sutter was enthusiastic, and many others showed the +effects of the aguardiente. The next day (namely, July 5, 1848) we +resumed our journey toward the mines, and, in twenty-five miles of +as hot and dusty a ride as possible, we reached Mormon Island. I +have heretofore stated that the gold was first found in the +tail-race of the stew-mill at Coloma, forty miles above Sutter's +Fort, or fifteen above Mormon Island, in the bed of the American +Fork of the Sacramento River. It seems that Sutter had employed an +American named Marshall, a sort of millwright, to do this work for +him, but Marshall afterward claimed that in the matter of the +saw-mill they were copartners. At all events, Marshall and the +family of Mr. Wimmer were living at Coloma, where the pine-trees +afforded the best material for lumber. He had under him four white +men, Mormons, who had been discharged from Cooke's battalion, and +some Indians. These were engaged in hewing logs, building a +mill-dam, and putting up a saw-mill. Marshall, as the architect, +had made the "tub-wheel," and had set it in motion, and had also +furnished some of the rude parts of machinery necessary for an +ordinary up-and-down saw-mill. + +Labor was very scarce, expensive, and had to be economized. The +mill was built over a dry channel of the river which was calculated +to be the tail-race. After arranging his head-race, dam and +tub-wheel, he let on the water to test the goodness of his +machinery. It worked very well until it was found that the +tail-race did not carry off the water fast enough, so he put his +men to work in a rude way to clear out the tail-race. They +scratched a kind of ditch down the middle of the dry channel, +throwing the coarser stones to one side; then, letting on the water +again, it would run with velocity down the channel, washing away +the dirt, thus saving labor. This course of action was repeated +several times, acting exactly like the long Tom afterward resorted +to by the miners. As Marshall himself was working in this ditch, +he observed particles of yellow metal which he gathered up in his +hand, when it seemed to have suddenly flashed across his mind that +it was gold. After picking up about an ounce, he hurried down to +the fort to report to Captain Sutter his discovery. Captain Sutter +himself related to me Marshall's account, saying that, as he sat in +his room at the fort one day in February or March, 1848, a knock +was heard at his door, and he called out, "Come in." In walked +Marshall, who was a half-crazy man at best, but then looked +strangely wild. "What is the matter, Marshall!" Marshall +inquired if any one was within hearing, and began to peer about the +room, and look under the bed, when Sutter, fearing that some +calamity had befallen the party up at the saw-mill, and that +Marshall was really crazy, began to make his way to the door, +demanding of Marshall to explain what was the matter. At last he +revealed his discovery, and laid before Captain Sutter the +pellicles of gold he had picked up in the ditch. At first, Sutter +attached little or no importance to the discovery, and told +Marshall to go back to the mill, and say nothing of what he had +seen to Mr. Wimmer, or any one else. Yet, as it might add value to +the location, he dispatched to our headquarters at Monterey, as I +have already related, the two men with a written application for a +preemption to the quarter-section of land at Coloma. Marshall +returned to the mill, but could not keep out of his wonderful +ditch, and by some means the other men employed there learned his +secret. They then wanted to gather the gold, and Marshall +threatened to shoot them if they attempted it; but these men had +sense enough to know that if "placer"-gold existed at Coloma, it +would also be found farther down-stream, and they gradually +"prospected" until they reached Mormon Island, fifteen miles below, +where they discovered one of the richest placers on earth. These +men revealed the fact to some other Mormons who were employed by +Captain Sutter at a grist-mill he was building still lower down the +American Fork, and six miles above his fort. All of them struck +for higher wages, to which Sutter yielded, until they asked ten +dollars a day, which he refused, and the two mills on which he had +spent so much money were never built, and fell into decay. + + +In my opinion, when the Mormons were driven from Nauvoo, Illinois, +in 1844, they cast about for a land where they would not be +disturbed again, and fixed on California. In the year 1845 a ship, +the Brooklyn, sailed from New York for California, with a colony of +Mormons, of which Sam Brannan was the leader, and we found them +there on our arrival in January, 1847. When General Kearney, at +Fort Leavenworth, was collecting volunteers early in 1846, for the +Mexican War, he, through the instrumentality of Captain James +Allen, brother to our quartermaster, General Robert Allen, raised +the battalion of Mormons at Kanesville, Iowa, now Council Bluffs, +on the express understanding that it would facilitate their +migration to California. But when the Mormons reached Salt Lake, +in 1846, they learned that they had been forestalled by the United +States forces in California, and they then determined to settle +down where they were. Therefore, when this battalion of five +companies of Mormons (raised by Allen, who died on the way, and was +succeeded by Cooke) was discharged at Los Angeles, California, in +the early summer of 1847, most of the men went to their people at +Salt Lake, with all the money received, as pay from the United +States, invested in cattle and breeding-horses; one company +reenlisted for another year, and the remainder sought work in the +country. As soon as the fame of the gold discovery spread through +California, the Mormons naturally turned to Mormon Island, so that +in July, 1848, we found about three hundred of them there at work. +Sam Brannan was on hand as the high-priest, collecting the tithes. +Clark, of Clark's Point, an early pioneer, was there also, and +nearly all the Mormons who had come out in the Brooklyn, or who had +staid in California after the discharge of their battalion, had +collected there. I recall the scene as perfectly to-day as though +it were yesterday. In the midst of a broken country, all parched +and dried by the hot sun of July, sparsely wooded with live-oaks +and straggling pines, lay the valley of the American River, with +its bold mountain-stream coming out of the Snowy Mountains to the +east. In this valley is a fiat, or gravel-bed, which in high water +is an island, or is overflown, but at the time of our visit was +simply a level gravel-bed of the river. On its edges men were +digging, and filling buckets with the finer earth and gravel, which +was carried to a machine made like a baby's cradle, open at the +foot, and at the head a plate of sheet-iron or zinc, punctured full +of holes. On this metallic plate was emptied the earth, and water +was then poured on it from buckets, while one man shook the cradle +with violent rocking by a handle. On the bottom were nailed cleats +of wood. With this rude machine four men could earn from forty to +one hundred dollars a day, averaging sixteen dollars, or a gold +ounce, per man per day. While the' sun blazed down on the heads of +the miners with tropical heat, the water was bitter cold, and all +hands were either standing in the water or had their clothes wet +all the time; yet there were no complaints of rheumatism or cold. +We made our camp on a small knoll, a little below the island, and +from it could overlook the busy scene. A few bush-huts near by +served as stores, boardinghouses, and for sleeping; but all hands +slept on the ground, with pine-leaves and blankets for bedding. As +soon as the news spread that the Governor was there, persons came +to see us, and volunteered all kinds of information, illustrating +it by samples of the gold, which was of a uniform kind, +"scale-gold," bright and beautiful. A large variety, of every +conceivable shape and form, was found in the smaller gulches round +about, but the gold in the river-bed was uniformly "scale-gold." I +remember that Mr. Clark was in camp, talking to Colonel Mason about +matters and things generally, when he inquired, "Governor, what +business has Sam Brannan to collect the tithes here?" Clark +admitted that Brannan was the head of the Mormon church in +California, and he was simply questioning as to Brannan's right, as +high-priest, to compel the Mormons to pay him the regular tithes. +Colonel Mason answered, "Brannan has a perfect right to collect the +tax, if you Mormons are fools enough to pay it." "Then," said +Clark, "I for one won't pay it any longer." Colonel Mason added: +"This is public land, and the gold is the property of the United +States; all of you here are trespassers, but, as the Government is +benefited by your getting out the gold, I do not intend to +interfere." I understood, afterward, that from that time the +payment of the tithes ceased, but Brannan had already collected +enough money wherewith to hire Sutter's hospital, and to open a +store there, in which he made more money than any merchant in +California, during that summer and fall. The understanding was, that +the money collected by him as tithes was the foundation of his +fortune, which is still very large in San Francisco. That evening +we all mingled freely with the miners, and witnessed the process of +cleaning up and "panning" out, which is the last process for +separating the pure gold from the fine dirt and black sand. + +The next day we continued our journey up the valley of the American +Fork, stopping at various camps, where mining was in progress; and +about noon we reached Coloma, the place where gold had been first +discovered. The hills were higher, and the timber of better +quality. The river was narrower and bolder, and but few miners +were at work there, by reason of Marshall's and Sutter's claim to +the site. There stood the sawmill unfinished, the dam and +tail-race just as they were left when the Mormons ceased work. +Marshall and Wimmer's family of wife and half a dozen children were +there, guarding their supposed treasure; living in a house made of +clapboards. Here also we were shown many specimens of gold, of a +coarser grain than that found at Mormon Island. The next day we +crossed the American River to its north side, and visited many +small camps of men, in what were called the "dry diggings." Little +pools of water stood in the beds of the streams, and these were +used to wash the dirt; and there the gold was in every conceivable +shape and size, some of the specimens weighing several ounces. +Some of these "diggings" were extremely rich, but as a whole they +were more precarious in results than at the river. Sometimes a +lucky fellow would hit on a "pocket," and collect several thousand +dollars in a few days, and then again he would be shifting about +from place to place, "prospecting," and spending all he had made. +Little stores were being opened at every point, where flour, bacon, +etc., were sold; every thing being a dollar a pound, and a meal +usually costing three dollars. Nobody paid for a bed, for he slept +on the ground, without fear of cold or rain. We spent nearly a +week in that region, and were quite bewildered by the fabulous +tales of recent discoveries, which at the time were confined to the +several forks of the American and Yuba Rivers.' All this time our +horses had nothing to eat but the sparse grass in that region, and +we were forced to work our way down toward the Sacramento Valley, +or to see our animals perish. Still we contemplated a visit to the +Yuba and Feather Rivers, from which we had heard of more wonderful +"diggings;" but met a courier, who announced the arrival of a ship +at Monterey, with dispatches of great importance from Mazatlan. We +accordingly turned our horses back to Sutter's Fort. Crossing the +Sacramento again by swimming our horses, and ferrying their loads +in that solitary canoe, we took our back track as far as the Napa, +and then turned to Benicia, on Carquinez Straits. We found there a +solitary adobe-house, occupied by Mr. Hastings and his family, +embracing Dr. Semple, the proprietor of the ferry. This ferry was +a ship's-boat, with a latteen-sail, which could carry across at one +time six or eight horses. + +It took us several days to cross over, and during that time we got +well acquainted with the doctor, who was quite a character. He had +come to California from Illinois, and was brother to Senator +Semple. He was about seven feet high, and very intelligent. When +we first reached Monterey, he had a printing-press, which belonged +to the United States, having been captured at the custom-house, and +had been used to print custom-house blanks. With this Dr. Semple, +as editor, published the Californian, a small sheet of news, once a +week; and it was a curiosity in its line, using two v's for a w, +and other combinations of letters, made necessary by want of type. +After some time he removed to Yerba Buena with his paper, and it +grew up to be the Alta California of today. Foreseeing, as he +thought, the growth of a great city somewhere on the Bay of San +Francisco, he selected Carquinez Straits as its location, and +obtained from General Vallejo a title to a league of land, on +condition of building up a city thereon to bear the name of +Vallejo's wife. This was Francisca Benicia; accordingly, the new +city was named "Francisca." At this time, the town near the mouth +of the bay was known universally as Yerba Buena; but that name was +not known abroad, although San Francisco was familiar to the whole +civilized world. Now, some of the chief men of Yerba Buena, +Folsom, Howard, Leidesdorf, and others, knowing the importance of a +name, saw their danger, and, by some action of the ayuntamiento, or +town council, changed the name of Yerba Buena to "San Francisco." +Dr. Semple was outraged at their changing the name to one so like +his of Francisca, and he in turn changed his town to the other name +of Mrs. Vallejo, viz., "Benicia;" and Benicia it has remained to +this day. I am convinced that this little circumstance was big +with consequences. That Benicia has the best natural site for a +commercial city, I am, satisfied; and had half the money and half +the labor since bestowed upon San Francisco been expended at +Benicia, we should have at this day a city of palaces on the +Carquinez Straits. The name of "San Francisco," however, fixed the +city where it now is; for every ship in 1848-'49, which cleared +from any part of the world, knew the name of San Francisco, but not +Yerba Buena or Benicia; and, accordingly, ships consigned to +California came pouring in with their contents, and were anchored +in front of Yerba Buena, the first town. Captains and crews +deserted for the gold-mines, and now half the city in front of +Montgomery Street is built over the hulks thus abandoned. But Dr. +Semple, at that time, was all there was of Benicia; he was captain +and crew of his ferry boat, and managed to pass our party to the +south side of Carquinez Straits in about two days. + +Thence we proceeded up Amador Valley to Alameda Creek, and so on to +the old mission of San Jose; thence to the pueblo of San Jose, +where Folsom and those belonging in Yerba Buena went in that +direction, and we continued on to Monterey, our party all the way +giving official sanction to the news from the gold-mines, and +adding new force to the "fever." + +On reaching Monterey, we found dispatches from Commodore Shubrick, +at Mazatlan, which gave almost positive assurance that the war with +Mexico was over; that hostilities had ceased, and commissioners +were arranging the terms of peace at Guadalupe Hidalgo. It was +well that this news reached California at that critical time; for +so contagious had become the "gold-fever" that everybody was +bound to go and try his fortune, and the volunteer regiment of +Stevenson's would have deserted en masse, had the men not been +assured that they would very soon be entitled to an honorable +discharge. + +Many of our regulars did desert, among them the very men who had +escorted us faithfully to the mines and back. Our servants also +left us, and nothing less than three hundred dollars a month would +hire a man in California; Colonel Mason's black boy, Aaron, alone +of all our then servants proving faithful. We were forced to +resort to all manner of shifts to live. First, we had a mess with +a black fellow we called Bustamente as cook; but he got the fever, +and had to go. We next took a soldier, but he deserted, and +carried off my double-barreled shot-gun, which I prized very +highly. To meet this condition of facts, Colonel Mason ordered +that liberal furloughs should be given to the soldiers, and +promises to all in turn, and he allowed all the officers to draw +their rations in kind. As the actual valve of the ration was very +large, this enabled us to live. Halleck, Murray, Ord, and I, +boarded with Dona Augustias, and turned in our rations as pay for +our board. + +Some time in September, 1848, the official news of the treaty of +peace reached us, and the Mexican War was over. This treaty was +signed in May, and came to us all the way by land by a courier from +Lower California, sent from La Paz by Lieutenant-Colonel Burton. +On its receipt, orders were at once made for the muster-out of all +of Stevenson's regiment, and our military forces were thus reduced +to the single company of dragoons at Los Angeles, and the one +company of artillery at Monterey. Nearly all business had ceased, +except that connected with gold; and, during that fall, Colonel +Mason, Captain Warner, and I, made another trip up to Sutter's +Fort, going also to the newly-discovered mines on the Stanislaus, +called "Sonora," named from the miners of Sonora, Mexico, who had +first discovered them. We found there pretty much the same state +of facts as before existed at Mormon Island and Coloma, and we +daily received intelligence of the opening of still other mines +north and south. + +But I have passed over a very interesting fact. As soon as we had +returned from our first visit to the gold-mines, it became +important to send home positive knowledge of this valuable +discovery. The means of communication with the United States were +very precarious, and I suggested to Colonel Mason that a special +courier ought to be sent; that Second-Lieutenant Loeser had been +promoted to first-lieutenant, and was entitled to go home. He was +accordingly detailed to carry the news. I prepared with great care +the letter to the adjutant-general of August 17, 1848, which +Colonel Mason modified in a few Particulars; and, as it was +important to send not only the specimens which had been presented +to us along our route of travel, I advised the colonel to allow +Captain Folsom to purchase and send to Washington a large sample of +the commercial gold in general use, and to pay for the same out of +the money in his hands known as the "civil fund," arising from +duties collected at the several ports in California. He consented +to this, and Captain Folsom bought an oyster-can full at ten +dollars the ounce, which was the rate of value at which it was then +received at the custom house. Folsom was instructed further to +contract with some vessel to carry the messenger to South America, +where he could take the English steamers as far east as Jamaica, +with a conditional charter giving increased payment if the vessel +could catch the October steamer. Folsom chartered the bark La +Lambayecana, owned and navigated by Henry D. Cooke, who has since +been the Governor of the District of Columbia. In due time this +vessel reached Monterey, and Lieutenant Loeser, with his report and +specimens of gold, embarked and sailed. He reached the South +American Continent at Payta, Peru, in time; took the English +steamer of October to Panama, and thence went on to Kingston, +Jamaica, where he found a sailing vessel bound for New Orleans. On +reaching New Orleans, he telegraphed to the War Department his +arrival; but so many delays had occurred that he did not reach +Washington in time to have the matter embraced in the President's +regular message of 1848, as we had calculated. Still, the +President made it the subject of a special message, and thus became +"official" what had before only reached the world in a very +indefinite shape. Then began that wonderful development, and the +great emigration to California, by land and by sea, of 1849 and +1850. + +As before narrated, Mason, Warner, and I, made a second visit to +the mines in September and October, 1848. As the winter season +approached, Colonel Mason returned to Monterey, and I remained for +a time at Sutter's Fort. In order to share somewhat in the riches +of the land, we formed a partnership in a store at Coloma, in +charge of Norman S. Bestor, who had been Warner's clerk. We +supplied the necessary money, fifteen hundred dollars (five hundred +dollars each), and Bestor carried on the store at Coloma for his +share. Out of this investment, each of us realized a profit of +about fifteen hundred dollars. Warner also got a regular leave of +absence, and contracted with Captain Sutter for surveying and +locating the town of Sacramento. He received for this sixteen +dollars per day for his services as surveyor; and Sutter paid all +the hands engaged in the work. The town was laid off mostly up +about the fort, but a few streets were staked off along the river +bank, and one or two leading to it. Captain Sutter always +contended, however, that no town could possibly exist on the +immediate bank of the river, because the spring freshets rose over +the bank, and frequently it was necessary to swim a horse to reach +the boat-landing. Nevertheless, from the very beginning the town +began to be built on the very river-bank, viz., First, Second, and +Third Streets, with J and K Streets leading back. Among the +principal merchants and traders of that winter, at Sacramento, were +Sam Brannan and Hensley, Reading & Co. For several years the site +was annually flooded; but the people have persevered in building +the levees, and afterward in raising all the streets, so that +Sacramento is now a fine city, the capital of the State, and stands +where, in 1848, was nothing but a dense mass of bushes, vines, and +submerged land. The old fort has disappeared altogether. + +During the fall of 1848, Warner, Ord, and I, camped on the bank of +the American River, abreast of the fort, at what was known as the +"Old Tan-Yard." I was cook, Ord cleaned up the dishes, and Warner +looked after the horses; but Ord was deposed as scullion because he +would only wipe the tin plates with a tuft of grass, according to +the custom of the country, whereas Warner insisted on having them +washed after each meal with hot water. Warner was in consequence +promoted to scullion, and Ord became the hostler. We drew our +rations in kind from the commissary at San Francisco, who sent them +up to us by a boat; and we were thus enabled to dispense a generous +hospitality to many a poor devil who otherwise would have had +nothing to eat. + +The winter of 1848 '49 was a period of intense activity throughout +California. The rainy season was unfavorable to the operations of +gold-mining, and was very hard upon the thousands of houseless men +and women who dwelt in the mountains, and even in the towns. Most +of the natives and old inhabitants had returned to their ranches +and houses; yet there were not roofs enough in the country to +shelter the thousands who had arrived by sea and by land. The news +had gone forth to the whole civilized world that gold in fabulous +quantities was to be had for the mere digging, and adventurers came +pouring in blindly to seek their fortunes, without a thought of +house or food. Yerba Buena had been converted into San Francisco. +Sacramento City had been laid out, lots were being rapidly sold, +and the town was being built up as an entrepot to the mines. +Stockton also had been chosen as a convenient point for trading +with the lower or southern mines. Captain Sutter was the sole +proprietor of the former, and Captain Charles Weber was the owner +of the site of Stockton, which was as yet known as "French Camp." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +EARLY RECOLLECTIONS OF CALIFORNIA--(CONTINUED). + +1849-1850. + + +The department headquarters still remained at Monterey, but, with +the few soldiers, we had next to nothing to do. In midwinter we +heard of the approach of a battalion of the Second Dragoons, under +Major Lawrence Pike Graham, with Captains Rucker, Coutts, Campbell, +and others, along. So exhausted were they by their long march from +Upper Mexico that we had to send relief to meet them as they +approached. When this command reached Los Angeles, it was left +there as the garrison, and Captain A. J. Smith's company of the +First Dragoons was brought up to San Francisco. We were also +advised that the Second Infantry, Colonel B. Riley, would be sent +out around Cape Horn in sailing-ships; that the Mounted Rifles, +under Lieutenant-Colonel Loring, would march overland to Oregon; +and that Brigadier-General Persifer F. Smith would come out in +chief command on the Pacific coast. It was also known that a +contract had been entered into with parties in New York and New +Orleans for a monthly line of steamers from those cities to +California, via Panama. Lieutenant-Colonel Burton had come up from +Lower California, and, as captain of the Third Artillery, he was +assigned to command Company F, Third Artillery, at Monterey. +Captain Warner remained at Sacramento, surveying; and Halleck, +Murray, Ord, and I, boarded with Dona Augustias. The season was +unusually rainy and severe, but we passed the time with the usual +round of dances and parties. The time fixed for the arrival of the +mail-steamer was understood to be about January 1, 1849, but the +day came and went without any tidings of her. Orders were given to +Captain Burton to announce her arrival by firing a national +salute, and each morning we listened for the guns from the fort. +The month of January passed, and the greater part of February, too. +As was usual, the army officers celebrated the 22d of February with +a grand ball, given in the new stone school-house, which Alcalde +Walter Colton had built. It was the largest and best hall then in +California. The ball was really a handsome affair, and we kept it +up nearly all night. The next morning we were at breakfast: +present, Dona Augustias, and Manuelita, Halleck, Murray, and +myself. We were dull and stupid enough until a gun from the fort +aroused us, then another and another. "The steamer" exclaimed all, +and, without waiting for hats or any thing, off we dashed. I +reached the wharf hatless, but the dona sent my cap after me by a +servant. The white puffs of smoke hung around the fort, mingled +with the dense fog, which hid all the water of the bay, and well +out to sea could be seen the black spars of some unknown vessel. +At the wharf I found a group of soldiers and a small row-boat, +which belonged to a brig at anchor in the bay. Hastily ordering a +couple of willing soldiers to get in and take the oars, and Mr. +Larkin and Mr. Hartnell asking to go along, we jumped in and pushed +off. Steering our boat toward the spars, which loomed up above the +fog clear and distinct, in about a mile we came to the black hull +of the strange monster, the long-expected and most welcome steamer +California. Her wheels were barely moving, for her pilot could not +see the shore-line distinctly, though the hills and Point of Pines +could be clearly made out over the fog, and occasionally a glimpse +of some white walls showed where the town lay. A "Jacob's ladder" +was lowered for us from the steamer, and in a minute I scrambled up +on deck, followed by Larkin and Hartnell, and we found ourselves +in the midst of many old friends. There was Canby, the +adjutant-general, who was to take my place; Charley Hoyt, my cousin; +General Persifer F. Smith and wife; Gibbs, his aide-de-camp; Major +Ogden, of the Engineers, and wife; and, indeed, many old +Californians, among them Alfred Robinson, and Frank Ward with his +pretty bride. By the time the ship was fairly at anchor we had +answered a million of questions about gold and the state of the +country; and, learning that the ship was out of fuel, had informed +the captain (Marshall) that there was abundance of pine-wood, but no +willing hands to cut it; that no man could be hired at less than an +ounce of gold a day, unless the soldiers would volunteer to do it +for some agreed-upon price. As for coal, there was not a pound in +Monterey, or anywhere else in California. Vessels with coal were +known to be en route around Cape Horn, but none had yet reached +California. + +The arrival of this steamer was the beginning of a new epoch on the +Pacific coast; yet there she lay, helpless, without coal or fuel. +The native Californians, who had never seen a steamship, stood for +days on the beach looking at her, with the universal exclamation, +"Tan feo!"--how ugly!--and she was truly ugly when compared with +the clean, well-sparred frigates and sloops-of-war that had +hitherto been seen on the North Pacific coast. It was first +supposed it would take ten days to get wood enough to prosecute her +voyage, and therefore all the passengers who could took up their +quarters on shore. Major Canby relieved me, and took the place I +had held so long as adjutant-general of the Department of +California. The time seemed most opportune for me to leave the +service, as I had several splendid offers of employment and of +partnership, and, accordingly, I made my written resignation; but +General Smith put his veto upon it, saying that he was to command +the Division of the Pacific, while General Riley was to have the +Department of California, and Colonel Loring that of Oregon. He +wanted me as his adjutant-general, because of my familiarity with +the country, and knowledge of its then condition: At the time, he +had on his staff Gibbs as aide-de-camp, and Fitzgerald as +quartermaster. He also had along with him quite a retinue of +servants, hired with a clear contract to serve him for a whole year +after reaching California, every one of whom deserted, except a +young black fellow named Isaac. Mrs. Smith, a pleasant but +delicate Louisiana lady, had a white maid-servant, in whose +fidelity she had unbounded confidence; but this girl was married to +a perfect stranger, and off before she had even landed in San +Francisco. It was, therefore, finally arranged that, on the +California, I was to accompany General Smith to San Francisco as +his adjutant-general. I accordingly sold some of my horses, and +arranged for others to go up by land; and from that time I became +fairly enlisted in the military family of General Persifer F. +Smith. + +I parted with my old commander, Colonel Mason, with sincere regret. +To me he had ever been kind and considerate, and, while stern, +honest to a fault, he was the very embodiment of the principle of +fidelity to the interests of the General Government. He possessed +a native strong intellect, and far more knowledge of the principles +of civil government and law than he got credit for. In private and +public expenditures he was extremely economical, but not penurious. +In cases where the officers had to contribute money for parties and +entertainments, he always gave a double share, because of his +allowance of double rations. During our frequent journeys, I was +always caterer, and paid all the bills. In settling with him he +required a written statement of the items of account, but never +disputed one of them. During our time, California was, as now, +full of a bold, enterprising, and speculative set of men, who were +engaged in every sort of game to make money. I know that +Colonel-Mason was beset by them to use his position to make a +fortune for himself and his friends; but he never bought land or +town-lots, because, he said, it was his place to hold the public +estate for the Government as free and unencumbered by claims as +possible; and when I wanted him to stop the public-land sales in San +Francisco, San Jose, etc., he would not; for, although he did not +believe the titles given by the alcaldes worth a cent, yet they +aided to settle the towns and public lands, and he thought, on the +whole, the Government would be benefited thereby. The same thing +occurred as to the gold-mines. He never took a title to a town lot, +unless it was one, of no real value, from Alcalde Colton, in +Monterey, of which I have never heard since. He did take a share in +the store which Warner, Beator, and I, opened at Coloma, paid his +share of the capital, five hundred dollars, and received his share +of the profits, fifteen hundred dollars. I think also he took a +share in a venture to China with Larkin and others; but, on leaving +California, he was glad to sell out without profit or loss. In the +stern discharge of his duty he made some bitter enemies, among them +Henry M. Naglee, who, in the newspapers of the day, endeavored to +damage his fair name. But, knowing him intimately, I am certain +that he is entitled to all praise for having so controlled the +affairs of the country that, when his successor arrived, all things +were so disposed that a civil form of government was an easy matter +of adjustment. Colonel Mason was relieved by General Riley some +time in April, and left California in the steamer of the 1st May for +Washington and St. Louis, where he died of cholera in the summer of +1850, and his body is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery. His widow +afterward married Major (since General) Don Carlos Buell, and is now +living in Kentucky. + +In overhauling the hold of the steamer California, as she lay at +anchor in Monterey Bay, a considerable amount of coal was found +under some heavy duplicate machinery. With this, and such wood as +had been gathered, she was able to renew her voyage. The usual +signal was made, and we all went on board. About the 1st of March +we entered the Heads, and anchored off San Francisco, near the +United States line-of-battle-ship Ohio, Commodore T. Catesby Jones. +As was the universal custom of the day, the crew of the California +deserted her; and she lay for months unable to make a trip back to +Panama, as was expected of her. As soon as we reached San +Francisco, the first thing was to secure an office and a house to +live in. The weather was rainy and stormy, and snow even lay on +the hills back of the Mission. Captain Folsom, the quartermaster, +agreed to surrender for our office the old adobe custom house, on +the upper corner of the plaza, as soon as he could remove his +papers and effects down to one of his warehouses on the beach; and +he also rented for us as quarters the old Hudson Bay Company house +on Montgomery Street, which had been used by Howard & Mellua as a +store, and at that very time they were moving their goods into a +larger brick building just completed for them. As these changes +would take some time, General Smith and Colonel Ogden, with their +wives, accepted the hospitality offered by Commodore Jones on board +the Ohio. I opened the office at the custom house, and Gibbs, +Fitzgerald, and some others of us, slept in the loft of the Hudson +Bay Company house until the lower part was cleared of Howard's +store, after which General Smith and the ladies moved in. There we +had a general mess, and the efforts at house-keeping were simply +ludicrous. One servant after another, whom General Smith had +brought from New Orleans, with a solemn promise to stand by him for +one whole year, deserted without a word of notice or explanation, +and in a few days none remained but little Isaac. The ladies had +no maid or attendants; and the general, commanding all the mighty +forces of the United States on the Pacific coast, had to scratch to +get one good meal a day for his family! He was a gentleman of fine +social qualities, genial and gentle, and joked at every thing. +Poor Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Ogden did not bear it so philosophically. +Gibbs, Fitzgerald, and I, could cruise around and find a meal, +which cost three dollars, at some of the many restaurants which had +sprung up out of red-wood boards and cotton lining; but the general +and ladies could not go out, for ladies were rara aves at that day +in California. Isaac was cook, chamber-maid, and everything, +thoughtless of himself, and struggling, out of the slimmest means, +to compound a breakfast for a large and hungry family. Breakfast +would be announced any time between ten and twelve, and dinner +according to circumstances. Many a time have I seen General Smith, +with a can of preserved meat in his hands, going toward the house, +take off his hat on meeting a negro, and, on being asked the reason +of his politeness, he would answer that they were the only real +gentlemen in California. I confess that the fidelity of Colonel +Mason's boy "Aaron," and of General Smith's boy "Isaac," at a time +when every white man laughed at promises as something made to be +broken, has given me a kindly feeling of respect for the negroes, +and makes me hope that they will find an honorable "status" in the +jumble of affairs in which we now live. + +That was a dull hard winter in San Francisco; the rains were heavy, +and the mud fearful. I have seen mules stumble in the street, and +drown in the liquid mud! Montgomery Street had been filled up with +brush and clay, and I always dreaded to ride on horseback along it, +because the mud was so deep that a horse's legs would become +entangled in the bushes below, and the rider was likely to be +thrown and drowned in the mud. The only sidewalks were made of +stepping-stones of empty boxes, and here and there a few planks +with barrel-staves nailed on. All the town lay along Montgomery +Street, from Sacramento to Jackson, and about the plaza. Gambling +was the chief occupation of the people. While they were waiting +for the cessation of the rainy season, and for the beginning of +spring, all sorts of houses were being put up, but of the most +flimsy kind, and all were stores, restaurants, or gambling +-saloons. Any room twenty by sixty feet would rent for a thousand +dollars a month. I had, as my pay, seventy dollars a month, and no +one would even try to hire a servant under three hundred dollars. +Had it not been for the fifteen hundred dollars I had made in the +store at Coloma, I could not have lived through the winter. About +the 1st of April arrived the steamer Oregon; but her captain +(Pearson) knew what was the state of affairs on shore, and ran his +steamer alongside the line-of-battle-ship Ohio at Saucelito, and +obtained the privilege of leaving his crew on board as "prisoners" +until he was ready to return to sea. Then, discharging his +passengers and getting coal out of some of the ships which had +arrived, he retook his crew out of limbo and carried the first +regular mail back to Panama early in April. In regular order +arrived the third steamer, the Panama; and, as the vessels were +arriving with coal, The California was enabled to hire a crew and +get off. From that time forward these three ships constituted the +regular line of mail-steamers, which has been kept up ever since. +By the steamer Oregon arrived out Major R. P. Hammond, J. M. +Williams, James Blair, and others; also the gentlemen who, with +Major Ogden, were to compose a joint commission to select the sites +for the permanent forts and navyyard of California. This +commission was composed of Majors Ogden, Smith, and Leadbetter, of, +the army, and Captains Goldsborough, Van Brunt, and Blunt, of the +navy. These officers, after a most careful study of the whole +subject, selected Mare Island for the navy-yard, and "Benicia" for +the storehouses and arsenals of the army. The Pacific Mail +Steamship Company also selected Benicia as their depot. Thus was +again revived the old struggle for supremacy of these two points +as the site of the future city of the Pacific. Meantime, however, +San Francisco had secured the name. About six hundred ships were +anchored there without crews, and could not get away; and there the +city was, and had to be. + +Nevertheless, General Smith, being disinterested and unprejudiced, +decided on Benicia as the point where the city ought to be, and +where the army headquarters should be. By the Oregon there arrived +at San Francisco a man who deserves mention here--Baron +Steinberger. He had been a great cattle-dealer in the United +States, and boasted that he had helped to break the United States +Bank, by being indebted to it five million dollars! At all events, +he was a splendid looking fellow, and brought with him from +Washington a letter to General Smith and another for Commodore +Jones, to the effect that he was a man of enlarged experience in +beef; that the authorities in Washington knew that there existed in +California large herds of cattle, which were only valuable for +their hides and tallow; that it was of great importance to the +Government that this beef should be cured and salted so as to be of +use to the army and navy, obviating the necessity of shipping +salt-beef around Cape Horn. I know he had such a letter from the +Secretary of War, Marcy, to General Smith, for it passed into my +custody, and I happened to be in Commodore Jones's cabin when the +baron presented the one for him from the Secretary of the Navy. +The baron was anxious to pitch in at once, and said that all he +needed to start with were salt and barrels. After some inquiries +of his purser, the commodore promised to let him have the barrels +with their salt, as fast as they were emptied by the crew. Then +the baron explained that he could get a nice lot of cattle from Don +Timoteo Murphy, at the Mission of San Rafael, on the north aide of +the bay, but he could not get a boat and crew to handle them. +Under the authority from the Secretary of the Navy, the commodore +then promised him the use of a boat and crew, until he (the baron) +could find and purchase a suitable one for himself. Then the baron +opened the first regular butcher-shop in San Francisco, on the +wharf about the foot of Broadway or Pacific Street, where we could +buy at twenty-five or fifty cents a pound the best roasts, steaks, +and cuts of beef, which had cost him nothing, for he never paid +anybody if he could help it, and he soon cleaned poor Don Timoteo +out. At first, every boat of his, in coming down from the San +Rafael, touched at the Ohio, and left the best beefsteaks and +roasts for the commodore, but soon the baron had enough money to +dispense with the borrowed boat, and set up for himself, and from +this small beginning, step by step, he rose in a few months to be +one of the richest and most influential men in San Francisco; but +in his wild speculations he was at last caught, and became +helplessly bankrupt. He followed General Fremont to St. Louis in +1861, where I saw him, but soon afterward he died a pauper in one +of the hospitals. When General Smith had his headquarters in San +Francisco, in the spring of 1849, Steinberger gave dinners worthy +any baron of old; and when, in after-years, I was a banker there, +he used to borrow of me small sums of money in repayment for my +share of these feasts; and somewhere among my old packages I hold +one of his confidential notes for two hundred dollars, but on the +whole I got off easily. I have no doubt that, if this man's +history could be written out, it would present phases as wonderful +as any of romance; but in my judgment he was a dangerous man, +without any true-sense of honor or honesty. + +Little by little the rains of that season grew less and less, and +the hills once more became green and covered with flowers. It +became perfectly evident that no family could live in San Francisco +on such a salary as Uncle Sam allowed his most favored officials; +so General Smith and Major Ogden concluded to send their families +back to the United States, and afterward we men-folks could take to +camp and live on our rations. The Second Infantry had arrived, and +had been distributed, four companies to Monterey, and the rest +somewhat as Stevenson's regiment had been. A. J. Smith's company +of dragoons was sent up to Sonoma, whither General Smith had +resolved to move our headquarters. On the steamer which sailed +about May 1st (I think the California), we embarked, the ladies for +home and we for Monterey. At Monterey we went on shore, and +Colonel Mason, who meantime had been relieved by General Riley, +went on board, and the steamer departed for Panama. Of all that +party I alone am alive. + +General Riley had, with his family, taken the house which Colonel +Mason had formerly used, and Major Canby and wife had secured rooms +at Alvarado's. Captain Bane was quartermaster, and had his family +in the house of a man named Garner, near the redoubt. Burton and +Company F were still at the fort; the four companies of the Second +Infantry were quartered in the barracks, the same building in which +we had had our headquarters; and the company officers were +quartered in hired buildings near by. General Smith and his aide, +Captain Gibbs, went to Larkin's house, and I was at my old rooms at +Dona Augustias. As we intended to go back to San Francisco by land +and afterward to travel a good deal, General Smith gave me the +necessary authority to fit out the party. There happened to be +several trains of horses and mules in town, so I purchased about a +dozen horses and mules at two hundred dollars a head, on account of +the Quartermaster's Department, and we had them kept under guard in +the quartermaster's corral. + +I remember one night being in the quarters of Lieutenant Alfred +Sully, where nearly all the officers of the garrison were +assembled, listening to Sully's stories. Lieutenant Derby, +"Squibob," was one of the number, as also Fred Steele, "Neighbor" +Jones, and others, when, just after "tattoo," the orderly-sergeants +came to report the result of "tattoo" roll-call; one reported five +men absent, another eight, and so on, until it became certain that +twenty-eight men had deserted; and they were so bold and open in +their behavior that it amounted to defiance. They had deliberately +slung their knapsacks and started for the gold-mines. Dr. Murray +and I were the only ones present who were familiar with the +country, and I explained how easy they could all be taken by a +party going out at once to Salinas Plain, where the country was so +open and level that a rabbit could not cross without being seen; +that the deserters could not go to the mines without crossing that +plain, and could not reach it before daylight. All agreed that the +whole regiment would desert if these men were not brought back. +Several officers volunteered on the spot to go after them; and, as +the soldiers could not be trusted, it was useless to send any but +officers in pursuit. Some one went to report the affair to the +adjutant-general, Canby, and he to General Riley. I waited some +time, and, as the thing grew cold, I thought it was given up, and +went to my room and to bed. + +About midnight I was called up and informed that there were seven +officers willing to go, but the difficulty was to get horses and +saddles. I went down to Larkin's house and got General Smith to +consent that we might take the horses I had bought for our trip. +It was nearly three o'clock a.m. before we were all mounted and +ready. I had a musket which I used for hunting. With this I led +off at a canter, followed by the others. About six miles out, by +the faint moon, I saw ahead of us in the sandy road some blue +coats, and, fearing lest they might resist or escape into the dense +bushes which lined the road, I halted and found with me Paymaster +Hill, Captain N. H. Davis, and Lieutenant John Hamilton. We waited +some time for the others, viz., Canby, Murray, Gibbs, and Sully, to +come up, but as they were not in sight we made a dash up the road +and captured six of the deserters, who were Germans, with heavy +knapsacks on, trudging along the deep, sandy road. They had not +expected pursuit, had not heard our horses, and were accordingly +easily taken. Finding myself the senior officer present, I ordered +Lieutenant Hamilton to search the men and then to march them back +to Monterey, suspecting, as was the fact, that the rest of our +party had taken a road that branched off a couple of miles back. +Daylight broke as we reached the Saunas River, twelve miles out, +and there the trail was broad and fresh leading directly out on the +Saunas Plain. This plain is about five miles wide, and then the +ground becomes somewhat broken. The trail continued very plain, +and I rode on at a gallop to where there was an old adobe-ranch on +the left of the road, with the head of a lagoon, or pond, close by. +I saw one or two of the soldiers getting water at the pond, and +others up near the house. I had the best horse and was +considerably ahead, but on looking back could see Hill and Davis +coming up behind at a gallop. I motioned to them to hurry forward, +and turned my horse across the head of the pond, knowing the ground +well, as it was a favorite place for shooting geese and ducks. +Approaching the house, I ordered the men who were outside to go in. +They did not know me personally, and exchanged glances, but I had +my musket cocked, and, as the two had seen Davis and Hill coming up +pretty fast, they obeyed. Dismounting, I found the house full of +deserters, and there was no escape for them. They naturally +supposed that I had a strong party with me, and when I ordered them +to "fall in" they obeyed from habit. By the time Hill and Davis +came up I had them formed in two ranks, the front rank facing +about, and I was taking away their bayonets, pistols, etc. We +disarmed them, destroying a musket and several pistols, and, on +counting them, we found that we three had taken eighteen, which, +added to the six first captured, made twenty-four. We made them +sling their knapsacks and begin their homeward march. It was near +night when we got back, so that these deserters had traveled nearly +forty miles since "tattoo" of the night before. The other party +had captured three, so that only one man had escaped. I doubt not +this prevented the desertion of the bulk of the Second Infantry +that spring, for at that time so demoralizing was the effect of the +gold-mines that everybody not in the military service justified +desertion, because a soldier, if free, could earn more money in a +day than he received per month. Not only did soldiers and sailors +desert, but captains and masters of ships actually abandoned their +vessels and cargoes to try their luck at the mines. Preachers +and professors forgot their creeds and took to trade, and +even to keeping gambling-houses. I remember that one of our +regular soldiers, named Reese, in deserting stole a favorite +double-barreled gun of mine, and when the orderly-sergeant of the +company, Carson, was going on furlough, I asked him when he came +across Reese to try and get my gun back. When he returned he told +me that he had found Reese and offered him a hundred dollars for my +gun, but Reese sent me word that he liked the gun, and would not +take a hundred dollars for it. Soldiers or sailors who could reach +the mines were universally shielded by the miners, so that it was +next to useless to attempt their recapture. In due season General +Persifer Smith, Gibbs, and I, with some hired packers, started back +for San Francisco, and soon after we transferred our headquarters to +Sonoma. About this time Major Joseph Hooker arrived from the East +--the regular adjutant-general of the division--relieved me, and I +became thereafter one of General Smith's regular aides-de-camp. + +As there was very little to do, General Smith encouraged us to go +into any business that would enable us to make money. R. P. +Hammond, James Blair, and I, made a contract to survey for Colonel +J. D. Stevenson his newly-projected city of "New York of the +Pacific," situated at the month of the San Joaquin River. The +contract embraced, also, the making of soundings and the marking +out of a channel through Suisun Bay. We hired, in San Francisco, a +small metallic boat, with a sail, laid in some stores, and +proceeded to the United States ship Ohio, anchored at Saucelito, +where we borrowed a sailor-boy and lead-lines with which to sound +the channel. We sailed up to Benicia, and, at General Smith's +request, we surveyed and marked the line dividing the city of +Benicia from the government reserve. We then sounded the bay back +and forth, and staked out the best channel up Suisun Bay, from +which Blair made out sailing directions. We then made the +preliminary surveys of the city of "New York of the Pacific," all +of which were duly plotted; and for this work we each received from +Stevenson five hundred dollars and ten or fifteen lots. I sold +enough lots to make up another five hundred dollars, and let the +balance go; for the city of "New York of the Pacific" never came to +any thing. Indeed, cities at the time were being projected by +speculators all round the bay and all over the country. + +While we were surveying at "New York of the Pacific," occurred one +of those little events that showed the force of the gold-fever. We +had a sailor-boy with us, about seventeen years old, who cooked our +meals and helped work the boat. Onshore, we had the sail spread so +as to shelter us against the wind and dew. One morning I awoke +about daylight, and looked out to see if our sailor-boy was at work +getting breakfast; but he was not at the fire at all. Getting up, +I discovered that he had converted a tule-bolsa into a sail boat, +and was sailing for the gold-mines. He was astride this bolsa, +with a small parcel of bread and meat done up in a piece of +cloth; another piece of cloth, such as we used for making our +signal-stations, he had fixed into a sail; and with a paddle he was +directing his precarious craft right out into the broad bay, to +follow the general direction of the schooners and boats that he +knew were ascending the Sacramento River. He was about a hundred +yards from the shore. I jerked up my gun, and hailed him to come +back. After a moment's hesitation, he let go his sheet and began +to paddle back. This bolsa was nothing but a bundle of tule, or +bullrush, bound together with grass-ropes in the shape of a cigar, +about ten feet long and about two feet through the butt. With +these the California Indiana cross streams of considerable size. +When he came ashore, I gave him a good overhauling for attempting +to desert, and put him to work getting breakfast. In due time we +returned him to his ship, the Ohio. Subsequently, I made a bargain +with Mr. Hartnell to survey his ranch at Cosnmnes River, Sacramento +Valley. Ord and a young citizen, named Seton, were associated with +me in this. I bought of Rodman M. Price a surveyor's compass, +chain, etc., and, in San Francisco, a small wagon and harness. +Availing ourselves of a schooner, chartered to carry Major Miller +and two companies of the Second Infantry from San Francisco to +Stockton, we got up to our destination at little cost. I recall an +occurrence that happened when the schooner was anchored in +Carquinez Straits, opposite the soldiers' camp on shore. We were +waiting for daylight and a fair wind; the schooner lay anchored at +an ebb-tide, and about daylight Ord and I had gone ashore for +something. Just as we were pulling off from shore, we heard the +loud shouts of the men, and saw them all running down toward the +water. Our attention thus drawn, we saw something swimming in the +water, and pulled toward it, thinking it a coyote; but we soon +recognized a large grizzly bear, swimming directly across the +channel. Not having any weapon, we hurriedly pulled for the +schooner, calling out, as we neared it, "A bear! a bear!" It so +happened that Major Miller was on deck, washing his face and hands. +He ran rapidly to the bow of the vessel, took the musket from the +hands of the sentinel, and fired at the bear, as he passed but a +short distance ahead of the schooner. The bear rose, made a growl +or howl, but continued his course. As we scrambled up the +port-aide to get our guns, the mate, with a crew, happened to have +a boat on the starboard-aide, and, armed only with a hatchet, they +pulled up alongside the bear, and the mate struck him in the head +with the hatchet. The bear turned, tried to get into the boat, but +the mate struck his claws with repeated blows, and made him let go. +After several passes with him, the mate actually killed the bear, +got a rope round him, and towed him alongside the schooner, where +he was hoisted on deck. The carcass weighed over six hundred +pounds. It was found that Major Miller's shot had struck the bear +in the lower jaw, and thus disabled him. Had it not been for this, +the bear would certainly have upset the boat and drowned all in it. +As it was, however, his meat served us a good turn in our trip up +to Stockton. At Stockton we disembarked our wagon, provisions, and +instruments. There I bought two fine mules at three hundred +dollars each, and we hitched up and started for the Coaumnes River. +About twelve miles off was the Mokelumne, a wide, bold stream, with +a canoe as a ferry-boat. We took our wagon to pieces, and ferried +it and its contents across, and then drove our mules into the +water. In crossing, one mule became entangled in the rope of the +other, and for a time we thought he was a gone mule; but at last he +revived and we hitched up. The mules were both pack-animals; +neither had ever before seen a wagon. Young Seton also was about +as green, and had never handled a mule. We put on the harness, and +began to hitch them in, when one of the mules turned his head, saw +the wagon, and started. We held on tight, but the beast did not +stop until he had shivered the tongue-pole into a dozen fragments. +The fact was, that Seton had hitched the traces before he had put +on the blind-bridle. There was considerable swearing done, but +that would not mend the pole. There was no place nearer than +Sutter's Fort to repair damages, so we were put to our wits' end. +We first sent back a mile or so, and bought a raw-hide. Gathering +up the fragments of the pole and cutting the hide into strips, we +finished it in the rudest manner. As long as the hide was green, the +pole was very shaky; but gradually the sun dried the hide, +tightened it, and the pole actually held for about a month. This +cost us nearly a day of delay; but, when damages were repaired, we +harnessed up again, and reached the crossing of the Cosumnes, where +our survey was to begin. The expediente, or title-papers, of the +ranch described it as containing nine or eleven leagues on the +Cosumnes, south side, and between the San Joaquin River and Sierra +Nevada Mountains. We began at the place where the road crosses the +Cosumnes, and laid down a line four miles south, perpendicular to +the general direction of the stream; then, surveying up the stream, +we marked each mile so as to admit of a subdivision of one mile by +four. The land was dry and very poor, with the exception of here +and there some small pieces of bottom land, the great bulk of the +bottom-land occurring on the north side of the stream. We +continued the survey up some twenty miles into the hills above the +mill of Dailor and Sheldon. It took about a month to make this +survey, which, when finished, was duly plotted; and for it we +received one-tenth of the land, or two subdivisions. Ord and I +took the land, and we paid Seton for his labor in cash. By the +sale of my share of the land, subsequently, I realized three +thousand dollars. After finishing Hartnell's survey, we crossed +over to Dailor's, and did some work for him at five hundred dollars +a day for the party. Having finished our work on the Cosumnes, we +proceeded to Sacramento, where Captain Sutter employed us to +connect the survey of Sacramento City, made by Lieutenant Warner, +and that of Sutterville, three miles below, which was then being +surveyed by Lieutenant J. W. Davidson, of the First Dragoons. At +Sutterville, the plateau of the Sacramento approached quite near +the river, and it would have made a better site for a town than the +low, submerged land where the city now stands; but it seems to be a +law of growth that all natural advantages are disregarded wherever +once business chooses a location. Old Sutter's embarcadero became +Sacramento City, simply because it was the first point used for +unloading boats for Sutter's Fort, just as the site for San +Francisco was fixed by the use of Yerba Buena as the hide-landing +for the Mission of "San Francisco de Asis." + +I invested my earnings in this survey in three lots in Sacramento +City, on which I made a fair profit by a sale to one McNulty, of +Mansfield, Ohio. I only had a two months' leave of absence, during +which General Smith, his staff, and a retinue of civil friends, +were making a tour of the gold-mines, and hearing that he was en +route back to his headquarters at Sonoma, I knocked off my work, +sold my instruments, and left my wagon and mules with my cousin +Charley Hoyt, who had a store in Sacramento, and was on the point +of moving up to a ranch, for which he had bargained, on Bear Creek, +on which was afterward established Camp "Far West." He afterward +sold the mules, wagon, etc., for me, and on the whole I think I +cleared, by those two months' work, about six thousand dollars. I +then returned to headquarters at Sonoma, in time to attend my +fellow aide-de-camp Gibbs through a long and dangerous sickness, +during which he was on board a store-ship, guarded by Captain +George Johnson, who now resides in San Francisco. General Smith +had agreed that on the first good opportunity he would send me to +the United States as a bearer of dispatches, but this he could not +do until he had made the examination of Oregon, which was also in +his command. During the summer of 1849 there continued to pour +into California a perfect stream of people. Steamers came, and a +line was established from San Francisco to Sacramento, of which the +Senator was the pioneer, charging sixteen dollars a passage, and +actually coining money. Other boats were built, out of materials +which had either come around Cape Horn or were brought from the +Sandwich Islands. Wharves were built, houses were springing up +as if by magic, and the Bay of San Francisco presented as busy a +scene of life as any part of the world. Major Allen, of the +Quartermaster's Department, who had come out as chief-quartermaster +of the division, was building a large warehouse at Benicia, with a +row of quarters, out of lumber at one hundred dollars per thousand +feet, and the work was done by men at sixteen dollars a day. I +have seen a detailed soldier, who got only his monthly pay of eight +dollars a month, and twenty cents a day for extra duty, nailing on +weather-boards and shingles, alongside a citizen who was paid +sixteen dollars a day. This was a real injustice, made the +soldiers discontented, and it was hardly to be wondered at that so +many deserted. + +While the mass of people were busy at gold and in mammoth +speculations, a set of busy politicians were at work to secure the +prizes of civil government. Gwin and Fremont were there, and T. +Butler King, of Georgia, had come out from the East, scheming for +office. He staid with us at Sonoma, and was generally regarded as +the Government candidate for United States Senator. General Riley +as Governor, and Captain Halleck as Secretary of State, had issued +a proclamation for the election of a convention to frame a State +constitution. In due time the elections were held, and the +convention was assembled at Monterey. Dr. Semple was elected +president; and Gwin, Sutter, Halleck, Butler King, Sherwood, +Gilbert, Shannon, and others, were members. General Smith took no +part in this convention, but sent me down to watch the proceedings, +and report to him. The only subject of interest was the slavery +question. There were no slaves then in California, save a few who +had come out as servants, but the Southern people at that time +claimed their share of territory, out of that acquired by the +common labors of all sections of the Union in the war with Mexico. +Still, in California there was little feeling on the subject. I +never heard General Smith, who was a Louisianian, express any +opinion about it. Nor did Butler King, of Georgia, ever manifest +any particular interest in the matter. A committee was named to +draft a constitution, which in due time was reported, with the +usual clause, then known as the Wilmot Proviso, excluding slavery; +and during the debate which ensued very little opposition was made +to this clause, which was finally adopted by a large majority, +although the convention was made up in large part of men from our +Southern States. This matter of California being a free State, +afterward, in the national Congress, gave rise to angry debates, +which at one time threatened civil war. The result of the +convention was the election of State officers, and of the +Legislature which sat in San Jose in October and November, 1849, +and which elected Fremont and Gwin as the first United States +Senators in Congress from the Pacific coast. + +Shortly after returning from Monterey, I was sent by General Smith +up to Sacramento City to instruct Lieutenants Warner and +Williamson, of the Engineers, to push their surveys of the Sierra +Nevada Mountains, for the purpose of ascertaining the possibility +of passing that range by a railroad, a subject that then elicited +universal interest. It was generally assumed that such a road +could not be made along any of the immigrant roads then in use, and +Warner's orders were to look farther north up the Feather River, or +some one of its tributaries. Warner was engaged in this survey +during the summer and fall of 1849, and had explored, to the very +end of Goose Lake, the source of Feather River. Then, leaving +Williamson with the baggage and part of the men, he took about ten +men and a first-rate guide, crossed the summit to the east, and had +turned south, having the range of mountains on his right hand, with +the intention of regaining his camp by another pass in the +mountain. The party was strung out, single file, with wide spaces +between, Warner ahead. He had just crossed a small valley and +ascended one of the spurs covered with sage-brush and rocks, when a +band of Indians rose up and poured in a shower of arrows. The mule +turned and ran back to the valley, where Warner fell off dead, +punctured by five arrows. The mule also died. The guide, who was +near to Warner, was mortally wounded; and one or two men had arrows +in their bodies, but recovered. The party gathered about Warner's +body, in sight of the Indians, who whooped and yelled, but did not +venture away from their cover of rocks. This party of men remained +there all day without burying the bodies, and at night, by a wide +circuit, passed the mountain, and reached Williamson's camp. The +news of Warner's death cast a gloom over all the old Californians, +who knew him well. He was a careful, prudent, and honest officer, +well qualified for his business, and extremely accurate in all his +work. He and I had been intimately associated during our four +years together in California, and I felt his loss deeply. The +season was then too far advanced to attempt to avenge his death, +and it was not until the next spring that a party was sent out to +gather up and bury his scattered bones. + +As winter approached, the immigrants overland came pouring into +California, dusty and worn with their two thousand miles of weary +travel across the plains and mountains. Those who arrived in +October and November reported thousands still behind them, with +oxen perishing, and short of food. Appeals were made for help, and +General Smith resolved to attempt relief. Major Rucker, who had +come across with Pike. Graham's Battalion of Dragoons, had +exchanged with Major Fitzgerald, of the Quartermaster's Department, +and was detailed to conduct this relief. General Smith ordered him +to be supplied with one hundred thousand dollars out of the civil +fund, subject to his control, and with this to purchase at +Sacramento flour, bacon, etc., and to hire men and mules to send +out and meet the immigrants. Major Rucker fulfilled this duty +perfectly, sending out pack-trains loaded with food by the many +routes by which the immigrants were known to be approaching, went +out himself with one of these trains, and remained in the mountains +until the last immigrant had got in. No doubt this expedition +saved many a life which has since been most useful to the country. +I remained at Sacramento a good part of the fall of 1849, +recognizing among the immigrants many of my old personal +friends--John C. Fall, William King, Sam Stambaugh, Hugh Ewing, +Hampton Denman, etc. I got Rucker to give these last two employment +along with the train for the relief of the immigrants. They had +proposed to begin a ranch on my land on the Cosumnes, but afterward +changed their minds, and went out with Rucker. + +While I was at Sacramento General Smith had gone on his +contemplated trip to Oregon, and promised that he would be back in +December, when he would send me home with dispatches. Accordingly, +as the winter and rainy season was at hand, I went to San +Francisco, and spent some time at the Presidio, waiting patiently +for General Smith's return. About Christmas a vessel arrived from +Oregon with the dispatches, and an order for me to deliver them in +person to General Winfield Scott, in New York City. General Smith +had sent them down, remaining in Oregon for a time. Of course I +was all ready, and others of our set were going home by the same +conveyance, viz., Rucker, Ord, A. J. Smith--some under orders, and +the others on leave. Wanting to see my old friends in Monterey, I +arranged for my passage in the steamer of January 1, 1850, paying +six hundred dollars for passage to New York, and went down to +Monterey by land, Rucker accompanying me. The weather was +unusually rainy, and all the plain about Santa Clara was under +water; but we reached Monterey in time. I again was welcomed by my +friends, Dona Augustias, Manuelita, and the family, and it was +resolved that I should take two of the boys home with me and put +them at Georgetown College for education, viz., Antonio and +Porfirio, thirteen and eleven years old. The dona gave me a bag of +gold-dust to pay for their passage and to deposit at the college. +On the 2d day of January punctually appeared the steamer Oregon. + +We were all soon on board and off for home. At that time the +steamers touched at San Diego, Acapulco, and Panama. Our +passage down the coast was unusually pleasant. Arrived at +Panama, we hired mules and rode across to Gorgona, on the +Cruces River, where we hired a boat and paddled down to the +mouth of the river, off which lay the steamer Crescent City. It +usually took four days to cross the isthmus, every passenger taking +care of himself, and it was really funny to watch the efforts of +women and men unaccustomed to mules. It was an old song to us, and +the trip across was easy and interesting. In due time we were rowed +off to the Crescent City, rolling back and forth in the swell, and +we scrambled aboard by a "Jacob's ladder" from the stern. Some of +the women had to be hoisted aboard by lowering a tub from the end +of a boom; fun to us who looked on, but awkward enough to the poor +women, especially to a very fat one, who attracted much notice. +General Fremont, wife and child (Lillie) were passengers with us +down from San Francisco; but Mrs. Fremont not being well, they +remained over one trip at Panama. + +Senator Gwin was one of our passengers, and went through to New +York. We reached New York about the close of January, after a safe +and pleasant trip. Our party, composed of Ord, A. J. Smith, and +Rucker, with the two boys, Antonio and Porfirio, put up at +Delmonico's, on Bowling Green; and, as soon as we had cleaned up +somewhat, I took a carriage, went to General Scott's office in +Ninth Street, delivered my dispatches, was ordered to dine with him +next day, and then went forth to hunt up my old friends and +relations, the Scotts, Hoyts, etc., etc. + +On reaching New York, most of us had rough soldier's clothing, but +we soon got a new outfit, and I dined with General Scott's family, +Mrs. Scott being present, and also their son-in-law and daughter +(Colonel and Mrs. H. L. Scott). The general questioned me pretty +closely in regard to things on the Pacific coast, especially the +politics, and startled me with the assertion that "our country was +on the eve of a terrible civil war." He interested me by anecdotes +of my old army comrades in his recent battles around the city of +Mexico, and I felt deeply the fact that our country had passed +through a foreign war, that my comrades had fought great battles, +and yet I had not heard a hostile shot. Of course, I thought it +the last and only chance in my day, and that my career as a soldier +was at an end. After some four or five days spent in New York, I +was, by an order of General Scott, sent to Washington, to lay +before the Secretary of War (Crawford, of Georgia) the dispatches +which I had brought from California. On reaching Washington, I +found that Mr. Ewing was Secretary of the Interior, and I at once +became a member of his family. The family occupied the house of +Mr. Blair, on Pennsylvania Avenue, directly in front of the War +Department. I immediately repaired to the War Department, and +placed my dispatches in the hands of Mr. Crawford, who questioned +me somewhat about California, but seemed little interested in the +subject, except so far as it related to slavery and the routes +through Texas. I then went to call on the President at the White +House. I found Major Bliss, who had been my teacher in mathematics +at West Point, and was then General Taylor's son-in-law and private +secretary. He took me into the room, now used by the President's +private secretaries, where President Taylor was. I had never seen +him before, though I had served under him in Florida in 1840-'41, +and was most agreeably surprised at his fine personal appearance, +and his pleasant, easy manners. He received me with great +kindness, told me that Colonel Mason had mentioned my name with +praise, and that he would be pleased to do me any act of favor. We +were with him nearly an hour, talking about California generally, +and of his personal friends, Persifer Smith, Riley, Canby, and +others: Although General Scott was generally regarded by the army +as the most accomplished soldier of the Mexican War, yet General +Taylor had that blunt, honest, and stern character, that endeared +him to the masses of the people, and made him President. Bliss, +too, had gained a large fame by his marked skill and intelligence +as an adjutant-general and military adviser. His manner was very +unmilitary, and in his talk he stammered and hesitated, so as to +make an unfavorable impression on a stranger; but he was +wonderfully accurate and skillful with his pen, and his orders and +letters form a model of military precision and clearness. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +MISSOURI, LOUISIANA, AND CALIFORNIA + +1850-1855. + + +Having returned from California in January, 1850, with dispatches +for the War Department, and having delivered them in person first +to General Scott in New York City, and afterward to the Secretary +of War (Crawford) in Washington City, I applied for and received a +leave of absence for six months. I first visited my mother, then +living at Mansfield, Ohio, and returned to Washington, where, on +the 1st day of May, 1850, I was married to Miss Ellen Boyle Ewing, +daughter of the Hon. Thomas Ewing, Secretary of the Interior. The +marriage ceremony was attended by a large and distinguished +company, embracing Daniel Webster, Henry Clay, T. H. Benton, +President Taylor, and all his cabinet. This occurred at the house +of Mr. Ewing, the same now owned and occupied by Mr. F. P. Blair, +senior, on Pennsylvania Avenue, opposite the War Department. We +made a wedding tour to Baltimore, New York, Niagara, and Ohio, and +returned to Washington by the 1st of July. General Taylor +participated in the celebration of the Fourth of July, a very hot +day, by hearing a long speech from the Hon. Henry S. Foote, at the +base of the Washington Monument. Returning from the celebration +much heated and fatigued, he partook too freely of his favorite +iced milk with cherries, and during that night was seized with a +severe colic, which by morning had quite prostrated him. It was +said that he sent for his son-in-law, Surgeon Wood, United States +Army, stationed in Baltimore, and declined medical assistance from +anybody else. Mr. Ewing visited him several times, and was +manifestly uneasy and anxious, as was also his son-in-law, Major +Bliss, then of the army, and his confidential secretary. He +rapidly grew worse, and died in about four days. + + +At that time there was a high state of political feeling pervading +the country, on account of the questions growing out of the new +Territories just acquired from Mexico by the war. Congress was in +session, and General Taylor's sudden death evidently created great +alarm. I was present in the Senate-gallery, and saw the oath of +office administered to the Vice-President, Mr. Fillmore, a man of +splendid physical proportions and commanding appearance; but on the +faces of Senators and people could easily be read the feelings of +doubt and uncertainty that prevailed. All knew that a change in +the cabinet and general policy was likely to result, but at the +time it was supposed that Mr. Fillmore, whose home was in Buffalo, +would be less liberal than General Taylor to the politicians of the +South, who feared, or pretended to fear, a crusade against slavery; +or, as was the political cry of the day, that slavery would be +prohibited in the Territories and in the places exclusively under +the jurisdiction of the United States. Events, however, proved the +contrary. + +I attended General Taylor's funeral as a sort of aide-decamp, at +the request of the Adjutant-General of the army, Roger Jones, whose +brother, a militia-general, commanded the escort, composed of +militia and some regulars. Among the regulars I recall the names +of Captains John Sedgwick and W. F. Barry. + +Hardly was General Taylor decently buried in the Congressional +Cemetery when the political struggle recommenced, and it became +manifest that Mr. Fillmore favored the general compromise then +known as Henry Clay's "Omnibus Bill," and that a general change of +cabinet would at once occur: Webster was to succeed Mr. Clayton as +Secretary of State, Corwin to succeed Mr. Meredith as Secretary of +the Treasury, and A. H. H. Stuart to succeed Mr. Ewing as Secretary +of the Interior. Mr. Ewing, however, was immediately appointed by +the Governor of the State to succeed Corwin in the Senate. +These changes made it necessary for Mr. Ewing to discontinue +house-keeping, and Mr. Corwin took his home and furniture off his +hands. I escorted the family out to their home in Lancaster, Ohio; +but, before this had occurred, some most interesting debates took +place in the Senate, which I regularly attended, and heard Clay, +Benton, Foots, King of Alabama, Dayton, and the many real orators of +that day. Mr. Calhoun was in his seat, but he was evidently +approaching his end, for he was pale and feeble in the extreme. I +heard Mr. Webster's last speech on the floor of the Senate, under +circumstances that warrant a description. It was publicly known +that he was to leave the Senate, and enter the new cabinet of Mr. +Fillmore, as his Secretary of State, and that prior to leaving he +was to make a great speech on the "Omnibus Bill." Resolved to hear +it, I went up to the Capitol on the day named, an hour or so +earlier than usual. The speech was to be delivered in the old +Senate-chamber, now used by the Supreme Court. The galleries were +much smaller than at present, and I found them full to overflowing, +with a dense crowd about the door, struggling to reach the stairs. I +could not get near, and then tried the reporters' gallery, but found +it equally crowded; so I feared I should lose the only possible +opportunity to hear Mr. Webster. + +I had only a limited personal acquaintance with any of the +Senators, but had met Mr. Corwin quite often at Mr. Ewing's house, +and I also knew that he had been extremely friendly to my father in +his lifetime; so I ventured to send in to him my card, "W. T. S., +First-Lieutenant, Third Artillery." He came to the door promptly, +when I said, "Mr. Corwin, I believe Mr. Webster is to speak +to-day." His answer was, "Yes, he has the floor at one o'clock." +I then added that I was extremely anxious to hear him. "Well," +said he, "why don't you go into the gallery?" I explained that it +was full, and I had tried every access, but found all jammed with +people. "Well," said he, "what do you want of me?" I explained +that I would like him to take me on the floor of the Senate; that I +had often seen from the gallery persons on the floor, no better +entitled to it than I. He then asked in his quizzical way, "Are +you a foreign embassador?" "No." "Are you the Governor of a +State?" "No." "Are you a member of the other House?" "Certainly +not" "Have you ever had a vote of thanks by name?" "No!" "Well, +these are the only privileged members." I then told him he knew +well enough who I was, and that if he chose he could take me in. +He then said, "Have you any impudence?" I told him, "A reasonable +amount if occasion called for it." "Do you think you could become +so interested in my conversation as not to notice the door-keeper?" +(pointing to him). I told him that there was not the least doubt +of it, if he would tell me one of his funny stories. He then took +my arm, and led me a turn in the vestibule, talking about some +indifferent matter, but all the time directing my looks to his left +hand, toward which he was gesticulating with his right; and thus we +approached the door-keeper, who began asking me, "Foreign +ambassador? Governor of a State? Member of Congress?" etc.; but I +caught Corwin's eye, which said plainly, "Don't mind him, pay +attention to me," and in this way we entered the Senate-chamber by +a side-door. Once in, Corwin said, "Now you can take care of +yourself," and I thanked him cordially. + +I found a seat close behind Mr. Webster, and near General Scott, +and heard the whole of the speech. It was heavy in the extreme, +and I confess that I was disappointed and tired long before it was +finished. No doubt the speech was full of fact and argument, but +it had none of the fire of oratory, or intensity of feeling, that +marked all of Mr. Clay's efforts. + +Toward the end of July, as before stated, all the family went home +to Lancaster. Congress was still in session, and the bill adding +four captains to the Commissary Department had not passed, but was +reasonably certain to, and I was equally sure of being one of them. +At that time my name was on the muster-roll of (Light) Company C, +Third Artillery (Bragg's), stationed at Jefferson Barracks, near +St. Louis. But, as there was cholera at St. Louis, on application, +I was permitted to delay joining my company until September. Early +in that month, I proceeded to Cincinnati, and thence by steamboat +to St. Louis, and then to Jefferson Barracks, where I reported +for duty to Captain and Brevet-Colonel Braxton Bragg, commanding +(Light) Company C, Third Artillery. The other officers of the +company were First-Lieutenant James A. Hardie, and afterward +Haekaliah Brown. New horses had just been purchased for the +battery, and we were preparing for work, when the mail brought the +orders announcing the passage of the bill increasing the Commissary +Department by four captains, to which were promoted Captains +Shiras, Blair, Sherman, and Bowen. I was ordered to take post at +St. Louis, and to relieve Captain A. J. Smith, First Dragoons, who +had been acting in that capacity for some months. My commission +bore date September 27,1850. I proceeded forthwith to the city, +relieved Captain Smith, and entered on the discharge of the duties +of the office. + +Colonel N. S. Clarke, Sixth Infantry, commanded the department; +Major D. C. Buell was adjutant-general, and Captain W. S. Hancock +was regimental quartermaster; Colonel Thomas Swords was the depot +quartermaster, and we had our offices in the same building, on the +corner of Washington Avenue and Second. Subsequently Major S. Van +Vliet relieved Colonel Swords. I remained at the Planters' House +until my family arrived, when we occupied a house on Chouteau +Avenue, near Twelfth. + +During the spring and summer of 1851, Mr. Ewing and Mr. Henry +Stoddard, of Dayton, Ohio, a cousin of my father, were much in St. +Louis, on business connected with the estate of Major Amos +Stoddard, who was of the old army, as early as the beginning of +this century. He was stationed at the village of St. Louis at the +time of the Louisiana purchase, and when Lewis and Clarke made +their famous expedition across the continent to the Columbia River. +Major Stoddard at that early day had purchased a small farm back of +the village, of some Spaniard or Frenchman, but, as he was a +bachelor, and was killed at Fort Meigs, Ohio, during the War of +1812, the title was for many years lost sight of, and the farm was +covered over by other claims and by occupants. As St. Louis began +to grow, his brothers and sisters, and their descendants, concluded +to look up the property. After much and fruitless litigation, they +at last retained Mr. Stoddard, of Dayton, who in turn employed Mr. +Ewing, and these, after many years of labor, established the title, +and in the summer of 1851 they were put in possession by the United +States marshal. The ground was laid off, the city survey extended +over it, and the whole was sold in partition. I made some +purchases, and acquired an interest, which I have retained more or +less ever since. + +We continued to reside in St. Louis throughout the year 1851, and +in the spring of 1852 I had occasion to visit Fort Leavenworth on +duty, partly to inspect a lot of cattle which a Mr. Gordon, of Cass +County, had contracted to deliver in New Mexico, to enable Colonel +Sumner to attempt his scheme of making the soldiers in New Mexico +self-supporting, by raising their own meat, and in a measure their +own vegetables. I found Fort Leavenworth then, as now, a most +beautiful spot, but in the midst of a wild Indian country. There +were no whites settled in what is now the State of Kansas. Weston, +in Missouri, was the great town, and speculation in town-lots there +and thereabout burnt the fingers of some of the army-officers, who +wanted to plant their scanty dollars in a fruitful soil. I rode on +horseback over to Gordon's farm, saw the cattle, concluded the +bargain, and returned by way of Independence, Missouri. At +Independence I found F. X. Aubrey, a noted man of that day, who had +just made a celebrated ride of six hundred miles in six days. That +spring the United States quartermaster, Major L. C. Easton, at Fort +Union, New Mexico, had occasion to send some message east by a +certain date, and contracted with Aubrey to carry it to the nearest +post-office (then Independence, Missouri), making his compensation +conditional on the time consumed. He was supplied with a good +horse, and an order on the outgoing trains for an exchange. Though +the whole route was infested with hostile Indians, and not a house +on it, Aubrey started alone with his rifle. He was fortunate in +meeting several outward-bound trains, and there, by made frequent +changes of horses, some four or five, and reached Independence in +six days, having hardly rested or slept the whole way. Of course, +he was extremely fatigued, and said there was an opinion among the +wild Indians that if a man "sleeps out his sleep," after such +extreme exhaustion, he will never awake; and, accordingly, he +instructed his landlord to wake him up after eight hours of sleep. +When aroused at last, he saw by the clock that he had been asleep +twenty hours, and he was dreadfully angry, threatened to murder his +landlord, who protested he had tried in every way to get him up, +but found it impossible, and had let him "sleep it out" Aubrey, in +describing his sensations to me, said he took it for granted he was +a dead man; but in fact he sustained no ill effects, and was off +again in a few days. I met him afterward often in California, and +always esteemed him one of the best samples of that bold race of +men who had grown up on the Plains, along with the Indians, in the +service of the fur companies. He was afterward, in 1856, killed by +R. C. Weightman, in a bar-room row, at Santa Fe, New Mexico, where +he had just arrived from California. + +In going from Independence to Fort Leavenworth, I had to swim Milk +Creek, and sleep all night in a Shawnee camp. The next day I +crossed the Kaw or Kansas River in a ferry boat, maintained by the +blacksmith of the tribe, and reached the fort in the evening. At +that day the whole region was unsettled, where now exist many rich +counties, highly cultivated, embracing several cities of from ten +to forty thousand inhabitants. From Fort Leavenworth I returned by +steamboat to St. Louis. + +In the summer of 1852, my family went to Lancaster, Ohio; but I +remained at my post. Late in the season, it was rumored that I was +to be transferred to New Orleans, and in due time I learned the +cause. During a part of the Mexican War, Major Seawell, of the +Seventh Infantry, had been acting commissary of subsistence at New +Orleans, then the great depot of supplies for the troops in Texas, +and of those operating beyond the Rio Grande. Commissaries at that +time were allowed to purchase in open market, and were not +restricted to advertising and awarding contracts to the lowest +bidders. It was reported that Major Seawell had purchased largely +of the house of Perry Seawell & Co., Mr. Seawell being a relative +of his. When he was relieved in his duties by Major Waggman, of +the regular Commissary Department, the latter found Perry Seawell & +Co. so prompt and satisfactory that he continued the patronage; +for which there was a good reason, because stores for the use of +the troops at remote posts had to be packed in a particular way, to +bear transportation in wagons, or even on pack-mules; and this firm +had made extraordinary preparations for this exclusive purpose. +Some time about 1849, a brother of Major Waggaman, who had been +clerk to Captain Casey, commissary of subsistence, at Tampa Bay, +Florida, was thrown out of office by the death of the captain, and +he naturally applied to his brother in New Orleans for employment; +and he, in turn, referred him to his friends, Messrs. Perry +Seawell & Co. These first employed him as a clerk, and afterward +admitted him as a partner. Thus it resulted, in fact, that Major +Waggaman was dealing largely, if not exclusively, with a firm of +which his brother was a partner. + +One day, as General Twiggs was coming across Lake Pontchartrain, he +fell in with one of his old cronies, who was an extensive grocer. +This gentleman gradually led the conversation to the downward +tendency of the times since he and Twiggs were young, saying that, +in former years, all the merchants of New Orleans had a chance at +government patronage; but now, in order to sell to the army +commissary, one had to take a brother in as a partner. General +Twiggs resented this, but the merchant again affirmed it, and gave +names. As soon as General Twiggs reached his office, he instructed +his adjutant-general, Colonel Bliss--who told me this--to address a +categorical note of inquiry to Major Waggaman. The major very +frankly stated the facts as they had arisen, and insisted that the +firm of Perry Seawell & Co. had enjoyed a large patronage, but +deserved it richly by reason of their promptness, fairness, and +fidelity. The correspondence was sent to Washington, and the +result was, that Major Waggaman was ordered to St. Louis, and I was +ordered to New Orleans. + +I went down to New Orleans in a steamboat in the month of +September, 1852, taking with me a clerk, and, on arrival, assumed +the office, in a bank-building facing Lafayette Square, in which +were the offices of all the army departments. General D. Twiggs +was in command of the department, with Colonel W. W. S. Bliss +(son-in-law of General Taylor) as his adjutant-general. Colonel A. +C. Myers was quartermaster, Captain John F. Reynolds aide-de-camp, +and Colonel A. J. Coffee paymaster. I took rooms at the St. Louis +Hotel, kept by a most excellent gentleman, Colonel Mudge. + +Mr. Perry Seawell came to me in person, soliciting a continuance of +the custom which he had theretofore enjoyed; but I told him frankly +that a change was necessary, and I never saw or heard of him +afterward. I simply purchased in open market, arranged for the +proper packing of the stores, and had not the least difficulty in +supplying the troops and satisfying the head of the department in +Washington. + +About Christmas, I had notice that my family, consisting of Mrs. +Sherman, two children, and nurse, with my sister Fanny (now Mrs. +Moulton, of Cincinnati, Ohio), were en route for New Orleans by +steam-packet; so I hired a house on Magazine Street, and furnished +it. Almost at the moment of their arrival, also came from St. +Louis my personal friend Major Turner, with a parcel of documents, +which, on examination, proved to be articles of copartnership for a +bank in California under the title of "Lucas, Turner & Co.," in +which my name was embraced as a partner. Major Turner was, at the +time, actually en route for New York, to embark for San Francisco, +to inaugurate the bank, in the nature of a branch of the firm +already existing at St. Louis under the name of "Lucas & Symonds." +We discussed the matter very fully, and he left with me the papers +for reflection, and went on to New York and California. + +Shortly after arrived James H. Lucas, Esq., the principal of the +banking-firm in St. Louis, a most honorable and wealthy gentleman. +He further explained the full programme of the branch in +California; that my name had been included at the insistence of +Major Turner, who was a man of family and property in St. Louis, +unwilling to remain long in San Francisco, and who wanted me to +succeed him there. He offered me a very tempting income, with an +interest that would accumulate and grow. He also disclosed to me +that, in establishing a branch in California, he was influenced by +the apparent prosperity of Page, Bacon & Co., and further that he +had received the principal data, on which he had founded the +scheme, from B. R. Nisbet, who was then a teller in the firm of +Page, Bacon & Co., of San Francisco; that he also was to be taken +in as a partner, and was fully competent to manage all the details +of the business; but, as Nisbet was comparatively young, Mr. Lucas +wanted me to reside in San Francisco permanently, as the head of +the firm. All these matters were fully discussed, and I agreed to +apply for a six months' leave of absence, go to San Francisco, see +for myself, and be governed by appearances there. I accordingly, +with General Twiggs's approval, applied to the adjutant-general for +a six months' leave, which was granted; and Captain John F. +Reynolds was named to perform my duties during my absence. + +During the stay of my family in New Orleans, we enjoyed the society +of the families of General Twiggs, Colonel Myers, and Colonel +Bliss, as also of many citizens, among whom was the wife of Mr. +Day, sister to my brother-in-law, Judge Bartley. General Twiggs +was then one of the oldest officers of the army. His history +extended back to the War of 1812, and he had served in early days +with General Jackson in Florida and in the Creek campaigns. He had +fine powers of description, and often entertained us, at his +office, with accounts of his experiences in the earlier settlements +of the Southwest. Colonel Bliss had been General Taylor's adjutant +in the Mexican War, and was universally regarded as one of the most +finished and accomplished scholars in the army, and his wife was a +most agreeable and accomplished lady. + +Late in February, I dispatched my family up to Ohio in the +steamboat Tecumseh (Captain Pearce); disposed of my house and +furniture; turned over to Major Reynolds the funds, property, and +records of the office; and took passage in a small steamer for +Nicaragua, en route for California. We embarked early in March, +and in seven days reached Greytown, where we united with the +passengers from New York, and proceeded, by the Nicaragua River and +Lake, for the Pacific Ocean. The river was low, and the little +steam canal-boats, four in number, grounded often, so that the +passengers had to get into the water, to help them over the bare. +In all there were about six hundred passengers, of whom about sixty +were women and children. In four days we reached Castillo, where +there is a decided fall, passed by a short railway, and above this +fall we were transferred to a larger boat, which carried us up the +rest of the river, and across the beautiful lake Nicaragua, studded +with volcanic islands. Landing at Virgin Bay, we rode on mules +across to San Juan del Sur, where lay at anchor the propeller S. S. +Lewis (Captain Partridge, I think). Passengers were carried +through the surf by natives to small boats, and rowed off to the +Lewis. The weather was very hot, and quite a scramble followed for +state-rooms, especially for those on deck. I succeeded in reaching +the purser's office, got my ticket for a berth in one of the best +state-rooms on deck, and, just as I was turning from the window, a +lady who was a fellow-passenger from New Orleans, a Mrs. D-, called +to me to secure her and her lady friend berths on deck, saying that +those below were unendurable. I spoke to the purser, who, at the +moment perplexed by the crowd and clamor, answered: "I must put +their names down for the other two berths of your state-room; but, +as soon as the confusion is over, I will make some change whereby +you shall not suffer." As soon as these two women were assigned to +a state-room, they took possession, and I was left out. Their +names were recorded as "Captain Sherman and ladies." As soon as +things were quieted down I remonstrated with the purser, who at +last gave me a lower berth in another and larger state-room on +deck, with five others, so that my two ladies had the state-room +all to themselves. At every meal the steward would come to me, and +say, "Captain Sherman, will you bring your ladies to the table?" +and we had the best seats in the ship. + +This continued throughout the voyage, and I assert that "my ladies" +were of the most modest and best-behaved in the ship; but some time +after we had reached San Francisco one of our fellow-passengers +came to me and inquired if I personally knew Mrs. D---, with flaxen +tresses, who sang so sweetly for us, and who had come out under my +especial escort. I replied I did not, more than the chance +acquaintance of the voyage, and what she herself had told me, viz., +that she expected to meet her husband, who lived about Mokelumne +Hill. He then informed me that she was a woman of the town. +Society in California was then decidedly mixed. In due season the +steamship Lewis got under weigh. She was a wooden ship, long and +narrow, bark-rigged, and a propeller; very slow, moving not over +eight miles an hour. We stopped at Acapulco, and, in eighteen +days, passed in sight of Point Pinoa at Monterey, and at the speed +we were traveling expected to reach San Francisco at 4 A. M. the +next day. The cabin passengers, as was usual, bought of the +steward some champagne and cigars, and we had a sort of ovation for +the captain, purser, and surgeon of the ship, who were all very +clever fellows, though they had a slow and poor ship. Late at +night all the passengers went to bed, expecting to enter the port +at daylight. I did not undress, as I thought the captain could and +would run in at night, and I lay down with my clothes on. About 4 +A. M. I was awakened by a bump and sort of grating of the vessel, +which I thought was our arrival at the wharf in San Francisco; but +instantly the ship struck heavily; the engines stopped, and the +running to and fro on deck showed that something was wrong. In a +moment I was out of my state-room, at the bulwark, holding fast to +a stanchion, and looking over the side at the white and seething +water caused by her sudden and violent stoppage. The sea was +comparatively smooth, the night pitch-dark, and the fog deep and +impenetrable; the ship would rise with the swell, and come down +with a bump and quiver that was decidedly unpleasant. Soon the +passengers were out of their rooms, undressed, calling for help, +and praying as though the ship were going to sink immediately. Of +course she could not sink, being already on the bottom, and the +only question was as to the strength of hull to stand the bumping +and straining. Great confusion for a time prevailed, but soon I +realized that the captain had taken all proper precautions to +secure his boats, of which there were six at the davits. These are +the first things that steerage-passengers make for in case of +shipwreck, and right over my head I heard the captain's voice say +in a low tone, but quite decided: "Let go that falls, or, damn you, +I'll blow your head off!" This seemingly harsh language gave me +great comfort at the time, and on saying so to the captain +afterward, he explained that it was addressed to a passenger who +attempted to lower one of the boats. Guards, composed of the crew, +were soon posted to prevent any interference with the boats, and +the officers circulated among the passengers the report that there +was no immediate danger; that, fortunately, the sea was smooth; +that we were simply aground, and must quietly await daylight. + +They advised the passengers to keep quiet, and the ladies and +children to dress and sit at the doors of their state-rooms, there +to await the advice and action of the officers of the ship, who +were perfectly cool and self-possessed. Meantime the ship was +working over a reef-for a time I feared she would break in two; +but, as the water gradually rose inside to a level with the sea +outside, the ship swung broadside to the swell, and all her keel +seemed to rest on the rock or sand. At no time did the sea break +over the deck--but the water below drove all the people up to the +main-deck and to the promenade-deck, and thus we remained for about +three hours, when daylight came; but there was a fog so thick that +nothing but water could be seen. The captain caused a boat to be +carefully lowered, put in her a trustworthy officer with a +boat-compass, and we saw her depart into the fog. During her +absence the ship's bell was kept tolling. Then the fires were all +out, the ship full of water, and gradually breaking up, wriggling +with every swell like a willow basket--the sea all round us full of +the floating fragments of her sheeting, twisted and torn into a +spongy condition. In less than an hour the boat returned, saying +that the beach was quite near, not more than a mile away, and had a +good place for landing. All the boats were then carefully lowered, +and manned by crews belonging to the ship; a piece of the gangway, +on the leeward side, was cut away, and all the women, and a few of +the worst-scared men, were lowered into the boats, which pulled for +shore. In a comparatively short time the boats returned, took new +loads, and the debarkation was afterward carried on quietly and +systematically. No baggage was allowed to go on shore except bags +or parcels carried in the hands of passengers. At times the fog +lifted so that we could see from the wreck the tops of the hills, +and the outline of the shore; and I remember sitting on, the upper +or hurricane deck with the captain, who had his maps and compass +before him, and was trying to make out where the ship was. I +thought I recognized the outline of the hills below the mission of +Dolores, and so stated to him; but he called my attention to the +fact that the general line of hills bore northwest, whereas the +coast south of San Francisco bears due north and south. He +therefore concluded that the ship had overrun her reckoning, and +was then to the north of San Francisco. He also explained that, +the passage up being longer than usual, viz., eighteen days, the +coal was short; that at the time the firemen were using some cut-up +spars along with the slack of coal, and that this fuel had made +more than usual steam, so that the ship must have glided along +faster than reckoned. This proved to be the actual case, for, in +fact, the steamship Lewis was wrecked April 9, 1853, on "Duckworth +Reef," Baulinas Bay, about eighteen miles above the entrance to San +Francisco. + +The captain had sent ashore the purser in the first boat, with +orders to work his way to the city as soon as possible, to report +the loss of his vessel, and to bring back help. I remained on the +wreck till among the last of the passengers, managing to get a can +of crackers and some sardines out of the submerged pantry, a thing +the rest of the passengers did not have, and then I went quietly +ashore in one of the boats. The passengers were all on the beach, +under a steep bluff; had built fires to dry their clothes, but had +seen no human being, and had no idea where they were. Taking along +with me a fellow-passenger, a young chap about eighteen years old, +I scrambled up the bluff, and walked back toward the hills, in +hopes to get a good view of some known object. It was then the +month of April, and the hills were covered with the beautiful +grasses and flowers of that season of the year. We soon found +horse paths and tracks, and following them we came upon a drove of +horses grazing at large, some of which had saddle-marks. At about +two miles from the beach we found a corral; and thence, following +one of the strongest-marked paths, in about a mile more we +descended into a valley, and, on turning a sharp point, reached a +board shanty, with a horse picketed near by. Four men were inside +eating a meal. I inquired if any of the Lewis's people had been +there; they did not seem to understand what I meant when I +explained to them that about three miles from them, and beyond the +old corral, the steamer Lewis was wrecked, and her passengers were +on the beach. I inquired where we were, and they answered, "At +Baulinas Creek;" that they were employed at a saw-mill just above, +and were engaged in shipping lumber to San Francisco; that a +schooner loaded with lumber was then about two miles down the +creek, waiting for the tide to get out, and doubtless if we would +walk down they would take us on board. + +I wrote a few words back to the captain, telling him where he was, +and that I would hurry to the city to send him help. My companion +and I their went on down the creek, and soon descried the schooner +anchored out in the stream. On being hailed, a small boat came in +and took us on board. The "captain" willingly agreed for a small +sum to carry us down to San Francisco; and, as his whole crew +consisted of a small boy about twelve years old, we helped him to +get up his anchor and pole the schooner down the creek and out over +the bar on a high tide. This must have been about 2 P.M. Once over +the bar, the sails were hoisted, and we glided along rapidly with a +strong, fair, northwest wind. The fog had lifted, so we could see +the shores plainly, and the entrance to the bay. In a couple of +hours we were entering the bay, and running "wing-and-wing." +Outside the wind was simply the usual strong breeze; but, as it +passes through the head of the Golden Gate, it increases, and +there, too, we met a strong ebb-tide. + +The schooner was loaded with lumber, much of which was on deck, +lashed down to ring bolts with raw-hide thongs. The captain was +steering, and I was reclining on the lumber, looking at the +familiar shore, as we approached Fort Point, when I heard a sort of +cry, and felt the schooner going over. As we got into the throat +of the "Heads," the force of the wind, meeting a strong ebb-tide, +drove the nose of the schooner under water; she dove like a duck, +went over on her side, and began, to drift out with the tide. I +found myself in the water, mixed up with pieces of plank and ropes; +struck out, swam round to the stern, got on the keel, and clambered +up on the side. Satisfied that she could not sink, by reason of +her cargo, I was not in the least alarmed, but thought two +shipwrecks in one day not a good beginning for a new, peaceful +career. Nobody was drowned, however; the captain and crew were +busy in securing such articles as were liable to float off, and I +looked out for some passing boat or vessel to pick us up. We were +drifting steadily out to sea, while I was signaling to a boat about +three miles off, toward Saucelito, and saw her tack and stand +toward us. I was busy watching this sail-boat, when I heard a +Yankee's voice, close behind, saying, "This is a nice mess you've +got yourselves into," and looking about I saw a man in a small +boat, who had seen us upset, and had rowed out to us from a +schooner anchored close under the fort. Some explanations were +made, and when the sail-boat coming from Saucelito was near enough +to be spoken to, and the captain had engaged her to help his +schooner, we bade him good by, and got the man in the small boat-to +carry us ashore, and land us at the foot of the bluff, just below +the fort. Once there, I was at home, and we footed it up to the +Presidio. Of the sentinel I inquired who was in command of the +post, and was answered, "Major Merchant." He was not then in, but +his adjutant, Lieutenant Gardner, was. I sent my card to him; he +came out, and was much surprised to find me covered with sand, and +dripping with water, a good specimen of a shipwrecked mariner. A +few words of explanation sufficed; horses were provided, and we +rode hastily into the city, reaching the office of the Nicaragua +Steamship Company (C. K. Garrison, agent) about dark, just as the +purser had arrived; by a totally different route. It was too late +to send relief that night, but by daylight next morning two +steamers were en route for and reached the place of wreck in time +to relieve the passengers and bring them, and most of the baggage. +I lost my carpet-bag, but saved my trunk. The Lewis went to pieces +the night after we got off, and, had there been an average sea +during the night of our shipwreck, none of us probably would have +escaped. That evening in San Francisco I hunted up Major Turner, +whom I found boarding, in company with General E. A. Hitchcock, at +a Mrs. Ross's, on Clay Street, near Powell. I took quarters with +them, and began to make my studies, with a view to a decision +whether it was best to undertake this new and untried scheme of +banking, or to return to New Orleans and hold on to what I then +had, a good army commission. + +At the time of my arrival, San Francisco was an the top wave of +speculation and prosperity. Major Turner had rented at six hundred +dollars a month the office formerly used and then owned by Adams & +Co., on the east side of Montgomery Street, between Sacramento and +California Streets. B. R. Nisbet was the active partner, and James +Reilly the teller. Already the bank of Lucas, Turner & Co. was +established, and was engaged in selling bills of exchange, +receiving deposits, and loaning money at three per cent. a month. + +Page, Bacon & Co., and Adams & Co., were in full blast across the +street, in Parrott's new granite building, and other bankers were +doing seemingly a prosperous business, among them Wells, Fargo & +Co.; Drexel, Sather & Church; Burgoyne & Co.; James King of Win.; +Sanders & Brenham; Davidson & Co.; Palmer, Cook & Co., and others. +Turner and I had rooms at Mrs. Ross's, and took our meals at +restaurants down-town, mostly at a Frenchman's named Martin, on the +southwest corner of Montgomery and California Streets. General +Hitchcock, of the army, commanding the Department of California, +usually messed with us; also a Captain Mason, and Lieutenant +Whiting, of the Engineer Corps. We soon secured a small share of +business, and became satisfied there was room for profit. +Everybody seemed to be making money fast; the city was being +rapidly extended and improved; people paid their three per cent. a +month interest without fail, and without deeming it excessive. +Turner, Nisbet, and I, daily discussed the prospects, and gradually +settled down to the conviction that with two hundred thousand +dollars capital, and a credit of fifty thousand dollars in New +York, we could build up a business that would help the St. Louis +house, and at the same time pay expenses in California, with a +reasonable profit. Of course, Turner never designed to remain long +in California, and I consented to go back to St. Louis, confer with +Mr. Lucas and Captain Simonds, agree upon further details, and then +return permanently. + +I have no memoranda by me now by which to determine the fact, but +think I returned to New York in July, 1853, by the Nicaragua route, +and thence to St. Louis by way of Lancaster, Ohio, where my family +still was. Mr. Lucas promptly agreed to the terms proposed, and +further consented, on the expiration of the lease of the Adams & +Co. office, to erect a new banking-house in San Francisco, to cost +fifty thousand dollars. I then returned to Lancaster, explained to +Mr. Ewing and Mrs. Sherman all the details of our agreement, and, +meeting their approval, I sent to the Adjutant-General of the army +my letter of resignation, to take effect at the end of the six +months' leave, and the resignation was accepted, to take effect +September 6, 1853. Being then a citizen, I engaged a passage out +to California by the Nicaragua route, in the steamer leaving New +York September 20th, for myself and family, and accordingly +proceeded to New York, where I had a conference with Mr. Meigs, +cashier of the American Exchange Bank, and with Messrs. Wadsworth +& Sheldon, bankers, who were our New York correspondents; and on +the 20th embarked for San Juan del Norte, with the family, composed +of Mrs. Sherman, Lizzie, then less than a year old, and her nurse, +Mary Lynch. Our passage down was uneventful, and, on the boats up +the Nicaragua River, pretty much the same as before. On reaching +Virgin Bay, I engaged a native with three mules to carry us across +to the Pacific, and as usual the trip partook of the ludicrous +--Mrs. Sherman mounted on a donkey about as large as a Newfoundland +dog; Mary Lynch on another, trying to carry Lizzie on a pillow +before her, but her mule had a fashion of lying down, which scared +her, till I exchanged mules, and my California spurs kept that mule +on his legs. I carried Lizzie some time till she was fast asleep, +when I got our native man to carry her awhile. The child woke up, +and, finding herself in the hands of a dark-visaged man, she yelled +most lustily till I got her away. At the summit of the pass, there +was a clear-running brook, where we rested an hour, and bathed +Lizzie in its sweet waters. We then continued to the end of our +journey, and, without going to the tavern at San Juan del Sur, we +passed directly to the vessel, then at anchor about two miles out. +To reach her we engaged a native boat, which had to be kept outside +the surf. Mrs. Sherman was first taken in the arms of two stout +natives; Mary Lynch, carrying Lizzie, was carried by two others; +and I followed, mounted on the back of a strapping fellow, while +fifty or a hundred others were running to and fro, cackling like +geese. + +Mary Lynch got scared at the surf, and began screaming like a fool, +when Lizzie became convulsed with fear, and one of the natives +rushed to her, caught her out of Mary's arms, and carried her +swiftly to Mrs. Sherman, who, by that time, was in the boat, but +Lizzie had fainted with fear, and for a long time sobbed as though +permanently injured. For years she showed symptoms that made us +believe she had never entirely recovered from the effects of the +scare. In due time we reached the steamer Sierra Nevada, and got a +good state-room. Our passage up the coast was pleasant enough; we +reached San Francisco; on the 15th of October, and took quarters at +an hotel on Stockton Street, near Broadway. + +Major Turner remained till some time in November, when he also +departed for the East, leaving me and Nisbet to manage the bank. I +endeavored to make myself familiar with the business, but of course +Nisbet kept the books, and gave his personal attention to the +loans, discounts, and drafts, which yielded the profits. I soon +saw, however, that the three per cent. charged as premium on bills +of exchange was not all profit, but out of this had to come one and +a fourth to one and a half for freight, one and a third for +insurance, with some indefinite promise of a return premium; then, +the cost of blanks, boxing of the bullion, etc., etc. Indeed, I +saw no margin for profit at all. Nisbet, however, who had long +been familiar with the business, insisted there was a profit, in +the fact that the gold-dust or bullion shipped was more valuable +than its cost to us. We, of course, had to remit bullion to meet +our bills on New York, and bought crude gold-dust, or bars refined +by Kellogg & Humbert or E. Justh & Co., for at that time the United +States Mint was not in operation. But, as the reports of our +shipments came back from New York, I discovered that I was right, +and Nisbet was wrong; and, although we could not help selling our +checks on New York and St. Louis at the same price as other +bankers, I discovered that, at all events, the exchange business in +San Francisco was rather a losing business than profitable. The +same as to loans. We could loan, at three per cent. a month, all +our own money, say two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and a +part of our deposit account. This latter account in California was +decidedly uncertain. The balance due depositors would run down to +a mere nominal sum on steamer-days, which were the 1st and 15th of +each month, and then would increase till the next steamer-day, so +that we could not make use of any reasonable part of this balance +for loans beyond the next steamer-day; or, in other words, we had +an expensive bank, with expensive clerks, and all the machinery for +taking care of other people's money for their benefit, without +corresponding profit. I also saw that loans were attended with +risk commensurate with the rate; nevertheless, I could not attempt +to reform the rules and customs established by others before me, +and had to drift along with the rest toward that Niagara that none +foresaw at the time. + +Shortly after arriving out in 1853, we looked around for a site for +the new bank, and the only place then available on Montgomery +Street, the Wall Street of San Francisco, was a lot at the corner +of Jackson Street, facing Montgomery, with an alley on the north, +belonging to James Lick. The ground was sixty by sixty-two feet, +and I had to pay for it thirty-two thousand dollars. I then made a +contract with the builders, Keyser, & Brown, to erect a three-story +brick building, with finished basement, for about fifty thousand +dollars. This made eighty-two thousand instead of fifty thousand +dollars, but I thought Mr. Lucas could stand it and would approve, +which he did, though it resulted in loss to him. After the civil +war, he told me he had sold the building for forty thousand +dollars, about half its cost, but luckily gold was then at 250, so +that he could use the forty thousand dollars gold as the equivalent +of one hundred thousand dollars currency. The building was +erected; I gave it my personal supervision, and it was strongly and +thoroughly built, for I saw it two years ago, when several +earthquakes had made no impression on it; still, the choice of site +was unfortunate, for the city drifted in the opposite direction, +viz., toward Market Street. I then thought that all the heavy +business would remain toward the foot of Broadway and Jackson +Street, because there were the deepest water and best wharves, but +in this I made a mistake. Nevertheless, in the spring of 1854, the +new bank was finished, and we removed to it, paying rents +thereafter to our Mr. Lucas instead of to Adams & Co. A man named +Wright, during the same season, built a still finer building just +across the street from us; Pioche, Bayerque & Co. were already +established on another corner of Jackson Street, and the new +Metropolitan Theatre was in progress diagonally opposite us. +During the whole of 1854 our business steadily grew, our average +deposits going up to half a million, and our sales of exchange and +consequent shipment of bullion averaging two hundred thousand +dollars per steamer. I signed all bills of exchange, and insisted +on Nisbet consulting me on loans and discounts. Spite of every +caution, however, we lost occasionally by bad loans, and worse by +the steady depreciation of real estate. The city of San Francisco +was then extending her streets, sewering them, and planking them, +with three-inch lumber. In payment for the lumber and the work of +contractors, the city authorities paid scrip in even sums of one +hundred, five hundred, one thousand, and five thousand dollars. +These formed a favorite collateral for loans at from fifty to sixty +cents on the dollar, and no one doubted their ultimate value, +either by redemption or by being converted into city bonds. +The notes also of H. Meiggs, Neeley Thompson & Co., etc., +lumber-dealers, were favorite notes, for they paid their interest +promptly, and lodged large margins of these street-improvement +warrants as collateral. At that time, Meiggs was a prominent man, +lived in style in a large house on Broadway, was a member of the +City Council, and owned large saw-mills up the coast about +Mendocino. In him Nisbet had unbounded faith, but, for some +reason, I feared or mistrusted him, and remember that I cautioned +Nisbet not to extend his credit, but to gradually contract his +loans. On looking over our bills receivable, then about six +hundred thousand dollars, I found Meiggs, as principal or indorser, +owed us about eighty thousand dollars--all, however, secured by +city warrants; still, he kept bank accounts elsewhere, and was +generally a borrower. I instructed Nisbet to insist on his +reducing his line as the notes matured, and, as he found it +indelicate to speak to Meiggs, I instructed him to refer him to me; +accordingly, when, on the next steamer-day, Meiggs appealed at the +counter for a draft on Philadelphia, of about twenty thousand +dollars, for which he offered his note and collateral, he was +referred to me, and I explained to him that our draft was the same +as money; that he could have it for cash, but that we were already +in advance to him some seventy-five or eighty thousand dollars, and +that instead of increasing the amount I must insist on its +reduction. He inquired if I mistrusted his ability, etc. I +explained, certainly not, but that our duty was to assist those who +did all their business with us, and, as our means were necessarily +limited, I must restrict him to some reasonable sum, say, +twenty-five thousand dollars. Meiggs invited me to go with him to a +rich mercantile house on Clay Street, whose partners belonged in +Hamburg, and there, in the presence of the principals of the house, +he demonstrated, as clearly as a proposition in mathematics, that +his business at Mendocino was based on calculations that could not +fail. The bill of exchange which he wanted, he said would make the +last payment on a propeller already built in Philadelphia, which +would be sent to San Francisco, to tow into and out of port the +schooners and brigs that were bringing his lumber down the coast. I +admitted all he said, but renewed my determination to limit his +credit to twenty-five thousand dollars. The Hamburg firm then +agreed to accept for him the payment of all his debt to us, except +the twenty-five thousand dollars, payable in equal parts for the +next three steamer-days. Accordingly, Meiggs went back with me to +our bank, wrote his note for twenty-five thousand dollars, and +secured it by mortgage on real estate and city warrants, and +substituted the three acceptances of the Hamburg firm for the +overplus. I surrendered to him all his former notes, except one for +which he was indorser. The three acceptances duly matured and were +paid; one morning Meiggs and family were missing, and it was +discovered they had embarked in a sailing-vessel for South America. +This was the beginning of a series of failures in San Francisco, +that extended through the next two years. As soon as it was known +that Meiggs had fled, the town was full of rumors, and everybody was +running to and fro to secure his money. His debts amounted to +nearly a million dollars. The Hamburg house which, had been +humbugged, were heavy losers and failed, I think. I took possession +of Meiggs's dwelling-house and other property for which I held his +mortgage, and in the city warrants thought I had an overplus; but it +transpired that Meiggs, being in the City Council, had issued +various quantities of street scrip, which was adjudged a forgery, +though, beyond doubt, most of it, if not all, was properly signed, +but fraudulently issued. On this city scrip our bank must have lost +about ten thousand dollars. Meiggs subsequently turned up in Chili, +where again he rose to wealth and has paid much of his San Francisco +debts, but none to us. He is now in Peru, living like a prince. +With Meiggs fell all the lumber-dealers, and many persons dealing in +city scrip. Compared with others, our loss was a trifle. In a +short time things in San Francisco resumed their wonted course, and +we generally laughed at the escapade of Meiggs, and the cursing of +his deluded creditors. + +Shortly after our arrival in San Francisco, I rented of a Mr. +Marryat, son of the English Captain Marryat, the author, a small +frame-house on Stockton Street, near Green, buying of him his +furniture, and we removed to it about December 1,1853. Close by, +around on Green Street, a man named Dickey was building two small +brick-houses, on ground which he had leased of Nicholson. I bought +one of these houses, subject to the ground-rent, and moved into it +as soon as finished. Lieutenant T. H. Stevens, of the United +States Navy, with his family, rented the other; we lived in this +house throughout the year 1854, and up to April 17, 1855. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +CALIFORNIA + +1855-1857 + + +During the winter of 1854-'55, I received frequent intimations in +my letters from the St. Louis house, that the bank of Page, Bacon & +Co. was in trouble, growing out of their relations to the Ohio & +Mississippi Railroad, to the contractors for building which they +had made large advances, to secure which they had been compelled to +take, as it were, an assignment of the contract itself, and finally +to assume all the liabilities of the contractors. Then they had to +borrow money in New York, and raise other money from time to time, +in the purchase of iron and materials for the road, and to pay the +hands. The firm in St. Louis and that in San Francisco were +different, having different partners, and the St. Louis house +naturally pressed the San Francisco firm to ship largely of +"gold-dust," which gave them a great name; also to keep as large a +balance as possible in New York to sustain their credit. Mr. Page +was a very wealthy man, but his wealth consisted mostly of land and +property in St. Louis. He was an old man, and a good one; had been +a baker, and knew little of banking as a business. This part of +his general business was managed exclusively by his son-in-law, +Henry D. Bacon, who was young, handsome, and generally popular. +How he was drawn into that affair of the Ohio & Mississippi road I +have no means of knowing, except by hearsay. Their business in New +York was done through the American Exchange Bank, and through +Duncan, Sherman & Co. As we were rival houses, the St. Louis +partners removed our account from the American Exchange Bank to the +Metropolitan Bank; and, as Wadsworth & Sheldon had failed, I was +instructed to deal in time bills, and in European exchange, with +Schnchardt & Gebhard, bankers in Nassau Street. + +In California the house of Page, Bacon & Co. was composed of the +same partners as in St. Louis, with the addition of Henry Haight, +Judge Chambers, and young Frank Page. The latter had charge of the +"branch" in Sacramento. Haight was the real head-man, but he was +too fond of lager-beer to be in trusted with so large a business. +Beyond all comparison, Page, Bacon & Co. were the most prominent +bankers in California in 1853-'55. Though I had notice of danger +in that quarter, from our partners in St. Louis, nobody in +California doubted their wealth and stability. They must have had, +during that winter, an average deposit account of nearly two +million dollars, of which seven hundred thousand dollars was in +"certificates of deposit," the most stable of all accounts in a +bank. Thousands of miners invested their earnings in such +certificates, which they converted into drafts on New York, when +they were ready to go home or wanted to send their "pile" to their +families. Adams & Co. were next in order, because of their +numerous offices scattered throughout the mining country. A +gentleman named Haskell had been in charge of Adams & Co. in San +Francisco, but in the winter of 1854-'55 some changes were made, +and the banking department had been transferred to a magnificent +office in Halleck's new Metropolitan Block. James King of Wm. had +discontinued business on his own account, and been employed by +Adams & Co. as their cashier and banker, and Isaiah C. Wood had +succeeded Haskell in chief control of the express department. +Wells, Fargo & Co. were also bankers as well as expressmen, and +William J. Pardee was the resident partner. + +As the mail-steamer came in on February 17, 1855, according to her +custom, she ran close to the Long Wharf (Meiggs's) on North Beach, +to throw ashore the express-parcels of news for speedy delivery. +Some passenger on deck called to a man of his acquaintance standing +on the wharf, that Page & Bacon had failed in New York. The news +spread like wild-fire, but soon it was met by the newspaper +accounts to the effect that some particular acceptances of Page & +Bacon, of St. Louis, in the hands of Duncan, Sherman & Co., in New +York, had gone to protest. All who had balances at Page, Bacon & +Co.'s, or held certificates of deposit, were more or less alarmed, +wanted to secure their money, and a general excitement pervaded the +whole community. Word was soon passed round that the matter +admitted of explanation, viz., that the two houses were distinct +and separate concerns, that every draft of the California house had +been paid in New York, and would continue to be paid. It was +expected that this assertion would quiet the fears of the +California creditors, but for the next three days there was a +steady "run" on that bank. Page, Bacon & Co. stood the first day's +run very well, and, as I afterward learned, paid out about six +hundred thousand dollars in gold coin. On the 20th of February +Henry Height came to our bank, to see what help we were willing to +give him; but I was out, and Nisbet could not answer positively for +the firm. Our condition was then very strong. The deposit account +was about six hundred thousand dollars, and we had in our vault +about five hundred thousand dollars in coin and bullion, besides an +equal amount of good bills receivable. Still I did not like to +weaken ourselves to help others; but in a most friendly spirit, +that night after bank-hours, I went down to Page, Bacon & Co., and +entered their office from the rear. I found in the cashier's room +Folsom, Parrott, Dewey and Payne, Captain Ritchie, Donohue, and +others, citizens and friends of the house, who had been called in +for consultation. Passing into the main office, where all the +book-keepers, tellers, etc., with gas-lights, were busy writing up +the day's work, I found Mr. Page, Henry Height, and Judge Chambers. +I spoke to Height, saying that I was sorry I had been out when he +called at our bank, and had now come to see him in the most +friendly spirit. Height had evidently been drinking, and said +abruptly that "all the banks would break," that "no bank could +instantly pay all its obligations," etc. I answered he could speak +for himself, but not for me; that I had come to offer to buy with +cash a fair proportion of his bullion, notes, and bills; but, if +they were going to fail, I would not be drawn in. Height's manner +was extremely offensive, but Mr. Page tried to smooth it over, +saying they had had a bad day's run, and could not answer for the +result till their books were written up. + +I passed back again into the room where the before-named gentlemen +were discussing some paper which lay before them, and was going to +pass out, when Captain Folsom, who was an officer of the army, a +class-mate and intimate friend of mine, handed me the paper the +contents of which they were discussing. It was very short, and in +Henry Haight's handwriting, pretty much in these terms: "We, the +undersigned property-holders of San Francisco, having personally +examined the books, papers, etc., of Page, Bacon & Co., do hereby +certify that the house is solvent and able to pay all its debts," +etc. Height had drawn up and asked them to sign this paper, with +the intention to publish it in the next morning's papers, for +effect. While I was talking with Captain Folsom, Height came into +the room to listen. I admitted that the effect of such a +publication would surely be good, and would probably stave off +immediate demand till their assets could be in part converted or +realized; but I naturally inquired of Folsom, "Have you personally +examined the accounts, as herein recited, and the assets, enough to +warrant your signature to this paper?" for, "thereby you in effect +become indorsers." Folsom said they had not, when Height turned +on me rudely and said, "Do you think the affairs of such a house as +Page, Bacon & Co. can be critically examined in an hour?" I +answered: "These gentlemen can do what they please, but they have +twelve hours before the bank will open on the morrow, and if the +ledger is written up" (as I believed it was or could be by +midnight), "they can (by counting the coin, bullion on hand, and +notes or stocks of immediate realization) approximate near enough +for them to indorse for the remainder." But Height pooh-poohed me, +and I left. Folsom followed me out, told me he could not afford to +imperil all he had, and asked my advice. I explained to him that +my partner Nisbet had been educated and trained in that very house +of Page, Bacon & Co.; that we kept our books exactly as they did; +that every day the ledger was written up, so that from it one could +see exactly how much actual money was due the depositors and +certificates; and then by counting the money in the vault, +estimating the bullion on hand, which, though not actual money, +could easily be converted into coin, and supplementing these +amounts by "bills receivable," they ought to arrive at an +approximate-result. After Folsom had left me, John Parrott also +stopped and talked with me to the same effect. Next morning I +looked out for the notice, but no such notice appeared in the +morning papers, and I afterward learned that, on Parrott and Folsom +demanding an actual count of the money in the vault, Haight angrily +refused unless they would accept his word for it, when one after +the other declined to sign his paper. + +The run on Page, Bacon & Co. therefore continued throughout the +21st, and I expected all day to get an invitation to close our bank +for the next day, February 22, which we could have made a holiday +by concerted action; but each banker waited for Page, Bacon & Co. +to ask for it, and, no such circular coming, in the then state of +feeling no other banker was willing to take the initiative. On the +morning of February 22, 1855, everybody was startled by receiving a +small slip of paper, delivered at all the houses, on which was +printed a short notice that, for "want of coin," Page, Bacon & Co. +found it necessary to close their bank for a short time. Of +course, we all knew the consequences, and that every other bank in +San Francisco would be tried. During the 22d we all kept open, and +watched our depositors closely; but the day was generally observed +by the people as a holiday, and the firemen paraded the streets of +San Francisco in unusual strength. But, on writing up our books +that night, we found that our deposit account had diminished about +sixty-five thousand dollars. Still, there was no run on us, or any +other of the banks, that day; yet, observing little knots of men on +the street, discussing the state of the banks generally, and +overhearing Haight's expression quoted, that, in case of the +failure of Page, Bacon & Co., "all the other banks would break," I +deemed it prudent to make ready. For some days we had refused all +loans and renewals, and we tried, without, success, some of our +call-loans; but, like Hotspur's spirits, they would not come. + +Our financial condition on that day (February 22, 1855) was: Due +depositors and demand certificates, five hundred and twenty +thousand dollars; to meet which, we had in the vault: coin, three +hundred and eighty thousand dollars; bullion, seventy-five thousand +dollars; and bills receivable, about six hundred thousand dollars. +Of these, at least one hundred thousand dollars were on demand, +with stock collaterals. Therefore, for the extent of our business, +we were stronger than the Bank of England, or any bank in New York +City. + +Before daylight next morning, our door-bell was rung, and I was +called down-stairs by E. Casserly, Esq. (an eminent lawyer of the +day, since United States Senator), who informed me he had just come +up from the office of Adams & Co., to tell me that their affairs +were in such condition that they would not open that morning at +all; and that this, added to the suspension of Page, Bacon & Co., +announced the day before, would surely cause a general run on all +the banks. I informed him that I expected as much, and was +prepared for it. + +In going down to the bank that morning, I found Montgomery Street +full; but, punctually to the minute, the bank opened, and in rushed +the crowd. As usual, the most noisy and clamorous were men and +women who held small certificates; still, others with larger +accounts were in the crowd, pushing forward for their balances. +All were promptly met and paid. Several gentlemen of my personal +acquaintance merely asked my word of honor that their money was +safe, and went away; others, who had large balances, and no +immediate use for coin, gladly accepted gold-bars, whereby we paid +out the seventy-five thousand dollars of bullion, relieving the +coin to that amount. + +Meantime, rumors from the street came pouring in that Wright & Co. +had failed; then Wells, Fargo & Co.; then Palmer, Cook & Co., and +indeed all, or nearly all, the banks of the city; and I was told +that parties on the street were betting high, first, that we would +close our doors at eleven o'clock; then twelve, and so on; but we +did not, till the usual hour that night. We had paid every demand, +and still had a respectable amount left. + +This run on the bank (the only one I ever experienced) presented +all the features, serious and comical, usual to such occasions. At +our counter happened that identical case, narrated of others, of +the Frenchman, who was nearly squeezed to death in getting to the +counter, and, when he received his money, did not know what to do +with it. "If you got the money, I no want him; but if you no got +him, I want it like the devil!" + +Toward the close of the day, some of our customers deposited, +rather ostentatiously, small amounts, not aggregating more than +eight or ten thousand dollars. Book-keepers and tellers were kept +at work to write up the books; and these showed: + +Due depositors and certificates, about one hundred and twenty +thousand dollars, for which remained of coin about fifty thousand +dollars. I resolved not to sleep until I had collected from those +owing the bank a part of their debts; for I was angry with them +that they had stood back and allowed the panic to fall on the banks +alone. Among these were Captain Folsom, who owed us twenty-five +thousand dollars, secured by a mortgage on the American Theatre and +Tehama Hotel; James Smiley, contractor for building the +Custom-House, who owed us two notes of twenty thousand and sixteen +thousand dollars, for which we held, as collateral, two acceptances +of the collector of the port, Major R. P. Hammond, for twenty +thousand dollars each; besides other private parties that I need +not name. The acceptances given to Smiley were for work done on +the Custom-House, but could not be paid until the work was actually +laid in the walls, and certified by Major Tower, United States +Engineers; but Smiley had an immense amount of granite, brick, +iron, etc., on the ground, in advance of construction, and these +acceptances were given him expressly that he might raise money +thereon for the payment of such materials. + +Therefore, as soon as I got my dinner, I took my saddle-horse, and +rode to Captain Folsom's house, where I found him in great pain and +distress, mental and physical. He was sitting in a chair, and +bathing his head with a sponge. I explained to him the object of +my visit, and he said he had expected it, and had already sent his +agent, Van Winkle, down-town, with instructions to raise what money +he could at any cost; but he did not succeed in raising a cent. So +great was the shock to public confidence, that men slept on their +money, and would not loan it for ten per cent. a week, on any +security whatever--even on mint certificates, which were as good as +gold, and only required about ten days to be paid in coin by the +United States Mint. I then rode up to Hammond's house, on Rincon +Hill, and found him there. I explained to him exactly Smiley's +affairs, and only asked him to pay one of his acceptances. He +inquired, "Why not both?" I answered that was so much the better; +it would put me under still greater obligations. He then agreed to +meet me at our bank at 10 P.M. I sent word to others that I +demanded them to pay what they could on their paper, and then +returned to the bank, to meet Hammond. In due time, he came down +with Palmer (of Palmer, Cook & Co.), and there he met Smiley, who +was, of course, very anxious to retire his notes. We there +discussed the matter fully, when Hammond said, "Sherman, give me up +my two acceptances, and I will substitute therefor my check of +forty thousand dollars," with "the distinct understanding that, if +the money is not needed by you, it shall be returned to me, and the +transaction then to remain statu quo." To this there was a general +assent. Nisbet handed him his two acceptances, and he handed me +his check, signed as collector of the port, on Major J. R. Snyder, +United States Treasurer, for forty thousand dollars. I afterward +rode out, that night, to Major Snyder's house on North Beach, saw +him, and he agreed to meet me at 8 a.m. next day, at the United +States Mint, and to pay the check, so that I could have the money +before the bank opened. The next morning, as agreed on, we met, +and he paid me the check in two sealed bags of gold-coin, each +marked twenty thousand dollars, which I had carried to the bank, +but never opened them, or even broke the seals. + +That morning our bank opened as usual, but there was no appearance +of a continuation of the "run;" on the contrary, money began to +come back on deposit, so that by night we had a considerable +increase, and this went on from day to day, till nearly the old +condition of things returned. After about three days, finding I +had no use for the money obtained on Hammond's check, I took the +identical two bags back to the cashier of the Custom-House, and +recovered the two acceptances which had been surrendered as +described; and Smiley's two notes were afterward paid in their due +course, out of the cash received on those identical acceptances. +But, years afterward, on settling with Hammond for the Custom-House +contract when completed, there was a difference, and Smiley sued +Lucas, Turner & Co. for money had and received for his benefit, +being the identical forty thousand dollars herein explained, but he +lost his case. Hammond, too, was afterward removed from office, +and indicted in part for this transaction. He was tried before the +United States Circuit Court, Judge McAlister presiding, for a +violation of the sub-Treasury Act, but was acquitted. Our bank, +having thus passed so well through the crisis, took at once a first +rank; but these bank failures had caused so many mercantile losses, +and had led to such an utter downfall in the value of real estate, +that everybody lost more or less money by bad debts, by +depreciation of stocks and collaterals, that became unsalable, if +not worthless. + +About this time (viz., February, 1855) I had exchanged my house on +Green, street, with Mr. Sloat, for the half of a fifty-vara lot on +Harrison Street, between Fremont and First, on which there was a +small cottage, and I had contracted for the building of a new +frame-house thereon, at six thousand dollars. This house was +finished on the 9th of April, and my family moved into it at once. + +For some time Mrs. Sherman had been anxious to go home to +Lancaster, Ohio, where we had left our daughter Minnie, with her +grandparents, and we arranged that S. M. Bowman, Esq., and wife, +should move into our new house and board us, viz., Lizzie, Willie +with the nurse Biddy, and myself, for a fair consideration. It so +happened that two of my personal friends, Messrs. Winters and +Cunningham of Marysville, and a young fellow named Eagan, now a +captain in the Commissary Department, were going East in the +steamer of the middle of April, and that Mr.. William H. +Aspinwall, of New York, and Mr. Chauncey, of Philadelphia, were +also going back; and they all offered to look to the personal +comfort of Mrs. Sherman on the voyage. They took passage in the +steamer Golden Age (Commodore Watkins), which sailed on April 17, +1855. Their passage down the coast was very pleasant till within a +day's distance of Panama, when one bright moonlit night, April +29th, the ship, running at full speed, between the Islands Quibo +and Quicara, struck on a sunken reef, tore out a streak in her +bottom, and at once began to fill with water. Fortunately she did +not sink fast, but swung off into deep water, and Commodore Watkins +happening to be on deck at the moment, walking with Mr. Aspinwall, +learning that the water was rushing in with great rapidity, gave +orders for a full head of steam, and turned the vessel's bow +straight for the Island Quicara. The water rose rapidly in the +hold, the passengers were all assembled, fearful of going down, the +fires were out, and the last revolution of the wheels made, when +her bow touched gently on the beach, and the vessel's stern sank in +deep water. Lines were got out, and the ship held in an upright +position, so that the passengers were safe, and but little +incommoded. I have often heard Mrs. Sherman tell of the boy Eagan, +then about fourteen years old, coming to her state-room, and +telling to her not to be afraid, as he was a good swimmer; but on +coming out into the cabin, partially dressed, she felt more +confidence in the cool manner, bearing, and greater strength of Mr. +Winters. There must have been nearly a thousand souls on board at +the time, few of whom could have been saved had the steamer gone +down in mid-channel, which surely would have resulted, had not +Commodore Watkins been on deck, or had he been less prompt in his +determination to beach his ship. A sailboat was dispatched toward +Panama, which luckily met the steamer John T. Stephens, just coming +out of the bay, loaded with about a thousand passengers bound for +San Francisco, and she at once proceeded to the relief of the +Golden Age. Her passengers were transferred in small boats to the +Stephens, which vessel, with her two thousand people crowded +together with hardly standing-room, returned to Panama, whence the +passengers for the East proceeded to their destination without +further delay. Luckily for Mrs. Sherman, Purser Goddard, an old +Ohio friend of ours, was on the Stephens, and most kindly gave up +his own room to her, and such lady friends as she included in her +party. The Golden Age was afterward partially repaired at Quicara, +pumped out, and steamed to Panama, when, after further repairs, she +resumed her place in the line. I think she is still in existence, +but Commodore Watkins afterward lost his life in China, by falling +down a hatchway. + +Mrs. Sherman returned in the latter part of November of the same +year, when Mr. and Mrs. Bowman, who meantime had bought a lot next +to us and erected a house thereon, removed to it, and we thus +continued close neighbors and friends until we left the country for +good in 1857. + +During the summer of 1856, in San Francisco, occurred one of those +unhappy events, too common to new countries, in which I became +involved in spite of myself. + +William Neely Johnson was Governor of California, and resided at +Sacramento City; General John E. Wool commanded the Department of +California, having succeeded General Hitchcock, and had his +headquarters at Benicia; and a Mr. Van Ness was mayor of the city. +Politics had become a regular and profitable business, and +politicians were more than suspected of being corrupt. It was +reported and currently believed that the sheriff (Scannell) had +been required to pay the Democratic Central Committee a hundred +thousand dollars for his nomination, which was equivalent to an +election, for an office of the nominal salary of twelve thousand +dollars a year for four years. In the election all sorts of +dishonesty were charged and believed, especially of "ballot-box +stuffing," and too generally the better classes avoided the +elections and dodged jury-duty, so that the affairs of the city +government necessarily passed into the hands of a low set of +professional politicians. Among them was a man named James Casey, +who edited a small paper, the printing office of which was in a +room on the third floor of our banking office. I hardly knew him +by sight, and rarely if ever saw his paper; but one day Mr. Sather, +of the excellent banking firm of Drexel, Sather & Church, came to +me, and called my attention to an article in Casey's paper so full +of falsehood and malice, that we construed it as an effort to +black-mail the banks generally. At that time we were all laboring +to restore confidence, which had been so rudely shaken by the +panic, and I went up-stairs, found Casey, and pointed out to him +the objectionable nature of his article, told him plainly that I +could not tolerate his attempt to print and circulate slanders in +our building, and, if he repeated it, I would cause him and his +press to be thrown out of the windows. He took the hint and moved +to more friendly quarters. I mention this fact, to show my +estimate of the man, who became a figure in the drama I am about to +describe. James King of Wm., as before explained, was in 1853 a +banker on his own account, but some time in 1854 he had closed out +his business, and engaged with Adams & Co. as cashier. When this +firm failed, he, in common with all the employees, was thrown out +of employment, and had to look around for something else. He +settled down to the publication of an evening paper, called the +Bulletin, and, being a man of fine manners and address, he at once +constituted himself the champion of society against the public and +private characters whom he saw fit to arraign. + +As might have been expected, this soon brought him into the usual +newspaper war with other editors, and especially with Casey, and +epithets a la "Eatanswill" were soon bandying back and forth +between them. One evening of May, 1856, King published, in the +Bulletin, copies of papers procured from New York, to show that +Casey had once been sentenced to the State penitentiary at Sing +Sing. Casey took mortal offense, and called at the Bulletin +office, on the corner of Montgomery and Merchant Streets, where he +found King, and violent words passed between them, resulting in +Casey giving King notice that he would shoot him on sight. King +remained in his office till about 5 or 6 p.m., when he started +toward his home on Stockton Street, and, as he neared the corner of +Washington, Casey approached him from the opposite direction, +called to him, and began firing. King had on a short cloak, and in +his breast-pocket a small pistol, which he did not use. One of +Casey's shots struck him high up in the breast, from which he +reeled, was caught by some passing friend, and carried into the +express-office on the corner, where he was laid on the counter; and +a surgeon sent for. Casey escaped up Washington Street, went to +the City Hall, and delivered himself to the sheriff (Scannell), who +conveyed him to jail and locked him in a cell. Meantime, the news +spread like wildfire, and all the city was in commotion, for grog +was very popular. Nisbet, who boarded with us on Harrison Street, +had been delayed at the bank later than usual, so that he happened +to be near at the time, and, when he came out to dinner, he brought +me the news of this affair, and said that there was every +appearance of a riot down-town that night. This occurred toward +the evening of May 14, 1856. + +It so happened that, on the urgent solicitation of Van Winkle and +of Governor Johnson; I had only a few days before agreed to accept +the commission of major-general of the Second Division of Militia, +embracing San Francisco. I had received the commission, but +had not as yet formally accepted it, or even put myself in +communication with the volunteer companies of the city. Of these, +at that moment of time, there was a company of artillery with four +guns, commanded by a Captain Johns, formerly of the army, and two +or three uniformed companies of infantry. After dinner I went down +town to see what was going on; found that King had been removed to +a room in the Metropolitan Block; that his life was in great peril; +that Casey was safe in jail, and the sheriff had called to his +assistance a posse of the city police, some citizens, and one of +the militia companies. The people were gathered in groups on the +streets, and the words "Vigilance Committee" were freely spoken, +but I saw no signs of immediate violence. The next morning, I +again went to the jail, and found all things quiet, but the militia +had withdrawn. I then went to the City Hall, saw the mayor, Van +Ness, and some of the city officials, agreed to do what I could to +maintain order with such militia as were on hand, and then formally +accepted the commission, and took the "oath." + +In 1851 (when I was not in California) there had been a Vigilance +Committee, and it was understood that its organization still +existed. All the newspapers took ground in favor of the Vigilance +Committee, except the Herald (John Nugent, editor), and nearly all +the best people favored that means of redress. I could see they +were organizing, hiring rendezvous, collecting arms, etc., without +concealment. It was soon manifest that the companies of volunteers +would go with the "committee," and that the public authorities +could not rely on them for aid or defense. Still, there were a +good many citizens who contended that, if the civil authorities +were properly sustained by the people at large, they could and +would execute the law. But the papers inflamed the public mind, +and the controversy spread to the country. About the third day +after the shooting of King, Governor Johnson telegraphed me that he +would be down in the evening boat, and asked me to meet him on +arrival for consultation. I got C. H. Garrison to go with me, and +we met the Governor and his brother on the wharf, and walked up to +the International Hotel on Jackson Street, above Montgomery. We +discussed the state of affairs fully; and Johnson, on learning that +his particular friend, William T. Coleman, was the president of the +Vigilance Committee, proposed to go and see him. En route we +stopped at King's room, ascertained that he was slowly sinking, and +could not live long; and then near midnight we walked to the +Turnverein Hall, where the committee was known to be sitting in +consultation. This hall was on Bush Street, at about the +intersection of Stockton. It was all lighted up within, but the +door was locked. The Governor knocked at the door, and on inquiry +from inside "Who's there?"--gave his name. After some delay we +were admitted into a sort of vestibule, beyond which was a large +hall, and we could hear the suppressed voices of a multitude. We +were shown into a bar-room to the right, when the Governor asked to +see Coleman. The man left us, went into the main hall, and soon +returned with Coleman, who was pale and agitated. After shaking +hands all round, the Governor said, "Coleman, what the devil is the +matter here?" Coleman said, "Governor, it is time this shooting on +our streets should stop." The Governor replied, "I agree with you +perfectly, and have come down, from Sacramento to assist." Coleman +rejoined that "the people were tired of it, and had no faith in the +officers of the law." A general conversation then followed, in +which it was admitted that King would die, and that Casey must be +executed; but the manner of execution was the thing to be settled, +Coleman contending that the people would do it without trusting the +courts or the sheriff. It so happened that at that time Judge +Norton was on the bench of the court having jurisdiction, and he +was universally recognized as an able and upright man, whom no one +could or did mistrust; and it also happened that a grand-jury was +then in session. Johnson argued that the time had passed in +California for mobs and vigilance committees, and said if Coleman +and associates would use their influence to support the law, he +(the Governor) would undertake that, as soon as King died, the +grand-jury should indict, that Judge Norton would try the murderer, +and the whole proceeding should be as speedy as decency would +allow. Then Coleman said "the people had no confidence in +Scannell, the sheriff," who was, he said, in collusion with the +rowdy element of San Francisco. Johnson then offered to be +personally responsible that Casey should be safely guarded, and +should be forthcoming for trial and execution at the proper time. +I remember very well Johnson's assertion that he had no right to +make these stipulations, and maybe no power to fulfill them; but he +did it to save the city and state from the disgrace of a mob. +Coleman disclaimed that the vigilance organization was a "mob," +admitted that the proposition of the Governor was fair, and all he +or any one should ask; and added, if we would wait awhile, he would +submit it to the council, and bring back an answer. + +We waited nearly an hour, and could hear the hum of voices +in the hall, but no words, when Coleman came back, accompanied by a +committee, of which I think the two brothers Arrington, Thomas +Smiley the auctioneer, Seymour, Truett, and others, were members. +The whole conversation was gone over again, and the Governor's +proposition was positively agreed to, with this further condition, +that the Vigilance Committee should send into the jail a small +force of their own men, to make certain that Casey should not be +carried off or allowed to escape. + +The Governor, his brother William, Garrison, and I, then went up to +the jail, where we found the sheriff and his posse comitatus of +police and citizens. These were styled the "Law-and-Order party," +and some of them took offense that the Governor should have held +communication with the "damned rebels," and several of them left +the jail; but the sheriff seemed to agree with the Governor that +what he had done was right and best; and, while we were there, some +eight or ten armed men arrived from the Vigilance Committee, and +were received by the sheriff (Scannell) as a part of his regular +posse. + +The Governor then, near daylight, went to his hotel, and I to my +house for a short sleep. Next day I was at the bank, as usual, +when, about noon the Governor called, and asked me to walk with him +down-street He said he had just received a message from the +Vigilance Committee to the effect that they were not bound by +Coleman's promise not to do any thing till the regular trial by +jury should be had, etc. He was with reason furious, and asked me +to go with him to Truett's store, over which the Executive +Committee was said to be in session. We were admitted to a +front-room up-stairs, and heard voices in the back-room. The +Governor inquired for Coleman, but he was not forthcoming. Another +of the committee, Seymour, met us, denied in toto the promise of +the night before, and the Governor openly accused him of treachery +and falsehood. + + +The quarrel became public, and the newspapers took it up, both +parties turning on the Governor; one, the Vigilantes, denying the +promise made by Coleman, their president; and the other, the +"Law-and-Order party," refusing any farther assistance, because +Johnson had stooped to make terms with rebels. At all events, he +was powerless, and had to let matters drift to a conclusion. + +King died about Friday, May 20th, and the funeral was appointed for +the next Sunday. Early on that day the Governor sent for me at my +house. I found him on the roof of the International, from which we +looked down on the whole city, and more especially the face of +Telegraph Hill, which was already covered with a crowd of people, +while others were moving toward the jail on Broadway. Parties of +armed men, in good order, were marching by platoons in the same +direction; and formed in line along Broadway, facing the jail-door. +Soon a small party was seen to advance to this door, and knock; a +parley ensued, the doors were opened, and Casey was led out. In a +few minutes another prisoner was brought out, who, proved to be +Cora, a man who had once been tried for killing Richardson, the +United States Marshal, when the jury disagreed, and he was awaiting +a new trial. These prisoners were placed in carriages, and +escorted by the armed force down to the rooms of the Vigilance +Committee, through the principal streets of the city. The day was +exceedingly beautiful, and the whole proceeding was orderly in the +extreme. I was under the impression that Casey and Cora were +hanged that same Sunday, but was probably in error; but in a very +few days they were hanged by the neck--dead--suspended from beams +projecting from the windows of the committee's rooms, without other +trial than could be given in secret, and by night. + +We all thought the matter had ended there, and accordingly the +Governor returned to Sacramento in disgust, and I went about my +business. But it soon became manifest that the Vigilance Committee +had no intention to surrender the power thus usurped. They took a +building on Clay Street, near Front, fortified it, employed guards +and armed sentinels, sat in midnight council, issued writs of +arrest and banishment, and utterly ignored all authority but their +own. A good many men were banished and forced to leave the +country, but they were of that class we could well spare. Yankee +Sullivan, a prisoner in their custody, committed suicide, and a +feeling of general insecurity pervaded the city. Business was +deranged; and the Bulletin, then under control of Tom King, a +brother of James, poured out its abuse on some of our best men, as +well as the worst. Governor Johnson, being again appealed to, +concluded to go to work regularly, and telegraphed me about the 1st +of June to meet him at General Wool's headquarters at Benicia that +night. I went up, and we met at the hotel where General Wool was +boarding. Johnson had with him his Secretary of State. We +discussed the state of the country generally, and I had agreed that +if Wool would give us arms and ammunition out of the United States +Arsenal at Benicia, and if Commodore Farragat, of the navy, +commanding the navy-yard on Mare Island, would give us a ship, I +would call out volunteers, and, when a sufficient number had +responded, I would have the arms come down from Benicia in the +ship, arm my men, take possession of a thirty-two-pound-gun battery +at the Marine Hospital on Rincon Point, thence command a dispersion +of the unlawfully-armed force of the Vigilance Committee, and +arrest some of the leaders. + +We played cards that night, carrying on a conversation, in which +Wool insisted on a proclamation commanding the Vigilance Committee +to disperse, etc., and he told us how he had on some occasion, as +far back as 1814, suppressed a mutiny on the Northern frontier. I +did not understand him to make any distinct promise of assistance +that night, but he invited us to accompany him on an inspection of +the arsenal the next day, which we did. On handling some rifled +muskets in the arsenal storehouse he asked me how they would answer +our purpose. I said they were the very things, and that we did not +want cartridge boxes or belts, but that I would have the cartridges +carried in the breeches-pockets, and the caps in the vestpockets. +I knew that there were stored in that arsenal four thousand +muskets, for I recognized the boxes which we had carried out in the +Lexington around Cape Horn in 1846. Afterward we all met at the +quarters of Captain D. R. Jones of the army, and I saw the +Secretary of State, D. F. Douglass, Esq., walk out with General +Wool in earnest conversation, and this Secretary of State afterward +asserted that Wool there and then promised us the arms and +ammunition, provided the Governor would make his proclamation for +the committee to disperse, and that I should afterward call out the +militia, etc. On the way back to the hotel at Benicia, General +Wool, Captain Callendar of the arsenal, and I, were walking side by +side, and I was telling him (General Wool) that I would also need +some ammunition for the thirty-two-pound guns then in position at +Rineon Point, when Wool turned to Callendar and inquired, "Did I +not order those guns to be brought away?" Callendar said "Yes, +general. I made a requisition on the quartermaster for +transportation, but his schooner has been so busy that the guns are +still there." Then said Wool: "Let them remain; we may have use for +them." I therefrom inferred, of course, that it was all agreed to +so far as he was concerned. + +Soon after we had reached the hotel, we ordered a buggy, and +Governor Johnson and I drove to Vallejo, six miles, crossed over to +Mare Island, and walked up to the commandant's house, where we +found Commodore Farragut and his family. We stated our business +fairly, but the commodore answered very frankly that he had no +authority, without orders from his department, to take any part in +civil broils; he doubted the wisdom of the attempt; said he had no +ship available except the John Adams, Captain Boutwell, and that +she needed repairs. But he assented at last, to the proposition to +let the sloop John Adams drop down abreast of the city after +certain repairs, to lie off there for moral effect, which afterward +actually occurred. + +We then returned to Benicia, and Wool's first question was, "What +luck?" We answered, "Not much," and explained what Commodore +Farragut could and would do, and that, instead of having a naval +vessel, we would seize and use one of the Pacific Mail Company's +steamers, lying at their dock in Benicia, to carry down to San +Francisco the arms and munitions when the time came. + +As the time was then near at hand for the arrival of the evening +boats, we all walked down to the wharf together, where I told +Johnson that he could not be too careful; that I had not heard +General Wool make a positive promise of assistance. + +Upon this, Johnson called General Wool to one side, and we three +drew together. Johnson said: "General Wool, General Sherman is +very particular, and wants to know exactly what you propose to do." +Wool answered: "I understand, Governor, that in the first place a +writ of Habeas corpus will be issued commanding the jailers of the +Vigilance Committee to produce the body of some one of the +prisoners held by them (which, of course, will be refused); that +you then issue your proclamation commanding them to disperse, and, +failing this, you will call out the militia, and command General +Sherman with it to suppress the Vigilance Committee as an unlawful +body;" to which the Governor responded, "Yes." "Then," said Wool, +"on General Sherman's making his requisition, approved by you, I +will order the issue of the necessary arms and ammunition." I +remember well that I said, emphatically: "That is all I want. +--Now, Governor, you may go ahead." We soon parted; Johnson and +Douglas taking the boat to Sacramento, and I to San Francisco. + +The Chief-Justice, Terry, came to San Francisco the next day, +issued a writ of habeas corpus for the body of one Maloney, which +writ was resisted, as we expected. The Governor then issued his +proclamation, and I published my orders, dated June 4, 1855. The +Quartermaster-General of the State, General Kibbe, also came to San +Francisco, took an office in the City Hall, engaged several rooms +for armories, and soon the men began to enroll into companies. In +my general orders calling out the militia, I used the expression, +"When a sufficient number of men are enrolled, arms and ammunition +will be supplied." Some of the best men of the "Vigilantes" came +to me and remonstrated, saying that collision would surely result; +that it would be terrible, etc. All I could say in reply was, that +it was for them to get out of the way. "Remove your fort; cease +your midnight councils; and prevent your armed bodies from +patrolling the streets." They inquired where I was to get arms, +and I answered that I had them certain. But personally I went +right along with my business at the bank, conscious that at any +moment we might have trouble. Another committee of citizens, a +conciliatory body, was formed to prevent collision if possible, and +the newspapers boiled over with vehement vituperation. This second +committee was composed of such men as Crockett, Ritchie, Thornton, +Bailey Peyton, Foote, Donohue, Kelly, and others, a class of the +most intelligent and wealthy men of the city, who earnestly and +honestly desired to prevent bloodshed. They also came to me, and I +told them that our men were enrolling very fast, and that, when I +deemed the right moment had come, the Vigilance Committee must +disperse, else bloodshed and destruction of property would +inevitably follow. They also had discovered that the better men of +the Vigilance Committee itself were getting tired of the business, +and thought that in the execution of Casey and Cora, and the +banishment of a dozen or more rowdies, they had done enough, and +were then willing to stop. It was suggested that, if our +Law-and-Order party would not arm, by a certain day near at hand +the committee would disperse, and some of their leaders would +submit to an indictment and trial by a jury of citizens, which they +knew would acquit them of crime. One day in the bank a man called +me to the counter and said, "If you expect to get arms of General +Wool, you will be mistaken, for I was at Benicia yesterday, and +heard him say he would not give them." This person was known to me +to be a man of truth, and I immediately wrote to General Wool a +letter telling him what I had heard, and how any hesitation on his +part would compromise me as a man of truth and honor; adding that I +did not believe we should ever need the arms, but only the promise +of them, for "the committee was letting down, and would soon +disperse and submit to the law," etc. I further asked him to +answer me categorically that very night, by the Stockton boat, +which would pass Benicia on its way down about midnight, and I +would sit up and wait for his answer. I did wait for his letter, +but it did not come, and the next day I got a telegraphic dispatch +from Governor Johnson, who, at Sacramento, had also heard of +General Wool's "back-down," asking me to meet him again at Benicia +that night. + +I went up in the evening boat, and found General Wool's +aide-de-camp, Captain Arnold, of the army, on the wharf, with a +letter in his hand, which he said was for me. I asked for it, but +he said he knew its importance, and preferred we should go to +General Wool's room together, and the general could hand it to me in +person. We did go right up to General Wool's, who took the sealed +parcel and laid it aside, saying that it was literally a copy of one +he had sent to Governor Johnson, who would doubtless give me a copy; +but I insisted that I had made a written communication, and was +entitled to a written answer. + +At that moment several gentlemen of the "Conciliation party," who +had come up in the same steamer with me, asked for admission and +came in. I recall the names of Crockett, Foote, Bailey Peyton, +Judge Thornton, Donohue, etc., and the conversation became general, +Wool trying to explain away the effect of our misunderstanding, +taking good pains not to deny his promise made to me personally on +the wharf. I renewed my application for the letter addressed to +me, then lying on his table. On my statement of the case, Bailey +Peyton said, "General Wool, I think General Sherman has a right to +a written answer from you, for he is surely compromised." Upon +this Wool handed me the letter. I opened and read it, and it +denied any promise of arms, but otherwise was extremely evasive and +non-committal. I had heard of the arrival at the wharf of the +Governor and party, and was expecting them at Wool's room, but, +instead of stopping at the hotel where we were, they passed to +another hotel on the block above. I went up and found there, in a +room on the second floor over the bar-room, Governor Johnson, +Chief-Justice Terry, Jones, of Palmer, Cooke & Co., E. D. Baker, +Volney E. Howard, and one or two others. All were talking +furiously against Wool, denouncing him as a d---d liar, and not +sparing the severest terms. I showed the Governor General Wool's +letter to me, which he said was in effect the same as the one +addressed to and received by him at Sacramento. He was so offended +that he would not even call on General Wool, and said he would +never again recognize him as an officer or gentleman. We discussed +matters generally, and Judge Terry said that the Vigilance +Committee were a set of d---d pork-merchants; that they were +getting scared, and that General Wool was in collusion with them to +bring the State into contempt, etc. I explained that there were no +arms in the State except what General Wool had, or what were in the +hands of the Vigilance Committee of San Francisco, and that the +part of wisdom for us was to be patient and cautious. About that +time Crockett and his associates sent up their cards, but Terry and +the more violent of the Governor's followers denounced them as no +better than "Vigilantes," and wanted the Governor to refuse even to +receive them. I explained that they were not "Vigilantes," that +Judge Thornton was a "Law-and-Order" man, was one of the first to +respond to the call of the sheriff, and that he went actually to +the jail with his one arm the night we expected the first attempt +at rescue, etc. Johnson then sent word for them to reduce their +business to writing. They simply sent in a written request for an +audience, and they were then promptly admitted. After some general +conversation, the Governor said he was prepared to hear them, when +Mr. Crockett rose and made a prepared speech embracing a clear and +fair statement of the condition of things in San Francisco, +concluding with the assertion of the willingness of the committee +to disband and submit to trial after a certain date not very +remote. All the time Crockett was speaking, Terry sat with his hat +on, drawn over his eyes, and with his feet on a table. As soon as +Crockett was through, they were dismissed, and Johnson began to +prepare a written answer. This was scratched, altered, and +amended, to suit the notions of his counselors, and at last was +copied and sent. This answer amounted to little or nothing. +Seeing that we were powerless for good, and that violent counsels +would prevail under the influence of Terry and others, I sat down +at the table, and wrote my resignation, which Johnson accepted in a +complimentary note on the spot, and at the same time he appointed +to my place General Volney E. Howard, then present, a lawyer who +had once been a member of Congress from Texas, and who was expected +to drive the d---d pork-merchants into the bay at short notice. I +went soon after to General Wool's room, where I found Crockett and +the rest of his party; told them that I was out of the fight, +having resigned my commission; that I had neglected business that +had been intrusted to me by my St. Louis partners; and that I would +thenceforward mind my own business, and leave public affairs +severely alone. We all returned to San Francisco that night by the +Stockton boat, and I never after-ward had any thing to do with +politics in California, perfectly satisfied with that short +experience. Johnson and Wool fought out their quarrel of veracity +in the newspapers and on paper. But, in my opinion, there is not a +shadow of doubt that General Wool did deliberately deceive us; that +he had authority to issue arms, and that, had he adhered to his +promise, we could have checked the committee before it became a +fixed institution, and a part of the common law of California. +Major-General Volney E. Howard came to San Francisco soon after; +continued the organization of militia which I had begun; succeeded +in getting a few arms from the country; but one day the Vigilance +Committee sallied from their armories, captured the arms of the +"Law-and-Order party," put some of their men into prison, while +General Howard, with others, escaped to the country; after which +the Vigilance Committee had it all their own way. Subsequently, in +July, 1856, they arrested Chief-Justice Terry, and tried him for +stabbing one of their constables, but he managed to escape at +night, and took refuge on the John Adams. In August, they hanged +Hetherington and Brace in broad daylight, without any jury-trial; +and, soon after, they quietly disbanded. As they controlled the +press, they wrote their own history, and the world generally gives +them the credit of having purged San Francisco of rowdies and +roughs; but their success has given great stimulus to a dangerous +principle, that would at any time justify the mob in seizing all +the power of government; and who is to say that the Vigilance +Committee may not be composed of the worst, instead of the best, +elements of a community? Indeed, in San Francisco, as soon as it +was demonstrated that the real power had passed from the City Hall +to the committee room, the same set of bailiffs, constables, and +rowdies that had infested the City Hall were found in the +employment of the "Vigilantes;" and, after three months +experience, the better class of people became tired of the midnight +sessions and left the business and power of the committee in the +hands of a court, of which a Sydney man was reported to be the head +or chief-justice. + +During the winter of 1855-'56, and indeed throughout the year 1856, +all kinds of business became unsettled in California. The mines +continued to yield about fifty millions of gold a year; but little +attention was paid to agriculture or to any business other than +that of "mining," and, as the placer-gold was becoming worked out, +the miners were restless and uneasy, and were shifting about from +place to place, impelled by rumors put afloat for speculative +purposes. A great many extensive enterprises by joint-stock +companies had been begun, in the way of water-ditches, to bring +water from the head of the mountain-streams down to the richer +alluvial deposits, and nearly all of these companies became +embarrassed or bankrupt. Foreign capital, also, which had been +attracted to California by reason of the high rates of interest, +was being withdrawn, or was tied up in property which could not be +sold; and, although our bank's having withstood the panic gave us +great credit, still the community itself was shaken, and loans of +money were risky in the extreme. A great many merchants, of the +highest name, availed themselves of the extremely liberal bankrupt +law to get discharged of their old debts, without sacrificing much, +if any, of their stocks of goods on hand, except a lawyer's fee; +thus realizing Martin Burke's saying that "many a clever fellow had +been ruined by paying his debts." The merchants and business-men +of San Francisco did not intend to be ruined by such a course. I +raised the rate of exchange from three to three and a half, while +others kept on at the old rate; and I labored hard to collect old +debts, and strove, in making new loans, to be on the safe side. +The State and city both denied much of their public debt; in fact, +repudiated it; and real estate, which the year before had been +first-class security, became utterly unsalable. + +The office labor and confinement, and the anxiety attending the +business, aggravated my asthma to such an extent that at times it +deprived me of sleep, and threatened to become chronic and serious; +and I was also conscious that the first and original cause which +had induced Mr. Lucas to establish the bank in California had +ceased. I so reported to him, and that I really believed that he +could use his money more safely and to better advantage in St. +Louis. This met his prompt approval, and he instructed me +gradually to draw out, preparatory to a removal to New York City. +Accordingly, early in April, 1857, I published an advertisement in +the San Francisco papers, notifying our customers that, on the 1st +day of May, we would discontinue business and remove East, +requiring all to withdraw their accounts, and declaring that, +if any remained on that day of May, their balances would be +transferred to the banking-house of Parrott & Co. Punctually to the +day, this was done, and the business of Lucas, Turner & Co., of San +Francisco, was discontinued, except the more difficult and +disagreeable part of collecting their own moneys and selling the +real estate, to which the firm had succeeded by purchase or +foreclosure. One of the partners, B. R. Nisbet, assisted by our +attorney, S. M. Bowman, Esq., remained behind to close up the +business of the bank. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK, AND KANSAS. + +1857-1859. + +Having closed the bank at San Francisco on the 1st day of May, +1857, accompanied by my family I embarked in the steamer Sonora for +Panama, crossed the isthmus, and sailed to New York, whence we +proceeded to Lancaster, Ohio, where Mrs. Sherman and the family +stopped, and I went on to St. Louis. I found there that some +changes had been made in the parent, house, that Mr. Lucas had +bought out his partner, Captain Symonds, and that the firm's name +had been changed to that of James H. Lucas & Co. + +It had also been arranged that an office or branch was to be +established in New York City, of which I was to have charge, on +pretty much the same terms and conditions as in the previous San +Francisco firm. + +Mr. Lucas, Major Turner, and I, agreed to meet in New York, soon +after the 4th of July. We met accordingly at the Metropolitan +Hotel, selected an office, No. 12 Pall Street, purchased the +necessary furniture, and engaged a teller, bookkeeper, and porter. +The new firm was to bear the same title of Lucas, Turner & Co., +with about the same partners in interest, but the nature of the +business was totally different. We opened our office on the 21st +of July, 1857, and at once began to receive accounts from the West +and from California, but our chief business was as the resident +agents of the St. Louis firm of James H. Lucas & Co. Personally I +took rooms at No. 100 Prince Street, in which house were also +quartered Major J. G. Barnard, and Lieutenant J. B. McPherson, +United States Engineers, both of whom afterward attained great fame +in the civil war. + +My business relations in New York were with the Metropolitan Bank +and Bank of America; and with the very wealthy and most respectable +firm of Schuchhardt & Gebhard, of Nassau Street. Every thing went +along swimmingly till the 21st of August, when all Wall Street was +thrown into a spasm by the failure of the Ohio Life and Trust +Company, and the panic so resembled that in San Francisco, that, +having nothing seemingly at stake, I felt amused. But it soon +became a serious matter even to me. Western stocks and securities +tumbled to such a figure, that all Western banks that held such +securities, and had procured advances thereon, were compelled to +pay up or substitute increased collaterals. Our own house was +not a borrower in New York at all, but many of our Western +correspondents were, and it taxed my tune to watch their interests. +In September, the panic extended so as to threaten the safety of +even some of the New York banks not connected with the West; and +the alarm became general, and at last universal. + +In the very midst of this panic came the news that the steamer +Central America, formerly the George Law, with six hundred +passengers and about sixteen hundred thousand dollars of treasure, +coming from Aspinwall, had foundered at sea, off the coast of +Georgia, and that about sixty of the passengers had been +providentially picked up by a Swedish bark, and brought into +Savannah. The absolute loss of this treasure went to swell the +confusion and panic of the day. + +A few days after, I was standing in the vestibule of the +Metropolitan Hotel, and heard the captain of the Swedish bark tell +his singular story of the rescue of these passengers. He was a +short, sailor-like-looking man, with a strong German or Swedish +accent. He said that he was sailing from some port in Honduras for +Sweden, running down the Gulf Stream off Savannah. The weather had +been heavy for some days, and, about nightfall, as he paced his +deck, he observed a man-of-war hawk circle about his vessel, +gradually lowering, until the bird was as it were aiming at him. +He jerked out a belaying-pin, struck at the bird, missed it, when +the hawk again rose high in the air, and a second time began to +descend, contract his circle, and make at him again. The second +time he hit the bird, and struck it to the deck.... This strange +fact made him uneasy, and he thought it betokened danger; he went +to the binnacle, saw the course he was steering, and without any +particular reason he ordered the steersman to alter the course one +point to the east. + +After this it became quite dark, and he continued to promenade the +deck, and had settled into a drowsy state, when as in a dream he +thought he heard voices all round his ship. Waking up, he ran to +the side of the ship, saw something struggling in the water, and +heard clearly cries for help. Instantly heaving his ship to, and +lowering all his boats, he managed to pick up sixty or more persons +who were floating about on skylights, doors, spare, and whatever +fragments remained of the Central America. Had he not changed the +course of his vessel by reason of the mysterious conduct of that +man-of-war hawk, not a soul would probably have survived the night. +It was stated by the rescued passengers, among whom was Billy +Birch, that the Central America had sailed from Aspinwall with the +passengers and freight which left San Francisco on the 1st of +September, and encountered the gale in the Gulf Stream somewhere +off Savannah, in which she sprung a leak, filled rapidly, and went +down. The passengers who were saved had clung to doors, skylights, +and such floating objects as they could reach, and were thus +rescued; all the rest, some five hundred in number, had gone down +with the ship. + +The panic grew worse and worse, and about the end of September +there was a general suspension of the banks of New York, and a +money crisis extended all over the country. In New York, Lucas, +Turner & Co. had nothing at risk. We had large cash balances in +the Metropolitan Bank and in the Bank of America, all safe, and we +held, for the account of the St. Louis house, at least two hundred +thousand dollars, of St. Louis city and county bonds, and of +acceptances falling due right along, none extending beyond ninety +days. I was advised from St. Louis that money matters were +extremely tight; but I did not dream of any danger in that quarter. +I knew well that Mr. Lucas was worth two or three million dollars +in the best real estate, and inferred from the large balances to +their credit with me that no mere panic could shake his credit; +but, early on the morning of October 7th, my cousin, James M. Hoyt, +came to me in bed, and read me a paragraph in the morning paper, to +the effect that James H. Lucas & Co., of St. Louis, had suspended. +I was, of course, surprised, but not sorry; for I had always +contended that a man of so much visible wealth as Mr. Lucas should +not be engaged in a business subject to such vicissitudes. I +hurried down to the office, where I received the same information +officially, by telegraph, with instructions to make proper +disposition of the affairs of the bank, and to come out to St. +Louis, with such assets as would be available there. I transferred +the funds belonging to all our correspondents, with lists of +outstanding checks, to one or other of our bankers, and with the +cash balance of the St. Louis house and their available assets +started for St. Louis. I may say with confidence that no man lost +a cent by either of the banking firms of Lucas, Turner & Co., of +San Francisco or New York; but, as usual, those who owed us were +not always as just. I reached St. Louis October 17th, and found +the partners engaged in liquidating the balances due depositors as +fast as collections could be forced; and, as the panic began to +subside, this process became quite rapid, and Mr. Lucas, by making +a loan in Philadelphia, was enabled to close out all accounts +without having made any serious sacrifices, Of course, no person +ever lost a cent by him: he has recently died, leaving an estate of +eight million dollars. During his lifetime, I had opportunities to +know him well, and take much pleasure in bearing testimony to his +great worth and personal kindness. On the failure of his bank, he +assumed personally all the liabilities, released his partners of +all responsibility, and offered to assist me to engage in business, +which he supposed was due to me because I had resigned my army +commission. I remained in St. Louis till the 17th of December, +1857, assisting in collecting for the bank, and in controlling all +matters which came from the New York and San Francisco branches. +B. R. Nisbet was still in San Francisco, but had married a Miss +Thornton, and was coming home. There still remained in California +a good deal of real estate, and notes, valued at about two hundred +thousand dollars in the aggregate; so that, at Mr. Lucas's request, +I agreed to go out again, to bring matters, if possible, nearer a +final settlement. I accordingly left St. Louis, reached Lancaster, +where my family was, on the 10th, staid there till after Christmas, +and then went to New York, where I remained till January 5th, when +I embarked on the steamer Moles Taylor (Captain McGowan) for +Aspinwall; caught the Golden Gate (Captain Whiting) at Panama, +January 15, 1858; and reached San Francisco on the 28th of January. +I found that Nisbet and wife had gone to St. Louis, and that we had +passed each other at sea. He had carried the ledger and books to +St. Louis, but left a schedule, notes, etc., in the hands of S. M. +Bowman, Esq., who passed them over to me. + +On the 30th of January I published a notice of the dissolution of +the partnership, and called on all who were still indebted to the +firm of Lucas, Turner & Co. to pay up, or the notes would be sold +at auction. I also advertised that all the real property, was for +sale. + +Business had somewhat changed since 1857. Parrott & Co.; Garrison, +Fritz & Ralston; Wells, Fargo & Co.; Drexel, Sather & Church, and +Tallant & Wilde, were the principal bankers. Property continued +almost unsalable, and prices were less than a half of what they +had been in 1853-'54. William Blending, Esq., had rented my house +on Harrison Street; so I occupied a room in the bank, No. 11, and +boarded at the Meiggs House, corner of Broadway and Montgomery, +which we owned. Having reduced expenses to a minimum, I proceeded, +with all possible dispatch, to collect outstanding debts, in some +instances making sacrifices and compromises. I made some few +sales, and generally aimed to put matters in such a shape that time +would bring the best result. Some of our heaviest creditors were +John M. Rhodes & Co., of Sacramento and Shasta; Langton & Co., of +Downieville; and E. M. Stranger of Murphy's. In trying to put +these debts in course of settlement, I made some arrangement in +Downieville with the law-firm of Spears & Thornton, to collect, by +suit, a certain note of Green & Purdy for twelve thousand dollars. +Early in April, I learned that Spears had collected three thousand +seven hundred dollars in money, had appropriated it to his own use, +and had pledged another good note taken in part payment of three +thousand and fifty-three dollars. He pretended to be insane. I +had to make two visits to Downieville on this business, and there, +made the acquaintance of Mr. Stewart, now a Senator from Nevada. +He was married to a daughter of Governor Foote; was living in a +small frame house on the bar just below the town; and his little +daughter was playing about the door in the sand. Stewart was then +a lawyer in Downieville, in good practice; afterward, by some lucky +stroke, became part owner of a valuable silver-mine in Nevada, and +is now accounted a millionaire. I managed to save something out of +Spears, and more out of his partner Thornton. This affair of +Spears ruined him, because his insanity was manifestly feigned. + +I remained in San Francisco till July 3d, when, having collected +and remitted every cent that I could raise, and got all the +property in the best shape possible, hearing from St. Louis +that business had revived, and that there was no need of +further sacrifice; I put all the papers, with a full letter of +instructions, and power of attorney, in the hands of William +Blending, Esq., and took passage on the good steamer Golden Gate, +Captain Whiting, for Panama and home. I reached Lancaster on July +28, 1858, and found all the family well. I was then perfectly +unhampered, but the serious and greater question remained, what was +I to do to support my family, consisting of a wife and four +children, all accustomed to more than the average comforts of life? + +I remained at Lancaster all of August, 1858, during which time I +was discussing with Mr. Ewing and others what to do next. Major +Turner and Mr. Lucas, in St. Louis, were willing to do any thing to +aid me, but I thought best to keep independent. Mr. Ewing had +property at Chauncey, consisting of salt-wells and coal-mines, but +for that part of Ohio I had no fancy. Two of his sons, Hugh and T. +E., Jr., had established themselves at Leavenworth, Kansas, where +they and their father had bought a good deal of land, some near the +town, and some back in the country. Mr. Ewing offered to confide +to me the general management of his share of interest, and Hugh and +T. E., Jr., offered me an equal copartnership in their law-firm. + +Accordingly, about the 1st of September, I started for Kansas, +stopping a couple of weeks in St. Louis, and reached Leavenworth. +I found about two miles below the fort, on the river-bank, where in +1851 was a tangled thicket, quite a handsome and thriving city, +growing rapidly in rivalry with Kansas City, and St. Joseph, +Missouri. After looking about and consulting with friends, among +them my classmate Major Stewart Van Vliet, quartermaster at the +fort, I concluded to accept the proposition of Mr. Ewing, and +accordingly the firm of Sherman & Ewing was duly announced, and our +services to the public offered as attorneys-at-law. We had an +office on Main Street, between Shawnee and Delaware, on the second +floor, over the office of Hampton Denman, Esq., mayor of the city. +This building was a mere shell, and our office was reached by a +stairway on the outside. Although in the course of my military +reading I had studied a few of the ordinary law-books, such as +Blackstone, Kent, Starkie, etc., I did not presume to be a lawyer; +but our agreement was that Thomas Ewing, Jr., a good and thorough +lawyer, should manage all business in the courts, while I gave +attention to collections, agencies for houses and lands, and such +business as my experience in banking had qualified me for. Yet, as +my name was embraced in a law-firm, it seemed to me proper to take +out a license. Accordingly, one day when United States Judge +Lecompte was in our office, I mentioned the matter to him; he told +me to go down to the clerk of his court, and he would give me the +license. I inquired what examination I would have to submit to, +and he replied, "None at all;" he would admit me on the ground of +general intelligence. + +During that summer we got our share of the business of the +profession, then represented by several eminent law-firms, +embracing names that have since flourished in the Senate, and in +the higher courts of the country. But the most lucrative single +case was given me by my friend Major Van Vliet, who employed me to +go to Fort Riley, one hundred and thirty-six miles west of Fort +Leavenworth, to superintend the repairs to the military road. For +this purpose he supplied me with a four-mule ambulance and driver. +The country was then sparsely settled, and quite as many Indians +were along the road as white people; still there were embryo towns +all along the route, and a few farms sprinkled over the beautiful +prairies. On reaching Indianola, near Topeka, I found everybody +down with the chills and fever. My own driver became so shaky that +I had to act as driver and cook. But in due season I reconnoitred +the road, and made contracts for repairing some bridges, and for +cutting such parts of the road as needed it. I then returned to +Fort Leavenworth, and reported, receiving a fair compensation. On +my way up I met Colonel Sumner's column, returning from their +summer scout on the plains, and spent the night with the officers, +among whom were Captains Sackett, Sturgis, etc. Also at Fort Riley +I was cordially received and entertained by some old army-friends, +among them Major Sedgwick, Captains Totted, Eli Long, etc. + +Mrs. Sherman and children arrived out in November, and we spent the +winter very comfortably in the house of Thomas Ewing, Jr., on the +corner of Third and Pottawottamie Streets. On the 1st of January, +1859, Daniel McCook, Esq., was admitted to membership in our firm, +which became Sherman, Ewing & McCook. Our business continued to +grow, but, as the income hardly sufficed for three such expensive +personages, I continued to look about for something more certain +and profitable, and during that spring undertook for the Hon. +Thomas Ewing, of Ohio, to open a farm on a large tract of land he +owned on Indian Creek, forty miles west of Leavenworth, for the +benefit of his grand-nephew, Henry Clark, and his grand-niece, Mrs. +Walker. These arrived out in the spring, by which time I had +caused to be erected a small frame dwelling-house, a barn, and +fencing for a hundred acres. This helped to pass away time, but +afforded little profit; and on the 11th of June, 1859, I wrote to +Major D. C. Buel, assistant adjutant-general, on duty in the War +Department with Secretary of War Floyd, inquiring if there was a +vacancy among the army paymasters, or any thing in his line that I +could obtain. He replied promptly, and sent me the printed +programme for a military college about to be organized in +Louisiana, and advised me to apply for the superintendent's place, +saying that General G. Mason Graham, the half-brother of my old +commanding-general, R. B. Mason, was very influential in this +matter, and would doubtless befriend me on account of the relations +that had existed between General Mason and myself in California. +Accordingly, I addressed a letter of application to the Hon. R. C. +Wickliffe, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, asking the answer to be sent to +me at Lancaster, Ohio, where I proposed to leave my family. But, +before leaving this branch of the subject, I must explain a little +matter of which I have seen an account in print, complimentary or +otherwise of the firm of Sherman, Ewing & McCook, more especially +of the senior partner. + +One day, as I sat in our office, an Irishman came in and said he +had a case and wanted a lawyer. I asked him to sit down and give +me the points of his case, all the other members of the firm being +out. Our client stated that he had rented a lot of an Irish +landlord for five dollars a month; that he had erected thereon a +small frame shanty, which was occupied by his family; that he had, +paid his rent regularly up to a recent period, but to his house he +had appended a shed which extended over a part of an adjoining +vacant lot belonging to the same landlord, for which he was charged +two and a half dollars a month, which he refused to pay. The +consequence was, that his landlord had for a few months declined +even his five dollars monthly rent until the arrears amounted to +about seventeen dollars, for which he was sued. I told him we +would undertake his case, of which I took notes, and a fee of five +dollars in advance, and in due order I placed the notes in the +hands of McCook, and thought no more of it. + +A month or so after, our client rushed into the office and said his +case had been called at Judge Gardner's (I think), and he wanted +his lawyer right away. I sent him up to the Circuit Court, Judge +Pettit's, for McCook, but he soon returned, saying he could not +find McCook, and accordingly I hurried with him up to Judge +Gardner's office, intending to ask a continuance, but I found our +antagonist there, with his lawyer and witnesses, and Judge Gardner +would not grant a continuance, so of necessity I had to act, hoping +that at every minute McCook would come. But the trial proceeded +regularly to its end; we were beaten, and judgment was entered +against our client for the amount claimed, and costs. As soon as +the matter was explained to McCook, he said "execution" could not +be taken for ten days, and, as our client was poor, and had nothing +on which the landlord could levy but his house, McCook advised him +to get his neighbors together, to pick up the house, and carry it +on to another vacant lot, belonging to a non-resident, so that even +the house could not be taken in execution. Thus the grasping +landlord, though successful in his judgment, failed in the +execution, and our client was abundantly satisfied. + +In due time I closed up my business at Leavenworth, and went to +Lancaster, Ohio, where, in July, 1859, I received notice from +Governor Wickliffe that I had been elected superintendent of the +proposed college, and inviting me to come down to Louisiana as +early as possible, because they were anxious to put the college +into operation by the 1st of January following. For this honorable +position I was indebted to Major D. C. Buell and General G. Mason +Graham, to whom I have made full and due acknowledgment. During +the civil war, it was reported and charged that I owed my position +to the personal friendship of Generals Bragg and Beauregard, and +that, in taking up arms against the South, I had been guilty of a +breach of hospitality and friendship. I was not indebted to +General Bragg, because he himself told me that he was not even +aware that I was an applicant, and had favored the selection of +Major Jenkins, another West Point graduate. General Beauregard had +nothing whatever to do with the matter. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +LOUISIANA + +1859-1861. + + +In the autumn of 1859, having made arrangements for my family to +remain in Lancaster, I proceeded, via Columbus, Cincinnati, and +Louisville, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where I reported for duty to +Governor Wickliffe, who, by virtue of his office, was the president +of the Board of Supervisors of the new institution over which I was +called to preside. He explained to me the act of the Legislature +under which the institution was founded; told me that the building +was situated near Alexandria, in the parish of Rapides, and was +substantially finished; that the future management would rest with +a Board of Supervisors, mostly citizens of Rapides Parish, where +also resided the Governor-elect, T. O. Moore, who would soon +succeed him in his office as Governor and president ex officio; and +advised me to go at once to Alexandria, and put myself in +communication with Moore and the supervisors. Accordingly I took a +boat at Baton Rouge, for the mouth of Red River. + +The river being low, and its navigation precarious, I there took +the regular mail-coach, as the more certain conveyance, and +continued on toward Alexandria. I found, as a fellow-passenger in +the coach, Judge Henry Boyce, of the United States District Court, +with whom I had made acquaintance years before, at St. Louis, and, +as we neared Alexandria, he proposed that we should stop at +Governor Moore's and spend the night. Moore's house and plantation +were on Bayou Robert, about eight miles from Alexandria. We found +him at home, with his wife and a married daughter, and spent the +night there. He sent us forward to Alexandria the next morning, in +his own carriage. On arriving at Alexandria, I put up at an inn, +or boarding-house, and almost immediately thereafter went about ten +miles farther up Bayou Rapides, to the plantation and house of +General G. Mason Graham, to whom I looked as the principal man with +whom I had to deal. He was a high-toned gentleman, and his whole +heart was in the enterprise. He at once put me at ease. We acted +together most cordially from that time forth, and it was at his +house that all the details of the seminary were arranged. We first +visited the college-building together. It was located on an old +country place of four hundred acres of pineland, with numerous +springs, and the building was very large and handsome. A +carpenter, named James, resided there, and had the general charge +of the property; but, as there was not a table, chair, black-board, +or any thing on hand, necessary for a beginning, I concluded to +quarter myself in one of the rooms of the seminary, and board with +an old black woman who cooked for James, so that I might personally +push forward the necessary preparations. There was an old +rail-fence about the place, and a large pile of boards in front. I +immediately engaged four carpenters, and set them at work to make +out of these boards mess-tables, benches, black-boards, etc. I +also opened a correspondence with the professors-elect, and with +all parties of influence in the State, who were interested in our +work: At the meeting of the Board of Supervisors, held at +Alexandria, August 2, 1859, five professors had been elected: +1. W. T. Sherman, Superintendent, and Professor of Engineering, etc.; +2. Anthony Vallas, Professor of Mathematics, Philosophy, etc.; +3. Francis W. Smith, Professor of Chemistry, etc.; +4. David F. Boyd, Professor of Languages, English and Ancient; +5. E. Berti St. Ange, Professor of French and Modern Languages. + +These constituted the Academic Board, while the general supervision +remained in the Board of Supervisors, composed of the Governor of +the State, the Superintendent of Public Education, and twelve +members, nominated by the Governor, and confirmed by the Senate. +The institution was bound to educate sixteen beneficiary students, +free of any charge for tuition. These had only to pay for their +clothing and books, while all others had to pay their entire +expenses, including tuition. + +Early in November, Profs. Smith, Yallas, St. Ange, and I, met a +committee of the Board of Supervisors, composed of T. C. Manning, +G. Mason Graham, and W. W. Whittington, at General Graham's house, +and resolved to open the institution to pupils on the 1st day of +January, 1860. We adopted a series of bylaws for the government of +the institution, which was styled the "Louisiana Seminary of +Learning and Military Academy." This title grew out of the +original grant, by the Congress of the United States, of a certain +township of public land, to be sold by the State, and dedicated to +the use of a "seminary of learning." I do not suppose that +Congress designed thereby to fix the name or title; but the subject +had so long been debated in Louisiana that the name, though +awkward, had become familiar. We appended to it "Military +Academy," as explanatory of its general design. + +On the 17th of November, 1859, the Governor of the State, +Wickliffe, issued officially a general circular, prepared by us, +giving public notice that the "Seminary of Learning" would open on +the 1st day of January, 1860; containing a description of the +locality, and the general regulations for the proposed institution; +and authorizing parties to apply for further information to the +"Superintendent," at Alexandria, Louisiana. + +The Legislature had appropriated for the sixteen beneficiaries at +the rate of two hundred and eighty-three dollars per annum, to +which we added sixty dollars as tuition for pay cadets; and, though +the price was low, we undertook to manage for the first year on +that basis. + +Promptly to the day, we opened, with about sixty cadets present. +Major Smith was the commandant of cadets, and I the superintendent. +I had been to New Orleans, where I had bought a supply of +mattresses, books, and every thing requisite, and we started very +much on the basis of West Point and of the Virginia Military +Institute, but without uniforms or muskets; yet with roll-calls, +sections, and recitations, we kept as near the standard of West +Point as possible. I kept all the money accounts, and gave general +directions to the steward, professors, and cadets. The other +professors had their regular classes and recitations. We all lived +in rooms in the college building, except Vallas, who had a family, +and rented a house near by. A Creole gentleman, B. Jarrean, Esq., +had been elected steward, and he also had his family in a house not +far off. The other professors had a mess in a room adjoining the +mess-hall. A few more cadets joined in the course of the winter, +so that we had in all, during the first term, seventy-three cadets, +of whom fifty-nine passed the examination on the 30th of July, +1860. During our first term many defects in the original act of +the Legislature were demonstrated, and, by the advice of the Board +of Supervisors, I went down to Baton Rouge during the session of +the Legislature, to advocate and urge the passage of a new bill, +putting the institution on a better footing. Thomas O. Moors was +then Governor, Bragg was a member of the Board of Public Works, and +Richard Taylor was a Senator. I got well acquainted with all of +these, and with some of the leading men of the State, and was +always treated with the greatest courtesy and kindness. In +conjunction with the proper committee of the Legislature, we +prepared a new bill, which was passed and approved on the 7th of +March, 1860, by which we were to have a beneficiary cadet for each +parish, in all fifty-six, and fifteen thousand dollars annually for +their maintenance; also twenty thousand dollars for the general use +of the college. During that session we got an appropriation of +fifteen thousand dollars for building two professors' houses, for +the purchase of philosophical and chemical apparatus, and for the +beginning of a college library. The seminary was made a State +Arsenal, under the title of State Central Arsenal, and I was +allowed five hundred dollars a year as its superintendent. These +matters took me several times to Baton Rouge that winter, and I +recall an event of some interest, which most have happened in +February. At that time my brother, John Sherman, was a candidate, +in the national House of Representatives, for Speaker, against +Bocock, of Virginia. In the South he was regarded as an +"abolitionist," the most horrible of all monsters; and many people +of Louisiana looked at me with suspicion, as the brother of the +abolitionist, John Sherman, and doubted the propriety of having me +at the head of an important State institution. By this time I was +pretty well acquainted with many of their prominent men, was +generally esteemed by all in authority, and by the people of +Rapides Parish especially, who saw that I was devoted to my +particular business, and that I gave no heed to the political +excitement of the day. But the members of the State Senate and +House did not know me so well, and it was natural that they should +be suspicions of a Northern man, and the brother of him who was the +"abolition" candidate for Speaker of the House. + +One evening, at a large dinner-party at Governor Moore's, at which +were present several members of the Louisiana Legislature, Taylor, +Bragg, and the Attorney-General Hyams, after the ladies had left +the table, I noticed at Governor Moore's end quite a lively +discussion going on, in which my name was frequently used; at +length the Governor called to me, saying: "Colonel Sherman, you can +readily understand that, with your brother the abolitionist +candidate for Speaker, some of our people wonder that you should be +here at the head of an important State institution. Now, you are +at my table, and I assure you of my confidence. Won't you speak +your mind freely on this question of slavery, that so agitates the +land? You are under my roof, and, whatever you say, you have my +protection." + + +I answered: "Governor Moors, you mistake in calling my brother, +John Sherman, an abolitionist. We have been separated since +childhood--I in the army, and he pursuing his profession of +law in Northern Ohio; and it is possible we may differ in +general sentiment, but I deny that he is considered at home an +abolitionist; and, although he prefers the free institutions under +which he lives to those of slavery which prevail here, he would not +of himself take from you by law or force any property whatever, +even slaves." + +Then said Moore: "Give us your own views of slavery as you see it +here and throughout the South." + +I answered in effect that "the people of Louisiana were hardly +responsible for slavery, as they had inherited it; that I found two +distinct conditions of slavery, domestic and field hands. The +domestic slaves, employed by the families, were probably better +treated than any slaves on earth; but the condition of the +field-hands was different, depending more on the temper and +disposition of their masters and overseers than were those employed +about the house;" and I went on to say that, "were I a citizen of +Louisiana, and a member of the Legislature, I would deem it wise to +bring the legal condition of the slaves more near the status of +human beings under all Christian and civilized governments. In the +first place, I argued that, in sales of slaves made by the State, I +would forbid the separation of families, letting the father, +mother, and children, be sold together to one person, instead of +each to the highest bidder. And, again, I would advise the repeal +of the statute which enacted a severe penalty for even the owner to +teach his slave to read and write, because that actually qualified +property and took away a part of its value; illustrating the +assertion by the case of Henry Sampson, who had been the slave of +Colonel Chambers, of Rapides Parish, who had gone to California as +the servant of an officer of the army, and who was afterward +employed by me in the bank at San Francisco. At first he could not +write or read, and I could only afford to pay him one hundred +dollars a month; but he was taught to read and write by Reilley, +our bank-teller, when his services became worth two hundred and +fifty dollars a month, which enabled him to buy his own freedom and +that of his brother and his family." + +What I said was listened to by all with the most profound +attention; and, when I was through, some one (I think it was Mr. +Hyams) struck the table with his fist, making the glasses jingle, +and said, "By God, he is right!" and at once he took up the debate, +which went on, for an hour or more, on both sides with ability and +fairness. Of course, I was glad to be thus relieved, because at +the time all men in Louisiana were dreadfully excited on questions +affecting their slaves, who constituted the bulk of their wealth, +and without whom they honestly believed that sugar, cotton, and +rice, could not possibly be cultivated. + +On the 30th and 31st of July, 1860, we had an examination at the +seminary, winding up with a ball, and as much publicity as possible +to attract general notice; and immediately thereafter we all +scattered--the cadets to their homes, and the professors wherever +they pleased--all to meet again on the 1st day of the next +November. Major Smith and I agreed to meet in New York on a +certain day in August, to purchase books, models, etc. I went +directly to my family in Lancaster, and after a few days proceeded +to Washington, to endeavor to procure from the General Government +the necessary muskets and equipments for our cadets by the +beginning of the next term. I was in Washington on the 17th +day of August, and hunted up my friend Major Buell, of the +Adjutant-General's Department, who was on duty with the Secretary of +War, Floyd. I had with me a letter of Governor Moore's, authorizing +me to act in his name. Major Buell took me into Floyd's room at the +War Department, to whom I explained my business, and I was agreeably +surprised to meet with such easy success. Although the State of +Louisiana had already drawn her full quota of arms, Floyd promptly +promised to order my requisition to be filled, and I procured the +necessary blanks at the Ordnance-Office, filled them with two +hundred cadet muskets, and all equipments complete, and was assured +that all these articles would be shipped to Louisiana in season for +our use that fall. These assurances were faithfully carried out. + +I then went on to New York, there met Major Smith according to +appointment, and together we selected and purchased a good supply +of uniforms, clothing, and text books, as well as a fair number of +books of history and fiction, to commence a library. + +When this business was completed, I returned to Lancaster, and +remained with my family till the time approached for me to return +to Louisiana. I again left my family at Lancaster, until assured +of the completion of the two buildings designed for the married +professors for which I had contracted that spring with Mr. Mills, +of Alexandria, and which were well under progress when I left in +August. One of these was designed for me and the other for Vallas. +Mr. Ewing presented me with a horse, which I took down the river +with me, and en route I ordered from Grimsley & Co. a full +equipment of saddle, bridle, etc., the same that I used in the war, +and which I lost with my horse, shot under me at Shiloh. + +Reaching Alexandria early in October, I pushed forward the +construction of the two buildings, some fences, gates, and all +other work, with the object of a more perfect start at the opening +of the regular term November 1, 1860. + +About this time Dr. Powhatan Clark was elected Assistant Professor +of Chemistry, etc., and acted as secretary of the Board of +Supervisors, but no other changes were made in our small circle of +professors. + +November came, and with it nearly if not quite all our first set of +cadets, and others, to the number of about one hundred and thirty. +We divided them into two companies, issued arms and clothing, and +began a regular system of drills and instruction, as well as the +regular recitations. I had moved into my new house, but prudently +had not sent for my family, nominally on the ground of waiting +until the season was further advanced, but really because of the +storm that was lowering heavy on the political horizon. The +presidential election was to occur in November, and the nominations +had already been made in stormy debates by the usual conventions. +Lincoln and Hamlin (to the South utterly unknown) were the nominees +of the Republican party, and for the first time both these +candidates were from Northern States. The Democratic party +divided--one set nominating a ticket at Charleston, and the other +at Baltimore. Breckenridge and Lane were the nominees of the +Southern or Democratic party; and Bell and Everett, a kind of +compromise, mostly in favor in Louisiana. Political excitement was +at its very height, and it was constantly asserted that Mr. +Lincoln's election would imperil the Union. I purposely kept aloof +from politics, would take no part, and remember that on the day of +the election in November I was notified that it would be advisable +for me to vote for Bell and Everett, but I openly said I would not, +and I did not. The election of Mr. Lincoln fell upon us all like a +clap of thunder. People saw and felt that the South had threatened +so long that, if she quietly submitted, the question of slavery in +the Territories was at an end forever. I mingled freely with the +members of the Board of Supervisors, and with the people of Rapides +Parish generally, keeping aloof from all cliques and parties, and I +certainly hoped that the threatened storm would blow over, as had +so often occurred before, after similar threats. At our seminary +the order of exercises went along with the regularity of the +seasons. Once a week, I had the older cadets to practise reading, +reciting, and elocution, and noticed that their selections were +from Calhoun, Yancey, and other Southern speakers, all treating of +the defense of their slaves and their home institutions as the very +highest duty of the patriot. Among boys this was to be expected; +and among the members of our board, though most of them declaimed +against politicians generally, and especially abolitionists, as +pests, yet there was a growing feeling that danger was in the wind. +I recall the visit of a young gentleman who had been sent from +Jackson, by the Governor of Mississippi, to confer with Governor +Moore, then on his plantation at Bayou Robert, and who had come +over to see our college. He spoke to me openly of secession as a +fixed fact, and that its details were only left open for +discussion. I also recall the visit of some man who was said to be +a high officer in the order of "Knights of the Golden Circle," of +the existence of which order I was even ignorant, until explained +to me by Major Smith and Dr. Clark. But in November, 1860, no man +ever approached me offensively, to ascertain my views, or my +proposed course of action in case of secession, and no man in or +out of authority ever tried to induce me to take part in steps +designed to lead toward disunion. I think my general opinions were +well known and understood, viz., that "secession was treason, was +war;" and that in no event would the North and West permit the +Mississippi River to pass out of their control. But some men at +the South actually supposed at the time that the Northwestern +States, in case of a disruption of the General Government, would be +drawn in self-interest to an alliance with the South. What I now +write I do not offer as any thing like a history of the important +events of that time, but rather as my memory of them, the effect +they had on me personally, and to what extent they influenced my +personal conduct. + +South Carolina seceded December 20, 1860, and Mississippi soon +after. Emissaries came to Louisiana to influence the Governor, +Legislature, and people, and it was the common assertion that, if +all the Cotton States would follow the lead of South Carolina, it +would diminish the chances of civil war, because a bold and +determined front would deter the General Government from any +measures of coercion. About this time also, viz., early in +December, we received Mr. Buchanan's annual message to Congress, in +which he publicly announced that the General Government had no +constitutional power to "coerce a State." I confess this staggered +me, and I feared that the prophecies and assertions of Alison and +other European commentators on our form of government were right, +and that our Constitution was a mere rope of sand, that would break +with the first pressure. + +The Legislature of Louisiana met on the 10th of December, and +passed an act calling a convention of delegates from the people, to +meet at Baton Rouge, on the 8th of January, to take into +consideration the state of the Union; and, although it was +universally admitted that a large majority of the voters of the +State were opposed to secession, disunion, and all the steps of the +South Carolinians, yet we saw that they were powerless, and that +the politicians would sweep them along rapidly to the end, +prearranged by their leaders in Washington. Before the ordinance +of secession was passed, or the convention had assembled, on the +faith of a telegraphic dispatch sent by the two Senators, Benjamin +and Slidell, from their seats in the United States Senate at +Washington, Governor Moore ordered the seizure of all the United +States forts at the mouth of the Mississippi and Lake +Pontchartrain, and of the United States arsenal at Baton Rouge. +The forts had no garrisons, but the arsenal was held by a small +company of artillery, commanded by Major Haskins, a most worthy and +excellent officer, who had lost an arm in Mexico. I remember well +that I was strongly and bitterly impressed by the seizure of the +arsenal, which occurred on January 10, 1861. + +When I went first to Baton Rouge, in 1859, en route to Alexandria, +I found Captain Rickett's company of artillery stationed in the +arsenal, but soon after there was somewhat of a clamor on the Texas +frontier about Brownsville, which induced the War Department to +order Rickett's company to that frontier. I remember that Governor +Moore remonstrated with the Secretary of War because so much +dangerous property, composed of muskets, powder, etc., had been +left by the United States unguarded, in a parish where the slave +population was as five or six to one of whites; and it was on his +official demand that the United States Government ordered Haskinss +company to replace Rickett's. This company did not number forty +men. In the night of January 9th, about five hundred New Orleans +militia, under command of a Colonel Wheat, went up from New Orleans +by boat, landed, surrounded the arsenal, and demanded its +surrender. Haskins was of course unprepared for such a step, yet +he at first resolved to defend the post as he best could with his +small force. But Bragg, who was an old army acquaintance of his, +had a parley with him, exhibited to him the vastly superior force +of his assailants, embracing two field-batteries, and offered to +procure for him honorable terms, to march out with drums and +colors, and to take unmolested passage in a boat up to St. Louis; +alleging, further, that the old Union was at an end, and that a +just settlement would be made between the two new fragments for all +the property stored in the arsenal. Of course it was Haskins's +duty to have defended his post to the death; but up to that time +the national authorities in Washington had shown such +pusillanimity, that the officers of the army knew not what to do. +The result, anyhow, was that Haskins surrendered his post, and at +once embarked for St. Louis. The arms and munitions stored in the +arsenal were scattered--some to Mississippi, some to New Orleans, +some to Shreveport; and to me, at the Central Arsenal, were +consigned two thousand muskets, three hundred Jager rifles, and a +large amount of cartridges and ammunition. The invoices were +signed by the former ordnance-sergeant, Olodowski, as a captain of +ordnance, and I think he continued such on General Bragg's staff +through the whole of the subsequent civil war. These arms, etc., +came up to me at Alexandria, with orders from Governor Moore to +receipt for and account for them. Thus I was made the receiver of +stolen goods, and these goods the property of the United States. +This grated hard on my feelings as an ex-army-officer, and on +counting the arms I noticed that they were packed in the old +familiar boxes, with the "U. S." simply scratched off. General G. +Mason Graham had resigned as the chairman of the Executive +Committee, and Dr. S. A. Smith, of Alexandria, then a member of the +State Senate, had succeeded him as chairman, and acted as head of +the Board of Supervisors. At the time I was in most intimate +correspondence with all of these parties, and our letters must have +been full of politics, but I have only retained copies of a few of +the letters, which I will embody in this connection, as they will +show, better than by any thing I can now recall, the feelings of +parties at that critical period. The seizure of the arsenal at +Baton Rouge occurred January 10, 1861, and the secession ordinance +was not passed until about the 25th or 26th of the same month. At +all events, after the seizure of the arsenal, and before the +passage of the ordinance of secession, viz., on the 18th of +January, I wrote as follows: + + +Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy +January 18, 1861 + +Governor THOMAS O. MOORE, Baton, Rouge, Louisiana. + +Sir: As I occupy a quasi-military position under the laws of the +State, I deem it proper to acquaint you that I accepted such +position when Louisiana was a State in the Union, and when the +motto of this seminary was inserted in marble over the main door: +"By the liberality of the General Government of the United States. +The Union--esto perpetua." + +Recent events foreshadow a great change, and it becomes all men to +choose. If Louisiana withdraw from the Federal Union, I prefer to +maintain my allegiance to the Constitution as long as a fragment of +it survives; and my longer stay here would be wrong in every sense +of the word. + +In that event, I beg you will send or appoint some authorized agent +to take charge of the arms and munitions of war belonging to the +State, or advise me what disposition to make of them. + +And furthermore, as president of the Board of Supervisors, I beg +you to take immediate steps to relieve me as superintendent, the +moment the State determines to secede, for on no earthly account +will I do any act or think any thought hostile to or in defiance of +the old Government of the United States. + +With great respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Superintendent. + + + +[PRIVATE.] + +January 18, 1861. + +To Governor Moore: + +My Dear Sir: I take it for granted that you have been expecting for +some days the accompanying paper from me (the above official +letter). I have repeatedly and again made known to General Graham +and Dr. Smith that, in the event of a severance of the relations +hitherto existing between the Confederated States of this Union, I +would be forced to choose the old Union. It is barely possible all +the States may secede, South and North, that new combinations may +result, but this process will be one of time and uncertainty, and I +cannot with my opinions await the subsequent development. + +I have never been a politician, and therefore undervalue the +excited feelings and opinions of present rulers, but I do think, if +this people cannot execute a form of government like the present, +that a worse one will result. + +I will keep the cadets as quiet as possible. They are nervous, but +I think the interest of the State requires them here, guarding this +property, and acquiring a knowledge which will be useful to your +State in after-times. + +When I leave, which I now regard as certain, the present professors +can manage well enough, to afford you leisure time to find a +suitable successor to me. You might order Major Smith to receipt +for the arms, and to exercise military command, while the academic +exercises could go on under the board. In time, some gentleman +will turn up, better qualified than I am, to carry on the seminary +to its ultimate point of success. I entertain the kindest feelings +toward all, and would leave the State with much regret; only in +great events we must choose, one way or the other. + +Truly, your friend, + +W. T. SHERMAN + + + +January 19, 1881--Saturday. + +Dr. S. A. Smith, President Board of Supervisors, Baton Rouge, +Louisiana. + +Dear Sir: I have just finished my quarterly reports to the parents +of all the cadets here, or who have been here. All my books of +account are written up to date. All bills for the houses, fences, +etc., are settled, and nothing now remains but the daily tontine of +recitations and drills. I have written officially and unofficially +to Governor Moore, that with my opinions of the claimed right of +accession, of the seizure of public forts, arsenals, etc., and the +ignominious capture of a United States garrison, stationed in your +midst, as a guard to the arsenal and for the protection of your own +people, it would be highly improper for me longer to remain. No +great inconvenience can result to the seminary. I will be the +chief loser. I came down two months before my pay commenced. I +made sacrifices in Kansas to enable me thus to obey the call of +Governor Wickliffe, and you know that last winter I declined a most +advantageous offer of employment abroad; and thus far I have +received nothing as superintendent of the arsenal, though I went to +Washington and New York (at my own expense) on the faith of the +five hundred dollars salary promised. + +These are all small matters in comparison with those involved in +the present state of the country, which will cause sacrifices by +millions, instead of by hundreds. The more I think of it, the more +I think I should be away, the sooner the better; and therefore I +hope you will join with Governor Moors in authorizing me to turn +over to Major Smith the military command here, and to the academic +board the control of the daily exercises and recitations. + +There will be no necessity of your coming up. You can let Major +Smith receive the few hundreds of cash I have on hand, and I can +meet you on a day certain in New Orleans, when we can settle the +bank account. Before I leave, I can pay the steward Jarrean his +account for the month, and there would be no necessity for other +payments till about the close of March, by which time the board can +meet, and elect a treasurer and superintendent also. + +At present I have no class, and there will be none ready till about +the month of May, when there will be a class in "surveying." Even +if you do not elect a superintendent in the mean time, Major Smith +could easily teach this class, as he is very familiar with the +subject-matter: Indeed, I think you will do well to leave the +subject of a new superintendent until one perfectly satisfactory +turns up. + +There is only one favor I would ask. The seminary has plenty of +money in bank. The Legislature will surely appropriate for my +salary as superintendent of this arsenal. Would you not let me +make my drafts on the State Treasury, send them to you, let the +Treasurer note them for payment when the appropriation is made, and +then pay them out of the seminary fund? The drafts will be paid in +March, and the seminary will lose nothing. This would be just to +me; for I actually spent two hundred dollars and more in going to +Washington and New York, thereby securing from the United States, +in advance, three thousand dollars' worth of the very best arms; +and clothing and books, at a clear profit to the seminary of over +eight hundred dollars. I may be some time in finding new +employment, and will stand in need of this money (five hundred +dollars); otherwise I would abandon it. + +I will not ask you to put the Board of Supervisors to the trouble +of meeting, unless you can get a quorum at Baton Rouge. + +With great respect, your friend, + +W. T. SHERMAN. + + +By course of mail, I received the following answer from Governor +Moore, the original of which I still possess. It is all in General +Braggs handwriting, with which I am familiar-- + + +Executive Office, + +BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, January 23, 1861 + +MY DEAR SIR: It is with the deepest regret I acknowledge receipt of +your communication of the 18th inst. In the pressure of official +business, I can now only request you to transfer to Prof. Smith the +arms, munitions, and funds in your hands, whenever you conclude to +withdraw from the position you have filled with so much +distinction. You cannot regret more than I do the necessity which +deprives us of your services, and you will bear with you the +respect, confidence, and admiration, of all who have been +associated with you. Very truly, your friend, + +Thomas O. Moore. + +Colonel W. T. SHERMAN, Superintendent Military Academy, Alexandria. + + +I must have received several letters from Bragg, about this time, +which have not been preserved; for I find that, on the 1st of +February, 1861, I wrote him thus: + +Seminary of Learning +Alexandria, LOUISIANA, February 1, 1881. + +Colonel Braxton BRAGG, Baton, Rouge, Louisiana. + +Dear Sir: Yours of January 23d and 27th are received. I thank you +most kindly, and Governor Moors through you, for the kind manner in +which you have met my wishes. + +Now that I cannot be compromised by political events, I will so +shape my course as best to serve the institution, which has a +strong hold on my affections and respect. + +The Board of Supervisors will be called for the 9th instant, and I +will cooperate with them in their measures to place matters here on +a safe and secure basis. I expect to be here two weeks, and will +make you full returns of money and property belonging to the State +Central Arsenal. All the arms and ammunition are safely stored +here. Then I will write you more at length. With sincere respect, +your friend, + +W. T. SHERMAN. + + +Major Smith's receipt to me, for the arms and property belonging +both to the seminary and to the arsenal, is dated February 19, +1861. I subjoin also, in this connection, copies of one or two +papers that may prove of interest + + +BATON ROUGE, January 28, 1881. +To Major SHERMAN, Superintendent, Alexandria. + +My DEAR SIR: Your letter was duly receive, and would have been +answered ere this time could I have arranged sooner the matter of +the five hundred dollars. I shall go from here to New Orleans +to-day or tomorrow, and will remain there till Saturday after next, +perhaps. I shall expect to meet you there, as indicated in your +note to me. + +I need not tell you that it is with no ordinary regret that I view +your determination to leave us, for really I believe that the +success of our institution, now almost assured, is jeopardized +thereby. I am sore that we will never have a superintendent with +whom I shall have more pleasant relations than those which have +existed between yourself and me. + +I fully appreciate the motives which have induced you to give up a +position presenting so many advantages to yourself, and sincerely +hope that you may, in any future enterprise, enjoy the success +which your character and ability merit and deserve. + +Should you come down on the Rapides (steamer), please look after my +wife, who will, I hope, accompany you on said boat, or some other +good one. + +Colonel Bragg informs me that the necessary orders have been given +for the transfer and receipt by Major Smith of the public property. + +I herewith transmit a request to the secretary to convene the Board +of Supervisors, that they may act as seems best to them in the +premises. + +In the mean time, Major Smith will command by seniority the cadets, +and the Academic Board will be able to conduct the scientific +exercises of the institution until the Board of Supervisors can +have time to act. Hoping to meet you soon at the St. Charles, I +am, + +Most truly, your friend and servant, S. A. Smith + +P. S. Governor Moors desires me to express his profound regret that +the State is about to lose one who we all fondly hoped had cast his +destinies for weal or for woe among us; and that he is sensible +that we lose thereby an officer whom it will be difficult, if not +impossible, to replace. + +S. A. S. + + +BATON ROUGE, February 11, 1881. +To Major Sherman, Alexandria. + +Dear Sir: I have been in New Orleans for ten days, and on returning +here find two letters from you, also your prompt answer to the +resolution of the House of Representatives, for which I am much +obliged. + +The resolution passed the last day before adjournment. I was +purposing to respond, when your welcome reports came to hand. I +have arranged to pay you your five hundred dollars. + +I will say nothing of general politics, except to give my opinion +that there is not to be any war. + +In that event, would it not be possible for you to become a citizen +of our State? Everyone deplores your determination to leave us. At +the same time, your friends feel that you are abandoning a position +that might become an object of desire to any one. + +I will try to meet you in New Orleans at any time you may indicate; +but it would be best for you to stop here, when, if possible, I +will accompany you. Should you do so, you will find me just above +the State-House, and facing it. + +Bring with you a few copies of the "Rules of the Seminary." + +Yours truly, + +S. A. Smith + + +Colonel W. T. SHERMAN. + +Sir: I am instructed by the Board of Supervisors of this +institution to present a copy of the resolutions adopted by them at +their last meeting. + +"Resolved, That the thanks of the Board of Supervisors are due, and +are hereby tendered, to Colonel William T. Sherman for the able and +efficient manner in which he has conducted the affairs of the +seminary during the time the institution has been under his +control--a period attended with unusual difficulties, requiring on +the part of the superintendent to successfully overcome them a high +order of administrative talent. And the board further bear willing +testimony to the valuable services that Colonel Sherman has +rendered them in their efforts to establish an institution of +learning in accordance with the beneficent design of the State and +Federal Governments; evincing at all times a readiness to adapt +himself to the ever-varying requirements of an institution of +learning in its infancy, struggling to attain a position of honor +and usefulness. + +"Resolved, further, That, in accepting the resignation of Colonel +Sherman as Superintendent of the State Seminary of Learning and +Military Academy, we tender to him assurances of our high personal +regard, and our sincere regret at the occurrence of causes that +render it necessary to part with so esteemed and valued a friend, +as well as co-laborer in the cause of education." + +Powhatan Clarke, Secretary of the Board. + + +A copy of the resolution of the Academic Board, passed at their +session of April 1,1861: + +"Resolved, That in the resignation of the late superintendent, +Colonel W. T. Sherman, the Academic Board deem it not improper to +express their deep conviction of the loss the institution has +sustained in being thus deprived of an able head. They cannot fail +to appreciate the manliness of character which has always marked +the actions of Colonel Sherman. While he is personally endeared to +many of them as a friend, they consider it their high pleasure to +tender to him in this resolution their regret on his separation, +and their sincere wish for his future welfare." + + +I have given the above at some length, because, during the civil +war, it was in Southern circles asserted that I was guilty of a +breach of hospitality in taking up arms against the South. They +were manifestly the aggressors, and we could only defend our own by +assailing them. Yet, without any knowledge of what the future had +in store for me, I took unusual precautions that the institution +should not be damaged by my withdrawal. About the 20th of +February, having turned over all property, records, and money, on +hand, to Major Smith, and taking with me the necessary documents to +make the final settlement with Dr. S. A. Smith, at the bank in New +Orleans, where the funds of the institution were deposited to my +credit, I took passage from Alexandria for that city, and arrived +there, I think, on the 23d. Dr. Smith met me, and we went to the +bank, where I turned over to him the balance, got him to audit all +my accounts, certify that they were correct and just, and that +there remained not one cent of balance in my hands. I charged in +my account current for my salary up to the end of February, at the +rate of four thousand dollars a year, and for the five hundred +dollars due me as superintendent of the Central Arsenal, all of +which was due and had been fairly earned, and then I stood free and +discharged of any and every obligation, honorary or business, that +was due by me to the State of Louisiana, or to any corporation or +individual in that State. + +This business occupied two or three days, during which I staid at +the St. Louis Hotel. I usually sat at table with Colonel and Mrs. +Bragg, and an officer who wore the uniform of the State of +Louisiana, and was addressed as captain. Bragg wore a colonel's +uniform, and explained to me that he was a colonel in the State +service, a colonel of artillery, and that some companies of his +regiment garrisoned Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and the arsenal +at Baton Rouge. + +Beauregard at the time had two sons at the Seminary of Learning. I +had given them some of my personal care at the father's request, +and, wanting to tell him of their condition and progress, I went to +his usual office in the Custom-House Building, and found him in the +act of starting for Montgomery, Alabama. Bragg said afterward that +Beauregard had been sent for by Jefferson Davis, and that it was +rumored that he had been made a brigadier-general, of which fact he +seemed jealous, because in the old army Bragg was the senior. + +Davis and Stephens had been inaugurated President and +Vice-President of the Confederate States of America, February 18, +1860, at Montgomery, and those States only embraced the seven +cotton States. I recall a conversation at the tea-table, one +evening, at the St. Louis Hotel. When Bragg was speaking of +Beauregard's promotion, Mrs. Bragg, turning to me, said, "You know +that my husband is not a favorite with the new President." My mind +was resting on Mr. Lincoln as the new President, and I said I did +not know that Bragg had ever met Mr. Lincoln, when Mrs. Bragg said, +quite pointedly, "I didn't mean your President, but our President." +I knew that Bragg hated Davis bitterly, and that he had resigned +from the army in 1855, or 1856, because Davis, as Secretary of War, +had ordered him, with his battery, from Jefferson Barracks, +Missouri, to Fort Smith or Fort Washita, in the Indian country, as +Bragg expressed it, "to chase Indians with six-pounders." + +I visited the quartermaster, Colonel A. C. Myers, who had resigned +from the army, January 28, 1861, and had accepted service under the +new regime. His office was in the same old room in the Lafayette +Square building, which he had in 1853, when I was there a +commissary, with the same pictures on the wall, and the letters "U. +S." on every thing, including his desk, papers, etc. I asked him +if he did not feel funny. "No, not at all. The thing was +inevitable, secession was a complete success; there would be no +war, but the two Governments would settle all matters of business +in a friendly spirit, and each would go on in its allotted sphere, +without further confusion." About this date, February 16th, +General Twiggs, Myers's father-in-law, had surrendered his entire +command, in the Department of Texas, to some State troops, with all +the Government property, thus consummating the first serious step +in the drama of the conspiracy, which was to form a confederacy of +the cotton States, before working upon the other slave or border +States, and before the 4th of March, the day for the inauguration +of President Lincoln. + +I walked the streets of New Orleans, and found business going along +as usual. Ships were strung for miles along the lower levee, and +steamboats above, all discharging or receiving cargo. The Pelican +flag of Louisiana was flying over the Custom House, Mint, City +Hall, and everywhere. At the levee ships carried every flag on +earth except that of the United States, and I was told that during +a procession on the 22d of February, celebrating their emancipation +from the despotism of the United States Government, only one +national flag was shown from a house, and that the houses of +Cuthbert Bullitt, on Lafayette Square. He was commanded to take it +down, but he refused, and defended it with his pistol. + +The only officer of the army that I can recall, as being there at +the time, who was faithful, was Colonel C. L. Kilburn, of the +Commissary Department, and he was preparing to escape North. + +Everybody regarded the change of Government as final; that +Louisiana, by a mere declaration, was a free and independent State, +and could enter into any new alliance or combination she chose. + +Men were being enlisted and armed, to defend the State, and there +was not the least evidence that the national Administration +designed to make any effort, by force, to vindicate the national +authority. I therefore bade adieu to all my friends, and about the +25th of February took my departure by railroad, for Lancaster, via +Cairo and Cincinnati. + +Before leaving this subject, I will simply record the fate of some +of my associates. The seminary was dispersed by the war, and all +the professors and cadets took service in the Confederacy, except +Yallas, St. Ange, and Cadet Taliaferro. The latter joined a Union +regiment, as a lieutenant, after New Orleans was retaken by the +United States fleet under Farragut. I think that both Yallas and +St. Ange have died in poverty since the war. Major Smith joined +the rebel army in Virginia, and was killed in April, 1865, as he +was withdrawing his garrison, by night, from the batteries at +Drury's Bluff, at the time General Lee began his final retreat from +Richmond. Boyd became a captain of engineers on the staff of +General Richard Taylor, was captured, and was in jail at Natchez, +Mississippi, when I was on my Meridian expedition. He succeeded in +getting a letter to me on my arrival at Vicksburg, and, on my way +down to New Orleans, I stopped at Natchez, took him along, and +enabled him to effect an exchange through General Banks. As soon +as the war was over, he returned to Alexandria, and reorganized the +old institution, where I visited him in 1867; but, the next winter, +the building took fire end burned to the ground. The students, +library, apparatus, etc., were transferred to Baton Rouge, where +the same institution now is, under the title of the Louisiana +University. I have been able to do them many acts of kindness, and +am still in correspondence, with Colonel Boyd, its president. + +General G. Mason Graham is still living on his plantation, on Bayou +Rapides, old and much respected. + +Dr. S. A. Smith became a surgeon in the rebel army, and at the +close of the war was medical director of the trans-Mississippi +Department, with General Kirby Smith. I have seen him since the +war, at New Orleans, where he died about a year ago. + +Dr. Clark was in Washington recently, applying for a place as +United States consul abroad. I assisted him, but with no success, +and he is now at Baltimore, Maryland. + +After the battle of Shiloh, I found among the prisoners Cadet +Barrow, fitted him out with some clean clothing, of which he was in +need, and from him learned that Cadet Workman was killed in that +battle. + +Governor Moore's plantation was devastated by General Banks's +troops. After the war he appealed to me, and through the +Attorney-General, Henry Stanbery, I aided in having his +land restored to him, and I think he is now living there. + +Bragg, Beauregard, and Taylor, enacted high parts in the succeeding +war, and now reside in Louisiana or Texas. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +MISSOURI + +APRIL AND MAY, 1861. + +During the time of these events in Louisiana, I was in constant +correspondence with my brother, John Sherman, at Washington; Mr. +Ewing, at Lancaster, Ohio; and Major H. S. Turner, at St. Louis. I +had managed to maintain my family comfortably at Lancaster, but was +extremely anxious about the future. It looked like the end of my +career, for I did not suppose that "civil war" could give me an +employment that would provide for the family. I thought, and may +have said, that the national crisis had been brought about by the +politicians, and, as it was upon us, they "might fight it out" +Therefore, when I turned North from New Orleans, I felt more +disposed to look to St. Louis for a home, and to Major. Turner to +find me employment, than to the public service. + +I left New Orleans about the 1st of March, 1861, by rail to Jackson +and Clinton, Mississippi, Jackson, Tennessee, and Columbus, +Kentucky, where we took a boat to Cairo, and thence, by rail, to +Cincinnati and Lancaster. All the way, I heard, in the cars and +boats, warm discussions about polities; to the effect that, if Mr. +Lincoln should attempt coercion of the seceded States, the other +slave or border States would make common cause, when, it was +believed, it would be madness to attempt to reduce them to +subjection. In the South, the people were earnest, fierce and +angry, and were evidently organizing for action; whereas, in +Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, I saw not the least sign of +preparation. It certainly looked to me as though the people of the +North would tamely submit to a disruption of the Union, and the +orators of the South used, openly and constantly, the expressions +that there would be no war, and that a lady's thimble would hold +all the blood to be shed. On reaching Lancaster, I found letters +from my brother John, inviting me to come to Washington, as he +wanted to see me; and from Major Tamer, at St. Louis, that he was +trying to secure for me the office of president of the Fifth Street +Railroad, with a salary of twenty-five hundred dollars; that Mr. +Lucas and D. A. January held a controlling interest of stock, would +vote for me, and the election would occur in March. This suited me +exactly, and I answered Turner that I would accept, with thanks. +But I also thought it right and proper that I should first go to +Washington, to talk with my brother, Senator Sherman. + +Mr. Lincoln had just been installed, and the newspapers were filled +with rumors of every kind indicative of war; the chief act of +interest was that Major Robert Anderson had taken by night into +Fort Sumter all the troops garrisoning Charleston Harbor, and that +he was determined to defend it against the demands of the State of +South Carolina and of the Confederate States. I must have reached +Washington about the 10th of March. I found my brother there, just +appointed Senator, in place of Mr. Chase, who was in the cabinet, +and I have no doubt my opinions, thoughts, and feelings, wrought up +by the events in Louisiana; seemed to him gloomy and extravagant. +About Washington I saw but few signs of preparation, though the +Southern Senators and Representatives were daily sounding their +threats on the floors of Congress, and were publicly withdrawing to +join the Confederate Congress at Montgomery. Even in the War +Department and about the public offices there was open, unconcealed +talk, amounting to high-treason. + +One day, John Sherman took me with him to see Mr. Lincoln. He +walked into the room where the secretary to the President now sits, +we found the room full of people, and Mr. Lincoln sat at the end of +the table, talking with three or four gentlemen, who soon left. +John walked up, shook hands, and took a chair near him, holding in +his hand some papers referring to, minor appointments in the State +of Ohio, which formed the subject of conversation. Mr. Lincoln +took the papers, said he would refer them to the proper heads of +departments, and would be glad to make the appointments asked for, +if not already promised. John then turned to me, and said, "Mr. +President, this is my brother, Colonel Sherman, who is just up from +Louisiana, he may give you some information you want." "Ah!" said +Mr. Lincoln, "how are they getting along down there?" I said, "They +think they are getting along swimmingly--they are preparing for +war." "Oh, well!" said he, "I guess we'll manage to keep house." +I was silenced, said no more to him, and we soon left. I was sadly +disappointed, and remember that I broke out on John, d--ning the +politicians generally, saying, "You have got things in a hell of a +fig, and you may get them out as you best can," adding that the +country was sleeping on a volcano that might burst forth at any +minute, but that I was going to St. Louis to take care of my +family, and would have no more to do with it. John begged me to be +more patient, but I said I would not; that I had no time to wait, +that I was off for St. Louis; and off I went. At Lancaster I found +letters from Major Turner, inviting me to St. Louis, as the place +in the Fifth Street Railroad was a sure thing, and that Mr. Lucas +would rent me a good house on Locust Street, suitable for my +family, for six hundred dollars a year. + +Mrs. Sherman and I gathered our family and effects together, +started for St. Louis March 27th, where we rented of Mr. Lucas the +house on Locust Street, between Tenth and Eleventh, and occupied it +on the 1st of April. Charles Ewing and John Hunter had formed a +law-partnership in St. Louis, and agreed to board with us, taking +rooms on the third floor In the latter part of March, I was duly +elected president of the Fifth Street Railroad, and entered on the +discharge of my duties April 1, 1861. We had a central office on +the corner of Fifth and Locust, and also another up at the stables +in Bremen. The road was well stocked and in full operation, and +all I had to do was to watch the economical administration of +existing affairs, which I endeavored to do with fidelity and zeal. +But the whole air was full of wars and rumors of wars. The +struggle was going on politically for the border States. Even in +Missouri, which was a slave State, it was manifest that the +Governor of the State, Claiborne Jackson, and all the leading +politicians, were for the South in case of a war. The house on the +northwest corner of Fifth and Pine was the rebel headquarters, +where the rebel flag was hung publicly, and the crowds about the +Planters' House were all more or less rebel. There was also a camp +in Lindell's Grove, at the end of Olive, Street, under command of +General D. M. Frost, a Northern man, a graduate of West Point, in +open sympathy with the Southern leaders. This camp was nominally a +State camp of instruction, but, beyond doubt, was in the interest +of the Southern cause, designed to be used against the national +authority in the event of the General Government's attempting to +coerce the Southern Confederacy. General William S. Harvey was in +command of the Department of Missouri, and resided in his own +house, on Fourth Street, below Market; and there were five or six +companies of United States troops in the arsenal, commanded by +Captain N. Lyon; throughout the city, there had been organized, +almost exclusively out of the German part of the population, four +or five regiments of "Home Guards," with which movement Frank +Blair, B. Gratz Brown, John M. Schofield, Clinton B. Fisk, and +others, were most active on the part of the national authorities. +Frank Blair's brother Montgomery was in the cabinet of Mr. Lincoln +at Washington, and to him seemed committed the general management +of affairs in Missouri. + +The newspapers fanned the public excitement to the highest pitch, +and threats of attacking the arsenal on the one hand, and the mob +of d--d rebels in Camp Jackson on the other, were bandied about. I +tried my best to keep out of the current, and only talked freely +with a few men; among them Colonel John O'Fallon, a wealthy +gentleman who resided above St. Louis. He daily came down to my +office in Bremen, and we walked up and down the pavement by the +hour, deploring the sad condition of our country, and the seeming +drift toward dissolution and anarchy. I used also to go down to +the arsenal occasionally to see Lyon, Totten, and other of my army +acquaintance, and was glad to see them making preparations to +defend their post, if not to assume the offensive. + +The bombardment of Fort Sumter, which was announced by telegraph, +began April 12th, and ended on the 14th. We then knew that the war +was actually begun, and though the South was openly, manifestly the +aggressor, yet her friends and apologists insisted that she was +simply acting on a justifiable defensive, and that in the forcible +seizure of, the public forts within her limits the people were +acting with reasonable prudence and foresight. Yet neither party +seemed willing to invade, or cross the border. Davis, who ordered +the bombardment of Sumter, knew the temper of his people well, and +foresaw that it would precipitate the action of the border States; +for almost immediately Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, and +Tennessee, followed the lead of the cotton States, and conventions +were deliberating in Kentucky and Missouri. + +On the night of Saturday, April 6th, I received the following, +dispatch: + + +Washington, April 6,1861. + +Major W. T. Sherman: + +Will you accept the chief clerkship of the War Department? We will +make you assistant Secretary of War when Congress meets. + +M. Blair, Postmaster-General. + + +To which I replied by telegraph, Monday morning; "I cannot accept;" +and by mail as follows: + + +Monday, April 8, 1861. +Office of the St. Louis Railroad Company. + +Hon. M. Blair, Washington, D. C. + +I received, about nine o'clock Saturday night, your telegraph +dispatch, which I have this moment answered, "I cannot accept." + +I have quite a large family, and when I resigned my place in +Louisiana, on account of secession, I had no time to lose; and, +therefore, after my hasty visit to Washington, where I saw no +chance of employment, I came to St. Louis, have accepted a place in +this company, have rented a house, and incurred other obligations, +so that I am not at liberty to change. + +I thank you for the compliment contained in your offer, and assure +you that I wish the Administration all success in its almost +impossible task of governing this distracted and anarchical people. + +Yours truly, + +W.T. SHERMAN + + +I was afterward told that this letter gave offense, and that some +of Mr. Lincoln's cabinet concluded that I too would prove false to +the country. + +Later in that month, after the capture of Fort Sumter by the +Confederate authorities, a Dr. Cornyn came to our house on Locust +Street, one night after I had gone to bed, and told me he had been +sent by Frank Blair, who was not well, and wanted to see me that +night at his house. I dressed and walked over to his house on +Washington Avenue, near Fourteenth, and found there, in the +front-room, several gentlemen, among whom I recall Henry T. Blow. +Blair was in the back-room, closeted with some gentleman, who soon +left, and I was called in. He there told me that the Government +was mistrustful of General Harvey, that a change in the command of +the department was to be made; that he held it in his power to +appoint a brigadier-general, and put him in command of the +department, and he offered me the place. I told him I had once +offered my services, and they were declined; that I had made +business engagements in St. Louis, which I could not throw off at +pleasure; that I had long deliberated on my course of action, and +must decline his offer, however tempting and complimentary. He +reasoned with me, but I persisted. He told me, in that event, he +should appoint Lyon, and he did so. + +Finding that even my best friends were uneasy as to my political +status, on the 8th of May I addressed the following official letter +to the Secretary of War: + + +Office of the St. Louis Railroad Company, +May 8,1881. + +Hon. S. Cameron, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. + +Dear Sir: I hold myself now, as always, prepared to serve my +country in the capacity for which I was trained. I did not and +will not volunteer for three months, because I cannot throw my +family on the cold charity of the world. But for the three-years +call, made by the President, an officer can prepare his command and +do good service. + +I will not volunteer as a soldier, because rightfully or wrongfully +I feel unwilling to take a mere private's place, and, having for +many years lived in California and Louisiana, the men are not well +enough acquainted with me to elect me to my appropriate place. + +Should my services be needed, the records of the War Department +will enable you to designate the station in which I can render most +service. + +Yours truly, W. T. SHERMAN. + + +To this I do not think I received a direct answer; but, on the 10th +of the same month, I was appointed colonel of the Thirteenth +Regular Infantry. + +I remember going to the arsenal on the 9th of May, taking my +children with me in the street-cars. Within the arsenal wall were +drawn up in parallel lines four regiments of the "Home Guards," and +I saw men distributing cartridges to the boxes. I also saw General +Lyon running about with his hair in the wind, his pockets full of +papers, wild and irregular, but I knew him to be a man of vehement +purpose and of determined action. I saw of course that it meant +business, but whether for defense or offense I did not know. The +next morning I went up to the railroad-office in Bremen, as usual, +and heard at every corner of the streets that the "Dutch" were +moving on Camp Jackson. People were barricading their houses, and +men were running in that direction. I hurried through my business +as quickly as I could, and got back to my house on Locust Street by +twelve o'clock. Charles Ewing and Hunter were there, and insisted +on going out to the camp to see "the fun." I tried to dissuade +them, saying that in case of conflict the bystanders were more +likely to be killed than the men engaged, but they would go. I +felt as much interest as anybody else, but staid at home, took my +little son Willie, who was about seven years old, and walked up and +down the pavement in front of our house, listening for the sound of +musketry or cannon in the direction of Camp Jackson. While so +engaged Miss Eliza Dean, who lived opposite us, called me across +the street, told me that her brother-in-law, Dr. Scott, was a +surgeon in Frost's camp, and she was dreadfully afraid he would be +killed. I reasoned with her that General Lyon was a regular +officer; that if he had gone out, as reported, to Camp Jackson, he +would take with him such a force as would make resistance +impossible; but she would not be comforted, saying that the camp +was made up of the young men from the first and best families of +St. Louis, and that they were proud, and would fight. I explained +that young men of the best families did not like to be killed +better than ordinary people. Edging gradually up the street, I was +in Olive Street just about Twelfth, when I saw a man running from +the direction of Camp Jackson at full speed, calling, as he went, +"They've surrendered, they've surrendered!" So I turned back and +rang the bell at Mrs. Dean's. Eliza came to the door, and I +explained what I had heard; but she angrily slammed the door in my +face! Evidently she was disappointed to find she was mistaken in +her estimate of the rash courage of the best families. + +I again turned in the direction of Camp Jackson, my boy Willie with +me still. At the head of Olive Street, abreast of Lindell's Grove, +I found Frank Blair's regiment in the street, with ranks opened, +and the Camp Jackson prisoners inside. A crowd of people was +gathered around, calling to the prisoners by name, some hurrahing +for Jeff Davis, and others encouraging the troops. Men, women, and +children, were in the crowd. I passed along till I found myself +inside the grove, where I met Charles Ewing and John Hunter, and we +stood looking at the troops on the road, heading toward the city. +A band of music was playing at the head, and the column made one or +two ineffectual starts, but for some reason was halted. The +battalion of regulars was abreast of me, of which Major Rufus +Saxton was in command, and I gave him an evening paper, which I had +bought of the newsboy on my way out. He was reading from it some +piece of news, sitting on his horse, when the column again began to +move forward, and he resumed his place at the head of his command. +At that part of the road, or street, was an embankment about eight +feet high, and a drunken fellow tried to pass over it to the people +opposite. + +One of the regular sergeant file-closers ordered him back, but he +attempted to pass through the ranks, when the sergeant barred his +progress with his musket "a-port." The drunken man seized his +musket, when the sergeant threw him off with violence, and he +rolled over and over down the bank. By the time this man had +picked himself up and got his hat, which had fallen off, and had +again mounted the embankment, the regulars had passed, and the head +of Osterhaus's regiment of Home Guards had come up. The man had in +his hand a small pistol, which he fired off, and I heard that the +ball had struck the leg of one of Osterhaus's staff; the regiment +stopped; there was a moment of confusion, when the soldiers of that +regiment began to fire over our heads in the grove. I heard the +balls cutting the leaves above our heads, and saw several men and +women running in all directions, some of whom were wounded. Of +course there was a general stampede. Charles Ewing threw Willie on +the ground and covered him with his body. Hunter ran behind the +hill, and I also threw myself on the ground. The fire ran back +from the head of the regiment toward its rear, and as I saw the men +reloading their pieces, I jerked Willie up, ran back with him into +a gully which covered us, lay there until I saw that the fire had +ceased, and that the column was again moving on, when I took up +Willie and started back for home round by way of Market Street. A +woman and child were killed outright; two or three men were also +killed, and several others were wounded. The great mass of the +people on that occasion were simply curious spectators, though men +were sprinkled through the crowd calling out, "Hurrah for Jeff +Davis!" and others were particularly abusive of the "damned Dutch" +Lyon posted a guard in charge of the vacant camp, and marched his +prisoners down to the arsenal; some were paroled, and others held, +till afterward they were regularly exchanged. + +A very few days after this event, May 14th, I received a dispatch +from my brother Charles in Washington, telling me to come on at +once; that I had been appointed a colonel of the Thirteenth Regular +Infantry, and that I was wanted at Washington immediately. + +Of course I could no longer defer action. I saw Mr. Lucas, Major +Turner, and other friends and parties connected with the road, who +agreed that I should go on. I left my family, because I was under +the impression that I would be allowed to enlist my own regiment, +which would take some time, and I expected to raise the regiment +and organize it at Jefferson Barracks. I repaired to Washington, +and there found that the Government was trying to rise to a level +with the occasion. Mr. Lincoln had, without the sanction of law, +authorized the raising of ten new regiments of regulars, each +infantry regiment to be composed of three battalions of eight +companies each; and had called for seventy-five thousand State +volunteers. Even this call seemed to me utterly inadequate; still +it was none of my business. I took the oath of office, and was +furnished with a list of officers, appointed to my regiment, which +was still, incomplete. I reported in person to General Scott, at +his office on Seventeenth Street, opposite the War Department, and +applied for authority to return West, and raise my regiment at +Jefferson Barracks, but the general said my lieutenant-colonel, +Burbank, was fully qualified to superintend the enlistment, and +that he wanted me there; and he at once dictated an order for me to +report to him in person for inspection duty. + +Satisfied that I would not be permitted to return to St. Louis, I +instructed Mrs. Sherman to pack up, return to Lancaster, and trust +to the fate of war. + +I also resigned my place as president of the Fifth Street Railroad, +to take effect at the end of May, so that in fact I received pay +from that road for only two months' service, and then began my new +army career. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +FROM THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN TO PADUCAH KENTUCKY AND MISSOURI + +1861-1862. + +And now that, in these notes, I have fairly reached the period of +the civil war, which ravaged our country from 1861 to 1865--an +event involving a conflict of passion, of prejudice, and of arms, +that has developed results which, for better or worse, have left +their mark on the world's history--I feel that I tread on delicate +ground. + +I have again and again been invited to write a history of the war, +or to record for publication my personal recollections of it, with +large offers of money therefor; all of which I have heretofore +declined, because the truth is not always palatable, and should not +always be told. Many of the actors in the grand drama still live, +and they and their friends are quick to controversy, which should +be avoided. The great end of peace has been attained, with little +or no change in our form of government, and the duty of all good +men is to allow the passions of that period to subside, that we may +direct our physical and mental labor to repair the waste of war, +and to engage in the greater task of continuing our hitherto +wonderful national development. + +What I now propose to do is merely to group some of my personal +recollections about the historic persons and events of the day, +prepared not with any view to their publication, but rather for +preservation till I am gone; and then to be allowed to follow into +oblivion the cords of similar papers, or to be used by some +historian who may need them by way of illustration. + +I have heretofore recorded how I again came into the military +service of the United States as a colonel of the Thirteenth Regular +Infantry, a regiment that had no existence at the time, and that, +instead of being allowed to enlist the men and instruct them, as +expected, I was assigned in Washington City, by an order of +Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott, to inspection duty near him on +the 20th of June, 1861. + +At that time Lieutenant-General Scott commanded the army in chief, +with Colonel E. D. Townsend as his adjutant-general, + +Major G. W. Cullum, United States Engineers, and Major Schuyler +Hamilton, as aides.-de-camp. The general had an office up stairs +on Seventeenth Street, opposite the War Department, and resided in +a house close by, on Pennsylvania Avenue. All fears for the +immediate safety of the capital had ceased, and quite a large force +of regulars and volunteers had been collected in and about +Washington. Brigadier-General J. K. Mansfield commanded in the +city, and Brigadier-General Irvin McDowell on the other side of the +Potomac, with his headquarters at Arlington House. His troops +extended in a semicircle from Alexandria to above Georgetown. +Several forts and redoubts were either built or in progress, and +the people were already clamorous for a general forward movement. +Another considerable army had also been collected in Pennsylvania +under General Patterson, and, at the time I speak of, had moved +forward to Hagerstown and Williamsport, on the Potomac River. My +brother, John Sherman, was a volunteer aide-de-camp to General +Patterson, and, toward the end of June, I went up to Hagerstown to +see him. I found that army in the very act of moving, and we rode +down to Williamsport in a buggy, and were present when the leading +division crossed the Potomac River by fording it waist-deep. My +friend and classmate, George H. Thomas, was there, in command of a +brigade in the leading division. I talked with him a good deal, +also with General Cadwalader, and with the staff-officers of +General Patterson, viz., Fitz-John Porter, Belger, Beckwith, and +others, all of whom seemed encouraged to think that the war was to +be short and decisive, and that, as soon as it was demonstrated +that the General Government meant in earnest to defend its rights +and property, some general compromise would result. + +Patterson's army crossed the Potomac River on the 1st or 2d of +July, and, as John Sherman was to take his seat as a Senator in the +called session of Congress, to meet July 4th, he resigned his place +as aide-de-camp, presented me his two horses and equipment, and we +returned to Washington together. + +The Congress assembled punctually on the 4th of July, and the +message of Mr. Lincoln was strong and good: it recognized the fact +that civil war was upon us, that compromise of any kind was at an +end; and he asked for four hundred thousand men, and four hundred +million dollars, wherewith to vindicate the national authority, and +to regain possession of the captured forts and other property of +the United States. + +It was also immediately demonstrated that the tone and temper of +Congress had changed since the Southern Senators and members had +withdrawn, and that we, the military, could now go to work with +some definite plans and ideas. + +The appearance of the troops about Washington was good, but it was +manifest they were far from being soldiers. Their uniforms were as +various as the States and cities from which they came; their arms +were also of every pattern and calibre; and they were so loaded +down with overcoats, haversacks, knapsacks, tents, and baggage, +that it took from twenty-five to fifty wagons to move the camp of a +regiment from one place to another, and some of the camps had +bakeries and cooking establishments that would have done credit to +Delmonico. + +While I was on duty with General Scott, viz., from June 20th to +about June 30th, the general frequently communicated to those about +him his opinions and proposed plans. He seemed vexed with the +clamors of the press for immediate action, and the continued +interference in details by the President, Secretary of War, and +Congress. He spoke of organizing a grand army of invasion, of +which the regulars were to constitute the "iron column," and seemed +to intimate that he himself would take the field in person, though +he was at the time very old, very heavy, and very unwieldy. His +age must have been about seventy-five years. + +At that date, July 4, 1861, the rebels had two armies in front of +Washington; the one at Manassas Junction, commanded by General +Beauregard, with his advance guard at Fairfax Court House, and +indeed almost in sight of Washington. The other, commanded by +General Joe Johnston, was at Winchester, with its advance at +Martinsburg and Harper's Ferry; but the advance had fallen back +before Patterson, who then occupied Martinsburg and the line of the +Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. + +The temper of Congress and the people would not permit the slow and +methodical preparation desired by General Scott; and the cry of "On +to Richmond!" which was shared by the volunteers, most of whom had +only engaged for ninety days, forced General Scott to hasten his +preparations, and to order a general advance about the middle of +July. McDowell was to move from the defenses of Washington, and +Patterson from Martinsburg. In the organization of McDowell's army +into divisions and brigades, Colonel David Hunter was assigned to +command the Second Division, and I was ordered to take command of +his former brigade, which was composed of five regiments in +position in and about Fort Corcoran, and on the ground opposite +Georgetown. I assumed command on the 30th of June, and proceeded +at once to prepare it for the general advance. My command +constituted the Third Brigade of the First Division, which division +was commanded by Brigadier-General Daniel Tyler, a graduate of West +Point, but who had seen little or no actual service. I applied to +General McDowell for home staff-officers, and he gave me, as +adjutant-general, Lieutenant Piper, of the Third Artillery, and, as +aide-de-camp, Lieutenant McQuesten, a fine young cavalry-officer, +fresh from West Point. + +I selected for the field the Thirteenth New York, Colonel Quinby; +the Sixty-ninth New York, Colonel Corcoran; the Seventy-ninth New +York, Colonel Cameron; and the Second Wisconsin, Lieutenant- +Colonel Peck. These were all good, strong, volunteer regiments, +pretty well commanded; and I had reason to believe that I had one +of the best brigades in the whole army. Captain Ayres's battery of +the Third Regular Artillery was also attached to my brigade. The +other regiment, the Twenty-ninth New York, Colonel Bennett, was +destined to be left behind in charge of the forts and camps during +our absence, which was expected to be short. Soon after I had +assumed the command, a difficulty arose in the Sixty-ninth, an +Irish regiment. This regiment had volunteered in New York, early +in April, for ninety days; but, by reason of the difficulty of +passing through Baltimore, they had come via Annapolis, had been +held for duty on the railroad as a guard for nearly a month before +they actually reached Washington, and were then mustered in about a +month after enrollment. Some of the men claimed that they were +entitled to their discharge in ninety days from the time of +enrollment, whereas the muster-roll read ninety days from the date +of muster-in. One day, Colonel Corcoran explained this matter to +me. I advised him to reduce the facts to writing, and that I would +submit it to the War Department for an authoritative decision. He +did so, and the War Department decided that the muster-roll was the +only contract of service, that it would be construed literally; and +that the regiment would be held till the expiration of three months +from the date of muster-in, viz., to about August 1, 1861. General +Scott at the same time wrote one of his characteristic letters to +Corcoran, telling him that we were about to engage in battle, and +he knew his Irish friends would not leave him in such a crisis. +Corcoran and the officers generally wanted to go to the expected +battle, but a good many of the men were not so anxious. In the +Second Wisconsin, also, was developed a personal difficulty. The +actual colonel was S. P. Coon, a good-hearted gentleman, who knew +no more of the military art than a child; whereas his lieutenant- +colonel, Peck, had been to West Point, and knew the drill. +Preferring that the latter should remain in command of the +regiment, I put Colonel Coon on my personal staff, which reconciled +the difficulty. + +In due season, about July 15th, our division moved forward +leaving our camps standing; Keyes's brigade in the lead, then +Schenck's, then mine, and Richardson's last. We marched via +Vienna, Germantown, and Centreville, where all the army, composed +of five divisions, seemed to converge. The march demonstrated +little save the general laxity of discipline; for with all my +personal efforts I could not prevent the men from straggling for +water, blackberries, or any thing on the way they fancied. + +At Centreville, on the 18th, Richardson's brigade was sent by +General Tyler to reconnoitre Blackburn's Ford across Bull Run, and +he found it strongly guarded. From our camp, at Centreville, we +heard the cannonading, and then a sharp musketry-fire. I received +orders from General Tyler to send forward Ayres's battery, and very +soon after another order came for me to advance with my whole +brigade. We marched the three miles at the double-quick, arrived +in time to relieve Richardson's brigade, which was just drawing +back from the ford, worsted, and stood for half an hour or so under +a fire of artillery, which killed four or five of my men. General +Tyler was there in person, giving directions, and soon after +he ordered us all back to our camp in Centreville. This +reconnoissance had developed a strong force, and had been made +without the orders of General McDowell; however, it satisfied us +that the enemy was in force on the other side of Bull Run, and had +no intention to leave without a serious battle. We lay in camp at +Centreville all of the 19th and 20th, and during that night began +the movement which resulted in the battle of Bull Run, on July +21st. Of this so much has been written that more would be +superfluous; and the reports of the opposing commanders, McDowell +and Johnston, are fair and correct. It is now generally admitted +that it was one of the best-planned battles of the war, but one of +the worst-fought. Our men had been told so often at home that all +they had to do was to make a bold appearance, and the rebels would +run; and nearly all of us for the first time then heard the sound +of cannon and muskets in anger, and saw the bloody scenes common to +all battles, with which we were soon to be familiar. We had good +organization, good men, but no cohesion, no real discipline, no +respect for authority, no real knowledge of war. Both armies were +fairly defeated, and, whichever had stood fast, the other would +have run. Though the North was overwhelmed with mortification and +shame, the South really had not much to boast of, for in the three +or four hours of fighting their organization was so broken up that +they did not and could not follow our army, when it was known to be +in a state of disgraceful and causeless flight. It is easy to +criticise a battle after it is over, but all now admit that none +others, equally raw in war, could have done better than we did at +Bull Run; and the lesson of that battle should not be lost on a +people like ours. + +I insert my official report, as a condensed statement of my share +in the battle: + + +HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION +FORT CORCORAN, July 25, 1861 + +To Captain A. BAIRD, Assistant Adjutant-General, First Division +(General Tyler's). + +Sir: I have the honor to submit this my report of the operations of +my brigade during the action of the 21st instant. The brigade is +composed of the Thirteenth New York Volunteers, Colonel Quinby's +Sixty-ninth New York, Colonel Corcoran; Seventy-ninth New York, +Colonel Cameron; Second Wisconsin, Lieutenant-Colonel Peck; and +Company E, Third Artillery, under command of Captain R. B. Ayres, +Fifth Artillery. + +We left our camp near Centreville, pursuant to orders, at half-past +2 A. M., taking place in your column, next to the brigade of +General Schenck, and proceeded as far as the halt, before the +enemy's position, near the stone bridge across Bull Run. Here the +brigade was deployed in line along the skirt of timber to the right +of the Warrenton road, and remained quietly in position till after +10 a.m. The enemy remained very quiet, but about that time we saw +a rebel regiment leave its cover in our front, and proceed in +double-quick time on the road toward Sudley Springs, by which we +knew the columns of Colonels Hunter and Heintzelman were +approaching. About the same time we observed in motion a large +mass of the enemy, below and on the other side of the stone bridge. +I directed Captain Ayres to take position with his battery near our +right, and to open fire on this mass; but you had previously +detached the two rifle-guns belonging to this battery, and, finding +that the smooth-bore guns did not reach the enemy's position, we +ceased firing, and I sent a request that you would send to me the +thirty-pounder rifle-gun attached to Captain Carlisle's battery. +At the same time I shifted the New York Sixty-ninth to the extreme +right of the brigade. Thus we remained till we heard the +musketry-fire across Bull Run, showing that the head of Colonel +Hunter's column was engaged. This firing was brisk, and showed that +Hunter was driving before him the enemy, till about noon, when it +became certain the enemy had come to a stand, and that our forces on +the other side of Bull Run were all engaged, artillery and infantry. + +Here you sent me the order to cross over with the whole brigade, to +the assistance of Colonel Hunter. Early in the day, when +reconnoitring the ground, I had seen a horseman descend from a +bluff in our front, cross the stream, and show himself in the open +field on this aide; and, inferring that we could cross over at the +same point, I sent forward a company as skirmishers, and followed +with the whole brigade, the New York Sixty-ninth leading. + +We found no difficulty in crossing over, and met with no opposition +in ascending the steep bluff opposite with our infantry, but it was +impassable to the artillery, and I sent word back to Captain Ayres +to follow if possible, otherwise to use his discretion. Captain +Ayres did not cross Bull Run, but remained on that side, with the +rest of your division. His report herewith describes his +operations during the remainder of the day. Advancing slowly and +cautiously with the head of the column, to give time for the +regiments in succession to close up their ranks, we first +encountered a party of the enemy retreating along a cluster of +pines; Lieutenant-Colonel Haggerty, of the Sixty-ninth, without +orders, rode out alone, and endeavored to intercept their retreat. +One of the enemy, in full view, at short range, shot Haggerty, and +he fell dead from his horse. The Sixty-ninth opened fire on this +party, which was returned; but, determined to effect our junction +with Hunter's division, I ordered this fire to cease, and we +proceeded with caution toward the field where we then plainly saw +our forces engaged. Displaying our colors conspicuously at the +head of our column, we succeeded in attracting the attention of our +friends, and soon formed the brigade in rear of Colonel Porter's. +Here I learned that Colonel Hunter was disabled by a severe wound, +and that General McDowell was on the field. I sought him out, and +received his orders to join in pursuit of the enemy, who was +falling back to the left of the road by which the army had +approached from Sudley Springs. Placing Colonel Quinby's regiment +of rifles in front, in column, by division, I directed the other +regiments to follow in line of battle, in the order of the +Wisconsin Second, New York Seventy-ninth, and New York Sixty-ninth. +Quinby's regiment advanced steadily down the hill and up the ridge, +from which he opened fire upon the enemy, who had made another +stand on ground very favorable to him, and the regiment continued +advancing as the enemy gave way, till the head of the column +reached the point near which Rickett's battery was so severely cut +up. The other regiments descended the hill in line of battle, +under a severe cannonade; and, the ground affording comparative +shelter from the enemy's artillery, they changed direction, by the +right flank, and followed the road before mentioned. At the point +where this road crosses the ridge to our left front, the ground was +swept by a most severe fire of artillery, rifles, and musketry, and +we saw, in succession, several regiments driven from it; among them +the Zouaves and battalion of marines. Before reaching the crest of +this hill, the roadway was worn deep enough to afford shelter, and +I kept the several regiments in it as long as possible; but when +the Wisconsin Second was abreast of the enemy, by order of Major +Wadsworth, of General McDowell's staff, I ordered it to leave the +roadway, by the left flank, and to attack the enemy. + +This regiment ascended to the brow of the hill steadily, received +the severe fire of the enemy, returned it with spirit, and +advanced, delivering its fire. This regiment is uniformed in gray +cloth, almost identical with that of the great bulk of the +secession army; and, when the regiment fell into confusion and +retreated toward the road, there was a universal cry that they were +being fired on by our own men. The regiment rallied again, passed +the brow of the hill a second time, but was again repulsed in +disorder. By this time the New York Seventy-ninth had closed up, +and in like manner it was ordered to cross the brow of, the hill, +and drive the enemy from cover. It was impossible to get a good +view of this ground. In it there was one battery of artillery, +which poured an incessant fire upon our advancing column, and the +ground was very irregular with small clusters of pines, affording +shelter, of which the enemy took good advantage. The fire of +rifles and musketry was very severe. The Seventy-ninth, headed by +its colonel, Cameron, charged across the hill, and for a short time +the contest was severe; they rallied several times under fire, but +finally broke, and gained the cover of the hill. + +This left the field open to the New York Sixty-ninth, Colonel +Corcoran, who, in his turn, led his regiment over the crest; and +had in full, open view the ground so severely contested; the fire +was very severe, and the roar of cannon, musketry, and rifles, +incessant; it was manifest the enemy was here in great force, far +superior to us at that point. The Sixty-ninth held the ground for +some time, but finally fell back in disorder. + +All this time Quinby's regiment occupied another ridge, to our +left, overlooking the same field of action, and similarly engaged. +Here, about half-past 3 p.m., began the scene of confusion and +disorder that characterized the remainder of the day. Up to that +time, all had kept their places, and seemed perfectly cool, and +used to the shell and shot that fell, comparatively harmless, all +around us; but the short exposure to an intense fire of small-arms, +at close range, had killed many, wounded more, and had produced +disorder in all of the battalions that had attempted to encounter +it. Men fell away from their ranks, talking, and in great +confusion. Colonel Cameron had been mortally wounded, was carried +to an ambulance, and reported dying. Many other officers were +reported dead or missing, and many of the wounded were making their +way, with more or less assistance, to the buildings used as +hospitals, on the ridge to the west. We succeeded in partially +reforming the regiments, but it was manifest that they would not +stand, and I directed Colonel Corcoran to move along the ridge to +the rear, near the position where we had first formed the brigade. +General McDowell was there in person, and need all possible efforts +to reassure the men. By the active exertions of Colonel Corcoran, +we formed an irregular square against the cavalry which were then +seen to issue from the position from which we had been driven, and +we began our retreat toward the same ford of Bull Run by which we +had approached the field of battle. There was no positive order to +retreat, although for an hour it had been going on by the operation +of the men themselves. The ranks were thin and irregular, and we +found a stream of people strung from the hospital across Bull Run, +and far toward Centreville. After putting in motion the irregular +square in person, I pushed forward to find Captain Ayres's battery +at the crossing of Bull Run. I sought it at its last position, +before the brigade had crossed over, but it was not there; then +passing through the woods, where, in the morning, we had first +formed line, we approached the blacksmith's shop, but there found a +detachment of the secession cavalry and thence made a circuit, +avoiding Cub Run Bridge, into Centreville, where I found General +McDowell, and from him understood that it was his purpose to rally +the forces, and make a stand at Centreville. + +But, about nine o'clock at night, I received from General Tyler, in +person, the order to continue the retreat to the Potomac. This +retreat was by night, and disorderly in the extreme. The men of +different regiments mingled together, and some reached the river at +Arlington, some at Long Bridge, and the greater part returned to +their former camp, at or near Fort Corcoran. I reached this point +at noon the next day, and found a miscellaneous crowd crossing over +the aqueduct and ferries.. Conceiving this to be demoralizing, I +at once commanded the guard to be increased, and all persons +attempting to pass over to be stopped. This soon produced its +effect; men sought their proper companies and regiments. +Comparative order was restored, and all were posted to the best +advantage. + +I herewith inclose the official report of Captain Belly, commanding +officer of the New York Sixty-ninth; also, fall lists of the +killed, wounded, and missing. + +Our loss was heavy, and occurred chiefly at the point near where +Rickett's battery was destroyed. Lieutenant-Colonel Haggerty was +killed about noon, before we had effected a junction with Colonel +Hunter's division. Colonel Cameron was mortally wounded leading +his regiment in the charge, and Colonel Corcoran has been missing +since the cavalry-charge near the building used as a hospital. + +For names, rank, etc., of the above, I refer to the lists herewith. + +Lieutenants Piper and McQuesten, of my personal staff, were under +fire all day, and carried orders to and fro with as much coolness +as on parade. Lieutenant Bagley, of the New York Sixty-ninth, a +volunteer aide, asked leave to serve with his company, during the +action, and is among those reported missing. I have intelligence +that he is a prisoner, and slightly wounded. + +Colonel Coon, of Wisconsin, a volunteer aide, also rendered good +service during the day. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Colonel commanding Brigade. + + +This report, which I had not read probably since its date till now, +recalls to me vividly the whole scene of the affair at Blackburn's +Ford, when for the first time in my life I saw cannonballs strike +men and crash through the trees and saplings above and around us, +and realized the always sickening confusion as one approaches a +fight from the rear; then the night-march from Centreville, on the +Warrenton road, standing for hours wondering what was meant; the +deployment along the edge of the field that sloped down to +Bull-Run, and waiting for Hunter's approach on the other aide from +the direction of Sudley Springs, away off to our right; the +terrible scare of a poor negro who was caught between our lines; +the crossing of Bull Run, and the fear lest we should be fired on +by our own men; the killing of Lieutenant-Colonel Haggerty, which +occurred in plain sight; and the first scenes of a field strewed +with dead men and horses. Yet, at that period of the battle, we +were the victors and felt jubilant. At that moment, also, my +brigade passed Hunter's division; but Heintzelman's was still ahead +of us, and we followed its lead along the road toward Manassas +Junction, crossing a small stream and ascending a long hill, at the +summit of which the battle was going on. Here my regiments came +into action well, but successively, and were driven back, each in +its turn. For two hours we continued to dash at the woods on our +left front, which were full of rebels; but I was convinced their +organization was broken, and that they had simply halted there and +taken advantage of these woods as a cover, to reach which we had to +pass over the intervening fields about the Henry House, which were +clear, open, and gave them a decided advantage. After I had put in +each of my regiments, and had them driven back to the cover of the +road, I had no idea that we were beaten, but reformed the regiments +in line in their proper order, and only wanted a little rest, when +I found that my brigade was almost alone, except Syke's regulars, +who had formed square against cavalry and were coming back. I then +realized that the whole army was "in retreat," and that my own men +were individually making back for the stone bridge. Corcoran and I +formed the brigade into an irregular square, but it fell to pieces; +and, along with a crowd, disorganized but not much scared, the +brigade got back to Centreville to our former camps. Corcoran was +captured, and held a prisoner for some time; but I got safe to +Centreville. I saw General McDowell in Centreville, and understood +that several of his divisions had not been engaged at all, that he +would reorganize them at Centreville, and there await the enemy. I +got my four regiments in parallel lines in a field, the same in +which we had camped before the battle, and had lain down to sleep +under a tree, when I heard some one asking for me. I called out +where I was, when General Tyler in person gave me orders to march +back to our camps at Fort Corcoran. I aroused my aides, gave them +orders to call up the sleeping men, have each regiment to leave the +field by a flank and to take the same road back by which we had +come. It was near midnight, and the road was full of troops, +wagons, and batteries. We tried to keep our regiments separate, +but all became inextricably mixed. Toward morning we reached +Vienna, where I slept some hours, and the next day, about noon, we +reached Fort Corcoran. + +A slow, mizzling rain had set in, and probably a more gloomy day +never presented itself. All organization seemed to be at an end; +but I and my staff labored hard to collect our men into their +proper companies and into their former camps, and, on the 23d of +July, I moved the Second Wisconsin and Seventy-ninth New York +closer in to Fort Corcoran, and got things in better order than I +had expected. Of course, we took it for granted that the rebels +would be on our heels, and we accordingly prepared to defend our +posts. By the 25th I had collected all the materials, made my +report, and had my brigade about as well governed as any in that +army; although most of the ninety-day men, especially the +Sixty-ninth, had become extremely tired of the war, and wanted to +go home. Some of them were so mutinous, at one time, that I had +the battery to unlimber, threatening, if they dared to leave camp +without orders, I would open fire on them. Drills and the daily +exercises were resumed, and I ordered that at the three principal +roll-calls the men should form ranks with belts and muskets, and +that they should keep their ranks until I in person had received +the reports and had dismissed them. The Sixty-ninth still occupied +Fort Corcoran, and one morning, after reveille, when I had just +received the report, had dismissed the regiment, and was leaving, I +found myself in a crowd of men crossing the drawbridge on their way +to a barn close by, where they had their sinks; among them was an +officer, who said: "Colonel, I am going to New York today. What +can I do for you?" I answered: "How can you go to New York? I do +not remember to have signed a leave for you." He said, "No; he did +not want a leave. He had engaged to serve three months, and had +already served more than that time. If the Government did not +intend to pay him, he could afford to lose the money; that he was a +lawyer, and had neglected his business long enough, and was then +going home." I noticed that a good many of the soldiers had paused +about us to listen, and knew that, if this officer could defy me, +they also would. So I turned on him sharp, and said: "Captain, +this question of your term of service has been submitted to the +rightful authority, and the decision has been published in orders. +You are a soldier, and must submit to orders till you are properly +discharged. If you attempt to leave without orders, it will be +mutiny, and I will shoot you like a dog! Go back into the fort +now, instantly, and don't dare to leave without my consent." I had +on an overcoat, and may have had my hand about the breast, for he +looked at me hard, paused a moment, and then turned back into the +fort. The men scattered, and I returned to the house where I was +quartered, close by. + +That same day, which must have been about July 26th, I was near the +river-bank, looking at a block-house which had been built for the +defense of the aqueduct, when I saw a carriage coming by the road +that crossed the Potomac River at Georgetown by a ferry. I thought +I recognized in the carriage the person of President Lincoln. I +hurried across a bend, so as to stand by the road-side as the +carriage passed. I was in uniform, with a sword on, and was +recognized by Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Seward, who rode side by side in +an open hack. I inquired if they were going to my camps, and Mr. +Lincoln said: "Yes; we heard that you had got over the big scare, +and we thought we would come over and see the 'boys.'" The roads +had been much changed and were rough. I asked if I might give +directions to his coachman, he promptly invited me to jump in and +to tell the coachman which way to drive. Intending to begin on the +right and follow round to the left, I turned the driver into a +side-road which led up a very steep hill, and, seeing a soldier, +called to him and sent him up hurriedly to announce to the colonel +(Bennett, I think) that the President was coming: As we slowly +ascended the hill, I discovered that Mr. Lincoln was full of +feeling, and wanted to encourage our men. I asked if he intended +to speak to them, and he said he would like to. I asked him then +to please discourage all cheering, noise, or any sort of confusion; +that we had had enough of it before Bull Run to ruin any set of +men, and that what we needed were cool, thoughtful, hard-fighting +soldiers--no more hurrahing, no more humbug. He took my remarks in +the most perfect good-nature. Before we had reached the first +camp, I heard the drum beating the "assembly," saw the men running +for their tents, and in a few minutes the regiment was in line, +arms presented, and then brought to an order and "parade rest!" + +Mr. Lincoln stood up in the carriage, and made one of the neatest, +best, and most feeling addresses I ever listened to, referring to +our late disaster at Bull Run, the high duties that still devolved +on us, and the brighter days yet to come. At one or two points the +soldiers began to cheer, but he promptly checked them, saying: +"Don't cheer, boys. I confess I rather like it myself, but Colonel +Sherman here says it is not military; and I guess we had better +defer to his opinion." In winding up, he explained that, as +President, he was commander-in-chief; that he was resolved that the +soldiers should have every thing that the law allowed; and he +called on one and all to appeal to him personally in case they were +wronged. The effect of this speech was excellent. + +We passed along in the same manner to all the camps of my brigade; +and Mr. Lincoln complimented me highly for the order, cleanliness, +and discipline, that he observed. Indeed, he and Mr. Seward both +assured me that it was the first bright moment they had experienced +since the battle. + +At last we reached Fort Corcoran. The carriage could not enter, so +I ordered the regiment, without arms, to come outside, and gather +about Mr. Lincoln, who would speak to them. He made to them the +same feeling address, with more personal allusions, because of +their special gallantry in the battle under Corcoran, who was still +a prisoner in the hands of the enemy; and he concluded with the +same general offer of redress in case of grievances. In the crowd I +saw the officer with whom I had had the passage at reveille that +morning. His face was pale, and lips compressed. I foresaw a +scene, but sat on the front seat of the carriage as quiet as a +lamb. This officer forced his way through the crowd to the +carriage, and said: "Mr. President, I have a cause of grievance. +This morning I went to speak to Colonel Sherman, and he threatened +to shoot me." Mr. Lincoln, who was still standing, said, +"Threatened to shoot you?" "Yes, sir, he threatened to shoot me." +Mr. Lincoln looked at him, then at me, and stooping his tall, spare +form toward the officer, said to him in a loud stage-whisper, +easily heard for some yards around: "Well, if I were you, and he +threatened to shoot, I would not trust him, for I believe he would +do it." The officer turned about and disappeared, and the men +laughed at him. Soon the carriage drove on, and, as we descended +the hill, I explained the facts to the President, who answered, "Of +course I didn't know any thing about it, but I thought you knew +your own business best." I thanked him for his confidence, and +assured him that what he had done would go far to enable me to +maintain good discipline, and it did. + +By this time the day was well spent. I asked to take my leave, and +the President and Mr. Seward drove back to Washington. This spirit +of mutiny was common to the whole army, and was not subdued till +several regiments or parts of regiments had been ordered to Fort +Jefferson, Florida, as punishment. + +General McDowell had resumed his headquarters at the Arlington +House, and was busily engaged in restoring order to his army, +sending off the ninety-days men, and replacing them by regiments +which had come under the three-years call. We were all trembling +lest we should be held personally accountable for the disastrous +result of the battle. General McClellan had been summoned from the +West to Washington, and changes in the subordinate commands were +announced almost daily. I remember, as a group of officers were +talking in the large room of the Arlington House, used as the +adjutant-general's office, one evening, some young officer came in +with a list of the new brigadiers just announced at the War +Department, which-embraced the names of Heintzehvan, Keyes, +Franklin, Andrew Porter, W. T. Sherman, and others, who had been +colonels in the battle, and all of whom had shared the common +stampede. Of course, we discredited the truth of the list; and +Heintzehvan broke out in his nasal voice, "Boys, it's all a lie! +every mother's son of you will be cashiered." We all felt he was +right, but, nevertheless, it was true; and we were all announced in +general orders as brigadier-generals of volunteers. + +General McClellan arrived, and, on assuming command, confirmed +McDowell's organization. Instead of coming over the river, as we +expected, he took a house in Washington, and only came over from +time to time to have a review or inspection. + +I had received several new regiments, and had begun two new forts +on the hill or plateau, above and farther out than Fort Corcoran; +and I organized a system of drills, embracing the evolutions of the +line, all of which was new to me, and I had to learn the tactics +from books; but I was convinced that we had a long, hard war before +us, and made up my mind to begin at the very beginning to prepare +for it. + +August was passing, and troops were pouring in from all quarters; +General McClellan told me he intended to organize an army of a +hundred thousand men, with one hundred field-batteries, and I still +hoped he would come on our side of the Potomac, pitch his tent, and +prepare for real hard work, but his headquarters still remained in +a house in Washington City. I then thought, and still think, that +was a fatal mistake. His choice as general-in-chief at the time +was fully justified by his high reputation in the army and country, +and, if he then had any political views or ambition, I surely did +not suspect it. + +About the middle of August I got a note from Brigadier-General +Robert Anderson, asking me to come and see him at his room at +Willard's Hotel. I rode over and found him in conversation with +several gentlemen, and he explained to me that events in Kentucky +were approaching a crisis; that the Legislature was in session, and +ready, as soon as properly backed by the General Government, to +take open sides for the Union cause; that he was offered the +command of the Department of the Cumberland, to embrace Kentucky, +Tennessee, etc., and that he wanted help, and that the President +had offered to allow him to select out of the new brigadiers four +of his own choice. I had been a lieutenant in Captain Anderson's +company, at Fort Moultrie, from 1843 to 1846, and he explained that +he wanted me as his right hand. He also indicated George H. +Thomas, D. C. Buell, and Burnside, as the other three. Of course, +I always wanted to go West, and was perfectly willing to go with +Anderson, especially in a subordinate capacity: We agreed to call +on the President on a subsequent day, to talk with him about it, +and we did. It hardly seems probable that Mr. Lincoln should have +come to Willard's Hotel to meet us, but my impression is that he +did, and that General Anderson had some difficulty in prevailing on +him to appoint George H. Thomas, a native of Virginia, to be +brigadier-general, because so many Southern officers, had already +played false; but I was still more emphatic in my indorsement of +him by reason of my talk with him at the time he crossed the +Potomac with Patterson's army, when Mr. Lincoln promised to appoint +him and to assign him to duty with General Anderson. In this +interview with Mr. Lincoln, I also explained to him my extreme +desire to serve in a subordinate capacity, and in no event to be +left in a superior command. He promised me this with promptness, +making the jocular remark that his chief trouble was to find places +for the too many generals who wanted to be at the head of affairs, +to command armies, etc. + +The official order is dated: + +[Special Order No. 114.] +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY +Washington, August 24, 1881. + +The following assignment is made of the general officers of the +volunteer service, whose appointment was announced in General +Orders No. 82, from the War Department + +To the Department of the Cumberland, Brigadier-General Robert +Anderson commanding: + +Brigadier-General W. T. Sherman, +Brigadier-General George H. Thomas. + +By command of Lieutenant-General Scott: +E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant adjutant-General. + + +After some days, I was relieved in command of my brigade and post +by Brigadier General Fitz-John Porter, and at once took my +departure for Cincinnati, Ohio, via Cresson, Pennsylvania, where +General Anderson was with his family; and he, Thomas, and I, met by +appointment at the house of his brother, Larz Anderson, Esq., in +Cincinnati. We were there on the 1st and 2d of September, when +several prominent gentlemen of Kentucky met us, to discuss the +situation, among whom were Jackson, Harlan, Speed, and others. At +that time, William Nelson, an officer of the navy, had been +commissioned a brigadier-general of volunteers, and had his camp at +Dick Robinson, a few miles beyond the Kentucky River, south of +Nicholasville; and Brigadier-General L. H. Rousseau had another +camp at Jeffersonville, opposite Louisville. The State Legislature +was in session at Frankfort, and was ready to take definite action +as soon as General Anderson was prepared, for the State was +threatened with invasion from Tennessee, by two forces: one from +the direction of Nashville, commanded by Generals Albert Sidney +Johnston and Buckner; and the other from the direction of +Cumberland Gap, commanded by Generals Crittenden and Zollicoffer. +General Anderson saw that he had not force enough to resist these +two columns, and concluded to send me in person for help to +Indianapolis and Springfield, to confer with the Governors of +Indiana, and Illinois, and to General Fremont, who commanded in St. +Louis. + +McClellan and Fremont were the two men toward whom the country +looked as the great Union leaders, and toward them were streaming +the newly-raised regiments of infantry and cavalry, and batteries +of artillery; nobody seeming to think of the intervening link +covered by Kentucky. While I was to make this tour, Generals +Anderson and Thomas were to go to Louisville and initiate the +department. None of us had a staff, or any of the machinery for +organizing an army, and, indeed, we had no army to organize. +Anderson was empowered to raise regiments in Kentucky, and to +commission a few brigadier-generals. + +At Indianapolis I found Governor Morton and all the State officials +busy in equipping and providing for the new regiments, and my +object was to divert some of them toward Kentucky; but they were +called for as fast as they were mustered in, either for the army of +McClellan or Fremont. At Springfield also I found the same general +activity and zeal, Governor Yates busy in providing for his men; +but these men also had been promised to Fremont. I then went on to +St. Louis, where all was seeming activity, bustle, and preparation. +Meeting R. M. Renick at the Planters' House (where I stopped), I +inquired where I could find General Fremont. Renick said, "What do +you want with General Fremont?" I said I had come to see him on +business; and he added, "You don't suppose that he will see such as +you?" and went on to retail all the scandal of the day: that Fremont +was a great potentate, surrounded by sentries and guards; that he +had a more showy court than any real king; that he kept senators, +governors, and the first citizens, dancing attendance for days and +weeks before granting an audience, etc.; that if I expected to see +him on business, I would have to make my application in writing, +and submit to a close scrutiny by his chief of staff and by his +civil surroundings. Of course I laughed at all this, and renewed +my simple inquiry as to where was his office, and was informed that +he resided and had his office at Major Brant's new house on +Chouteau Avenue. It was then late in the afternoon, and I +concluded to wait till the next morning; but that night I received +a dispatch from General Anderson in Louisville to hurry back, as +events were pressing, and he needed me. + +Accordingly, I rose early next morning before daybreak, got +breakfast with the early railroad-passengers, and about sunrise was +at the gate of General Fremont's headquarters. A sentinel with +drawn sabre paraded up and down in front of the house. I had on my +undress uniform indicating my rank, and inquired of the sentinel, +"Is General Fremont up?" He answered, "I don't know." Seeing that +he was a soldier by his bearing, I spoke in a sharp, emphatic +voice, "Then find out." He called for the corporal of the guard, +and soon a fine-looking German sergeant came, to whom I addressed +the same inquiry. He in turn did not know, and I bade him find +out, as I had immediate and important business with the general. +The sergeant entered the house by the front-basement door, and +after ten or fifteen minutes the main front-door above was slowly +opened from the inside, and who should appear but my old San +Francisco acquaintance Isaiah C. Woods, whom I had not seen or +heard of since his flight to Australia, at the time of the failure +of Adams & Co. in 1851! He ushered me in hastily, closed the door, +and conducted me into the office on the right of the hall. We were +glad to meet, after so long and eventful an interval, and mutually +inquired after our respective families and special acquaintances. +I found that he was a commissioned officer, a major on duty with +Fremont, and Major Eaton, now of the paymaster's Department, was in +the same office with him. I explained to them that I had come from +General Anderson, and wanted to confer with General Fremont in +person. Woods left me, but soon returned, said the general would +see me in a very few minutes, and within ten minutes I was shown +across the hall into the large parlor, where General Fremont +received me very politely. We had met before, as early as 1847, in +California, and I had also seen him several times when he was +senator. I then in a rapid manner ran over all the points of +interest in General Anderson's new sphere of action, hoped he would +spare us from the new levies what troops he could, and generally +act in concert with us. He told me that his first business would +be to drive the rebel General Price and his army out of Missouri, +when he would turn his attention down the Mississippi. He asked my +opinion about the various kinds of field-artillery which +manufacturers were thrusting on him, especially the then +newly-invented James gun, and afterward our conversation took a wide +turn about the character of the principal citizens of St. Louis, +with whom I was well acquainted. + +Telling General Fremont that I had been summoned to Louisville and +that I should leave in the first train, viz., at 3 p.m., I took my +leave of him. Returning to Wood's office, I found there two more +Californians, viz., Messrs. Palmer and Haskell, so I felt that, +while Fremont might be suspicious of others, he allowed free +ingress to his old California acquaintances. + +Returning to the Planters' House, I heard of Beard, another +Californian, a Mormon, who had the contract for the line of +redoubts which Fremont had ordered to be constructed around the +city, before he would take his departure for the interior of the +State; and while I stood near the office-counter, I saw old Baron +Steinberger, a prince among our early California adventurers, come +in and look over the register. I avoided him on purpose, but his +presence in St. Louis recalled the maxim, "Where the vultures are, +there is a carcass close by;" and I suspected that the profitable +contracts of the quartermaster, McKinstry, had drawn to St. Louis +some of the most enterprising men of California. I suspect they +can account for the fact that, in a very short time, Fremont fell +from his high estate in Missouri, by reason of frauds, or supposed +frauds, in the administration of the affairs of his command. + +I left St. Louis that afternoon and reached Louisville the next +morning. I found General Anderson quartered at the Louisville +Hotel, and he had taken a dwelling homes on ______ Street as an +office. Captain O. D. Greens was his adjutant-general, Lieutenant +Throckmorton his aide, and Captain Prime, of the Engineer Corps, +was on duty with him. General George H. Thomas had been dispatched +to camp Dick Robinson, to relieve Nelson. + +The city was full of all sorts of rumors. The Legislature, moved +by considerations purely of a political nature, had taken the step, +whatever it was, that amounted to an adherence to the Union, +instead of joining the already-seceded States. This was +universally known to be the signal for action. For it we were +utterly unprepared, whereas the rebels were fully prepared. +General Sidney Johnston immediately crossed into Kentucky, and +advanced as far as Bowling Green, which he began to fortify, and +thence dispatched General Buckner with a division forward toward +Louisville; General Zollicoffer, in like manner, entered the State +and advanced as far as Somerset. On the day I reached Louisville +the excitement ran high. It was known that Columbus, Kentucky, had +been occupied, September 7th, by a strong rebel force, under +Generals Pillow and Polk, and that General Grant had moved from +Cairo and occupied Paducah in force on the 6th. Many of the rebel +families expected Buckner to reach Louisville at any moment. That +night, General Anderson sent for me, and I found with him Mr. +Guthrie, president of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, who had +in his hands a dispatch to the effect that the bridge across the +Rolling Fork of Salt Creek, less than thirty miles out, had been +burned, and that Buckner's force, en route for Louisville, had been +detained beyond Green River by a train thrown from the track. We +learned afterward that a man named Bird had displaced a rail on +purpose to throw the train off the track, and thereby give us time. + +Mr. Guthrie explained that in the ravine just beyond Salt Creek +were several high and important trestles which, if destroyed, would +take months to replace, and General Anderson thought it well. +worth the effort to save them. Also, on Muldraugh's Hill beyond, +was a strong position, which had in former years been used as the +site for the State "Camp of Instruction," and we all supposed that +General Buckner, who was familiar with the ground, was aiming for a +position there, from which to operate on Louisville. + +All the troops we had to counteract Buckner were Rousseau's Legion, +and a few Home Guards in Louisville. The former were still +encamped across the river at Jeffersonville; so General Anderson +ordered me to go over, and with them, and such Home Guards as we +could collect, make the effort to secure possession of Muldraugh's +Hill before Buckner could reach it. I took Captain Prime with me; +and crossed over to Rousseau's camp. The long-roll was beaten, and +within an hour the men, to the number of about one thousand, were +marching for the ferry-boat and for the Nashville depot. Meantime +General Anderson had sent to collect some Home Guards, and Mr. +Guthrie to get the trains ready. It was after midnight before we +began to move. The trains proceeded slowly, and it was daybreak +when we reached Lebanon Junction, twenty-six miles out, where we +disembarked, and marched to the bridge over Salt River, which we +found had been burnt; whether to prevent Buckner coming into +Louisville, or us from going out, was not clear. Rousseau's Legion +forded the stream and marched up to the State Camp of Instruction, +finding the high trestles all secure. The railroad hands went to +work at once to rebuild the bridge. I remained a couple of days at +Lebanon Junction, during which General Anderson forwarded two +regiments of volunteers that had come to him. Before the bridge +was done we advanced the whole camp to the summit of Muldraugh's +Hill, just back of Elizabethtown. There I learned definitely that +General Buckner had not crossed Green River at all, that General +Sidney Johnston was fortifying Bowling Green, and preparing for a +systematic advance into Kentucky, of which he was a native, and +with whose people and geography he must have been familiar. As +fast as fresh troops reached Louisville, they were sent out to me +at Muldraugh's Hill, where I was endeavoring to put them into shape +for service, and by the 1st of October I had the equivalent of a +division of two brigades preparing to move forward toward Green +River. The daily correspondence between General Anderson and +myself satisfied me that the worry and harassment at Louisville +were exhausting his strength and health, and that he would soon +leave. On a telegraphic summons from him, about the 5th of +October, I went down to Louisville, when General Anderson said he +could not stand the mental torture of his command any longer, and +that he must go away, or it would kill him. On the 8th of October +he actually published an order relinquishing the command, and, by +reason of my seniority, I had no alternative but to assume command, +though much against the grain, and in direct violation of Mr. +Lincoln's promise to me. I am certain that, in my earliest +communication to the War Department, I renewed the expression of my +wish to remain in a subordinate position, and that I received the +assurance that Brigadier-General Buell would soon arrive from +California, and would be sent to relieve me. By that time I had +become pretty familiar with the geography and the general resources +of Kentucky. We had parties all over the State raising regiments +and companies; but it was manifest that the young men were +generally inclined to the cause of the South, while the older men +of property wanted to be let alone--i.e., to remain neutral. As to +a forward movement that fall, it was simply impracticable; for we +were forced to use divergent lines, leading our columns farther and +farther apart; and all I could attempt was to go on and collect +force and material at the two points already chosen, viz., Dick +Robinson and Elizabethtown. General George H. Thomas still +continued to command the former, and on the 12th of October I +dispatched Brigadier-General A. McD. McCook to command the latter, +which had been moved forward to Nolin Creek, fifty-two miles out of +Louisville, toward Bowling Green. Staff-officers began to arrive +to relieve us of the constant drudgery which, up to that time, had +been forced on General Anderson and myself; and these were all good +men. Colonel Thomas Swords, quartermaster, arrived on the 13th; +Paymaster Larned on the 14th; and Lieutenant Smyzer, Fifth +Artillery, acting ordnance-officer, on the 20th; Captain Symonds +was already on duty as the commissary of subsistence; Captain O. +D. Greene was the adjutant-general, and completed a good working +staff. + +The everlasting worry of citizens complaining of every petty +delinquency of a soldier, and forcing themselves forward to discuss +politics, made the position of a commanding general no sinecure. I +continued to strengthen the two corps forward and their routes of +supply; all the time expecting that Sidney Johnston, who was a real +general, and who had as correct information of our situation as I +had, would unite his force with Zollicoffer, and fall on Thomas at +Dick Robinson, or McCook at Nolin: Had he done so in October, 1861, +he could have walked into Louisville, and the vital part of the +population would have hailed him as a deliverer. Why he did not, +was to me a mystery then and is now; for I know that he saw the +move; and had his wagons loaded up at one time for a start toward +Frankfort, passing between our two camps. Conscious of our +weakness, I was unnecessarily unhappy, and doubtless exhibited it +too much to those near me; but it did seem to me that the +Government at Washington, intent on the larger preparations of +Fremont in Missouri and McClellan in Washington, actually ignored +us in Kentucky. + +About this time, say the middle of October, I received notice, by +telegraph, that the Secretary of War, Mr. Cameron (then in St. +Louis), would visit me at Louisville, on his way back to +Washington. I was delighted to have an opportunity to properly +represent the actual state of affairs, and got Mr. Guthrie to go +with me across to Jeffersonville, to meet the Secretary of War and +escort him to Louisville. The train was behind time, but Mr. +Guthrie and I waited till it actually arrived. Mr. Cameron was +attended by Adjutant-General Lorenzo Thomas, and six or seven +gentlemen who turned out to be newspaper reporters. Mr. Cameron's +first inquiry was, when he could start for Cincinnati, saying that, +as he had been detained at St. Louis so long, it was important he +should hurry on to Washington. I explained that the regular +mail-boat would leave very soon--viz., at 12 M.--but I begged him +to come over to Louisville; that I wanted to see him on business as +important as any in Washington, and hoped he would come and spend +at least a day with us. He asked if every thing was not well with +us, and I told him far from it; that things were actually bad, as +bad as bad could be. This seemed to surprise him, and Mr. Guthrie +added his persuasion to mine; when Mr. Cameron, learning that he +could leave Louisville by rail via Frankfort next morning early, +and make the same connections at Cincinnati, consented to go with +us to Louisville, with the distinct understanding that he must +leave early the next morning for Washington. + +We accordingly all took hacks, crossed the river by the ferry, and +drove to the Galt House, where I was then staying. Brigadier- +General T. J. Wood had come down from Indianapolis by the same +train, and was one of the party. We all proceeded to my room on +the first floor of the Galt House, where our excellent landlord, +Silas Miller, Esq., sent us a good lunch and something to drink. +Mr. Cameron was not well, and lay on my bed, but joined in the +general conversation. He and his party seemed to be full of the +particulars of the developments in St. Louis of some of Fremont's +extravagant contracts and expenses, which were the occasion of +Cameron's trip to St. Louis, and which finally resulted in +Fremont's being relieved, first by General Hunter, and after by +General H. W. Halleck. + +After some general conversation, Mr. Cameron called to me, "Now, +General Sherman, tell us of your troubles." I said I preferred not +to discuss business with so many strangers present. He said, +"They are all friends, all members of my family, and you may speak +your mind freely and without restraint." I am sure I stepped to +the door, locked it to prevent intrusion, and then fully and fairly +represented the state of affairs in Kentucky, especially the +situation and numbers of my troops. I complained that the new +levies of Ohio and Indiana were diverted East and West, and we got +scarcely any thing; that our forces at Nolin and Dick Robinson were +powerless for invasion, and only tempting to a general such as we +believed Sidney Johnston to be; that, if Johnston chose, he could +march to Louisville any day. Cameron exclaimed: "You astonish me! +Our informants, the Kentucky Senators and members of Congress, +claim that they have in Kentucky plenty of men, and all they want +are arms and money." I then said it was not true; for the young +men were arming and going out openly in broad daylight to the rebel +camps, provided with good horses and guns by their fathers, who +were at best "neutral;" and as to arms, he had, in Washington, +promised General Anderson forty thousand of the best Springfield +muskets, instead of which we had received only about twelve +thousand Belgian muskets, which the Governor of Pennsylvania had +refused, as had also the Governor of Ohio, but which had been +adjudged good enough for Kentucky. I asserted that volunteer +colonels raising regiments in various parts of the State had come +to Louisville for arms, and when they saw what I had to offer had +scorned to receive them--to confirm the truth of which I appealed +to Mr. Guthrie, who said that every word I had spoken was true, and +he repeated what I had often heard him say, that no man who owned a +slave or a mule in Kentucky could be trusted. + +Mr. Cameron appeared alarmed at what was said, and turned to +Adjutant-General L. Thomas, to inquire if he knew of any troops +available, that had not been already assigned. He mentioned +Negley's Pennsylvania Brigade, at Pittsburg, and a couple of other +regiments that were then en route for St. Louis. Mr. Cameron +ordered him to divert these to Louisville, and Thomas made the +telegraphic orders on the spot. He further promised, on reaching +Washington, to give us more of his time and assistance. + +In the general conversation which followed, I remember taking a +large map of the United States, and assuming the people of the +whole South to be in rebellion, that our task was to subdue them, +showed that McClellan was on the left, having a frontage of less +than a hundred miles, and Fremont the right, about the same; +whereas I, the centre, had from the Big Sandy to Paducah, over +three hundred miles of frontier; that McClellan had a hundred +thousand men, Fremont sixty thousand, whereas to me had only been +allotted about eighteen thousand. I argued that, for the purpose +of defense we should have sixty thousand men at once, and for +offense, would need two hundred thousand, before we were done. Mr. +Cameron, who still lay on the bed, threw up his hands and +exclaimed, "Great God! where are they to come from?" I asserted +that there were plenty of men at the North, ready and willing to +come, if he would only accept their services; for it was notorious +that regiments had been formed in all the Northwestern States, +whose services had been refused by the War Department, on the +ground that they would not be needed. We discussed all these +matters fully, in the most friendly spirit, and I thought I had +aroused Mr. Cameron to a realization of the great war that was +before us, and was in fact upon us. I heard him tell General +Thomas to make a note of our conversation, that he might attend to +my requests on reaching Washington. We all spent the evening +together agreeably in conversation, many Union citizens calling to +pay their respects, and the next morning early we took the train +for Frankfort; Mr. Cameron and party going on to Cincinnati and +Washington, and I to Camp Dick Robinson to see General Thomas and +the troops there. + +I found General Thomas in a tavern, with most of his regiments +camped about him. He had sent a small force some miles in advance +toward Cumberland Gap, under Brigadier-General Schoepf. Remaining +there a couple of days, I returned to Louisville; on the 22d of +October, General Negley's brigade arrived in boats from Pittsburg, +was sent out to Camp Nolin; and the Thirty-seventh Indiana., +Colonel Hazzard, and Second Minnesota, Colonel Van Cleve, also +reached Louisville by rail, and were posted at Elizabethtown and +Lebanon Junction. These were the same troops which had been +ordered by Mr. Cameron when at Louisville, and they were all that I +received thereafter, prior to my leaving Kentucky. On reaching +Washington, Mr. Cameron called on General Thomas, as he himself +afterward told me, to submit his memorandum of events during his +absence, and in that memorandum was mentioned my insane request for +two hundred thousand men. By some newspaper man this was seen and +published, and, before I had the least conception of it, I was +universally published throughout the country as "insane, crazy," +etc. Without any knowledge, however, of this fact, I had +previously addressed to the Adjutant-General of the army at +Washington this letter: + + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OP THE CUMBERLAND, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, +October 22, 1881. + +To General L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General, Washington, D. C. + +Sir: On my arrival at Camp Dick Robinson, I found General +Thomas had stationed a Kentucky regiment at Rock Castle Hill, +beyond a river of the same name, and had sent an Ohio and an +Indiana regiment forward in support. He was embarrassed for +transportation, and I authorized him to hire teams, and to move his +whole force nearer to his advance-guard, so as to support it, as he +had information of the approach of Zollicoffer toward London. I +have just heard from him, that he had sent forward General Schoepf +with Colonel Wolford's cavalry, Colonel Steadman's Ohio regiment, +and a battery of artillery, followed on a succeeding day by a +Tennessee brigade. He had still two Kentucky regiments, the +Thirty-eighth Ohio and another battery of artillery, with which he +was to follow yesterday. This force, if concentrated, should be +strong enough for the purpose; at all events, it is all he had or I +could give him. + +I explained to you fully, when here, the supposed position of our +adversaries, among which was a force in the valley of Big Sandy, +supposed to be advancing on Paris, Kentucky. General Nelson at +Maysville was instructed to collect all the men he could, and +Colonel Gill's regiment of Ohio Volunteers. Colonel Harris was +already in position at Olympian Springs, and a regiment lay at +Lexington, which I ordered to his support. This leaves the line of +Thomas's operations exposed, but I cannot help it. I explained so +fully to yourself and the Secretary of War the condition of things, +that I can add nothing new until further developments, You know my +views that this great centre of our field is too weak, far too +weak, and I have begged and implored till I dare not say more. + +Buckner still is beyond Green River. He sent a detachment of his +men, variously estimated at from two to four thousand toward +Greensburg. General Ward, with about one thousand men, retreated +to Campbellsburg, where he called to his assistance some +partially-formed regiments to the number of about two thousand. +The enemy did not advance, and General Ward was at last dates at +Campbellsburg. The officers charged with raising regiments must of +necessity be near their homes to collect men, and for this reason +are out of position; but at or near Greensburg and Lebanon, I +desire to assemble as large a force of the Kentucky Volunteers as +possible. This organization is necessarily irregular, but the +necessity is so great that I must have them, and therefore have +issued to them arms and clothing during the process of formation. +This has facilitated their enlistment; but inasmuch as the +Legislature has provided money for organizing the Kentucky +Volunteers, and intrusted its disbursement to a board of loyal +gentlemen, I have endeavored to cooperate with them to hasten the +formation of these corps. + +The great difficulty is, and has been, that as volunteers offer, we +have not arms and clothing to give them. The arms sent us are, as +you already know, European muskets of uncouth pattern, which the +volunteers will not touch. + +General McCook has now three brigades--Johnson's, Wood's, and +Rousseau's. Negley's brigade arrived to-day, and will be sent out +at once. The Minnesota regiment has also arrived, and will be sent +forward. Hazzard's regiment of Indiana troops I have ordered to +the month of Salt Creek, an important point on the turnpike-road +leading to Elizabethtown. + +I again repeat that our force here is out of all proportion to the +importance of the position. Our defeat would be disastrous to the +nation; and to expect of new men, who never bore arms, to do +miracles, is not right. + +I am, with much respect, yours truly, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General commanding. + + +About this time my attention was drawn to the publication in all +the Eastern papers, which of course was copied at the West, of the +report that I was "crazy, insane, and mad," that "I had demanded +two hundred thousand men for the defense of Kentucky;" and the +authority given for this report was stated to be the Secretary of +War himself, Mr. Cameron, who never, to my knowledge, took pains to +affirm or deny it. My position was therefore simply unbearable, +and it is probable I resented the cruel insult with language of +intense feeling. Still I received no orders, no reenforcements, +not a word of encouragement or relief. About November 1st, General +McClellan was appointed commander-in-chief of all the armies in the +field, and by telegraph called for a report from me. It is +herewith given: + + +HEADQUARTERS THE DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Louisville, +Kentucky, November 4, 1861 + +General L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General, Washington, D. C. + +Sir: In compliance with the telegraphic orders of General +McClellan, received late last night, I submit this report of the +forces in Kentucky, and of their condition. + +The tabular statement shows the position of the several regiments. +The camp at Nolin is at the present extremity of the Nashville +Railroad. This force was thrown forward to meet the advance of +Buckner's army, which then fell back to Green River, twenty-three +miles beyond. These regiments were substantially without means of +transportation, other than the railroad, which is guarded at all +dangerous points, yet is liable to interruption at any moment, by +the tearing up of a rail by the disaffected inhabitants or a hired +enemy. These regiments are composed of good materials, but devoid +of company officers of experience, and have been put under thorough +drill since being in camp. They are generally well clad, and +provided for. Beyond Green River, the enemy has masked his forces, +and it is very difficult to ascertain even the approximate numbers. +No pains have been spared to ascertain them, but without success, +and it is well known that they far outnumber us. Depending, +however, on the railroads to their rear for transportation, they +have not thus far advanced this side of Green River, except in +marauding parties. This is the proper line of advance, but will +require a very large force, certainly fifty thousand men, as their +railroad facilities south enable them to concentrate at +Munfordsville the entire strength of the South. General McCook's +command is divided into four brigades, under Generals Wood, R. W. +Johnson, Rousseau, and Negley. + +General Thomas's line of operations is from Lexington, toward +Cumberland Gap and Ford, which are occupied by a force of rebel +Tennesseeans, under the command of Zollicoffer. Thomas occupies +the position at London, in front of two roads which lead to the +fertile part of Kentucky, the one by Richmond, and the other by +Crab Orchard, with his reserve at Camp Dick Robinson, eight miles +south of the Kentucky River. His provisions and stores go by +railroad from Cincinnati to Nicholasville, and thence in wagons to +his several regiments. He is forced to hire transportation. + +Brigadier-General Nelson is operating by the line from Olympian +Springs, east of Paris, on the Covington & Lexington Railroad, +toward Prestonburg, in the valley of the Big Sandy where is +assembled a force of from twenty-five to thirty-five hundred rebel +Kentuckians waiting reenforcements from Virginia. My last report +from him was to October 28th, at which time he had Colonel Harris's +Ohio Second, nine hundred strong; Colonel Norton's Twenty-first +Ohio, one thousand; and Colonel Sill's Thirty-third Ohio, seven +hundred and fifty strong; with two irregular Kentucky regiments, +Colonels Marshall and Metcalf. These troops were on the road near +Hazel Green and West Liberty, advancing toward Prestonburg. + +Upon an inspection of the map, you will observe these are all +divergent lines, but rendered necessary, from the fact that our +enemies choose them as places of refuge from pursuit, where they +can receive assistance from neighboring States. Our lines are all +too weak, probably with the exception of that to Prestonburg. To +strengthen these, I am thrown on the raw levies of Ohio and +Indiana, who arrive in detachments, perfectly fresh from the +country, and loaded down with baggage, also upon the Kentuckians, +who are slowly forming regiments all over the State, at points +remote from danger, and whom it will be almost impossible to +assemble together. The organization of this latter force is, by +the laws of Kentucky, under the control of a military board of +citizens, at the capital, Frankfort, and they think they will be +enabled to have fifteen regiments toward the middle of this month, +but I doubt it, and deem it unsafe to rely on them: There are four +regiments forming in the neighborhood of Owensboro, near the mouth +of Green River, who are doing good service, also in the +neighborhood of Campbellsville, but it is unsafe to rely on troops +so suddenly armed and equipped. They are not yet clothed or +uniformed. I know well you will think our force too widely +distributed, but we are forced to it by the attitude of our +enemies, whose force and numbers the country never has and probably +never will comprehend. + +I am told that my estimate of troops needed for this line, viz., +two hundred thousand, has been construed to my prejudice, and +therefore leave it for the future. This is the great centre on +which our enemies can concentrate whatever force is not employed +elsewhere. Detailed statement of present force inclosed with this. + +With great respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General commanding. + + +BRIGADIER-GENERAL McCOOK'S CAMP, AT NOLIN, FIFTY-TWO MILES FROM +LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, NOVEMBER 4, 1861. + +First Brigade (General ROUSSEAU).-Third Kentucky, Colonel Bulkley; +Fourth Kentucky, Colonel Whittaker; First Cavalry, Colonel Board; +Stone's battery; two companies Nineteenth United States Infantry, +and two companies Fifteenth United States Infantry, Captain Gilman. + +Second Brigade (General T. J. WOOD).-Thirty-eighth Indiana, Colonel +Scribner; Thirty-ninth Indiana, Colonel Harrison; Thirtieth +Indiana, Colonel Bass; Twenty-ninth Indiana, Colonel Miller. + +Third Brigade (General JOHNSON).-Forty-ninth Ohio, Colonel Gibson; +Fifteenth Ohio, Colonel Dickey; Thirty-fourth Illinois, Colonel +King; Thirty-second Indiana, Colonel Willach. + +Fourth Brigade (General NEGLEY).-Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania, +Colonel Hambright; Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania, Colonel Sinnell; +Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania, Colonel Stambaugh; Battery, Captain +Mueller. + +Camp Dick Robinson (General G. H. THOMAS).---Kentucky, Colonel +Bramlette;--Kentucky, Colonel Fry;--Kentucky Cavalry, Colonel +Woolford; Fourteenth Ohio, Colonel Steadman; First Artillery, +Colonel Barnett; Third Ohio, Colonel Carter;--East Tennessee, +Colonel Byrd. + +Bardstown, Kentucky.-Tenth Indiana, Colonel Manson. + +Crab Orchard.-Thirty-third Indiana, Colonel Coburn. + +Jeffersonville, Indiana.-Thirty-fourth Indiana, Colonel Steele; +Thirty-sixth Indiana, Colonel Gross; First Wisconsin, Colonel +Starkweather. + +Mouth of Salt River.-Ninth Michigan, Colonel Duffield; +Thirty-seventh Indiana, Colonel Hazzard. + +Lebanon Junction..-Second Minnesota, Colonel Van Cleve. + +Olympian Springs.-Second Ohio, Colonel Harris. + +Cynthiana, Kentucky.-Thirty-fifth Ohio, Colonel Vandever. + +Nicholasville, Kentucky.-Twenty-first Ohio, Colonel Norton; +Thirty-eighth Ohio, Colonel Bradley. + +Big Hill.-Seventeenth Ohio, Colonel Connell. + +Colesburg.-Twenty-fourth Illinois, Colonel Hecker. + +Elizabethtown, Kentucky.-Nineteenth Illinois, Colonel Turchin. + +Owensboro' or Henderson.-Thirty-first Indiana, Colonel Cruft; +Colonel Edwards, forming Rock Castle; Colonel Boyle, Harrodsburg; +Colonel Barney, Irvine; Colonel Hazzard, Burksville; Colonel +Haskins, Somerset. + +And, in order to conclude this subject, I also add copies of two +telegraphic dispatches, sent for General McClellan's use about the +same time, which are all the official letters received at his +headquarters, as certified by the Adjutant-General, L. Thomas, in a +letter of February 1, 1862; in answer to an application of my +brother, Senator John Sherman, and on which I was adjudged insane: + + +Louisville, November 3, 10 p.m. + +To General McLELLAN, Washington, D. C.: + +Dispatch just received. We are forced to operate on three lines, +all dependent on railroads of doubtful safety, requiring strong +guards. From Paris to Prestonbnrg, three Ohio regiments and some +militia--enemy variously reported from thirty-five hundred to seven +thousand. From Lexington toward Cumberland Gap, Brigadier-General +Thomas, one Indiana and five Ohio regiments, two Kentucky and two +Tennessee; hired wagons and badly clad. Zollicoffer, at Cumberland +Ford, about seven thousand. Lee reported on the way with Virginia +reenforcements. In front of Louisville, fifty-two miles, McCook, +with four brigades of about thirteen thousand, with four regiments +to guard the railroad, at all times in danger. Enemy along the +railroad from Green River to Bowling Green, Nashville, and +Clarksville. Buckner, Hardee, Sidney Johnston, Folk, and Pillow, +the two former in immediate command, the force as large as they +want or can subsist, from twenty-five to thirty thousand. Bowling +Green strongly fortified. Our forces too small to do good, and too +large to sacrifice. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS THE DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Louisville, +Kentucky, November 6, 1861 + +General L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General. + +Sir: General McClellan telegraphs me to report to him daily the +situation of affairs here. The country is so large that it is +impossible to give clear and definite views. Our enemies have a +terrible advantage in the fact that in our midst, in our camps, and +along our avenues of travel, they have active partisans, farmers +and business-men, who seemingly pursue their usual calling, but are +in fact spies. They report all our movements and strength, while +we can procure information only by circuitous and unreliable means. +I inclose you the copy of an intercepted letter, which is but the +type of others. Many men from every part of the State are now +enrolled under Buckner--have gone to him--while ours have to be +raised in neighborhoods, and cannot be called together except at +long notice. These volunteers are being organized under the laws +of the State, and the 10th of November is fixed for the time of +consolidating them into companies and regiments. Many of them are +armed by the United States as home guards, and many by General +Anderson and myself, because of the necessity of being armed to +guard their camps against internal enemies. Should we be +overwhelmed, they would scatter, and their arms and clothing will +go to the enemy, furnishing the very material they so much need. +We should have here a very large force, sufficient to give +confidence to the Union men of the ability to do what should be +done--possess ourselves of all the State. But all see and feel we +are brought to a stand-still, and this produces doubt and alarm. +With our present force it would be simple madness to cross Green +River, and yet hesitation may be as fatal. In like manner the +other columns are in peril, not so much in front as rear, the +railroads over which our stores must pass being much exposed. I +have the Nashville Railroad guarded by three regiments, yet it is +far from being safe; and, the moment actual hostilities commence, +these roads will be interrupted, and we will be in a dilemma. To +meet this in part I have put a cargo of provisions at the mouth of +Salt River, guarded by two regiments. All these detachments weaken +the main force, and endanger the whole. Do not conclude, as +before, that I exaggerate the facts. They are as stated, and the +future looks as dark as possible. It would be better if some man +of sanguine mind were here, for I am forced to order according to +my convictions. + +Yours truly, +W. T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General commanding. + + +After the war was over, General Thomas J. Wood, then in command of +the district of Vicksburg, prepared a statement addressed to the +public, describing the interview with the Secretary of War, which +he calls a "Council of War." I did not then deem it necessary to +renew a matter which had been swept into oblivion by the war +itself; but, as it is evidence by an eyewitness, it is worthy of +insertion here. + + +STATEMENT. + +On the 11th of October, 1861, the writer, who had been personally +on mustering duty in Indiana, was appointed a brigadier-general of +volunteers, and ordered to report to General Sherman, then in +command of the Department of the Cumberland, with his headquarters +at Louisville, having succeeded General Robert Anderson. When the +writer was about leaving Indianapolis to proceed to Louisville, Mr. +Cameron, returning from his famous visit of inspection to General +Fremont's department, at St. Louis, Missouri, arrived at +Indianapolis, and announced his intention to visit General Sherman. + +The writer was invited to accompany the party to Louisville. +Taking the early morning train from Indianapolis to Louisville on +the 16th of October, 1861, the party arrived in Jeffersonville +shortly after mid-day. General Sherman met the party in +Jeffersonville, and accompanied it to the Galt House, in +Louisville, the hotel at which he was stopping. + +During the afternoon General Sherman informed the writer that a +council of war was to be held immediately in his private room in +the hotel, and desired him to be present at the council. General +Sherman and the writer proceeded directly to the room. The writer +entered the room first, and observed in it Mr. Cameron, Adjutant- +General L. Thomas, and some other persons, all of whose names he +did not know, but whom he recognized as being of Mr. Cameron's +party. The name of one of the party the writer had learned, which +he remembers as Wilkinson, or Wilkerson, and who he understood was +a writer for the New York Tribune newspaper. The Hon. James +Guthrie was also in the room, having been invited, on account of +his eminent position as a citizen of Kentucky, his high civic +reputation, and his well-known devotion to the Union, to meet the +Secretary of War in the council. When General Sherman entered the +room he closed the door, and turned the key in the lock. + +Before entering on the business of the meeting, General Sherman +remarked substantially: "Mr. Cameron, we have met here to discuss +matters and interchange views which should be known only by persons +high in the confidence of the Government. There are persons +present whom I do not know, and I desire to know, before opening +the business of the council, whether they are persons who may be +properly allowed to hear the views which I have to submit to you." +Mr. Cameron replied, with some little testiness of manner, that the +persons referred to belonged to his party, and there was no +objection to their knowing whatever might be communicated to him. + +Certainly the legitimate and natural conclusion from this remark of +Mr. Cameron's was that whatever views might be submitted by General +Sherman would be considered under the protection of the seal of +secrecy, and would not be divulged to the public till all +apprehension of injurious consequences from such disclosure had +passed. And it may be remarked, further, that justice to General +Sherman required that if, at any future time, his conclusions as to +the amount of force necessary to conduct the operations committed +to his charge should be made public, the grounds on which his +conclusions were based should be made public at the same time. + +Mr. Cameron then asked General Sherman what his plans were. To +this General Sherman replied that he had no plans; that no +sufficient force had been placed at his disposition with which to +devise any plan of operations; that, before a commanding general +could project a plan of campaign, he must know what amount of force +he would have to operate with. + +The general added that he had views which he would be happy to +submit for the consideration of the Secretary. Mr. Cameron desired +to hear General Sherman's views. + +General Sherman began by giving his opinion of the people of +Kentucky, and the then condition of the State. He remarked that he +believed a very large majority of the people of Kentucky were +thoroughly devoted to the Union, and loyal to the Government, and +that the Unionists embraced almost all the older and more +substantial men in the State; but, unfortunately, there was no +organization nor arms among the Union men; that the rebel minority, +thoroughly vindictive in its sentiments, was organized and armed +(this having been done in advance by their leaders), and, beyond +the reach of the Federal forces, overawed and prevented the Union +men from organizing; that, in his opinion, if Federal protection +were extended throughout the State to the Union men, a large force +could be raised for the service of the Government. + +General Sherman next presented a resume of the information in his +possession as to the number of the rebel troops in Kentucky. +Commencing with the force at Columbus, Kentucky, the reports +varied, giving the strength from ten to twenty thousand. It was +commanded by Lieutenant-General Polk. General Sherman fixed it at +the lowest estimate; say, ten thousand. The force at Bowling +Green, commanded by General. A. S. Johnston, supported by Hardee, +Buckner, and others, was variously estimated at from eighteen to +thirty thousand. General Sherman estimated this force at the +lowest figures given to it by his information--eighteen thousand. + +He explained that, for purposes of defense, these two forces ought, +owing to the facility with which troops might be transported from +one to the other, by the net-work of railroads in Middle and West +Tennessee, to be considered almost as one. General Sherman +remarked, also, on the facility with which reinforcements could be +transported by railroad to Bowling Green, from the other rebellions +States. + +The third organized body of rebel troops was in Eastern Kentucky, +under General Zollicoffer, estimated, according to the most +reliable information, at six thousand men. This force threatened a +descent, if unrestrained, on the blue-grass region of Kentucky, +including the cities of Lexington, and Frankfort, the capital of +the State; and if successful in its primary movements, as it would +gather head as it advanced, might endanger the safety of +Cincinnati. + +General Sherman said that the information in his possession +indicated an intention, on the part of the rebels, of a general and +grand advance toward the Ohio River. He further expressed the +opinion that, if such advance should be made, and not checked, the +rebel force would be swollen by at least twenty thousand recruits +from the disloyalists in Kentucky. His low computation of the +organized rebel soldiers then in Kentucky fixed the strength at +about thirty-five thousand. Add twenty thousand for reenforcements +gained in Kentucky, to say nothing of troops drawn from other rebel +States, and the effective rebel force in the State, at a low +estimate, would be fifty-five thousand men. + +General Sherman explained forcibly how largely the difficulties of +suppressing the rebellion would be enhanced, if the rebels should +be allowed to plant themselves firmly, with strong fortifications, +at commanding points on the Ohio River. It would be facile for +them to carry the war thence into the loyal States north of the +river. + +To resist an advance of the rebels, General Sherman stated that he +did not have at that time in Kentucky more than some twelve to +fourteen thousand effective men. The bulk of this force was posted +at camp Nolin, on the Louisville & Nashville Railway, fifty miles +south of Louisville. A part of it was in Eastern Kentucky, under +General George H. Thomas, and a very small force was in the lower +valley of Green River. + +This disposition of the force had been made for the double purpose +of watching and checking the rebels, and protecting the raising and +organization of troops among the Union men of Kentucky. + +Having explained the situation from the defensive point of view, +General Sherman proceeded to consider it from the offensive +stand-point. The Government had undertaken to suppress the +rebellion; the onus faciendi, therefore, rested on the Government. +The rebellion could never be put down, the authority of the +paramount Government asserted, and the union of the States declared +perpetual, by force of arms, by maintaining the defensive; to +accomplish these grand desiderata, it was absolutely necessary the +Government should adopt, and maintain until the rebellion was +crushed, the offensive. + +For the purpose of expelling the rebels from Kentucky, General +Sherman said that at least sixty thousand soldiers were necessary. +Considering that the means of accomplishment must always be +proportioned to the end to be achieved, and bearing in mind the +array of rebel force then in Kentucky, every sensible man must +admit that the estimate of the force given by General Sherman, for +driving the rebels out of the State, and reestablishing and +maintaining the authority of the Government, was a very low one. +The truth is that, before the rebels were driven from Kentucky, +many more than sixty thousand soldiers were sent into the State. + +Ascending from the consideration of the narrow question of the +political and military situation in Kentucky, and the extent of +force necessary to redeem the State from rebel thraldom, +forecasting in his sagacious intellect the grand and daring +operations which, three years afterward, he realized in a campaign, +taken in its entirety, without a parallel in modern times, General +Sherman expressed the opinion that, to carry the war to the Gulf of +Mexico, and destroy all armed opposition to the Goverment, in the +entire Mississippi Valley, at least two hundred thousand troops +were absolutely requisite. + +So soon as General Sherman had concluded the expression of his +views, Mr. Cameron asked, with much warmth and apparent irritation, +"Where do you suppose, General Sherman, all this force is to come +from." General Sherman replied that he did not know; that it was +not his duty to raise, organize, and put the necessary military +force into the field; that duty pertained to the War Department. +His duty was to organize campaigns and command the troops after +they had been put into the field. + +At this point of the proceedings, General Sherman suggested that it +might be agreeable to the Secretary to hear the views of Mr. +Guthrie. Thus appealed to, Mr. Guthrie said he did not consider +himself, being a civilian, competent to give an opinion as to the +extent of force necessary to parry the war to the Gulf of Mexico; +but, being well informed of the condition of things in Kentucky, he +indorsed fully General Sherman's opinion of the force required to +drive the rebels out of the State. + +The foregoing is a circumstantial account of the deliberations of +the council that were of any importance. + +A good deal of desultory conversation followed, on immaterial +matters; and some orders were issued by telegraph, by the Secretary +of War, for some small reenforcements to be sent to Kentucky +immediately, from Pennsylvania and Indiana. + +A short time after the council was held--the exact time is not now +remembered by the writer--an imperfect narrative of it appeared in +the New York Tribune. This account announced to the public the +conclusions uttered by General Sherman in the council, without +giving the reasons on which his conclusions were based. The +unfairness of this course to General Sherman needs no comment. All +military men were shocked by the gross breach of faith which had +been committed + +TH. J. WOOD, Major-General Volunteers + +Vicksburg, Mississippi, August 24, 1886. + + +Brigadier-General Don Carlos Buell arrived at Louisville about the +middle of November, with orders to relieve me, and I was +transferred for duty to the Department of the Missouri, and ordered +to report in person to Major-General H. W. Halleck at St. Louis. I +accompanied General Buell to the camp at Nolin, where he reviewed +and inspected the camp and troops under the command of General A. +McD. McCook, and on our way back General Buell inspected the +regiment of Hazzard at Elizabethtown. I then turned over my +command to him, and took my departure for St. Louis. + +At the time I was so relieved I thought, of course, it was done in +fulfillment of Mr. Lincoln's promise to me, and as a necessary +result of my repeated demand for the fulfillment of that promise; +but I saw and felt, and was of course deeply moved to observe, the +manifest belief that there was more or less of truth in the rumor +that the cares, perplexities, and anxiety of the situation had +unbalanced my judgment and mind. It was, doubtless, an incident +common to all civil wars, to which I could only submit with the +best grace possible, trusting to the future for an opportunity to +redeem my fortune and good name. Of course I could not deny the +fact, and had to submit to all its painful consequences for months; +and, moreover, I could not hide from myself that many of the +officers and soldiers subsequently placed under my command looked +at me askance and with suspicion. Indeed, it was not until the +following April that the battle of Shiloh gave me personally the +chance to redeem my good name. + +On reaching St. Louis and reporting to General Halleck, I was +received kindly, and was shortly afterward (viz., November 23d) +sent up to Sedalia to inspect the camp there, and the troops +located along the road back to Jefferson City, and I was ordered to +assume command in a certain contingency. I found General Steels at +Sedalia with his regiments scattered about loosely; and General +Pope at Otterville, twenty miles back, with no concert between +them. The rebel general, Sterling Price, had his forces down about +Osceola and Warsaw. I advised General Halleck to collect the whole +of his men into one camp on the La Mine River, near Georgetown, to +put them into brigades and divisions, so as to be ready to be +handled, and I gave some preliminary orders looking to that end. +But the newspapers kept harping on my insanity and paralyzed my +efforts. In spite of myself, they tortured from me some words and +acts of imprudence. General Halleck telegraphed me on November +26th: "Unless telegraph-lines are interrupted, make no movement +of troops without orders;" and on November 29th: "No forward +movement of troops on Osceola will be made; only strong +reconnoitring-parties will be sent out in the supposed direction of +the enemy; the bulk of the troops being held in position till more +reliable information is obtained." + +About the same time I received the following dispatch: + +HEADQUARTERS, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI +November 28, 1881. +Brigadier-General SHERMAN, Sedalia: + +Mrs. Sherman is here. General Halleck is satisfied, from reports +of scouts received here, that no attack on Sedalia is intended. +You will therefore return to this city, and report your +observations on the condition of the troops you have examined. +Please telegraph when you will leave. + +SCHUYLER HAMILTON, Brigadier-General and Aide-de-Camp. + + +I accordingly returned to St. Louis, where I found Mrs. Sherman, +naturally and properly distressed at the continued and reiterated +reports of the newspapers of my insanity, and she had come from +Lancaster to see me. This recall from Sedalia simply swelled the +cry. It was alleged that I was recalled by reason of something +foolish I had done at Sedalia, though in fact I had done absolutely +nothing, except to recommend what was done immediately thereafter +on the advice of Colonel McPherson, on a subsequent inspection. +Seeing and realizing that my efforts were useless, I concluded to +ask for a twenty days' leave of absence, to accompany Mrs. Sherman +to our home in Lancaster, and to allow the storm to blow over +somewhat. It also happened to be mid-winter, when, nothing was +doing; so Mrs. Sherman and I returned to Lancaster, where I was +born, and where I supposed I was better known and appreciated. + +The newspapers kept up their game as though instigated by malice, +and chief among them was the Cincinnati Commercial, whose editor, +Halsted, was generally believed to be an honorable man. P. B. +Ewing, Esq., being in Cincinnati, saw him and asked him why he, who +certainly knew better, would reiterate such a damaging slander. He +answered, quite cavalierly, that it was one of the news-items of +the day, and he had to keep up with the time; but he would be most +happy to publish any correction I might make, as though I could +deny such a malicious piece of scandal affecting myself. On the +12th of November I had occasion to write to General Halleck, and I +have a copy of his letter in answer: + + +ST. Louis, December 18, 1881. +Brigadier-General W. T. SHERMAN, Lancaster, Ohio. + +My DEAR GENERAL: Yours of the 12th was received a day or two ago, +but was mislaid for the moment among private papers, or I should +have answered it sooner. The newspaper attacks are certainly +shameless and scandalous, but I cannot agree with you, that they +have us in their power "to destroy us as they please." I certainly +get my share of abuse, but it will not disturb me. + +Your movement of the troops was not countermanded by me because I +thought it an unwise one in itself, but because I was not then +ready for it. I had better information of Price's movements than +you had, and I had no apprehension of an attack. I intended to +concentrate the forces on that line, but I wished the movement +delayed until I could determine on a better position. + +After receiving Lieutenant-Colonel McPherson's report, I made +precisely the location you had ordered. I was desirous at the time +not to prevent the advance of Price by any movement on our part, +hoping that he would move on Lexington; but finding that he had +determined to remain at Osceola for some time at least, I made the +movement you proposed. As you could not know my plans, you and +others may have misconstrued the reason of my countermanding your +orders.... + +I hope to see you well enough for duty soon. Our organization goes +on slowly, but we will effect it in time. Yours truly, + +H. W. HALLECK. + + +And subsequently, in a letter to Hon. Thomas Ewing, in answer to +some inquiries involving the same general subject, General Halleck +wrote as follows: + +Hon. THOMAS EWING, Lancaster, Ohio. + +DEAR SIR: Your note of the 13th, and one of this date, from Mr. +Sherman, in relation to Brigadier-General Sherman's having being +relieved from command in Sedalia, in November last, are just +received. General Sherman was not put in command at Sedalia; he +was authorized to assume it, and did so for a day or two. He did +not know my plans, and his movement of troops did not accord with +them. I therefore directed him to leave them as they were, and +report here the result of his inspection, for which purpose he had +been ordered there. + +No telegram or dispatch of any kind was sent by me, or by any one +with my knowledge or authority, in relation to it. After his +return here, I gave him a leave of absence of twenty days, for the +benefit of his health. As I was then pressing General McClellan +for more officers, I deemed it necessary to explain why I did so. +I used these words: "I am satisfied that General Sherman's physical +and mental system is so completely broken by labor and care as to +render him, for the present, unfit for duty; perhaps a few weeks' +rest may restore him." This was the only communication I made on +the subject. On no occasion have I ever expressed an opinion that +his mind was affected otherwise than by over-exertion; to have said +so would have done him the greatest injustice. + +After General Sherman returned from his short leave, I found that +his health was nearly restored, and I placed him temporarily in +command of the camp of instruction, numbering over fifteen thousand +men. I then wrote to General McClellan that he would soon be able +to again take the field. I gave General Sherman a copy of my +letter. This is the total of my correspondence on the subject. As +evidence that I have every confidence in General Sherman, I have +placed him in command of Western Kentucky--a command only second in +importance in this department. As soon as divisions and columns +can be organized, I propose to send him into the field where he can +render most efficient service. I have seen newspaper squibs, +charging him with being "crazy," etc. This is the grossest +injustice; I do not, however, consider such attacks worthy of +notice. The best answer is General Sherman's present position, and +the valuable services he is rendering to the country. I have the +fullest confidence in him. + +Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +H. W. HALLECK, Major-General. + + +On returning to St. Louis, on the expiration of my leave of +absence, I found that General Halleck was beginning to move his +troops: one part, under General U. S. Grant, up the Tennessee +River; and another part, under General S. R. Curtis, in the +direction of Springfield, Missouri. General Grant was then at +Paducah, and General Curtis was under orders for Rolls. I was +ordered to take Curtis's place in command of the camp of +instruction, at Benton Barracks, on the ground back of North St. +Louis, now used as the Fair Grounds, by the following order: + + +[Special Order No. 87]. + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI +St. Louis, December 23, 1861 + +[EXTRACT.] + +Brigadier-General W. T. Sherman, United States Volunteers, is +hereby assigned to the command of the camp of instruction and post +of Benton Barracks. He will have every armed regiment and company +in his command ready for service at a moment's warning, and will +notify all concerned that, when marching orders are received, it is +expected that they will be instantly obeyed; no excuses for delay +will be admitted. General Sherman will immediately report to these +headquarters what regiments and companies, at Benton Barracks, are +ready for the field. + +By order of Major-General Halleck, + +J. C. KELTEN, Assistant Adjutant-General. + + +I immediately assumed command, and found, in the building +constructed for the commanding officer, Brigadier-General Strong, +and the family of a captain of Iowa cavalry, with whom we boarded. +Major Curtis, son of General Curtis, was the adjutant-general, but +was soon relieved by Captain J. H. Hammond, who was appointed +assistant adjutant-general, and assigned to duty with me. + +Brigadier-General Hurlbut was also there, and about a dozen +regiments of infantry and cavalry. I at once gave all matters +pertaining to the post my personal attention, got the regiments in +as good order as possible, kept up communication with General +Halleck's headquarters by telegraph, and, when orders came for the +movement of any regiment or detachment, it moved instantly. The +winter was very wet, and the ground badly drained. The quarters +had been erected by General Fremont, under contract; they were mere +shells, but well arranged for a camp, embracing the Fair Grounds, +and some forty acres of flat ground west of it. I instituted +drills, and was specially ordered by General Halleck to watch +Generals Hurlbut and Strong, and report as to their fitness for +their commissions as brigadier-generals. I had known Hurlbut as a +young lawyer, in Charleston, South Carolina, before the Mexican +War, at which time he took a special interest in military matters, +and I found him far above the average in the knowledge of +regimental and brigade drill, and so reported. General Strong had +been a merchant, and he told me that he never professed to be a +soldier, but had been urged on the Secretary of War for the +commission of a brigadier-general, with the expectation of be +coming quartermaster or commissary-general. He was a good, +kind-hearted gentleman, boiling over with patriotism and zeal. I +advised him what to read and study, was considerably amused at his +receiving instruction from a young lieutenant who knew the company +and battalion drill, and could hear him practise in his room the +words of command, and tone of voice, "Break from the right, to +march to the left!" "Battalion, halt!" "Forward into line!" etc. +Of course I made a favorable report in his case. Among the +infantry and cavalry colonels were some who afterward rose to +distinction--David Stuart, Gordon Granger, Bussey, etc., etc. + +Though it was mid-winter, General Halleck was pushing his +preparations most vigorously, and surely he brought order out of +chaos in St. Louis with commendable energy. I remember, one night, +sitting in his room, on the second floor of the Planters' House, +with him and General Cullum, his chief of staff, talking +of things generally, and the subject then was of the much-talked-of +"advance," as soon as the season would permit. Most people urged +the movement down the Mississippi River; but Generals Polk and +Pillow had a large rebel force, with heavy guns in a very strong +position, at Columbus, Kentucky, about eighteen miles below Cairo. +Commodore Foote had his gunboat fleet at Cairo; and General U. S. +Grant, who commanded the district, was collecting a large force at +Paducah, Cairo, and Bird's Point. General Halleck had a map on his +table, with a large pencil in his hand, and asked, "where is the +rebel line?" Cullum drew the pencil through Bowling Green, Forts +Donelson and Henry, and Columbus, Kentucky. "That is their line," +said Halleck. "Now, where is the proper place to break it?" And +either Cullum or I said, "Naturally the centre." Halleck drew a +line perpendicular to the other, near its middle, and it coincided +nearly with the general course of the Tennessee River; and he said, +"That's the true line of operations." This occurred more than a +month before General Grant began the movement, and, as he was +subject to General Halleck's orders, I have always given Halleck +the full credit for that movement, which was skillful, successful, +and extremely rich in military results; indeed, it was the first +real success on our side in the civil war. The movement up the +Tennessee began about the 1st of February, and Fort Henry was +captured by the joint action of the navy under Commodore Foote, and +the land forces under General Grant, on the 6th of February, 1862. +About the same time, General S. R. Curtis had moved forward from +Rolls, and, on the 8th of March, defeated the rebels under +McCulloch, Van Dom, and Price, at Pea Ridge. + +As soon as Fort Henry fell, General Grant marched straight across +to Fort Donelson, on the Cumberland River, invested the place, and, +as soon as the gunboats had come round from the Tennessee, and had +bombarded the water-front, he assaulted; whereupon Buckner +surrendered the garrison of twelve thousand men; Pillow and +ex-Secretary of War General Floyd having personally escaped across +the river at night, occasioning a good deal of fun and criticism at +their expense. + +Before the fall of Donelson, but after that of Henry, I received, +at Benton Barracks, the following orders: + +HEADQUARTERS THE DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI +St. Louis, February,13, 1862 + +Brigadier-General SHERMAN, Benton Barracks: + +You will immediately repair to Paducah, Kentucky, and assume +command of that post. Brigadier-General Hurlbut will accompany +you. The command of Benton Barracks will be turned over to General +Strong. + +H. W. HALECK, Major-General. + + +I started for Paducah the same day, and think that General Cullum +went with me to Cairo; General Halleck's purpose being to push +forward the operations up the Tennessee River with unusual vigor. +On reaching Paducah, I found this dispatch: + +HEADQUARTERS THE DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI +St. Louis, February 15, 1862 + +Brigadier-General SHERMAN, Paducah, Kentucky: + +Send General Grant every thing you can spare from Paducah and Smith +and also General Hurlbut. + +Bowling Green has been evacuated entirely. + +H. W. HALLECK, Major-General. + + +The next day brought us news of the surrender of Buckner, and +probably at no time during the war did we all feel so heavy a +weight raised from our breasts, or so thankful for a most fruitful +series of victories. They at once gave Generals Halleck, Grant, +and C. F. Smith, great fame. Of course, the rebels let go their +whole line, and fell back on Nashville and Island No. Ten, and to +the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. Everybody was anxious to help. +Boats passed up and down constantly, and very soon arrived the +rebel prisoners from Donelson. I saw General Buckner on the boat, +he seemed self-sufficient, and thought their loss was not really so +serious to their cause as we did. + +About this time another force of twenty or twenty-five thousand men +was collected on the west bank of the Mississippi, above Cairo, +under the command of Major-General John Pope, designed to become +the "Army of the Mississippi," and to operate, in conjunction with +the navy, down the river against the enemy's left flank, which had +held the strong post of Columbus, Kentucky, but which, on the fall +of Fort Donelson, had fallen back to New Madrid and Island No. 10. + + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +BATTLE of SHILOH. + +MARCH AND APRIL, 1862. + + +By the end of February, 1862, Major-General Halleck commanded all +the armies in the valley of the Mississippi, from his headquarters +in St: Louis. These were, the Army of the Ohio, Major-General +Buell, in Kentucky; the Army of the Tennessee, Major-General Grant, +at Forts Henry and Donelson; the Army of the Mississippi, +Major-General Pope; and that of General S. R. Curtis, in Southwest +Missouri. He posted his chief of staff, General Cullum, at Cairo, +and me at Paducah, chiefly to expedite and facilitate the important +operations then in progress up the Tennessee, and Cumberland +Rivers. + +Fort Donelson had surrendered to General Grant on the 16th of +February, and there must have been a good deal of confusion +resulting from the necessary care of the wounded, and disposition +of prisoners, common to all such occasions, and there was a real +difficulty in communicating between St. Louis and Fort Donelson. + +General Buell had also followed up the rebel army, which had +retreated hastily from Bowling Green to and through Nashville, a +city of so much importance to the South, that it was at one time +proposed as its capital. Both Generals Grant and Buell looked to +its capture as an event of great importance. On the 21st General +Grant sent General Smith with his division to Clarksville, fifty +miles above Donelson, toward Nashville, and on the 27th went +himself to Nashville to meet and confer with General Buell, but +returned to Donelson the next day. + +Meantime, General Halleck at St. Louis must have felt that his +armies were getting away from him, and began to send dispatches to +me at Paducah, to be forwarded by boat, or by a rickety +telegraph-line up to Fort Henry, which lay entirely in a hostile +country, and was consequently always out of repair. On the 1st of +March I received the following dispatch, and forwarded it to +General Grant, both by the telegraph and boat: + +To General GRANT, Fort Henry + +Transports will be sent you as soon as possible, to move your +column up the Tennessee River. The main object of this expedition +will be to destroy the railroad-bridge over Bear Creek, near +Eastport, Mississippi; and also the railroad connections at +Corinth, Jackson, and Humboldt. It is thought best that these +objects be attempted in the order named. Strong detachments of +cavalry and light artillery, supported by infantry, may by rapid +movements reach these points from the river, without any serious +opposition. + +Avoid any general engagements with strong forces. It will be +better to retreat than to risk a general battle. This should be +strongly impressed on the officers sent with expeditions from the +river. General C. F. Smith or some very discreet officer should be +selected for such commands. Having accomplished these objects, or +such of them as may be practicable, you will return to Danville, +and move on Paris. + +Perhaps the troops sent to Jackson and Humbolt can reach Paris by +land as easily as to return to the transports. This must depend on +the character of the roads and the position of the enemy. All +telegraphic lines which can be reached must be cut. The gunboats +will accompany the transports for their protection. Any loyal +Tennesseeans who desire it, may be enlisted and supplied with arms. +Competent officers should be left to command Forts Henry and +Donelson in your absence. I have indicated in general terms the +object of this. + +H. W. HALLECK, Major-General. + + +Again on the 2d: + +Cairo, March 1, 1862 + +To General GRANT: + +General Halleck, February 25th, telegraphs me: "General Grant will +send no more forces to Clarksville. General Smith's division will +come to Fort Henry, or a point higher up on the Tennessee River; +transports will also be collected at Paducah. Two gunboats in +Tennessee River with Grant. General Grant will immediately have +small garrisons detailed for Forts Henry and Donelson, and all +other forces made ready for the field" + +From your letter of the 28th, I learn you were at Fort Donelson, +and General Smith at Nashville, from which I infer you could not +have received orders. Halleck's telegram of last night says: "Who +sent Smith's division to Nashville? I ordered it across to the +Tennessee, where they are wanted immediately. Order them back. +Send all spare transports up Tennessee to General Grant." +Evidently the general supposes you to be on the Tennessee. I am +sending all the transports I can find for you, reporting to General +Sherman for orders to go up the Cumberland for you, or, if you +march across to Fort Henry, then to send them up the Tennessee. + +G. W. CULLUM, Brigadier-General. + + +On the 4th came this dispatch: + +To Major-General U. S. GRANT + +You will place Major-General C. F. Smith in command of expedition, +and remain yourself at Fort Henry. Why do you not obey my orders +to report strength and positions of your command? + +H. W. HALLECK, Major-General. + + +Halleck was evidently working himself into a passion, but he was +too far from the seat of war to make due allowance for the actual +state of facts. General Grant had done so much, that General +Halleck should have been patient. Meantime, at Paducah, I was busy +sending boats in every direction--some under the orders of General +Halleck, others of General Cullum; others for General Grant, and +still others for General Buell at Nashville; and at the same time I +was organizing out of the new troops that were arriving at Paducah +a division for myself when allowed to take the field, which I had +been promised by General Halleck. His purpose was evidently to +operate up the Tennessee River, to break up Bear Creek Bridge and +the railroad communications between the Mississippi and Tennessee +Rivers, and no doubt he was provoked that Generals Grant and Smith +had turned aside to Nashville. In the mean time several of the +gunboats, under Captain Phelps, United States Navy, had gone up the +Tennessee as far as Florence, and on their return had reported a +strong Union feeling among the people along the river. On the 10th +of March, having received the necessary orders from General +Halleck, I embarked my division at Paducah. It was composed of +four brigades. The First, commanded by Colonel S. G. Hicks, was +composed of the Fortieth Illinois, Forty-sixth Ohio, and Morton's +Indiana Battery, on the boats Sallie List, Golden Gate, J. B. +Adams, and Lancaster. + +The Second Brigade, Colonel D. Stuart, was composed of the +Fifty-fifth Illinois, Seventy-first Ohio, and Fifty-fourth Ohio; +embarked on the Hannibal, Universe, Hazel Dell, Cheeseman, and +Prairie Rose. + +The Third Brigade, Colonel Hildebrand, was composed of the +Seventy-seventh Ohio, Fifty-seventh Ohio, and Fifty-third Ohio; +embarked on the Poland, Anglo-Saxon, Ohio No. Three, and +Continental. + +The Fourth Brigade, Colonel Buckland, was composed of the +Seventy-second Ohio, Forty-eighth Ohio, and Seventieth Ohio; +embarked on the Empress, Baltic, Shenango, and Marrengo. + +We steamed up to Fort Henry, the river being high and in splendid +order. There I reported in person to General C. F. Smith, and by +him was ordered a few miles above, to the remains of the burned +railroad bridge, to await the rendezvous of the rest of his army. +I had my headquarters on the Continental. + +Among my colonels I had a strange character--Thomas Worthington, +colonel of the Forty-sixth Ohio. He was a graduate of West Point, +of the class of 1827; was, therefore, older than General Halleck, +General Grant, or myself, and claimed to know more of war than all +of us put together. In ascending the river he did not keep his +place in the column, but pushed on and reached Savannah a day +before the rest of my division. When I reached that place, I found +that Worthington had landed his regiment, and was flying about +giving orders, as though he were commander-in-chief. I made him +get back to his boat, and gave him to understand that he must +thereafter keep his place. General C. F. Smith arrived about the +13th of March, with a large fleet of boats, containing Hurlbut's +division, Lew. Wallace's division, and that of himself, then +commanded by Brigadier-General W. H. L. Wallace. + +General Smith sent for me to meet him on his boat, and ordered me +to push on under escort of the two gunboats, Lexington and Tyler, +commanded by Captains Gwin and Shirk, United States Navy. I was to +land at some point below Eastport, and make a break of the Memphis +& Charleston Railroad, between Tuscumbia and Corinth. General +Smith was quite unwell, and was suffering from his leg, which was +swollen and very sore, from a mere abrasion in stepping +into a small boat. This actually mortified, and resulted in his +death about a month after, viz., April 25, 1862. He was +adjutant of the Military Academy during the early part of my +career there, and afterward commandant of cadets. He was a very +handsome and soldierly man, of great experience, and at Donelson +had acted with so much personal bravery that to him many attributed +the success of the assault. + +I immediately steamed up the Tennessee River, following the two +gunboats, and, in passing Pittsburg Landing, was told by Captain +Gwin that, on his former trip up the river, he had found a rebel +regiment of cavalry posted there, and that it was the usual +landing-place for the people about Corinth, distant thirty miles. +I sent word back to General Smith that, if we were detained up the +river, he ought to post some troops at Pittsburg Landing. We went +on up the river cautiously, till we saw Eastport and Chickasaw, +both of which were occupied by rebel batteries and a small rebel +force of infantry. + +We then dropped back quietly to the mouth of Yellow River, a few +miles below, whence led a road to Burnsville, a place on the +Memphis & Charleston road, where were the company's repair-shops. +We at once commenced disembarking the command: first the cavalry, +which started at once for Burnsville, with orders to tear up the +railroad-track, and burn the depots, shops, etc; and I followed +with the infantry and artillery as fast as they were disembarked. +It was raining very hard at the time. Daylight found us about six +miles out, where we met the cavalry returning. They had made +numerous attempts to cross the streams, which had become so swollen +that mere brooks covered the whole bottom; and my aide-de-camp, +Sanger, whom I had dispatched with the cavalry, reported the loss, +by drowning, of several of the men. The rain was pouring in +torrents, and reports from the rear came that the river was rising +very fast, and that, unless we got back to our boats soon, the +bottom would be simply impassable. There was no alternative but to +regain our boats; and even this was so difficult, that we had to +unharness the artillery-horses, and drag the guns under water +through the bayous, to reach the bank of the river. Once more +embarked, I concluded to drop down to Pittsburg Landing, and to +make the attempt from there. During the night of the 14th, we +dropped down to Pittsburg Landing, where I found Hurlbut's division +in boats. Leaving my command there, I steamed down to Savannah, +and reported to General Smith in person, who saw in the flooded +Tennessee the full truth of my report; and he then instructed me to +disembark my own division, and that of General Hurlbut, at +Pittsburg Landing; to take positions well back, and to leave room +for his whole army; telling me that he would soon come up in +person, and move out in force to make the lodgment on the railroad, +contemplated by General Halleck's orders. + +Lieutenant-Colonel McPherson, of General C. F. Smith's, or rather +General Halleck's, staff, returned with me, and on the 16th of +March we disembarked and marched out about ten miles toward +Corinth, to a place called Monterey or Pea Ridge, where the rebels +had a cavalry regiment, which of course decamped on our approach, +but from the people we learned that trains were bringing large +masses of men from every direction into Corinth. McPherson and I +reconnoitred the ground well, and then returned to our boats. On +the 18th, Hurlbut disembarked his division and took post about a +mile and a half out, near where the roads branched, one leading to +Corinth and the other toward Hamburg. On the 19th I disembarked my +division, and took post about three miles back, three of the +brigades covering the roads to Purdy and Corinth, and the other +brigade (Stuart's) temporarily at a place on the Hamburg Road, near +Lick Creek Ford, where the Bark Road came into the Hamburg Road. +Within a few days, Prentiss's division arrived and camped on my +left, and afterward McClernand's and W. H. L. Wallace's divisions, +which formed a line to our rear. Lew Wallace's division remained +on the north side of Snake Creek, on a road leading from Savannah +or Cramp's Landing to Purdy. + +General C. F. Smith remained back at Savannah, in chief command, +and I was only responsible for my own division. I kept pickets +well out on the roads, and made myself familiar with all the ground +inside and outside my lines. My personal staff was composed of +Captain J. H. Hammond, assistant adjutant-general; Surgeons +Hartshorn and L'Hommedieu; Lieutenant Colonels Hascall and +Sanger, inspector-generals; Lieutenants McCoy and John Taylor, +aides-de-camp. We were all conscious that the enemy was collecting +at Corinth, but in what force we could not know, nor did we know +what was going on behind us. On the 17th of March, General U. S. +Grant was restored to the command of all the troops up the +Tennessee River, by reason of General Smith's extreme illness, and +because he had explained to General Halleck satisfactorily his +conduct after Donelson; and he too made his headquarters at +Savannah, but frequently visited our camps. I always acted on the +supposition that we were an invading army; that our purpose was to +move forward in force, make a lodgment on the Memphis & Charleston +road, and thus repeat the grand tactics of Fort Donelson, by +separating the rebels in the interior from those at Memphis and on +the Mississippi River. We did not fortify our camps against an +attack, because we had no orders to do so, and because such a +course would have made our raw men timid. The position was +naturally strong, with Snake Creek on our right, a deep, bold +stream, with a confluent (Owl Creek) to our right front; and Lick +Creek, with a similar confluent, on our left, thus narrowing the +space over which we could be attacked to about a mile and a half or +two miles. + +At a later period of the war, we could have rendered this position +impregnable in one night, but at this time we did not do it, and it +may be it is well we did not. From about the 1st of April we were +conscious that the rebel cavalry in our front was getting bolder +and more saucy; and on Friday, the 4th of April, it dashed down and +carried off one of our picket-guards, composed of an officer and +seven men, posted a couple of miles out on the Corinth road. +Colonel Buckland sent a company to its relief, then followed +himself with a regiment, and, fearing lest he might be worsted, I +called out his whole brigade and followed some four or five miles, +when the cavalry in advance encountered artillery. I then, after +dark, drew back to our lines, and reported the fact by letter to +General Grant, at Savannah; but thus far we had not positively +detected the presence of infantry, for cavalry regiments generally +had a couple of guns along, and I supposed the guns that opened on +the on the evening of Friday, April 4th, belonged to the cavalry +that was hovering along our whole front. + +Saturday passed in our camps without any unusual event, the weather +being wet and mild, and the roads back to the steamboat landing +being heavy with mud; but on Sunday morning, the 6th, early, there +was a good deal of picket-firing, and I got breakfast, rode out +along my lines, and, about four hundred yards to the front of +Appler's regiment, received from some bushes in a ravine to the +left front a volley which killed my orderly, Holliday. About the +same time I saw the rebel lines of battle in front coming down on +us as far as the eye could reach. All my troops were in line of +battle, ready, and the ground was favorable to us. I gave the +necessary orders to the battery (Waterhouse's) attached to +Hildebrand's brigade, and cautioned the men to reserve their fire +till the rebels had crossed the ravine of Owl Creek, and had begun +the ascent; also, sent staff-officers to notify Generals McClernand +and Prentiss of the coming blow. Indeed, McClernand had already +sent three regiments to the support of my left flank, and they were +in position when the onset came. + +In a few minutes the battle of "Shiloh" began with extreme fury, +and lasted two days. Its history has been well given, and it has +been made the subject of a great deal of controversy. Hildebrand's +brigade was soon knocked to pieces, but Buckland's and McDowell's +kept their organization throughout. Stuart's was driven back to +the river, and did not join me in person till the second day of the +battle. I think my several reports of that battle are condensed +and good, made on the spot, when all the names and facts were fresh +in my memory, and are herewith given entire: + +HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION +PITTSBURG LANDING, March 17, 1862 + +Captain Wm. McMICHAEL, Assistant Adjutant-General to General C. F +SMITH, Savannah, Tennessee. + +SIR: Last night I dispatched a party of cavalry, at 6 p.m., under +the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Heath, Fifth Ohio Cavalry, for a +strong reconnoissance, if possible, to be converted into an attack +upon the Memphis road. The command got off punctually, followed at +twelve o'clock at night by the First Brigade of my division, +commanded by Colonel McDowell, the other brigades to follow in +order. + +About one at night the cavalry returned, reporting the road +occupied in force by the enemy, with whose advance-guard they +skirmished, driving them back--about a mile, taking two prisoners, +and having their chief guide, Thomas Maxwell, Esq., and three men +of the Fourth Illinois wounded. + +Inclosed please find the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Heath; also a +copy of his instructions, and the order of march. As soon as the +cavalry returned, I saw that an attempt on the road was frustrated, +and accordingly have placed McDowell's brigade to our right front, +guarding the pass of Snake Creek; Stuart's brigade to the left +front, to watch the pass of Lick Creek; and I shall this morning +move directly out on the Corinth road, about eight miles to or +toward Pea Ridge, which is a key-point to the southwest. + +General Hurlbut's division will be landed to-day, and the artillery +and infantry disposed so as to defend Pittsburg, leaving my +division entire for any movement by land or water. + +As near as I can learn, there are five regiments of rebel infantry +at Purdy; at Corinth, and distributed along the railroad to Inca, +are probably thirty thousand men; but my information from prisoners +is very indistinct. Every road and path is occupied by the enemy's +cavalry, whose orders seem to be to fire a volley, retire, again +fire and retire. The force on the Purdy road attacked and driven +by Major Bowman yesterday, was about sixty strong. That +encountered last night on the Corinth road was about five companies +of Tennessee cavalry, sent from Purdy about 2 p.m. yesterday. + +I hear there is a force of two regiments on Pea Ridge, at the point +where the Purdy and Corinth roads come together. + +I am satisfied we cannot reach the Memphis & Charleston road +without a considerable engagement, which is prohibited by General +Halleck's instructions, so that I will be governed by your orders +of yesterday, to occupy Pittsburg strongly, extend the pickets so +as to include a semicircle of three miles, and push a strong +reconnoissance as far out as Lick Creek and Pea Ridge. + +I will send down a good many boats to-day, to be employed as you +may direct; and would be obliged if you would send a couple of +thousand sacks of corn, as much hay as you can possibly spare, and, +if possible, a barge of coal. + +I will send a steamboat under care of the gunboat, to collect corn +from cribs on the river-bank. + +I have the honor to be your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, +Brigadier-General, commanding First Division. + + +HEADQUARTERS, STEAMBOAT CONTINENTAL, +Pittsburg, March 18, 1882. + +Captain RAWLINS, Assistant Adjutant-General +to General GRANT. + +SIR: The division surgeon having placed some one hundred or more +sick on board the Fanny Bullitt, I have permitted her to take them +to Savannah. There is neither house nor building of any kind that +can be used for a hospital here. + +I hope to receive an order to establish floating hospitals, but in +the mean time, by the advise of the surgeon, allow these sick men +to leave. Let me hope that it will meet your approbation. + +The order for debarkation came while General Sherman was absent +with three brigades, and no men are left to move the effects of +these brigades. + +The landing, too, is small, with scarcely any chance to increase +it; therefore there is a great accumulation of boats. Colonel +McArthur has arrived, and is now cutting a landing for himself. + +General Sherman will return this evening. I am obliged to +transgress, and write myself in the mean time, + +Respectfully your obedient servant, + +J. H. HAMMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General. + +P. S--4 p.m.--Just back; have been half-way to Corinth and to +Purdy. All right. Have just read this letter, and approve all but +floating hospitals; regimental surgeons can take care of all sick, +except chronic cases, which can always be sent down to Paducah. + +Magnificent plain for camping and drilling, and a military point of +great strength. The enemy has felt us twice, at great loss and +demoralization; will report at length this evening; am now much +worn out. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION +Pittsburg Landing, March 19, 1862. + +Captain RAWLINS, Assistant Adjutant-General +to General GRANT, Savannah, Tennessee. + +SIR: I have just returned from an extensive reconnoissance toward +Corinth and Purdy, and am strongly impressed with the importance of +this position, both for its land advantages and its strategic +position. The ground itself admits of easy defense by a small +command, and yet affords admirable camping-ground for a hundred +thousand men. I will as soon as possible make or cause to be made +a topographical sketch of the position. The only drawback is that, +at this stage of water, the space for landing is contracted too +much for the immense fleet now here discharging. + +I will push the loading and unloading of boats, but suggest that +you send at once (Captain Dodd, if possible) the best quartermaster +you can, that he may control and organize this whole matter. I +have a good commissary, and will keep as few provisions afloat as +possible. Yours, etc., + +W. T. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General commanding. + + + +HEADQUARTERS SHERMAN'S DIVISION +Camp Shiloh, near Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, April 2, 1862 + +Captain J. A. RAWLINS, Assistant Adjutant-General +to General GRANT. + +SIR: In obedience to General Grant's instructions of March 31st, +with one section of Captain Muench's Minnesota Battery, two +twelve-pound howitzers, a detachment of Fifth Ohio Cavalry of one +hundred and fifty men, under Major Ricker, and two battalions of +infantry from the Fifty-seventh and Seventy-seventh Ohio, under the +command of Colonels Hildebrand and Mungen, I marched to the river, +and embarked on the steamers Empress and Tecumseh. The gunboat +Cairo did not arrive at Pittsburg, until after midnight, and at 6 +p.m. Captain Bryant, commanding the gunboat, notified me that he +was ready to proceed up the river. I followed, keeping the +transports within about three hundred yards of the gunboat. About +1 p.m., the Cairo commenced shelling the battery above the mouth of +Indian Creek, but elicited no reply. She proceeded up the river +steadily and cautiously, followed close by the Tyler and Lexington, +all throwing shells at the points where, on former visits of the +gunboats, enemy's batteries were found. In this order all +followed, till it was demonstrated that all the enemy's batteries, +including that at Chickasaw, were abandoned. + +I ordered the battalion of infantry under Colonel Hildebrand to +disembark at Eastport, and with the other battalion proceeded to +Chickasaw and landed. The battery at this point had evidently been +abandoned some time, and consisted of the remains of an old Indian +mound, partly washed away by the river, which had been fashioned +into a two-gun battery, with a small magazine. The ground to its +rear had evidently been overflowed during the late freshet, and led +to the removal of the guns to Eastport, where the batteries were on +high, elevated ground, accessible at all seasons from the country +to the rear. + +Upon personal inspection, I attach little importance to Chickasaw +as a military position. The people, who had fled during the +approach of the gunboats, returned to the village, and said the +place had been occupied by one Tennessee regiment and a battery of +artillery from Pensacola. After remaining at Chickasaw some +hours, all the boats dropped back to Eastport, not more than a mile +below, and landed there. Eastport Landing during the late freshet +must have been about twelve feet under water, but at the present +stage the landing is the best I have seen on the Tennessee River. + +The levee is clear of trees or snags, and a hundred boats could +land there without confusion. + +The soil is of sand and gravel, and very firm. The road back is +hard, and at a distance of about four hundred yards from the water +begin the gravel hills of the country. The infantry scouts sent +out by Colonel Hildebrand found the enemy's cavalry mounted, and +watching the Inca road, about two miles back of Eastport. The +distance to Inca is only eight miles, and Inca is the nearest point +and has the best road by which the Charleston & Memphis Railroad +can be reached. I could obtain no certain information as to the +strength of the enemy there, but am satisfied that it would have +been folly to have attempted it with my command. Our object being +to dislodge the enemy from the batteries recently erected near +Eastport, and this being attained, I have returned, and report the +river to be clear to and beyond Chickasaw. + +I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, +Brigadier-General commanding Division. + + + +HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION +CAMP SHILOH, April 5, 1862. + +Captain J. A. RAWLINS, Assistant Adjutant-General, District of +Western Tennessee. + +SIR: I have the honor to report that yesterday, about 3 p.m., the +lieutenant commanding and seven men of the advance pickets +imprudently advanced from their posts and were captured. I ordered +Major Ricker, of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, to proceed rapidly to the +picket-station, ascertain the truth, and act according to +circumstances. He reached the station, found the pickets had been +captured as reported, and that a company of infantry sent by the +brigade commander had gone forward in pursuit of some cavalry. He +rapidly advanced some two miles, and found them engaged, charged +the enemy, and drove them along the Ridge road, till he +met and received three discharges of artillery, when he very +properly wheeled under cover, and returned till he met me. + +As soon as I heard artillery, I advanced with two regiments of +infantry, and took position, and remained until the scattered +companies of infantry and cavalry had returned. This was after +night. + +I infer that the enemy is in some considerable force at Pea Ridge, +that yesterday morning they crossed a brigade of two regiments +of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and one battery of +field-artillery, to the ridge on which the Corinth road lies. They +halted the infantry and artillery at a point abort five miles in my +front, sent a detachment to the lane of General Meeks, on the north +of Owl Creek, and the cavalry down toward our camp. This cavalry +captured a part of our advance pickets, and afterward engaged the +two companies of Colonel Buckland's regiment, as described by him +in his report herewith inclosed. Our cavalry drove them back upon +their artillery and Infantry, killing many, and bringing off ten +prisoners, all of the First Alabama Cavalry, whom I send to you. + +We lost of the pickets one first-lieutenant and seven men of the +Ohio Seventieth Infantry (list inclosed); one major, one +lieutenant, and one private of the Seventy-second Ohio, taken +prisoners; eight privates wounded (names in full, embraced in +report of Colonel Buckland, inclosed herewith). + +We took ten prisoners, and left two rebels wounded and many killed +on the field. + +I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, +Brigadier-General, commanding Division. + + + +HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION +Camp Shiloh, April 10, 1862. + +Captain J. A. RAWLINS, Assistant Adjutant-General +to General GRANT. + +SIR: I had the honor to report that, on Friday the 4th inst., the +enemy's cavalry drove in our pickets, posted about a mile and a +half in advance of my centre, on the main Corinth road, capturing +one first-lieutenant and seven men; that I caused a pursuit by the +cavalry of my division, driving them back about five miles, and +killing many. On Saturday the enemy's cavalry was again very bold, +coming well down to our front; yet I did not believe they designed +any thing but a strong demonstration. On Sunday morning early, the +6th inst., the enemy drove our advance-guard back on the main body, +when I ordered under arms all my division, and sent word to General +McClernand, asking him to support my left; to General Prentiss, +giving him notice that the enemy was in our front in force, and to +General Hurlbut, asking him to support General Prentiss. At that +time--7 a.m.--my division was arranged as follows: + +First Brigade, composed of the Sixth Iowa, Colonel J. A. McDowell; + +Fortieth Illinois, Colonel Hicks; Forty-sixth Ohio, Colonel +Worthington; and the Morton battery, Captain Behr, on the extreme +right, guarding the bridge on the Purdy road over Owl Creek. + +Second Brigade, composed of the Fifty-fifth Illinois, Colonel D. +Stuart; the Fifty-fourth Ohio, Colonel T. Kilby Smith; and the +Seventy-first Ohio, Colonel Mason, on the extreme left, guarding +the ford over Lick Creek. + +Third Brigade, composed of the Seventy-seventh Ohio, Colonel +Hildebrand; the Fifty-third Ohio, Colonel Appler; and the +Fifty-seventh Ohio, Colonel Mungen, on the left of the Corinth +road, its right resting on Shiloh meeting-house. + +Fourth Brigade, composed of the Seventy-second Ohio, Colonel +Buckland; the Forty-eighth Ohio, Colonel Sullivan; and the +Seventieth Ohio, Colonel Cookerill, on the right of the Corinth +road, its left resting on Shiloh meeting-house. + +Two batteries of artillery--Taylor's and Waterhouse's--were posted, +the former at Shiloh, and the latter on a ridge to the left, with a +front-fire over open ground between Mungen's and Appler's +regiments. The cavalry, eight companies of the Fourth Illinois, +under Colonel Dickey, were posted in a large open field to the left +and rear of Shiloh meeting-house, which I regarded as the centre of +my position. + +Shortly after 7 a.m., with my entire staff, I rode along a portion +of our front, and when in the open field before Appler's regiment, +the enemy's pickets opened a brisk fire upon my party, killing my +orderly, Thomas D. Holliday, of Company H, Second Illinois Cavalry. +The fire came from the bushes which line a small stream that rises +in the field in front of Appler's camp, and flows to the north +along my whole front. + +This valley afforded the enemy partial cover; but our men were so +posted as to have a good fire at them as they crossed the valley +and ascended the rising ground on our side. + +About 8 a.m. I saw the glistening bayonets of heavy masses of +infantry to our left front in the woods beyond the small stream +alluded to, and became satisfied for the first time that the enemy +designed a determined attack on our whole camp. + +All the regiments of my division were then in line of battle at +their proper posts. I rode to Colonel Appler, and ordered him to +hold his ground at all hazards, as he held the left flank of our +first line of battle, and I informed him that he had a good battery +on his right, and strong support to his rear. General McClernand +had promptly and energetically responded to my request, and had +sent me three regiments which were posted to protect Waterhouse's +battery and the left flank of my line. + +The battle opened by the enemy's battery, in the woods to our +front, throwing shells into our camp. Taylor's and Waterhouse's +batteries promptly responded, and I then observed heavy battalions +of infantry passing obliquely to the left, across the open field in +Appler's front; also, other columns advancing directly upon my +division. Our infantry and artillery opened along the whole line, +and the battle became general. Other heavy masses of the enemy's +forces kept passing across the field to our left, and directing +their course on General Prentiss. I saw at once that the enemy +designed to pass my left flank, and fall upon Generals McClernand +and Prentiss, whose line of camps was almost parallel with the +Tennessee River, and about two miles back from it. Very soon the +sound of artillery and musketry announced that General Prentiss was +engaged; and about 9 A. M. I judged that he was falling back. +About this time Appler's regiment broke in disorder, followed by +Mungen's regiment, and the enemy pressed forward on Waterhouse's +battery thereby exposed. + +The three Illinois regiments in immediate support of this battery +stood for some time; but the enemy's advance was so vigorous, and +the fire so severe, that when Colonel Raith, of the Forty-third +Illinois, received a severe wound and fell from his horse, his +regiment and the others manifested disorder, and the enemy got +possession of three guns of this (Waterhouse's) battery. Although +our left was thus turned, and the enemy was pressing our whole +line, I deemed Shiloh so important, that I remained by it and +renewed my orders to Colonels McDowell and Buckland to hold their +ground; and we did hold these positions until about 10 a.m., when +the enemy had got his artillery to the rear of our left flank and +some change became absolutely necessary. Two regiments of +Hildebrand's brigade--Appler's and Mungen's--had already +disappeared to the rear, and Hildebrand's own regiment was in +disorder. I therefore gave orders for Taylor's battery--still at +Shiloh--to fall back as far as the Purdy and Hamburg road, and for +McDowell and Buckland to adopt that road as their new line. I rode +across the angle and met Behr's battery at the cross-roads, and +ordered it immediately to come into battery, action right. Captain +Behr gave the order, but he was almost immediately shot from his +horse, when drivers and gunners fled in disorder, carrying off the +caissons, and abandoning five out of six guns, without firing a +shot. The enemy pressed on, gaining this battery, and we were +again forced to choose a new line of defense. Hildebrand's brigade +had substantially disappeared from the field, though he himself +bravely remained. McDowell's and Buckland's brigades maintained +their organizations, and were conducted by my aides, so as to join +on General McClernand's right, thus abandoning my original camps +and line. This was about 10 1/2 a.m., at which time the enemy had +made a furious attack on General McClernand's whole front. He +straggled most determinedly, but, finding him pressed, I moved +McDowell's brigade directly against the left flank of the enemy, +forced him back some distance, and then directed the men to avail +themselves of every cover-trees, fallen timber, and a wooded valley +to our right. We held this position for four long hours, sometimes +gaining and at others losing ground; General McClernand and myself +acting in perfect concert, and struggling to maintain this line. +While we were so hard pressed, two Iowa regiments approached from +the rear, but could not be brought up to the severe fire that was +raging in our front, and General Grant, who visited us on that +ground, will remember our situation about 3 p.m.; but about 4 p.m. +it was evident that Hurlbut's line had been driven back to the +river; and knowing that General Lew Wallace was coming with +reinforcements from Cramp's Landing, General McClernand and I, on +consultation, selected a new line of defense, with its right +covering a bridge by which General Wallace had to approach. We +fell back as well as we could, gathering in addition to our own +such scattered forces as we could find, and formed the new line. + +During this change the enemy's cavalry charged us, but were +handsomely repulsed by the Twenty-ninth Illinois Regiment. The +Fifth Ohio Battery, which had come up, rendered good service in +holding the enemy in check for some time, and Major Taylor also +came up with another battery and got into position, just in time to +get a good flank-fire upon the enemy's column, as he pressed on +General McClernand's right, checking his advance; when General +McClernand's division made a fine charge on the enemy and drove him +back into the ravines to our front and right. I had a clear field, +about two hundred yards wide, in my immediate front, and contented +myself with keeping the enemy's infantry at that distance during +the rest of the day. In this position we rested for the night. + +My command had become decidedly of a mixed character. Buckland's +brigade was the only one that retained its organization. Colonel +Hildebrand was personally there, but his brigade was not. Colonel +McDowell had been severely injured by a fall off his horse, and had +gone to the river, and the three regiments of his brigade were not +in line. The Thirteenth Missouri, Colonel Crafts J. Wright, had +reported to me on the field, and fought well, retaining its +regimental organization; and it formed a part of my line during +Sunday night and all Monday. Other fragments of regiments and +companies had also fallen into my division, and acted with it +during the remainder of the battle. General Grant and Buell +visited me in our bivouac that evening, and from them I learned the +situation of affairs on other parts of the field. General Wallace +arrived from Crump's Landing shortly after dark, and formed his +line to my right rear. It rained hard during the night, but our +men were in good spirits, lay on their arms, being satisfied with +such bread and meat as could be gathered at the neighboring camps, +and determined to redeem on Monday the losses of Sunday. + +At daylight of Monday I received General Grant's orders to advance +and recapture our original camps. I dispatched several members of +my staff to bring up all the men they could find, especially the +brigade of Colonel Stuart, which had been separated from the +division all the day before; and at the appointed time the +division, or rather what remained of it, with the Thirteenth +Missouri and other fragments, moved forward and reoccupied the +ground on the extreme right of General McClernand's camp, where we +attracted the fire of a battery located near Colonel McDowell's +former headquarters. Here I remained, patiently waiting for the +sound of General Buell's advance upon the main Corinth road. About +10 a.m. the heavy firing in that direction, and its steady +approach, satisfied me; and General Wallace being on our right +flank with his well-conducted division, I led the head of my column +to General McClernand's right, formed line of battle, facing south, +with Buckland's brigade directly across the ridge, and Stuart's +brigade on its right in the woods; and thus advanced, steadily and +slowly, under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery. Taylor had +just got to me from the rear, where he had gone for ammunition, and +brought up three guns, which I ordered into position, to advance by +hand firing. These guns belonged to Company A, Chicago Light +Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant P. P. Wood, and did most +excellent service. Under cover of their fire, we advanced till we +reached the point where the Corinth road crosses the line of +McClernand's camp, and here I saw for the first time the +well-ordered and compact columns of General Buell's Kentucky +forces, whose soldierly movements at once gave confidence to our +newer and less disciplined men. Here I saw Willich's regiment +advance upon a point of water-oaks and thicket, behind which I knew +the enemy was in great strength, and enter it in beautiful style. +Then arose the severest musketry-fire I ever heard, and lasted some +twenty minutes, when this splendid regiment had to fall back. This +green point of timber is about five hundred yards east of Shiloh +meeting-home, and it was evident here was to be the struggle. The +enemy could also be seen forming his lines to the south. General +McClernand sending to me for artillery, I detached to him the three +guns of Wood's battery, with which he speedily drove them back, +and, seeing some others to the rear, I sent one of my staff to +bring them forward, when, by almost providential decree, they +proved to be two twenty-four pound howitzers belonging to +McAlister's battery, and served as well as guns ever could be. + +This was about 2 p.m. The enemy had one battery close by Shiloh, +and another near the Hamburg road, both pouring grape and canister +upon any column of troops that advanced upon the green point of +water-oaks. Willich's regiment had been repulsed, but a whole +brigade of McCook's division advanced beautifully, deployed, and +entered this dreaded wood. I ordered my second brigade (then +commanded by Colonel T. Kilby Smith, Colonel Smart being wounded) +to form on its right, and my fourth brigade, Colonel Buckland, on +its right; all to advance abreast with this Kentucky brigade before +mentioned, which I afterward found to be Rousseau's brigade of +McCook's division. I gave personal direction to the twenty-four +pounder guns, whose well-directed fire first silenced the enemy's +guns to the left, and afterward at the Shiloh meeting-house. + + +Rousseau's brigade moved in splendid order steadily to the front, +sweeping every thing before it, and at 4 p.m. we stood upon the +ground of our original front line; and the enemy was in full +retreat. I directed my several brigades to resume at once their +original camps. + +Several times during the battle, cartridges gave out; but General +Grant had thoughtfully kept a supply coming from the rear. When I +appealed to regiments to stand fast, although out of cartridges, I +did so because, to retire a regiment for any cause, has a bad +effect on others. I commend the Fortieth Illinois and Thirteenth +Missouri for thus holding their ground under heavy fire, although +their cartridge-boxes were empty. + +I am ordered by General Grant to give personal credit where I think +it is due, and censure where I think it merited. I concede that +General McCook's splendid division from Kentucky drove back the +enemy along the Corinth road, which was the great centre of this +field of battle, where Beauregard commanded in person, supported by +Bragg's, Polk's, and Breckenridge's divisions. I think Johnston +was killed by exposing himself in front of his troops, at the time +of their attack on Buckland's brigade on Sunday morning; although +in this I may be mistaken. + +My division was made up of regiments perfectly new, nearly all +having received their muskets for the first time at Paducah. None +of them had ever been under fire or beheld heavy columns of an +enemy bearing down on them as they did on last Sunday. + +To expect of them the coolness and steadiness of older troops would +be wrong. They knew not the value of combination and organization. +When individual fears seized them, the first impulse was to get +away. My third brigade did break much too soon, and I am not yet +advised where they were during Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. +Colonel Hildebrand, its commander, was as cool as any man I ever +saw, and no one could have made stronger efforts to hold his men to +their places than he did. He kept his own regiment with individual +exceptions in hand, an hour after Appler's and Mungen's regiments +had left their proper field of action. Colonel Buckland managed +his brigade well. I commend him to your notice as a cool, +intelligent, and judicious gentleman, needing only confidence and +experience, to make a good commander. His subordinates, Colonels +Sullivan and Cockerill, behaved with great gallantry; the former +receiving a severe wound on Sunday, and yet commanding and holding +his regiment well in hand all day, and on Monday, until his right +arm was broken by a shot. Colonel Cookerill held a larger +proportion of his men than any colonel in my division, and was with +me from first to last. + +Colonel J. A. McDowell, commanding the first brigade, held his +ground on Sunday, till I ordered him to fall back, which he did in +line of battle; and when ordered, he conducted the attack on the +enemy's left in good style. In falling back to the next position, +he was thrown from his horse and injured, and his brigade was not +in position on Monday morning. His subordinates, Colonels Hicks +and Worthington, displayed great personal courage. Colonel Hicks +led his regiment in the attack on Sunday, and received a wound, +which it is feared may prove mortal. He is a brave and gallant +gentleman, and deserves well of his country. Lieutenant-Colonel +Walcutt, of the Ohio Forty-sixth, was severely wounded on Sunday, +and has been disabled ever since. My second brigade, Colonel +Stuart, was detached nearly two miles from my headquarters. He had +to fight his own battle on Sunday, against superior numbers, as the +enemy interposed between him and General Prentiss early in the day. +Colonel Stuart was wounded severely, and yet reported for duty on +Monday morning, but was compelled to leave during the day, when the +command devolved on Colonel T. Kilby Smith, who was always in the +thickest of the fight, and led the brigade handsomely. + +I have not yet received Colonel Stuart's report of the operations +of his brigade during the time he was detached, and must therefore +forbear to mention names. Lieutenant-Colonel Kyle, of the +Seventy-first, was mortally wounded on Sunday, but the regiment +itself I did not see, as only a small fragment of it was with the +brigade when it joined the division on Monday morning. Great +credit is due the fragments of men of the disordered regiments who +kept in the advance. I observed and noticed them, but until the +brigadiers and colonels make their reports, I cannot venture to +name individuals, but will in due season notice all who kept in our +front line, as well as those who preferred to keep back near the +steamboat-landing. I will also send a full list of the killed, +wounded, and missing, by name, rank, company, and regiment. At +present I submit the result in figures: + +[Summary of General Sherman's detailed table:] +Killed ........................ 318 +Wounded ....................... 1275 +Missing ....................... 441 +Aggregate loss in the division: 2034 + +The enemy captured seven of our guns on Sunday, but on Monday we +recovered seven; not the identical guns we had lost, but enough in +number to balance the account. At the time of recovering our camps +our men were so fatigued that we could not follow the retreating +masses of the enemy; but on the following day I followed up with +Buckland's and Hildebrand's brigade for six miles, the result of +which I have already reported. + +Of my personal staff, I can only speak with praise and thanks. I +think they smelled as much gunpowder and heard as many cannon-balls +and bullets as must satisfy their ambition. Captain Hammond, my +chief of staff, though in feeble health, was very active in +rallying broken troops, encouraging the steadfast and aiding to +form the lines of defense and attack. I recommend him to your +notice. Major Sanger's intelligence, quick perception, and rapid +execution, were of very great value to me, especially in bringing +into line the batteries that cooperated so efficiently in our +movements. Captains McCoy and Dayton, aides-de-camp, were with me +all the time, carrying orders, and acting with coolness, spirit, +and courage. To Surgeon Hartshorne and Dr. L'Hommedieu hundreds of +wounded men are indebted for the kind and excellent treatment +received on the field of battle and in the various temporary +hospitals created along the line of our operations. They worked +day and night, and did not rest till all the wounded of our own +troops as well as of the enemy were in safe and comfortable +shelter. To Major Taylor, chief of artillery, I feel under deep +obligations, for his good sense and judgment in managing the +batteries, on which so much depended. I inclose his report and +indorse his recommendations. The cavalry of my command kept to the +rear, and took little part in the action; but it would have been +madness to have exposed horses to the musketry-fire under which we +were compelled to remain from Sunday at 8 a.m. till Monday at +4 p.m. Captain Kossack, of the engineers, was with me all the time, +and was of great assistance. I inclose his sketch of the +battlefield, which is the best I have seen, and which will enable +you to see the various positions occupied by my division, as well as +of the others that participated in the battle. I will also send in, +during the day, the detailed reports of my brigadiers and colonels, +and will indorse them with such remarks as I deem proper. + +I am, with much respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, +Brigadier-General commanding Fifth Division. + + + +HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION +Tuesday, April 8,1862 + +Sir: With the cavalry placed at my command and two brigades of my +fatigued troops, I went this morning out on the Corinth road. One +after another of the abandoned camps of the enemy lined the roads, +with hospital flags for their protection; at all we found more or +less wounded and dead men. At the forks of the road I found the +head of General T. J. Wood's division of Buell's Army. I ordered +cavalry to examine both roads leading toward Corinth, and found the +enemy on both. Colonel Dickey, of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, +asking for reenforcements, I ordered General Wood to advance the +head of his column cautiously on the left-hand road, while I +conducted the head of the third brigade of my division up the +right-hand road. About half a mile from the forks was a clear +field, through which the road passed, and, immediately beyond, a +space of some two hundred yards of fallen timber, and beyond that +an extensive rebel camp. The enemy's cavalry could be seen in this +camp; after reconnoisance, I ordered the two advance companies of +the Ohio Seventy-seventh, Colonel Hildebrand, to deploy forward as +skirmishers, and the regiment itself forward into line, with an +interval of one hundred yards. In this order we advanced +cautiously until the skirmishers were engaged. Taking it for +granted this disposition would clear the camp, I held Colonel +Dickey's Fourth Illinois Cavalry ready for the charge. The enemy's +cavalry came down boldly at a charge, led by General Forrest in +person, breaking through our line of skirmishers; when the regiment +of infantry, without cause, broke, threw away their muskets, and +fled. The ground was admirably adapted for a defense of infantry +against cavalry, being miry and covered with fallen timber. + +As the regiment of infantry broke, Dickey's Cavalry began to +discharge their carbines, and fell into disorder. I instantly sent +orders to the rear for the brigade to form line of battle, which +was promptly executed. The broken infantry and cavalry rallied on +this line, and, as the enemy's cavalry came to it, our cavalry in +turn charged and drove them from the field. I advanced the entire +brigade over the same ground and sent Colonel Dickey's cavalry a +mile farther on the road. On examining the ground which had been +occupied by the Seventy-seventh Ohio, we found fifteen of our men +dead and about twenty-five wounded. I sent for wagons and had all +the wounded carried back to camp, and caused the dead to be buried, +also the whole rebel camp to be destroyed. + +Here we found much ammunition for field-pieces, which was +destroyed; also two caissons, and a general hospital, with about +two hundred and eighty Confederate wounded, and about fifty of our +own wounded men. Not having the means of bringing them off, +Colonel Dickey, by my orders, took a surrender, signed by the +medical director (Lyle) and by all the attending surgeons, and a +pledge to report themselves to you as prisoners of war; also a +pledge that our wounded should be carefully attended to, and +surrendered to us to-morrow as soon as ambulances could go out. I +inclose this written document, and request that you cause wagons or +ambulances for our wounded to be sent to-morrow, and that wagons' +be sent to bring in the many tents belonging to us which are +pitched along the road for four miles out. I did not destroy them, +because I knew the enemy could not move them. The roads are very +bad, and are strewed with abandoned wagons, ambulances, and +limber-boxes. The enemy has succeeded in carrying off the guns, +but has crippled his batteries by abandoning the hind limber-boxes +of at least twenty caissons. I am satisfied the enemy's infantry +and artillery passed Lick Creek this morning, traveling all of last +night, and that he left to his rear all his cavalry, which has +protected his retreat; but signs of confusion and disorder mark the +whole road. The check sustained by us at the fallen timber delayed +our advance, so that night came upon us before the wounded were +provided for and the dead buried, and our troops being fagged out +by three days' hard fighting, exposure, and privation, I ordered +them back to their camps, where they now are. + +I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, + +W.T. SHERMAN +Brigadier-General commanding Division. + + +General Grant did not make an official report of the battle of +Shiloh, but all its incidents and events were covered by the +reports of division commanders and Subordinates. Probably no +single battle of the war gave rise to such wild and damaging +reports. It was publicly asserted at the North that our army was +taken completely by surprise; that the rebels caught us in our +tents; bayoneted the men in their beds; that General Grant was +drunk; that Buell's opportune arrival saved the Army of the +Tennessee from utter annihilation, etc. These reports were in a +measure sustained by the published opinions of Generals Buell, +Nelson, and others, who had reached the steamboat-landing from the +east, just before nightfall of the 6th, when there was a large +crowd of frightened, stampeded men, who clamored and declared that +our army was all destroyed and beaten. Personally I saw General +Grant, who with his staff visited me about 10 a.m. of the 6th, +when we were desperately engaged. But we had checked the headlong +assault of our enemy, and then held our ground. This gave him +great satisfaction, and he told me that things did not look as well +over on the left. He also told me that on his way up from Savannah +that morning he had stopped at Crump's Landing, and had ordered Lew +Wallace's division to cross over Snake Creek, so as to come up on +my right, telling me to look out for him. He came again just +before dark, and described the last assault made by the rebels at +the ravine, near the steamboat-landing, which he had repelled by a +heavy battery collected under Colonel J. D. Webster and other +officers, and he was convinced that the battle was over for that +day. He ordered me to be ready to assume the offensive in the +morning, saying that, as he had observed at Fort Donelson at the +crisis of the battle, both sides seemed defeated, and whoever +assumed the offensive was sure to win. General Grant also +explained to me that General Buell had reached the bank of the +Tennessee River opposite Pittsburg Landing, and was in the act of +ferrying his troops across at the time he was speaking to me. + +About half an hour afterward General Buell himself rode up to where +I was, accompanied by Colonels Fry, Michler, and others of his +staff. I was dismounted at the time, and General Buell made of me +a good many significant inquiries about matters and things +generally. By the aid of a manuscript map made by myself, I +pointed out to him our positions as they had been in the morning, +and our then positions; I also explained that my right then covered +the bridge over Snake Creek by which we had all day been expecting +Lew Wallace; that McClernand was on my left, Hurlbut on his left, +and so on. But Buell said he had come up from the landing, and had +not seen our men, of whose existence in fact he seemed to doubt. I +insisted that I had five thousand good men still left in line, and +thought that McClernand had as many more, and that with what was +left of Hurlbut's, W. H. L. Wallace's, and Prentiss's divisions, we +ought to have eighteen thousand men fit for battle. I reckoned +that ten thousand of our men were dead, wounded, or prisoners, and +that the enemy's loss could not be much less. Buell said that +Nelson's, McCook's, and Crittendens divisions of his army, +containing eighteen thousand men, had arrived and could cross over +in the night, and be ready for the next day's battle. I argued +that with these reenforcements we could sweep the field. Buell +seemed to mistrust us, and repeatedly said that he did not like the +looks of things, especially about the boat-landing,--and I really +feared he would not cross over his army that night, lest he should +become involved in our general disaster. He did not, of course, +understand the shape of the ground, and asked me for the use of my +map, which I lent him on the promise that he would return it. He +handed it to Major Michler to have it copied, and the original +returned to me, which Michler did two or three days after the +battle. Buell did cross over that night, and the next day we +assumed the offensive and swept the field, thus gaining the battle +decisively. Nevertheless, the controversy was started and kept up, +mostly to the personal prejudice of General Grant, who as usual +maintained an imperturbable silence. + +After the battle, a constant stream of civilian surgeons, and +sanitary commission agents, men and women, came up the Tennessee to +bring relief to the thousands of maimed and wounded soldiers for +whom we had imperfect means of shelter and care. These people +caught up the camp-stories, which on their return home they +retailed through their local papers, usually elevating their own +neighbors into heroes, but decrying all others: Among them was +Lieutenant-Governor Stanton, of Ohio, who published in Belfontaine, +Ohio, a most abusive article about General Grant and his +subordinate generals. As General Grant did not and would not take +up the cudgels, I did so. My letter in reply to Stanton, dated +June 10, 1862, was published in the Cincinnati Commercial soon +after its date. To this Lieutenant-Governor Stanton replied, and I +further rejoined in a letter dated July 12, 1862. These letters +are too personal to be revived. By this time the good people of +the North had begun to have their eyes opened, and to give us in +the field more faith and support. Stanton was never again elected +to any public office, and was commonly spoken of as "the late Mr. +Stanton." He is now dead, and I doubt not in life he often +regretted his mistake in attempting to gain popular fame by abusing +the army-leaders, then as now an easy and favorite mode of gaining +notoriety, if not popularity. Of course, subsequent events gave +General Grant and most of the other actors in that battle their +appropriate place in history, but the danger of sudden popular +clamors is well illustrated by this case. + +The battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, was one of the most +fiercely contested of the war. On the morning of April 6, 1862, +the five divisions of McClernand, Prentiss, Hurlbut, W. H. L. +Wallace, and Sherman, aggregated about thirty-two thousand men. We +had no intrenchments of any sort, on the theory that as soon as +Buell arrived we would march to Corinth to attack the enemy. The +rebel army, commanded by General Albert Sidney Johnston, was, +according to their own reports and admissions, forty-five thousand +strong, had the momentum of attack, and beyond all question fought +skillfully from early morning till about 2 a.m., when their +commander-in-chief was killed by a Mini-ball in the calf of his +leg, which penetrated the boot and severed the main artery. There +was then a perceptible lull for a couple of hours, when the attack +was renewed, but with much less vehemence, and continued up to +dark. Early at night the division of Lew Wallace arrived from the +other side of Snake Creek, not having fired a shot. A very small +part of General Buell's army was on our side of the Tennessee River +that evening, and their loss was trivial. + +During that night, the three divisions of McCook, Nelson, and +Crittenden, were ferried across the Tennessee, and fought with us +the next day (7th). During that night, also, the two wooden +gunboats, Tyler, commanded by Lieutenant Groin, and Lexington, +Lieutenant Shirk, both of the regular navy, caused shells to be +thrown toward that part of the field of battle known to be occupied +by the enemy. Beauregard afterward reported his entire loss as ten +thousand six hundred and ninety-nine. Our aggregate loss, made up +from official statements, shows seventeen hundred killed, seven +thousand four hundred and ninety-five wounded, and three thousand +and twenty-two prisoners; aggregate, twelve thousand two hundred +and seventeen, of which twenty-one hundred and sixty-seven were in +Buell's army, leaving for that of Grant ten thousand and fifty. +This result is a fair measure of the amount of fighting done by +each army. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +SHILOH TO MEMPHIS. + +APRIL TO JULY, 1862. + + +While, the "Army of the Tennessee," under Generals Grant and C. F. +Smith, was operating up the Tennessee River, another force, styled +the "Army of the Mississippi," commanded by Major-General John +Pope, was moving directly down the Mississippi River, against that +portion of the rebel line which, under Generals Polk and Pillow, +had fallen back from Columbus, Kentucky, to Island Number Ten and +New Madrid. This army had the full cooperation of the gunboat +fleet, commanded by Admiral Foote, and was assisted by the high +flood of that season, which enabled General Pope, by great skill +and industry, to open a canal from a point above Island Number Ten +to New Madrid below, by which he interposed between the rebel army +and its available line of supply and retreat. At the very time +that we were fighting the bloody battle on the Tennessee River, +General Pope and Admiral Foote were bombarding the batteries on +Island Number Ten, and the Kentucky shore abreast of it; and +General Pope having crossed over by steamers a part of his army to +the east bank, captured a large part of this rebel army, at and +near Tiptonville. + +General Halleck still remained at St. Louis, whence he gave general +directions to the armies of General Curtis, Generals Grant, Buell, +and Pope; and instead of following up his most important and +brilliant successes directly down the Mississippi, he concluded to +bring General Pope's army around to the Tennessee, and to come in +person to command there. The gunboat fleet pushed on down the +Mississippi, but was brought up again all standing by the heavy +batteries at Fort Pillow, about fifty miles above Memphis. About +this time Admiral Farragut, with another large sea-going fleet, and +with the cooperating army of General Butler, was entering the +Mississippi River by the Passes, and preparing to reduce Forts +Jackson and St, Philip in order to reach New Orleans; so that all +minds were turned to the conquest of the Mississippi River, and +surely adequate means were provided for the undertaking. + +The battle of Shiloh had been fought, as described, on the 6th and +7th of April; and when the movement of the 8th had revealed that +our enemy was gone, in full retreat, leaving killed, wounded, and +much property by the way, we all experienced a feeling of relief. +The struggle had been so long, so desperate and bloody, that the +survivors seemed exhausted and nerveless; we appreciated the value +of the victory, but realized also its great cost of life. The +close of the battle had left the Army of the Tennessee on the +right, and the Army of the Ohio on the left; but I believe neither +General Grant nor Buell exercised command, the one over the other; +each of them having his hands full in repairing damages. All the +division, brigade, and regimental commanders were busy in +collecting stragglers, regaining lost property, in burying dead men +and horses, and in providing for their wounded. Some few new +regiments came forward, and some changes of organization became +necessary. Then, or very soon after, I consolidated my font +brigades into three, which were commanded: First, Brigadier-General +Morgan L: Smith; Second, Colonel John A. McDowell; Third, +Brigadier-General J. W. Denver. About the same time I was promoted +to major-general volunteers. + +The Seventy-first Ohio was detached to Clarksville, Tennessee, and +the Sixth and Eighth Missouri were transferred to my division. + +In a few days after the battle, General Halleck arrived by +steamboat from St. Louis, pitched his camp near the steamboat- +landing, and assumed personal command of all the armies. He was +attended by his staff, composed of General G. W. Cullum, U. S. +Engineers, as his chief of staff; Colonel George Thom, U. S. +Engineers; and Colonels Kelton and Kemper, adjutants-general. It +soon became manifest that his mind had been prejudiced by the +rumors which had gone forth to the detriment of General Grant; for +in a few days he issued an order, reorganizing and rearranging the +whole army. General Buell's Army of the Ohio constituted the +centre; General Pope's army, then arriving at Hamburg Landing, was +the left; the right was made up of mine and Hurlbut's divisions, +belonging to the old Army of the Tennessee, and two new ones, made +up from the fragments of the divisions of Prentiss and C. F. Smith, +and of troops transferred thereto, commanded by Generals T. W. +Sherman and Davies. General George H. Thomas was taken from Buell, +to command the right. McClernand's and Lew Wallace's divisions +were styled the reserve, to be commanded by McClernand. General +Grant was substantially left out, and was named "second in +command," according to some French notion, with no clear, +well-defined command or authority. He still retained his old +staff, composed of Rawlins, adjutant-general; Riggin, Lagow, and +Hilyer, aides; and he had a small company of the Fourth Illinois +Cavalry as an escort. For more than a month he thus remained, +without any apparent authority, frequently visiting me and others, +and rarely complaining; but I could see that he felt deeply the +indignity, if not insult, heaped upon him. + +General Thomas at once assumed command of the right wing, and, +until we reached Corinth, I served immediately under his command. +We were classmates, intimately acquainted, had served together +before in the old army, and in Kentucky, and it made to us little +difference who commanded the other, provided the good cause +prevailed. + +Corinth was about thirty miles distant, and we all knew that we +should find there the same army with which we had so fiercely +grappled at Shiloh, reorganized, reenforced, and commanded in chief +by General Beauregard in place of Johnston, who had fallen at +Shiloh. But we were also reenforced by Buell's and Pope's armies; +so that before the end of April our army extended from Snake Creek +on the right to the Tennessee River, at Hamburg, on the left, and +must have numbered nearly one hundred thousand men. + +Ample supplies of all kinds reached us by the Tennessee River, +which had a good stage of water; but our wagon transportation was +limited, and much confusion occurred in hauling supplies to the +several camps. By the end of Aril, the several armies seemed to be +ready, and the general forward movement on Corinth began. My +division was on the extreme right of the right wing, and marched +out by the "White House," leaving Monterey or Pea Ridge to the +south. Crossing Lick Creek, we came into the main road about a +mile south of Monterey, where we turned square to the right, and +came into the Purdy road, near "Elams." Thence we followed the +Purdy road to Corinth, my skirmishers reaching at all times the +Mobile & Ohio Railroad. Of course our marches were governed by the +main centre, which followed the direct road from Pittsburg Landing +to Corinth; and this movement was provokingly slow. We fortified +almost every camp at night, though we had encountered no serious +opposition, except from cavalry, which gave ground easily as we +advanced. The opposition increased as we neared Corinth, and at a +place called Russell's we had a sharp affair of one brigade, under +the immediate direction of Brigadier-General Morgan L. Smith, +assisted by the brigade of General Denver. This affair occurred on +the 19th of May, and our line was then within about two miles of +the northern intrenchments of Corinth. + +On the 27th I received orders from General Halleck "to send a force +the next day to drive the rebels from the house in our front, on +the Corinth road, to drive in their pickets as far as possible, and +to make a strong demonstration on Corinth itself;" authorizing me +to call on any adjacent division for assistance. + +I reconnoitred the ground carefully, and found that the main road +led forward along the fence of a large cotton-field to our right +front, and ascended a wooded hill, occupied in some force by the +enemy, on which was the farm-house referred to in General Halleck's +orders. At the farther end of the field was a double log-house, +whose chinking had been removed; so that it formed a good block +house from which the enemy could fire on any person approaching +from our quarter. + +General Hurlbut's division was on my immediate left, and General +McClernand's reserve on our right rear. I asked of each the +assistance of a brigade. The former sent General Veatch's, and the +latter General John A. Logan's brigade. I asked the former to +support our left flank, and the latter our right flank. The next +morning early, Morgan L. Smith's brigade was deployed under cover +on the left, and Denver's on the right, ready to move forward +rapidly at a signal. I had a battery of four twenty-pound Parrott +guns, commanded by Captain Silversparre. Colonel Ezra Taylor, +chief of artillery, had two of these guns moved up silently by hand +behind a small knoll, from the crest of which the enemy's +block-house and position could be distinctly seen; when all were +ready, these guns were moved to the crest, and several quick rounds +were fired at the house, followed after an interval by a single +gum. This was the signal agreed on, and the troops responded +beautifully, crossed the field in line of battle, preceded by their +skirmishers who carried the position in good style, and pursued the +enemy for half a mile beyond. + +The main line halted on the crest of the ridge, from which we could +look over the parapets of the rebel works at Corinth, and hear +their drum and bugle calls. The rebel brigade had evidently been +taken by surprise in our attack; it soon rallied and came back on +us with the usual yell, driving in our skirmishers, but was quickly +checked when it came within range of our guns and line of battle. +Generals Grant and Thomas happened to be with me during this +affair, and were well pleased at the handsome manner in which the +troops behaved. That night we began the usual entrenchments, and +the next day brought forward the artillery and the rest of the +division, which then extended from the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, at +Bowie Hill Out, to the Corinth & Purdy road, there connecting with +Hurlbut's division. That night, viz., May 29th, we heard unusual +sounds in Corinth, the constant whistling of locomotives, and soon +after daylight occurred a series of explosions followed by a dense +smoke rising high over the town. There was a telegraph line +connecting my headquarters with those of General Halleck, about +four miles off, on the Hamburg road. I inquired if he knew the +cause of the explosions and of the smoke, and he answered to +"advance with my division and feel the enemy if still in my front" +I immediately dispatched two regiments from each of my three +brigades to feel the immediate front, and in a very short time +advanced with the whole division. Each brigade found the rebel +parapets abandoned, and pushed straight for the town, which lies in +the northeast angle of intersection of the Mobile & Ohio and +Memphis & Charleston Railroads. Many buildings had been burned by +the enemy on evacuation, which had begun the night before at 6 +p.m., and continued through the night, the rear-guard burning their +magazine at the time of withdrawing, about daybreak. Morgan L. +Smith's brigade followed the retreating rear-guard some four miles +to the Tuacumbia Bridge, which was found burned. I halted the +other brigades at the college, about a mile to the southwest of the +town, where I was overtaken by General Thomas in person. + +The heads of all the columns had entered the rebel lines about the +same time, and there was some rather foolish clamor for the first +honors, but in fact there was no honor in the event. Beauregard +had made a clean retreat to the south, and was only seriously +pursued by cavalry from General Pope's flank. But he reached +Tupelo, where he halted for reorganization; and there is no doubt +that at the moment there was much disorganization in his ranks, for +the woods were full of deserters whom we did not even take +prisoners, but advised them to make their way home and stay there. +We spent the day at and near the college, when General Thomas, who +applied for orders at Halleck's headquarters, directed me to +conduct my division back to the camp of the night before, where we +had left our trains The advance on Corinth had occupied all of the +month of May, the most beautiful and valuable month of the year for +campaigning in this latitude. There had been little fighting, save +on General Pope's left flank about Farmington; and on our right. I +esteemed it a magnificent drill, as it served for the instruction +of our men in guard and picket duty, and in habituating them to +out-door life; and by the time we had reached Corinth I believe +that army was the best then on this continent, and could have gone +where it pleased. The four subdivisions were well commanded, as +were the divisions and brigades of the whole army. General Halleck +was a man of great capacity, of large acquirements, and at the time +possessed the confidence of the country, and of most of the army. +I held him in high estimation, and gave him credit for the +combinations which had resulted in placing this magnificent army of +a hundred thousand men, well equipped and provided, with a good +base, at Corinth, from which he could move in any direction. + +Had he held his force as a unit, he could have gone to Mobile, or +Vicksburg, or anywhere in that region, which would by one move have +solved the whole Mississippi problem; and, from what he then told +me, I believe he intended such a campaign, but was overruled from +Washington. Be that as it may, the army had no sooner settled down +at Corinth before it was scattered: General Pope was called to the +East, and his army distributed among the others; General Thomas was +relieved from the command of the right wing, and reassigned to his +division in the Army of the Ohio; and that whole army under General +Buell was turned east along the Memphis & Charleston road, to march +for Chattanooga. McClernand's "reserve" was turned west to Bolivar +and Memphis. General Halleck took post himself at Corinth, +assigned Lieutenant-Colonel McPherson to take charge of the +railroads, with instructions to repair them as far as Columbus, +Kentucky, and to collect cars and locomotives to operate them to +Corinth and Grand Junction. I was soon dispatched with my own and +Hurlbut's divisions northwest fourteen miles to Chewalla, to save +what could be of any value out of six trains of cars belonging to +the rebels which had been wrecked and partially burned at the time +of the evacuation of Corinth. + +A short time before leaving Corinth I rode from my camp to General +Halleck's headquarters, then in tents just outside of the town, +where we sat and gossiped for some time, when he mentioned to me +casually that General Grant was going away the next morning. I +inquired the cause, and he said that he did not know, but that +Grant had applied for a thirty days' leave, which had been given +him. Of course we all knew that he was chafing under the slights +of his anomalous position, and I determined to see him on my way +back. His camp was a short distance off the Monterey road, in the +woods, and consisted of four or five tents, with a sapling railing +around the front. As I rode up, Majors Rawlins, Lagow, and Hilyer, +were in front of the camp, and piled up near them were the usual +office and camp chests, all ready for a start in the morning. I +inquired for the general, and was shown to his tent, where I found +him seated on a camp-stool, with papers on a rude camp-table; he +seemed to be employed in assorting letters, and tying them up with +red tape into convenient bundles. After passing the usual +compliments, I inquired if it were true that he was going away. He +said, "Yes." I then inquired the reason, and he said "Sherman, you +know. You know that I am in the way here. I have stood it as long +as I can, and can endure it no longer." I inquired where he was +going to, and he said, "St. Louis." I then asked if he had any +business there, and he said, "Not a bit." I then begged him to +stay, illustrating his case by my own. + +Before the battle of Shiloh, I had been cast down by a mere +newspaper assertion of "crazy;" but that single battle had given me +new life, and now I was in high feather; and I argued with him +that, if he went away, events would go right along, and he would be +left out; whereas, if he remained, some happy accident might +restore him to favor and his true place. He certainly appreciated +my friendly advice, and promised to wait awhile; at all events, not +to go without seeing me again, or communicating with me. Very soon +after this, I was ordered to Chewalla, where, on the 6th of June, I +received a note from him, saying that he had reconsidered his +intention, and would remain. I cannot find the note, but my answer +I have kept: + +Chewalla, Jane 6, 1862. + +Major-General GRANT. + +My DEAR SIR: I have just received your note, and am rejoiced at +your conclusion to remain; for you could not be quiet at home for a +week when armies were moving, and rest could not relieve your mind +of the gnawing sensation that injustice had been done you. + + +My orders at Chewalla were to rescue the wrecked trains there, to +reconnoitre westward and estimate the amount of damage to the +railroad as far as Grand Junction, about fifty miles. We camped +our troops on high, healthy ground to the south of Chewalla, and +after I had personally reconnoitred the country, details of men +were made and volunteer locomotive engineers obtained to +superintend the repairs. I found six locomotives and about sixty +cars, thrown from the track, parts of the machinery detached and +hidden in the surrounding swamp, and all damaged as much by fire as +possible. It seems that these trains were inside of Corinth during +the night of evacuation, loading up with all sorts of commissary +stores, etc., and about daylight were started west; but the +cavalry-picket stationed at the Tuscumbia bridge had, by mistake or +panic, burned the bridge before the trains got to them. The +trains, therefore, were caught, and the engineers and guards +hastily scattered the stores into the swamp, and disabled the +trains as far as they could, before our cavalry had discovered +their critical situation. The weather was hot, and the swamp +fairly stunk with the putrid flour and fermenting sugar and +molasses; I was so much exposed there in the hot sun, pushing +forward the work, that I got a touch of malarial fever, which hung +on me for a month, and forced me to ride two days in an ambulance, +the only time I ever did such a thing during the whole war. By the +7th I reported to General Halleck that the amount of work necessary +to reestablish the railroad between Corinth and Grand Junction was +so great, that he concluded not to attempt its repair, but to rely +on the road back to Jackson (Tennessee), and forward to Grand +Junction; and I was ordered to move to Grand Junction, to take up +the repairs from there toward Memphis. + +The evacuation of Corinth by Beauregard, and the movements of +General McClernand's force toward Memphis, had necessitated the +evacuation of Fort Pillow, which occurred about June 1st; soon +followed by the further withdrawal of the Confederate army from +Memphis, by reason of the destruction of the rebel gunboats in the +bold and dashing attack by our gun-boats under command of Admiral +Davis, who had succeeded Foote. This occurred June 7th. Admiral +Farragut had also captured New Orleans after the terrible passage +of Forts Jackson and St. Philip on May 24th, and had ascended the +river as high as Vicksburg; so that it seemed as though, before the +end of June, we should surely have full possession of the whole +river. But it is now known that the progress of our Western armies +had aroused the rebel government to the exercise of the most +stupendous energy. Every man capable of bearing arms at the South +was declared to be a soldier, and forced to act as such. All their +armies were greatly reenforced, and the most despotic power was +granted to enforce discipline and supplies. Beauregard was +replaced by Bragg, a man of more ability--of greater powers of +organization, of action, and discipline--but naturally exacting and +severe, and not possessing the qualities to attract the love of his +officers and men. He had a hard task to bring into order and +discipline that mass of men to whose command he succeeded at +Tupelo, with which he afterward fairly outmanoeuvred General Buell, +and forced him back from Chattanooga to Louisville. It was a fatal +mistake, however, that halted General Halleck at Corinth, and led +him to disperse and scatter the best materials for a fighting army +that, up to that date, had been assembled in the West. + +During the latter part of June and first half of July, I had my own +and Hurlbut's divisions about Grand Junction, Lagrange, Moscow, and +Lafayette, building railroad-trestles and bridges, fighting off +cavalry detachments coming from the south, and waging an +everlasting quarrel with planters about their negroes and fences +--they trying, in the midst of moving armies, to raise a crop of +corn. On the 17th of June I sent a detachment of two brigades, +under General M. L. Smith, to Holly Springs, in the belief that I +could better protect the railroad from some point in front than +by scattering our men along it; and, on the 23d, I was at +Lafayette Station, when General Grant, with his staff and a very +insignificant escort, arrived from Corinth en route for Memphis, to +take command of that place and of the District of West Tennessee. +He came very near falling into the hands of the enemy, who infested +the whole country with small but bold detachments of cavalry. Up +to that time I had received my orders direct from General Halleck +at Corinth, but soon after I fell under the immediate command of +General Grant and so continued to the end of the war; but, on the +29th, General Halleck notified me that "a division of troops under +General C. S. Hamilton of 'Rosecrans's army corps,' had passed the +Hatchie from Corinth," and was destined for Holly Springs, ordering +me to "cooperate as far as advisable," but "not to neglect the +protection of the road." I ordered General Hurlbut to leave +detachments at Grand Junction and Lagrange, and to march for Holly +Springs. I left detachments at Moscow and Lafayette, and, with +about four thousand men, marched for the same point. Hurlbut and I +met at Hudsonville, and thence marched to the Coldwater, within +four miles of Holly Springs. We encountered only small detachments +of rebel cavalry under Colonels Jackson and Pierson, and drove them +into and through Holly Springs; but they hung about, and I kept an +infantry brigade in Holly Springs to keep them out. I heard +nothing from General Hamilton till the 5th of July, when I received +a letter from him dated Rienzi, saying that he had been within +nineteen miles of Holly Springs and had turned back for Corinth; +and on the next day, July 6th, I got a telegraph order from General +Halleck, of July 2d, sent me by courier from Moscow, "not to +attempt to hold Holly Springs, but to fall back and protect the +railroad." We accordingly marched back twenty-five miles--Hurlbut +to Lagrange, and I to Moscow. The enemy had no infantry nearer +than the Tallahatchee bridge, but their cavalry was saucy and +active, superior to ours, and I despaired of ever protecting a +railroad, preventing a broad front of one hundred miles, from their +dashes. + +About this time, we were taunted by the Confederate soldiers and +citizens with the assertion that Lee had defeated McClellan at +Richmond; that he would soon be in Washington; and that our turn +would come next. The extreme caution of General Halleck also +indicated that something had gone wrong, and, on the 16th of July, +at Moscow, I received a dispatch from him, announcing that he had +been summoned to Washington, which he seemed to regret, and which +at that moment I most deeply deplored. He announced that his +command would devolve on General Grant, who had been summoned +around from Memphis to Corinth by way of Columbus, Kentucky, and +that I was to go into Memphis to take command of the District of +West Tennessee, vacated by General Grant. By this time, also, I +was made aware that the great, army that had assembled at Corinth +at the end of May had been scattered and dissipated, and that +terrible disasters had befallen our other armies in Virginia and +the East. + +I soon received orders to move to Memphis, taking Hurlbut's +division along. We reached Memphis on the 21st, and on the 22d I +posted my three brigades mostly in and near Fort Dickering, and +Hurlbut's division next below on the river-bank by reason of the +scarcity of water, except in the Mississippi River itself. The +weather was intensely hot. The same order that took us to Memphis +required me to send the division of General Lew Wallace (then +commanded by Brigadier-General A. P. Hovey) to Helena, Arkansas, to +report to General Curtis, which was easily accomplished by +steamboat. I made my own camp in a vacant lot, near Mr. Moon's +house, and gave my chief attention to the construction of Fort +Pickering, then in charge of Major Prime, United States Engineers; +to perfecting the drill and discipline of the two divisions under +my command; and to the administration of civil affairs. + +At the time when General Halleck was summoned from Corinth to +Washington, to succeed McClellan as commander-in-chief, I surely +expected of him immediate and important results. The Army of the +Ohio was at the time marching toward Chattanooga, and was strung +from Eastport by Huntsville to Bridgeport, under the command of +General Buell. In like manner, the Army of the Tennessee was +strung along the same general line, from Memphis to Tuscumbia, and +was commanded by General Grant, with no common commander for both +these forces: so that the great army which General Halleck had so +well assembled at Corinth, was put on the defensive, with a +frontage of three hundred miles. Soon thereafter the rebels +displayed peculiar energy and military skill. General Bragg had +reorganized the army of Beauregard at Tupelo, carried it rapidly +and skillfully toward Chattanooga, whence he boldly assumed the +offensive, moving straight for Nashville and Louisville, and +compelling General Buell to fall back to the Ohio River at +Louisville. + +The army of Van Dorn and Price had been brought from the +trans-Mississippi Department to the east of the river, and was +collected at and about Holly Springs, where, reenforced by +Armstrong's and Forrests cavalry, it amounted to about forty +thousand brave and hardy soldiers. These were General Grant's +immediate antagonists, and so many and large detachments had been +drawn from him, that for a time he was put on the defensive. In +person he had his headquarters at Corinth, with the three divisions +of Hamilton, Davies, and McKean, under the immediate orders of +General Rosecrans. General Ord had succeeded to the division of +McClernand (who had also gone to Washington), and held Bolivar and +Grand Junction. I had in Memphis my own and Hurlbut's divisions, +and other smaller detachments were strung along the Memphis & +Charleston road. But the enemy's detachments could strike this +road at so many points, that no use could be made of it, and +General Grant had to employ the railroads, from Columbus, Kentucky, +to Corinth and Grand Junction, by way of Jackson, Tennessee, a +point common to both roads, and held in some force. + +In the early part of September the enemy in our front manifested +great activity, feeling with cavalry at all points, and on the 13th +General Van Dorn threatened Corinth, while General Price seized the +town of Iuka, which was promptly abandoned by a small garrison +under Colonel Murphy. Price's force was about eight thousand men, +and the general impression was that he was en route for Eastport, +with the purpose to cross the Tennessee River in the direction of +Nashville, in aid of General Bragg, then in full career for +Kentucky. General Grant determined to attack him in force, +prepared to regain Corinth before Van Dorn could reach it. He had +drawn Ord to Corinth, and moved him, by Burnsville, on Iuka, by the +main road, twenty-six miles. General Grant accompanied this column +as far as Burnsville. At the same time he had dispatched Rosecrans +by roads to the south, via Jacinto, with orders to approach Iuka by +the two main roads, coming into Iuka from the south, viz., they +Jacinto and Fulton roads. + +On the 18th General Ord encountered the enemy about four miles out +of Iuka. His orders contemplated that he should not make a serious +attack, until Rosecrans had gained his position on the south; but, +as usual, Rosecrans had encountered difficulties in the confusion +of roads, his head of column did not reach the vicinity of Iuka +till 4 p.m. of the 19th, and then his troops were long drawn out +on the single Jacinto road, leaving the Fulton road clear for +Price's use. Price perceived his advantage, and attacked with +vehemence the head of Rosecrans's column, Hamilton's division, +beating it back, capturing a battery, and killing and disabling +seven hundred and thirty-six men, so that when night closed in +Rosecrans was driven to the defensive, and Price, perceiving his +danger, deliberately withdrew by the Fulton road, and the next +morning was gone. Although General Ord must have been within four +or six miles of this battle, he did not hear a sound; and he or +General Grant did not know of it till advised the next morning by a +courier who had made a wide circuit to reach them. General Grant +was much offended with General Rosecrans because of this affair, +but in my experience these concerted movements generally fail, +unless with the very best kind of troops, and then in a country on +whose roads some reliance can be placed, which is not the case in +Northern Mississippi. If Price was aiming for Tennessee; he +failed, and was therefore beaten. He made a wide circuit by the +south, and again joined Van Dorn. + +On the 6th of September, at Memphis, I received an order from +General Grant dated the 2d, to send Hurlbut's division to +Brownsville, in the direction of Bolivar, thence to report by +letter to him at Jackson. The division started the same day, and, +as our men and officers had been together side by side from the +first landing at Shiloh, we felt the parting like the breaking up +of a family. But General Grant was forced to use every man, for he +knew well that Van Dorn could attack him at pleasure, at any point +of his long line. To be the better prepared, on the 23d of +September he took post himself at Jackson, Tennessee, with a small +reserve force, and gave Rosecrans command of Corinth, with his +three divisions and some detachments, aggregating about twenty +thousand men. He posted General Ord with his own and Hurlbut'a +divisions at Bolivar, with outposts toward Grand Junction and +Lagrange. These amounted to nine or ten thousand men, and I held +Memphis with my own division, amounting to about six thousand men. +The whole of General Grant's men at that time may have aggregated +fifty thousand, but he had to defend a frontage of a hundred and +fifty miles, guard some two hundred miles of railway, and as much +river. Van Dom had forty thousand men, united, at perfect liberty +to move in any direction, and to choose his own point of attack, +under cover of woods, and a superior body of cavalry, familiar with +every foot of the ground. Therefore General Grant had good reason +for telegraphing to General Halleck, on the 1st of October, that +his position was precarious, "but I hope to get out of it all +right." In Memphis my business was to hold fast that important +flank, and by that date Fort Dickering had been made very strong, +and capable of perfect defense by a single brigade. I therefore +endeavored by excursions to threaten Van Dorn's detachments to the +southeast and east. I repeatedly sent out strong detachments +toward Holly Springs, which was his main depot of supply; and +General Grierson, with his Sixth Illinois, the only cavalry I had, +made some bold and successful dashes at the Coldwater, compelling +Van Dorn to cover it by Armstrong's whole division of cavalry. +Still, by the 1st of October, General Grant was satisfied that the +enemy was meditating an attack in force on Bolivar or Corinth; and +on the 2d Van Dorn made his appearance near Corinth, with his +entire army. On the 3d he moved down on that place from the north +and northwest, General Roseerana went out some four miles to meet +him, but was worsted and compelled to fall back within the line of +his forts. These had been began under General Halleck, but were +much strengthened by General Grant, and consisted of several +detached redoubts, bearing on each other, and inclosing the town +and the depots of stores at the intersection of the two railroads. +Van Dorn closed down on the forts by the evening of the 3d, and on +the morning of the 4th assaulted with great vehemence. Our men, +covered by good parapets, fought gallantly, and defended their +posts well, inflicting terrible losses on the enemy, so that by +noon the rebels were repulsed at all points, and drew off, leaving +their dead and wounded in our hands. Their losses, were variously +estimated, but the whole truth will probably never be known, for in +that army reports and returns were not the fashion. General +Rosecrans admitted his own loss to be three hundred and fifteen +killed, eighteen hundred and twelve wounded, and two hundred and +thirty-two missing or prisoners, and claimed on the part of the +rebels fourteen hundred and twenty-three dead, two thousand and +twenty-five prisoners and wounded. Of course, most of the wounded +must have gone off or been carried off, so that, beyond doubt, the +rebel army lost at Corinth fully six thousand men. + +Meantime, General Grant, at Jackson, had dispatched Brigadier- +General McPherson, with a brigade, directly for Corinth, which +reached General Rosecrans after the battle; and, in anticipation of +his victory, had ordered him to pursue instantly, notifying him +that he had ordered Ord's and Hurlbut's divisions rapidly across to +Pocahontas, so as to strike the rebels in flank. On the morning of +the 5th, General Ord reached the Hatchie River, at Davies bridge, +with four thousand men; crossed over and encountered the retreating +army, captured a battery and several hundred prisoners, dispersing +the rebel advance, and forcing the main column to make a wide +circuit by the south in order to cross the Hatchie River. Had +General Rosecrans pursued promptly, and been on the heels of this +mass of confused and routed men, Van Dorn's army would surely have +been utterly ruined; as it was, Van Dom regained Holly Springs +somewhat demoralized. + +General Rosecrans did not begin his pursuit till the next morning, +the 5th, and it was then too late. General Grant was again +displeased with him, and never became fully reconciled. General +Rosecrans was soon after relieved, and transferred to the Army of +the Cumberland, in Tennessee, of which he afterward obtained the +command, in place of General Buell, who was removed. + +The effect of the battle of Corinth was very great. It was, +indeed, a decisive blow to the Confederate cause in our quarter, +and changed the whole aspect of affairs in West Tennessee. From +the timid defensive we were at once enabled to assume the bold +offensive. In Memphis I could see its effects upon the citizens, +and they openly admitted that their cause had sustained a +death-blow. But the rebel government was then at its maximum +strength; Van Dorn was reenforced, and very soon Lieutenant-General +J. C. Pemberton arrived and assumed the command, adopting for his +line the Tallahatchie River, with an advance-guard along the +Coldwater, and smaller detachments forward at Grand Junction and +Hernando. General Grant, in like manner, was reenforced by new +regiments. + +Out of those which were assigned to Memphis, I organized two new +brigades, and placed them under officers who had gained skill and +experience during the previous campaign. + + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +MEMPHIS TO ARKANSAS POST. + +JULY, 1882 TO JANUARY, 1883 + + +When we first entered Memphis, July 21,1862, I found the place +dead; no business doing, the stores closed, churches, schools, and +every thing shut up. The people were all more or less in sympathy +with our enemies, and there was a strong prospect that the whole +civil population would become a dead weight on our hands. Inasmuch +as the Mississippi River was then in our possession northward, and +steamboats were freely plying with passengers and freight, I caused +all the stores to be opened, churches, schools, theatres, and +places of amusement, to be reestablished, and very soon Memphis +resumed its appearance of an active, busy, prosperous place. I +also restored the mayor (whose name was Parks) and the city +government to the performance of their public functions, and +required them to maintain a good civil police. + +Up to that date neither Congress nor the President had made any +clear, well-defined rules touching the negro slaves, and the +different generals had issued orders according to their own +political sentiments. Both Generals Halleck and Grant regarded the +slave as still a slave, only that the labor of the slave belonged +to his owner, if faithful to the Union, or to the United States, if +the master had taken up arms against the Government, or adhered to +the fortunes of the rebellion. Therefore, in Memphis, we received +all fugitives, put them to work on the fortifications, supplied +them with food and clothing, and reserved the question of payment +of wages for future decision. No force was allowed to be used to +restore a fugitive slave to his master in any event; but if the +master proved his loyalty, he was usually permitted to see his +slave, and, if he could persuade him to return home, it was +permitted. Cotton, also, was a fruitful subject of controversy. +The Secretary of the Treasury; Mr. Chase, was extremely anxious at +that particular time to promote the purchase of cotton, because +each bale was worth, in gold, about three hundred dollars, and +answered the purpose of coin in our foreign exchanges. He +therefore encouraged the trade, so that hundreds of greedy +speculators flocked down the Mississippi, and resorted to all sorts +of measures to obtain cotton from the interior, often purchasing it +from negroes who did not own it, but who knew where it was +concealed. This whole business was taken from the jurisdiction of +the military, and committed to Treasury agents appointed by Mr. +Chase. + +Other questions absorbed the attention of military commanders; and +by way of illustration I here insert a few letters from my +"letter-book," which contains hundreds on similar subjects: + +HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION +Memphis, Tennessee, August 11, 1862 + +Hon. S. P. CHASE, Secretary of the Treasury. + +Sir: Your letter of August 2d, just received, invites my discussion +of the cotton question. + +I will write plainly and slowly, because I know you have no time to +listen to trifles. This is no trifle; when one nation is at war +with another, all the people of the one are enemies of the other: +then the rules are plain and easy of understanding. Most +unfortunately, the war in which we are now engaged has been +complicated with the belief on the one hand that all on the other +are not enemies. It would have been better if, at the outset, this +mistake had not been made, and it is wrong longer to be misled by +it. The Government of the United States may now safely proceed on +the proper rule that all in the South are enemies of all in the +North; and not only are they unfriendly, but all who can procure +arms now bear them as organized regiments, or as guerrillas. There +is not a garrison in Tennessee where a man can go beyond the sight +of the flag-staff without being shot or captured. It so happened +that these people had cotton, and, whenever they apprehended our +large armies would move, they destroyed the cotton in the belief +that, of course, we world seize it, and convert it to our use. +They did not and could not dream that we would pay money for it. +It had been condemned to destruction by their own acknowledged +government, and was therefore lost to their people; and could have +been, without injustice, taken by us, and sent away, either as +absolute prize of war, or for future compensation. But the +commercial enterprise of the Jews soon discovered that ten cents +would buy a pound of cotton behind our army; that four cents would +take it to Boston, where they could receive thirty cents in gold. +The bait was too tempting, and it spread like fire, when here they +discovered that salt, bacon, powder, fire-arms, percussion-caps, +etc., etc., were worth as much as gold; and, strange to say, this +traffic was not only permitted, but encouraged. Before we in the +interior could know it, hundreds, yea thousands of barrels of salt +and millions of dollars had been disbursed; and I have no doubt +that Bragg's army at Tupelo, and Van Dorn's at Vicksburg, received +enough salt to make bacon, without which they could not have moved +their armies in mass; and that from ten to twenty thousand fresh +arms, and a due supply of cartridges, have also been got, I am +equally satisfied. As soon as I got to Memphis, having seen the +effect in the interior, I ordered (only as to my own command) that +gold, silver, and Treasury notes, were contraband of war, and +should not go into the interior, where all were hostile. It is +idle to talk about Union men here: many want peace, and fear war +and its results; but all prefer a Southern, independent government, +and are fighting or working for it. Every gold dollar that was +spent for cotton, was sent to the seaboard, to be exchanged for +bank-notes and Confederate scrip, which will buy goods here, and +are taken in ordinary transactions. I therefore required cotton to +be paid for in such notes, by an obligation to pay at the end of +the war, or by a deposit of the price in the hands of a trustee, +viz., the United States Quartermaster. Under these rules cotton is +being obtained about as fast as by any other process, and yet the +enemy receives no "aid or comfort." Under the "gold" rule, the +country people who had concealed their cotton from the burners, and +who openly scorned our greenbacks, were willing enough to take +Tennessee money, which will buy their groceries; but now that the +trade is to be encouraged, and gold paid out, I admit that cotton +will be sent in by our open enemies, who can make better use of +gold than they can of their hidden bales of cotton. + +I may not appreciate the foreign aspect of the question, but my +views on this may be ventured. If England ever threatens war +because we don't furnish her cotton, tell her plainly if she can't +employ and feed her own people, to send them here, where they +cannot only earn an honest living, but soon secure independence by +moderate labor. We are not bound to furnish her cotton. She has +more reason to fight the South for burning that cotton, than us for +not shipping it. To aid the South on this ground would be +hypocrisy which the world would detect at once. Let her make her +ultimatum, and there are enough generous minds in Europe that will +counteract her in the balance. Of course her motive is to cripple +a power that rivals her in commerce and manufactures, that +threatens even to usurp her history. In twenty more years of +prosperity, it will require a close calculation to determine +whether England, her laws and history, claim for a home the +Continent of America or the Isle of Britain. Therefore, finding us +in a death-struggle for existence, she seems to seek a quarrel to +destroy both parts in detail. + +Southern people know this full well, and will only accept the +alliance of England in order to get arms and manufactures in +exchange for their cotton. The Southern Confederacy will accept no +other mediation, because she knows full well that in Old England +her slaves and slavery will receive no more encouragement than in +New England. + +France certainly does not need our cotton enough to disturb her +equilibrium, and her mediation would be entitled to a more respect +consideration than on the part of her present ally. But I feel +assured the French will not encourage rebellion and secession +anywhere as a political doctrine. Certainly all the German states +must be our ardent friends; and, in case of European intervention; +they could not be kept down. + +With great respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION, ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, Memphis, July +23, 1862 + +Dr. E. S. PLUMMER and others, Physician in Memphis, Signers to a +Petition. + +GENTLEMEN: I have this moment received your communication, and +assure you that it grieves my heart thus to be the instrument of +adding to the seeming cruelty and hardship of this unnatural war. + +On my arrival here, I found my predecessor (General Hovey) had +issued an order permitting the departure south of all persons +subject to the conscript law of the Southern Confederacy. Many +applications have been made to me to modify this order, but I +regarded it as a condition precedent by which I was bound in honor, +and therefore I have made no changes or modifications; nor shall I +determine what action I shall adopt in relation to persons +unfriendly to our cause who remain after the time limited by +General Hovey's order had expired. It is now sunset, and all who +have not availed themselves of General Hovey's authority, and who +remain in Memphis, are supposed to be loyal and true men. + +I will only say that I cannot allow the personal convenience of +even a large class of ladies to influence me in my determination to +make Memphis a safe place of operations for an army, and all people +who are unfriendly should forthwith prepare to depart in such +direction as I may hereafter indicate. + +Surgeons are not liable to be made prisoners of war, but they +should not reside within the lines of an army which they regard as +hostile. The situation would be too delicate. + +I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +HEADQUARTERS, MEMPHIS, July 24, 1862 + +SAMUEL SAWYER, Esq., Editor Union Appeal, Memphis. + +DEAR SIR: It is well I should come to an understanding at once +with the press as well as the people of Memphis, which I am ordered +to command; which means, to control for the interest, welfare; and +glory of the whole Government of the United States. + +Personalities in a newspaper are wrong and criminal. Thus, though +you meant to be complimentary in your sketch of my career, you make +more than a dozen mistakes of fact, which I need not correct, as I +don't desire my biography to be written till I am dead. It is +enough for the world to know that I live and am a soldier, bound to +obey the orders of my superiors, the laws of my country, and to +venerate its Constitution; and that, when discretion is given me, I +shall exercise it wisely and account to my superiors. + +I regard your article headed "City Council--General Sherman and +Colonel Slack," as highly indiscreet. Of course, no person who can +jeopardize the safety of Memphis can remain here, much less +exercise public authority; but I must take time, and be satisfied +that injustice be not done. + +If the parties named be the men you describe, the fact should not +be published, to put them on their guard and thus to encourage +their escape. The evidence should be carefully collected, +authenticated, and then placed in my hands. But your statement of +facts is entirely qualified; in my mind, and loses its force by +your negligence of the very simple facts within your reach as to +myself: I had been in the army six years in 1846; am not related by +blood to any member of Lucas, Turner & Co.; was associated with +them in business six years (instead of two); am not colonel of the +Fifteenth Infantry, but of the Thirteenth. Your correction, this +morning, of the acknowledged error as to General Denver and others, +is still erroneous. General Morgan L. Smith did not belong to my +command at the battle of Shiloh at all, but he was transferred to +my division just before reaching Corinth. I mention these facts in +kindness, to show you how wrong it is to speak of persons. + +I will attend to the judge, mayor, Boards of Aldermen, and +policemen, all in good time. + +Use your influence to reestablish system, order, government. You +may rest easy that no military commander is going to neglect +internal safety, or to guard against external danger; but to do +right requires time, and more patience than I usually possess. If +I find the press of Memphis actuated by high principle and a sole +devotion to their country, I will be their best friend; but, if I +find them personal, abusive, dealing in innuendoes and hints at a +blind venture, and looking to their own selfish aggrandizement and +fame, then they had better look out; for I regard such persons as +greater enemies to their country and to mankind than the men who, +from a mistaken sense of State pride, have taken up muskets, and +fight us about as hard as we care about. In haste, but in +kindness, yours, etc., + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + + + +HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION, +MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, July 27, 1882. + +JOHN PARK, Mayor of Memphis, present. + +Sir: Yours of July 24th is before me, and has received, as all +similar papers ever will, my careful and most respectful +consideration. I have the most unbounded respect for the civil +law, courts, and authorities, and shall do all in my power to +restore them to their proper use, viz., the protection of life, +liberty, and property. + +Unfortunately, at this time, civil war prevails in the land, and +necessarily the military, for the time being, must be superior to +the civil authority, but it does not therefore destroy it. Civil +courts and executive officers should still exist and perform +duties, without which civil or municipal bodies would soon pass +into disrespect--an end to be avoided. I am glad to find in +Memphis a mayor and municipal authorities not only in existence, +but in the co-exercise of important functions, and I shall endeavor +to restore one or more civil tribunals for the arbitration of +contracts and punishment of crimes, which the military have neither +time nor inclination to interfere with. Among these, first in +importance is the maintenance of order, peace, and quiet, within +the jurisdiction of Memphis. To insure this, I will keep a strong +provost guard in the city, but will limit their duty to guarding +public property held or claimed by the United States, and for the +arrest and confinement of State prisoners and soldiers who are +disorderly or improperly away from their regiments. This guard +ought not to arrest citizens for disorder or minor crimes. This +should be done by the city police. I understand that the city +police is too weak in numbers to accomplish this perfectly, and I +therefore recommend that the City Council at once take steps to +increase this force to a number which, in their judgment, day and +night can enforce your ordinances as to peace, quiet, and order; so +that any change in our military dispositions will not have a +tendency to leave your people unguarded. I am willing to instruct +the provost guard to assist the police force when any combination +is made too strong for them to overcome; but the city police should +be strong enough for any probable contingency. The cost of +maintaining this police force must necessarily fall upon all +citizens equitably. I am not willing, nor do I think it good +policy, for the city authorities to collect the taxes belonging to +the State and County, as you recommend; for these would have to be +refunded. Better meet the expenses at once by a new tax on all +interested. Therefore, if you, on consultation with the proper +municipal body, will frame a good bill for the increase of your +police force, and for raising the necessary means for their support +and maintenance, I will approve it and aid you in the collection of +the tax. Of course, I cannot suggest how this tax should be laid, +but I think that it should be made uniform on all interests, real +estate, and personal property, including money, and merchandise. + +All who are protected should share the expenses in proportion to +the interests involved. I am, with respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + + +HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION, +MEMPHIS, August 7, 1862. + +Captain FITCH, Assistant Quartermaster, Memphis, Tennessee. + +SIR: The duties devolving on the quartermaster of this post, in +addition to his legitimate functions, are very important and +onerous, and I am fully aware that the task is more than should +devolve on one man. I will endeavor to get you help in the person +of some commissioned officer, and, if possible, one under bond, as +he must handle large amounts of money in trust; but, for the +present, we most execute the duties falling to our share as well as +possible. On the subject of vacant houses, General Grant's orders +are: "Take possession of all vacant stores and houses in the city, +and have them rented at reasonable rates; rent to be paid monthly +in advance. These buildings, with their tenants, can be turned +over to proprietors on proof of loyalty; also take charge of such +as have been leased out by disloyal owners." + +I understand that General Grant takes the rents and profits of this +class of real property under the rules and laws of war, and not +under the confiscation act of Congress; therefore the question of +title is not involved simply the possession, and the rents and +profits of houses belonging to our enemies, which are not vacant, +we hold in trust for them or the Government, according to the +future decisions of the proper tribunals. + +Mr. McDonald, your chief agent in renting and managing this +business, called on me last evening and left with me written +questions, which it would take a volume to answer and a Webster to +elucidate; but as we can only attempt plain, substantial justice, I +will answer these questions as well as I can, briefly and to the +point. + +First. When ground is owned by parties who have gone south, and +have leased the ground to parties now in the city who own the +improvements on the ground? + +Answer. The United States takes the rents due the owner of the +land; does not disturb the owner of the improvements. + +Second. When parties owning houses have gone south, and the tenant +has given his notes for the rent in advance? + +Answer. Notes are mere evidence of the debt due landlord. The +tenant pays the rent to the quartermaster, who gives a bond of +indemnity against the notes representing the debt for the +particular rent. + +Third. When the tenant has expended several months' rent in +repairs on the house? + +Answer. Of course, allow all such credits on reasonable proof and +showing. + +Fourth. When the owner has gone south, and parties here hold liens +on the property and are collecting the rents to satisfy their +liens? + +Answer. The rent of a house can only be mortgaged to a person in +possession. If a loyal tenant be in possession and claim the rent +from himself as due to himself on some other debt, allow it; but, +if not in actual possession of the property, rents are not good +liens for a debt, but must be paid to the quartermaster. + +Fifth. Of parties claiming foreign protection? + +Answer. Many claim foreign protection who are not entitled to it. +If they are foreign subjects residing for business in this, +country, they are entitled to consideration and protection so +long as they obey the laws of the country. If they occupy +houses belonging to absent rebels, they must pay rent to the +quarter-master. If they own property, they must occupy it by +themselves, tenants, or servants. + +Eighth. When houses are occupied and the owner has gone south, +leaving an agent to collect rent for his benefit? + +Answer. Rent must be paid to the quartermaster. No agent can +collect and remit money south without subjecting himself to arrest +and trial for aiding and abetting the public enemy. + +Ninth.. When houses are owned by loyal citizens, but are +unoccupied? + +Answer. Such should not be disturbed, but it would be well to +advise them to have some servant at the house to occupy it. + +Tenth. When parties who occupy the house are creditors of the +owner, who has gone south? Answer. You only look to collection of +rents. Any person who transmits money south is liable to arrest +and trial for aiding and abetting the enemy; but I do not think it +our business to collect debts other than rents. + +Eleventh. When the parties who own the property have left the city +under General Hovey's Order No. 1, but are in the immediate +neighborhood, on their plantations? + +Answer. It makes no difference where they are, so they are absent. + +Twelfth. When movable property is found in stores that are closed? + +Answer. The goods are security for the rent. If the owner of the +goods prefers to remove the goods to paying rent, he can do so. + +Thirteenth. When the owner lives in town, and refuses to take the +oath of allegiance? + +Answer. If the house be occupied, it does not fall under the +order. If the house be vacant, it does. The owner can recover his +property by taking the oath. + +All persons in Memphis residing within our military lines are +presumed to be loyal, good citizens, and may at any moment be +called to serve on juries, posses comitatua, or other civil service +required by the Constitution and laws of our country. Should they +be called upon to do such duty, which would require them to +acknowledge their allegiance and subordination to the Constitution +of the United States, it would then be too late to refuse. So long +as they remain quiet and conform to these laws, they are entitled +to protection in their property and lives. + +We have nothing to do with confiscation. We only deal with +possession, and therefore the necessity of a strict accountability, +because the United States assumes the place of trustee, and must +account to the rightful owner for his property, rents, and profits. +In due season courts will be established to execute the laws, the +confiscation act included, when we will be relieved of this duty +and trust. Until that time, every opportunity should be given to +the wavering and disloyal to return to their allegiance to the +Constitution of their birth or adoption. I am, etc., + +W. T. SHERMAN. + +Major-General commanding. + + + +HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION +MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, August 26,1862 + +Major-General GRANT, Corinth, Mississippi. + +Sir: In pursuance of your request that I should keep you advised of +matters of interest here, in addition to the purely official +matters, I now write. + +I dispatched promptly the thirteen companies of cavalry, nine of +Fourth Illinois, and four of Eleventh Illinois, to their respective +destinations, punctually on the 23d instant, although the order was +only received on the 22d. I received at the same time, from +Colonel Dickey, the notice that the bridge over Hatchie was burned, +and therefore I prescribed their order of march via Bolivar. They +started at 12 m. of the 23d, and I have no news of them since. +None of the cavalry ordered to me is yet heard from. + +The guerrillas have destroyed several bridges over Wolf Creek; one +at Raleigh, on the road by which I had prescribed trade and travel +to and from the city. I have a strong guard at the lower bridge +over Wolf River, by which we can reach the country to the north of +that stream; but, as the Confederates have burned their own +bridges, I will hold them to my order, and allow no trade over any +other road than the one prescribed, using the lower or Randolph +road for our own convenience. I am still satisfied there is no +large force of rebels anywhere in the neighborhood. All the navy +gunboats are below except the St. Louis, which lies off the city. +When Commodore Davis passes down from Cairo, I will try to see him, +and get him to exchange the St. Louis for a fleeter boat not +iron-clad; one that can move up and down the river, to break up +ferry-boats and canoes, and to prevent all passing across the +river. Of course, in spite of all our efforts, smuggling is +carried on. We occasionally make hauls of clothing, gold-lace, +buttons, etc., but I am satisfied that salt and arms are got to the +interior somehow. I have addressed the Board of Trade a letter on +this point, which will enable us to control it better. + +You may have been troubled at hearing reports of drunkenness here. +There was some after pay-day, but generally all is as quiet and +orderly as possible. I traverse the city every day and night, and +assert that Memphis is and has been as orderly a city as St. Louis, +Cincinnati, or New York. + +Before the city authorities undertook to license saloons, there was +as much whiskey here as now, and it would take all my command as +customhouse inspectors, to break open all the parcels and packages +containing liquor. I can destroy all groggeries and shops where +soldiers get liquor just as we would in St. Louis. + +The newspapers are accusing me of cruelty to the sick; as base a +charge as was ever made. I would not let the Sanitary Committee +carry off a boat-load of sick, because I have no right to. We have +good hospitals here, and plenty of them. Our regimental hospitals +are in the camps of the men, and the sick do much better there than +in the general hospitals; so say my division surgeon and the +regimental surgeons. The civilian doctors would, if permitted, +take away our entire command. General Curtis sends his sick up +here, but usually no nurses; and it is not right that nurses should +be taken from my command for his sick. I think that, when we are +endeavoring to raise soldiers and to instruct them, it is bad +policy to keep them at hospitals as attendants and nurses. + +I send you Dr. Derby's acknowledgment that he gave the leave of +absence of which he was charged. I have placed him in arrest, in +obedience to General Halleck's orders, but he remains in charge of +the Overton Hospital, which is not full of patients. + +The State Hospital also is not full, and I cannot imagine what Dr. +Derby wants with the Female Academy on Vance Street. I will see +him again, and now that he is the chief at Overton Hospital, I +think he will not want the academy. Still, if he does, under your +orders I will cause it to be vacated by the children and Sisters of +Mercy. They have just advertised for more scholars, and will be +sadly disappointed. If, however, this building or any other be +needed for a hospital, it must be taken; but really, in my heart, I +do not see what possible chance there is, under present +circumstances, of filling with patients the two large hospitals now +in use, besides the one asked for. I may, however, be mistaken in +the particular building asked for by Dr. Derby, and will go myself +to see. + +The fort is progressing well, Captain Jenney having arrived. +Sixteen heavy guns are received, with a large amount of shot and +shell, but the platforms are not yet ready; still, if occasion +should arise for dispatch, I can put a larger force to work. +Captain Prime, when here, advised that the work should proceed +regularly under the proper engineer officers and laborers. +I am, etc., + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + + +HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION +MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, September 4, 1862 + +Colonel J. C, KELTON, Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters of +the army, Washington, D. C. + +DEAR COLONEL: Please acknowledge to the major-general commanding +the receipt by me of his letter, and convey to him my assurances +that I have promptly modified my first instructions about cotton, +so as to conform to his orders. Trade in cotton is now free, but +in all else I endeavor so to control it that the enemy shall +receive no contraband goods, or any aid or comfort; still I feel +sure that the officers of steamboats are sadly tempted by high +prices to land salt and other prohibited articles at waypoints +along the river. This, too, in time will be checked. All seems +well here and hereabout; no large body of the enemy within striking +distance. A force of about two thousand, cavalry passed through +Grand Junction north last Friday, and fell on a detachment of the +Bolivar army at Middleburg, the result of which is doubtless +reported to you. As soon as I heard of the movement, I dispatched +a force to the southeast by way of diversion, and am satisfied that +the enemy's infantry and artillery fell back in consequence behind +the Tallahatchie. The weather is very hot, country very dry, and +dust as bad as possible. I hold my two divisions ready, with their +original complement of transportation, for field service. Of +course all things most now depend on events in front of Washington +and in Kentucky. The gunboat Eastport and four transports loaded +with prisoners of war destined for Vicksburg have been lying before +Memphis for two days, but are now steaming up to resume their +voyage. Our fort progresses well, but our guns are not yet +mounted. The engineers are now shaping the banquette to receive +platforms. I expect Captain Prime from Corinth in two or three +days. + +I am, with great respect, yours, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + + +HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION +MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, September 21, 1862 + +Editor Bulletin. + +SIR: Your comments on the recent orders of Generals Halleck and +McClellan afford the occasion appropriate for me to make public the +fact that there is a law of Congress, as old as our Government +itself, but reenacted on the 10th of April, 1806, and in force ever +since. That law reads: + +"All officers and soldiers are to behave themselves orderly in +quarters and on the march; and whoever shall commit any waste or +spoil, either in walks of trees, parks, warrens, fish-ponds, houses +and gardens, cornfields, inclosures or meadows, or shall +maliciously destroy any property whatever belonging to the +inhabitants of the United States, unless by order of the +commander-in-chief of the armies of said United States, shall +(besides such penalties as they are liable to by law) be punished +according to the nature and degree of the offense, by the judgment +of a general or regimental court-martial." + +Such is the law of Congress; and the orders of the commander- +in-chief are, that officers or soldiers convicted of straggling and +pillaging shall be punished with death. These orders have not come +to me officially, but I have seen them in newspapers, and am +satisfied that they express the determination of the commander- +in-chief. Straggling and pillaging have ever been great military +crimes; and every officer and soldier in my command knows what +stress I have laid upon them, and that, so far as in my power lies, +I will punish them to the full extent of the law and orders. + +The law is one thing, the execution of the law another. God +himself has commanded: "Thou shalt not kill," "thou shalt not +steal," "thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods," etc. Will +any one say these things are not done now as well as before these +laws were announced at Sinai. I admit the law to be that "no officer +or soldier of the United States shall commit waste or destruction +of cornfields, orchards, potato-patches, or any kind of pillage on +the property of friend or foe near Memphis," and that I stand +prepared to execute the law as far as possible. + +No officer or soldier should enter the house or premises of any +peaceable citizen, no matter what his politics, unless on business; +and no such officer or soldier can force an entrance unless he have +a written order from a commanding officer or provost-marshal, which +written authority must be exhibited if demanded. When property +such as forage, building or other materials are needed by the +United States, a receipt will be given by the officer taking them, +which receipt should be presented to the quartermaster, who will +substitute therefor a regular voucher, to be paid-according to the +circumstances of the case. If the officer refuse to give such +receipt, the citizen may fairly infer that the property is +wrongfully taken, and he should, for his own protection, ascertain +the name, rank, and regiment of the officer, and report him in +writing. If any soldier commits waste or destruction, the person +whose property is thus wasted must find out the name, company, and +regiment of the actual transgressor. In order to punish there must +be a trial, and there must be testimony. It is not sufficient that +a general accusation be made, that soldiers are doing this or that. +I cannot punish my whole command, or a whole battalion, because one +or two bad soldiers do wrong. The punishment must reach the +perpetrators, and no one can identify them as well as the party who +is interested. The State of Tennessee does not hold itself +responsible for acts of larceny committed by her citizens, nor does +the United Staten or any other nation. These are individual acts +of wrong, and punishment can only be inflicted on the wrong-doer. +I know the difficulty of identifying particular soldiers, but +difficulties do not alter the importance of principles of justice. +They should stimulate the parties to increase their efforts to find +out the actual perpetrators of the crime. + +Colonels of regiments and commanders of corps are liable to severe +punishment for permitting their men to leave their camps to commit +waste or destruction; but I know full well that many of the acts +attributed to soldiers are committed by citizens and negroes, and +are charged to soldiers because of a desire to find fault with +them; but this only reacts upon the community and increases the +mischief. While every officer would willingly follow up an +accusation against any one or more of his men whose names or +description were given immediately after the discovery of the act, +he would naturally resent any general charge against his good men, +for the criminal conduct of a few bad ones. + +I have examined into many of the cases of complaint made in this +general way, and have felt mortified that our soldiers should do +acts which are nothing more or less than stealing, but I was +powerless without some clew whereby to reach the rightful party. I +know that the great mass of our soldiers would scorn to steal or +commit crime, and I will not therefore entertain vague and general +complaints, but stand, prepared always to follow up any reasonable +complaint when the charge is definite and the names of witnesses +furnished. + +I know, moreover, in some instances when our soldiers are +complained of, that they have been insulted by sneering remarks +about "Yankees," "Northern barbarians," "Lincoln's hirelings," +etc. People who use such language must seek redress through some +one else, for I will not tolerate insults to our country or cause. +When people forget their obligations to a Government that made them +respected among the nations of the earth, and speak contemptuously +of the flag which is the silent emblem of that country, I will not +go out of my way to protect them or their property. I will punish +the soldiers for trespass or waste if adjudged by a court-martial, +because they disobey orders; but soldiers are men and citizens as +well as soldiers, and should promptly resent any insult to their +country, come from what quarter it may. I mention this phase +because it is too common. Insult to a soldier does not justify +pillage, but it takes from the officer the disposition he would +otherwise feel to follow up the inquiry and punish the wrong-doers. + +Again, armies in motion or stationary must commit some waste. +Flankers must let down fences and cross fields; and, when an attack +is contemplated or apprehended, a command will naturally clear the +ground of houses, fences, and trees. This is waste, but is the +natural consequence of war, chargeable on those who caused the war. +So in fortifying a place, dwelling-houses must be taken, materials +used, even wasted, and great damage done, which in the end may +prove useless. This, too, is an expense not chargeable to us, but +to those who made the war; and generally war is destruction and +nothing else. + +We must bear this in mind, that however peaceful things look, we +are really at war; and much that looks like waste or destruction is +only the removal of objects that obstruct our fire, or would afford +cover to an enemy. + +This class of waste must be distinguished from the wanton waste +committed by army-stragglers, which is wrong, and can be punished +by the death-penalty if proper testimony can be produced. + +Yours, etc., + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + +Satisfied that, in the progress of the war, Memphis would become an +important depot, I pushed forward the construction of Fort +Pickering, kept most of the troops in camps back of the city, and +my own headquarters remained in tents on the edge of the city, near +Mr. Moon's house, until, on the approach of winter, Mrs. Sherman +came down with the children to visit me, when I took a house nearer +the fort. + +All this time battalion and brigade drills were enforced, so that, +when the season approached for active operations farther south, I +had my division in the best possible order, and about the 1st of +November it was composed as follows: + +First Brigade, Brigadier-General M. L. SMITH--Eighth Missouri, +Colonel G. A. Smith; Sixth Missouri, Colonel Peter E. Bland; One +Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois, Colonel George B. Hoge; +Fifty-fourth Ohio, Colonel T. Kilby Smith; One Hundred and +Twentieth Illinois, Colonel G. W. McKeaig. + +Second Brigade, Colonel JOHN ADAIR McDOWELL.--Sixth Iowa, +Lieutenant-Colonel John M. Corse; Fortieth Illinois, Colonel J. W. +Booth; Forty-sixth Ohio, Colonel O. C. Walcutt; Thirteenth United +States Infantry, First Battalion, Major D. Chase. + +Third Brigade, Brigadier-General J. W. DENVER.--Forty-eighth Ohio, +Colonel P. J. Sullivan; Fifty-third Ohio, Colonel W. S. Jones; +Seventieth Ohio, Colonel J. R. Cockerill. + +Fourth Brigade, Colonel DAVID STUART.--Fifty-fifth Illinois, +Colonel O. Malmburg; Fifty-seventh Ohio, Colonel W. Mungen; +Eighty-third Indiana, Colonel B. Spooner; One Hundred and Sixteenth +Illinois, Colonel Tupper; One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois, +Lieutenant-Colonel Eldridge. + +Fifth Brigade, Colonel R. P. BUCKLAND.--Seventy-second Ohio, +Lieutenant-Colonel D. W. C. Loudon; Thirty-second Wisconsin, +Colonel J. W. Howe; Ninety-third Indiana, Colonel Thomas; +Ninety-third Illinois, Major J. M. Fisher. + + +Subsequently, Brigadier-General J. G. Lauman arrived at Memphis, +and I made up a sixth brigade, and organized these six brigades +into three divisions, under Brigadier-Generals M. L. Smith, J. W. +Denver, and J. G. Lauman. + +About the 17th of November I received an order from General Grant, +dated: + +LAGRANGE, November 16, 1862. + +Meet me at Columbus, Kentucky, on Thursday next. If you have a +good map of the country south of you, take it up with you. + +U. S. GRANT, Major-General. + + +I started forthwith by boat, and met General Grant, who had reached +Columbus by the railroad from Jackson, Tennessee. He explained to +me that he proposed to move against Pemberton, then intrenched on a +line behind the Tallahatchie River below Holly Springs; that he +would move on Holly Springs and Abberville, from Grand Junction; +that McPherson, with the troops at Corinth, would aim to make +junction with him at Holly Springs; and that he wanted me to leave +in Memphis a proper garrison, and to aim for the Tallahatchie, so +as to come up on his right by a certain date. He further said that +his ultimate object was to capture Vicksburg, to open the +navigation of the Mississippi River, and that General Halleck had +authorized him to call on the troops in the Department of Arkansas, +then commanded by General S. R. Curtis, for cooperation. I +suggested to him that if he would request General Curtis to send an +expedition from some point on the Mississippi, near Helena, then +held in force, toward Grenada, to the rear of Pemberton, it would +alarm him for the safety of his communications, and would assist us +materially in the proposed attack on his front. He authorized me +to send to the commanding officer at Helena a request to that +effect, and, as soon as I reached Memphis, I dispatched my aide, +Major McCoy, to Helena, who returned, bringing me a letter from +General Frederick Steele, who had just reached Helena with +Osterhaus's division, and who was temporarily in command, General +Curtis having gone to St. Louis. This letter contained the +assurance that he "would send from Friar's Point a large force +under Brigadier-General A. P. Hovey in the direction of Grenada, +aiming to reach the Tallahatchie at Charleston, on the next Monday, +Tuesday, or Wednesday (December 1st) at furthest." My command was +appointed to start on Wednesday, November 24th, and meantime +Major-General S. A. Hurlbut, having reported for duty, was assigned +to the command of Memphis, with four regiments of infantry one +battery of artillery, two companies of Thielman's cavalry and the +certain prospect of soon receiving a number of new regiments, known +to be en route. + +I marched out of Memphis punctually with three small divisions, +taking different roads till we approached the Tallahatchie, when we +converged on Wyatt to cross the river, there a bold, deep stream, +with a newly-constructed fort behind. I had Grierson's Sixth +Illinois Cavalry with me, and with it opened communication with +General Grant when we were abreast of Holly Springs. We reached +Wyatt on the 2d day of December without the least opposition, and +there learned that Pemberton's whole army had fallen back to the +Yalabusha near Grenada, in a great measure by reason of the +exaggerated reports concerning the Helena force, which had reached +Charleston; and some of General Hovey's cavalry, under General +Washburn, having struck the railroad in the neighborhood of +Coffeeville, naturally alarmed General Pemberton for the safety of +his communications, and made him let go his Tallahatchie line with +all the forts which he had built at great cost in labor. We had to +build a bridge at Wyatt, which consumed a couple of days, and on +the 5th of December my whole command was at College Hill, ten miles +from Oxford, whence I reported to General Grant in Oxford. + +On the 8th I received the following letter: + +OXFORD MISSISSIPPI, December 8, 1862--Morning + +General SHERMAN, College Hill. + +DEAR GENERAL: The following is a copy of dispatch just received +from Washington: + + +WASHINGTON, December 7, 1862--12M + +General GRANT: + +The capture of Grenada may change our plans in regard to Vicksburg. +You will move your troops as you may deem best to accomplish the +great object in view. You will retain, till further orders, all +troops of General Curtis now in your department. Telegraph to +General Allen in St. Louis for all steamboats you may require. Ask +Porter to cooperate. Telegraph what are your present plans. + +H. W. HALLECK, General-in.-Chief. + + +I wish you would come over this evening and stay to-night, or come +in the morning. I would like to talk with you about this matter. +My notion is to send two divisions back to Memphis, and fix upon a +day when they should effect a landing, and press from here with +this command at the proper time to cooperate. If I do not do this +I will move our present force to Grenada, including Steele's, +repairing road as we proceed, and establish a depot of provisions +there. When a good ready is had, to move immediately on Jackson, +Mississippi, cutting loose from the road. Of the two plans I look +most favorably on the former. + +Come over and we will talk this matter over. +Yours truly, + +U. S. GRANT, Major-General. + + +I repaired at once to Oxford, and found General Grant in a large +house with all his staff, and we discussed every possible chance. +He explained to me that large reenforcements had been promised, +which would reach Memphis very soon, if not already there; that the +entire gunboat fleet, then under the command of Admiral D. D. +Porter, would cooperate; that we could count on a full division +from the troops at Helena; and he believed that, by a prompt +movement, I could make a lodgment up the Yazoo and capture +Vicksburg from the rear; that its garrison was small, and he, at +Oxford, would so handle his troops as to hold Pemberton away from +Vicksburg. I also understood that, if Pemberton should retreat +south, he would follow him up, and would expect to find me at the +Yazoo River, if not inside of Vicksburg. I confess, at that moment +I did not dream that General McClernand, or anybody else, was +scheming for the mere honor of capturing Vicksburg. We knew at the +time that General Butler had been reenforced by General Banks at +New Orleans, and the latter was supposed to be working his way +up-stream from New Orleans, while we were working down. That day +General Grant dispatched to General Halleck, in Washington, as +follows: + +OXFORD, December 8, 1862. + +Major-General H. W. HALLECK, Washington, D. C.: + +General Sherman will command the expedition down the Mississippi. +He will have a force of about forty thousand men; will land above +Vicksburg (up the Yazoo, if practicable), and out the Mississippi +Central road and the road running east from Vicksburg, where they +cross Black River. I will cooperate from here, my movements +depending on those of the enemy. With the large cavalry force now +at my command, I will be able to have them show themselves at +different points on the Tallahatchie and Yalabusha; and, when an +opportunity occurs, make a real attack. After cutting the two +roads, General Sherman's movements to secure the end desired will +necessarily be left to his judgment. + +I will occupy this road to Coffeeville. + +U. S. GRANT, Major-General. + + +I was shown this dispatch before it was sent, and afterward the +general drew up for me the following letter of instructions in his +own handwriting, which I now possess: + +HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS +DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, +OXFORD, Mississippi, December 8, 1862. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Right Wing Army In the +Field, present. + +GENERAL: You will proceed with as little delay as practicable to +Memphis, Tennessee, taking with you one division of your present +command. On your arrival at Memphis you will assume command of all +the troops there, and that portion of General Curtis's forces at +present east of the Mississippi River, and organize them into +brigades and divisions in your own way. + +As soon as possible move with them down the river to the vicinity +of Vicksburg, and, with the cooperation of the gunboat fleet under +command of Flag-Officer Porter, proceed to the reduction of that +place in such manner as circumstances and your own judgment may +dictate. + +The amount of rations, forage, land transportation, etc., necessary +to take, will be left entirely to yourself. + +The quartermaster in St. Louis will be instructed to send you +transportation for thirty thousand men. Should you still find +yourself deficient, your quartermaster will be authorized to make +up the deficiency from such transports as may come into the port of +Memphis. + +On arriving in Memphis put yourself in communication with Admiral +Porter, and arrange with him for his cooperation. + +Inform me at the earliest practicable day of the time when you will +embark, and such plans as may then be matured. I will hold the +forces here in readiness to cooperate with you in such manner as +the movements of the enemy may make necessary. + +Leave the District of Memphis in the command of an efficient +officer and with a garrison of four regiments of infantry, the +siege-guns, and what ever cavalry force may be there. + +One regiment of infantry and at least a section of artillery will +also be left at Friar's Point or Delta, to protect the stores of +the cavalry post that will be left there. Yours truly, + +U. S. GRANT, Major-General. + + +I also insert here another letter, dated the 14th instant, sent +afterward to me at Memphis, which completes all instructions +received by me governing the first movement against Vicksburg: + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE +OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI, December 14, 1862 + +Major-General SHERMAN, commanding, etc., +Memphis, Tennessee. + +I have not had one word from Grierson since he left, and am getting +uneasy about him. I hope General Gorman will give you no +difficulty about retaining the troops on this side the river, and +Steele to command them. The twenty-one thousand men you have, with +the twelve thousand from Helena, will make a good force. The enemy +are as yet on the Yalabusha. I am pushing down on them slowly, but +so as to keep up the impression of a continuous move. I feel +particularly anxious to have the Helena cavalry on this side of the +river; if not now, at least after you start. If Gorman will send +them, instruct them where to go and how to communicate with me. My +headquarters will probably be in Coffeeville one week hence.... In +the mean time I will order transportation, etc.... It would be well +if you could have two or three small boats suitable for navigating +the Yazoo. It may become necessary for me to look to that base for +supplies before we get through.... + +U. S. GRANT, Major-General. + + +When we rode to Oxford from College Hill, there happened a little +circumstance which seems worthy of record. While General Van Dorn +had his headquarters in Holly Springs, viz., in October, 1862, he +was very short of the comforts and luxuries of life, and resorted +to every possible device to draw from the abundant supplies in +Memphis. He had no difficulty whatever in getting spies into the +town for information, but he had trouble in getting bulky supplies +out through our guards, though sometimes I connived at his supplies +of cigars, liquors, boots, gloves, etc., for his individual use; +but medicines and large supplies of all kinds were confiscated, if +attempted to be passed out. As we rode that morning toward Oxford, +I observed in a farmer's barn-yard a wagon that looked like a city +furniture-wagon with springs. We were always short of wagons, so I +called the attention of the quartermaster, Colonel J. Condit Smith, +saying, "There is a good wagon; go for it." He dropped out of the +retinue with an orderly, and after we had ridden a mile or so he +overtook us, and I asked him, "What luck?" He answered, "All +right; I have secured that wagon, and I also got another," and +explained that he had gone to the farmer's house to inquire about +the furniture-wagon, when the farmer said it did not belong to him, +but to some party in Memphis, adding that in his barn was another +belonging to the same party. They went to the barn, and there +found a handsome city hearse, with pall and plumes. The farmer +said they had had a big funeral out of Memphis, but when it reached +his house, the coffin was found to contain a fine assortment of +medicines for the use of Van Dorn's army. Thus under the pretense +of a first-class funeral, they had carried through our guards the +very things we had tried to prevent. It was a good trick, but +diminished our respect for such pageants afterward. + +As soon as I was in possession of General Grant's instructions of +December 8th, with a further request that I should dispatch Colonel +Grierson, with his cavalry, across by land to Helena, to notify +General Steele of the general plan, I returned to College Hill, +selected the division of Brigadier-General Morgan L. Smith to +return with me to Memphis; started Grierson on his errand to +Helena, and ordered Generals Denver and Lauman to report to General +Grant for further orders. We started back by the most direct +route, reached Memphis by noon of December 12th, and began +immediately the preparations for the Vicksburg movement. There I +found two irregular divisions which had arrived at Memphis in my +absence, commanded respectively by Brigadier-General A. J. Smith +and Brigadier-General George W. Morgan. These were designated the +First and Third Divisions, leaving the Second Division of Morgan Z. +Smith to retain its original name and number. + +I also sent orders, in the name of General Grant, to General +Gorman, who meantime had replaced General Steele in command of +Helena, in lieu of the troops which had been east of the +Mississippi and had returned, to make up a strong division to +report to me on my way down. This division was accordingly +organized, and was commanded by Brigadier-General Frederick Steele, +constituting my Fourth Division. + +Meantime a large fleet of steamboats was assembling from St. Louis +and Cairo, and Admiral Porter dropped down to Memphis with his +whole gunboat fleet, ready to cooperate in the movement. The +preparations were necessarily hasty in the extreme, but this was +the essence of the whole plan, viz., to reach Vicksburg as it were +by surprise, while General Grant held in check Pemberton's army +about Grenada, leaving me to contend only with the smaller garrison +of Vicksburg and its well-known strong batteries and defenses. On +the 19th the Memphis troops were embarked, and steamed down to +Helena, where on the 21st General Steele's division was also +embarked; and on the 22d we were all rendezvoused at Friar's Point, +in the following order, viz.: + +Steamer Forest Queen, general headquarters, and battalion +Thirteenth United States Infantry. + +First Division, Brigadier-General A. J. SMITH.--Steamers Des Arc, +division headquarters and escort; Metropolitan, Sixth Indiana; J. +H. Dickey, Twenty-third Wisconsin; J. C. Snow, Sixteenth Indiana; +Hiawatha, Ninety-sixth Ohio; J. S. Pringle, Sixty-seventh Indiana; +J. W. Cheeseman, Ninth Kentucky; R. Campbell, Ninety-seventh +Indiana; Duke of Argyle, Seventy-seventh Illinois; City of Alton, +One Hundred and Eighth and Forty-eighth Ohio; City of Louisiana, +Mercantile Battery; Ohio Belle, Seventeenth Ohio Battery; Citizen, +Eighty-third Ohio; Champion, commissary-boat; General Anderson, +Ordnance. + +Second Division,, Brigadier-General M. L. SMITH.--Steamers +Chancellor, headquarters, and Thielman's cavalry; Planet, One +Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois; City of Memphis, Batteries A and B +(Missouri Artillery), Eighth Missouri, and section of Parrott guns; +Omaha, Fifty-seventh Ohio; Sioux City, Eighty-third Indiana; Spread +Eagle, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois; Ed. Walsh, One +Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois; Westmoreland, Fifty-fifth +Illinois, headquarters Fourth Brigade; Sunny South, Fifty-fourth +Ohio; Universe, Sixth Missouri; Robert Allen, commissary-boat. + +Third Division, Brigadier-General G. W. MORGAN.--Steamers Empress, +division headquarters; Key West, One Hundred and Eighteenth +Illinois; Sam Gaty, Sixty-ninth Indiana; Northerner, One Hundred +and Twentieth Ohio; Belle Peoria, headquarters Second Brigade, two +companies Forty-ninth Ohio, and pontoons; Die Vernon, Third +Kentucky; War Eagle, Forty-ninth Indiana (eight companies), and +Foster's battery; Henry von Phul, headquarters Third Brigade, and +eight companies Sixteenth Ohio; Fanny Bullitt, One Hundred and +Fourteenth Ohio, and Lamphere's battery; Crescent City, +Twenty-second Kentucky and Fifty-fourth Indiana; Des Moines, +Forty-second Ohio; Pembina, Lamphere's and Stone's batteries; Lady +Jackson, commissary-boat. + +Fourth Division, Brigadier-General FREDERICK STEELE--Steamers +Continental, headquarters, escort and battery; John J. Roe, Fourth +and Ninth Iowa; Nebraska, Thirty-first Iowa; Key West, First Iowa +Artillery; John Warner, Thirteenth Illinois; Tecumseh, Twenty-sixth +Iowa; Decatur, Twenty-eighth Iowa; Quitman, Thirty-fourth Iowa; +Kennett, Twenty ninth Missouri; Gladiator, Thirtieth Missouri; +Isabella, Thirty-first Missouri; D. G. Taylor, quartermaster's +stores and horses; Sucker State, Thirty-second Missouri; Dakota, +Third Missouri; Tutt, Twelfth Missouri Emma, Seventeenth Missouri; +Adriatic, First Missouri; Meteor, Seventy-sixth Ohio; Polar Star, +Fifty-eighth Ohio. + + +At the same time were communicated the following instructions: + +HEADQUARTERS RIGHT WING, THIRTEENTH ARMY Corps +FOREST QUEEN, December 23, 1882. + +To Commanders of Divisions, Generals F. STEELE, GEORGE W. MORGAN, +A.J. SMITH, and M. L. SMITH + +With this I hand to each of you a copy of a map, compiled from the +best sources, and which in the main is correct. It is the same +used by Admiral Porter and myself. Complete military success can +only be accomplished by united action on some general plan, +embracing usually a large district of country. In the present +instance, our object is to secure the navigation of the Mississippi +River and its main branches, and to hold them as military channels +of communication and for commercial purposes. The river, above +Vicksburg, has been gained by conquering the country to its rear, +rendering its possession by our enemy useless and unsafe to him, +and of great value to us. But the enemy still holds the river from +Vicksburg to Baton Rouge, navigating it with his boats, and the +possession of it enables him to connect his communications and +routes of supply, east and west. To deprive him of this will be a +severe blow, and, if done effectually, will be of great advantage +to us, and probably, the most decisive act of the war. To +accomplish this important result we are to act our part--an +important one of the great whole. General Banks, with a large +force, has reinforced General Butler in Louisiana, and from that +quarter an expedition, by water and land, is coming northward. +General Grant, with the Thirteenth Army Corps, of which we compose +the right wing, is moving southward. The naval squadron (Admiral +Porter) is operating with his gunboat fleet by water, each in +perfect harmony with the other. + +General Grant's left and centre were at last accounts approaching +the Yalabusha, near Grenada, and the railroad to his rear, by which +he drew his supplies, was reported to be seriously damaged. This +may disconcert him somewhat, but only makes more important our line +of operations. At the Yalabusha General Grant may encounter the +army of General Pemberton, the same which refused him battle on the +line of the Tallahatchie, which was strongly fortified; but, as he +will not have time to fortify it, he will hardly stand there; and, +in that event, General Grant will immediately advance down the high +ridge between the Big Black and Yazoo, and will expect to meet us +on the Yazoo and receive from us the supplies which he needs, and +which he knows we carry along. Parts of this general plan are to +cooperate with the naval squadron in the reduction of Vicksburg; to +secure possession of the land lying between the Yazoo and Big +Black; and to act in concert with General Grant against Pemberton's +forces, supposed to have Jackson, Mississippi, as a point of +concentration. Vicksburg is doubtless very strongly fortified, +both against the river and land approaches. Already the gunboats +have secured the Yazoo up for twenty-three miles, to a fort on the +Yazoo at Haines's Bluff, giving us a choice for a landing-place at +some point up the Yazoo below this fort, or on the island which +lies between Vicksburg and the present mouth of the Yazoo. (See +map [b, c, d], Johnson's plantation.) + + But, before any actual collision with the enemy, I purpose, +after our whole land force is rendezvoused at Gaines's Landing, +Arkansas, to proceed in order to Milliken's Bend (a), and there +dispatch a brigade, without wagons or any incumbrances whatever, to +the Vicksburg & Shreveport Railroad (at h and k), to destroy that +effectually, and to cut off that fruitful avenue of supply; then to +proceed to the mouth of the Yazoo, and, after possessing ourselves +of the latest and most authentic information from naval officers +now there, to land our whole force on the Mississippi side, and +then to reach the point where the Vicksburg & Jackson Railroad +crosses the Big Black (f); after which to attack Vicksburg by land, +while the gun-boats assail it by water. It may be necessary +(looking to Grant's approach), before attacking Vicksburg, to +reduce the battery at Haine's Bluff first, so as to enable some of +the lighter gunboats and transports to ascend the Yazoo and +communicate with General Grant. The detailed manner of +accomplishing all these results will be communicated in due season, +and these general points are only made known at this time, that +commanders may study the maps, and also that in the event of +non-receipt of orders all may act in perfect concert by following +the general movement, unless specially detached. + +You all now have the same map, so that no mistakes or confusion +need result from different names of localities. All possible +preparations as to wagons, provisions, axes, and intrenching-tools, +should be made in advance, so that when we do land there will be no +want of them. When we begin to act on shore, we must do the work +quickly and effectually. The gunboats under Admiral Porter will do +their full share, and I feel every assurance that the army will not +fall short in its work. + +Division commanders may read this to regimental commanders, and +furnish brigade commanders a copy. They should also cause as many +copies of the map to be made on the same scale as possible, being +very careful in copying the names. + +The points marked e and g (Allan's and Mount Albans) are evidently +strategical points that will figure in our future operations, and +these positions should be well studied. + +I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +The Mississippi boats were admirably calculated for handling +troops, horses, guns, stores, etc., easy of embarkation and +disembarkation, and supplies of all kinds were abundant, except +fuel. For this we had to rely on wood, but most of the wood-yards, +so common on the river before the war, had been exhausted, so that +we had to use fence-rails, old dead timber, the logs of houses, +etc. Having abundance of men and plenty of axes, each boat could +daily procure a supply. + +In proceeding down the river, one or more of Admiral Porter's +gunboats took the lead; others were distributed throughout the +column, and some brought up the rear. We manoeuvred by divisions +and brigades when in motion, and it was a magnificent sight as we +thus steamed down the river. What few inhabitants remained at the +plantations on the river-bank were unfriendly, except the slaves; +some few guerrilla-parties infested the banks, but did not dare to +molest so, strong a force as I then commanded. + +We reached Milliken's Bend on Christmas-day, when I detached one +brigade (Burbridge's), of A. J. Smith's division, to the southwest, +to break up the railroad leading from Vicksburg toward Shreveport, +Louisiana. Leaving A. J. Smith's division there to await the +return of Burbridge, the remaining three divisions proceeded, on +the 26th, to the mouth of the Yazoo, and up that river to +Johnson's plantation, thirteen miles, and there disembarked +Steele's division above the mouth of Chickasaw Bayou, Morgans +division near the house of Johnson (which had been burned by the +gunboats on a former occasion), and M. L. Smith's just below. A. +J. Smith's division arrived the next night, and disembarked below +that of M. L. Smith. The place of our disembarkation was in fact +an island, separated from the high bluff known as Walnut Hills, on +which the town of Vicksburg stands, by a broad and shallow +bayou-evidently an old channel of the Yazoo. On our right was +another wide bayou, known as Old River; and on the left still +another, much narrower, but too deep to be forded, known as +Chickasaw Bayou. All the island was densely wooded, except +Johnson's plantation, immediately on the bank of the Yazoo, and a +series of old cotton-fields along Chickasaw Bayou. There was a +road from Johnson's plantation directly to Vicksburg, but it +crossed numerous bayous and deep swamps by bridges, which had been +destroyed; and this road debouched on level ground at the foot of +the Vicksburg bluff, opposite strong forts, well prepared and +defended by heavy artillery. On this road I directed General A. J. +Smith's division, not so much by way of a direct attack as a +diversion and threat. + +Morgan was to move to his left, to reach Chickasaw Bayou, and to +follow it toward the bluff, about four miles above A. J. Smith. +Steele was on Morgan's left, across Chickasaw Bayou, and M. L. +Smith on Morgan's right. We met light resistance at all points, +but skirmished, on the 27th, up to the main bayou, that separated +our position from the bluffs of Vicksburg, which were found to be +strong by nature and by art, and seemingly well defended. On +reconnoitring the front in person, during the 27th and 28th, I +became satisfied that General A. J. Smith could not cross the +intervening obstacles under the heavy fire of the forts immediately +in his front, and that the main bayou was impassable, except at two +points--one near the head of Chickasaw Bayou, in front of Morgan, +and the other about a mile lower down, in front of M. L. Smith's +division. + +During the general reconnoissance of the 28th General Morgan L. +Smith received a severe and dangerous wound in his hip, which +completely disabled him and compelled him to go to his steamboat, +leaving the command of his division to Brigadier General D. +Stuart; but I drew a part of General A. J. Smith's division, and +that general himself, to the point selected for passing the bayou, +and committed that special task to his management. + +General Steele reported that it was physically impossible to reach +the bluffs from his position, so I ordered him to leave but a show +of force there, and to return to the west side of Chickasaw Bayou +in support of General Morgan's left. He had to countermarch and +use the steamboats in the Yazoo to get on the firm ground on our +side of the Chickasaw. + +On the morning of December 29th all the troops were ready and in +position. The first step was to make a lodgment on the foot-hills +and bluffs abreast of our position, while diversions were made by +the navy toward Haines's Bluff, and by the first division directly +toward Vicksburg. I estimated the enemy's forces, then strung from +Vicksburg to Haines's Bluff, at fifteen thousand men, commanded by +the rebel Generals Martin Luther Smith and Stephen D. Lee. Aiming +to reach firm ground beyond this bayou, and to leave as little time +for our enemy to reenforce as possible, I determined to make a show +of attack along the whole front, but to break across the bayou at +the two points named, and gave general orders accordingly. I +pointed out to General Morgan the place where he could pass the +bayou, and he answered, "General, in ten minutes after you give the +signal I'll be on those hills." He was to lead his division in +person, and was to be supported by Steele's division. The front +was very narrow, and immediately opposite, at the base of the hills +about three hundred yards from the bayou, was a rebel battery, +supported by an infantry force posted on the spurs of the hill +behind. To draw attention from this, the real point of attack, I +gave instructions to commence the attack at the flanks. + +I went in person about a mile to the right rear of Morgan's +position, at a place convenient to receive reports from all other +parts of the line; and about noon of December 29th gave the orders +and signal for the main attack. A heavy artillery-fire opened +along our whole line, and was replied to by the rebel batteries, +and soon the infantry-fire opened heavily, especially on A. J. +Smith's front, and in front of General George W. Morgan. One +brigade (DeCourcey's) of Morgan's troops crossed the bayou safely, +but took to cover behind the bank, and could not be moved forward. +Frank Blairs brigade, of Steele's division, in support, also +crossed the bayou, passed over the space of level ground to the +foot of the hills; but, being unsupported by Morgan, and meeting a +very severe cross-fire of artillery, was staggered and gradually +fell back, leaving about five hundred men behind, wounded and +prisoners; among them Colonel Thomas Fletcher, afterward Governor +of Missouri. Part of Thayer's brigade took a wrong direction, and +did not cross the bayou at all; nor did General Morgan cross in +person. This attack failed; and I have always felt that it was due +to the failure of General G. W. Morgan to obey his orders, or to +fulfill his promise made in person. Had he used with skill and +boldness one of his brigades, in addition to that of Blair's, he +could have made a lodgment on the bluff, which would have opened +the door for our whole force to follow. Meantime the Sixth +Missouri Infantry, at heavy loss, had also crossed the bayou at the +narrow passage lower down, but could not ascend the steep bank; +right over their heads was a rebel battery, whose fire was in a +measure kept down by our sharp-shooters (Thirteenth United States +Infantry) posted behind logs, stumps, and trees, on our side of the +bayou. + +The men of the Sixth Missouri actually scooped out with their hands +caves in the bank, which sheltered them against the fire of the +enemy, who, right over their heads, held their muskets outside the +parapet vertically, and fired down So critical was the position, +that we could not recall the men till after dark, and then one at a +time. Our loss had been pretty heavy, and we had accomplished +nothing, and had inflicted little loss on our enemy. At first I +intended to renew the assault, but soon became satisfied that, the +enemy's attention having been drawn to the only two practicable +points, it would prove too costly, and accordingly resolved to look +elsewhere for a point below Haines's Bluff, or Blake's plantation. +That night I conferred with Admiral Porter, who undertook to cover +the landing; and the next day (December 30th) the boats were all +selected, but so alarmed were the captains and pilots, that we had +to place sentinels with loaded muskets to insure their remaining at +their posts. Under cover of night, Steele's division, and one +brigade of Stuart's, were drawn out of line, and quietly embarked +on steamboats in the Yazoo River. The night of December 30th was +appointed for this force, under the command of General Fred Steele, +to proceed up the Yazoo just below Haines's Bluff, there to +disembark about daylight, and make a dash for the hills. Meantime +we had strengthened our positions near Chickasaw Bayou, had all our +guns in good position with parapets, and had every thing ready to +renew our attack as soon as we heard the sound of battle above. + +At midnight I left Admiral Porter on his gunboat; he had his fleet +ready and the night was propitious. I rode back to camp and gave +orders for all to be ready by daybreak; but when daylight came I +received a note from General Steele reporting that, before his +boats had got up steam, the fog had settled down on the river so +thick and impenetrable, that it was simply impossible to move; so +the attempt had to be abandoned. The rain, too, began to fall, and +the trees bore water-marks ten feet above our heads, so that I +became convinced that the part of wisdom was to withdraw. I +ordered the stores which had been landed to be reembarked on the +boats, and preparations made for all the troops to regain their +proper boats during the night of the 1st of January, 1863. From +our camps at Chickasaw we could hear, the whistles of the trains +arriving in Vicksburg, could see battalions of men marching up +toward Haines's Bluff, and taking post at all points in our front. +I was more than convinced that heavy reenforcements were coming to +Vicksburg; whether from Pemberton at Grenada, Bragg in Tennessee, +or from other sources, I could not tell; but at no point did the +enemy assume the offensive; and when we drew off our rear-guard, on +the morning of the 2d, they simply followed up the movement, +timidly. Up to that moment I had not heard a word from General +Grant since leaving Memphis; and most assuredly I had listened for +days for the sound of his guns in the direction of Yazoo City. On +the morning of January 2d, all my command were again afloat in +their proper steamboats, when Admiral Porter told me that General +McClernand had arrived at the mouth of the Yazoo in the steamboat +Tigress, and that it was rumored he had come down to supersede me. +Leaving my whole force where it was, I ran down to the month of the +Yazoo in a small tug boat, and there found General McClernand, with +orders from the War Department to command the expeditionary force +on the Mississippi River. I explained what had been done, and what +was the actual state of facts; that the heavy reenforcements +pouring into Vicksburg must be Pemberton's army, and that General +Grant must be near at hand. He informed me that General Grant was +not coming at all; that his depot at Holly Springs had been +captured by Van Dorn, and that he had drawn back from Coffeeville +and Oxford to Holly Springs and Lagrange; and, further, that +Quinby's division of Grant's army was actually at Memphis for +stores when he passed down. This, then, fully explained how +Vicksburg was being reenforced. I saw that any attempt on the +place from the Yazoo was hopeless; and, with General McClernand's +full approval, we all came out of the Yazoo, and on the 3d of +January rendezvoused at Milliken's Bend, about ten miles above. +On the 4th General McClernand issued his General Order No. 1, +assuming command of the Army of the Mississippi, divided into two +corps; the first to be commanded by General Morgan, composed of his +own and A. J. Smith's divisions; and the second, composed of +Steele's and Stuart's divisions, to be commanded by me. Up to that +time the army had been styled the right wing of (General Grant's) +Thirteenth Army Corps, and numbered about thirty thousand men. The +aggregate loss during the time of any command, mostly on the 29th +of December, was one hundred and seventy-five killed, nine hundred +and thirty wounded, and seven hundred and forty-three prisoners. +According to Badeau, the rebels lost sixty-three killed, one +hundred and thirty-four wounded, and ten prisoners. It afterward +transpired that Van Dorn had captured Holly Springs on the 20th of +December, and that General Grant fell back very soon after. +General Pemberton, who had telegraphic and railroad communication +with Vicksburg, was therefore at perfect liberty to reenforce the +place with a garrison equal, if not superior, to my command. The +rebels held high, commanding ground, and could see every movement +of our men and boats, so that the only possible hope of success +consisted in celerity and surprise, and in General Grant's holding +all of Pemberton's army hard pressed meantime. General Grant was +perfectly aware of this, and had sent me word of the change, but it +did not reach me in time; indeed, I was not aware of it until after +my assault of December 29th, and until the news was brought me by +General McClernand as related. General McClernand was appointed to +this command by President Lincoln in person, who had no knowledge +of what was then going on down the river. Still, my relief, on the +heels of a failure, raised the usual cry, at the North, of +"repulse, failure, and bungling." There was no bungling on my +part, for I never worked harder or with more intensity of purpose +in my life; and General Grant, long after, in his report of the +operations of the siege of Vicksburg, gave us all full credit for +the skill of the movement, and described the almost impregnable +nature of the ground; and, although in all official reports I +assumed the whole responsibility, I have ever felt that had General +Morgan promptly and skillfully sustained the lead of Frank Blair's +brigade on that day, we should have broken the rebel line, and +effected a lodgment on the hills behind Vicksburg. General Frank +Blair was outspoken and indignant against Generals Morgan and De +Courcey at the time, and always abused me for assuming the whole +blame. But, had we succeeded, we might have found ourselves in a +worse trap, when General Pemberton was at full liberty to turn his +whole force against us. While I was engaged at Chickasaw Bayou, +Admiral Porter was equally busy in the Yazoo River, threatening the +enemy's batteries at Haines's and Snyder's Bluffs above. In a +sharp engagement he lost one of his best officers, in the person of +Captain Gwin, United States Navy, who, though on board an ironclad, +insisted on keeping his post on deck, where he was struck in the +breast by a round shot, which carried away the muscle, and +contused the lung within, from which he died a few days after. We +of the army deplored his loss quite as much as his fellows of the +navy, for he had been intimately associated with us in our previous +operations on the Tennessee River, at Shiloh and above, and we had +come to regard him as one of us. + +On the 4th of January, 1863, our fleet of transports was collected +at Milliken's Bend, about ten miles above the mouth of the Yazoo, +Admiral Porter remaining with his gunboats at the Yazoo. General +John A. McClernand was in chief command, General George W. Morgan +commanded the First Corps and I the Second Corps of the Army of the +Mississippi. + +I had learned that a small steamboat, the Blue Wing, with a mail, +towing coal-barges and loaded with ammunition, had left Memphis for +the Yazoo, about the 20th of December, had been captured by a rebel +boat which had come out of the Arkansas River, and had been carried +up that river to Fort Hind. + +We had reports from this fort, usually called the "Post of +Arkansas," about forty miles above the mouth, that it was held by +about five thousand rebels, was an inclosed work, commanding the +passage of the river, but supposed to be easy of capture from the +rear. At that time I don't think General McClernand had any +definite views or plays of action. If so, he did not impart them +to me. He spoke, in general terms of opening the navigation of the +Mississippi, "cutting his way to the sea," etc., etc., but the +modus operandi was not so clear. Knowing full well that we could +not carry on operations against Vicksburg as long as the rebels +held the Post of Arkansas, whence to attack our boats coming and +going without convoy, I visited him on his boat, the Tigress, took +with me a boy who had been on the Blue Wing, and had escaped, and +asked leave to go up the Arkansas, to clear out the Post. He made +various objections, but consented to go with me to see Admiral +Porter about it. We got up steam in the Forest Queen, during the +night of January 4th, stopped at the Tigress, took General +McClernand on board, and proceeded down the river by night to the +admiral's boat, the Black Hawk, lying in the mouth of the Yazoo. +It must have been near midnight, and Admiral Porter was in +deshabille. We were seated in his cabin and I explained my views +about Arkansas Post, and asked his cooperation. He said that he +was short of coal, and could not use wood in his iron-clad boats. +Of these I asked for two, to be commanded by Captain Shirk or +Phelps, or some officer of my acquaintance. At that moment, poor +Gwin lay on his bed, in a state-room close by, dying from the +effect of the cannon shot received at Haines's Bluff, as before +described. Porter's manner to McClernand was so curt that I +invited him out into a forward-cabin where he had his charts, and +asked him what he meant by it. He said that "he did not like him;" +that in Washington, before coming West, he had been introduced to +him by President Lincoln, and he had taken a strong prejudice +against him. I begged him, for the sake of harmony, to waive that, +which he promised to do. Returning to the cabin, the conversation +was resumed, and, on our offering to tow his gunboats up the river +to save coal, and on renewing the request for Shirk to command the +detachment, Porter said, "Suppose I go along myself?" I answered, +if he would do so, it would insure the success of the enterprise. +At that time I supposed General McClernand would send me on this +business, but he concluded to go himself, and to take his whole +force. Orders were at once issued for the troops not to disembark +at Milliken's Bend, but to remain as they were on board the +transports. My two divisions were commanded--the First, by +Brigadier-General Frederick Steele, with three brigades, commanded +by Brigadier-Generals F. P. Blair, C. E. Hooey, and J. M. Thayer; +the Second, by Brigadier-General D. Stuart, with two brigades, +commanded by Colonels G. A. Smith and T. Kilby Smith. + +The whole army, embarked on steamboats convoyed by the gunboats, of +which three were iron-clads, proceeded up the Mississippi River to +the mouth of White River, which we reached January 8th. On the +next day we continued up White River to the "Cut-off;" through this +to the Arkansas, and up the Arkansas to Notrib's farm, just below +Fort Hindman. Early the next morning we disembarked. Stuart's +division, moving up the river along the bank, soon encountered a +force of the enemy intrenched behind a line of earthworks, +extending from the river across to the swamp. I took Steele's +division, marching by the flank by a road through the swamp to the +firm ground behind, and was moving up to get to the rear of Fort +Hindman, when General McClernand overtook me, with the report that +the rebels had abandoned their first position, and had fallen back +into the fort. By his orders, we counter-marched, recrossed the +swamp, and hurried forward to overtake Stuart, marching for Fort +Hindman. The first line of the rebels was about four miles below +Fort Hindman, and the intervening space was densely, wooded and +obscure, with the exception of some old fields back of and close to +the fort. During the night, which was a bright moonlight one, we +reconnoitred close up, and found a large number of huts which had +been abandoned, and the whole rebel force had fallen back into and +about the fort. Personally I crept up to a stump so close that I +could hear the enemy hard at work, pulling down houses, cutting +with axes, and building intrenchments. I could almost hear their +words, and I was thus listening when, about 4 A. M. the bugler in +the rebel camp sounded as pretty a reveille as I ever listened to. + +When daylight broke it revealed to us a new line of parapet +straight across the peninsula, connecting Fort Hindman, on the +Arkansas River bank, with the impassable swamp about a mile to its +left or rear. This peninsula was divided into two nearly equal +parts by a road. My command had the ground to the right of the +road, and Morgan's corps that to the left. McClernand had his +quarters still on the Tigress, back at Notrib's farm, but moved +forward that morning (January 11th) to a place in the woods to our +rear, where he had a man up a tree, to observe and report the +movements. + +There was a general understanding with Admiral Porter that he was +to attack the fort with his three ironclad gunboats directly by its +water-front, while we assaulted by land in the rear. About 10 a.m. +I got a message from General McClernand, telling me where he could +be found, and asking me what we were waiting for. I answered that +we were then in close contact with the enemy, viz., about five or +six hundred yards off; that the next movement must be a direct +assault; that this should be simultaneous along the whole line; and +that I was waiting to hear from the gunboats; asking him to notify +Admiral Porter that we were all ready. In about half an hour I +heard the clear ring of the navy-guns; the fire gradually +increasing in rapidity and advancing toward the fort. I had +distributed our field-guns, and, when I judged the time had come, I +gave the orders to begin. The intervening ground between us and +the enemy was a dead level, with the exception of one or two small +gullies, and our men had no cover but the few standing trees and +some logs on the ground. The troops advanced well under a heavy +fire, once or twice falling to the ground for a sort of rest or +pause. Every tree had its group of men, and behind each log was a +crowd of sharp-shooters, who kept up so hot a fire that the rebel +troops fired wild. The fire of the fort proper was kept busy by +the gunboats and Morgan's corps, so that all my corps had to +encounter was the direct fire from the newly-built parapet across +the peninsula. This line had three sections of field-guns, that +kept things pretty lively, and several round-shot came so near me +that I realized that they were aimed at my staff; so I dismounted, +and made them scatter. + +As the gunboats got closer up I saw their flags actually over the +parapet of Fort Hindman, and the rebel gunners scamper out of the +embrasures and run down into the ditch behind. About the same time +a man jumped up on the rebel parapet just where the road entered, +waving a large white flag, and numerous smaller white rags appeared +above the parapet along the whole line. I immediately ordered, +"Cease firing!" and sent the same word down the line to General +Steele, who had made similar progress on the right, following the +border of he swamp. I ordered my aide, Colonel Dayton, to jump on +his horse and ride straight up to the large white flag, and when +his horse was on the parapet I followed with the rest of my staff. +All firing had ceased, except an occasional shot away to the right, +and one of the captains (Smith) of the Thirteenth Regulars was +wounded after the display of the white flag. On entering the line, +I saw that our muskets and guns had done good execution; for there +was a horse-battery, and every horse lay dead in the traces. The +fresh-made parapet had been knocked down in many places, and dead +men lay around very thick. I inquired who commanded at that point, +and a Colonel Garland stepped up and said that he commanded that +brigade. I ordered him to form his brigade, stack arms, hang the +belts on the muskets, and stand waiting for orders. Stuart's +division had been halted outside the parapet. I then sent Major +Hammond down the rebel line to the right, with orders to stop +Steele's division outside, and to have the other rebel brigade +stack its arms in like manner, and to await further orders. I +inquired of Colonel Garland who commanded in chief, and he said +that General Churchill did, and that he was inside the fort. I +then rode into the fort, which was well built, with good parapets, +drawbridge, and ditch, and was an inclosed work of four bastions. +I found it full of soldiers and sailors, its parapets toward the +river well battered in, and Porter's gunboats in the river, close +against the fort, with their bows on shore. I soon found General +Churchill, in conversation with Admiral Porter and General A. J. +Smith, and about this time my adjutant-general, Major J. H. +Hammond, came and reported that General Deshler, who commanded the +rebel brigade facing and opposed to Steele, had refused to stack +arms and surrender, on the ground that he had received no orders +from his commanding general; that nothing separated this brigade +from Steele's men except the light parapet, and that there might be +trouble there at any moment. I advised General Churchill to send +orders at once, because a single shot might bring the whole of +Steele's division on Deshler's brigade, and I would not be +responsible for the consequences; soon afterward, we both concluded +to go in person. General Churchill had the horses of himself and +staff in the ditch; they were brought in, and we rode together to +where Garland was standing, and Churchill spoke to him in an angry +tone, "Why did you display the white flag!" Garland replied, "I +received orders to do so from one of your staff." Churchill denied +giving such an order, and angry words passed between them. I +stopped them, saying that it made little difference then, as they +were in our power. We continued to ride down the line to its +extreme point, where we found Deshler in person, and his troops +were still standing to the parapet with their muskets in hand. +Steele'e men were on the outside. I asked Deshler: "What does this +mean? You are a regular officer, and ought to know better." He +answered, snappishly, that "he had received no orders to +surrender;" when General Churchill said: "You see, sir, that we are +in their power, and you may surrender." Deshler turned to his +staff-officers and ordered them to repeat the command to "stack +arms," etc., to the colonels of his brigade. I was on my horse, +and he was on foot. Wishing to soften the blow of defeat, I spoke +to him kindly, saying that I knew a family of Deshlers in Columbus, +Ohio, and inquired if they were relations of his. He disclaimed +any relation with people living north of the Ohio, in an offensive +tone, and I think I gave him a piece of my mind that he did not +relish. He was a West Point graduate, small but very handsome, and +was afterward killed in battle. I never met him again. + +Returning to the position where I had first entered the rebel line, +I received orders from General McClernand, by one of his staff, to +leave General A. J. Smith in charge of the fort and prisoners, and +with my troops to remain outside. The officer explained that the +general was then on the Tigress, which had moved up from below, to +a point in the river just above the fort; and not understanding his +orders, I concluded to go and see him in person. My troops were +then in possession of two of the three brigades which composed the +army opposed to us; and my troops were also in possession of all +the ground of the peninsula outside the "fort-proper" (Hindman). I +found General McClernand on the Tigress, in high spirits. He said +repeatedly: "Glorious! glorious! my star is ever in the ascendant!" +He spoke complimentarily of the troops, but was extremely jealous +of the navy. He said: "I'll make a splendid report;" "I had a man +up a tree;" etc. I was very hungry and tired, and fear I did not +appreciate the honors in reserve for us, and asked for something to +eat and drink. He very kindly ordered something to be brought, and +explained to me that by his "orders" he did not wish to interfere +with the actual state of facts; that General A. J. Smith would +occupy "Fort Hindman," which his troops had first entered, and I +could hold the lines outside, and go on securing the prisoners and +stores as I had begun. I returned to the position of Garland's +brigade and gave the necessary orders for marching all the +prisoners, disarmed, to a pocket formed by the river and two deep +gullies just above the fort, by which time it had become quite +dark. After dark another rebel regiment arrived from Pine Bluff, +marched right in, and was also made prisoners. There seemed to be +a good deal of feeling among the rebel officers against Garland, +who asked leave to stay with me that night, to which I of course +consented. Just outside the rebel parapet was a house which had +been used for a hospital. I had a room cleaned out, and occupied +it that night. A cavalry-soldier lent me his battered coffee-pot +with some coffee and scraps of hard bread out of his nose-bag; +Garland and I made some coffee, ate our bread together, and talked +politics by the fire till quite late at night, when we lay down on +straw that was saturated with the blood of dead or wounded men. +The next day the prisoners were all collected on their boats, lists +were made out, and orders given for their transportation to St. +Louis, in charge of my aide, Major Sanger. We then proceeded to +dismantle and level the forts, destroy or remove the stores, and we +found in the magazine the very ammunition which had been sent for +us in the Blue Wing, which was secured and afterward used in our +twenty-pound Parrott guns. + +On the 13th we reembarked; the whole expedition returned out of the +river by the direct route down the Arkansas during a heavy +snow-storm, and rendezvoused in the Mississippi, at Napoleon, at +the mouth of the Arkansas. Here General McClernand told me he had +received a letter from General Grant at Memphis, who disapproved of +our movement up the Arkansas; but that communication was made +before he had learned of our complete success. When informed of +this, and of the promptness with which it had been executed, he +could not but approve. We were then ordered back to Milliken's +Bend, to await General Grant's arrival in person. We reached +Milliken's Bend January 21st. + +McClernand's report of the capture of Fort Hindman almost ignored +the action of Porter's fleet altogether. This was unfair, for I +know that the admiral led his fleet in person in the river-attack, +and that his guns silenced those of Fort Hindman, and drove the +gunners into the ditch. + +The aggregate loss in my corps at Arkansas Post was five hundred +and nineteen, viz., four officers and seventy-five men killed, +thirty-four officers and four hundred and six men wounded. I never +knew the losses in the gunboat fleet, or in Morgan's corps; but +they must have been less than in mine, which was more exposed. The +number of rebel dead must have been nearly one hundred and fifty; +of prisoners, by actual count, we secured four thousand seven +hundred and ninety-one, and sent them north to St. Louis. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +VICKSBURG. + +JANUARY TO JULY, 1888. + + +The campaign of 1863, resulting, in the capture of Vicksburg, was +so important, that its history has been well studied and well +described in all the books treating of the civil war, more +especially by Dr. Draper, in his "History of the Civil War in +America," and in Badeau's "Military History of General Grant." In +the latter it is more fully and accurately given than in any other, +and is well illustrated by maps and original documents. I now need +only attempt to further illustrate Badeau's account by some +additional details. When our expedition came out of the Arkansas +River, January, 18,1863, and rendezvoused at the river-bank, in +front of the town of Napoleon, Arkansas, we were visited by General +Grant in person, who had come down from Memphis in a steamboat. +Although at this time Major-General J. A. McClernand was in command +of the Army of the Mississippi, by virtue of a confidential order +of the War Department, dated October 21, 1862, which order bore the +indorsement of President Lincoln, General Grant still exercised a +command over him, by reason of his general command of the +Department of the Tennessee. By an order (No. 210) of December 18, +1862, from the War Department, received at Arkansas Post, the +Western armies had been grouped into five corps d'armee, viz.: the +Thirteenth, Major-General McClernand; the Fourteenth, Major-General +George H. Thomas, in Middle Tennessee; the Fifteenth, Major-General +W. T. Sherman; the Sixteenth, Major-General Hurlbut, then at or +near Memphis; and the Seventeenth, Major-General McPherson, also at +and back of Memphis. General Grant when at Napoleon, on the 18th +of January, ordered McClernand with his own and my corps to return +to Vicksburg, to disembark on the west bank, and to resume work on +a canal across the peninsula, which had been begun by General +Thomas Williams the summer before, the object being to turn the +Mississippi River at that point, or at least to make a passage for +our fleet of gunboats and transports across the peninsula, opposite +Vicksburg. General Grant then returned to Memphis, ordered to Lake +Providence, about sixty miles above us, McPherson's corps, the +Seventeenth, and then came down again to give his personal +supervision to the whole movement. + +The Mississippi River was very high and rising, and we began that +system of canals on which we expended so much hard work +fruitlessly: first, the canal at Young's plantation, opposite +Vicksburg; second, that at Lake Providence; and third, at the Yazoo +Pass, leading into the head-waters of the Yazoo River. Early in +February the gunboats Indianola and Queen of the West ran the +batteries of Vicksburg. The latter was afterward crippled in Red +River, and was captured by the rebels; and the Indianola was butted +and sunk about forty miles below Vicksburg. We heard the booming +of the guns, but did not know of her loss till some days after. +During the months of January and February, we were digging the +canal and fighting off the water of the Mississippi, which +continued to rise and threatened to drown us. We had no sure place +of refuge except the narrow levee, and such steamboats as remained +abreast of our camps. My two divisions furnished alternately a +detail of five hundred men a day, to work on the canal. So high +was the water in the beginning of March, that McClernand's corps +was moved to higher ground, at Milliken's Bend, but I remained at +Young's plantation, laid off a due proportion of the levee for each +subdivision of my command, and assigned other parts to such +steamboats as lay at the levee. My own headquarters were in Mrs. +Grove's house, which had the water all around it, and could only be +reached by a plank-walk from the levee, built on posts. General +Frederick Steele commanded the first division, and General D. Smart +the second; this latter division had been reenforced by General +Hugh Ewing's brigade, which had arrived from West Virginia. + +At the time of its date I received the following note from General +Grant: + +MILLIKEN'S BEND, March 16, 1863 + +General SHERMAN. + +DEAR SIR: I have just returned from a reconnoissance up Steele's +Bayou, with the admiral (Porter), and five of his gunboats. With +some labor in cutting tree-tops out of the way, it will be +navigable for any class of steamers. + +I want you to have your pioneer corps, or one regiment of good men +for such work, detailed, and at the landing as soon as possible. + +The party will want to take with them their rations, arms, and +sufficient camp and garrison equipage for a few days. I will have +a boat at any place you may designate, as early as the men can be +there. The Eighth Missouri (being many of them boatmen) would be +excellent men for this purpose. + +As soon as you give directions for these men to be in readiness, +come up and see me, and I will explain fully. The tug that takes +this is instructed to wait for you. A full supply of axes will be +required. + +Very respectfully, + +U. S. GRANT, Major-General. + + +This letter was instantly (8 a.m.) sent to Colonel Giles A. Smith, +commanding the Eighth Missouri, with orders to prepare immediately. +He returned it at 9.15, with an answer that the regiment was all +ready. I went up to Milliken's Bend in the tug, and had a +conference with the general, resulting in these orders: + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE +BEFORE VICKSBURG, March 16, 1863 + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Fifteenth Army Corps. + +GENERAL: You will proceed as early as practicable up Steele's +Bayou, and through Black Bayou to Deer Creek, and thence with the +gunboats now there by any route they may take to get into the Yazoo +River, for the purpose of determining the feasibility of getting an +army through that route to the east bank of that river, and at a +point from which they can act advantageously against Vicksburg. + +Make such details from your army corps as may be required to clear +out the channel of the various bayous through which transports +would have to ran, and to hold such points as in your judgment +should be occupied. + +I place at your disposal to-day the steamers Diligent and Silver +Wave, the only two suitable for the present navigation of this +route. Others will be supplied you as fast as required, and they +can be got. + +I have given directions (and you may repeat them) that the party +going on board the steamer Diligent push on until they reach Black +Bayou, only stopping sufficiently long at any point before reaching +there to remove such obstructions as prevent their own progress. +Captain Kossak, of the Engineers, will go with this party. The +other boat-load will commence their work in Steele's Bayou, and +make the navigation as free as possible all the way through. + +There is but little work to be done in Steele's Bayou, except for +about five miles abort midway of the bayou. In this portion many +overhanging trees will have to be removed, and should be dragged +out of the channel. + +Very respectfully, + +U. S. GRANT, Major-General. + + +On returning to my camp at Young's Point, I started these two boats +up the Yazoo and Steele's Bayou, with the Eighth Missouri and some +pioneers, with axes, saws, and all the tools necessary. I gave +orders for a part of Stuart's division to proceed in the large +boats up the Mississippi River to a point at Gwin's plantation, +where a bend of Steele's Bayou neared the main river; and the next +day, with one or two stag-officers and orderlies, got a navy-tug, +and hurried up to overtake Admiral Porter. About sixty miles up +Steele's Bayou we came to the gunboat Price, Lieutenant Woodworth, +United States Navy; commanding, and then turned into Black Bayou, a +narrow, crooked channel, obstructed by overhanging oaks, and filled +with cypress and cotton-wood trees. The gunboats had forced their +way through, pushing aside trees a foot in diameter. In about four +miles we overtook the gunboat fleet just as it was emerging into +Deer Creek. Along Deer Creek the alluvium was higher, and there +was a large cotton-plantation belonging to a Mr. Hill, who was +absent, and the negroes were in charge of the place. Here I +overtook Admiral Porter, and accompanied him a couple of miles up +Deer Creek, which was much wider and more free of trees, with +plantations on both sides at intervals. Admiral Porter thought he +had passed the worst, and that he would be able to reach the +Rolling Fork and Sunflower. He requested me to return and use all +possible means to clear out Black Bayou. I returned to Hill's +plantation, which was soon reached by Major Coleman, with a part +of the Eighth Missouri; the bulk of the regiment and the pioneers +had been distributed along the bayous, and set to work under +the general supervision of Captain Kosaak. The Diligent and +Silver Wave then returned to twin's plantation and brought up +Brigadier-General Giles A. Smith, with the Sixth Missouri, and part +of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois. Admiral Porter was then +working up Deer Creek with his iron-clads, but he had left me a tug, +which enabled me to reconnoitre the country, which was all under +water except the narrow strip along Deer Creek. During the 19th I +heard the heavy navy-guns booming more frequently than seemed +consistent with mere guerrilla operations; and that night I got a +message from Porter, written on tissue-paper, brought me through +the swamp by a negro, who had it concealed in a piece of tobacco. + +The admiral stated that he had met a force of infantry and +artillery which gave him great trouble by killing the men who had +to expose themselves outside the iron armor to shove off the bows +of the boats, which had so little headway that they would not +steer. He begged me to come to his rescue as quickly as possible. +Giles A. Smith had only about eight hundred men with him, but I +ordered him to start up Deer Creek at once, crossing to the east +side by an old bridge at Hill's plantation, which we had repaired +for the purpose; to work his way up to the gunboat, fleet, and to +report to the admiral that I would come, up with every man I could +raise as soon as possible. I was almost alone at Hill's, but took +a canoe, paddled down Black Bayou to the gunboat Price, and there, +luckily, found the Silver wave with a load of men just arrived from +twin's plantation. Taking some of the parties who were at work +along the bayou into an empty coal-barge, we tugged it up by a +navy-tug, followed by the Silver Wave, crashing through the trees, +carrying away pilot-house, smoke-stacks, and every thing +above-deck; but the captain (McMillan, of Pittsburg) was a brave +fellow, and realized the necessity. The night was absolutely +black, and we could only make two and a half of the four miles. We +then disembarked, and marched through the canebrake, carrying +lighted candles in our hands, till we got into the open +cotton-fields at Hill's plantation, where we lay down for a few +hours' rest. These men were a part of Giles A. Smith's brigade, +and part belonged to the brigade of T. Bilby Smith, the senior +officer present being Lieutenant-Colonel Rice, Fifty-fourth Ohio, +an excellent young officer. We had no horses. + +On Sunday morning, March 21st, as soon as daylight appeared, we +started, following the same route which Giles A. Smith had taken +the day before; the battalion of the Thirteenth United States +Regulars, Major Chase, in the lead. We could hear Porter's guns, +and knew that moments were precious. Being on foot myself, no man +could complain, and we generally went at the double-quick, with +occasional rests. The road lay along Deer Creek, passing several +plantations; and occasionally, at the bends, it crossed the swamp, +where the water came above my hips. The smaller drummer-boys had +to carry their drums on their heads, and most of the men slang +their cartridge-boxes around their necks. The soldiers generally +were glad to have their general and field officers afoot, but we +gave them a fair specimen of marching, accomplishing about +twenty-one miles by noon. Of course, our speed was accelerated by +the sounds of the navy-guns, which became more and more distinct, +though we could see nothing. At a plantation near some Indian +mounds we met a detachment of the Eighth Missouri, that had been up +to the fleet, and had been sent down as a picket to prevent any +obstructions below. This picket reported that Admiral Porter had +found Deer Creek badly obstructed, had turned back; that there was +a rebel force beyond the fleet, with some six-pounders, and nothing +between us and the fleet. So I sat down on the door-sill of a +cabin to rest, but had not been seated ten minutes when, in the +wood just ahead, not three hundred yards off, I heard quick and +rapid firing of musketry. Jumping up, I ran up the road, and found +Lieutenant-Colonel Rice, who said the head of his column had struck +a small force of rebels with a working gang of negroes, provided +with axes, who on the first fire had broken and run back into the +swamp. I ordered Rice to deploy his brigade, his left on the road, +and extending as far into the swamp as the ground would permit, and +then to sweep forward until he uncovered the gunboats. The +movement was rapid and well executed, and we soon came to some +large cotton-fields and could see our gunboats in Deer Creek, +occasionally firing a heavy eight-inch gun across the cotton field +into the swamp behind. About that time Major Kirby, of the Eighth +Missouri, galloped down the road on a horse he had picked up the +night before, and met me. He explained the situation of affairs, +and offered me his horse. I got on bareback, and rode up the +levee, the sailors coming out of their iron-clads and cheering most +vociferously as I rode by, and as our men swept forward across the +cotton-field in full view. I soon found Admiral Porter, who was on +the deck of one of his iron-clads, with a shield made of the +section of a smoke-stack, and I doubt if he was ever more glad to +meet a friend than he was to see me. He explained that he had +almost reached the Rolling Fork, when the woods became full of +sharp-shooters, who, taking advantage of trees, stumps, and the +levee, would shoot down every man that poked his nose outside the +protection of their armor; so that he could not handle his clumsy +boats in the narrow channel. The rebels had evidently dispatched a +force from Haines's Bluff up the Sunflower to the Rolling Fork, had +anticipated the movement of Admiral Porter's fleet, and had +completely obstructed the channel of the upper part of Deer Creek +by felling trees into it, so that further progress in that +direction was simply impossible. It also happened that, at the +instant of my arrival, a party of about four hundred rebels, armed +and supplied with axes, had passed around the fleet and had got +below it, intending in like manner to block up the channel by the +felling of trees, so as to cut off retreat. This was the force we +had struck so opportunely at the time before described. I inquired +of Admiral Porter what he proposed to do, and he said he wanted to +get out of that scrape as quickly as possible. He was actually +working back when I met him, and, as we then had a sufficient force +to cover his movement completely, he continued to back down Deer +Creek. He informed me at one time things looked so critical that +he had made up his mind to blow up the gunboats, and to escape with +his men through the swamp to the Mississippi River. There being no +longer any sharp-shooters to bother the sailors, they made good +progress; still, it took three full days for the fleet to back out +of Deer Creek into Black Bayou, at Hill's plantation, whence +Admiral Porter proceeded to his post at the month of the Yazoo, +leaving Captain Owen in command of the fleet. I reported the facts +to General Grant, who was sadly disappointed at the failure of the +fleet to get through to the Yazoo above Haines's Bluff, and ordered +us all to resume our camps at Young's Point. We accordingly +steamed down, and regained our camps on the 27th. As this +expedition up Deer Creek was but one of many efforts to secure a +footing from which to operate against Vicksburg, I add the report +of Brigadier-General Giles A. Smith, who was the first to reach the +fleet: + +HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION +FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, YOUNGS POINT, LOUISIANA, +March 28, 1863 + +Captain L. M. DAYTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. + +CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report the movements of the First +Brigade in the expedition up Steele's Bayou, Black Bayou, and Deer +Creek. The Sixth Missouri and One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois +regiments embarked at the month of Muddy Bayou on the evening of +Thursday, the 18th of March, and proceeded up Steele's Bayou to the +month of Black; thence up Black Bayou to Hill's plantation, at its +junction with Deer Creek, where we arrived on Friday at four +o'clock p.m., and joined the Eighth Missouri, Lieutenant-Colonel +Coleman commanding, which had arrived at that point two days +before. General Sherman had also established his headquarters +there, having preceded the Eighth Missouri in a tug, with no other +escort than two or three of his staff, reconnoitring all the +different bayous and branches, thereby greatly facilitating the +movements of the troops, but at the same time exposing himself +beyond precedent in a commanding general. At three o'clock of +Saturday morning, the 20th instant, General Sherman having received +a communication from Admiral Porter at the mouth of Rolling Fork, +asking for a speedy cooperation of the land forces with his fleet, +I was ordered by General Sherman to be ready, with all the +available force at that point, to accompany him to his relief; but +before starting it was arranged that I should proceed with the +force at hand (eight hundred men), while he remained, again +entirely unprotected, to hurry up the troops expected to arrive +that night, consisting of the Thirteenth Infantry and One Hundred +and Thirteenth Illinois Volunteers, completing my brigade, and the +Second Brigade, Colonel T. Kilby Smith commanding. + +This, as the sequel showed; proved a very wise measure, and +resulted in the safety of the whole fleet. At daybreak we were in +motion, with a regular guide. We had proceeded but about six +miles, when we found the enemy had been very busy felling trees to +obstruct the creek. + +All the negroes along the route had been notified to be ready at +night fall to continue the work. To prevent this as much as +possible, I ordered all able-bodied negroes to be taken along, and +warned some of the principal inhabitants that they would be held +responsible for any more obstructions being placed across the +creek. We reached the admiral about four o'clock p.m., with no +opposition save my advance-guard (Company A, Sixth Missouri) being +fired into from the opposite side of the creek, killing one man, +and slightly wounding another; having no way of crossing, we had to +content ourselves with driving them beyond musket-range. +Proceeding with as little loss of time as possible, I found the +fleet obstructed in front by fallen trees, in rear by a sunken +coal-barge, and surrounded, by a large force of rebels with an +abundant supply of artillery, but wisely keeping their main force +out of range of the admiral's guns. Every tree and stump covered a +sharp-shooter, ready to pick off any luckless marine who showed his +head above-decks, and entirely preventing the working-parties from +removing obstructions. + +In pursuance of orders from General Sherman, I reported to Admiral +Porter for orders, who turned over to me all the land-forces in his +fleet (about one hundred and fifty men), together with two +howitzers, and I was instructed by him to retain a sufficient force +to clear out the sharp-shooters, and to distribute the remainder +along the creek for six or seven miles below, to prevent any more +obstructions being placed in it during the night. This was +speedily arranged, our skirmishers capturing three prisoners. +Immediate steps were now taken to remove the coal-barge, which was +accomplished about daylight on Sunday morning, when the fleet moved +back toward Black Bayou. By three o'clock p.m. we had only made +about six miles, owing to the large number of trees to be removed; +at this point, where our progress was very slow, we discovered a +long line of the enemy filing along the edge of the woods, and +taking position on the creek below us, and about one mile ahead of +our advance. Shortly after, they opened fire on the gunboats from +batteries behind the cavalry and infantry. The boats not only +replied to the batteries, which they soon silenced, but poured a +destructive fire into their lines. Heavy skirmishing was also +heard in our front, supposed to be by three companies from the +Sixth and Eighth Missouri, whose position, taken the previous night +to guard the creek, was beyond the point reached by the enemy, and +consequently liable to be cut off or captured. Captain Owen, of +the Louisville, the leading boat, made every effort to go through +the obstructions and aid in the rescuing of the men. I ordered +Major Kirby, with four companies of the Sixth Missouri, forward, +with two companies deployed. He soon met General Sherman, with the +Thirteenth Infantry and One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois, +driving the enemy before them, and opening communication along the +creek with the gunboats. Instead of our three companies referred +to as engaging the enemy, General Sherman had arrived at a very +opportune moment with the two regiments mentioned above, and the +Second Brigade. The enemy, not expecting an attack from that +quarter, after some hot skirmishing, retreated. General Sherman +immediately ordered the Thirteenth Infantry and One Hundred and +Thirteenth Illinois to pursue; but, after following their trace for +about two miles, they were recalled. + +We continued our march for about two miles, when we bivouacked for +the night. Early on Monday morning (March 22d) we continued our +march, but owing to the slow progress of the gunboats did not reach +Hill's plantation until Tuesday, the 23d instant, where we remained +until the 25th; we then reembarked, and arrived at Young's Point on +Friday, the 27th instant. + +Below you will find a list of casualties. Very respectfully, + +Giles A. SMITH, +Colonel Eighth Missouri, commanding First Brigade. + +P. S.-I forgot to state above that the Thirteenth Infantry and One +Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois being under the immediate command +of General Sherman, he can mention them as their conduct deserves. + + +On the 3d of April, a division of troops, commanded by +Brigadier-General J. M. Tuttle, was assigned to my corps, and +was designated the Third Division; and, on the 4th of April, +Brigadier-General D. Stuart was relieved from the command of the +Second Division, to which Major-General Frank P. Blair was appointed +by an order from General Grant's headquarters. Stuart had been with +me from the time we were at Benton Barracks, in command of the +Fifty-fifth Illinois, then of a brigade, and finally of a division; +but he had failed in seeking a confirmation by the Senate to his +nomination as brigadier-general, by reason of some old affair at +Chicago, and, having resigned his commission as colonel, he was out +of service. I esteemed him very highly, and was actually mortified +that the service should thus be deprived of so excellent and gallant +an officer. He afterward settled in New Orleans as a lawyer, and +died about 1867 or 1868. + +On the 6th of April, my command, the Fifteenth Corps, was composed +of three divisions: + +The First Division, commanded by Major-General Fred Steele; and his +three brigades by Colonel Manter, Colonel Charles R. Wood, and +Brigadier-General John M. Thayer. + +The Second Division, commanded by Major-General Frank P. Blair; and +his three brigades by Colonel Giles A. Smith, Colonel Thomas Gilby +Smith, and Brigadier-General Hugh Ewing. + +The Third Division, commanded by Brigadier-General J. M. Tuttle; +and his three brigades by Brigadier-General R. P. Buckland, Colonel +J. A. Mower, and Brigadier-General John E. Smith. + +My own staff then embraced: Dayton, McCoy, and Hill, aides; J. H. +Hammond, assistant adjutant-general; Sanger, inspector-general; +McFeeley, commissary; J. Condit Smith, quartermaster; Charles +McMillan, medical director; Ezra Taylor, chief of artillery; +Jno. C. Neely, ordnance-officer; Jenney and Pitzman, engineers. + +By this time it had become thoroughly demonstrated that we could +not divert the main river Mississippi, or get practicable access to +the east bank of the Yazoo, in the rear of Vicksburg, by any of the +passes; and we were all in the habit of discussing the various +chances of the future. General Grant's headquarters were at +Milliken's Bend, in tents, and his army was strung along the river +all the way from Young's Point up to Lake Providence, at least +sixty miles. I had always contended that the best way to take +Vicksburg was to resume the movement which had been so well begun +the previous November, viz., for the main army to march by land +down the country inland of the Mississippi River; while the +gunboat-fleet and a minor land-force should threaten Vicksburg on +its river-front. + +I reasoned that, with the large force then subject to General +Grant's orders-viz., four army corps--he could easily resume the +movement from Memphis, by way of Oxford and Grenada, to Jackson, +Mississippi, or down the ridge between the Yazoo and Big Black; but +General Grant would not, for reasons other than military, take any +course which looked like, a step backward; and he himself concluded +on the river movement below Vicksburg, so as to appear like +connecting with General Banks, who at the same time was besieging +Port Hudson from the direction of New Orleans. + +Preliminary orders had already been given, looking to the digging +of a canal, to connect the river at Duckport with Willow Bayou, +back of Milliken's Bend, so as to form a channel for the conveyance +of supplies, by way of Richmond, to New Carthage; and several steam +dredge-boats had come from the upper rivers to assist in the work. +One day early in April, I was up at General Grant's headquarters, +and we talked over all these things with absolute freedom. Charles +A. Dana, Assistant Secretary of War, was there, and Wilson, +Rawlins, Frank Blair, McPherson, etc. We all knew, what was +notorious, that General McClernand was still intriguing against +General Grant, in hopes to regain the command of the whole +expedition, and that others were raising a clamor against General +Grant in the news papers at the North. Even Mr. Lincoln and +General Halleck seemed to be shaken; but at no instant of time did +we (his personal friends) slacken in our loyalty to him. One +night, after such a discussion, and believing that General +McClernand had no real plan of action shaped in his mind, I wrote +my letter of April 8, 1863, to Colonel Rawlins, which letter is +embraced in full at page 616 of Badeau's book, and which I now +reproduce here: + +HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, +CAMP NEAR VICKSBURG, April 8,1868. + +Colonel J. A. RAWLINS, Assistant Adjutant-General to General GRANT. + +SIR: I would most respectfully suggest (for reasons which I will +not name) that General Grant call on his corps commanders for their +opinions, concise and positive, on the best general plan of a +campaign. Unless this be done, there are men who will, in any +result falling below the popular standard, claim that their advice +was unheeded, and that fatal consequence resulted therefrom. My +own opinions are: + +First. That the Army of the Tennessee is now far in advance of the +other grand armies of the United States. + +Second. That a corps from Missouri should forthwith be moved from +St. Louis to the vicinity of Little Rock, Arkansas; supplies +collected there while the river is full, and land communication +with Memphis opened via Des Arc on the White, and Madison on the +St. Francis River. + +Third. That as much of the Yazoo Pass, Coldwater, and Tallahatchie +Rivers, as can be gained and fortified, be held, and the main army +be transported thither by land and water; that the road back to +Memphis be secured and reopened, and, as soon as the waters +subside, Grenada be attacked, and the swamp-road across to Helena +be patrolled by cavalry. + +Fourth. That the line of the Yalabusha be the base from which to +operate against the points where the Mississippi Central crosses +Big Black, above Canton; and, lastly, where the Vicksburg & Jackson +Railroad crosses the same river (Big Black). The capture of +Vicksburg would result. + +Fifth. That a minor force be left in this vicinity, not to exceed +ten thousand men, with only enough steamboats to float and +transport them to any desired point; this force to be held always +near enough to act with the gunboats when the main army is known to +be near Vicksburg--Haines's Bluff or Yazoo City. + +Sixth. I do doubt the capacity of Willow Bayou (which I estimate +to be fifty miles long and very tortuous) as a military channel, to +supply an army large enough to operate against Jackson, +Mississippi, or the Black River Bridge; and such a channel will be +very vulnerable to a force coming from the west, which we must +expect. Yet this canal will be most useful as the way to convey +coals and supplies to a fleet that should navigate the lower reach +of the Mississippi between Vicksburg and the Red River. + +Seventh. The chief reason for operating solely by water was the +season of the year and high water in the Tallahatchie and Yalabusha +Rivers. The spring is now here, and soon these streams will be no +serious obstacle, save in the ambuscades of the forest, and +whatever works the enemy may have erected at or near Grenada. +North Mississippi is too valuable for us to allow the enemy to hold +it and make crops this year. + +I make these suggestions, with the request that General Grant will +read them and give them, as I know he will, a share of his +thoughts. I would prefer that he should not answer this letter, +but merely give it as much or as little weight as it deserves. +Whatever plan of action he may adopt will receive from me the same +zealous cooperation and energetic support as though conceived by +myself. I do not believe General Banks will make any serious +attack on Port Hudson this spring. I am, etc., + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +This is the letter which some critics have styled a "protest." We +never had a council of war at any time during the Vicksburg +campaign. We often met casually, regardless of rank or power, and +talked and gossiped of things in general, as officers do and +should. But my letter speaks for itself--it shows my opinions +clearly at that stage of the game, and was meant partially to +induce General Grant to call on General McClernand for a similar +expression of opinion, but, so far as I know, he did not. He went +on quietly to work out his own designs; and he has told me, since +the war, that had we possessed in December, 1862, the experience of +marching and maintaining armies without a regular base, which we +afterward acquired, he would have gone on from Oxford as first +contemplated, and would not have turned back because of the +destruction of his depot at Holly Springs by Van Dorn. The +distance from Oxford to the rear of Vicksburg is little greater +than by the circuitous route we afterward followed, from Bruinsburg +to Jackson and Vicksburg, during which we had neither depot nor +train of supplies. I have never criticised General Grant's +strategy on this or any other occasion, but I thought then that +he had lost an opportunity, which cost him and us six months' +extra-hard work, for we might have captured Vicksburg from the +direction of Oxford in January, quite as easily as was afterward +done in July, 1863. + +General Grant's orders for the general movement past Vicksburg, by +Richmond and Carthage, were dated April 20, 1863. McClernand was +to lead off with his corps, McPherson next, and my corps (the +Fifteenth) to bring up the rear. Preliminary thereto, on the night +of April 16th, seven iron-clads led by Admiral Porter in person, in +the Benton, with three transports, and ten barges in tow, ran the +Vicksburg batteries by night. Anticipating a scene, I had four +yawl-boats hauled across the swamp, to the reach of the river below +Vicksburg, and manned them with soldiers, ready to pick up any of +the disabled wrecks as they floated by. I was out in the stream +when the fleet passed Vicksburg, and the scene was truly sublime. +As soon as the rebel gunners detected the Benton, which was in the +lead, they opened on her, and on the others in succession, with +shot and shell; houses on the Vicksburg side and on the opposite +shore were set on fire, which lighted up the whole river; and the +roar of cannon, the bursting of shells, and finally the burning of +the Henry Clay, drifting with the current, made up a picture of the +terrible not often seen. Each gunboat returned the fire as she +passed the town, while the transports hugged the opposite shore. +When the Benton had got abreast of us, I pulled off to her, +boarded, had a few words with Admiral Porter, and as she was +drifting rapidly toward the lower batteries at Warrenton, I left, +and pulled back toward the shore, meeting the gunboat Tuscumbia +towing the transport Forest Queen into the bank out of the range of +fire. The Forest Queen, Captain Conway, had been my flag-boat up +the Arkansas, and for some time after, and I was very friendly with +her officers. This was the only transport whose captain would not +receive volunteers as a crew, but her own officers and crew stuck +to their boat, and carried her safely below the Vicksburg +batteries, and afterward rendered splendid service in ferrying +troops across the river at Grand Gulf and Bruinsburg. In passing +Vicksburg, she was damaged in the hull and had a steam-pipe cut +away, but this was soon repaired. The Henry Clay was set on fire +by bursting shells, and burned up; one of my yawls picked up her +pilot floating on a piece of wreck, and the bulk of her crew +escaped in their own yawl-boat to the shore above. The Silver +Wave, Captain McMillan, the same that was with us up Steele's +Bayou, passed safely, and she also rendered good service afterward. + +Subsequently, on the night of April 26th, six other transports with +numerous barges loaded with hay, corn, freight, and provisions, +were drifted past Vicksburg; of these the Tigress was hit, and sunk +just as she reached the river-bank below, on our side: I was there +with my yawls, and saw Colonel Lagow, of General Grant's staff, who +had passed the batteries in the Tigress, and I think he was +satisfied never to attempt such a thing again. Thus General +Grant's army had below Vicksburg an abundance of stores, and boats +with which to cross the river. The road by which the troops +marched was very bad, and it was not until the 1st of May that it +was clear for my corps. While waiting my turn to march, I received +a letter from General Grant, written at Carthage, saying that he +proposed to cross over and attack Grand Gulf, about the end of +April, and he thought I could put in my time usefully by making a +"feint" on Haines's Bluff, but he did not like to order me to do +it, because it might be reported at the North that I had again been +"repulsed, etc." Thus we had to fight a senseless clamor at the +North, as well as a determined foe and the obstacles of Nature. Of +course, I answered him that I would make the "feint," regardless of +public clamor at a distance, and I did make it most effectually; +using all the old boats I could get about Milliken's Bend and the +mouth of the Yazoo, but taking only ten small regiments, selected +out of Blair's division, to make a show of force. We afterward +learned that General Pemberton in Vicksburg had previously +dispatched a large force to the assistance of General Bowers, at +Grand Gulf and Port Gibson, which force had proceeded as far as +Hankinson's Ferry, when he discovered our ostentatious movement up +the Yazoo, recalled his men, and sent them up to Haines's Bluff to +meet us. This detachment of rebel troops must have marched nearly +sixty miles without rest, for afterward, on reaching Vicksburg, I +heard that the men were perfectly exhausted, and lay along the road +in groups, completely fagged out. This diversion, made with so +much pomp and display, therefore completely fulfilled its purpose, +by leaving General Grant to contend with a minor force, on landing +at Bruinsburg, and afterward at Port Gibson and Grand Gulf. + +In May the waters of the Mississippi had so far subsided that all +our canals were useless, and the roads had become practicable. +After McPherson's corps had passed Richmond, I took up the route of +march, with Steele's and Tuttle's divisions. Blair's division +remained at Milliken's Bend to protect our depots there, till +relieved by troops from Memphis, and then he was ordered to follow +us. Our route lay by Richmond and Roundabout Bayou; then, +following Bayou Vidal we struck the Mississippi at Perkins's +plantation. Thence the route followed Lake St. Joseph to a +plantation called Hard Times, about five miles above Grand Gulf. +The road was more or less occupied by wagons and detachments +belonging to McPherson's corps; still we marched rapidly and +reached Hard Times on the 6th of May. Along the Bayou or Lake St. +Joseph were many very fine cotton plantations, and I recall that of +a Mr. Bowie, brother-in-law of the Hon. Reverdy Johnson, of +Baltimore. The house was very handsome, with a fine, extensive +grass-plot in front. We entered the yard, and, leaving our horses +with the headquarters escort, walked to the house. On the +front-porch I found a magnificent grand-piano, with several +satin-covered arm-chairs, in one of which sat a Union soldier (one +of McPherson's men), with his feet on the keys of the piano, and +his musket and knapsack lying on the porch. I asked him what he +was doing there, and he answered that he was "taking a rest;" this +was manifest and I started him in a hurry, to overtake his command. +The house was tenantless, and had been completely ransacked; +articles of dress and books were strewed about, and a handsome +boudoir with mirror front had been cast down, striking a French +bedstead, shivering the glass. The library was extensive, with a +fine collection of books; and hanging on the wall were two +full-length portraits of Reverdy Johnson and his wife, one of the +most beautiful ladies of our country, with whom I had been +acquainted in Washington at the time of General Taylor's +administration. Behind the mansion was the usual double row of +cabins called the "quarters." There I found an old negro (a family +servant) with several women, whom I sent to the house to put things +in order; telling the old man that other troops would follow, and +he must stand on the porch to tell any officers who came along that +the property belonged to Mr. Bowie, who was the brother-in-law of +our friend Mr. Reverdy Johnson, of Baltimore, asking them to see +that no further harm was done. Soon after we left the house I saw +some negroes carrying away furniture which manifestly belonged to +the house, and compelled them to carry it back; and after reaching +camp that night, at Hard Times, I sent a wagon back to Bowie's +plantation, to bring up to Dr. Hollingsworth's house the two +portraits for safe keeping; but before the wagon had reached +Bowie's the house was burned, whether by some of our men or by +negroes I have never learned. + +At the river there was a good deal of scrambling to get across, +because the means of ferriage were inadequate; but by the aid of +the Forest Queen and several gunboats I got my command across +during the 7th of May, and marched out to Hankiuson's Ferry +(eighteen miles), relieving General Crocker's division of +McPherson's corps. McClernand's corps and McPherson's were still +ahead, and had fought the battle of Port Gibson, on the 11th. I +overtook General Grant in person at Auburn, and he accompanied my +corps all the way into Jackson, which we reached May 14th. +McClernand's corps had been left in observation toward Edwards's +Ferry. McPherson had fought at Raymond, and taken the left-hand +road toward Jackson, via Clinton, while my troops were ordered by +General Grant in person to take the right-hand road leading through +Mississippi Springs. We reached Jackson at the same time; +McPherson fighting on the Clinton road, and my troops fighting just +outside the town, on the Raymond road, where we captured three +entire field-batteries, and about two hundred prisoners of war. +The rebels, under General Joe Johnston, had retreated through the +town northward on the Canton road. Generals Grant, McPherson, and +I, met in the large hotel facing the State-House, where the former +explained to us that he had intercepted dispatches from Pemberton +to Johnston, which made it important for us to work smart to +prevent a junction of their respective forces. McPherson was +ordered to march back early the next day on the Clinton road to +make junction with McClernand, and I was ordered to remain one day +to break up railroads, to destroy the arsenal, a foundery, the +cotton-factory of the Messrs. Green, etc., etc., and then to +follow McPherson. + +McPherson left Jackson early on the 15th, and General Grant during +the same day. I kept my troops busy in tearing up railroad-tracks, +etc., but early on the morning of the 16th received notice from +General Grant that a battle was imminent near Edwards's Depot; that +he wanted me to dispatch one of my divisions immediately, and to +follow with the other as soon as I had completed the work of +destruction. Steele's division started immediately, and later in +the day I followed with the other division (Tuttle's). Just as I +was leaving Jackson, a very fat man came to see me, to inquire if +his hotel, a large, frame building near the depot, were doomed to +be burned. I told him we had no intention to burn it, or any other +house, except the machine-shops, and such buildings as could easily +be converted to hostile uses. He professed to be a law-abiding +Union man, and I remember to have said that this fact was manifest +from the sign of his hotel, which was the "Confederate Hotel;" the +sign "United States" being faintly painted out, and "Confederate" +painted over it! I remembered that hotel, as it was the +supper-station for the New Orleans trains when I used to travel the +road before the war. I had not the least purpose, however, of +burning it, but, just as we were leaving the town, it burst out in +flames and was burned to the ground. I never found out exactly who +set it on fire, but was told that in one of our batteries were some +officers and men who had been made prisoners at Shiloh, with +Prentiss's division, and had been carried past Jackson in a +railroad-train; they had been permitted by the guard to go to this +very hotel for supper, and had nothing to pay but greenbacks, which +were refused, with insult, by this same law-abiding landlord. +These men, it was said, had quietly and stealthily applied the fire +underneath the hotel just as we were leaving the town. + +About dark we met General Grant's staff-officer near Bolton +Station, who turned us to the right, with orders to push on to +Vicksburg by what was known as the upper Jackson Road, which +crossed the Big Black at Bridgeport. During that day (May 16th) +the battle of Champion Hills had been fought and won by +McClernand's and McPherson's corps, aided by one division of mine +(Blairs), under the immediate command of General Grant; and +McPherson was then following the mass of Pemberton's army, +disordered and retreating toward Vicksburg by the Edwards's Ferry +road. General Blair's division had come up from the rear, was +temporarily attached to McClernand's corps, taking part with it in +the battle of Champion Hills, but on the 17th it was ordered by +General Grant across to Bridgeport, to join me there. + +Just beyond Bolton there was a small hewn-log house, standing back +in a yard, in which was a well; at this some of our soldiers were +drawing water. I rode in to get a drink, and, seeing a book on the +ground, asked some soldier to hand it to me. It was a volume of +the Constitution of the United States, and on the title-page was +written the name of Jefferson Davis. On inquiry of a negro, I +learned that the place belonged to the then President of the +Southern Confederation. His brother Joe Davis's plantation was not +far off; one of my staff-officers went there, with a few soldiers, +and took a pair of carriage-horses, without my knowledge at the +time. He found Joe Davis at home, an old man, attended by a young +and affectionate niece; but they were overwhelmed with grief to see +their country overran and swarming with Federal troops. + +We pushed on, and reached the Big Black early, Blair's +troops having preceded us by an hour or so. I found General +Blair in person, and he reported that there was no bridge across +the Big Black; that it was swimming-deep; and that there was +a rebel force on the opposite side, intrenched. He had ordered +a detachment of the Thirteenth United States Regulars, under +Captain Charles Ewing, to strip some artillery-horses, mount the +men, and swim the river above the ferry, to attack and drive +away the party on the opposite bank. I did not approve of this +risky attempt, but crept down close to the brink of the +river-bank, behind a corn-crib belonging to a plantation house near +by, and saw the parapet on the opposite bank. Ordering a section of +guns to be brought forward by hand behind this corn-crib, a few +well-directed shells brought out of their holes the little party +that was covering the crossing, viz., a lieutenant and ten men, who +came down to the river-bank and surrendered. Blair's pon-toon-train +was brought up, consisting of India-rubber boats, one of which was +inflated, used as a boat, and brought over the prisoners. A +pontoon-bridge was at once begun, finished by night, and the troops +began the passage. After dark, the whole scene was lit up with +fires of pitch-pine. General Grant joined me there, and we sat on a +log, looking at the passage of the troops by the light of those +fires; the bridge swayed to and fro under the passing feet, and made +a fine war-picture. At daybreak we moved on, ascending the ridge, +and by 10 a.m. the head of my column, long drawn out, reached the +Benton road, and gave us command of the peninsula between the Yazoo +and Big Black. I dispatched Colonel Swan, of the Fourth Iowa +Cavalry, to Haines's Bluff, to capture that battery from the rear, +and he afterward reported that he found it abandoned, its garrison +having hastily retreated into Vicksburg, leaving their guns +partially disabled, a magazine full of ammunition, and a hospital +full of wounded and sick men. Colonel Swan saw one of our gunboats +lying about two miles below in the Yazoo, to which he signaled. She +steamed up, and to its commander the cavalry turned over the battery +at Haines's Bluff, and rejoined me in front of Vicksburg. Allowing +a couple of hours for rest and to close up the column, I resumed the +march straight on Vicksburg. About two miles before reaching the +forts, the road forked; the left was the main Jackson road, and the +right was the "graveyard" road, which entered Vicksburg near a large +cemetery. General Grant in person directed me to take the +right-hand road, but, as McPherson had not yet got up from the +direction of the railroad-bridge at Big Black, I sent the Eighth +Missouri on the main Jackson road, to push the rebel skirmishers +into town, and to remain until relieved by McPherson's advance, +which happened late that evening, May 18th. The battalion of the +Thirteenth United States Regulars, commanded by Captain Washington, +was at the head of the column on the right-hand road, and pushed the +rebels close behind their parapets; one of my staff, Captain +Pitzman, receiving a dangerous wound in the hip, which apparently +disabled him for life. By night Blair's whole division had closed up +against the defenses of Vicksburg, which were found to be strong and +well manned; and, on General Steele's head of column arriving, I +turned it still more to the right, with orders to work its way down +the bluff, so as to make connection with our fleet in the +Mississippi River. There was a good deal of desultory fighting that +evening, and a man was killed by the aide of General Grant and +myself, as we sat by the road-side looking at Steele's division +passing to the right. General Steele's men reached the road which +led from Vicksburg up to Haines's Bluff, which road lay at the foot +of the hills, and intercepted some prisoners and wagons which were +coming down from Haines's Bluff. + +All that night McPherson's troops were arriving by the main Jackson +road, and McClernand'a by another near the railroad, deploying +forward as fast as they struck the rebel works. My corps (the +Fifteenth) had the right of the line of investment; McPherson's +(the Seventeenth) the centre; and McClernand's (the Thirteenth) the +left, reaching from the river above to the railroad below. Our +lines connected, and invested about three-quarters of the +land-front of the fortifications of Vicksburg. On the supposition +that the garrison of Vicksburg was demoralized by the defeats at +Champion Hills and at the railroad crossing of the Big Black, +General Grant ordered an assault at our respective fronts on the +19th. My troops reached the top of the parapet, but could not +cross over. The rebel parapets were strongly manned, and the enemy +fought hard and well. My loss was pretty heavy, falling chiefly on +the Thirteenth Regulars, whose commanding officer, Captain +Washington, was killed, and several other regiments were pretty +badly cut up. We, however, held the ground up to the ditch till +night, and then drew back only a short distance, and began to +counter-trench. On the graveyard road, our parapet was within less +than fifty yards of the rebel ditch. + +On the 20th of May, General Grant called the three corps commanders +together, viz., McClernand, McPherson, and Sherman. We compared +notes, and agreed that the assault of the day before had failed, by +reason of the natural strength of the position, and because we were +forced by the nature of the ground to limit our attacks to the +strongest parts of the enemy's line, viz., where the three +principal roads entered the city. + +It was not a council of war, but a mere consultation, resulting in +orders from General Grant for us to make all possible preparations +for a renewed assault on the 22d, simultaneously, at 10 a.m. I +reconnoitred my front thoroughly in person, from right to left, and +concluded to make my real attack at the right flank of the bastion, +where the graveyard road entered the enemy's intrenchments, and at +another point in the curtain about a hundred yards to its right +(our left); also to make a strong demonstration by Steele's +division, about a mile to our right, toward the river. All our +field batteries were put in position, and were covered by good +epaulements; the troops were brought forward, in easy support, +concealed by the shape of the ground; and to the minute, viz., +10 a.m. of May 22d, the troops sprang to the assault. A small +party, that might be called a forlorn hope, provided with plank to +cross the ditch, advanced at a run, up to the very ditch; the lines +of infantry sprang from cover, and advanced rapidly in line of +battle. I took a position within two hundred yards of the rebel +parapet, on the off slope of a spur of ground, where by advancing +two or three steps I could see every thing. The rebel line, +concealed by the parapet, showed no sign of unusual activity, but +as our troops came in fair view, the enemy rose behind their +parapet and poured a furious fire upon our lines; and, for about +two hours, we had a severe and bloody battle, but at every point we +were repulsed. In the very midst of this, when shell and shot fell +furious and fast, occurred that little episode which has been +celebrated in song and story, of the boy Orion P. Howe, badly +wounded, bearing me a message for cartridges, calibre 54, +described in my letter to the Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War. +This boy was afterward appointed a cadet to the United States Naval +Academy, at Annapolis, but he could not graduate, and I do not now +know what has become of him. + +After our men had been fairly beaten back from off the parapet, and +had got cover behind the spurs of ground close up to the rebel +works, General Grant came to where I was, on foot, having left his +horse some distance to the rear. I pointed out to him the rebel +works, admitted that my assault had failed, and he said the result +with McPherson and McClernand was about the same. While he was +with me, an orderly or staff-officer came and handed him a piece of +paper, which he read and handed to me. I think the writing was in +pencil, on a loose piece of paper, and was in General McClernand's +handwriting, to the effect that "his troops had captured the rebel +parapet in his front," that, "the flag of the Union waved over the +stronghold of Vicksburg," and asking him (General Grant) to give +renewed orders to McPherson and Sherman to press their attacks on +their respective fronts, lest the enemy should concentrate on him +(McClernand). General Grant said, "I don't believe a word of it;" +but I reasoned with him, that this note was official, and must be +credited, and I offered to renew the assault at once with new +troops. He said he would instantly ride down the line to +McClernand's front, and if I did not receive orders to the +contrary, by 3 o'clock p.m., I might try it again. Mower's fresh +brigade was brought up under cover, and some changes were made in +Giles Smith's brigade; and, punctually at 3 p.m., hearing heavy +firing down along the line to my left, I ordered the second +assault. It was a repetition of the first, equally unsuccessful +and bloody. It also transpired that the same thing had occurred +with General McPherson, who lost in this second assault some most +valuable officers and men, without adequate result; and that +General McClernand, instead of having taken any single point of the +rebel main parapet, had only taken one or two small outlying +lunettes open to the rear, where his men were at the mercy of the +rebels behind their main parapet, and most of them were actually +thus captured. This affair caused great feeling with us, and +severe criticisms on General McClernand, which led finally to his +removal from the command of the Thirteenth Corps, to which +General Ord succeeded. The immediate cause, however, of +General McClernand's removal was the publication of a sort of +congratulatory order addressed to his troops, first published in +St. Louis, in which he claimed that he had actually succeeded in +making a lodgment in Vicksburg, but had lost it, owing to the fact +that McPherson and Sherman did not fulfill their parts of the +general plan of attack. This was simply untrue. The two several +assaults made May 22d, on the lines of Vicksburg, had failed, by +reason of the great strength of the position and the determined +fighting of its garrison. I have since seen the position at +Sevastopol, and without hesitation I declare that at Vicksburg to +have been the more difficult of the two. + +Thereafter our proceedings were all in the nature of a siege. +General Grant drew more troops from Memphis, to prolong our general +line to the left, so as completely to invest the place on its +land-side, while the navy held the river both above and below. +General Mower's brigade of Tuttle's division was also sent across +the river to the peninsula, so that by May 31st Vicksburg was +completely beleaguered. Good roads were constructed from our camps +to the several landing-places on the Yazoo River, to which points +our boats brought us ample supplies; so that we were in a splendid +condition for a siege, while our enemy was shut up in a close fort, +with a large civil population of men, women, and children to feed, +in addition to his combatant force. If we could prevent sallies, +or relief from the outside, the fate of the garrison of Vicksburg +was merely a question of time. + +I had my headquarters camp close up to the works, near the centre +of my corps, and General Grant had his bivouac behind a ravine to +my rear. We estimated Pemberton's whole force in Vicksburg at +thirty thousand men, and it was well known that the rebel General +Joseph E. Johnston was engaged in collecting another strong force +near the Big Black, with the intention to attack our rear, and thus +to afford Pemberton an opportunity to escape with his men. Even +then the ability of General Johnston was recognized, and General +Grant told me that he was about the only general on that side whom +he feared. Each corps kept strong pickets well to the rear; but, +as the rumors of Johnston's accumulating force reached us, General +Grant concluded to take stronger measures. He had received from +the North General J. G. Parker's corps (Ninth), which had been +posted at Haines's Bluff; then, detailing one division from each of +the three corps d'armee investing Vicksburg, he ordered me to go +out, take a general command of all, and to counteract any movement +on the part of General Johnston to relieve Vicksburg. I +reconnoitred the whole country, from Haines's Bluff to the railroad +bridge, and posted the troops thus: + +Parke's two divisions from Haines's Bluff out to the Benton or +ridge road; Tuttle's division, of my corps, joining on and +extending to a plantation called Young's, overlooking Bear Creek +valley, which empties into the Big Black above Messinger's Ferry; +then McArthurs division, of McPherson's corps, took up the line, +and reached to Osterhaus's division of McClernand's corps, which +held a strong fortified position at the railroad-crossing of the +Big Black River. I was of opinion that, if Johnston should cross +the Big Black, he could by the favorable nature of the country be +held in check till a concentration could be effected by us at the +point threatened. From the best information we could gather, +General Johnston had about thirty or forty thousand men. I took +post near a plantation of one Trible, near Markham's, and +frequently reconnoitred the whole line, and could see the enemy +engaged in like manner, on the east aide of Big Black; but he never +attempted actually to cross over, except with some cavalry, just +above Bear Creek, which was easily driven back. I was there from +June 20th to the 4th of July. In a small log-house near Markham's +was the family of Mr. Klein, whose wife was the daughter of Mrs. +Day, of New Orleans, who in turn was the sister of Judge T. W. +Bartley, my brother-in-law. I used frequently to drop in and take +a meal with them, and Mrs. Klein was generally known as the +general's cousin, which doubtless saved her and her family from +molestation, too common on the part of our men. + +One day, as I was riding the line near a farm known as Parson +Fog's, I heard that the family of a Mr. Wilkinson, of New Orleans, +was "refugeeing" at a house near by. I rode up, inquired, and +found two young girls of that name, who said they were the children +of General Wilkinson, of Louisiana, and that their brother had been +at the Military School at Alexandria. Inquiring for their mother, +I was told she was spending the day at Parson Fox's. As this house +was on my route, I rode there, went through a large gate into the +yard, followed by my staff and escort, and found quite a number of +ladies sitting on the porch. I rode up and inquired if that were +Parson Fox's. The parson, a fine-looking, venerable old man, rose, +and said that he was Parson Fox. I then inquired for Mrs. +Wilkinson, when an elderly lady answered that she was the person. +I asked her if she were from Plaquemine Parish, Louisiana, and she +said she was. I then inquired if she had a son who had been a +cadet at Alexandria when General Sherman was superintendent, and +she answered yes. I then announced myself, inquired after the boy, +and she said he was inside of Vicksburg, an artillery lieutenant. +I then asked about her husband, whom I had known, when she burst +into tears, and cried out in agony, "You killed him at Bull Run, +where he was fighting for his country!" I disclaimed killing +anybody at Bull Run; but all the women present (nearly a dozen) +burst into loud lamentations, which made it most uncomfortable for +me, and I rode away. On the 3d of July, as I sat at my bivouac by +the road-side near Trible's, I saw a poor, miserable horse, +carrying a lady, and led by a little negro boy, coming across a +cotton-field toward me; as they approached I recognized poor Mrs. +Wilkinson, and helped her to dismount. I inquired what had brought +her to me in that style, and she answered that she knew Vicksburg, +was going to surrender, and she wanted to go right away to see her +boy. I had a telegraph-wire to General Grant's headquarters, and +had heard that there were symptoms of surrender, but as yet nothing +definite. I tried to console and dissuade her, but she was +resolved, and I could not help giving her a letter to General +Grant, explaining to him who she was, and asking him to give her +the earliest opportunity to see her son. The distance was fully +twenty miles, but off she started, and I afterward learned that my +letter had enabled her to see her son, who had escaped unharmed. +Later in the day I got by telegraph General Grant's notice of the +negotiations for surrender; and, by his directions, gave general +orders to my troops to be ready at a moment's notice to cross the +Big Black, and go for Joe Johnston. + +The next day (July 4, 1863) Vicksburg surrendered, and orders were +given for at once attacking General Johnston. The Thirteenth Corps +(General Ord) was ordered to march rapidly, and cross the Big Black +at the railroad-bridge; the Fifteenth by Mesainger's, and the Ninth +(General Parker) by Birdsong's Ferry-all to converge on Bolton. My +corps crossed the Big Black during the 5th and 6th of July, and +marched for Bolton, where we came in with General Ord's troops; but +the Ninth Corps was delayed in crossing at Birdsong's. Johnston +had received timely notice of Pemberton's surrender, and was in +full retreat for Jackson. On the 8th all our troops reached the +neighborhood of Clinton, the weather fearfully hot, and water +scarce. Johnston had marched rapidly, and in retreating had caused +cattle, hogs, and sheep, to be driven into the ponds of water, and +there shot down; so that we had to haul their dead and stinking +carcasses out to use the water. On the 10th of July we had driven +the rebel army into Jackson, where it turned at bay behind the +intrenchments, which had been enlarged and strengthened since our +former visit in May. We closed our lines about Jackson; my corps +(Fifteenth) held the centre, extending from the Clinton to the +Raymond road; Ord's (Thirteenth) on the right, reaching Pearl River +below the town; and Parker's (Ninth) the left, above the town. + +On the 11th we pressed close in, and shelled the town from every +direction. One of Ords brigades (Lauman's) got too close, and was +very roughly handled and driven back in disorder. General Ord +accused the commander (General Lauman) of having disregarded his +orders, and attributed to him personally the disaster and heavy +loss of men. He requested his relief, which I granted, and General +Lauman went to the rear, and never regained his division. He died +after the war, in Iowa, much respected, as before that time he had +been universally esteemed a most gallant and excellent officer. +The weather was fearfully hot, but we continued to press the siege +day and night, using our artillery pretty freely; and on the +morning of July 17th the place was found evacuated. General +Steele's division was sent in pursuit as far as Brandon (fourteen +miles), but General Johnston had carried his army safely off, and +pursuit in that hot weather would have been fatal to my command. + +Reporting the fact to General Grant, he ordered me to return, to +send General Parkes's corps to Haines's Bluff, General Ord's back +to Vicksburg, and he consented that I should encamp my whole corps +near the Big Black, pretty much on the same ground we had occupied +before the movement, and with the prospect of a period of rest for +the remainder of the summer. We reached our camps on the 27th of +July. + +Meantime, a division of troops, commanded by Brigadier-General W. +Sooy Smith, had been added to my corps. General Smith applied for +and received a sick-leave on the 20th of July; Brigadier-General +Hugh Ewing was assigned to its command; and from that time it +constituted the Fourth Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps. + +Port Hudson had surrendered to General Banks on the 8th of July (a +necessary consequence of the fall of Vicksburg), and thus +terminated probably the most important enterprise of the civil +war--the recovery of the complete control of the Mississippi River, +from its source to its mouth--or, in the language of Mr. Lincoln, +the Mississippi went "unvexed to the sea." + +I put my four divisions into handsome, clean camps, looking to +health and comfort alone, and had my headquarters in a beautiful +grove near the house of that same Parson Fox where I had found the +crowd of weeping rebel women waiting for the fate of their friends +in Vicksburg. + +The loss sustained by the Fifteenth Corps in the assault of May +19th, at Vicksburg, was mostly confined to the battalion of the +Thirteenth Regulars, whose commanding officer, Captain Washington, +was mortally wounded, and afterward died in the hands of the enemy, +which battalion lost seventy-seven men out of the two hundred and +fifty engaged; the Eighty-third Indiana (Colonel Spooner), and the +One Hundred and Twenty seventh Illinois (Lieutenant-Colonel +Eldridge), the aggregate being about two hundred. + +In the assaults of the 22d, the loss in the Fifteenth Corps was +about six hundred. + +In the attack on Jackson, Mississippi, during the 11th-16th of +July, General Ord reported the loss in the Thirteenth Army Corps +seven hundred and sixty-two, of which five hundred and thirty-three +were confined to Lauman's division; General Parkes reported, in the +Ninth Corps, thirty-seven killed, two hundred and fifty-eight +wounded, and thirty-three missing: total, three hundred and +twenty-eight. In the Fifteenth Corps the loss was less; so that, +in the aggregate, the loss as reported by me at the time was less +than a thousand men, while we took that number alone of prisoners. + +In General Grant's entire army before Vicksburg, composed of the +Ninth, part of the Sixteenth, and the whole of the Thirteenth; +Fifteenth, and Seventeenth Corps, the aggregate loss, as stated by +Badeau, was: + +Killed: ....................... 1243 +Wounded:....................... 7095 +Missing: ...................... 535 + +Total: ........................ 8873 + + +Whereas the Confederate loss, as stated by the same author, + +Surrendered at Vicksburg .............. 32000 +Captured at Champion Hills............. 3000 +Captured at Big Black Bridge .......... 2000 +Captured at Port Gibson................ 2000 +Captured with Loring .................. 4000 +Killed and wounded .................... 10000 +Stragglers............................. 3000 + +Total.................................. 56000 + +Besides which, "a large amount of public property, consisting of +railroads, locomotives, cars, steamers, cotton, guns, muskets, +ammunition, etc., etc., was captured in Vicksburg." + +The value of the capture of Vicksburg, however, was not measured by +the list of prisoners, guns, and small-arms, but by the fact that +its possession secured the navigation of the great central river of +the continent, bisected fatally the Southern Confederacy, and set +the armies which had been used in its conquest free for other +purposes; and it so happened that the event coincided as to time +with another great victory which crowned our arms far away, at +Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. That was a defensive battle, whereas +ours was offensive in the highest acceptation of the term, and the +two, occurring at the same moment of time, should have ended the +war; but the rebel leaders were mad, and seemed determined that +their people should drink of the very lowest dregs of the cup of +war, which they themselves had prepared. + +The campaign of Vicksburg, in its conception and execution, +belonged exclusively to General Grant, not only in the great whole, +but in the thousands of its details. I still retain many of his +letters and notes, all in his own handwriting, prescribing the +routes of march for divisions and detachments, specifying even the +amount of food and tools to be carried along. Many persons gave +his adjutant general, Rawlins, the credit for these things, but +they were in error; for no commanding general of an army ever gave +more of his personal attention to details, or wrote so many of his +own orders, reports, and letters, as General Grant. His success at +Vicksburg justly gave him great fame at home and abroad. The +President conferred on him the rank of major-general in the regular +army, the highest grade then existing by law; and General McPherson +and I shared in his success by receiving similar commissions as +brigadier-generals in the regular army. + +But our success at Vicksburg produced other results not so +favorable to our cause--a general relaxation of effort, and desire +to escape the hard drudgery of camp: officers sought leaves of +absence to visit their homes, and soldiers obtained furloughs and +discharges on the most slender pretexts; even the General +Government seemed to relax in its efforts to replenish our ranks +with new men, or to enforce the draft, and the politicians were +pressing their schemes to reorganize or patch up some form of civil +government, as fast as the armies gained partial possession of the +States. + +In order to illustrate this peculiar phase of our civil war, I give +at this place copies of certain letters which have not heretofore +been published: + +[Private.] + +WASHINGTON, August 29, 1868. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, Vicksburg, Mississippi + +My DEAR GENERAL: The question of reconstruction in Louisiana, +Mississippi, and Arkansas, will soon come up for decision of the +Government, and not only the length of the war, but our ultimate +and complete success, will depend upon its decision. It is a +difficult matter, but I believe it can be successfully solved, if +the President will consult opinions of cool and discreet men, who +are capable of looking at it in all its bearings and effects. I +think he is disposed to receive the advice of our generals who have +been in these States, and know much more of their condition than +gassy politicians in Congress. General Banks has written pretty +fully, on the subject. I wrote to General Grant, immediately, +after the fall of Vicksburg, for his views in regard to +Mississippi, but he has not yet answered. + +I wish you would consult with Grant, McPherson, and others of cool, +good judgment, and write me your views fully, as I may wish to use +them with the President. You had better write me unofficially, and +then your letter will not be put on file, and cannot hereafter be +used against you. You have been in Washington enough to know how +every thing a man writes or says is picked up by his enemies and +misconstrued. With kind wishes for your further success, + +I am yours truly, + +H. W. HALLECK + + +[Private and Confidential.] + +HEADQUARTERS, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, +CAMP ON BIG BLACK, MISSISSIPPI, September 17 1863 +H. W. HALLECK, Commander-in-Chief, Washington, D. C. + +DEAR GENERAL: I have received your letter of August 29th, and with +pleasure confide to you fully my thoughts on the important matters +you suggest, with absolute confidence that you will use what is +valuable, and reject the useless or superfluous. + +That part of the continent of North America known as Louisiana, +Mississippi, and Arkansas, is in my judgment the key to the whole +interior. The valley of the Mississippi is America, and, although +railroads have changed the economy of intercommunication, yet the +water-channels still mark the lines of fertile land, and afford +cheap carriage to the heavy products of it. + +The inhabitants of the country on the Monongahela, the Illinois, +the Minnesota, the Yellowstone, and Osage, are as directly +concerned in the security of the Lower Mississippi as are those who +dwell on its very banks in Louisiana; and now that the nation has +recovered its possession, this generation of men will make a +fearful mistake if they again commit its charge to a people liable +to misuse their position, and assert, as was recently done, that, +because they dwelt on the banks of this mighty stream, they had a +right to control its navigation. + +I would deem it very unwise at this time, or for years to come, to +revive the State governments of Louisiana, etc., or to institute in +this quarter any civil government in which the local people have +much to say. They had a government so mild and paternal that they +gradually forgot they had any at all, save what they themselves +controlled; they asserted an absolute right to seize public moneys, +forts, arms, and even to shut up the natural avenues of travel and +commerce. They chose war--they ignored and denied all the +obligations of the solemn contract of government and appealed to +force. + +We accepted the issue, and now they begin to realize that war is a +two-edged sword, and it may be that many of the inhabitants cry for +peace. I know them well, and the very impulses of their nature; +and to deal with the inhabitants of that part of the South which +borders on the great river, we must recognize the classes into +which they have divided themselves: + +First. The large planters, owning lands, slaves, and all kinds of +personal property. These are, on the whole, the ruling class. +They are educated, wealthy, and easily approached. In some +districts they are bitter as gall, and have given up slaves, +plantations, and all, serving in the armies of the Confederacy; +whereas, in others, they are conservative. None dare admit a +friendship for us, though they say freely that they were at the +outset opposed to war and disunion. I know we can manage this +class, but only by action. Argument is exhausted, and words have +lost their usual meaning. Nothing but the logic of events touches +their understanding; but, of late, this has worked a wonderful +change. If our country were like Europe, crowded with people, I +would say it would be easier to replace this class than to +reconstruct it, subordinate to the policy of the nation; but, as +this is not the case, it is better to allow the planters, with +individual exceptions, gradually to recover their plantations, to +hire any species of labor, and to adapt themselves to the new order +of things. Still, their friendship and assistance to reconstruct +order out of the present ruin cannot be depended on. They watch +the operations of our armies, and hope still for a Southern +Confederacy that will restore to them the slaves and privileges +which they feel are otherwise lost forever. In my judgment, we +have two more battles to win before we should even bother our minds +with the idea of restoring civil order--viz., one near Meridian, in +November, and one near Shreveport, in February and March next, when +Red River is navigable by our gunboats. When these are done, then, +and not until then, will the planters of Louisiana, Arkansas, and +Mississippi, submit. Slavery is already gone, and, to cultivate +the land, negro or other labor must be hired. This, of itself, is +a vast revolution, and time must be afforded to allow men to adjust +their minds and habits to this new order of things. A civil +government of the representative type would suit this class far +less than a pure military role, readily adapting itself to actual +occurrences, and able to enforce its laws and orders promptly and +emphatically. + +Second. The smaller farmers, mechanics, merchants, and laborers. +This class will probably number three-quarters of the whole; have, +in fact, no real interest in the establishment of a Southern +Confederacy, and have been led or driven into war on the false +theory that they were to be benefited somehow--they knew not how. +They are essentially tired of the war, and would slink back home if +they could. These are the real tiers etat of the South, and are +hardly worthy a thought; for they swerve to and fro according to +events which they do not comprehend or attempt to shape. When the +time for reconstruction comes, they will want the old political +system of caucuses, Legislatures, etc., to amuse them and make them +believe they are real sovereigns; but in all things they will +follow blindly the lead of the planters. The Southern politicians, +who understand this class, use them as the French do their masses +--seemingly consult their prejudices, while they make their orders +and enforce them. We should do the same. + +Third. The Union men of the South. I must confess I have little +respect for this class. They allowed a clamorous set of demagogues +to muzzle and drive them as a pack of curs. Afraid of shadows, +they submit tamely to squads of dragoons, and permit them, without +a murmur, to burn their cotton, take their horses, corn, and every +thing; and, when we reach them, they are full of complaints if our +men take a few fence-rails for fire, or corn to feed our horses. +They give us no assistance or information, and are loudest in their +complaints at the smallest excesses of our soldiers. Their sons, +horses, arms, and every thing useful, are in the army against us, +and they stay at home, claiming all the exemptions of peaceful +citizens. I account them as nothing in this great game of war. + +Fourth. The young bloods of the South: sons of planters, lawyers +about towns, good billiard-players and sportsmen, men who never did +work and never will. War suits them, and the rascals are brave, +fine riders, bold to rashness, and dangerous subjects in every +sense. They care not a sou for niggers, land, or any thing. They +hate Yankees per se, and don't bother their brains about the past, +present, or future. As long as they have good horses, plenty of +forage, and an open country, they are happy. This is a larger +class than most men suppose, and they are the most dangerous set of +men that this war has turned loose upon the world. They are +splendid riders, first-rate shots, and utterly reckless. Stewart, +John Morgan, Forrest, and Jackson, are the types and leaders of +this class. These men must all be killed or employed by us before +we can hope for peace. They have no property or future, and +therefore cannot be influenced by any thing, except personal +considerations. I have two brigades of these fellows in my front, +commanded by Cosby, of the old army, and Whitfield, of Texas. +Stephen D. Lee is in command of the whole. I have frequent +interviews with their officers, a good understanding with them, and +am inclined to think, when the resources of their country are +exhausted, we must employ them. They are the best cavalry in the +world, but it will tax Mr. Chase's genius for finance to supply +them with horses. At present horses cost them nothing; for they +take where they find, and don't bother their brains as to who is to +pay for them; the same may be said of the cornfields, which have, +as they believe, been cultivated by a good-natured people for their +special benefit. We propose to share with them the free use of +these cornfields, planted by willing hands, that will never gather +the crops. + +Now that I have sketched the people who inhabit the district of +country under consideration, I will proceed to discuss the future. + +A civil government now, for any part of it, would be simply +ridiculous. The people would not regard it, and even the military +commanders of the antagonistic parties would treat it lightly. +Governors would be simply petitioners for military assistance, to +protect supposed friendly interests, and military commanders would +refuse to disperse and weaken their armies for military reasons. +Jealousies would arise between the two conflicting powers, and, +instead of contributing to the end of the war, would actually defer +it. Therefore, I contend that the interests of the United States, +and of the real parties concerned, demand the continuance of the +simple military role, till after all the organized armies of the +South are dispersed, conquered, and subjugated. + +The people of all this region are represented in the Army of +Virginia, at Charleston, Mobile, and Chattanooga. They have sons +and relations in each of the rebel armies, and naturally are +interested in their fate. Though we hold military possession of +the key-points of their country, still they contend, and naturally, +that should Lee succeed in Virginia, or Bragg at Chattanooga, a +change will occur here also. We cannot for this reason attempt to +reconstruct parts of the South as we conquer it, till all idea of +the establishment of a Southern Confederacy is abandoned. We +should avail ourselves of the present lull to secure the +strategical points that will give us an advantage in the future +military movements, and we should treat the idea of civil +government as one in which we as a nation have a minor or +subordinate interest. The opportunity is good to impress on the +population the truth that they are more interested in civil +government than we are; and that, to enjoy the protection of laws, +they most not be passive observers of events, but must aid and +sustain the constituted authorities in enforcing the laws; they +must not only submit themselves, but should pay their share of +taxes, and render personal services when called on. + +It seems to me, in contemplating the history of the past two years, +that all the people of our country, North, South, East, and West, +have been undergoing a salutary political schooling, learning +lessons which might have been acquired from the experience of other +people; but we had all become so wise in our own conceit that we +would only learn by actual experience of our own. The people even +of small and unimportant localities, North as well as South, had +reasoned themselves into the belief that their opinions were +superior to the aggregated interest of the whole nation. Half our +territorial nation rebelled, on a doctrine of secession that they +themselves now scout; and a real numerical majority actually +believed that a little State was endowed with such sovereignty that +it could defeat the policy of the great whole. I think the present +war has exploded that notion, and were this war to cease now, the +experience gained, though dear, would be worth the expense. + +Another great and important natural truth is still in contest, and +can only be solved by war. Numerical majorities by vote have been +our great arbiter. Heretofore all men have cheerfully submitted to +it in questions left open, but numerical majorities are not +necessarily physical majorities. The South, though numerically +inferior, contend they can whip the Northern superiority of +numbers, and therefore by natural law they contend that they are +not bound to submit. This issue is the only real one, and in my +judgment all else should be deferred to it. War alone can decide +it, and it is the only question now left for us as a people to +decide. Can we whip the South? If we can, our numerical majority +has both the natural and constitutional right to govern them. If +we cannot whip them, they contend for the natural right to select +their own government, and they have the argument. Our armies must +prevail over theirs; our officers, marshals, and courts, must +penetrate into the innermost recesses of their land, before we have +the natural right to demand their submission. + +I would banish all minor questions, assert the broad doctrine that +as a nation the United States has the right, and also the physical +power, to penetrate to every part of our national domain, and that +we will do it--that we will do it in our own time and in our own +way; that it makes no difference whether it be in one year, or two, +or ten, or twenty; that we will remove and destroy every obstacle, +if need be, take every life, every acre of land, every particle of +property, every thing that to us seems proper; that we will not +cease till the end is attained; that all who do not aid us are +enemies, and that we will not account to them for our acts. If the +people of the South oppose, they do so at their peril; and if they +stand by, mere lookers-on in this domestic tragedy, they have no +right to immunity, protection, or share in the final results. + +I even believe and contend further that, in the North, every member +of the nation is bound by both natural and constitutional law to +"maintain and defend the Government against all its enemies and +opposers whomsoever." If they fail to do it they are derelict, and +can be punished, or deprived of all advantages arising from the +labors of those who do. If any man, North or South, withholds his +share of taxes, or his physical assistance in this, the crisis of +our history, he should be deprived of all voice in the future +elections of this country, and might be banished, or reduced to the +condition of a mere denizen of the land. + +War is upon us, none can deny it. It is not the choice of the +Government of the United States, but of a faction; the Government +was forced to accept the issue, or to submit to a degradation fatal +and disgraceful to all the inhabitants. In accepting war, it +should be "pure and simple" as applied to the belligerents. I +would keep it so, till all traces of the war are effaced; till +those who appealed to it are sick and tired of it, and come to the +emblem of our nation, and sue for peace. I would not coax them, or +even meet them half-way, but make them so sick of war that +generations would pass away before they would again appeal to it. + +I know what I say when I repeat that the insurgents of the South +sneer at all overtures looking to their interests. They scorn the +alliance with the Copperheads; they tell me to my face that they +respect Grant, McPherson, and our brave associates who fight +manfully and well for a principle, but despise the Copperheads and +sneaks at the North, who profess friendship for the South and +opposition to the war, as mere covers for their knavery and +poltroonery. + +God knows that I deplore this fratricidal war as much as any man +living, but it is upon us, a physical fact; and there is only one +honorable issue from it. We must fight it out, army against army, +and man against man; and I know, and you know, and civilians begin +to realize the fact, that reconciliation and reconstruction will be +easier through and by means of strong, well-equipped, and organized +armies than through any species of conventions that can be framed. +The issues are made, and all discussion is out of place and +ridiculous. The section of thirty-pounder Parrott rifles now +drilling before my tent is a more convincing argument than the +largest Democratic meeting the State of New York can possibly +assemble at Albany; and a simple order of the War Department to +draft enough men to fill our skeleton regiments would be more +convincing as to our national perpetuity than an humble pardon to +Jeff. Davis and all his misled host. + +The only government needed or deserved by the States of Louisiana, +Arkansas, and Mississippi, now exists in Grant's army. This needs, +simply, enough privates to fill its ranks; all else will follow in +due season. This army has its well-defined code of laws and +practice, and can adapt itself to the wants and necessities of a +city, the country, the rivers, the sea, indeed to all parts of this +land. It better subserves the interest and policy of the General +Government, and the people here prefer it to any weak or servile +combination that would at once, from force of habit, revive sad +perpetuate local prejudices and passions. The people of this +country have forfeited all right to a voice in the councils of the +nation. They know it and feel it, and in after-years they will be +the better citizens from the dear bought experience of the present +crisis. Let them learn now, and learn it well, that good citizens +must obey as well as command. Obedience to law, absolute--yea, +even abject--is the lesson that this war, under Providence, will +teach the free and enlightened American citizen. As a nation, we +shall be the better for it. + +I never have apprehended foreign interference in our family +quarrel. Of coarse, governments founded on a different and it may +be an antagonistic principle with ours naturally feel a pleasure at +our complications, and, it may be, wish our downfall; but in the +end England and France will join with us in jubilation at the +triumph of constitutional government over faction. Even now the +English manifest this. I do not profess to understand Napoleon's +design in Mexico, and I do not, see that his taking military +possession of Mexico concerns us. We have as much territory now as +we want. The Mexicans have failed in self-government, and it was a +question as to what nation she should fall a prey. That is now +solved, and I don't see that we are damaged. We have the finest +part of the North American Continent, all we can people and can +take care of; and, if we can suppress rebellion in our own land, +and compose the strife generated by it, we shall have enough +people, resources, and wealth, if well combined, to defy +interference from any and every quarter. + +I therefore hope the Government of the United States will continue, +as heretofore, to collect, in well-organized armies, the physical +strength of the nation; applying it, as heretofore, in asserting +the national authority; and in persevering, without relaxation, to +the end. This, whether near or far off, is not for us to say; but, +fortunately, we have no choice. We must succeed--no other choice +is left us except degradation. The South must be ruled by us, or +she will rule us. We must conquer them, or ourselves be conquered. +There is no middle course. They ask, and will have, nothing else, +and talk of compromise is bosh; for we know they would even scorn +the offer. + +I wish the war could have been deferred for twenty years, till the +superabundant population of the North could flow in and replace the +losses sustained by war; but this could not be, and we are forced +to take things as they are. + +All therefore I can now venture to advise is to raise the draft to +its maximum, fill the present regiments to as large a standard as +possible, and push the war, pure and simple. Great attention +should be paid to the discipline of our armies, for on them may be +founded the future stability of the Government. + +The cost of the war is, of course, to be considered, but finances +will adjust themselves to the actual state of affairs; and, even if +we would, we could not change the cost. Indeed, the larger the +cost now, the less will it be in the end; for the end must be +attained somehow, regardless of loss of life and treasure, and is +merely a question of time. + +Excuse so long a letter. With great respect, etc., + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +General Halleck, on receipt of this letter, telegraphed me that Mr. +Lincoln had read it carefully, and had instructed him to obtain my +consent to have it published. At the time, I preferred not to be +drawn into any newspaper controversy, and so wrote to General +Halleck; and the above letter has never been, to my knowledge, +published; though Mr. Lincoln more than once referred to it with +marks of approval. + + + +HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS +CAMP ON BIG BLACK, September 17, 1863 + +Brigadier-General J. A. RAWLINS, +Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Vicksburg. + +DEAR GENERAL: I inclose for your perusal, and for you to read to +General Grant such parts as you deem interesting, letters received +by me from Prof. Mahan and General Halleck, with my answers. After +you have read my answer to General Halleck, I beg you to inclose it +to its address, and return me the others. + +I think Prof. Mahan's very marked encomium upon the campaign of +Vicksburg is so flattering to General Grant, that you may offer to +let him keep the letter, if he values such a testimonial. I have +never written a word to General Halleck since my report of last +December, after the affair at Chickasaw, except a short letter a +few days ago, thanking him for the kind manner of his transmitting +to me the appointment of brigadier-general. I know that in +Washington I am incomprehensible, because at the outset of the war +I would not go it blind and rush headlong into a war unprepared and +with an utter ignorance of its extent and purpose. I was then +construed unsound; and now that I insist on war pure and simple, +with no admixture of civil compromises, I am supposed vindictive. +You remember what Polonius said to his son Laertes: "Beware of +entrance to a quarrel; but, being in, bear it, that the opposed may +beware of thee." What is true of the single man, is equally true +of a nation. Our leaders seemed at first to thirst for the +quarrel, willing, even anxious, to array against us all possible +elements of opposition; and now, being in, they would hasten to +quit long before the "opposed" has received that lesson which he +needs. I would make this war as severe as possible, and show no +symptoms of tiring till the South begs for mercy; indeed, I know, +and you know, that the end would be reached quicker by such a +course than by any seeming yielding on our part. I don't want our +Government to be bothered by patching up local governments, or by +trying to reconcile any class of men. The South has done her +worst, and now is the time for us to pile on our blows thick and +fast. + +Instead of postponing the draft till after the elections, we ought +now to have our ranks full of drafted men; and, at best, if they +come at all, they will reach us when we should be in motion. + +I think General Halleck would like to have the honest, candid +opinions of all of us, viz., Grant, McPherson, and Sherman. I have +given mine, and would prefer, of course, that it should coincide +with the others. Still, no matter what my opinion may be, I can +easily adapt my conduct to the plane of others, and am only too +happy when I find theirs better, than mine. + +If no trouble, please show Halleck's letter to McPherson, and ask +him to write also. I know his regiments are like mine (mere +squads), and need filling up. Yours truly, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +CHATTANOOGA AND KNOXVILLE. + +JULY TO DECEMBER, 1863. + + +After the fall of Vicksburg, and its corollary, Port Hudson, the +Mississippi River was wholly in the possession of the Union forces, +and formed a perfect line of separation in the territories of our +opponents. Thenceforth, they could not cross it save by stealth, +and the military affairs on its west bank became unimportant. +Grant's army had seemingly completed its share of the work of war, +and lay, as it were, idle for a time. In person General Grant went +to New Orleans to confer with General Banks, and his victorious +army was somewhat dispersed. Parke's corps (Ninth) returned to +Kentucky, and afterward formed part of the Army of the Ohio, under +General Burnside; Ord's corps (Thirteenth) was sent down to +Natchez, and gradually drifted to New Orleans and Texas; McPhersons +(Seventeenth) remained in and near Vicksburg; Hurlbut's (Sixteenth) +was at Memphis; and mine (Fifteenth) was encamped along the Big +Black, about twenty miles east of Vicksburg. This corps was +composed of four divisions: Steele's (the First) was posted at and +near the railroad-bridge; Blair's (the Second), next in order, near +Parson Fox's; the Third Division (Tuttle's) was on the ridge about +the head of Bear Creek; and the Fourth (Ewing's) was at Messinger's +Ford. My own headquarters were in tents in a fine grove of old +oaks near Parson Fox's house, and the battalion of the Thirteenth +Regulars was the headquarters guard. + +All the camps were arranged for health, comfort, rest, and drill. +It being midsummer, we did not expect any change till the autumn +months, and accordingly made ourselves as comfortable as possible. +There was a short railroad in operation from Vicksburg to the +bridge across the Big Black, whence supplies in abundance were +hauled to our respective camps. With a knowledge of this fact Mrs. +Sherman came down from Ohio with Minnie, Lizzie, Willie, and Tom, +to pay us a visit in our camp at Parson Fog's. Willie was then +nine years old, was well advanced for his years, and took the most +intense interest in the affairs of the army. He was a great +favorite with the soldiers, and used to ride with me on horseback +in the numerous drills and reviews of the time. He then had the +promise of as long a life as any of my children, and displayed more +interest in the war than any of them. He was called a "sergeant" +in the regular battalion, learned the manual of arms, and regularly +attended the parade and guard-mounting of the Thirteenth, back of +my camp. We made frequent visits to Vicksburg, and always stopped +with General McPherson, who had a large house, and boarded with a +family (Mrs. Edwards's) in which were several interesting young +ladies. General Grant occupied another house (Mrs. Lum's) in +Vicksburg during that summer, and also had his family with him. +The time passed very agreeably, diversified only by little events +of not much significance, among which I will recount only one. + +While, we occupied the west bank of the Big Black, the east bank +was watched by a rebel cavalry-division, commanded by General +Armstrong. He had four brigades, commanded by Generals Whitfield, +Stark, Cosby, and Wirt Adams. Quite frequently they communicated +with us by flags of truce on trivial matters, and we reciprocated; +merely to observe them. One day a flag of truce, borne by a +Captain B...., of Louisville, Kentucky, escorted by about +twenty-five men, was reported at Messinger's Ferry, and I sent +orders to let them come right into my tent. This brought them +through the camps of the Fourth Division, and part of the Second; +and as they drew up in front of my tent, I invited Captain B.... +and another officer with him (a major from Mobile) to dismount, to +enter my tent, and to make themselves at home. Their escort was +sent to join mine, with orders to furnish them forage and every +thing they wanted. B.... had brought a sealed letter for General +Grant at Vicksburg, which was dispatched to him. In the evening we +had a good supper, with wine and cigars, and, as we sat talking, +B.... spoke of his father and mother, in Louisville, got leave to +write them a long letter without its being read by any one, and +then we talked about the war. He said: "What is the use of your +persevering? It is simply impossible to subdue eight millions of +people;" asserting that "the feeling in the South had become so +embittered that a reconciliation was impossible." I answered that, +"sitting as we then were, we appeared very comfortable, and surely +there was no trouble in our becoming friends." "Yes," said he, +"that is very true of us, but we are gentlemen of education, and +can easily adapt ourselves to any condition of things; but this +would not apply equally well to the common people, or to the common +soldiers." I took him out to the camp-fires behind the tent, and +there were the men of his escort and mine mingled together, +drinking their coffee, and happy as soldiers always seem. I asked +B.... what he thought of that, and he admitted that I had the best +of the argument. Before I dismissed this flag of truce, his +companion consulted me confidentially as to what disposition he +ought to make of his family, then in Mobile, and I frankly gave him +the best advice I could. + +While we were thus lying idle in camp on the big Black, the Army of +the Cumberland, under General Rosecrans, was moving against Bragg +at Chattanooga; and the Army of the Ohio, General Burnside, was +marching toward East Tennessee. General Rosecrans was so confident +of success that he somewhat scattered his command, seemingly to +surround and capture Bragg in Chattanooga; but the latter, +reenforced from Virginia, drew out of Chattanooga, concentrated his +army at Lafayette, and at Chickamauga fell on Rosecrans, defeated +him, and drove him into Chattanooga. The whole country seemed +paralyzed by this unhappy event; and the authorities in Washington +were thoroughly stampeded. From the East the Eleventh Corps +(Slocum), and the Twelfth Corps (Howard), were sent by rail to +Nashville, and forward under command of General Hooker; orders were +also sent to General Grant, by Halleck, to send what reenforcements +he could spare immediately toward Chattanooga. + +Bragg had completely driven Rosecrans's army into Chattanooga; the +latter was in actual danger of starvation, and the railroad to his +rear seemed inadequate to his supply. The first intimation which I +got of this disaster was on the 22d of September, by an order from +General Grant to dispatch one of my divisions immediately into +Vicksburg, to go toward Chattanooga, and I designated the First, +General Osterhaus--Steele meantime having been appointed to the +command of the Department of Arkansas, and had gone to Little Rock. +General Osterhaus marched the same day, and on the 23d I was +summoned to Vicksburg in person, where General Grant showed me the +alarming dispatches from General Halleck, which had been sent from +Memphis by General Hurlbut, and said, on further thought, that he +would send me and my whole corps. But, inasmuch as one division of +McPherson's corps (John E. Smith's) had already started, he +instructed me to leave one of my divisions on the Big Black, and to +get the other two ready to follow at once. I designated the +Second, then commanded by Brigadier-General Giles A. Smith, and the +Fourth, commanded by Brigadier-General Corse. + +On the 25th I returned to my camp on Big Black, gave all the +necessary orders for these divisions to move, and for the Third +(Tittle's) to remain, and went into Vicksburg with my family. The +last of my corps designed for this expedition started from camp on +the 27th, reached Vicksburg the 28th, and were embarked on boats +provided for them. General Halleck's dispatches dwelt upon the +fact that General Rosecrans's routes of supply were overtaxed, and +that we should move from Memphis eastward, repairing railroads as +we progressed, as far as Athens, Alabama, whence I was to report to +General Rosecrans, at Chattanooga, by letter. + +I took passage for myself and family in the steamer Atlantic, +Captain Henry McDougall. When the boat was ready to start, Willie +was missing. Mrs. Sherman supposed him to have been with me, +whereas I supposed he was with her. An officer of the Thirteenth +went up to General McPherson's house for him, and soon returned, +with Captain Clift leading him, carrying in his hands a small +double-barreled shot gun; and I joked him about carrying away +captured property. In a short time we got off. As we all stood on +the guards to look at our old camps at Young's Point, I remarked +that Willie was not well, and he admitted that he was sick. His +mother put him to bed, and consulted Dr. Roler, of the Fifty-fifth +Illinois, who found symptoms of typhoid fever. The river was low; +we made slow progress till above Helena; and, as we approached +Memphis, Dr. Roler told me that Willie's life was in danger, and he +was extremely anxious to reach Memphis for certain medicines and +for consultation. We arrived at Memphis on the 2d of October, +carried Willie up to the Gayoso Hotel, and got the most experienced +physician there, who acted with Dr. Roler, but he sank rapidly, and +died the evening of the 3d of October. The blow was a terrible one +to us all, so sudden and so unexpected, that I could not help +reproaching myself for having consented to his visit in that sickly +region in the summer-time. Of all my children, he seemed the most +precious. Born in San Francisco, I had watched with intense +interest his development, and he seemed more than any of the +children to take an interest in my special profession. Mrs. +Sherman, Minnie, Lizzie, and Tom, were with him at the time, and we +all, helpless and overwhelmed, saw him die. Being in the very +midst of an important military enterprise, I had hardly time to +pause and think of my personal loss. We procured a metallic +casket, and had a military funeral, the battalion of the Thirteenth +United States Regulars acting as escort from the Gayoso Hotel to +the steamboat Grey Eagle, which conveyed him and my family up to +Cairo, whence they proceeded to our home at Lancaster, Ohio, where +he was buried. I here give my letter to Captain C. C. Smith, who +commanded the battalion at the time, as exhibiting our intense +feelings: + +GAYOSO HOUSE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE +October 4, 1863, Midnight + +Captain C. C. SMITH, commanding Battalion Thirteenth United States +Regulars. + +MY DEAR FRIEND: I cannot sleep to-night till I record an expression +of the deep feelings of my heart to you, and to the officers and +soldiers of the battalion, for their kind behavior to my poor +child. I realize that you all feel for my family the attachment of +kindred, and I assure you of full reciprocity. Consistent with a +sense of duty to my profession and office, I could not leave my +post, and sent for the family to come to me in that fatal climate, +and in that sickly period of the year, and behold the result! The +child that bore my name, and in whose future I reposed with more +confidence than I did in my own plan of life, now floats a mere +corpse, seeking a grave in a distant land, with a weeping mother, +brother, and sisters, clustered about him. For myself, I ask no +sympathy. On, on I must go, to meet a soldier's fate, or live to +see our country rise superior to all factions, till its flag is +adored and respected by ourselves and by all the powers of the +earth. + +But Willie was, or thought he was, a sergeant in the Thirteenth. I +have seen his eye brighten, his heart beat, as he beheld the +battalion under arms, and asked me if they were not real soldiers. +Child as he was, he had the enthusiasm, the pure love of truth, +honor, and love of country, which should animate all soldiers. + +God only knows why he should die thus young. He is dead, but will +not be forgotten till those who knew him in life have followed him +to that same mysterious end. + +Please convey to the battalion my heart-felt thanks, and assure +each and all that if in after-years they call on me or mine, and +mention that they were of the Thirteenth Regulars when Willie was a +sergeant, they will have a key to the affections of my family that +will open all it has; that we will share with them our last +blanket, our last crust! Your friend, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-general. + + +Long afterward, in the spring of 1867, we had his body disinterred +and brought to St. Louis, where he is now buried in a beautiful +spot, in Calvary Cemetery, by the side of another child, "Charles," +who was born at Lancaster, in the summer of 1864, died early, and +was buried at Notre Dame, Indiana. His body was transferred at the +same time to the same spot. Over Willie's grave is erected a +beautiful marble monument, designed and executed by the officers +and soldiers, of that battalion which claimed him as a sergeant and +comrade. + +During the summer and fall of 1863 Major-General S. A. Hurlbut was +in command at Memphis. He supplied me copies of all dispatches +from Washington, and all the information he possessed of the events +about Chattanooga. Two of these dispatches cover all essential +points: + +WASHINGTON CITY, September 15, 1863--5 p.m. + +Major-General S. A. HURLBUT, Memphis: + +All the troops that can possibly be spared in West Tennessee and on +the Mississippi River should be sent without delay to assist +General Rosecrans on the Tennessee River. + +Urge Sherman to act with all possible promptness. + +If you have boats, send them down to bring up his troops. + +Information just received indicates that a part of Lee's army has +been sent to reenforce Bragg. + +H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. + + +Washington, September 19, 1868--4 p.m. + +Major-General S. A. HURLBUT, Memphis, Tennessee: + +Give me definite information of the number of troops sent toward +Decatur, and where they are. Also, what other troops are to +follow, and when. + +Has any thing been heard from the troops ordered from Vicksburg? + +No efforts must be spared to support Rosecrans's right, and to +guard the crossings of the Tennessee River. + +H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. + + +My special orders were to repair the Memphis & Charleston Railroad +eastward as I progressed, as far as Athens, Alabama, to draw +supplies by that route, so that, on reaching Athens, we should not +be dependent on the roads back to Nashville, already overtaxed by +the demand of Rosecrans's army. + +On reaching Memphis, October 2d, I found that Osterhaus's division +had already gone by rail as far as Corinth, and than John E. +Smith's division was in the act of starting by cars. The Second +Division, then commanded by Brigadier-General Giles A. Smith, +reached Memphis at the same time with me; and the Fourth Division, +commanded by Brigadier-General John M. Corse, arrived a day or two +after. The railroad was in fair condition as far as Corinth, +ninety-six miles, but the road was badly stocked with locomotives +and cars, so that it took until the 9th to get off the Second +Division, when I gave orders for the Fourth Division and +wagon-trains to march by the common road. + +On Sunday morning, October 11th, with a special train loaded with +our orderlies and clerks, the horses of our staff, the battalion of +the Thirteenth United States Regulars, and a few officers going +forward to join their commands, among them Brigadier-General Hugh +Ewing, I started for Corinth. + +At Germantown, eight miles, we passed Corse's division (Fourth) on +the march, and about noon the train ran by the depot at +Colliersville, twenty-six miles out. I was in the rear car with my +staff, dozing, but observed the train slacking speed and stopping +about half a mile beyond the depot. I noticed some soldiers +running to and fro, got out at the end of the car, and soon Colonel +Anthony (Silty-sixth Indiana), who commanded the post, rode up and +said that his pickets had just been driven in, and there was an +appearance of an attack by a large force of cavalry coming from the +southeast. I ordered the men to get off the train, to form on the +knoll near the railroad-cut, and soon observed a rebel officer +riding toward us with a white flag. Colonel Anthony and Colonel +Dayton (one of my aides) were sent to meet him, and to keep him in +conversation as long as possible. They soon returned, saying it +was the adjutant of the rebel general Chalmers, who demanded the +surrender of the place. I instructed them to return and give a +negative answer, but to delay him as much as possible, so as to +give us time for preparation. I saw Anthony, Dayton, and the rebel +bearer of the flag, in conversation, and the latter turn his horse +to ride back, when I ordered Colonel McCoy to run to the station, +and get a message over the wires as quick as possible to Memphis +and Germantown, to hurry forward Corse's division. I then ordered +the train to back to the depot, and drew back the battalion of +regulars to the small earth redoubt near it. The depot-building +was of brick, and had been punctured with loop-holes. To its east, +about two hundred yards, was a small square earthwork or fort, into +which were put a part of the regulars along with the company of the +Sixty-sixth Indiana already there. The rest of the men were +distributed into the railroad-cut, and in some shallow +rifle-trenches near the depot. We had hardly made these +preparations when the enemy was seen forming in a long line on the +ridge to the south, about four hundred yards off, and soon after two +parties of cavalry passed the railroad on both sides of us, cutting +the wires and tearing up some rails. Soon they opened on us with +artillery (of which we had none), and their men were dismounting and +preparing to assault. To the south of us was an extensive +cornfield, with the corn still standing, and on the other side was +the town of Colliersville. All the houses near, that could give +shelter to the enemy, were ordered to be set on fire, and the men +were instructed to keep well under cover and to reserve their fire +for the assault, which seemed inevitable. A long line of rebel +skirmishers came down through the cornfield, and two other parties +approached us along the railroad on both sides. In the fort was a +small magazine containing some cartridges. Lieutenant James, a +fine, gallant fellow, who was ordnance-officer on my staff, asked +leave to arm the orderlies and clerks with some muskets which he had +found in the depot, to which I consented; he marched them into the +magazine, issued cartridges, and marched back to the depot to assist +in its defense. Afterward he came to me, said a party of the enemy +had got into the woods near the depot, and was annoying him, and he +wanted to charge and drive it away. I advised him to be extremely +cautious, as our enemy vastly outnumbered us, and had every +advantage in position and artillery; but instructed him, if they got +too near, he might make a sally. Soon after, I heard a rapid fire +in that quarter, and Lieutenant. James was brought in on a +stretcher, with a ball through his breast, which I supposed to be +fatal. + +[After the fight we sent him back to Memphis, where his mother and +father came from their home on the North River to nurse him. Young +James was recovering from his wound, but was afterward killed by a +fall from his horse, near his home, when riding with the daughters +of Mr. Hamilton Fish, now Secretary of State.] + +The enemy closed down on us several times, and got possession of +the rear of our train, from which they succeeded in getting five of +our horses, among them my favorite mare Dolly; but our men were +cool and practised shots (with great experience acquired at +Vicksburg), and drove them back. With their artillery they knocked +to pieces our locomotive and several of the cars, and set fire to +the train; but we managed to get possession again, and extinguished +the fire. Colonel Audenreid, aide-de-camp, was provoked to find +that his valise of nice shirts had been used to kindle the fire. +The fighting continued all round us for three or four hours, when +we observed signs of drawing off, which I attributed to the +rightful cause, the rapid approach of Corse's division, which +arrived about dark, having marched the whole distance from Memphis, +twenty-six miles, on the double-quick. The next day we repaired +damages to the railroad and locomotive, and went on to Corinth. + +At Corinth, on the 16th, I received the following important +dispatches: + +MEMPHIS, October 14, 1863--11 a.m. + +Arrived this morning. Will be off in a few hours. My orders are +only to go to Cairo, and report from there by telegraph. McPherson +will be in Canton to-day. He will remain there until Sunday or +Monday next, and reconnoitre as far eastward as possible with +cavalry, in the mean time. + +U. S. GRANT, Major-General. + + +WASHINGTON, October 14, 1863--1 p.m. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, Corinth + +Yours of the 10th is received. The important matter to be attended +to is that of supplies. When Eastport can be reached by boats, the +use of the railroad can be dispensed with; but until that time it +must be guarded as far as need. The Kentucky Railroad can barely +supply General Rosecrans. All these matters must be left to your +judgment as circumstances may arise. Should the enemy be so strong +as to prevent your going to Athena, or connecting with General +Rosecrans, you will nevertheless have assisted him greatly by +drawing away a part of the enemy's forces. + +H. W. HALLECK, Major-General. + + +On the 18th, with my staff and a small escort, I rode forward to +Burnsville, and on the 19th to Iuka, where, on the next day, I was +most agreeably surprised to hear of the arrival at Eastport (only +ten miles off) of two gunboats, under the command of Captain +Phelps, which had been sent up the Tennessee River by Admiral +Porter, to help us. + +Satisfied that, to reach Athens and to communicate with General +Rosecrans, we should have to take the route north of the Tennessee +River, on the 24th I ordered the Fourth Division to cross at +Eastport with the aid of the gunboats, and to move to Florence. +About the same time, I received the general orders assigning +General Grant to command the Military Division of the Mississippi, +authorizing him, on reaching Chattanooga, to supersede General +Rosecrans by General George H. Thomas, with other and complete +authority, as set, forth in the following letters of General +Halleck, which were sent to me by General Grant; and the same +orders devolved on me the command of the Department and Army of the +Tennessee. + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY +WASHINGTON, D.C., October 16, 1863 + +Major-General U. S. GRANT, Louisville. + +GENERAL: You will receive herewith the orders of the President of +the United States, placing you in command of the Departments of the +Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee. The organization of these +departments will be changed as you may deem most practicable. You +will immediately proceed to Chattanooga, and relieve General +Rosecrans. You can communicate with Generals Burnside and Sherman +by telegraph. A summary of the orders sent to these officers will +be sent to you immediately. It is left optional with you to +supersede General Rosecrans by General G. H. Thomas or not. Any +other changes will be made on your request by telegram. + +One of the first objects requiring your attention is the supply of +your armies. Another is the security of the passes in the Georgia +mountains, to shut out the enemy from Tennessee and Kentucky. You +will consult with General Meigs and Colonel Scott in regard to +transportation and supplies. + +Should circumstances permit, I will visit you personally in a few +days for consultation. + +H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. + + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY +WASHINGTON, D. C., October 20, 1868. + +Major-General GRANT, Louisville. + +GENERAL: In compliance with my promise, I now proceed to give you +a brief statement of the objects aimed at by General Rosecrans and +General Burnside's movement into East Tennessee, and of the +measures directed to be taken to attain these objects. + +It has been the constant desire of the government, from the +beginning of the war, to rescue the loyal inhabitants of East +Tennessee from the hands of the rebels, who fully appreciated the +importance of continuing their hold upon that country. In addition +to the large amount of agricultural products drawn from the upper +valley of the Tennessee, they also obtained iron and other +materials from the vicinity of Chattanooga. The possession of East +Tennessee would cut off one of their most important railroad +communications, and threaten their manufactories at Rome, Atlanta, +etc. + +When General Buell was ordered into East Tennessee in the summer of +1882, Chattanooga was comparatively unprotected; but Bragg reached +there before Buell, and, by threatening his communications, forced +him to retreat on Nashville and Louisville. Again, after the +battle of Perryville, General Buell was urged to pursue Bragg's +defeated army, and drive it from East Tennessee. The same was +urged upon his successor, but the lateness of the season or other +causes prevented further operations after the battle of Stone +River. + +Last spring, when your movements on the Mississippi River had drawn +out of Tennessee a large force of the enemy, I again urged General +Rosecrans to take advantage of that opportunity to carry out his +projected plan of campaign, General Burnside being ready to +cooperate, with a diminished but still efficient force. But he +could not be persuaded to act in time, preferring to lie still till +your campaign should be terminated. I represented to him, but +without avail, that by this delay Johnston might be able to +reenforce Bragg with the troops then operating against you. + +When General Rosecrans finally determined to advance, he was +allowed to select his own lines and plans for carrying out the +objects of the expedition. He was directed, however, to report his +movements daily, till he crossed the Tennessee, and to connect his +left, so far as possible, with General Burnside's right. General +Burnside was directed to move simultaneously, connecting his right, +as far as possible, with General Rosecrans's left so that, if the +enemy concentrated upon either army, the other could move to its +assistance. When General Burnside reached Kingston and Knoxville, +and found no considerable number of the enemy in East Tennessee, he +was instructed to move down the river and cooperate with General +Rosecrans. + +These instructions were repeated some fifteen times, but were not +carried out, General Burnside alleging as an excuse that he +believed that Bragg was in retreat, and that General Rosecrans +needed no reenforcements. When the latter had gained possession of +Chattanooga he was directed not to move on Rome as he proposed, but +simply to hold the mountain-passes, so as to prevent the ingress of +the rebels into East Tennessee. That object accomplished, I +considered the campaign as ended, at least for the present. Future +operations would depend upon the ascertained strength and; +movements of the enemy. In other words, the main objects of the +campaign were the restoration of East Tennessee to the Union, and +by holding the two extremities of the valley to secure it from +rebel invasion. + +The moment I received reliable information of the departure of +Longstreet's corps from the Army of the Potomac, I ordered forward +to General Rosecrans every available man in the Department of the +Ohio, and again urged General Burnside to move to his assistance. +I also telegraphed to Generals Hurlbut, Sherman, and yourself, to +send forward all available troops in your department. If these +forces had been sent to General Rosecrans by Nashville, they could +not have been supplied; I therefore directed them to move by +Corinth and the Tennessee River. The necessity of this has been +proved by the fact that the reinforcements sent to him from the +Army of the Potomac have not been able, for the want of railroad +transportation, to reach General Rosecrans's army in the field. + +In regard to the relative strength of the opposing armies, it is +believed that General Rosecrans when he first moved against Bragg +had double, if not treble, his force. General Burnside, also, had +more than double the force of Buckner; and, even when Bragg and +Buckner united, Rosecrans's army was very greatly superior in +number. Even the eighteen thousand men sent from Virginia, under +Longstreet, would not have given the enemy the superiority. It is +now ascertained that the greater part of the prisoners parolled by +you at Vicksburg, and General Banks at Port Hudson, were illegally +and improperly declared exchanged, and forced into the ranks to +swell the rebel numbers at Chickamauga. This outrageous act, in +violation of the laws of war, of the cartel entered into by the +rebel authorities, and of all sense of honor, gives us a useful +lesson in regard to the character of the enemy with whom we are +contending. He neither regards the rules of civilized warfare, nor +even his most solemn engagements. You may, therefore, expect to +meet in arms thousands of unexchanged prisoners released by you and +others on parole, not to serve again till duly exchanged. + +Although the enemy by this disgraceful means has been able to +concentrate in Georgia and Alabama a much larger force than we +anticipated, your armies will be abundantly able to defeat him. +Your difficulty will not be in the want of men, but in the means of +supplying them at this season of the year. A single-track railroad +can supply an army of sixty or seventy thousand men, with the usual +number of cavalry and artillery; but beyond that number, or with a +large mounted force, the difficulty of supply is very great. + +I do not know the present condition of the road from Nashville to +Decatur, but, if practicable to repair it, the use of that triangle +will be of great assistance to you. I hope, also, that the recent +rise of water in the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers will enable +you to employ water transportation to Nashville, Eastport, or +Florence. + +If you reoccupy the passes of Lookout Mountain, which should never +have been given up, you will be able to use the railroad and river +from Bridgeport to Chattanooga. This seems to me a matter of vital +importance, and should receive your early attention. + +I submit this summary in the hope that it will assist you in fully +understanding the objects of the campaign, and the means of +attaining these objects. Probably the Secretary of War, in his +interviews with you at Louisville, has gone over the same ground. +Whatever measures you may deem proper to adopt under existing +circumstances, you will receive all possible assistance from the +authorities at Washington. You have never, heretofore, complained +that such assistance has not been afforded 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 railroad bridge 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 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, CHATTANOOGA, +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 +reconnoissance 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 mouth. 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;" and, although he +(General Grant) hated to call on me and on my tired troops, there +was no alternative. He wanted me to take command of every thing +within reach, and to hurry forward to Knoxville. + +All the details of our march to Knoxville are also given in my +official report. By extraordinary efforts Long's small brigade of +cavalry reached Knoxville during the night of the 3d, purposely to +let Burnside know that I was rapidly approaching with an adequate +force to raise the siege. + +With the head of my infantry column I reached Marysville, about +fifteen miles short of Knoxville, on the 5th of December; when I +received official notice from Burnside that Longstreet had raised +the siege, and had started in retreat up the valley toward +Virginia. Halting all the army, except Granger's two divisions, on +the morning of the 6th, with General Granger and some of my staff I +rode into Knoxville. Approaching from the south and west, we +crossed the Holston on a pontoon bridge, and in a large pen on the +Knoxville side I saw a fine lot of cattle, which did not look much +like starvation. I found General Burnside and staff domiciled in a +large, fine mansion, looking very comfortable, and in, a few words +he described to me the leading events, of the previous few days, +and said he had already given orders looking to the pursuit of +Longstreet. I offered to join in the pursuit, though in fact my +men were worn out, and suffering in that cold season and climate. + +Indeed, on our way up I personally was almost frozen, and had to +beg leave to sleep in the house of a family at Athens. + +Burnside explained to me that, reenforced by Granger's two +divisions of ten thousand men, he would be able to push Longstreet +out of East Tennessee, and he hoped to capture much of his +artillery and trains. Granger was present at our conversation, and +most unreasonably, I thought, remonstrated against being left; +complaining bitterly of what he thought was hard treatment to his +men and himself. I know that his language and manner at that time +produced on my mind a bad impression, and it was one of the causes +which led me to relieve him as a corps commander in the campaign of +the next spring. I asked General Burnside to reduce his wishes to +writing, which he did in the letter of December 7th, embodied in my +official report. General Burnside and I then walked along his +lines and examined the salient, known as Fort Sanders, where, some +days before, Longstreet had made his assault, and had sustained a +bloody repulse. + +Returning to Burnside's quarters, we all sat down to a good dinner, +embracing roast-turkey. There was a regular dining table, with +clean tablecloth, dishes, knives, forks, spoons, etc., etc. I had +seen nothing of this kind in my field experience, and could not +help exclaiming that I thought "they were starving," etc.; but +Burnside explained that Longstreet had at no time completely +invested the place, and that he had kept open communication with +the country on the south side of the river Holston, more especially +with the French Broad settlements, from whose Union inhabitants he +had received a good supply of beef, bacon, and corn meal. Had I +known of this, I should not have hurried my men so fast; but until +I reached Knoxville I thought his troops there were actually in +danger of starvation. Having supplied General Burnside all the +help he wanted, we began our leisurely return to Chattanooga, which +we reached on the 16th; when General Grant in person ordered me to +restore to General Thomas the divisions of Howard and Davis, which +belonged to his army, and to conduct my own corps (the Fifteenth) +to North Alabama for winter-quarters. + + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY OF TENNESSEE, BRIDGEPORT, +ALABAMA December 19, 1863 + +Brigadier-General John A. RAWLINS, Chief of Staff to General GRANT, +Chattanooga. + +GENERAL: For the first time, I am now at leisure to make an +official record of events with which the troops under my command +have been connected daring the eventful campaign which has just +closed. Dating the month of September last, the Fifteenth Army +Corps, which I had the honor to command, lay in camps along the Big +Black, about twenty miles east of Vicksburg, Mississippi. It +consisted of four divisions: + +The First, commanded by Brigadier-General P. J. Osterhaus, was +composed of two brigades, led by Brigadier-General C. R. Woods and +Colonel J. A. Williamson (of the Fourth Iowa). + +The Second, commanded by Brigadier-General Morgan L. Smith, was +composed of two brigades, led by Brigadier-Generals Giles A. Smith +and J. A. J. Lightburn. + +The Third, commanded by Brigadier-General J. M. Tuttle, was +composed of three brigades, led by Brigadier-Generals J. A. Mower +and R. P. Buckland, and Colonel J. J. Wood (of the Twelfth Iowa). + +The Fourth, commanded by Brigadier-General Hugh Ewing, was composed +of three brigades, led by Brigadier-General J. M. Corse, Colonel +Loomis (Twenty-sixth Illinois), and Colonel J. R. Cockerill (of the +Seventieth Ohio). + +On the 22d day of September I received a telegraphic dispatch from +General Grant, then at Vicksburg, commanding the Department of the +Tennessee, requiring me to detach one of my divisions to march to +Vicksburg, there to embark for Memphis, where it was to form a part +of an army to be sent to Chattanooga, to reenforce General +Rosecrans. I designated the First Division, and at 4 a. m. the +same day it marched for Vicksburg, and embarked the neat day. + +On the 23d of September I was summoned to Vicksburg by the general +commanding, who showed me several dispatches from the general- +in-chief, which led him to suppose he would have to send me and my +whole corps to Memphis and eastward, and I was instructed to +prepare for such orders. It was explained to me that, in +consequence of the low stage of water in the Mississippi, boats had +arrived irregularly, and had brought dispatches that seemed to +conflict in their meaning, and that General John E. Smith's +division (of General McPherson's corps) had been ordered up to +Memphis, and that I should take that division and leave one of my +own in its stead, to hold the line of the Big Black. I detailed +my third division (General Tuttle) to remain and report to +Major-General McPherson, commanding the Seventeenth Corps, at +Vicksburg; and that of General John E. Smith, already started for +Memphis, was styled the Third Division, Fifteenth Corps, though it +still belongs to the Seventeenth Army Corps. This division is also +composed of three brigades, commanded by General Matthias, Colonel +J. B. Raum (of the Fifty-sixth Illinois), and Colonel J. I. +Alexander (of the Fifty-ninth Indiana). + +The Second and Fourth Divisions were started for Vicksburg the +moment I was notified that boats were in readiness, and on the +27th of September I embarked in person in the steamer Atlantic, +for Memphis, followed by a fleet of boats conveying these +two divisions. Our progress was slow, on account of the +unprecedentedly low water in the Mississippi, and the scarcity of +coal and wood. We were compelled at places to gather fence-rails, +and to land wagons and haul wood from the interior to the boats; +but I reached Memphis during the night of the 2d of October, and +the other boats came in on the 3d and 4th. + +On arrival at Memphis I saw General Hurlbut, and read all the +dispatches and letters of instruction of General Halleck, and +therein derived my instructions, which I construed to be as +follows: + +To conduct the Fifteenth Army Corps, and all other troops which +could be spared from the line of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, +to Athens, Alabama, and thence report by letter for orders to +General Rosecrans, commanding the Army of the Cumberland, at +Chattanooga; to follow substantially the railroad eastward, +repairing it as I moved; to look to my own line for supplies; and +in no event to depend on General Rosecrans for supplies, as the +roads to his rear were already overtaxed to supply his present +army. + +I learned from General Hurlbut that General Osterhaus's division +was already out in front of Corinth, and that General John E. Smith +was still at Memphis, moving his troops and material by railroad as +fast as its limited stock would carry them. General J. D. Webster +was superintendent of the railroad, and was enjoined to work night +and day, and to expedite the movement as rapidly as possible; but +the capacity of the road was so small, that I soon saw that I could +move horses, mules, and wagons faster by land, and therefore I +dispatched the artillery and wagons by the road under escort, and +finally moved the entire Fourth Division by land. + +The enemy seems to have had early notice of this movement, and he +endeavored to thwart us from the start. A considerable force +assembled in a threatening attitude at Salem, south of Salisbury +Station; and General Carr, who commanded at Corinth, felt compelled +to turn back and use a part of my troops, that had already reached +Corinth, to resist the threatened attack. + +On Sunday, October 11th, having put in motion my whole force, I +started myself for Corinth, in a special train, with the battalion +of the Thirteenth United States Regulars as escort. We reached +Collierville Station about noon, just in time to take part in the +defense made of that station by Colonel D. C. Anthony, of the +Sixty-sixth Indiana, against an attack made by General Chalmers +with a force of about three thousand cavalry, with eight pieces of +artillery. He was beaten off, the damage to the road repaired, and +we resumed our journey the next day, reaching Corinth at night. + +I immediately ordered General Blair forward to Iuka, with the First +Division, and, as fast as I got troops up, pushed them forward of +Bear Creek, the bridge of which was completely destroyed, and an +engineer regiment, under command of Colonel Flag, was engaged in +its repairs. + +Quite a considerable force of the enemy was assembled in our front, +near Tuscumbia, to resist our advance. It was commanded by General +Stephen D. Lee, and composed of Roddy's and Ferguson's brigades, +with irregular cavalry, amounting in the aggregate to about five +thousand. + +In person I moved from Corinth to Burnsville on the 18th, and to +Iuka on the 19th of October. + +Osterhaus's division was in the advance, constantly skirmishing +with the enemy; he was supported by General Morgan L. Smith's, both +divisions under the general command of Major-General Blair. +General John E. Smith's division covered the working-party engaged +in rebuilding the railroad. + +Foreseeing difficulty in crossing the Tennessee River, I had +written to Admiral Porter, at Cairo, asking him to watch the +Tennessee and send up some gunboats the moment the stage of water +admitted; and had also requested General Allen, quartermaster at +St. Louis, to dispatch to Eastport a steam ferry-boat. + +The admiral, ever prompt and ready to assist us, had two fine +gunboats at Eastport, under Captain Phelps, the very day after my +arrival at Iuka; and Captain Phelps had a coal-barge decked over, +with which to cross our horses and wagons before the arrival of the +ferry-boat. + +Still following literally the instructions of General Halleck, I +pushed forward the repairs of the railroad, and ordered General +Blair, with the two leading divisions, to drive the enemy beyond +Tuscumbia. This he did successfully, after a pretty severe fight +at Cane Creek, occupying Tuscumbia on the 27th of October. + +In the meantime many important changes in command had occurred, +which I must note here, to a proper understanding of the case. + +General Grant had been called from Vicksburg, and sent to +Chattanooga to command the military division of the Mississippi, +composed of the three Departments of the Ohio, Cumberland, and +Tennessee; and the Department of the Tennessee had been devolved on +me, with instructions, however, to retain command of the army in +the field. At Iuka I made what appeared to me the best disposition +of matters relating to the department, giving General McPherson +full powers in Mississippi and General Hurlbut in West Tennessee, +and assigned General Blair to the command of the Fifteenth Army +Corps; and summoned General Hurlbut from Memphis, and General Dodge +from Corinth, and selected out of the Sixteenth Corps a force of +about eight thousand men, which I directed General Dodge to +organize with all expedition, and with it to follow me eastward. + +On the 27th of October, when General Blair, with two divisions, was +at Tuscumbia, I ordered General Ewing, with the Fourth Division, to +cross the Tennessee (by means of the gunboats and scow) as rapidly +as possible at Eastport, and push forward to Florence, which he +did; and the same day a messenger from General Grant floated down +the Tennessee over Muscle Shoals, landed at Tuscumbia, and was sent +to me at Iuka. He bore a short message from the general to this +effect: "Drop all work on the railroad east of Bear Creek; push +your command toward Bridgeport till you meet orders;" etc. +Instantly the order was executed; the order of march was reversed, +and all the columns were directed to Eastport, the only place where +we could cross the Tennessee. At first we only had the gunboats +and coal-barge; but the ferry-boat and two transports arrived on +the 31st of October, and the work of crossing was pushed with all +the vigor possible. In person I crossed, and passed to the head of +the column at Florence on the 1st of November, leaving the rear +divisions to be conducted by General Blair, and marched to +Rogersville and Elk River. This was found impassable. To ferry +would have consumed to much time, and to build a bridge still more; +so there was no alternative but to turn up Elk River by way of +Gilbertsboro, Elkton, etc., to the stone bridge at Fayetteville, +where we crossed the Elk, and proceeded to Winchester and Deckerd. + +At Fayetteville I received orders from General Grant to come to +Bridgeport with the Fifteenth Army Corps, and to leave General +Dodge's command at Pulaski, and along the railroad from Columbia to +Decatur. I instructed General Blair to follow with the Second and +First Divisions by way of New Market, Larkinsville, and Bellefonte, +while I conducted the other two divisions by way of Deckerd; the +Fourth Division crossing the mountain to Stevenson, and the Third +by University Place and Sweden's Cove. + +In person I proceeded by Sweden's Cove and Battle Creek, reaching +Bridgeport on the night of November 13th. I immediately +telegraphed to the commanding general my arrival, and the positions +of my several divisions, and was summoned to Chattanooga. I took +the first steamboat daring the night of the 14th for Belly's Ferry, +and rode into Chattanooga on the 16th. I then learned the part +assigned me in the coming drama, was supplied with the necessary +maps and information, and rode, during the 18th, in company with +Generals Grant, Thomas, W. F. Smith, Brannan, and others, to the +positions occupied on the west bank of the Tennessee, from which +could be seen the camps of the enemy, compassing Chattanooga and +the line of Missionary Hills, with its terminus on Chickamauga +Creek, the point that I was expected to take, hold, and fortify. +Pontoons, with a full supply of balks and chesses, had been +prepared for the bridge over the Tennessee, and all things had been +prearranged with a foresight that elicited my admiration. From the +hills we looked down on the amphitheatre of Chattanooga as on a +map, and nothing remained but for me to put my troops in the +desired position. The plan contemplated that, in addition to +crossing the Tennessee River and making a lodgment on the terminus +of Missionary Ridge, I should demonstrate against Lookout Mountain, +near Trenton, with a part of my command. + +All in Chattanooga were impatient for action, rendered almost acute +by the natural apprehensions felt for the safety of General +Burnside in East Tennessee. + +My command had marched from Memphis, three hundred and thirty +miles, and I had pushed them as fast as the roads and distance +would admit, but I saw enough of the condition of men and animals +in Chattanooga to inspire me with renewed energy. I immediately +ordered my leading division (General Ewing's) to march via +Shellmound to Trenton, demonstrating against Lookout Ridge, but to +be prepared to turn quickly and follow me to Chattanooga and in +person I returned to Bridgeport, rowing a boat down the Tennessee +from Belly's Ferry, and immediately on arrival put in motion my +divisions in the order in which they had arrived. The bridge of +boats at Bridgeport was frail, and, though used day and night, our +passage was slow; and the road thence to Chattanooga was dreadfully +cut up and encumbered with the wagons of the other troops stationed +along the road. I reached General Hooker's headquarters during a +rain, in the afternoon of the 20th, and met General Grant's orders +for the general attack on the next day. It was simply impossible +for me to fulfill my part in time; only one division (General John +E. Smith's) was in position. General Ewing was still at Trenton, +and the other two were toiling along the terrible road from +Shellmound to Chattanooga. No troops ever were or could be in +better condition than mine, or who labored harder to fulfill their +part. On a proper representation, General Grant postponed the +attack. On the 21st I got the Second Division over Brown's-Ferry +Bridge, and General Ewing got up; but the bridge broke repeatedly, +and delays occurred which no human sagacity could prevent. All +labored night and day, and General Ewing got over on the 23d; but +my rear division was cut off by the broken bridge at Brown's Ferry, +and could not join me. I offered to go into action with my three +divisions, supported by General Jeff. C. Davis, leaving one of my +best divisions (Osterhaus's) to act with General Hooker against +Lookout Mountain. That division has not joined me yet, but I know +and feel that it has served the country well, and that it has +reflected honor on the Fifteenth Army Corps and the Army of the +Tennessee. I leave the record of its history to General Hooker, or +whomsoever has had its services during the late memorable events, +confident that all will do it merited honor. + +At last, on the 28d of November, my three divisions lay behind the +hills opposite the mouth of the Chickamauga. I dispatched the +brigade of the Second Division, commanded by General Giles A. +Smith, under cover of the hills, to North Chickamauga Creek, to man +the boats designed for the pontoon-bridge, with orders (at +midnight) to drop down silently to a point above the mouth of the +South Chickamauga, there land two regiments, who were to move along +the river-bank quietly, and capture the enemy's river-pickets. + +General Giles A. Smith then was to drop rapidly below the month of +the Chickamauga, disembark the rest of his brigade, and dispatch +the boats across for fresh loads. These orders were skillfully +executed, and every rebel picket but one was captured. The balance +of General Morgan L. Smith's division was then rapidly ferried +across; that of General John E. Smith followed, and by daylight of +November 24th two divisions of about eight thousand men were on the +east bank of the Tennessee, and had thrown up a very respectable +rifle-trench as a tete du pont. As soon as the day dawned, some of +the boats were taken from the use of ferrying, and a pontoon-bridge +was begun, under the immediate direction of Captain Dresser, the +whole planned and supervised by General William F. Smith in person. +A pontoon-bridge was also built at the same time over Chickamanga +Creek, near its mouth, giving communication with the two regiments +which had been left on the north side, and fulfilling a most +important purpose at a later stage of the drama. I will here bear +my willing testimony to the completeness of this whole business. +All the officers charged with the work were present, and manifested +a skill which I cannot praise too highly. I have never beheld any +work done so quietly, so well; and I doubt if the history of war +can show a bridge of that extent (viz., thirteen hundred and fifty +feet) laid so noiselessly and well, in so short a time. I +attribute it to the genius and intelligence of General William F. +Smith. The steamer Dunbar arrived up in the course of the morning, +and relieved Ewing's division of the labor of rowing across; but by +noon the pontoon-bridge was done, and my three divisions were +across, with men, horses, artillery, and every thing. + +General Jeff. C. Davis's division was ready to take the bridge, and +I ordered the columns to form in order to carry the Missionary +Hills. The movement had been carefully explained to all division +commanders, and at 1 p.m. we marched from the river in three +columns in echelon: the left, General Morgan L. Smith, the column +of direction, following substantially Chickamauga Creek; the +centre, General, John E. Smith, in columns, doubled on the centre, +at one brigade interval to the right and rear; the right, General +Ewing, in column at the same distance to the right rear, prepared +to deploy to the right, on the supposition that we would meet an +enemy in that direction. Each head of column was covered by a good +line of skirmishers, with supports. A light drizzling rain +prevailed, and the clouds hung low, cloaking our movement from the +enemy's tower of observation on Lookout Mountain. We soon gained +the foothills; our skirmishers crept up the face of the hills, +followed by their supports, and at 3.30 p.m. we had gained, with no +loss, the desired point. A brigade of each division was pushed +rapidly to the top of the hill, and the enemy for the first time +seemed to realize the movement, but too late, for we were in +possession. He opened with artillery, but General Ewing soon got +some of Captain Richardson's guns up that steep hill and gave back +artillery, and the enemy's skirmishers made one or two ineffectual +dashes at General Lightburn, who had swept round and got a farther +hill, which was the real continuation of the ridge. From studying +all the maps, I had inferred that Missionary Ridge was a continuous +hill; but we found ourselves on two high points, with a deep +depression between us and the one immediately over the tunnel, +which was my chief objective point. The ground we had gained, +however, was so important, that I could leave nothing to chance, +and ordered it to be fortified during the night. One brigade of +each division was left on the hill, one of General Morgan L. +Smith's closed the gap to Chickamauga Creek, two of General John E. +Smith's were drawn back to the base in reserve, and General Ewing's +right was extended down into the plain, thus crossing the ridge in +a general line, facing southeast. + +The enemy felt our left flank about 4 p.m., and a pretty smart +engagement with artillery and muskets ensued, when he drew off; but +it cost us dear, for General Giles A. Smith was severely wounded, +and had to go to the rear; and the command of the brigade devolved +on Colonel Topper (One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois), who managed +it with skill during the rest of the operations. At the moment of +my crossing the bridge, General Howard appeared, having come with +three regiments from Chattanooga, along the east bank of the +Tennessee, connecting my new position with that of the main army in +Chattanooga. He left the three regiments attached temporarily to +Gen. Ewing's right, and returned to his own corps at Chattanooga. +As night closed in, I ordered General Jeff. C. Davis to keep one of +his brigades at the bridge, one close up to my position, and one +intermediate. Thus we passed the night, heavy details being kept +busy at work on the intrenchments on the hill. During the night +the sky cleared away bright, a cold frost filled the air, and our +camp-fires revealed to the enemy and to our friends in Chattanooga +our position on Missionary Ridge. About midnight I received, at +the hands of Major Rowley (of General Grant's staff), orders to +attack the enemy at "dawn of day," with notice that General Thomas +would attack in force early in the day. Accordingly, before day I +was in the saddle, attended by all my staff; rode to the extreme +left of our position near Chickamauga Creek; thence up the hill, +held by General Lightburn; and round to the extreme right of +General Ewing. + +Catching as accurate an idea of the ground as possible by the dim +light of morning, I saw that our line of attack was in the +direction of Missionary Ridge, with wings supporting on either +flank. Quite a valley lay between us and the next hill of the +series, and this hill presented steep sides, the one to the west +partially cleared, but the other covered with the native forest. +The crest of the ridge was narrow and wooded. The farther point of +this hill was held-by the enemy with a breastwork of logs and fresh +earth, filled with men and two guns. The enemy was also seen in +great force on a still higher hill beyond the tunnel, from which he +had a fine plunging fire on the hill in dispute. The gorge +between, through which several roads and the railroad-tunnel pass, +could not be seen from our position, but formed the natural place +d'armes, where the enemy covered his masses to resist our +contemplated movement of turning his right flank and endangering +his communications with his depot at Chickamauga Station. + +As soon as possible, the following dispositions were made: The +brigades of Colonels Cockrell and Alexander, and General Lightburn, +were to hold our hill as the key-point. General Corse, with as +much of his brigade as could operate along the narrow ridge, was to +attack from our right centre. General Lightburn was to dispatch a +good regiment from his position to cooperate with General Corse; +and General Morgan L. Smith was to move along the east base of +Missionary Ridge, connecting with General Corse; and Colonel +Loomis, in like manner, to move along the west bank, supported by +the two reserve brigades of General John E. Smith. + +The sun had hardly risen before General Corse had completed his +preparations and his bugle sounded the "forward!" The Fortieth +Illinois, supported by the Forty-sixth Ohio, on our right centre, +with the Thirtieth Ohio (Colonel Jones), moved down the face of our +hill, and up that held by the enemy. The line advanced to within +about eighty yards of the intrenched position, where General Corse +found a secondary crest, which he gained and held. To this point +he called his reserves, and asked for reenforcements, which were +sent; but the space was narrow, and it was not well to crowd the +men, as the enemy's artillery and musketry fire swept the approach +to his position, giving him great advantage. As soon as General +Corse had made his preparations, he assaulted, and a close, severe +contest ensued, which lasted more than an hour, gaining and losing +ground, but never the position first obtained, from which the enemy +in vain attempted to drive him. General Morgan L. Smith kept +gaining ground on the left spurs of Missionary Ridge, and Colonel +Loomis got abreast of the tunnel and railroad embankment on his +aide, drawing the enemy's fire, and to that extent relieving the +assaulting party on the hill-crest. Captain Callender had four of +his guns on General Ewing's hill, and Captain Woods his Napoleon +battery on General Lightburn's; also, two guns of Dillon's battery +were with Colonel Alexander's brigade. All directed their fire as +carefully as possible, to clear the hill to our front, without +endangering our own men. The fight raged furiously about 10 a.m., +when General Corse received a severe wound, was brought off the +field, and the command of the brigade and of the assault at that +key-point devolved on that fine young, gallant officer, Colonel +Walcutt, of the Forty-sixth Ohio, who fulfilled his part manfully. +He continued the contest, pressing forward at all points. Colonel +Loomis had made good progress to the right, and about 2 p.m., +General John E. Smith, judging the battle to be most severe on the +hill, and being required to support General Ewing, ordered up +Colonel Raum's and General Matthias's brigades across the field to +the summit that was being fought for. They moved up under a heavy +fire of cannon and musketry, and joined Colonel Walcutt; but the +crest was so narrow that they necessarily occupied the west face of +the hill. The enemy, at the time being massed in great strength in +the tunnel-gorge, moved a large force under cover of the ground and +the thick bushes, and suddenly appeared on the right rear of this +command. The suddenness of the attack disconcerted the men, +exposed as they were in the open field; they fell back in some +disorder to the lower edge of the field, and reformed. These two +brigades were in the nature of supports, and did not constitute a +part of the real attack. + +The movement, seen from Chattanooga (five miles off ) with +spy-glasses, gave rise to the report, which even General Meiga has +repeated, that we were repulsed on the left. It was not so. The +real attacking columns of General Corse, Colonel Loomis, and +General Smith, were not repulsed. They engaged in a close struggle +all day persistently, stubbornly, and well. When the two reserve +brigades of General John E. Smith fell back as described, the enemy +made a show of pursuit, but were in their turn caught in flank by +the well-directed fire of our brigade on the wooded crest, and +hastily sought cover behind the hill. Thus matters stood about 3 +p.m. The day was bright and clear, and the amphitheatre of +Chattanooga sat in beauty at our feet. I had watched for the +attack of General Thomas "early in the day." Column after column +of the enemy was streaming toward me; gun after gun poured its +concentric shot on us, from every hill and spur that gave a view of +any part of the ground held by us. An occasional shot from Fort +Wood and Orchard Knob, and some musketry-fire and artillery over +about Lookout Mountain, was all that I could detect on our side; +but about 3 p.m. I noticed the white line of musketry-fire in +front of Orchard Knoll extending farther and farther right and left +and on. We could only hear a faint echo of sound, but enough was +seen to satisfy me that General Thomas was at last moving on the +centre. I knew that our attack had drawn vast masses of the enemy +to our flank, and felt sure of the result. Some guns which had +been firing on us all day were silent, or were turned in a +different direction. + +The advancing line of musketry-fire from Orchard Knoll disappeared +to us behind a spar of the hill, and could no longer be seen; and +it was not until night closed in that I knew that the troops in +Chattanooga had swept across Missionary Ridge and broken the +enemy's centre. Of course, the victory was won, and pursuit was +the next step. + +I ordered General Morgan L. Smith to feel to the tunnel, and it was +found vacant, save by the dead and wounded of our own and the enemy +commingled. The reserve of General Jeff. C. Davis was ordered to +march at once by the pontoon-bridge across Chickamauga Creek, at +its mouth, and push forward for the depot. + +General Howard had reported to me in the early part of the day, +with the remainder of his army corps (the Eleventh), and had been +posted to connect my left with Chickamauga Creek. He was ordered +to repair an old broken bridge about two miles up the Chickamauga, +and to follow General Davis at 4 a.m., and the Fifteenth Army Corps +was ordered to follow at daylight. But General Howard found that +to repair the bridge was more of a task than was at first supposed, +and we were all compelled to cross the Chickamauga on the new +pontoon-bridge at its mouth. By about 11 a.m. General Jeff. C. +Davis's division reached the depot, just in time to see it in +flames. He found the enemy occupying two hills, partially +intrenched, just beyond the depot. These he soon drove away. +The depot presented a scene of desolation that war alone exhibits +--corn-meal and corn in huge burning piles, broken wagons, abandoned +caissons, two thirty-two-pounder rifled-guns with carriages burned, +pieces of pontoons, balks and chesses, etc., destined doubtless for +the famous invasion of Kentucky, and all manner of things, burning +and broken. Still, the enemy kindly left us a good supply of forage +for our horses, and meal, beans, etc., for our men. + +Pausing but a short while, we passed on, the road filled with +broken wagons and abandoned caissons, till night. Just as the head +of the column emerged from a dark, miry swamp, we encountered the +rear-guard of the retreating enemy. The fight was sharp, but the +night closed in so dark that we could not move. General Grant came +up to us there. At daylight we resumed the march, and at +Graysville, where a good bridge spanned the Chickamauga, we found +the corps of General Palmer on the south bank, who informed us that +General Hooker was on a road still farther south, and we could hear +his guns near Ringgold. + +As the roads were filled with all the troops they could possibly +accommodate, I turned to the east, to fulfill another part of the +general plan, viz., to break up all communication between Bragg and +Longstreet. + +We had all sorts of rumors as to the latter, but it was manifest +that we should interpose a proper force between these two armies. +I therefore directed General Howard to move to Parker's Gap, and +thence send rapidly a competent force to Red Clay, or the +Council-Ground, there to destroy a large section of the railroad +which connects Dalton and Cleveland. This work was most +successfully and fully accomplished that day. The division of +General Jeff. C. Davis was moved close up to Ringgold, to assist +General Hooker if needed, and the Fifteenth Corps was held at +Grayeville, for any thing that might turn up. About noon I had a +message from General Hooker, saying he had had a pretty hard fight +at the mountain-pass just beyond Ringgold, and he wanted me to come +forward to turn the position. He was not aware at the time that +Howard, by moving through Parker's Gap toward Red Clay, had already +turned it. So I rode forward to Ringgold in person, and found the +enemy had already fallen back to Tunnel Hill. He was already out +of the valley of the Chickamauga, and on ground whence the waters +flow to the Coosa. He was out of Tennessee. + +I found General Grant at Ringgold, and, after some explanations as +to breaking up the railroad from Ringgold back to the State line, +as soon as some cars loaded with wounded men could be pushed back +to Chickamauga depot, I was ordered to move slowly and leisurely +back to Chattanooga. + +On the following day the Fifteenth Corps destroyed absolutely and +effectually the railroad from a point half-way between Ringgold and +Graysville, back to the State line; and General Grant, coming to +Graysville, consented that, instead of returning direct to +Chattanooga, I might send back all my artillery-wagons and +impediments, and make a circuit by the north as far as the +Hiawasaee River. + +Accordingly, on the morning of November 29th, General Howard moved +from Parker's Gap to Cleveland, General Davis by way of McDaniel's +Gap, and General Blair with two divisions of the Fifteenth Corps by +way of Julien's Gap, all meeting at Cleveland that night. Here +another good break was made in the Dalton & Cleveland road. On the +30th the army moved to Charleston, General Howard approaching so +rapidly that the enemy evacuated with haste, leaving the bridge but +partially damaged, and five car-loads of flour and provisions on +the north bank of the Hiawassee. + +This was to have been the limit of our operations. Officers and +men had brought no baggage or provisions, and the weather was +bitter cold. I had already reached the town of Charleston, when +General Wilson arrived with a letter from General Grant, at +Chattanooga, informing me that the latest authentic accounts from +Knoxville were to the 27th, at which time General Burnside was +completely invested, and had provisions only to include the 3d of +December; that General Granger had left Chattanooga for Knoxville, +by the river-road, with a steamboat following him in the river; but +he feared that General Granger could not reach Knoxville in time, +and ordered me to take command of all troops moving for the relief +of Knoxville, and hasten to General Burnside. Seven days before, +we had left our camps on the other side of the Tennessee with two +days' rations, without a change of clothing--stripped for the +fight, with but a single blanket or coat per man, from myself to +the private included. + +Of course, we then had no provisions save what we gathered by the +road, and were ill supplied for such a march. But we learned that +twelve thousand of our fellow-soldiers were beleaguered in the +mountain town of Knoxville, eighty-four miles distant; that they +needed relief, and must have it in three days. This was enough +--and it had to be done. General Howard that night repaired and +planked the railroad-bridge, and at daylight the army passed over +the Hiawassee and marched to Athens, fifteen miles. I had supposed +rightly that General Granger was about the mouth of the Hiawassee, +and had sent him notice of my orders; that General Grant had sent +me a copy of his written instructions, which were full and +complete, and that he must push for Kingston, near which we would +make a junction. But by the time I reached Athens I had better +studied the geography, and sent him orders, which found him at +Decatur, that Kingston was out of our way; that he should send his +boat to Kingston, but with his command strike across to +Philadelphia, and report to me there. I had but a small force of +cavalry, which was, at the time of my receipt of General Grant's +orders, scouting over about Benton and Columbus. I left my aide, +Major McCoy, at Charleston, to communicate with this cavalry and +hurry it forward. It overtook me in the night at Athens. + +On the 2d of December the army moved rapidly north toward Loudon, +twenty-six miles distant. About 11 a.m., the cavalry passed to the +head of the column, was ordered to push to London, and, if +possible, to save a pontoon-bridge across the Tennessee, held by a +brigade of the enemy commanded by General Vaughn. The cavalry +moved with such rapidity as to capture every picket; but the +brigade of Vaughn had artillery in position, covered by earthworks, +and displayed a force too respectable to be carried by a cavalry +dash, so that darkness closed in before General Howard's infantry +got up. The enemy abandoned the place in the night, destroying the +pontoons, running three locomotives and forty-eight cars into the +Tennessee River, and abandoned much provision, four guns, and other +material, which General Howard took at daylight. But the bridge +was gone, and we were forced to turn east and trust to General +Burnside's bridge at Knoxville. It was all-important that General +Burnside should have notice of our coming, and but one day of the +time remained. + +Accordingly, at Philadelphia, during the night of the 2d of +December, I sent my aide (Major Audenried) forward to Colonel Long, +commanding the brigade of cavalry at London, to explain to him how +all-important it was that notice of our approach should reach +General Burnside within twenty-four hours, ordering him to select +the best materials of his command, to start at once, ford the +Little Tennessee, and push into Knoxville at whatever cost of life +and horse-flesh. Major Audenried was ordered to go along. The +distance to be traveled was about forty miles, and the roads +villainous. Before day they were off, and at daylight the +Fifteenth Corps was turned from Philadelphia for the Little +Tennessee at Morgantown, where my maps represented the river as +being very shallow; but it was found too deep for fording, and the +water was freezing cold--width two hundred and forty yards, depth +from two to five feet; horses could ford, but artillery and men +could not. A bridge was indispensable. General Wilson (who +accompanied me) undertook to superintend the bridge, and I am under +many obligations to him, as I was without an engineer, having sent +Captain Jenny back from Graysville to survey our field of battle. +We had our pioneers, but only such tools as axes, picks, and +spades. General Wilson, working partly with cut wood and partly +with square trestles (made of the houses of the late town of +Morgantown), progressed apace, and by dark of December 4th troops +and animals passed over the bridge, and by daybreak of the 5th the +Fifteenth Corps (General Blair's) was over, and Generals-Granger's +and Davis's divisions were ready to pass; but the diagonal bracing +was imperfect for, want of spikes, and the bridge broke, causing +delay. I had ordered General Blair to move out on the Marysville +road five miles, there to await notice that General Granger was on +a parallel road abreast of him, and in person I was at a house +where the roads parted, when a messenger rode up, bringing me a few +words from General Burnside, to the effect that Colonel Long had +arrived at Knoxville with his cavalry, and that all was well with +him there; Longstreet still lay before the place, but there were +symptoms of his speedy departure. + +I felt that I had accomplished the first great step in the problem +for the relief of General Burnside's army, but still urged on the +work. As soon as the bridge was mended, all the troops moved +forward. General Howard had marched from Loudon, had found a +pretty good ford for his horses and wagons at Davis's, seven miles +below Morgantown, and had made an ingenious bridge of the wagons +left by General Vaughn at London, on which to pass his men. He +marched by Unitia and Louisville. On the night of the 5th all the +heads of columns communicated at Marysville, where I met Major Van +Buren (of General Burnside's staff), who announced that Longstreet +had the night before retreated on the Rutledge, Rogersville, and +Bristol road, leading to Virginia; that General Burnside's cavalry +was on his heels; and that the general desired to see me in person +as soon as I could come to Knoxville. I ordered all the troops to +halt and rest, except the two divisions of General Granger, which +were ordered to move forward to Little River, and General Granger +to report in person to General Burnside for orders. His was the +force originally designed to reenforce General Burnside, and it was +eminently proper that it should join in the stern-chase after +Longstreet. + +On the morning of December 6th I rode from Marysville into +Knoxville, and met General Burnside. General Granger arrived later +in the day. We examined his lines of fortifications, which were a +wonderful production for the short time allowed in their selection +of ground and construction of work. It seemed to me that they were +nearly impregnable. We examined the redoubt named "Sanders," +where, on the Sunday previous, three brigades of the enemy had +assaulted and met a bloody repulse. Now, all was peaceful and +quiet; but a few hours before, the deadly bullet sought its victim +all round about that hilly barrier. + +The general explained to me fully and frankly what he had done, and +what he proposed to do. He asked of me nothing but General +Granger's command; and suggested, in view of the large force I had +brought from Chattanooga, that I should return with due expedition +to the line of the Hiawasaee, lest Bragg, reenforced, might take +advantage of our absence to resume the offensive. I asked him to +reduce this to writing, which he did, and I here introduce it as +part of my report: + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE OHIO +KNOXVILLE, December 7, 1863 + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding, etc. + +GENERAL: I desire to express to you and your command my most hearty +thanks and gratitude for your promptness in coming to our relief +during the siege of Knoxville, and I am satisfied your approach +served to raise the siege. The emergency having passed, I do not +deem, for the present, any other portion of your command but the +corps of General Granger necessary for operations in this section; +and, inasmuch as General Grant has weakened the forces immediately +with him in order to relieve us (thereby rendering the position of +General Thomas less secure), I deem it advisable that all the +troops now here, save those commanded by General Granger, should +return at once to within supporting distance of the forces in front +of Bragg's army. In behalf of my command, I desire again to thank +you and your command for the kindness you have done us. + +I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +A. E. BURNSIDE, Major-General commanding. + + +Accordingly, having seen General Burnside's forces move out of +Knoxville in pursuit of Longstreet, and General Granger's move in, +I put in motion my own command to return. General Howard was +ordered to move, via Davis's Ford and Sweetwater, to Athena, with a +guard forward at Charleston, to hold and repair the bridge which +the enemy had retaken after our passage up. General Jeff. C. +Davis moved to Columbus, on the Hiawaesee, via Madisonville, and +the two divisions of the Fifteenth Corps moved to Tellico Plains, +to cover movement of cavalry across the mountains into Georgia, to +overtake a wagon-train which had dodged us on our way up, and had +escaped by way of Murphy. Subsequently, on a report from General +Howard that the enemy held Charleston, I diverted General Ewing's +division to Athena, and went in person to Tellico with General +Morgan L. Smith's division. By the 9th all our troops were in +position, and we held the rich country between the Little Tennessee +and the Hiawasaee. The cavalry, under Colonel Long, passed the +mountain at Tellico, and proceeded about seventeen miles beyond +Murphy, when Colonel Long, deeming his farther pursuit of the +wagon-train useless, returned on the 12th to Tellico. I then +ordered him and the division of General Morgan L. Smith to move to +Charleston, to which point I had previously ordered the corps of +General Howard. + +On the 14th of December all of my command in the field lay along +the Hiawassee. Having communicated to General Grant the actual +state of affairs, I received orders to leave, on the line of the +Hiawassee, all the cavalry, and come to Chattanooga with the rest +of my command. I left the brigade of cavalry commanded by Colonel +Long, reenforced by the Fifth Ohio Cavalry (Lieutenant-Colonel +Heath)--the only cavalry properly belonging to the Fifteenth Army +Corps--at Charleston, and with the remainder moved by easy marches, +by Cleveland and Tyner's Depot, into Chattanooga, where I received +in person from General Grant orders to transfer back to their +appropriate commands the corps of General Howard and the division +commanded by General Jeff. C. Davis, and to conduct the Fifteenth +Army Corps to its new field of operations. + +It will thus appear that we have been constantly in motion since +our departure from the Big Black, in Mississippi, until the present +moment. I have been unable to receive from subordinate commanders +the usual full, detailed reports of events, and have therefore been +compelled to make up this report from my own personal memory; but, +as soon as possible, subordinate reports will be received and duly +forwarded. + +In reviewing the facts, I must do justice to the men of my command +for the patience, cheerfulness, and courage which officers and men +have displayed throughout, in battle, on the march, and in camp. +For long periods, without regular rations or supplies of any kind, +they have marched through mud and over rocks, sometimes barefooted, +without a murmur. Without a moment's rest after a march of over +four hundred miles, without sleep for three successive nights, we +crossed the Tennessee, fought our part of the battle of +Chattanooga, pursued the enemy out of Tennessee, and then turned +more than a hundred and twenty miles north and compelled Longstreet +to raise the siege of Knoxville, which gave so much anxiety to the +whole country. It is hard to realize the importance of these +events without recalling the memory of the general feeling which +pervaded all minds at Chattanooga prior to our arrival. I cannot +speak of the Fifteenth Army Corps without a seeming vanity; but as +I am no longer its commander, I assert that there is no better body +of soldiers in America than it. I wish all to feel a just pride in +its real honors. + +To General Howard and his command, to General Jeff. C. Davis and +his, I am more than usually indebted for the intelligence of +commanders and fidelity of commands. The brigade of Colonel +Bushbeck, belonging to the Eleventh Corps, which was the first to +come out of Chattanooga to my flank, fought at the Tunnel Hill, in +connection with General Ewing's division, and displayed a courage +almost amounting to rashness. Following the enemy almost to the +tunnel-gorge, it lost many valuable lives, prominent among them +Lieutenant-Colonel Taft, spoken of as a most gallant soldier. + +In General Howard throughout I found a polished and Christian +gentleman, exhibiting the highest and most chivalric traits of the +soldier. General Davis handled his division with artistic skill, +more especially at the moment we encountered the enemy's +rear-guard, near Graysville, at nightfall. I must award to this +division the credit of the best order during our movement through +East Tennessee, when long marches and the necessity of foraging to +the right and left gave some reason for disordered ranks: + +Inasmuch as exception may be taken to my explanation of the +temporary confusion, during the battle of Chattanooga, of the two +brigades of General Matthias and Colonel Raum, I will here state +that I saw the whole; and attach no blame to any one. Accidents +will happen in battle, as elsewhere; and at the point where they so +manfully went to relieve the pressure on other parts of our +assaulting line, they exposed themselves unconsciously to an enemy +vastly superior in force, and favored by the shape of the ground. +Had that enemy come out on equal terms, those brigades would have +shown their mettle, which has been tried more than once before and +stood the test of fire. They reformed their ranks, and were ready +to support General Ewing's division in a very few minutes; and the +circumstance would have hardly called for notice on my part, had +not others reported what was seen from Chattanooga, a distance of +nearly five miles, from where could only be seen the troops in the +open field in which this affair occurred. + +I now subjoin the best report of casualties I am able to compile +from the records thus far received: + +Killed; Wounded; and Missing............... 1949 + +No report from General Davis's division, but loss is small. + +Among the killed were some of our most valuable officers: Colonels +Putnam, Ninety-third Illinois; O'Meara, Ninetieth Illinois; and +Torrence, Thirtieth Iowa; Lieutenant-Colonel-Taft, of the Eleventh +Corps; and Major Bushnell, Thirteenth Illinois. + +Among the wounded are Brigadier-Generals Giles A. Smith, Corse, and +Matthias; Colonel Raum; Colonel Waugelin, Twelfth Missouri; +Lieutenant-Colonel Partridge, Thirteenth Illinois; Major P. I. +Welsh, Fifty-sixth Illinois; and Major Nathan McAlla, Tenth Iowa. + +Among the missing is Lieutenant-Colonel Archer, Seventeenth Iowa. + +My report is already so long, that I must forbear mentioning acts +of individual merit. These will be recorded in the reports of +division commanders, which I will cheerfully indorse; but I must +say that it is but justice that colonels of regiments, who have so +long and so well commanded brigades, as in the following cases, +should be commissioned to the grade which they have filled with so +much usefulness and credit to the public service, viz.: Colonel J. +R. Cockerell, Seventieth, Ohio; Colonel J. M. Loomis, Twenty-sixth +Illinois; Colonel C. C. Walcutt, Forty-sixth Ohio; Colonel J. A. +Williamson, Fourth Iowa; Colonel G. B. Raum, Fifty-sixth Illinois; +Colonel J. I. Alexander, Fifty-ninth Indiana. + +My personal staff, as usual, have served their country with +fidelity, and credit to themselves, throughout these events, and +have received my personal thanks. + +Inclosed you will please find a map of that part of the +battle-field of Chattanooga fought over by the troops under my +command, surveyed and drawn by Captain Jenney, engineer on my +staff. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + +[General Order No. 68.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE +WASHINGTON, February 21, 1884 + +Joint resolution tendering the thanks of Congress to Major-General +W. T. Sherman and others. + +Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the +United States of America in Congress assembled, That the thanks of +Congress and of the people of the United States are due, and that +the same are hereby tendered, to Major-General W. T. Sherman, +commander of the Department and Army of the Tennessee, and the +officers and soldiers who served under him, for their gallant and +arduous services in marching to the relief of the Army of the +Cumberland, and for their gallantry and heroism in the battle of +Chattanooga, which contributed in a great degree to the success of +our arms in that glorious victory. + +Approved February 19, 1864. +By order of the Secretary of War: + +E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. + + + +On the 19th of December I was at Bridgeport, and gave all the +orders necessary for the distribution of the four divisions of the +Fifteenth Corps along the railroad from Stevenson to Decatur, and +the part of the Sixteenth Corps; commanded by General Dodge, along +the railroad from Decatur to Nashville, to make the needed repairs, +and to be in readiness for the campaign of the succeeding year; and +on the 21st I went up to Nashville, to confer with General Grant +and conclude the arrangements for the winter. At that time General +Grant was under the impression that the next campaign would be up +the valley of East Tennessee, in the direction of Virginia; and as +it was likely to be the last and most important campaign of the +war, it became necessary to set free as many of the old troops +serving along the Mississippi River as possible. This was the real +object and purpose of the Meridian campaign, and of Banks's +expedition up Red River to Shreveport during that winter. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +MERIDIAN CAMPAIGN. + +JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, 1864. + + +The winter of 1863-'64 opened very cold and severe; and it was +manifest after the battle of Chattanooga, November 25, 1863, and +the raising of the siege of Knoxville, December 5th, that military +operations in that quarter must in a measure cease, or be limited +to Burnside's force beyond Knoxville. On the 21st of December +General Grant had removed his headquarters to Nashville, Tennessee, +leaving General George H. Thomas at Chattanooga, in command of the +Department of the Cumberland, and of the army round about that +place; and I was at Bridgeport, with orders to distribute my troops +along the railroad from Stevenson to Decatur, Alabama, and from +Decatur up toward Nashville. + +General G. M. Dodge, who was in command of the detachment of the +Sixteenth Corps, numbering about eight thousand men, had not +participated with us in the battle of Chattanooga, but had remained +at and near Pulaski, Tennessee, engaged in repairing that railroad, +as auxiliary to the main line which led from Nashville to +Stevenson, and Chattanooga. General John A. Logan had succeeded to +the command of the Fifteenth Corps, by regular appointment of the +President of the United States, and had relieved General Frank P. +Blair, who had been temporarily in command of that corps during the +Chattanooga and Knoxville movement. + +At that time I was in command of the Department of the Tennessee, +which embraced substantially the territory on the east bank of the +Mississippi River, from Natchez up to the Ohio River, and thence +along the Tennessee River as high as Decatur and Bellefonte, +Alabama. General McPherson was at Vicksburg and General Hurlbut at +Memphis, and from them I had the regular reports of affairs in that +quarter of my command. The rebels still maintained a considerable +force of infantry and cavalry in the State of Mississippi, +threatening the river, whose navigation had become to us so +delicate and important a matter. Satisfied that I could check this +by one or two quick moves inland, and thereby set free a +considerable body of men held as local garrisons, I went up to +Nashville and represented the case to General Grant, who consented +that I might go down the Mississippi River, where the bulk of my +command lay, and strike a blow on the east of the river, while +General Banks from New Orleans should in like manner strike another +to the west; thus preventing any further molestation of the boats +navigating the main river, and thereby widening the gap in the +Southern Confederacy. + +After having given all the necessary orders for the distribution, +during the winter months, of that part of my command which was in +Southern and Middle Tennessee, I went to Cincinnati and Lancaster, +Ohio, to spend Christmas with my family; and on my return I took +Minnie with me down to a convent at Reading, near Cincinnati, where +I left her, and took the cars for Cairo, Illinois, which I reached +January 3d, a very cold and bitter day. The ice was forming fast, +and there was great danger that the Mississippi River, would become +closed to navigation. Admiral Porter, who was at Cairo, gave me a +small gunboat (the Juliet), with which I went up to Paducah, to +inspect that place, garrisoned by a small force; commanded by +Colonel S. G. Hicks, Fortieth Illinois, who had been with me and +was severely wounded at Shiloh. Returning to Cairo, we started +down the Mississippi River, which was full of floating ice. With +the utmost difficulty we made our way through it, for hours +floating in the midst of immense cakes, that chafed and ground our +boat so that at times we were in danger of sinking. But about the +10th of January we reached Memphis, where I found General Hurlbut, +and explained to him my purpose to collect from his garrisons and +those of McPherson about twenty thousand men, with which in +February to march out from Vicksburg as far as Meridian, break up +the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, and also the one leading from Vicksburg +to Selma, Alabama. I instructed him to select two good divisions, +and to be ready with them to go along. At Memphis I found +Brigadier-General W. Sooy Smith, with a force of about twenty-five +hundred cavalry, which he had by General Grant's orders brought +across from Middle Tennessee, to assist in our general purpose, as +well as to punish the rebel General Forrest, who had been most +active in harassing our garrisons in West Tennessee and +Mississippi. After staying a couple of days at Memphis, we +continued on in the gunboat Silver Cloud to Vicksburg, where I +found General McPherson, and, giving him similar orders, instructed +him to send out spies to ascertain and bring back timely +information of the strength and location of the enemy. The winter +continued so severe that the river at Vicksburg was full of +floating ice, but in the Silver Cloud we breasted it manfully, and +got back to Memphis by the 20th. A chief part of the enterprise +was to destroy the rebel cavalry commanded by General Forrest, who +were a constant threat to our railway communications in Middle +Tennessee, and I committed this task to Brigadier-General W. Sooy +Smith. General Hurlbut had in his command about seven thousand +five hundred cavalry, scattered from Columbus, Kentucky, to +Corinth, Mississippi, and we proposed to make up an aggregate +cavalry force of about seven thousand "effective," out of these and +the twenty-five hundred which General Smith had brought with him +from Middle Tennessee. With this force General Smith was ordered +to move from Memphis straight for Meridian, Mississippi, and to +start by February 1st. I explained to him personally the nature of +Forrest as a man, and of his peculiar force; told him that in his +route he was sure to encounter Forrest, who always attacked with a +vehemence for which he must be prepared, and that, after he had +repelled the first attack, he must in turn assume the most +determined offensive, overwhelm him and utterly destroy his whole +force. I knew that Forrest could not have more than four thousand +cavalry, and my own movement would give employment to every other +man of the rebel army not immediately present with him, so that he +(General Smith) might safely act on the hypothesis I have stated. + +Having completed all these preparations in Memphis, being satisfied +that the cavalry force would be ready to start by the 1st of +February, and having seen General Hurlbut with his two divisions +embark in steamers for Vicksburg, I also reembarked for the same +destination on the 27th of January. + +On the 1st of February we rendezvoused in Vicksburg, where I found +a spy who had been sent out two weeks before, had been to Meridian, +and brought back correct information of the state of facts in the +interior of Mississippi. Lieutenant-General (Bishop) Polk was in +chief command, with headquarters at Meridian, and had two divisions +of infantry, one of which (General Loring's) was posted at Canton, +Mississippi, the other (General French's) at Brandon. He had also +two divisions of cavalry--Armstrong's, composed of the three +brigades of Ross, Stark, and Wirt Adams, which were scattered from +the neighborhood of Yazoo City to Jackson and below; and Forrest's, +which was united, toward Memphis, with headquarters at Como. +General Polk seemed to have no suspicion of our intentions to +disturb his serenity. + +Accordingly, on the morning of February 3d, we started in two +columns, each of two divisions, preceded by a light force of +cavalry, commanded by Colonel E. F. Winslow. General McPherson +commanded the right column, and General Hurlbut the left. The +former crossed the Big Black at the railroad-bridge, and the latter +seven miles above, at Messinger's. We were lightly equipped as to +wagons, and marched without deployment straight for Meridian, +distant one hundred and fifty miles. We struck the rebel cavalry +beyond the Big Black, and pushed them pell-mell into and beyond +Jackson during the 6th. The next day we reached Brandon, and on +the 9th Morton, where we perceived signs of an infantry +concentration, but the enemy did not give us battle, and retreated +before us. The rebel cavalry were all around us, so we kept our +columns compact and offered few or no chances for their dashes. As +far as Morton we had occupied two roads, but there we were forced +into one. Toward evening of the 12th, Hurlbut's column passed +through Decatur, with orders to go into camp four miles beyond at a +creek. McPherson's head of column was some four miles behind, and +I personally detached one of Hurlbut's regiments to guard the +cross-roads at Decatur till the head of McPherson's column should +come in sight. Intending to spend the night in Decatur, I went to +a double log-house, and arranged with the lady for some supper. We +unsaddled our horses, tied them to the fence inside the yard, and, +being tired, I lay down on a bed and fell asleep. Presently I +heard shouts and hallooing, and then heard pistol-shots close to +the house. My aide, Major Audenried, called me and said we were +attacked by rebel cavalry, who were all around us. I jumped up and +inquired where was the regiment of infantry I had myself posted at +the cross-roads. He said a few moments before it had marched past +the house, following the road by which General Hurlbut had gone, +and I told him to run, overtake it, and bring it back. Meantime, I +went out into the back-yard, saw wagons passing at a run down the +road, and horsemen dashing about in a cloud of dust, firing their +pistols, their shots reaching the house in which we were. +Gathering the few orderlies and clerks that were about, I was +preparing to get into a corn-crib at the back side of the lot, +wherein to defend ourselves, when I saw Audenried coming back with +the regiment, on a run, deploying forward as they came. This +regiment soon cleared the place and drove the rebel cavalry back +toward the south, whence they had come. + +It transpired that the colonel of this infantry regiment, whose +name I do not recall, had seen some officers of McPherson's staff +(among them Inspector-General Strong) coming up the road at a +gallop, raising a cloud of duet; supposing them to be the head of +McPherson's column, and being anxious to get into camp before dark, +he had called in his pickets and started down the road, leaving me +perfectly exposed. Some straggling wagons, escorted by a New +Jersey regiment, were passing at the time, and composed the rear of +Hurlbut's train. The rebel cavalry, seeing the road clear of +troops, and these wagons passing, struck them in flank, shot down +the mules of three or four wagons, broke the column, and began a +general skirmish. The escort defended their wagons as well as they +could, and thus diverted their attention; otherwise I would surely +have been captured. In a short time the head of McPherson's column +came up, went into camp, and we spent the night in Decatur. + +The next day we pushed on, and on the 14th entered Meridian, the +enemy retreating before us toward Demopolis, Alabama. We at once +set to work to destroy an arsenal, immense storehouses, and the +railroad in every direction. We staid in Meridian five days, +expecting every hour to hear of General Sooy Smith, but could get +no tidings of him whatever. A large force of infantry was kept at +work all the time in breaking up the Mobile & Ohio Railroad south +and north; also the Jackson & Selma Railroad, east and west. I was +determined to damage these roads so that they could not be used +again for hostile purposes during the rest of the war. I never had +the remotest idea of going to Mobile, but had purposely given out +that idea to the people of the country, so as to deceive the enemy +and to divert their attention. Many persons still insist that, +because we did not go to Mobile on this occasion, I had failed; but +in the following letter to General Banks, of January 31st, written +from Vicksburg before starting for Meridian, it will be seen +clearly that I indicated my intention to keep up the delusion of an +attack on Mobile by land, whereas I promised him to be back to +Vicksburg by the 1st of March, so as to cooperate with him in his +contemplated attack on Shreveport: + + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE +VICKSBURG, January 31, 1864 + +Major-General N. P. BANKS, commanding Department of the Gulf, New +Orleans. + +GENERAL: I received yesterday, at the hands of Captain Durham, +aide-de-camp, your letter of the 25th inst., and hasten to reply. +Captain Durham has gone to the mouth of White River, en route for +Little Rock, and the other officers who accompanied him have gone +up to Cairo, as I understand, to charter twenty-five steamboats for +the Red River trip. The Mississippi River, though low for the +season, is free of ice and in good boating order; but I understand +that Red River is still low. I had a man in from Alexandria +yesterday, who reported the falls or rapids at that place +impassable save by the smallest boats. My inland expedition is now +moving, and I will be off for Jackson and Meridian to-morrow. The +only fear I have is in the weather. All the other combinations are +good. I want to keep up the delusion of an attack on Mobile and +the Alabama River, and therefore would be obliged if you would keep +up an irritating foraging or other expedition in that direction. + +My orders from General Grant will not, as yet, justify me in +embarking for Red River, though I am very anxious to move in that +direction. The moment I learned that you were preparing for it, I +sent a communication to Admiral Porter, and dispatched to General +Grant at Chattanooga, asking if he wanted me and Steele to +cooperate with you against Shreveport; and I will have his answer +in time, for you cannot do any thing till Red River has twelve feet +of water on the rapids at Alexandria. That will be from March to +June. I have lived on Red River, and know somewhat of the phases +of that stream. The expedition on Shreveport should be made +rapidly, with simultaneous movements from Little Rock on +Shreveport, from Opelousas on Alexandria, and a combined force of +gunboats and transports directly up Red River. Admiral Porter will +be able to have a splendid fleet by March 1st. I think Steele +could move with ten thousand infantry and five thousand cavalry. I +could take about ten thousand, and you could, I suppose, have the +same. Your movement from Opelousas, simultaneous with mine up the +river, would compel Dick Taylor to leave Fort De Russy (near +Marksville), and the whole combined force could appear at +Shreveport about a day appointed beforehand. + +I doubt if the enemy will risk a siege at Shreveport, although I am +informed they are fortifying the place, and placing many heavy guns +in position. It would be better for us that they should stand +there, as we might make large and important captures. But I do not +believe the enemy will fight a force of thirty thousand men, acting +in concert with gunboats. + +I will be most happy to take part in the proposed expedition, and +hope, before you have made your final dispositions, that I will +have the necessary permission. Half the Army of the Tennessee is +near the Tennessee River, beyond Huntsville, Alabama, awaiting the +completion of the railroad, and, by present orders, I will be +compelled to hasten there to command it in person, unless meantime +General Grant modifies the plan. I have now in this department +only the force left to hold the river and the posts, and I am +seriously embarrassed by the promises made the veteran volunteers +for furlough. I think, by March 1st, I can put afloat for +Shreveport ten thousand men, provided I succeed in my present +movement in cleaning out the State of Mississippi, and in breaking +up the railroads about Meridian. + +I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, commanding. + + +The object of the Meridian expedition was to strike the roads +inland, so to paralyze the rebel forces that we could take from the +defense of the Mississippi River the equivalent of a corps of +twenty thousand men, to be used in the next Georgia campaign; and +this was actually done. At the same time, I wanted to destroy +General Forrest, who, with an irregular force of cavalry, was +constantly threatening Memphis and the river above, as well as our +routes of supply in Middle Tennessee. In this we failed utterly, +because General W. Sooy Smith did not fulfill his orders, which +were clear and specific, as contained in my letter of instructions +to him of January 27th, at Memphis, and my personal explanations to +him at the same time. Instead of starting at the date ordered, +February 1st, he did not leave Memphis till the 11th, waiting for +Warings brigade that was ice-bound near Columbus, Kentucky; and +then, when he did start, he allowed General Forrest to head him off +and to defeat him with an inferior force, near West Point, below +Okalona, on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. + +We waited at Meridian till the 20th to hear from General Smith, but +hearing nothing whatever, and having utterly destroyed the +railroads in and around that junction, I ordered General McPherson +to move back slowly toward Canton. With Winslow's cavalry, and +Hurlbut's infantry, I turned north to Marion, and thence to a place +called "Union," whence I dispatched the cavalry farther north to +Philadelphia and Louisville, to feel as it were for General Smith, +and then turned all the infantry columns toward Canton, +Mississippi. On the 26th we all reached Canton, but we had not +heard a word of General Smith, nor was it until some time after (at +Vicksburg) that I learned the whole truth of General Smith's +movement and of his failure. Of course I did not and could not +approve of his conduct, and I know that he yet chafes under the +censure. I had set so much store on his part of the project that I +was disappointed, and so reported officially to General Grant. +General Smith never regained my confidence as a soldier, though I +still regard him as a most accomplished gentleman and a skillful +engineer. Since the close of the war he has appealed to me to +relieve him of that censure, but I could not do it, because it +would falsify history. + +Having assembled all my troops in and about Canton, on the 27th of +February I left them under the command of the senior major-general, +Hurlbut, with orders to remain till about the 3d of March, and then +to come into Vicksburg leisurely; and, escorted by Winslow's +cavalry, I rode into Vicksburg on the last day of February. There +I found letters from General Grant, at Nashville, and General +Banks, at New Orleans, concerning his (General Banks's) projected +movement up Red River. I was authorized by the former to +contribute aid to General Banks for a limited time; but General +Grant insisted on my returning in person to my own command about +Huntsville, Alabama, as soon as possible, to prepare for the spring +campaign. + +About this time we were much embarrassed by a general order of the +War Department, promising a thirty-days furlough to all soldiers +who would "veteranize"--viz., reenlist for the rest of the war. +This was a judicious and wise measure, because it doubtless secured +the services of a very large portion of the men who had almost +completed a three-years enlistment, and were therefore veteran +soldiers in feeling and in habit. But to furlough so many of our +men at that instant of time was like disbanding an army in the very +midst of battle. + +In order to come to a perfect understanding with General Banks, I +took the steamer Diana and ran down to New Orleans to see him. +Among the many letters which I found in Vicksburg on my return from +Meridian was one from Captain D. F. Boyd, of Louisiana, written +from the jail in Natchez, telling me that he was a prisoner of war +in our hands; had been captured in Louisiana by some of our scouts; +and he bespoke my friendly assistance. Boyd was Professor of +Ancient Languages at the Louisiana Seminary of Learning during my +administration, in 1859-'60; was an accomplished scholar, of +moderate views in politics, but, being a Virginian, was drawn, like +all others of his kind, into the vortex of the rebellion by the +events of 1861, which broke up colleges and every thing at the +South. Natchez, at this time, was in my command, and was held by a +strong division, commanded by Brigadier-General J. W. Davidson. In +the Diana we stopped at Natchez, and I made a hasty inspection of +the place. I sent for Boyd, who was in good health, but quite +dirty, and begged me to take him out of prison, and to effect his +exchange. I receipted for him; took him along with me to New +Orleans; offered him money, which he declined; allowed him to go +free in the city; and obtained from General Banks a promise to +effect his exchange, which was afterward done. Boyd is now my +legitimate successor in Louisiana, viz., President of the Louisiana +University, which is the present title of what had been the +Seminary of Learning. After the war was over, Boyd went back to +Alexandria, reorganized the old institution, which I visited in +1866 but the building was burnt down by an accident or by an +incendiary about 1868, and the institution was then removed to +Baton Rouge, where it now is, under its new title of the University +of Louisiana. + +We reached New Orleans on the 2d of March. I found General Banks, +with his wife and daughter, living in a good house, and he +explained to me fully the position and strength of his troops, and +his plans of action for the approaching campaign. I dined with +him, and, rough as I was--just out of the woods--attended, that +night, a very pleasant party at the house of a lady, whose name I +cannot recall, but who is now the wife of Captain Arnold, Fifth +United States Artillery. At this party were also Mr. and Mrs. +Frank Howe. I found New Orleans much changed since I had been +familiar with it in 1853 and in 1860-'61. It was full of officers +and soldiers. Among the former were General T. W. Sherman, who had +lost a leg at Port Hudson, and General Charles P: Stone, whom I +knew so well in California, and who is now in the Egyptian service +as chief of staff. The bulk of General Banks's army was about +Opelousas, under command of General Franklin, ready to move on +Alexandria. General Banks seemed to be all ready, but intended to +delay his departure a few days to assist in the inauguration of a +civil government for Louisiana, under Governor Hahn. In Lafayette +Square I saw the arrangements of scaffolding for the fireworks and +benches for the audience. General Banks urged me to remain over +the 4th of March, to participate in the ceremonies, which he +explained would include the performance of the "Anvil Chorus" by +all the bands of his army, and during the performance the +church-bells were to be rung, and cannons were to be fired by +electricity. I regarded all such ceremonies as out of place at a +time when it seemed to me every hour and every minute were due to +the war. General Banks's movement, however, contemplated my +sending a force of ten thousand men in boats up Red River from +Vicksburg, and that a junction should occur at Alexandria by March +17th. I therefore had no time to wait for the grand pageant of the +4th of March, but took my departure from New Orleans in the Diana +the evening of March 3d. + +On the next day, March 4th, I wrote to General Banks a letter, +which was extremely minute in conveying to him how far I felt +authorized to go under my orders from General Grant. At that time +General Grant commanded the Military Division of the Mississippi, +embracing my own Department of the Tennessee and that of General +Steele in Arkansas, but not that of General Banks in Louisiana. +General Banks was acting on his own powers, or under the +instructions of General Halleck in Washington, and our assistance +to him was designed as a loan of ten thousand men for a period of +thirty days. The instructions of March 6th to General A. J. Smith, +who commanded this detachment, were full and explicit on this +point. The Diana reached Vicksburg on the 6th, where I found that +the expeditionary army had come in from Canton. One division of +five thousand men was made up out of Hurlbut's command, and placed +under Brigadier-General T. Kilby Smith; and a similar division was +made out of McPherson's and Hurlbut's troops, and placed under +Brigadier-General Joseph A. Mower; the whole commanded by +Brigadier-General A. J. Smith. General Hurlbut, with the rest of +his command, returned to Memphis, and General McPherson remained at +Vicksburg. General A. J. Smith's command was in due season +embarked, and proceeded to Red River, which it ascended, convoyed +by Admiral Porter's fleet. General Mower's division was landed +near the outlet of the Atchafalaya, marched up by land and captured +the fort below Alexandria known as Fort De Russy, and the whole +fleet then proceeded up to Alexandria, reaching it on the day +appointed, viz., March 17th, where it waited for the arrival of +General Banks, who, however, did not come till some days after. +These two divisions participated in the whole of General Banks's +unfortunate Red River expedition, and were delayed so long up Red +River, and subsequently on the Mississippi, that they did not share +with their comrades the successes and glories of the Atlanta +campaign, for which I had designed them; and, indeed, they, did not +join our army till just in time to assist General George H. Thomas +to defeat General Hood before Nashville, on the 15th and 16th of +December, 1864. + +General Grant's letter of instructions, which was brought me by +General Butterfield, who had followed me to New Orleans, enjoined +on me, after concluding with General Banks the details for his Red +River expedition, to make all necessary arrangements for +furloughing the men entitled to that privilege, and to hurry back +to the army at Huntsville, Alabama. I accordingly gave the +necessary orders to General McPherson, at Vicksburg, and continued +up the river toward Memphis. On our way we met Captain Badeau, of +General Grant's staff, bearing the following letter, of March 4th, +which I answered on the 10th, and sent the answer by General +Butterfield, who had accompanied me up from New Orleans. Copies of +both were also sent to General McPherson, at Vicksburg: + +[Private.] + +NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, March 4, 1864 + +DEAR SHERMAN: The bill reviving the grade of lieutenant-general in +the army has become a law, and my name has been sent to the Senate +for the place. + +I now receive orders to report at Washington immediately, in +person, which indicates either a confirmation or a likelihood of +confirmation. I start in the morning to comply with the order, but +I shall say very distinctly on my arrival there that I shall accept +no appointment which will require me to make that city my +headquarters. This, however, is not what I started out to write +about. + +While I have been eminently successful in this war, in at least +gaining the confidence of the public, no one feels more than I how +much of this success is due to the energy, skill, and the +harmonious putting forth of that energy and skill, of those whom it +has been my good fortune to have occupying subordinate positions +under me. + +There are many officers to whom these remarks are applicable to a +greater or less degree, proportionate to their ability as soldiers; +but what I want is to express my thanks to you and McPherson, as +the men to whom, above all others, I feel indebted for whatever I +have had of success. How far your advice and suggestions have been +of assistance, you know. How far your execution of whatever has +been given you to do entitles you to the reward I am receiving, you +cannot know as well as I do. I feel all the gratitude this letter +would express, giving it the most flattering construction. + +The word you I use in the plural, intending it for McPherson also. +I should write to him, and will some day, but, starting in the +morning, I do not know that I will find time just now. Your +friend, + +U. S. GRANT, Major-General. + + + +[PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL] + +NEAR MEMPHIS, March 10, 1864 + +General GRANT. + +DEAR GENERAL: I have your more than kind and characteristic letter +of the 4th, and will send a copy of it to General McPherson at +once. + +You do yourself injustice and us too much honor in assigning to us +so large a share of the merits which have led to your high +advancement. I know you approve the friendship I have ever +professed to you, and will permit me to continue as heretofore to +manifest it on all proper occasions. + +You are now Washington's legitimate successor, and occupy a +position of almost dangerous elevation; but if you can continue as +heretofore to be yourself, simple, honest, and unpretending, you +will enjoy through life the respect and love of friends, and the +homage of millions of human beings who will award to you a large +share for securing to them and their descendants a government of +law and stability. + +I repeat, you do General McPherson and myself too much honor. At +Belmont you manifested your traits, neither of us being near; at +Donelson also you illustrated your whole character. I was not +near, and General McPherson in too subordinate a capacity to +influence you. + +Until you had won Donelson, I confess I was almost cowed by the +terrible array of anarchical elements that presented themselves at +every point; but that victory admitted the ray of light which I +have followed ever since. + +I believe you are as brave, patriotic, and just, as the great +prototype Washington; as unselfish, kind-hearted, and honest, as a +man should be; but the chief characteristic in your nature is the +simple faith in success you have always manifested, which I can +liken to nothing else than the faith a Christian has in his +Saviour. + +This faith gave you victory at Shiloh and Vicksburg. Also, when +you have completed your best preparations, you go into battle +without hesitation, as at Chattanooga--no doubts, no reserve; and I +tell you that it was this that made us act with confidence. I knew +wherever I was that you thought of me, and if I got in a tight +place you would come--if alive. + +My only points of doubt were as to your knowledge of grand +strategy, and of books of science and history; but I confess your +common-sense seems to have supplied all this. + +Now as to the future. Do not stay in Washington. Halleck is +better qualified than you are to stand the buffets of intrigue and +policy. Come out West; take to yourself the whole Mississippi +Valley; let us make it dead-sure, and I tell you the Atlantic slope +and Pacific shores will follow its destiny as sure as the limbs of +a tree live or die with the main trunk! We have done much; still +much remains to be done. Time and time's influences are all with +us; we could almost afford to sit still and let these influences +work. Even in the seceded States your word now would go further +than a President's proclamation, or an act of Congress. + +For God's sake and for your country's sake, come out of Washington! +I foretold to General Halleck, before he left Corinth, the +inevitable result to him, and I now exhort you to come out West. +Here lies the seat of the coming empire; and from the West, when +our task is done, we will make short work of Charleston and +Richmond, and the impoverished coast of the Atlantic. Your sincere +friend, + +W. T. SHERMAN + + +We reached Memphis on the 13th, where I remained some days, but on +the 14th of March received from General Grant a dispatch to hurry +to Nashville in person by the 17th, if possible. Disposing of all +matters then pending, I took a steamboat to Cairo, the cars thence +to Louisville and Nashville, reaching that place on the 17th of +March, 1864. + +I found General Grant there. He had been to Washington and back, +and was ordered to return East to command all the armies of the +United States, and personally the Army of the Potomac. I was to +succeed him in command of the Military Division of the Mississippi, +embracing the Departments of the Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee, and +Arkansas. General Grant was of course very busy in winding up all +matters of business, in transferring his command to me, and in +preparing for what was manifest would be the great and closing +campaign of our civil war. Mrs. Grant and some of their children +were with him, and occupied a large house in Nashville, which was +used as an office, dwelling, and every thing combined. + +On the 18th of March I had issued orders assuming command of the +Military Division of the Mississippi, and was seated in the office, +when the general came in and said they were about to present him a +sword, inviting me to come and see the ceremony. I went back into +what was the dining-room of the house; on the table lay a rose-wood +box, containing a sword, sash, spurs, etc., and round about the +table were grouped Mrs. Grant, Nelly, and one or two of the boys. +I was introduced to a large, corpulent gentleman, as the mayor, and +another citizen, who had come down from Galena to make this +presentation of a sword to their fellow-townsman. I think that +Rawlins, Bowers, Badeau, and one or more of General Grant's +personal staff, were present. The mayor rose and in the most +dignified way read a finished speech to General Grant, who stood, +as usual, very awkwardly; and the mayor closed his speech by +handing him the resolutions of the City Council engrossed on +parchment, with a broad ribbon and large seal attached. After the +mayor had fulfilled his office so well, General Grant said: "Mr. +Mayor, as I knew that this ceremony was to occur, and as I am not +used to speaking, I have written something in reply." He then +began to fumble in his pockets, first his breast-coat pocket, then +his pants, vest; etc., and after considerable delay he pulled out a +crumpled piece of common yellow cartridge-paper, which he handed to +the mayor. His whole manner was awkward in the extreme, yet +perfectly characteristic, and in strong contrast with the elegant +parchment and speech of the mayor. When read, however, the +substance of his answer was most excellent, short, concise, and, if +it had been delivered by word of mouth, would have been all that +the occasion required. + +I could not help laughing at a scene so characteristic of the man +who then stood prominent before the country; and to whom all had +turned as the only one qualified to guide the nation in a war that +had become painfully critical. With copies of the few letters +referred to, and which seem necessary to illustrate the +subject-matter, I close this chapter: + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE +STEAMER DIANA (UNDER WEIGH), March 4, 1864 + +Major-General N. P. BANKS, commanding Department of the Gulf, New +Orleans. + +GENERAL: I had the honor to receive your letter of the 2d instant +yesterday at New Orleans, but was unable to answer, except +verbally, and I now reduce it to writing. + +I will arrive at Vicksburg the 6th instant, and I expect to meet +there my command from Canton, out of which I will select two +divisions of about ten thousand men, embark them under a good +commander, and order him: + +1st. To rendezvous at the mouth of Red River, and, in concert with +Admiral Porter (if he agree), to strike Harrisonburg a hard blow. + +2d. To return to Red River and ascend it, aiming to reach +Alexandria on the 17th of March, to report to you. + +3d. That, as this command is designed to operate by water, it will +not be encumbered with much land transportation, say two wagons to +a regiment, but with an ample supply of stores, including mortars +and heavy rifled guns, to be used against fortified places. + +4th. That I have calculated, and so reported to General Grant, +that this detachment of his forces in no event is to go beyond +Shreveport, and that you will spare them the moment you can, trying +to get them back to the Mississippi River in thirty days from the +time they actually enter Red River. + +The year is wearing away fast, and I would like to carry to General +Grant at Huntsville, Alabama, every man of his military division, +as early in April as possible, for I am sure we ought to move from +the base of the Tennessee River to the south before the season is +too far advanced, say as early as April 15th next. + +I feel certain of your complete success, provided you make the +concentration in time, to assure which I will see in person to the +embarkation and dispatch of my quota, and I will write to General +Steele, conveying to him my personal and professional opinion that +the present opportunity is the most perfect one that will ever +offer itself to him to clean out his enemies in Arkansas. + +Wishing you all honor and success, I am, with respect, your friend +and servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE +VICKSBURG, March 6, 1864 + +Brigadier-General A. J. SMITH, commanding Expedition up Red River, +Vicksburg, Mississippi. + +GENERAL: By an order this day issued, you are to command a strong, +well-appointed detachment of the Army of the Tennessee, sent to +reinforce a movement up Red River, but more especially against the +fortified position at Shreveport. + +You will embark your command as soon as possible, little encumbered +with wagons or wheeled vehicles, but well supplied with fuel, +provisions, and ammunition. Take with you the twelve mortars, +with their ammunition, and all the thirty-pound Parrotts the +ordnance-officer will supply. Proceed to the mouth of Red River +and confer with Admiral Porter. Consult with him, and in all the +expedition rely on him implicitly, as he is the approved friend of +the Army of the Tennessee, and has been associated with us from the +beginning. I have undertaken with General Banks that you will be at +Alexandria, Louisiana, on or before the 17th day of March; and you +will, if time allows, cooperate with the navy in destroying +Harrisonburg, up Black River; but as I passed Red River yesterday I +saw Admiral Porter, and he told me he had already sent an expedition +to Harrisonburg, so that I suppose that part of the plan will be +accomplished before you reach Red River; but, in any event, be +careful to reach Alexandria about the 17th of March. + +General Banks will start by land from Franklin, in the Teche +country, either the 6th or 7th, and will march via Opelousas to +Alexandria. You will meet him there, report to him, and act under +his orders. My understanding with him is that his forces will move +by land, via Natchitoches, to Shreveport, while the gunboat-fleet +is to ascend the river with your transports in company. Red River +is very low for the season, and I doubt if any of the boats can +pass the falls or rapids at Alexandria. What General Banks +proposes to do in that event I do not know; but my own judgment is +that Shreveport ought not to be attacked until the gunboats can +reach it. Not that a force marching by land cannot do it alone, +but it would be bad economy in war to invest the place with an army +so far from heavy guns, mortars, ammunition, and provisions, which +can alone reach Shreveport by water. Still, I do not know about +General Banks's plans in that event; and whatever they may be, your +duty will be to conform, in the most hearty manner. + +My understanding with General Banks is that he will not need the +cooperation of your force beyond thirty days from the date you +reach Red River. As soon as he has taken Shreveport, or as soon as +he can spare you, return to Vicksburg with all dispatch, gather up +your detachments, wagons, tents, transportation, and all property +pertaining to so much of the command as belongs to the Sixteenth +Army Corps, and conduct it to Memphis, where orders will await you. +My present belief is your division, entire, will be needed with the +Army of the Tennessee, about Huntsville or Bridgeport. Still, I +will leave orders with General, Hurlbut, at Memphis, for you on +your return. + +I believe if water will enable the gunboats to cross the rapids at +Alexandria, you will be able to make a quick, strong, and effective +blow at our enemy in the West, thus widening the belt of our +territory, and making the breach between the Confederate Government +and its outlying trans-Mississippi Department more perfect. + +It is understood that General Steele makes a simultaneous move from +Little Rock, on Shreveport or Natchitoches, with a force of about +ten thousand men. Banks will have seventeen thousand, and you ten +thousand. If these can act concentrically and simultaneously, you +will make short work of it, and then General Banks will have enough +force to hold as much of the Red River country as he deems wise, +leaving you to bring to General Grant's main army the seven +thousand five hundred men of the Sixteenth Corps now with you. +Having faith in your sound judgment and experience, I confide this +important and delicate command to you, with certainty that you will +harmonize perfectly with Admiral Porter and General Banks, with +whom you are to act, and thereby insure success. + +I am, with respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE +MEMPHIS, March 14, 1864 + +Major General McPHERSON, commanding, etc, Vicksburg, Mississippi + +DEAR GENERAL: I wrote you at length on the 11th, by a special +bearer of dispatches, and now make special orders to cover the +movements therein indicated. It was my purpose to await your +answer, but I am summoned by General Grant to be in Nashville on +the 17th, and it will keep me moving night and day to get there by +that date. I must rely on you, for you understand that we must +reenforce the great army at the centre (Chattanooga) as much as +possible, at the same time not risking the safety of any point on +the Mississippi which is fortified and armed with heavy guns. I +want you to push matters as rapidly as possible, and to do all you +can to put two handsome divisions of your own corps at Cairo, ready +to embark up the Tennessee River by the 20th or 30th of April at +the very furthest. I wish it could be done quicker; but the +promise of those thirty-days furloughs in the States of enlistment, +though politic, is very unmilitary. It deprives us of our ability +to calculate as to time; but do the best you can. Hurlbut can do +nothing till A. J. Smith returns from Red River. I will then order +him to occupy Grenada temporarily, and to try and get those +locomotives that we need here. I may also order him with cavalry +and infantry to march toward Tuscaloosa, at the same time that we +move from the Tennessee River about Chattanooga. + +I don't know as yet the grand strategy of the next campaign, but on +arrival at Nashville I will soon catch the main points, and will +advise you of them.. + +Steal a furlough and run to Baltimore incog.; but get back in time +to take part in the next grand move. + +Write me fully and frequently of your progress. I have ordered the +quartermaster to send down as many boats as he can get, to +facilitate your movements. Mules, wagons, etc., can come up +afterward by transient boats. I am truly your friend, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + + + +[Special Field Order No. 28.] + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE +MEMPHIS, March 14, 1864 + +1. Major-General McPherson will organize two good divisions of his +corps (Seventeenth) of about five thousand men, each embracing in +part the reenlisted veterans of his corps whose furloughs will +expire in April, which he will command in person, and will +rendezvous at Cairo, Illinois, and report by telegraph and letter +to the general commanding at department headquarters, wherever they +may be. These divisions will be provided with new arms and +accoutrements, and land transportation (wagons and mules) out of +the supplies now at Vicksburg, which will be conveyed to Cairo by +or before April 15th. + +4. During the absence of General McPherson from the district of +Vicksburg, Major-General Hurlbut will exercise command over all the +troops in the Department of the Tennessee from Cairo to Natchez, +inclusive, and will receive special instructions from department +headquarters. + +By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman: + +L. M. DAYTON, Aide-de-Camp. + + + + + + +APPENDIX TO VOLUME I. + +CHICKASAW BAYOU. + +Report of Brigadier-General G. W. Morgan. + +HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, RIGHT WING, THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS, +STEAMER EMPRESS, +January 8, 1868. + +Major J. H. HAMMOND, Chief of Staff: + +SIR: On the 1st instant, while pressed by many arduous duties, I +was requested to report to the commanding general the operations of +my division during the affair of the 27th, the action of the 28th, +and the battle of the 29th ult. + +I had not received the report of subordinate commanders, nor had I +time to review the report I have the honor to submit. + +Herewith I have the honor to forward these reports, connected with +which I will submit a few remarks. + +Brigadier-General Blair speaks of having discovered, while on his +retreat from the enemy's works, a broad and easy road running from +the left of my position to the enemy's lines. The road is neither +broad nor easy, and was advanced over by De Courcey when leading +his brigade to the charge. The road General Blair speaks of is the +one running from Lake's Landing and intersecting with the Vicksburg +road on the Chickasaw Bluffs. Its existence was known to me on the +28th ult., but it was left open intentionally by the enemy, and was +commanded by a direct and cross fire from batteries and rifle-pits. +The withdrawal of his brigade from the assault by Colonel De +Courcey was justified by the failure of the corps of A. J. Smith, +and the command of Colonel Lindsey, to advance simultaneously to +the assault. Both had the same difficulties to encounter +--impassable bayous. The enemy's line of battle was concave, and +De Courcey advanced against his centre--hence he sustained a +concentric fire, and the withdrawal of Steele from the front of the +enemy's right on the 28th ult. enabled the enemy on the following +day to concentrate his right upon his centre. + +I regret to find, from the report of Brigadier-General Thayer, some +one regiment skulked; this I did not observe, nor is it mentioned +by General Blair, though his were the troops which occupied that +portion of the field. As far as my observation extended, the +troops bore themselves nobly; but the Sixteenth Ohio Infantry was +peerless on the field, as it had ever been in camp or on the march. +Lieutenant-Colonel Kershner, commanding, was wounded and taken +prisoner. He is an officer of rare merit, and deserves to command +a brigade. Lieutenant-Colonel Dieter, commanding the Fifty-eighth +Ohio, was killed within the enemy's works; and Lieutenant-Colonel +Monroe, Twenty-second Kentucky, was struck down at the head of his +regiment. + +I again express my profound acknowledgments to Brigadier-Generals +Blair and Thayer, and Colonels De Conrcey, Lindsey, and Sheldon, +brigade commanders. Also to Major M. C. Garber, assistant +quartermaster; Captain S. S. Lyon, acting topographical engineer; +Lieutenant Burdick, acting ordnance officer; Lieutenant Hutchins, +acting chief of staff; Lieutenants H. G. Fisher and Smith, of +Signal Corps; Lieutenant E. D. Saunders, my acting assistant +adjutant-general; and Lieutenants English and Montgomery, acting +aides-de-camp, for the efficient services rendered me. + +Nor can I close this report without speaking in terms of high +praise of the meritorious and gallant services of Captains Foster +and Lamphier. Their batteries silenced several of the enemy's +works, and throughout the operations rendered good service. My +sincere acknowledgments are also due to Captain Griffith, +commanding First Iowa Battery, and Captain Hoffman, commanding +Fourth Ohio Battery. + +I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +GEORGE W. MORGAN, Brigadier-General Volunteers. + + + + +CINCINNATI, February 8, 1876. + +MY DEAR GENERAL: Regarding the attack at Chickasaw Bayou, my record +shows the position of Steele on the left; Morgan to his right; +Morgan L. Smith to his right, and A. J. Smith on the extreme right; +the latter not expected to accomplish much more than a diversion, +the result to come from the three other divisions, Morgan having +the best opportunity. Saturday night they were in position; you +were at Lake's plantation, right and rear of Morgan. + +The attack for lodgment on the hills was ordered for Sunday +morning, December 28th. I was sent to A. J. Smith before daylight, +and returned to you soon after. You were with Morgan. You had +fully explained to him the importance of his success, and that he +should be present with the attacking column, which was to be a part +of his division, supported by the remainder, and by Blair's brigade +of Steele's division cooperating. The attack was to be +simultaneous, by the four divisions, on a signal. + +Morgan's answer to you was that, when the signal was given, he +would lead his attack, and with his life he would be on the bluffs +in fifteen minutes. He seemed of positive knowledge, and as sure of +success. You then retired to a central point, to be in easy +communication with Steele and Morgan L. Smith. The attack was +made, and developed, in the case of Steele, M. L. Smith, and A. J. +Smith, that to cross the bayou was impossible, if opposed by any +force, and in each they were by a strong one. Morgan's attacking +force succeeded in getting across the causeway and marsh, but he +did not go with it, nor support it with more men, and a large +number were captured from Blair's brigade after gaining the enemy's +last line of works covering the bayou. At the time everybody +blamed and criticised Morgan with the failure. You felt from the +advance of his attack it must be successful, and, as it pushed +forward, you sent me to urge on M. L. Smith, as Morgan was over, +and he, Smith, must aid by persistent attack, and give Morgan as +good a chance as could be to make his lodgment.... + +I am, etc., L. M. DAYTON +Late Colonel of the Staff, now of Cincinnati, Ohio +General W. T. SHERMAN, St. Louis, Missouri + + + + +[COPY.] + +" . . . . The expedition was wonderfully well provided with +provisions, transportation, and munitions, and even axes, picks, +and shovels, so much in use later in the war, evidenced the +forethought that governed this force. The boats, from their open +lower deck construction, proved admirable for transports, but their +tinder-box construction made fire-traps of them, requiring +unremitting vigilance. These points were well understood, and the +readiness with which the troops adapted themselves to circumstances +was a constant source of wonder and congratulations. + +"The fleet collected at Friar's Point for final orders, and there +the order of sailing was laid down with great minuteness, and +private instructions issued to commanders of divisions, all of whom +had personal interviews with the commanding general, and received +personal explanations on pretty much every point involved. Our +headquarters boat, the Forest Queen, was not very comfortable, nor +well provided, but General Sherman submitted cheerfully, on the +grounds of duty, and thought Conway a fine fellow. I was only able +to concede that he was a good steamboat captain.... + +"Our camp appointments were Spartan in the extreme, and in their +simplicity would have met the demands of any demagogue in the land. +The nights were cold and damp, and General Sherman uncomfortably +active in his preparations, so that the assistant adjutant-general +had no very luxurious post just then. We were surrounded with +sloughs. The ground was wet, and the water, although in winter, +was very unwholesome. Many of our men, to this day, have reminders +of the Yazoo in ague, fevers, and diseases of the bowels. Cavalry +was useless. One battalion of Illinois cavalry was strongly +suspected of camping in the timber, until time passed enough to +justify the suspicion of having been somewhere. Really the +strength of Vicksburg was in being out of reach of attack.... + +"My orders were to learn and report what was going on on the right, +particularly to try and form an idea of the enemy's force in front +of M. L. Smith's division, and at the sand-bar. Leaving my horse +close in the rear of the Sixth Missouri, when the fire became too +heavy for riding, I succeeded, by taking frequent cover, in +reaching unhurt the verge of the bayou among the drift-logs. +There, by concert of action with Lieutenant-Colonel Blood, of the +Sixth Missouri, his regiment, and the Thirteenth Regular Infantry, +kept up a heavy fire on everything that showed along the levee and +earthworks in front. The enemy were behind the embankment, not +over one hundred and fifty yards across the bayou. Several +officers, including Colonel Blood, Colonel Kilby Smith, and myself, +managed, by getting on the piles of drift, to see over the levee +through the cleared fields beyond, even to the foot of the bluff. +The chips and twigs flew around lively enough, but we staid up long +enough to make sure that the enemy had as many men behind the levee +as could get cover. We saw, also, a line of rifle-pits in the +rear, commanding the rear of the levee, and still beyond, winding +along the foot of the bluff, a road worn by long use deep into the +side-hill, and with the side next us strengthened with a good +earthwork, affording a covered line of communication in the rear. +The fire of our men was so well maintained that we were able to see +all these things, say a minute or more. Some of those who ventured +were wounded, but those mentioned and myself escaped unhurt. I +advised that men enough to hold the position, once across--say +three hundred--should make a rush (protected as our lookout had +been by a heavy fire) across the sand-bar, and get a footing under +the other bank of the bayou, as the nucleus of an attacking force, +if General Sherman decided to attack there, or to make a strong +diversion if the attack was made at the head of Chickasaw Bayou, in +front of Morgan. General A. J. Smith, commanding First and Second +Divisions, approved of this. While returning to General Sherman, I +passed along the Second and part of the Third Division. On the +left of the Second I found a new Illinois regiment, high up in +numbers, working its way into position. The colonel, a brave but +inexperienced officer, was trying to lead his men according to the +popular pictorial idea, viz., riding in advance waving his sword. +I was leading my horse, and taking advantage of such cover as I +could find on my course, but this man acted so bravely that I tried +to save him. He did not accept my expostulations with very good +grace, but was not rough about it. While I was begging him to +dismount, he waved his sword and advanced. In a second he was +shot, through the chest, and dropped from his horse, plucky to the +last. He died, I was told, within the hour. Many of the regiments +were new and inexperienced, but as a rule behaved well. The fire +along the bayou was severe, but not very fatal, on account of the +cover. I was constantly asked what news from Grant, for from the +moment of our arrival in the Yazoo we were in expectation of either +hearing his guns in the rear, or of having communication with him. +This encouraged the men greatly, but the long waiting was +disappointing, as the enemy was evidently in large force in the +plenty of works, and a very strong position. Careful estimates and +available information placed their force at fifteen to twenty +thousand men. I returned to headquarters about the middle of the +afternoon, and made my report to the general. We were busy till +after midnight, and again early in the morning of the 29th, in +preparing orders for the attack. These were unusually minute in +detail. It seemed as though no contingency was left unprovided +for. Urgent orders and cautions as to rations and ammunition were +given. Drawings of the line of attack, orders for supports, all +and everything was foreseen and given in writing, with personal +explanations to commanders of divisions, brigades, and even +commanders of regiments. Indeed, the commanding general, always +careful as to detail, left nothing to chance, and with experienced +and ordinate officers we would have succeeded, for the troops were +good. The general plan involved a feint on our left toward +Haines's Bluff, by the navy, under Admiral Porter, with whom we +were in constant communication, while between him and General +Sherman perfect harmony existed. On the right a demonstration by +A. J. Smith was to be made. The Second Division (Stuart's) was to +cross the sand-bar, and the Third (General Morgan's) was to cross +on a small bridge over the dough at the head of Chickasaw Bayou, +and, supported by Steele, was to push straight for the Bluff at the +nearest spur where there was a battery in position, and to effect +a lodgment there and in the earthworks. General Sherman gave his +orders in person to Morgan and Steele. I understood Morgan to +promise that he would lead his division in person, and he seemed to +expect an easy victory, and expressed himself freely to that +effect. The aides were sent out, until I was left alone with the +general and a couple of orderlies. He located himself in a +position easy of access, and the most convenient afforded to the +point of attack. He directed me to see what I could, and report if +I met anything that he should know. I galloped as fast as possible +to the right, and found part of the Sixth Missouri pushing over the +sand-bar covered by the Thirteenth Regulars with a heavy fire. We +supposed, if once across, they could get up the bank and turn the +levee against the enemy, and left with that impression. Being in +heavy timber, I was not quite sure of my way back to the general, +his location being new, and therefore pushed full gallop for +Morgan's front, catching a good many stray shots from the +sharpshooters behind the levee, as I was compelled to keep in sight +of the bayou to hold direction. Something over half-way along +Morgan's division front, the commander of a Kentucky regiment +hailed me and said he must have support, as he was threatened by a +masked battery, and the enemy was in force in his front, and might +cross any moment. I answered, rather shortly, 'How the devil do +you know there is a masked battery? If you can't get over, how can +the rebels get at you?' He insisted on the battery, and danger. I +finally told him the bayou was utterly impassable there, but, if he +insisted the enemy could cross, I would insist on an advance on our +side at that point. Hurrying on to make up lost time, I soon +reached Morgan. He was making encouraging speeches in a general +way, but stopped to ask me questions as to Steele's rank, date of +commission, etc. I was very much disturbed at this, fearing want +of harmony, and rode on to Steele, whom I found cursing Morgan so +fiercely that I could not exactly make out the source of the +trouble, or reason why; but saw want of concert clearly enough. I +hastened back to General Sherman, and endeavored to impress my +ideas on him and my fears; but, while he admitted the facts, he +could not be made to believe that any jealousy or personal quarrel +could lead to a failure to support each other, and a neglect of +duty. The signal for attack had already been given, and the +artillery had opened, when I left him again for Morgan's front. I +found Morgan where I left him, and the troops advancing. I had +understood that he was to lead his division, and asked about it, +but, getting no satisfaction, pushed for the front, crossing the +slough at the little bridge at the head of the bayou. I found the +willows cut off eighteen inches or two feet long, with sharp points +above the mud, making it slow and difficult to pass, save at the +bridge. I overtook the rear of the advance about two or three +hundred feet up the gentle slope, and was astonished to find how +small a force was making the attack. I was also surprised to find +that they were Steele's men instead of Morgan's. I also saw +several regiments across the bayou, but not advancing; they were +near the levee. A heavy artillery and infantry fire was going on +all this time. While making my way along the column, from which +there were very few falling back, a shell burst near me, and the +concussion confused me at the time and left me with a headache for +several months. When I got my wits about me again I found a good +many coming back, but the main part of the force was compact and +keeping up the fight. I did not get closer to the woods than about +five hundred feet, and found that a large number had penetrated +into the enemy's works. When our men fell back, very few ran, but +came slowly and sullenly, far more angry than frightened. I found +General Frank Blair on foot, and with him Colonel Sea, of Southwest +Missouri, and learned that Colonel Thomas Fletcher, afterward +Governor of Missouri, was captured with many of his men. They both +insisted there on the spot, with those around us, that if all the +men ordered up had gone up, or even all that crossed the bayou had +moved forward, we could have readily established ourselves in the +enemy's works. I was firmly of the same opinion at the time on the +ground; and, an entrance effected, we could have brought the whole +force on dry ground, and had a base of operations against +Vicksburg--though probably, in view of later events, we would have +had to stand a siege from Pemberton's army. After explanations +with Blair, I rode to where the men were, who had crossed the +bayou, but had not advanced with the others. I found them to be De +Courcey's brigade; of Morgan's division, which General Sherman +supposed to be in advance. In fact, it was the intended support +that made the attack. A correspondence and controversy followed +between General Blair and Colonel De Courcey, most of which I have, +but nothing came of it. On reaching the bayou, I found that +Thayer's brigade, of Steele's division, had in some way lost its +direction and filed off to the right. Remembering the masked +battery, I suspected that had something to do with the matter, and, +on following it up, I learned that the Kentucky colonel before +mentioned had appealed for aid against the masked battery and +invisible force of rebels, and that a regiment had been ordered to +him. This regiment, filing off into the timber, had been followed +by Thayer's brigade, supposing it to be advancing to the front, and +thus left a single brigade to attack a superior force of the enemy +in an intrenched and naturally strong position. By the time the +mistake could be rectified, it was too late. Our loss was from one +hundred and fifty to two hundred killed, and about eleven hundred +prisoners and wounded. During the afternoon I went with a flag of +truce, with reference to burying the dead. I saw between eighty +and one hundred of our men dead, all stripped. There were others +closer into the enemy's works than I was allowed to go. On going +later to where the Sixth Missouri crossed, I found that they were +under the bank, and had dug in with their hands and bayonets, or +anything in reach, to protect themselves from a vertical fire from +the enemy overhead, who had a heavy force there. With great +difficulty they were withdrawn at night. Next day arrangements +were made to attempt a lodgment below Haines's Bluff: This was to +be done by Steele's command, while the rest of the force attacked +again where we had already tried. During the day locomotives +whistled, and a great noise and fuss went on in our front, and we +supposed that Grant was driving in Pemberton, and expected firing +any moment up the Yazoo or in the rear of Vicksburg. Not hearing +this, we concluded that Pemberton was throwing his forces into +Vicksburg. A heavy fog prevented Steele from making his movement. +Rain began to fall, and our location was not good to be in after a +heavy rain, or with the river rising. During the night (I think) +of January, 1, 1863, our troops were embarked, material and +provisions having been loaded during the day. A short time before +daylight of the 2d, I went by order of the general commanding, to +our picket lines and carefully examined the enemy's lines, wherever +a camp-fire indicated their presence. They were not very vigilant, +and I once got close enough to hear them talk, but could understand +nothing. Early in the morning I came in with the rear-guard, the +enemy advancing his pickets and main guards only, and making no +effort at all to press us. Once I couldn't resist the temptation +to fire into a squad that came bolder than the rest, and the two +shots were good ones. We received a volley in return that did come +very close among us, but hurt none of my party. Very soon after +our rear-guard was aboard, General Sherman learned from Admiral +Porter that McClernand had arrived at the mouth of the Yazoo. He +went, taking me and one other staff-officer, to see McClernand, and +found that, under an order from the President, he had taken command +of the Army of the Mississippi. He and his staff, of whom I only +remember two-Colonels Scates and Braham, assistant adjutant-general +and aide-de-camp--seemed to think they had a big thing, and, so far +as I could judge, they had just that. All hands thought the +country expected them to cut their way to the Gulf; and to us, who +had just come out of the swamp, the cutting didn't seem such an +easy job as to the new-comers. Making due allowance for the +elevation they seemed to feel in view of their job, everything +passed off pleasantly, and we learned that General Grant's +communications had been cut at Holly Springs by the capture of +Murphy and his force (at Holly Springs), and that he was either in +Memphis by that time or would soon be. So that, everything +considered, it was about as well that we did not get our forces on +the bluff's of Walnut Hill." + +The above statement was sent to General Sherman in a letter dated +"Chicago, February 5,1876," and signed "John H. Hammond." Hammond +was General Sherman's assistant adjutant-general at the Chickasaw +Bayou. + +J. E. TOURTELOTTE, Colonel and Aide-de-Camp. + + + +On 29th December, 1862, at Chickasaw Bayou, I was in command of the +Thirty-first Missouri Volunteer Infantry, First Brigade, First +Division, Fifteenth Army Corps (Blair's brigade). Colonel Wyman, +of the Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, having been killed, +I was the senior colonel of the brigade. General Blair rode up to +where my regiment lay, and said to me: + +"We are to make a charge here; we will charge in two lines; your +regiment will be in the first line, and the Twenty-ninth +(Cavender's) will support you. Form here in the timber, and move +out across the bayou on a double-quick, and go right on to the top +of the heights in your front." He then told me to await a signal. +I then attempted to make a reconnaissance of the ground over which +we would have to charge, and rode out to the open ground in my +front, and saw that there was water and soft mud in the bayou, and +was fired upon by the sharp-shooters of the enemy, and turned and +went back into the woods where my command lay. Soon after that +General Blair came near me, and I told him there was water and mud +in the bayou, and I doubted if we could get across. He answered me +that General Morgan told him there was no water nor mud to hinder +us. I remarked that I had seen it myself, and General Morgan, or +any one else, could see it if he would risk being shot at pretty +lively. I then told General Blair that it was certain destruction +to us if we passed over the abatis upon the open ground where there +had once been a corn-field; that we could never reach the base of +the hill. He turned to me and said, "Can't you take your regiment +up there?" I told him, "Yes, I can take my regiment anywhere, +because the men do not know any better than to go," but remarked +that old soldiers could not be got to go up there. General Blair +then said, "Tom, if we succeed, this will be a grand thing; you +will have the glory of leading the assault." He then went on to +say that General Morgan's division would support us, and they were +heroes of many battles, and pointed to the Fifty-eighth Ohio, then +forming in the rear of the Thirteenth Illinois on my right, and +said: "See these men? They are a part of Morgan's division, and are +heroes of many battles." I laughingly said that they might be +heroes, but the regiment did not number as many as one of my +companies. He again assured me we would be supported by Morgan's +division, and all I had to do was to keep right on and "keep going +till you get into Vicksburg." I took my position in advance of my +regiment and awaited the signal. When we heard it, we raised a +shout, and started at a double-quick, the Thirteenth Illinois on my +right. I saw no troops on my left. When we emerged from the +woods, the enemy opened upon us; crossing the bayou under fire, and +many of the men sinking in the mud and water, our line was very +much disordered, but we pretty well restored it before reaching the +abatis. Here we were greatly disordered, but somewhat restored the +line on reaching the plateau or corn-field. The Twenty-ninth +Missouri came on, gallantly supporting us. The Thirteenth Illinois +came out upon the corn-field, and the Fifty-eighth Ohio followed +close upon it. There was firing to my left, and as I afterward +learned was from the Fourth Iowa of Thayer's brigade (and I believe +of Steele's division). I was struck and fell, and my regiment went +back in great disorder. The fire was terrific. I saw beyond the +Thirteenth Illinois, to my right, a disordered line, and learned +afterward it was the Sixteenth Ohio. When I was taken from the +field by the enemy and taken into Vicksburg, I found among the +wounded and prisoners men and officers of the Sixteenth and +Fifty-eighth Ohio, and of the Twenty-ninth and Thirty-first +Missouri, and Thirteenth Illinois. After I was exchanged and +joined my command, General Blair laughingly remarked to me that I +had literally obeyed his order and gone "straight on to Vicksburg." +He lamented the cutting to pieces of our force on that day. We +talked the whole matter over at his headquarters during the siege +of Vicksburg. He said that if the charge had been made along our +whole line with the same vigor of attack made by his brigade, and +if we had been supported as Morgan promised to do, we might have +succeeded. I dissented from the opinion that we could even then +have succeeded. I asked him what excuse Morgan gave for failing to +support us, and he said that Colonel or General De Courcey was in +some manner to blame for that, but he said Morgan was mistaken as +to the nature of the ground and generally as to the feasibility of +the whole thing, and was responsible for the failure to afford us +the support he had promised; that he and General Sherman and all of +them were misled by the statements and opinions of Morgan as to the +situation in our front, and Morgan was, on his part, deceived by +the reports of his scouts about other matters as well as the matter +of the water in the bayou. + +THOMAS C. FLETCHER + + + + +ARKANSAS POST. + +Extracts from Admiral Porter's Journal. + +Sherman and I had made arrangements to capture Arkansas Post. + +On the 31st of December, while preparing to go out of the Yazoo, an +army officer called to see me, and said that he belonged to General +McClernand's staff, and that the general was at the mouth of the +Yazoo River, and desired to see me at once. I sent word to the +general that if he wished to see me he could have an opportunity by +calling on board my flag-ship. + +A few moments after I had heard the news of McClernand'a arrival, I +saw Sherman pulling about in a boat, and hailed him, informing him +that McClernand was at the mouth of the Yazoo. Sherman then came +on board, and, in consequence of this unexpected news, determined +to postpone the movement out of the Yazoo River, and let McClernand +take that upon himself. + +General McClernand took my hint and came on board the flag-ship, +but I soon discovered that any admiral, Grant, Sherman, or all the +generals in the army, were nobody in his estimation. Sherman had +been at McClernand's headquarters to see him and state the +condition of affairs, and he then suggested to the latter the plan +of going to Arkansas Post. + +I had a number of fine maps hanging up in my cabin, and when +McClernand came on board he examined them all with the eye of a +connoisseur. He then stated to me as a new thing the plan he +proposed!!! of going to Arkansas Post and stirring up our troops, +which had been "demoralized by the late defeat" (Sherman was +present, looking daggers at him). I answered, "Yes, General +Sherman and myself have already arranged for going to Arkansas +Post." Sherman then made some remark about the disposition of the +troops in the coming expedition, when McClernand gave him rather a +curt answer. McClernand then remarked, "If you will let me have +three gunboats, I will go and take the place." Now General +McClernand had about as much idea of what a gunboat was, or could +do, as the man in the moon. He did not know, the difference +between an ironclad and a "tin-clad." He had heard that gunboats +had taken Fort Henry, and that was all he knew about them. I said +to him: "I'll tell you what I will do, General McClernand. If +General Sherman goes in command of the troops, I will go myself in +command of a proper force, and will insure the capture of the +post." McClernand winced under this, and Sherman quietly walked +off into the after-cabin. He beckoned me to come there, while +McClernand was apparently deeply engaged in studying out a chart, +making believe he was interested, in order to conceal his temper. +Sherman said to me: "Admiral, how could you make such a remark to +McClernand? He hates me already, and you have made him an enemy +for life." + +"I don't care," said I; "he shall not treat you rudely in my cabin, +and I was glad of the opportunity of letting him know my +sentiments." By this time, General McClernand having bottled up +his wrath, or cooled down, I went in to him and we discussed the +matter. He consented that Sherman should go in command of the +troops, and the interview ended pleasantly enough. + +The above extracts from Admiral Porter's journal were sent by the +admiral to General Sherman, inclosed in a letter dated "Washington, +May 29, 1875," and signed "David D. Porter." + +J. E. TOURTELOTTE. + + + + +After leaving the Yazoo, the Army of the Mississippi rendezvous was +at Milliken's Bend. During the night of January 4th or 5th, +General McClernand came on board the Forest Queen, and with General +Sherman went to the Black Hawk flag-boat. There an interview took +place, during which the expedition to Arkansas Post took shape. +General Sherman having asked leave to take the post, and Admiral +Porter having decided to go along, McClernand thought best to go +with his entire army, although the enemy were supposed to have only +about four or five thousand men, and the fort was little more than +a large earthwork commanding the river. + +General Sherman's command was then entitled the Second Corps, Army +of the Mississippi, and was comprised of the First Division, +Blair's, Hovey's, and Thayer's brigades, commanded by Steele; and +the Second Division, commanded by David Stuart, with Colonels Giles +A. and Kilby Smith commanding brigades. + +Our fleet was convoyed by three ironclads and several other +gunboats. The weather was bitterly cold for that latitude; we were +four days getting into the Arkansas River, which we entered by the +White River cut-off; and my recollection is, that our passing the +mouth of the main river deceived the enemy as to our destination. +The entrance through the cut-off was feasible by reason of high +water, and I think made our appearance a surprise to the force at +the post. We disembarked on the morning of the 10th of January. +Stuart's division first encountered the enemy behind an earthwork +about four miles from the fort, running across the solid ground +from the river to a swamp. General Sherman in person took Steele's +division, and followed a road leading to the rear of the earthwork +just mentioned. We had got fairly under way when the rebels fell +back to the fort, and McClernand, coming up, ordered us to fall +back, and march up the river. It seemed to me then, and afterward, +that it would have been better to have marched straight to the rear +of the fort, as we started to do. We soon overtook Stuart and +closed in, General Sherman on the right, Morgan's force on the +left, reaching to the river, where the gunboats were, while Sherman +reached from the road which connected the post with the back +country, toward where the earthworks reached the river above the +fort, and threatened their communications with Little Rock. The +night was cold and cloudy, with some snow. There were a good many +abandoned huts to our rear, but our forces in position lay on the +frozen ground, sheltered as best they could, among the bushes and +timber. We were so close that they could have reached us any time +during the night with light artillery. The gun-boats threw heavy +shells into the fort and behind the earthworks all night, keeping +the enemy awake and anxious. The heavy boom of the artillery was +followed by the squeak, squeak of Admiral Porter's little tug, as +he moved around making his arrangements for the morrow. The sounds +were ridiculous by comparison. General Sherman and staff lay on +the roots of an old oak-tree, that kept them partly clear of mud. +The cold was sharp, my right boot being frozen solid in a puddle in +the morning. About half-past two or three o'clock, General +Sherman, with another and myself, crept in as close as possible and +reconnoitred the position. The general managed to creep in much +closer than the rest of us--in fact, so close as to cause us +anxiety. The enemy worked hard all night on their abatis and +intrenchments, and in the morning we found a ditch and parapet +running clear across the point on which the post was situated. +This point was cut by a road from the back country, across which +was a heavy earthwork and a battery. This road was at the +extremity of our left. General McClernand kept his head-quarters +on his boat, the Tigress. He came up in the morning to a place in +the woods in our rear. One of his staff, a cavalry-officer, +climbed a tree to report movements; but from that point there was +very little to be seen. Between ten and eleven o'clock the fire +opened from the fleet, and we opened along the whole line from +infantry and field-guns. Our men soon worked in close enough to +keep down the fire of the enemy to a very marked degree. + +After reporting to General Sherman, and while explaining the +position of the fleet, the smoke-stacks and flags appeared above +the fort. What firing was going on in our immediate front ceased. +A good many rebels were in plain sight, running away from the fort +and scattering. While we were still surprised, the cry was raised +that a white flag was hung out. I did not see it, but in a few +minutes saw others along the line, and just as the general started +for the fort I saw the flag not far from the white house, near the +parapet. Orders were given to cease firing. Captain Dayton was +sent to the fort where the first flag was raised. Some shots were +fired and some men hurt after this. The first rebel officer we +encountered was Colonel or General Garland, commanding brigade, who +was ordered to put his men in line and stack arms, which was done. +I was directed to pass along the line to the right, and cause the +prisoners to stack arms and form our men in line, just outside the +work. This I did till I reached Deshler's brigade, on our extreme +right, or nearly so, and who was opposed to the right of Steele's +force. Steele's men had rushed up to the very foot of the parapet, +and some were on it, though they did not fire. The commander of +the enemy (Deshler) refused to obey my orders to stack arms, and +asked a good many questions as to "how it happened;" said he was +not whipped, but held us in check, etc. I told him there were +eight or nine thousand men right there, that a shot from me, or a +call, would bring down on him, and that we had entire possession of +the place. After sending two officers from the nearest troops to +explain the condition to Steele, and to warn every officer they met +to pass the word for everybody to be on the sharp lookout, I +arranged with Deshler to keep quiet until I could bring his own +commander, or orders from him. Returning to General Sherman, I +found a party of young rebel officers, including Robert Johnston's +son (rebel Senate) and Captain Wolf, quartermaster, of New Orleans, +who declined to surrender except to gentlemen. Some German +Missouri soldiers didn't relish the distinction, and were about +clubbing them over the head, when I interfered and received their +surrender. Hurrying back to the general, I reported the dangerous +condition of things. He and General Churchill, commanding officer +of the enemy, started for Deshler's brigade; meeting Garland, a +quarrel and some recrimination followed between him and Churchill, +as to where the fault of the surrender belonged, which was rather +promptly silenced by General Sherman, who hurried to the scene of +trouble. There, after some ill-natured talk, Deshler ordered his +men to lay down their arms. I rode into the fort, and found the +parapet badly torn up by the fire from the fleet. On going to the +embrasure where I had seen the gun while on the river-bank talking +to Captain Shirk, the piece was found split back about eighteen +inches, and the lower half of the muzzle dropped out. A battered +but unexploded shell lying with the piece explained that it must +have struck the gun in the muzzle, almost squarely. On passing +along the inside I saw from the torn condition of the earthworks +how tremendous our fire was, and how the fire of the enemy was kept +down. The fire of the navy had partly torn down the side of the +fort next the river. A good many sailors were in the fort. +General A. J. Smith, Admiral Porter, and General Burbridge were +there--all in high spirits, but in some contention as to who got in +first. Toward dark, or nearly so, an Arkansas regiment came in as +reenforcements, but surrendered without any trouble. About the +same time General Sherman received orders to put General A. J. +Smith in charge of the fort, and stay outside with his men. As his +troops were nearly all inside, and had four-fifths of the prisoners +in charge, these orders were not very clear, and the general left +for headquarters to find out what was meant. I went on collecting +arms, and as our men were scattering a good deal and were greatly +excited, I took the precaution to pass along the line and march the +prisoners far enough from the stacked arms to be out of temptation. +I was especially urged to this by hearing several rebel officers +speak of their guns being still loaded. It was dark before all the +prisoners were collected and under guard, including the regiment +that arrived after the fight. I am confident that all the +prisoners were under guard by General Sherman's troops. + +Everything being secure, the staff-officers, all of whom had been +busily engaged, scattered to compare notes and enjoy the victory. +I found my way onboard the Tigress, where every one was greatly +excited, and in high feather regarding our victory, the biggest +thing since Donelson. I also obtained some food and small comforts +for a few rebel officers, including young Johnston, Wolfe, and the +Colonel Deshler already mentioned. Then hunted up General Sherman, +whom I found sitting on a cracker-boa in the white house already +mentioned, near where the white flag first appeared. Garland was +with him, and slept with him that night, while the rest of us laid +around wherever we could. It was a gloomy, bloody house, and +suggestive of war. Garland was blamed by the other Confederate +officers for the white flag, and remained with us for safety. Next +day was very cold. We worked hard at the lists of prisoners +--nearly five thousand in number--all of whom were sent to St. +Louis, in charge of our inspector-general, Major Sanger. Our +loss was less than one hundred. The enemy, although behind +intrenchments, lost more than double what we did. Their wounded +were much worse hurt than ours, who were mostly hit around the head +and arms. + +The losses were nearly all in General Sherman's wing of the army. +The loss in the fleet amounted to little, but their service was +very valuable, and deserved great credit, though they received +little. There was a good deal of sympathy between our part of the +forces and the fleet people, and I then thought, and still think, +if we had been on the left next the river, that in connection with +the tremendous fire from the navy, we could have carried the work +in an hour after we opened on it. Their missiles traversed the +whole fortification, clear through to the hospitals at the upper +end, and I stood five minutes in rifle-range of the fort next the +river--not hit, and but seldom shot at, and no one hit near me. + +On the 18th we embarked, in a snow-storm; collected at Napoleon, +which seemed to be washing away; and steamed to Milliken's Bend, +were we arrived on January 21st, and soon after went to Young's +plantation, near Vicksburg. + +The above statement from General Hammond was received by General +Sherman, inclosed in a letter dated "Chicago, February 5, 1876" and +signed "John H. Hammond," who was adjutant-general to General +Sherman during the winter of 1862-'83. + +J. E. TOURTELLOTTE + + + + +CINCINNATI, February 3, 1876 + +MY DEAR GENERAL: At Arkansas Post the troops debarked from steamer +January 9th, from one o'clock to dark, in the vicinity of Notrib's +farm, and on the 10th moved out to get position; Steele to the +right, crossing the low ground to the north, to get a higher +ground, avoid crowding the moving columns, and gain the left (our +right) and rear of the "post," and the river-bank above the post. +Stuart took the river-road the movement commencing at 11 o'clock +a.m.. After crossing the low ground covered with water, you were +called back with Steele, as Stuart had driven out the enemy's +rifle-trench pickets, this giving more and feasible room for +moving. Stuart was pushed forward, and by dark he and Steele were +well up to their expected positions. Before daylight on the 11th +you directed me to accompany you for a personal inspection of the +ground to your front, which we made on foot, going so far forward +that we could easily hear the enemy at work and moving about. +Discovering the open fields, you at once directed Steele to move to +the right and front, and pushed Stuart out so as to fully command +them and the field-work of the enemy extending from the fort, to +prevent farther strengthening, as it was evident these works were +the product of a recent thought. Stuart and Steele were prompt in +taking position, but Morgan's command (not under your control) did +not seem to work up, or keep in junction with you. At ten o'clock +you sent me to McClernand to ascertain why the delay of attack. He +attributed it to Admiral Porter, which was really unjust. The +attack began at 1 p.m., by Admiral Porter, and the sound of his +first gun had not died till your men were engaged--Wood's, +Barrett's, and the Parrott batteries and infantry. It was +lively for a time, and Stuart pushed clear up to the enemy's +rifle-trenches, and forced them to keep sheltered. Hammond was +mostly with Steele; Sanger sent to McClernand, and McCoy, myself, +and John Taylor were with you and Stuart. At about half-past three +I got your permission to go to Giles Smith's skirmish-line, and, +thinking I saw evidence of the enemy weakening, I hurried back to +you and reported my observations. I was so confident that a demand +for it would bring a surrender, that I asked permission to make it, +and, as you granted me, but refused to let another member of your +staff, at his request, go with me, I rode directly down the road +with only an orderly. Colonel Garland, commanding a brigade, was +the first officer I saw, to whom, for you, I made the demand. All +firing ceased at once, or in a few moments. I sent the orderly back +to you, and you rode forward. It was then four o'clock. + +During the attack, nobody seemed to think McClernand had any clear +idea of what or how it was to be done. During the day he gave you +no directions, nor came where you were; he was well to the rear, +with his "man up a tree," who in the capacity of a lookout gave +McClernand information, from which he based such instructions as he +made to his subordinates. He was free to express himself as being +a man of "destiny," and his "star" was in the ascendance. I am, +etc., + +L. M. DAYTON, late Colonel of the Staff, now of Cincinnati, Ohio. + +General W. T. SHERMAN. + + + + +MERIDIAN CAMPAIGN. + +[Special Field Orders, No. 11.] + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE +MEMPHIS, January 27, 1864 + + +V. The expedition is one of celerity, and all things must tend to +that. Corps commanders and staff-officers will see that our +movements are not encumbered by wheeled vehicles improperly loaded. +Not a tent, from the commander-in-chief down, will be carried. The +sick will be left behind, and the surgeons can find houses and +sheds for all hospital purposes. + +VI. All the cavalry in this department is placed under the orders +and command of Brigadier-General W. S. Smith, who will receive +special instructions. + +By order of Major-General W. T. SHERMAN + +L. M. DAYTON, Aide-de-Camp. + + +NOTE.-That same evening I started in a steamboat for Vicksburg. +W. T. S. +St. Louis, 1885. + + + + + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE +MEMPHIS, January 27, 1864 + +Brigadier-General W. S. SMITH, commanding Cavalry, etc., present. + +DEAR GENERAL: By an order issued this day I have placed all the +cavalry of this department subject to your command. I estimate you +can make a force of full seven thousand men, which I believe to be +superior and better in all respects than the combined cavalry which +the enemy has in all the State of Mississippi. I will in person +start for Vicksburg to-day, and with four divisions of infantry, +artillery, and cavalry move out for Jackson, Brandon, and Meridian, +aiming to reach the latter place by February 10th. General Banks +will feign on Pascagoula and General Logan on Rome. I want you +with your cavalry to move from Colliersville on Pontotoc and +Okolona; thence sweeping down near the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, +disable that road as much as possible, consume or destroy the +resources of the enemy along that road, break up the connection +with Columbus, Mississippi, and finally reach me at or near +Meridian as near the date I have mentioned as possible. This will +call for great energy of action on your part, but I believe you are +equal to it, and you have the best and most experienced troops in +the service, and they will do anything that is possible. General +Grierson is with you, and is familiar with the whole country. I +will send up from Haines's Bluff an expedition of gunboats and +transports combined, to feel up the Yazoo as far as the present +water will permit. This will disconcert the enemy. My movement on +Jackson will also divide the enemy, so that by no combination can +he reach you with but a part of his force. I wish you to attack +any force of cavalry you meet and follow them southward, but in no +event be drawn into the forks of the streams that make up the Yazoo +nor over into Alabama. Do not let the enemy draw you into minor +affairs, but look solely to the greater object to destroy his +communication from Okolona to Meridian, and thence eastward to +Selma. From Okolona south you will find abundance of forage +collected along the railroad, and the farmers have corn standing in +the fields. Take liberally of all these, as well as horses, mules, +cattle, etc. As a rule, respect dwellings and families as +something too sacred to be disturbed by soldiers, but mills, barns, +sheds, stables, and such like things use for the benefit or +convenience of your command. If convenient, send into Columbus, +Mississippi, and destroy all machinery there, and the bridge across +the Tombigbee, which enables the enemy to draw the resources of the +east side of the valley, but this is not of sufficient importance +to delay your movement. Try and communicate with me by scouts and +spies from the time you reach Pontotoc. Avoid any large force of +infantry, leaving them to me. We have talked over this matter so +much that the above covers all points not provided for in my +published orders of to-day. I am, etc., + +W. T. SHERMAN, Mayor-General, commanding. + + + + +MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, January 27, 1864. + +Brigadier-General J. P. HATCH, in charge of Cavalry Bureau, St. +Louis, Missouri. + +SIR: Your favor of the 21st inst. is just received. Up to the +present time eight hundred and eighteen horses have arrived here +since Captain Hudson's visit to St. Louis. I wrote you upon his +return several days ago that it would not be necessary to divert +shipments to this point which could not reach us before February +1st. We shall certainly get off on our contemplated expedition +before that time. The number of horses estimated for in this +department by its chief quartermaster was two thousand, and this +number, including those already sent, will, I think, completely +mount all the dismounted cavalry of this department. Recruits for +cavalry regiments are arriving freely, and this will swell our +requisitions for a couple of months to come. I will as far as +possible procure horses from the regions of country traversed by +our cavalry. + +Yours truly, W. SOOY SMITH, Brigadier-General, + +Chief of Cavalry, Military Division of the Mississippi. + + + + + +MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, January 28, 1864 + +Brigadier-General GEORGE CROOK, commanding Second Cavalry Division, +Huntsville, Alabama. + +I start in about three days with seven, thousand men to Meridian +via Pontotoc. Demonstrate on Decatur, to hold Roddy. + +W. SOOY SMITH, Brigadier-General, +Chief of Cavalry, Military Division of the Mississippi. + + + + +MAYWOOD, ILLINOIS, July 9,1875 +General W. T. SHERMAN, Commander-in-Chief, United States Army. + +SIR: Your letter of July 7th is just received. + +Your entire statement in the "Memoirs" concerning my part in the +Meridian campaign is incorrect. + +You overstate my strength, placing it at seven thousand effective, +when it was but six. The nominal strength of my command was seven +thousand. + +You understate the strength of my enemy, putting Forrest's force at +four thousand. On our return to Nashville, you stated it, in +General Grant's presence, to have been but twenty-five hundred. +Before and during my movement I positively knew Forrest's strength +to be full six thousand, and he has since told me so himself. + +Instead of delaying from the 1st to the 11th of February for "some +regiment that was ice-bound near Columbus, Kentucky," it was an +entire brigade, Colonel Waring's, without which your orders to me +were peremptory not to move. I asked you if I should wait its +arrival, and you answered: "Certainly; if you go without it, you +will be, too weak, and I want you strong enough to go where you +please." + +The time set for our arrival at Meridian, the 10th of February, had +arrived before it was possible for me, under your orders, to move +from Memphis, and I would have been entirely justifiable if I had +not started at all. But I was at that time, and at all times +during the war, as earnest and anxious to carry out my orders, and +do my full duty as you or any other officer could be, and I set out +to make a march of two hundred and fifty miles into the +Confederacy, having to drive back a rebel force equal to my own. +After the time had arrived for the full completion of my movement, +I drove this force before me, and penetrated one hundred and sixty +miles into the Confederacy--did more hard fighting, and killed, +wounded, and captured more of the enemy than you did during the +campaign--did my work most thoroughly, as far as I could go without +encountering the rebel cavalry set loose by your return from +Meridian, and brought off my command, with all the captured +property and rescued negroes, with very small loss, considering +that inflicted on the enemy, and the long-continued and very severe +fighting. If I had disobeyed your orders, and started without +Waring's brigade, I would have been "too weak," would probably have +been defeated, and would have been subjected to just censure. +Having awaited its arrival, as I was positively and distinctly +ordered to do, it only remained for me to start upon its arrival, +and accomplish all that I could of the work allotted to me. To +have attempted to penetrate farther into the enemy's country, with +the cavalry of Polk's army coming up to reenforce Forrest, would +have insured the destruction of my entire command, situated as it +was. I cannot now go into all the particulars, though I assure you +that they make the proof of the correctness of my conduct as +conclusive as I could desire it to be. I was not headed off and +defeated by an inferior force near West Point. We had the fighting +all our own way near West Point, and at all other points except at +Okalona, on our return, when we had the worst of it for a little +while, but finally checked the enemy handsomely, and continued our +return march, fighting at the rear and on both flanks, repulsing +all attacks and moving in perfect order. And so my movement was +not a failure, except that I did not reach Meridian as intended, +for the reason stated, and for many more which it is not necessary +for me to detail here. On the other hand, it was a very decided +success, inflicting a terrible destruction of supplies of every +kind, and a heavy loss of men upon the enemy. You should have so +reported it in the beginning. You should so amend your report, and +"Memoirs" now. This, and no less than this, is due from one +soldier to another. It is due to the exalted position which you +occupy, and, above all, it is due to that truthfulness in history +which you claim to revere. If you desire it, I will endeavor to +visit you, and in a friendly manner "fight our battles o'er again," +and endeavor to convince you that you have always been mistaken as +to the manner in which my part in the "Meridian campaign" was +performed. But I will never rest until the wrong statements +regarding it are fully and fairly corrected. Yours truly, + +WILLIAM SOOY SMITH + + + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES +St. Louis, Missouri, July 11, 1875. + +General J. D. WEBSTER, Chicago, Illinois + +DEAR GENERAL: General W. Sooy Smith feels aggrieved and wronged by +my account of his part in the Meridian campaign, in my "Memoirs," +pages 394, 395, and properly appeals to me for correction. I have +offered to modify any words or form of expression that he may point +out, but he asks me to completely change the whole that concerns +him. This, of course, I will not do, as his part was material to +the whole, and cannot be omitted or materially altered without +changing the remainder, for his failure to reach Meridian by +February 10th was the reason for other movements distant from him. +I now offer him, what seems to me fair and liberal, that we submit +the points at issue to you as arbitrator. You are familiar with +the ground, the coincident history, and most, if not all, the +parties. + +I propose to supply you with + +1. Copy of my orders placing all the cavalry under General Smith's +orders (with returns). + +2. My letter of instructions to him of January 27th. + +3. My official report of the campaign, dated Vicksburg, March 7, +1864. + +4. General W. Sooy Smith's report of his operations, dated +Nashville, Tennessee, March 4, 1864. + +After reading these, I further propose that you address us +questions which we will answer in writing, when you are to make us +a concise, written decision, which I will have published in close +connection with the subject in controversy. If General Smith will +show you my letter to him of this date, and also deliver this with +his written assent, I will promptly furnish you the above +documents, and also procure from the official files a return of the +cavalry force available at and near Memphis on the date of my +orders, viz., January 27, 1864. + +With great respect, your friend and servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, General. + +NOTE:--General Smith never submitted his case to the arbitration +offered. The whole will be made clear by the publication of the +official records, which are already in print, though not yet +issued. His orders were in writing, and I have no recollection of +the "peremptory" verbal orders to which he refers, and quotes as +from me. + +ST. Louis, Missouri, 1895. W. T. S. + + + + +MAYWOOD, ILLINOIS, July 14, 1875. + +General W. T. SHERMAN, Commander-in-Chief, etc. + +DEAR GENERAL: Your letter of the 11th of July reaches me just as I +am starting to spend the first vacation I have ever allowed myself +--in the Territories, with my wife and son. + +It indicates a spirit of fairness from which we have better things +than an arbitration to hope for. Though, if we should reach such a +necessity, there is no one living to whom our differences might +more properly be referred than to General Webster. I make no +objection to your writing your "Memoirs," and, as long as they +refer to your own conduct, you are at liberty to write them as you +like; but, when they refer to mine, and deal unjustly with my +reputation, I, of right, object. + +Neither do I wish to write my "Memoirs," unless compelled to do so +to vindicate my good name. There were certain commands which were +to make up mine. These, Waring's brigade included, were spoken of +by us in the long conversation to which you refer. This brigade we +knew was having a hard time of it in its movement from Columbus to +Memphis. I asked you if I should move without it if it did not +arrive, and you answered me as stated in my last letter to you. +Those who immediately surrounded me during the painful delay that +occurred will inform you how sorely I chafed under the restraint of +that peremptory order. + +In the conversation that occurred between us at Nashville, while +all the orders, written and verbal, were still fresh in your +memory, you did not censure me for waiting for Waring, but for +allowing myself to be encumbered with fugitive negroes to such an +extent that my command was measurably unfit for active movement or +easy handling, and for turning back from West Point, instead of +pressing on toward Meridian. Invitations had been industriously +circulated, by printed circulars and otherwise, to the negroes to +come into our lines, and to seek our protection wherever they could +find it, and I considered ourselves pledged to receive and protect +them. Your censure for so doing, and your remarks on that subject +to me in Nashville, are still fresh in my memory, and of a +character which you would now doubtless gladly disavow. + +But we must meet and talk the whole matter over, and I will be at +any trouble to see you when I return. + +Meantime I will not let go the hope that I will convince you +absolutely of your error, for the facts are entirely on my side. +Yours truly, + +WILLIAM SOOY SMITH + + + + + + +MEMOIRS OF GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN + +By William T. Sherman + + +VOLUME II + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +ATLANTA CAMPAIGN-NASHVILLE AND CHATTANOOGA TO BENEBAW. + + +MARCH, APRIL, AND MAY, 1864. + + +On the 18th day of March, 1864, at Nashville, Tennessee, I relieved +Lieutenant-General Grant in command of the Military Division of the +Mississippi, embracing the Departments of the Ohio, Cumberland, +Tennessee, and Arkansas, commanded respectively by Major-Generals +Schofield, Thomas, McPherson, and Steele. General Grant was in the +act of starting East to assume command of all the armies of the +United States, but more particularly to give direction in person to +the Armies of the Potomac and James, operating against Richmond; +and I accompanied him as far as Cincinnati on his way, to avail +myself of the opportunity to discuss privately many little details +incident to the contemplated changes, and of preparation for the +great events then impending. Among these was the intended +assignment to duty of many officers of note and influence, who had, +by the force of events, drifted into inactivity and discontent. +Among these stood prominent Generals McClellan, Burnside, and +Fremont, in, the East; and Generals Buell, McCook, Negley, and +Crittenden, at the West. My understanding was that General Grant +thought it wise and prudent to give all these officers appropriate +commands, that would enable them to regain the influence they had +lost; and, as a general reorganization of all the armies was then +necessary, he directed me to keep in mind especially the claims of +Generals Buell, McCook, and Crittenden, and endeavor to give them +commands that would be as near their rank and dates of commission +as possible; but I was to do nothing until I heard further from +him on the subject, as he explained that he would have to consult +the Secretary of War before making final orders. General Buell and +his officers had been subjected to a long ordeal by a court of +inquiry, touching their conduct of the campaign in Tennessee and +Kentucky, that resulted in the battle of Perryville, or Chaplin's +Hills, October 8,1862, and they had been substantially acquitted; +and, as it was manifest that we were to have some hard fighting, we +were anxious to bring into harmony every man and every officer of +skill in the profession of arms. Of these, Generals Buell and +McClellan were prominent in rank, and also by reason of their fame +acquired in Mexico, as well as in the earlier part of the civil +war. + +After my return to Nashville I addressed myself to the task of +organization and preparation, which involved the general security +of the vast region of the South which had been already conquered, +more especially the several routes of supply and communication with +the active armies at the front, and to organize a large army to +move into Georgia, coincident with the advance of the Eastern +armies against Richmond. I soon received from Colonel J. B. Fry +--now of the Adjutant-General's Department, but then at Washington in +charge of the Provost-Marshal-General's office--a letter asking me to +do something for General Buell. I answered him frankly, telling him +of my understanding with General Grant, and that I was still awaiting +the expected order of the War Department, assigning General Buell to +my command. Colonel Fry, as General Buell's special friend, replied +that he was very anxious that I should make specific application for +the services of General Buell by name, and inquired what I proposed +to offer him. To this I answered that, after the agreement with +General Grant that he would notify me from Washington, I could not +with propriety press the matter, but if General Buell should be +assigned to me specifically I was prepared to assign him to command +all the troops on the Mississippi River from Cairo to Natchez, +comprising about three divisions, or the equivalent of a corps +d'armee. General Grant never afterward communicated to me on the +subject at all; and I inferred that Mr. Stanton, who was notoriously +vindictive in his prejudices, would not consent to the employment of +these high officers. General Buell, toward the close of the war, +published a bitter political letter, aimed at General Grant, +reflecting on his general management of the war, and stated that both +Generals Canby and Sherman had offered him a subordinate command, +which he had declined because he had once outranked us. This was not +true as to me, or Canby either, I think, for both General Canby and I +ranked him at West Point and in the old army, and he (General Buell) +was only superior to us in the date of his commission as +major-general, for a short period in 1862. This newspaper +communication, though aimed at General Grant, reacted on himself, for +it closed his military career. General Crittenden afterward obtained +authority for service, and I offered him a division, but he declined +it for the reason, as I understood it, that he had at one time +commanded a corps. He is now in the United States service, +commanding the Seventeenth Infantry. General McCook obtained a +command under General Canby, in the Department of the Gulf, where he +rendered good service, and he is also in the regular service, +lieutenant-colonel Tenth Infantry. + +I returned to Nashville from Cincinnati about the 25th of March, +and started at once, in a special car attached to the regular +train, to inspect my command at the front, going to Pulaski, +Tennessee, where I found General G. M. Dodge; thence to Huntsville, +Alabama, where I had left a part of my personal staff and the +records of the department during the time we had been absent at +Meridian; and there I found General McPherson, who had arrived from +Vicksburg, and had assumed command of the Army of the Tennessee. +General McPherson accompanied me, and we proceeded by the cars to +Stevenson, Bridgeport, etc., to Chattanooga, where we spent a day +or two with General George H. Thomas, and then continued on to +Knoxville, where was General Schofield. He returned with us to +Chattanooga, stopping by the way a few hours at Loudon, where were +the headquarters of the Fourth Corps (Major-General Gordon +Granger). General Granger, as usual, was full of complaints at the +treatment of his corps since I had left him with General Burnside, +at Knoxville, the preceding November; and he stated to me +personally that he had a leave of absence in his pocket, of which +he intended to take advantage very soon. About the end of March, +therefore, the three army commanders and myself were together at +Chattanooga. We had nothing like a council of war, but conversed +freely and frankly on all matters of interest then in progress or +impending. We all knew that, as soon as the spring was fairly +open, we should have to move directly against our antagonist, +General Jos. E. Johnston, then securely intrenched at Dalton, +thirty miles distant; and the purpose of our conference at the time +was to ascertain our own resources, and to distribute to each part +of the army its appropriate share of work. We discussed every +possible contingency likely to arise, and I simply instructed each +army commander to make immediate preparations for a hard campaign, +regulating the distribution of supplies that were coming up by rail +from Nashville as equitably as possible. We also agreed on some +subordinate changes in the organization of the three separate +armies which were destined to take the field; among which was the +consolidation of the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps (Howard and Slocum) +into a single corps, to be commanded by General Jos. Hooker. +General Howard was to be transferred to the Fourth Corps, vice +Gordon Granger to avail himself of his leave of absence; and +General Slocum was to be ordered down the Mississippi River, to +command the District of Vicksburg. These changes required the +consent of the President, and were all in due time approved. + +The great question of the campaign was one of supplies. Nashville, +our chief depot, was itself partially in a hostile country, and +even the routes of supply from Louisville to Nashville by rail, and +by way of the Cumberland River, had to be guarded. Chattanooga +(our starting-point) was one hundred and thirty-six miles in front +of Nashville, and every foot of the way, especially the many +bridges, trestles, and culverts, had to be strongly guarded against +the acts of a local hostile population and of the enemy's cavalry. +Then, of course, as we advanced into Georgia, it was manifest that +we should have to repair the railroad, use it, and guard it +likewise: General Thomas's army was much the largest of the three, +was best provided, and contained the best corps of engineers, +railroad managers, and repair parties, as well as the best body of +spies and provost-marshals. On him we were therefore compelled in a +great measure to rely for these most useful branches of service. He +had so long exercised absolute command and control over the railroads +in his department, that the other armies were jealous, and these +thought the Army of the Cumberland got the lion's share of the +supplies and other advantages of the railroads. I found a good deal +of feeling in the Army of the Tennessee on this score, and therefore +took supreme control of the roads myself, placed all the army +commanders on an equal footing, and gave to each the same control, so +far as orders of transportation for men and stores were concerned. +Thomas's spies brought him frequent and accurate reports of Jos. E. +Johnston's army at Dalton, giving its strength anywhere between forty +and fifty thousand men, and these were being reenforced by troops +from Mississippi, and by the Georgia militia, under General G. W. +Smith. General Johnston seemed to be acting purely on the defensive, +so that we had time and leisure to take all our measures deliberately +and fully. I fixed the date of May 1st, when all things should be in +readiness for the grand forward movement, and then returned to +Nashville; General Schofield going back to Knoxville, and McPherson +to Huntsville, Thomas remaining at Chattanooga. + +On the 2d of April, at Nashville, I wrote to General Grant, then at +Washington, reporting to him the results of my visit to the several +armies, and asked his consent to the several changes proposed, +which was promptly given by telegraph. I then addressed myself +specially to the troublesome question of transportation and +supplies. I found the capacity of the railroads from Nashville +forward to Decatur, and to Chattanooga, so small, especially in the +number of locomotives and care, that it was clear that they were +barely able to supply the daily wants of the armies then dependent +on them, with no power of accumulating a surplus in advance. The +cars were daily loaded down with men returning from furlough, with +cattle, horses, etc.; and, by reason of the previous desolation of +the country between Chattanooga and Knoxville, General Thomas had +authorized the issue of provisions to the suffering inhabitants. + +We could not attempt an advance into Georgia without food, +ammunition, etc.; and ordinary prudence dictated that we should +have an accumulation at the front, in case of interruption to the +railway by the act of the enemy, or by common accident. +Accordingly, on the 6th of April, I issued a general order, +limiting the use of the railroad-cars to transporting only the +essential articles of food, ammunition, and supplies for the army +proper, forbidding any further issues to citizens, and cutting off +all civil traffic; requiring the commanders of posts within thirty +miles of Nashville to haul out their own stores in wagons; +requiring all troops destined for the front to march, and all +beef-cattle to be driven on their own legs. This was a great help, +but of course it naturally raised a howl. Some of the poor Union +people of East Tennessee appealed to President Lincoln, whose kind +heart responded promptly to their request. He telegraphed me to know +if I could not modify or repeal my orders; but I answered him that a +great campaign was impending, on which the fate of the nation hung; +that our railroads had but a limited capacity, and could not provide +for the necessities of the army and of the people too; that one or +the other must quit, and we could not until the army of Jos. Johnston +was conquered, etc., etc. Mr. Lincoln seemed to acquiesce, and I +advised the people to obtain and drive out cattle from Kentucky, and +to haul out their supplies by the wagon-road from the same quarter, +by way of Cumberland Gap. By these changes we nearly or quite +doubled our daily accumulation of stores at the front, and yet even +this was not found enough. + +I accordingly called together in Nashville the master of +transportation, Colonel Anderson, the chief quartermaster, General +J. L. Donaldson, and the chief commissary, General Amos Beckwith, +for conference. I assumed the strength of the army to move from +Chattanooga into Georgia at one hundred thousand men, and the +number of animals to be fed, both for cavalry and draught, at +thirty-five thousand; then, allowing for occasional wrecks of +trains, which were very common, and for the interruption of the +road itself by guerrillas and regular raids, we estimated it would +require one hundred and thirty cars, of ten tons each, to reach +Chattanooga daily, to be reasonably certain of an adequate supply. +Even with this calculation, we could not afford to bring forward +hay for the horses and mules, nor more than five pounds of oats or +corn per day for each animal. I was willing to risk the question +of forage in part, because I expected to find wheat and corn +fields, and a good deal of grass, as we advanced into Georgia at +that season of the year. The problem then was to deliver at +Chattanooga and beyond one hundred and thirty car-loads daily, +leaving the beef-cattle to be driven on the hoof, and all the +troops in excess of the usual train-guards to march by the ordinary +roads. Colonel Anderson promptly explained that he did not possess +cars or locomotives enough to do this work. I then instructed and +authorized him to hold on to all trains that arrived at Nashville +from Louisville, and to allow none to go back until he had secured +enough to fill the requirements of our problem. At the time he +only had about sixty serviceable locomotives, and about six hundred +cars of all kinds, and he represented that to provide for all +contingencies he must have at least one hundred locomotives and one +thousand cars. As soon as Mr. Guthrie, the President of the +Louisville & Nashville Railroad, detected that we were holding on +to all his locomotives and cars, he wrote me, earnestly +remonstrating against it, saying that he would not be able with +diminished stock to bring forward the necessary stores from +Louisville to Nashville. I wrote to him, frankly telling him +exactly how we were placed, appealed to his patriotism to stand by +us, and advised him in like manner to hold on to all trains coming +into Jeffersonville, Indiana. He and General Robert Allen, then +quartermaster-general at Louisville, arranged a ferry-boat so as to +transfer the trains over the Ohio River from Jeffersonville, and in +a short time we had cars and locomotives from almost every road at +the North; months afterward I was amused to see, away down in +Georgia, cars marked "Pittsburg & Fort Wayne," "Delaware & +Lackawanna," "Baltimore & Ohio," and indeed with the names of +almost every railroad north of the Ohio River. How these railroad +companies ever recovered their property, or settled their +transportation accounts, I have never heard, but to this fact, as +much as to any other single fact, I attribute the perfect success +which afterward attended our campaigns; and I have always felt +grateful to Mr. Guthrie, of Louisville, who had sense enough and +patriotism enough to subordinate the interests of his railroad +company to the cause of his country. + +About this time, viz., the early part of April, I was much +disturbed by a bold raid made by the rebel General Forrest up +between the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers. He reached the Ohio +River at Paducah, but was handsomely repulsed by Colonel Hicks. He +then swung down toward Memphis, assaulted and carried Fort Pillow, +massacring a part of its garrison, composed wholly of negro troops. +At first I discredited the story of the massacre, because, in +preparing for the Meridian campaign, I had ordered Fort Pillow to +be evacuated, but it transpired afterward that General Hurlbut had +retained a small garrison at Fort Pillow to encourage the +enlistment of the blacks as soldiers, which was a favorite +political policy at that day. The massacre at Fort Pillow occurred +April 12, 1864, and has been the subject of congressional inquiry. +No doubt Forrest's men acted like a set of barbarians, shooting +down the helpless negro garrison after the fort was in their +possession; but I am told that Forrest personally disclaims any +active participation in the assault, and that he stopped the firing +as soon as he could. I also take it for granted that Forrest did +not lead the assault in person, and consequently that he was to the +rear, out of sight if not of hearing at the time, and I was told by +hundreds of our men, who were at various times prisoners in +Forrest's possession, that he was usually very kind to them. He +had a desperate set of fellows under him, and at that very time +there is no doubt the feeling of the Southern people was fearfully +savage on this very point of our making soldiers out of their late +slaves, and Forrest may have shared the feeling. + +I also had another serious cause of disturbance about that time. I +wanted badly the two divisions of troops which had been loaned to +General Banks in the month of March previously, with the express +understanding that their absence was to endure only one month, and +that during April they were to come out of Red River, and be again +within the sphere of my command. I accordingly instructed one of +my inspector-generals, John M. Corse, to take a fleet steamboat at +Nashville, proceed via Cairo, Memphis, and Vicksburg, to General +Banks up the Red River, and to deliver the following letter of +April 3d, as also others, of like tenor, to Generals A. J. Smith +and Fred Steele, who were supposed to be with him: + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, April 3, 1864 + +Major-General N. P. BANKS, commanding Department of the Gulf, Red +River. + +GENERAL: The thirty days for which I loaned you the command of +General A. J. Smith will expire on the 10th instant. I send with +this Brigadier-General J. M. Corse, to carry orders to General A. +J. Smith, and to give directions for a new movement, which is +preliminary to the general campaign. General Corse may see you and +explain in full, but, lest he should not find you in person, I will +simply state that Forrest, availing himself of the absence of our +furloughed men and of the detachment with you, has pushed up +between the Mississippi and Tennessee Rivers, even to the Ohio. He +attacked Paducah, but got the worst of it, and he still lingers +about the place. I hope that he will remain thereabouts till +General A. J. Smith can reach his destined point, but this I can +hardly expect; yet I want him to reach by the Yazoo a position near +Grenada, thence to operate against Forrest, after which to march +across to Decatur, Alabama. You will see that he has a big job, +and therefore should start at once. From all that I can learn, my +troops reached Alexandria, Louisiana, at the time agreed on, viz., +March 17th, and I hear of them at Natchitoches, but cannot hear of +your troops being above Opelousas. + +Steele is also moving. I leave Steele's entire force to cooperate +with you and the navy, but, as I before stated, I must have A. T. +Smith's troops now as soon as possible. + +I beg you will expedite their return to Vicksburg, if they have not +already started, and I want them if possible to remain in the same +boats they have used up Red River, as it will save the time +otherwise consumed in transfer to other boats. + +All is well in this quarter, and I hope by the time you turn +against Mobile our forces will again act toward the same end, +though from distant points. General Grant, now having lawful +control, will doubtless see that all minor objects are disregarded, +and that all the armies act on a common plan. + +Hoping, when this reaches you, that you will be in possession of +Shreveport, I am, with great respect, etc., + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + +Rumors were reaching us thick and fast of defeat and disaster in +that quarter; and I feared then, what afterward actually happened, +that neither General Banks nor Admiral Porter could or would spare +those two divisions. On the 23d of April, General Corse returned, +bringing full answers to my letters, and I saw that we must go on +without them. This was a serious loss to the Army of the +Tennessee, which was also short by two other divisions that were on +their veteran furlough, and were under orders to rendezvous at +Cairo, before embarking for Clifton, on the Tennessee River. + +On the 10th of April, 1864, the headquarters of the three Armies of +the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio, were at Chattanooga., +Huntsville, and Knoxville, and the tables on page 16, et seq., give +their exact condition and strength. + +The Department of the Arkansas was then subject to my command, but +General Fred Steele, its commander, was at Little Rock, remote from +me, acting in cooperation with General Banks, and had full +employment for every soldier of his command; so that I never +depended on him for any men, or for any participation in the +Georgia campaign. Soon after, viz., May 8th, that department was +transferred to the Military Division of "the Gulf," or "Southwest," +Major-General E. R. S. Canby commanding, and General Steele served +with him in the subsequent movement against Mobile. + +In Generals Thomas, McPherson, and Schofield, I had three generals +of education and experience, admirably qualified for the work +before us. Each has made a history of his own, and I need not here +dwell on their respective merits as men, or as commanders of +armies, except that each possessed special qualities of mind and of +character which fitted them in the highest degree for the work then +in contemplation. + +By the returns of April 10, 1864, it will be seen that the +Army of the Cumberland had on its muster-rolls-- + + Men. +Present and absent...................171,450 +Present for duty..................... 88,883 + + +The Army of the Tennessee-- +Present and absent....................134,763 +Present for duty...................... 64,957 + +The Army of the Ohio-- +Present and absent ................... 46,052 +Present for duty ..................... 26,242 + + +The department and army commanders had to maintain strong garrisons +in their respective departments, and also to guard their respective +lines of supply. I therefore, in my mind, aimed to prepare out of +these three armies, by the 1st of May, 1864, a compact army for +active operations in Georgia, of about the following numbers: + +Army of the Cumberland................ 50,000 +Army of the Tennessee................. 35,000 +Army of the Ohio ..................... 15,000 + +Total ............................... 100,000 + +and, to make these troops as mobile as possible, I made the +strictest possible orders in relation to wagons and all species of +incumbrances and impedimenta whatever. Each officer and soldier +was required to carry on his horse or person food and clothing +enough for five days. To each regiment was allowed but one wagon +and one ambulance, and to the officers of each company one pack +horse or mule. + +Each division and brigade was provided a fair proportion of wagons +for a supply train, and these were limited in their loads to carry +food, ammunition, and clothing. Tents were forbidden to all save +the sick and wounded, and one tent only was allowed to each +headquarters for use as an office. These orders were not +absolutely enforced, though in person I set the example, and did +not have a tent, nor did any officer about me have one; but we had +wall tent-flies, without poles, and no tent-furniture of any kind. +We usually spread our flies over saplings, or on fence-rails or +posts improvised on the spot. Most of the general officers, except +Thomas, followed my example strictly; but he had a regular +headquarters-camp. I frequently called his attention to the orders +on this subject, rather jestingly than seriously. He would break +out against his officers for having such luxuries, but, needing a +tent himself, and being good-natured and slow to act, he never +enforced my orders perfectly. In addition to his regular +wagon-train, he had a big wagon which could be converted into an +office, and this we used to call "Thomas's circus." Several times +during the campaign I found quartermasters hid away in some +comfortable nook to the rear, with tents and mess-fixtures which +were the envy of the passing soldiers; and I frequently broke them +up, and distributed the tents to the surgeons of brigades. Yet my +orders actually reduced the transportation, so that I doubt if any +army ever went forth to battle with fewer impedimenta, and where +the regular and necessary supplies of food, ammunition, and +clothing, were issued, as called for, so regularly and so well. + +My personal staff was then composed of Captain J. C. McCoy, +aide-de-camp; Captain L. M. Dayton, aide-de-camp; Captain J. C. +Audenried, aide-de-camp; Brigadier-General J. D. Webster, chief of +staff; Major R. M. Sawyer, assistant adjutant-general; Captain +Montgomery Rochester, assistant adjutant-general. These last three +were left at Nashville in charge of the office, and were empowered +to give orders in my name, communication being generally kept up by +telegraph. + +Subsequently were added to my staff, and accompanied me in the +field, Brigadier-General W. F. Barry, chief of artillery; Colonel +O. M. Poe, chief of engineers; Colonel L. C. Easton, chief +quartermaster; Colonel Amos Beckwith, chief commissary; Captain +Thos. G. Baylor, chief of ordnance; Surgeon E. D. Kittoe, medical +director; Brigadier-General J. M. Corse, inspector-general; +Lieutenant-Colonel C. Ewing, inspector-general; and Lieutenant- +Colonel Willard Warner, inspector-general. + +These officers constituted my staff proper at the beginning of the +campaign, which remained substantially the same till the close of +the war, with very few exceptions; viz.: Surgeon John Moore, United +States Army, relieved Surgeon Kittoe of the volunteers (about +Atlanta) as medical director; Major Henry Hitchcock joined as +judge-advocate, and Captain G. Ward Nichols reported as an extra +aide-de-camp (after the fall of Atlanta) at Gaylesville, just +before we started for Savannah. + +During the whole month of April the preparations for active war +were going on with extreme vigor, and my letter-book shows an +active correspondence with Generals Grant, Halleck, Thomas, +McPherson, and Schofield on thousands of matters of detail and +arrangement, most of which are embraced in my testimony before the +Committee on the Conduct of the War, vol. i., Appendix. + +When the time for action approached, viz., May 1,1864, the actual +armies prepared to move into Georgia resulted as follows, present +for battle: + Men. +Army of the Cumberland, Major-General THOMAS. +Infantry ....................... 54,568 +Artillery ...................... 2,377 +Cavalry......................... 3,828 + Aggregate............... 60,773 +Number of field-guns, 130. + +Army of the Tennessee, Major-General McPHERSON. + +Infantry ....................... 22,437 +Artillery ...................... 1,404 +Cavalry ........................ 624 + Aggregate ............. 24,465 +Guns, 96 + + +Army of the Ohio, Major-General SCHOFIELD. + +Infantry ....................... 11,183 +Artillery....................... 679 +Cavalry......................... 1,697 + Aggregate .............. 13,559 +Guns, 28. + +Grand aggregate, 98,797 men and 254 guns + + +These figures do not embrace the cavalry divisions which were still +incomplete, viz., of General Stoneman, at Lexington, Kentucky, and +of General Garrard, at Columbia, Tennessee, who were then rapidly +collecting horses, and joined us in the early stage of the +campaign. General Stoneman, having a division of about four +thousand men and horses, was attached to Schofield's Army of the +Ohio. General Garrard's division, of about four thousand five +hundred men and horses, was attached to General Thomas's command; +and he had another irregular division of cavalry, commanded by +Brigadier-General E. McCook. There was also a small brigade of +cavalry, belonging to the Army of the Cumberland, attached +temporarily to the Army of the Tennessee, which was commanded by +Brigadier-General Judson Kilpatrick. These cavalry commands +changed constantly in strength and numbers, and were generally used +on the extreme flanks, or for some special detached service, as +will be herein-after related. The Army of the Tennessee was still +short by the two divisions detached with General Banks, up Red +River, and two other divisions on furlough in Illinois, Indiana, +and Ohio, but which were rendezvousing at Cairo, under Generals +Leggett and Crocker, to form a part of the Seventeenth Corps, which +corps was to be commanded by Major-General Frank P. Blair, then a +member of Congress, in Washington. On the 2d of April I notified +him by letter that I wanted him to join and to command these two +divisions, which ought to be ready by the 1st of May. General +Blair, with these two divisions, constituting the Seventeenth Army +Corps, did not actually overtake us until we reached Acworth and +Big Shanty, in Georgia, about the 9th of June, 1864. + +In my letter of April 4th to General John A. Rawains, chief of +staff to General Grant at Washington, I described at length all the +preparations that were in progress for the active campaign thus +contemplated, and therein estimated Schofield at twelve thousand, +Thomas at forty-five thousand, and McPherson at thirty thousand. +At first I intended to open the campaign about May 1st, by moving +Schofield on Dalton from Cleveland, Thomas on the same objective +from Chattanooga, and McPherson on Rome and Kingston from Gunter's +Landing. My intention was merely to threaten Dalton in front, and +to direct McPherson to act vigorously against the railroad below +Resaca, far to the rear of the enemy. But by reason of his being +short of his estimated strength by the four divisions before +referred to, and thus being reduced to about twenty-four thousand +men, I did not feel justified in placing him so far away from the +support of the main body of the army, and therefore subsequently +changed the plan of campaign, so far as to bring that army up to +Chattanooga, and to direct it thence through Ship's Gap against the +railroad to Johnston's rear, at or near Resaca, distant from Dalton +only eighteen miles, and in full communication with the other +armies by roads behind Rocky face Ridge, of about the same length. + +On the 10th of April I received General Grant's letter of April 4th +from Washington, which formed the basis of all the campaigns of the +year 1864, and subsequently received another of April 19th, written +from Culpepper, Virginia, both of which are now in my possession, +in his own handwriting, and are here given entire. These letters +embrace substantially all the orders he ever made on this +particular subject, and these, it will be seen, devolved on me the +details both as to the plan and execution of the campaign by the +armies under my immediate command. These armies were to be +directed against the rebel army commanded by General Joseph E. +Johnston, then lying on the defensive, strongly intrenched at +Dalton, Georgia; and I was required to follow it up closely and +persistently, so that in no event could any part be detached to +assist General Lee in Virginia; General Grant undertaking in like +manner to keep Lee so busy that he could not respond to any calls +of help by Johnston. Neither Atlanta, nor Augusta, nor Savannah, +was the objective, but the "army of Jos. Johnston," go where it +might. + + +[PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.] + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +WASHINGTON D. C., April 4, 1864. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Military Division of the +Mississippi. + +GENERAL: It is my design, if the enemy keep quiet and allow me to +take the initiative in the spring campaign, to work all parts of +the army together, and somewhat toward a common centre. For your +information I now write you my programme, as at present determined +upon. + +I have sent orders to Banks, by private messenger, to finish up his +present expedition against Shreveport with all dispatch; to turn +over the defense of Red River to General Steels and the navy, and +to return your troops to you, and his own to New Orleans; to +abandon all of Texas, except the Rio Grande, and to hold that with +not to exceed four thousand men; to reduce the number of troops on +the Mississippi to the lowest number necessary to hold it, and to +collect from his command not less than twenty-five thousand men. +To this I will add five thousand from Missouri. With this force he +is to commence operations against Mobile as soon as he can. It +will be impossible for him to commence too early. + +Gillmore joins Butler with ten thousand men, and the two operate +against Richmond from the south aide of James River. This will +give Butler thirty-three thousand men to operate with, W. F. Smith +commanding the right wing of his forces, and Gillmore the left +wing. I will stay with the Army of the Potomac, increased by +Burnside's corps of not less than twenty-five thousand effective +men, and operate directly against Lee's army, wherever it may be +found. + +Sigel collects all his available force in two columns, one, under +Ord and Averill, to start from Beverly, Virginia, and the other, +under Crook, to start from Charleston, on the Kanawha, to move +against the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. + +Crook will have all cavalry, and will endeavor to get in about +Saltville, and move east from there to join Ord. His force will be +all cavalry, while Ord will have from ten to twelve thousand men of +all arms. + +You I propose to move against Johnston's army, to break it up, and +to get into the interior of the enemy's country as far as you can, +inflicting all the damage you can against their war resources. + +I do not propose to lay down for you a plan of campaign, but simply +to lay down the work it is desirable to have done, and leave you +free to execute it in your own way. Submit to me, however, as +early as you can, your plan of operations. + +As stated, Banks is ordered to commence operations as soon as he +can. Gillmore is ordered to report at Fortress Monroe by the 18th +inst., or as soon thereafter as practicable. Sigel is +concentrating now. None will move from their places of rendezvous +until I direct, except Banks. I want to be ready to move by the +25th inst., if possible; but all I can now direct is that you get +ready as soon as possible. I know you will have difficulties to +encounter in getting through the mountains to where supplies are +abundant, but I believe you will accomplish it. + +From the expedition from the Department of West Virginia I do not +calculate on very great results; but it is the only way I can take +troops from there. With the long line of railroad Sigel has to +protect, he can spare no troops, except to move directly to his +front. In this way he must get through to inflict great damage on +the enemy, or the enemy must detach from one of his armies a large +force to prevent it. In other words, if Sigel can't skin himself, +he can hold a leg while some one else skins. + +I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, April 10, 1864 + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief, Washington, D. + +DEAR GENERAL: Your two letters of April 4th are now before me, and +afford me infinite satisfaction. That we are now all to act on a +common plan, converging on a common centre, looks like enlightened +war. + +Like yourself, you take the biggest load, and from me you shall +have thorough and hearty cooperation. I will not let side issues +draw me off from your main plans in which I am to knock Jos. +Johnston, and to do as much damage to the resources of the enemy as +possible. I have heretofore written to General Rawlins and to +Colonel Comstock (of your staff) somewhat of the method in which I +propose to act. I have seen all my army, corps, and division +commanders, and have signified only to the former, viz., Schofield, +Thomas, and McPherson, our general plans, which I inferred from the +purport of our conversation here and at Cincinnati. + +First, I am pushing stores to the front with all possible dispatch, +and am completing the army organization according to the orders +from Washington, which are ample and perfectly satisfactory. + +It will take us all of April to get in our furloughed veterans, to +bring up A. J. Smith's command, and to collect provisions and +cattle on the line of the Tennessee. Each of the armies will +guard, by detachments of its own, its rear communications. + +At the signal to be given by you, Schofield, leaving a select +garrison at Knoxville and London, with twelve thousand men will +drop down to the Hiawassee, and march against Johnston's right by +the old Federal road. Stoneman, now in Kentucky, organizing the +cavalry forces of the Army of the Ohio, will operate with Schofield +on his left front--it may be, pushing a select body of about two +thousand cavalry by Ducktown or Elijah toward Athens, Georgia. + +Thomas will aim to have forty-five thousand men of all arms, and +move straight against Johnston, wherever he may be, fighting him +cautiously, persistently, and to the best advantage. He will have +two divisions of cavalry, to take advantage of any offering. + +McPherson will have nine divisions of the Army of the Tennessee, if +A. J. Smith gets here, in which case he will have full thirty +thousand of the best men in America. He will cross the Tennessee +at Decatur and Whitesburg, march toward Rome, and feel for Thomas. +If Johnston falls behind the Coosa, then McPherson will push for +Rome; and if Johnston falls behind the Chattahoochee, as I believe +he will, then McPherson will cross over and join Thomas. + +McPherson has no cavalry, but I have taken one of Thomas's +divisions, viz., Garrard's, six thousand strong, which is now at +Colombia, mounting, equipping, and preparing. I design this +division to operate on McPherson's right, rear, or front, according +as the enemy appears. But the moment I detect Johnston falling +behind the Chattahoochee, I propose to cast off the effective part +of this cavalry division, after crossing the Coosa, straight for +Opelika, West Point, Columbus, or Wetumpka, to break up the road +between Montgomery and Georgia. If Garrard can do this work well, +he can return to the Union army; but should a superior force +interpose, then he will seek safety at Pensacola and join Banks, +or, after rest, will act against any force that he can find east of +Mobile, till such time as he can reach me. + +Should Johnston fall behind the Chattahoochee, I will feign to the +right, but pass to the left and act against Atlanta or its eastern +communications, according to developed facts. + +This is about as far ahead as I feel disposed, to look, but I will +ever bear in mind that Johnston is at all times to be kept so busy +that he cannot in any event send any part of his command against +you or Banks. + +If Banks can at the same time carry Mobile and open up the Alabama +River, he will in a measure solve the most difficult part of my +problem, viz., "provisions." But in that I must venture. Georgia +has a million of inhabitants. If they can live, we should not +starve. If the enemy interrupt our communications, I will be +absolved from all obligations to subsist on our own resources, and +will feel perfectly justified in taking whatever and wherever we +can find. I will inspire my command, if successful, with the +feeling that beef and salt are all that is absolutely necessary to +life, and that parched corn once fed General Jackson's army on that +very ground. +As ever, your friend and servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +CULPEPPER COURT HOUSE, VIRGINIA, April 19, 1864. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Military Division of the +Mississippi. + +GENERAL: Since my letter to you of April 4th I have seen no reason +to change any portion of the general plan of campaign, if the enemy +remain still and allow us to take the initiative. Rain has +continued so uninterruptedly until the last day or two that it will +be impossible to move, however, before the 27th, even if no more +should fall in the meantime. I think Saturday, the 30th, will +probably be the day for our general move. + +Colonel Comstock, who will take this, can spend a day with you, and +fill up many little gaps of information not given in any of my +letters. + +What I now want more particularly to say is, that if the two main +attacks, yours and the one from here, should promise great success, +the enemy may, in a fit of desperation, abandon one part of their +line of defense, and throw their whole strength upon the other, +believing a single defeat without any victory to sustain them +better than a defeat all along their line, and hoping too, at the +same time, that the army, meeting with no resistance, will rest +perfectly satisfied with their laurels, having penetrated to a +given point south, thereby enabling them to throw their force first +upon one and then on the other. + +With the majority of military commanders they might do this. + +But you have had too much experience in traveling light, and +subsisting upon the country, to be caught by any such ruse. I hope +my experience has not been thrown away. My directions, then, would +be, if the enemy in your front show signs of joining Lee, follow +him up to the full extent of your ability. I will prevent the +concentration of Lee upon your front, if it is in the power of this +army to do it. + +The Army of the Potomac looks well, and, so far as I can judge, +officers and men feel well. Yours truly, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, April 24, 1864 + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief, +Culpepper, Virginia + +GENERAL: I now have, at the hands of Colonel Comstock, of your +staff, the letter of April 19th, and am as far prepared to assume +the offensive as possible. I only ask as much time as you think +proper, to enable me to get up McPherson's two divisions from +Cairo. Their furloughs will expire about this time, and some of +them should now be in motion for Clifton, whence they will march to +Decatur, to join General Dodge. + +McPherson is ordered to assemble the Fifteenth Corps near Larkin's, +and to get the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Corps (Dodge and Blair) at +Decatur at the earliest possible moment. From these two points he +will direct his forces on Lebanon, Summerville, and Lafayette, +where he will act against Johnston, if he accept battle at Dalton; +or move in the direction of Rome, if the enemy give up Dalton, and +fall behind the Oostenaula or Etowah. I see that there is some +risk in dividing our forces, but Thomas and Schofield will have +strength enough to cover all the valleys as far as Dalton; and, +should Johnston turn his whole force against McPherson, the latter +will have his bridge at Larkin's, and the route to Chattanooga via +Willa's Valley and the Chattanooga Creek, open for retreat; and if +Johnston attempt to leave Dalton, Thomas will have force enough to +push on through Dalton to Kingston, which will checkmate him. My +own opinion is that Johnston will be compelled to hang to his +railroad, the only possible avenue of supply to his army, estimated +at from forty-five to sixty thousand men. + +At Lafayette all our armies will be together, and if Johnston +stands at Dalton we must attack him in position. Thomas feels +certain that he has no material increase of force, and that he has +not sent away Hardee, or any part of his army. Supplies are the +great question. I have materially increased the number of cars +daily. When I got here, the average was from sixty-five to eighty +per day. Yesterday the report was one hundred and ninety-three; +to-day, one hundred and thirty-four; and my estimate is that one +hundred and forty-five cars per day will give us a day's supply and +a day's accumulation. + +McPherson is ordered to carry in wagons twenty day's rations, and +to rely on the depot at Ringgold for the renewal of his bread. +Beeves are now being driven on the hoof to the front; and the +commissary, Colonel Beckwith, seems fully alive to the importance +of the whole matter. + +Our weakest point will be from the direction of Decatur, and I will +be forced to risk something from that quarter, depending on the +fact that the enemy has no force available with which to threaten +our communications from that direction. + +Colonel Comstock will explain to you personally much that I cannot +commit to paper. I am, with great respect, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +On the 28th of April I removed my headquarters to Chattanooga, and +prepared for taking the field in person. General Grant had first +indicated the 30th of April as the day for the simultaneous +advance, but subsequently changed the day to May 5th. McPhersons +troops were brought forward rapidly to Chattanooga, partly by rail +and partly by marching. Thomas's troops were already in position +(his advance being out as far as Ringgold-eighteen miles), and +Schofield was marching down by Cleveland to Red Clay and Catoosa +Springs. On the 4th of May, Thomas was in person at Ringgold, his +left at Catoosa, and his right at Leet's Tan-yard. Schofield was +at Red Clay, closing upon Thomas's left; and McPherson was moving +rapidly into Chattanooga, and out toward Gordon's Mill. + +On the 5th I rode out to Ringgold, and on the very day appointed by +General Grant from his headquarters in Virginia the great campaign +was begun. To give all the minute details will involve more than +is contemplated, and I will endeavor only to trace the principal +events, or rather to record such as weighed heaviest on my own mind +at the time, and which now remain best fixed in my memory. + +My general headquarters and official records remained back at +Nashville, and I had near me only my personal staff and +inspectors-general, with about half a dozen wagons, and a single +company of Ohio sharp-shooters (commanded by Lieutenant McCrory) as +headquarters or camp guard. I also had a small company of +irregular Alabama cavalry (commanded by Lieutenant Snelling), used +mostly as orderlies and couriers. No wall-tents were allowed, only +the flies. Our mess establishment was less in bulk than that of +any of the brigade commanders; nor was this from an indifference to +the ordinary comforts of life, but because I wanted to set the +example, and gradually to convert all parts of that army into a +mobile machine, willing and able to start at a minute's notice, and +to subsist on the scantiest food. To reap absolute success might +involve the necessity even of dropping all wagons, and to subsist +on the chance food which the country was known to contain. I had +obtained not only the United States census-tables of 1860, but a +compilation made by the Controller of the State of Georgia for the +purpose of taxation, containing in considerable detail the +"population and statistics" of every county in Georgia. One of my +aides (Captain Dayton) acted as assistant adjutant general, with an +order-book, letter-book, and writing-paper, that filled a small +chest not much larger than an ordinary candle-boa. The only +reports and returns called for were the ordinary tri-monthly +returns of "effective strength." As these accumulated they were +sent back to Nashville, and afterward were embraced in the archives +of the Military Division of the Mississippi, changed in 1865 to the +Military Division of the Missouri, and I suppose they were burned +in the Chicago fire of 1870. Still, duplicates remain of all +essential papers in the archives of the War Department. + +The 6th of May was given to Schofield and McPherson to get into +position, and on the 7th General Thomas moved in force against +Tunnel Hill, driving off a mere picket-guard of the enemy, and I +was agreeably surprised to find that no damage had been done to the +tunnel or the railroad. From Tunnel Hill I could look into the +gorge by which the railroad passed through a straight and +well-defined range of mountains, presenting sharp palisade faces, +and known as "Rocky Face." The gorge itself was called the +"Buzzard Roost." We could plainly see the enemy in this gorge and +behind it, and Mill Creek which formed the gorge, flowing toward +Dalton, had been dammed up, making a sort of irregular lake, +filling the road, thereby obstructing it, and the enemy's batteries +crowned the cliffs on either side. The position was very strong, +and I knew that such a general as was my antagonist (Jos. +Johnston), who had been there six months, had fortified it to the +maximum. Therefore I had no intention to attack the position +seriously in front, but depended on McPherson to capture and hold +the railroad to its rear, which would force Johnston to detach +largely against him, or rather, as I expected, to evacuate his +position at Dalton altogether. My orders to Generals Thomas and +Schofield were merely to press strongly at all points in front, +ready to rush in on the first appearance of "let go," and, if +possible, to catch our enemy in the confusion of retreat. + +All the movements of the 7th and 8th were made exactly as ordered, +and the enemy seemed quiescent, acting purely on the defensive. + +I had constant communication with all parts of the army, and on the +9th McPherson's head of column entered and passed through Snake +Creek, perfectly undefended, and accomplished a complete surprise +to the enemy. At its farther debouche he met a cavalry brigade, +easily driven, which retreated hastily north toward Dalton, and +doubtless carried to Johnston the first serious intimation that a +heavy force of infantry and artillery was to his rear and within a +few miles of his railroad. I got a short note from McPherson that +day (written at 2 p.m., when he was within a mile and a half of the +railroad, above and near Resaca), and we all felt jubilant. I +renewed orders to Thomas and Schofield to be ready for the instant +pursuit of what I expected to be a broken and disordered army, +forced to retreat by roads to the east of Resaca, which were known +to be very rough and impracticable. + +That night I received further notice from McPherson that he had +found Resaca too strong for a surprise; that in consequence he had +fallen back three miles to the month of Snake Creek Gap, and was +there fortified. I wrote him the next day the following letters, +copies of which are in my letter-book; but his to me were mere +notes in pencil, not retained. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, TUNNEL HILL, GEORGIA, May 11, 1864 + +Major-General McPHERSON, commanding army of the Tennessee, +Sugar Valley, Georgia. + + +GENERAL: I received by courier (in the night) yours of 5 and 8.30 +P. M. of yesterday. + +You now have your twenty-three thousand men, and General Hooker is +in close support, so that you can hold all of Jos. Johnston's army +in check should he abandon Dalton. He cannot afford to abandon +Dalton, for he has fixed it up on purpose to receive us, and he +observes that we are close at hand, waiting for him to quit. He +cannot afford a detachment strong enough to fight you, as his army +will not admit of it. + +Strengthen your position; fight any thing that comes; and threaten +the safety of the railroad all the time. But, to tell the truth, I +would rather the enemy would stay in Dalton two more days, when he +may find in his rear a larger party than he expects in an open +field. At all events, we can then choose our own ground, and he +will be forced to move out of his works. I do not intend to put a +column into Buzzard-Roost Gap at present. + +See that you are in easy communication with me and with all +head-quarters. After to-day the supplies will be at Ringgold. + +Yours, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, TUNNEL HILL, GEORGIA, May 11, 1864-Evening + +Major-General McPHERSON, commanding army of the Tennessee, +Sugar Valley, Georgia + +GENERAL: The indications are that Johnston is evacuating Dalton. +In that event, Howard's corps and the cavalry will pursue; all the +rest will follow your route. I will be down early in the morning. + +Try to strike him if possible about the forks of the road. + +Hooker must be with you now, and you may send General Garrard by +Summerville to threaten Rome and that flank. I will cause all the +lines to be felt at once. + +W. T. SHERMAN, major-general commanding. + + + +McPherson had startled Johnston in his fancied security, but had +not done the full measure of his work. He had in hand twenty-three +thousand of the best men of the army, and could have walked into +Resaca (then held only by a small brigade), or he could have placed +his whole force astride the railroad above Resaca, and there have +easily withstood the attack of all of Johnston's army, with the +knowledge that Thomas and Schofield were on his heels. Had he done +so, I am certain that Johnston would not have ventured to attack +him in position, but would have retreated eastward by Spring Place, +and we should have captured half his army and all his artillery and +wagons at the very beginning of the campaign. + +Such an opportunity does not occur twice in a single life, but at +the critical moment McPherson seems to have been a little cautious. +Still, he was perfectly justified by his orders, and fell back and +assumed an unassailable defensive position in Sugar Valley, on the +Resaca side of Snake-Creek Gap. As soon as informed of this, I +determined to pass the whole army through Snake-Creek Gap, and to +move on Resaca with the main army. + +But during the 10th, the enemy showed no signs of evacuating +Dalton, and I was waiting for the arrival of Garrard's and +Stoneman's cavalry, known to be near at hand, so as to secure the +full advantages of victory, of which I felt certain. Hooker's +Twentieth Corps was at once moved down to within easy supporting +distance of McPherson; and on the 11th, perceiving signs of +evacuation of Dalton, I gave all the orders for the general +movement, leaving the Fourth Corps (Howard) and Stoneman's cavalry +in observation in front of Buzzard-Roost Gap, and directing all the +rest of the army to march through Snake-Creek Gap, straight on +Resaca. The roads were only such as the country afforded, mere +rough wagon-ways, and these converged to the single narrow track +through Snake-Creek Gap; but during the 12th and 13th the bulk of +Thomas's and Schofield's armies were got through, and deployed +against Resaca, McPherson on the right, Thomas in the centre, and +Schofield on the left. Johnston, as I anticipated, had abandoned +all his well-prepared defenses at Dalton, and was found inside of +Resaca with the bulk of his army, holding his divisions well in +hand, acting purely on the defensive, and fighting well at all +points of conflict. A complete line of intrenchments was found +covering the place, and this was strongly manned at all points. On +the 14th we closed in, enveloping the town on its north and west, +and during the 15th we had a day of continual battle and skirmish. +At the same time I caused two pontoon-bridges to be laid across the +Oostenaula River at Lay's Ferry, about three miles below the town, +by which we could threaten Calhoun, a station on the railroad seven +miles below Resaca. At the same time, May 14th, I dispatched +General Garrard, with his cavalry division, down the Oostenaula by +the Rome road, with orders to cross over, if possible, and to +attack or threaten the railroad at any point below Calhoun and +above Kingston. + +During the 15th, without attempting to assault the fortified works, +we pressed at all points, and the sound of cannon and musketry rose +all day to the dignity of a battle. Toward evening McPherson moved +his whole line of battle forward, till he had gained a ridge +overlooking the town, from which his field-artillery could reach +the railroad-bridge across the Oostenaula. The enemy made several +attempts to drive him away, repeating the sallies several times, +and extending them into the night; but in every instance he was +repulsed with bloody loss. + +Hooker's corps had also some heavy and handsome fighting that +afternoon and night on the left, where the Dalton roan entered the +intrenchments, capturing a four-gun intrenched battery, with its +men and guns; and generally all our men showed the finest fighting +qualities. + +Howard's corps had followed Johnston down from Dalton, and was in +line; Stoneman's division of cavalry had also got up, and was on +the extreme left, beyond the Oostenaula. + +On the night of May 15th Johnston got his army across the bridges, +set them on fire, and we entered Resaca at daylight. Our loss up +to that time was about six hundred dead and thirty-three hundred +and seventy-five wounded--mostly light wounds that did not +necessitate sending the men to the rear for treatment. That +Johnston had deliberately designed in advance to give up such +strong positions as Dalton and Resaca, for the purpose of drawing +us farther south, is simply absurd. Had he remained in Dalton +another hour, it would have been his total defeat, and he only +evacuated Resaca because his safety demanded it. The movement by +us through Snake-Creek Gap was a total surprise to him. My army +about doubled his in size, but he had all the advantages of natural +positions, of artificial forts and roads, and of concentrated +action. We were compelled to grope our way through forests, across +mountains, with a large army, necessarily more or less dispersed. +Of course, I was disappointed not to have crippled his, army more +at that particular stage of the game; but, as it resulted, these +rapid successes gave us the initiative, and the usual impulse of a +conquering army. + +Johnston having retreated in the night of May 15th, immediate +pursuit was begun. A division of infantry (Jeff. C. Davis's) was +at once dispatched down the valley toward Rome, to support +Garrard's cavalry, and the whole army was ordered to pursue, +McPherson by Lay's Ferry, on the right, Thomas directly by the +railroad, and Schofield by the left, by the old road that crossed +the Oostenaula above Echota or Newtown. + +We hastily repaired the railroad bridge at Resaca, which had been +partially burned, and built a temporary floating bridge out of +timber and materials found on the spot; so that Thomas got his +advance corps over during the 16th, and marched as far as Calhoun, +where he came into communication with McPherson's troops, which had +crossed the Oostenaula at Lay's Ferry by our pontoon-bridges, +previously laid. Inasmuch as the bridge at Resaca was overtaxed, +Hooker's Twentieth Corps was also diverted to cross by the fords +and ferries above Resaca, in the neighborhood of Echota. + +On the 17th, toward evening, the head of Thomas's column, Newton's +division, encountered the rear-guard of Johnston's army near +Adairsville. I was near the head of column at the time, trying to +get a view of the position of the enemy from an elevation in an +open field. My party attracted the fire of a battery; a shell +passed through the group of staff-officers and burst just beyond, +which scattered us promptly. The next morning the enemy had +disappeared, and our pursuit was continued to Kingston, which we +reached during Sunday forenoon, the 19th. + +From Resaca the railroad runs nearly due south, but at Kingston it +makes junction with another railroad from Rome, and changes +direction due east. At that time McPherson's head of column was +about four miles to the west of Kingston, at a country place called +"Woodlawn;" Schofield and Hooker were on the direct roads leading +from Newtown to Casaville, diagonal to the route followed by +Thomas. Thomas's head of column, which had followed the country +roads alongside of the railroad, was about four miles east of +Kingston, toward Cassville, when about noon I got a message from +him that he had found the enemy, drawn up in line of battle, on +some extensive, open ground, about half-way between Kingston and +Cassville, and that appearances indicated a willingness and +preparation for battle. + +Hurriedly sending orders to McPherson to resume the march, to +hasten forward by roads leading to the south of Kingston, so as to +leave for Thomas's troops and trains the use of the main road, and +to come up on his right, I rode forward rapidly, over some rough +gravel hills, and about six miles from Kingston found General +Thomas, with his troops deployed; but he reported that the enemy +had fallen back in echelon of divisions, steadily and in superb +order, into Cassville. I knew that the roads by which Generals +Hooker and Schofield were approaching would lead them to a seminary +near Cassville, and that it was all-important to secure the point +of junction of these roads with the main road along which we were +marching. Therefore I ordered General Thomas to push forward his +deployed lines as rapidly as possible; and, as night was +approaching, I ordered two field-batteries to close up at a gallop +on some woods which lay between us and the town of Cassville. We +could not see the town by reason of these woods, but a high range +of hills just back of the town was visible over the tree-tops. On +these hills could be seen fresh-made parapets, and the movements of +men, against whom I directed the artillery to fire at long range. +The stout resistance made by the enemy along our whole front of a +couple of miles indicated a purpose to fight at Cassville; and, as +the night was closing in, General Thomas and I were together, along +with our skirmish-lines near the seminary, on the edge of the town, +where musket-bullets from the enemy were cutting the leaves of the +trees pretty thickly about us. Either Thomas or I remarked that +that was not the place for the two senior officers of a great army, +and we personally went back to the battery, where we passed the +night on the ground. During the night I had reports from +McPherson, Hooker, and Schofield. The former was about five miles +to my right rear, near the "nitre-caves;" Schofield was about six +miles north, and Hooker between us, within two miles. All were +ordered to close down on Cassville at daylight, and to attack the +enemy wherever found. Skirmishing was kept up all night, but when +day broke the next morning, May 20th, the enemy was gone, and our +cavalry was sent in pursuit. These reported him beyond the Etowah +River. We were then well in advance of our railroad-trains, on +which we depended for supplies; so I determined to pause a few days +to repair the railroad, which had been damaged but little, except +at the bridge at Resaca, and then to go on. + +Nearly all the people of the country seemed to have fled with +Johnston's army; yet some few families remained, and from one of +them I procured the copy of an order which Johnston had made at +Adairsville, in which he recited that he had retreated as far as +strategy required, and that his army must be prepared for battle at +Cassville. The newspapers of the South, many of which we found, +were also loud in denunciation of Johnston's falling back before us +without a serious battle, simply resisting by his skirmish-lines +and by his rear-guard. But his friends proclaimed that it was all +strategic; that he was deliberately drawing us farther and farther +into the meshes, farther and farther away from our base of +supplies, and that in due season he would not only halt for battle, +but assume the bold offensive. Of course it was to my interest to +bring him to battle as soon as possible, when our numerical +superiority was at the greatest; for he was picking up his +detachments as he fell back, whereas I was compelled to make +similar and stronger detachments to repair the railroads as we +advanced, and to guard them. I found at Cassville many evidences +of preparation for a grand battle, among them a long line of fresh +intrenchments on the hill beyond the town, extending nearly three +miles to the south, embracing the railroad-crossing. I was also +convinced that the whole of Polk's corps had joined Johnston from +Mississippi, and that he had in hand three full corps, viz., +Hood's, Polk's, and Hardee's, numbering about sixty thousand men, +and could not then imagine why he had declined battle, and did not +learn the real reason till after the war was over, and then from +General Johnston himself. + +In the autumn of 1865, when in command of the Military Division of +the Missouri, I went from St. Louis to Little Rock, Arkansas, and +afterward to Memphis. Taking a steamer for Cairo, I found as +fellow-passengers Generals Johnston and Frank Blair. We were, of +course, on the most friendly terms, and on our way up we talked +over our battles again, played cards, and questioned each other as +to particular parts of our mutual conduct in the game of war. I +told Johnston that I had seen his order of preparation, in the +nature of an address to his army, announcing his purpose to retreat +no more, but to accept battle at Cassville. He answered that such +was his purpose; that he had left Hardee's corps in the open fields +to check Thomas, and gain time for his formation on the ridge, just +behind Cassville; and it was this corps which General Thomas had +seen deployed, and whose handsome movement in retreat he had +reported in such complimentary terms. Johnston described how he +had placed Hood's corps on the right, Polk's in the centre, and +Hardee's on the left. He said he had ridden over the ground, given +to each corps commander his position, and orders to throw up +parapets during the night; that he was with Hardee on his extreme +left as the night closed in, and as Hardee's troops fell back to +the position assigned them for the intended battle of the next day; +and that, after giving Hardee some general instructions, he and his +staff rode back to Cassville. As he entered the town, or village, +he met Generals Hood and Polk. Hood inquired of him if he had had +any thing to eat, and he said no, that he was both hungry and +tired, when Hood invited him to go and share a supper which had +been prepared for him at a house close by. At the supper they +discussed the chances of the impending battle, when Hood spoke of +the ground assigned him as being enfiladed by our (Union) +artillery, which Johnston disputed, when General Polk chimed in +with the remark that General Hood was right; that the cannon-shots +fired by us at nightfall had enfiladed their general line of +battle, and that for this reason he feared they could not hold +their men. General Johnston was surprised at this, for he +understood General Hood to be one of those who professed to +criticise his strategy, contending that, instead of retreating, he +should have risked a battle. General Johnston said he was +provoked, accused them of having been in conference, with being +beaten before battle, and added that he was unwilling to engage in +a critical battle with an army so superior to his own in numbers, +with two of his three corps commanders dissatisfied with the ground +and positions assigned them. He then and there made up his mind to +retreat still farther south, to put the Etowah River and the +Allatoona range between us; and he at once gave orders to resume +the retrograde movement. + +This was my recollection of the substance of the conversation, of +which I made no note at the time; but, at a meeting of the Society +of the Army of the Cumberland some years after, at Cleveland, Ohio, +about 1868, in a short after-dinner speech, I related this +conversation, and it got into print. Subsequently, in the spring +of 1870, when I was at New Orleans, on route for Texas, General +Hood called to see me at the St. Charles Hotel, explained that he +had seen my speech reprinted in the newspapers and gave me his +version of the same event, describing the halt at Cassville, the +general orders for battle on that ground, and the meeting at supper +with Generals Johnston and Polk, when the chances of the battle to +be fought the next day were freely and fully discussed; and he +stated that he had argued against fighting the battle purely on the +defensive, but had asked General Johnston to permit him with his +own corps and part of Polk's to quit their lines, and to march +rapidly to attack and overwhelm Schofield, who was known to be +separated from Thomas by an interval of nearly five miles, claiming +that he could have defeated Schofield, and got back to his position +in time to meet General Thomas's attack in front. He also stated +that he had then contended with Johnston for the "offensive- +defensive" game, instead of the "pure defensive," as proposed by +General Johnston; and he said that it was at this time that General +Johnston had taken offense, and that it was for this reason he had +ordered the retreat that night. As subsequent events estranged +these two officers, it is very natural they should now differ on +this point; but it was sufficient for us that the rebel army did +retreat that night, leaving us masters of all the country above the +Etowah River. + +For the purposes of rest, to give time for the repair of the +railroads, and to replenish supplies, we lay by some few days in +that quarter--Schofield with Stoneman's cavalry holding the ground +at Cassville Depot, Cartersville, and the Etowah Bridge; Thomas +holding his ground near Cassville, and McPherson that near +Kingston. The officer intrusted with the repair of the railroads +was Colonel W. W. Wright, a railroad-engineer, who, with about two +thousand men, was so industrious and skillful that the bridge at +Resaca was rebuilt in three days, and cars loaded with stores came +forward to Kingston on the 24th. The telegraph also brought us the +news of the bloody and desperate battles of the Wilderness, in +Virginia, and that General Grant was pushing his operations against +Lee with terrific energy. I was therefore resolved to give my +enemy no rest. + +In early days (1844), when a lieutenant of the Third Artillery, I +had been sent from Charleston, South Carolina, to Marietta, +Georgia, to assist Inspector-General Churchill to take testimony +concerning certain losses of horses and accoutrements by the +Georgia Volunteers during the Florida War; and after completing the +work at Marietta we transferred our party over to Bellefonte, +Alabama. I had ridden the distance on horseback, and had noted +well the topography of the country, especially that about Kenesaw, +Allatoona, and the Etowah River. On that occasion I had stopped +some days with a Colonel Tumlin, to see some remarkable Indian +mounds on the Etowah River, usually called the "Hightower:" I +therefore knew that the Allatoona Pass was very strong, would be +hard to force, and resolved not even to attempt it, but to turn the +position, by moving from Kingston to Marietta via. Dallas; +accordingly I made orders on the 20th to get ready for the march to +begin on the 23d. The Army of the Cumberland was ordered to march +for Dallas, by Euharlee and Stilesboro; Davis's division, then in +Rome, by Van Wert; the Army of the Ohio to keep on the left of +Thomas, by a place called Burnt Hickory; and the Army of the +Tennessee to march for a position a little to the south, so as to +be on the right of the general army, when grouped about Dallas. + +The movement contemplated leaving our railroad, and to depend for +twenty days on the contents of our wagons; and as the country was +very obscure, mostly in a state of nature, densely wooded, and with +few roads, our movements were necessarily slow. We crossed the +Etowah by several bridges and fords, and took as many roads as +possible, keeping up communication by cross-roads, or by couriers +through the woods. I personally joined General Thomas, who had the +centre, and was consequently the main column, or "column of +direction." The several columns followed generally the valley of +the Euharlee, a tributary coming into the Etowah from the south, +and gradually crossed over a ridge of mountains, parts of which had +once been worked over for gold, and were consequently full of paths +and unused wagon-roads or tracks. A cavalry picket of the enemy at +Burnt Hickory was captured, and had on his person an order from +General Johnston, dated at Allatoona, which showed that he had +detected my purpose of turning his position, and it accordingly +became necessary to use great caution, lest some of the minor +columns should fall into ambush, but, luckily the enemy was not +much more familiar with that part of the country than we were. On +the other side of the Allatoona range, the Pumpkin-Vine Creek, also +a tributary of the Etowah, flowed north and west; Dallas, the point +aimed at, was a small town on the other or east side of this creek, +and was the point of concentration of a great many roads that led +in every direction. Its possession would be a threat to Marietta +and Atlanta, but I could not then venture to attempt either, till I +had regained the use of the railroad, at least as far down as its +debouche from the Allatoona range of mountains. Therefore, the +movement was chiefly designed to compel Johnston to give up +Allatoona. + +On the 25th all the columns were moving steadily on Dallas +--McPherson and Davis away off to the right, near Van Wert; Thomas on +the main road in the centre, with Hooker's Twentieth Corps ahead, +toward Dallas; and Schofield to the left rear. For the convenience +of march, Hooker had his three divisions on separate roads, all +leading toward Dallas, when, in the afternoon, as he approached a +bridge across Pumpkin-Vine Creek, he found it held by a cavalry +force, which was driven off, but the bridge was on fire. This fire +was extinguished, and Hooker's leading division (Geary's) followed +the retreating cavalry on a road leading due east toward Marietta, +instead of Dallas. This leading division, about four miles out from +the bridge, struck a heavy infantry force, which was moving down from +Allatoona toward Dallas, and a sharp battle ensued. I came up in +person soon after, and as my map showed that we were near an +important cross-road called "New Hope," from a Methodist +meeting-house there of that name, I ordered General Hooker to secure +it if possible that night. He asked for a short delay, till he could +bring up his other two divisions, viz., of Butterfield and Williams, +but before these divisions had got up and were deployed, the enemy +had also gained corresponding strength. The woods were so dense, and +the resistance so spirited, that Hooker could not carry the position, +though the battle was noisy, and prolonged far into the night. This +point, "New Hope," was the accidental intersection of the road +leading from Allatoona to Dallas with that from Van Wert to Marietta, +was four miles northeast of Dallas, and from the bloody fighting +there for the next week was called by the soldiers "Hell-Hole." + +The night was pitch-dark, it rained hard, and the convergence of +our columns toward Dallas produced much confusion. I am sure +similar confusion existed in the army opposed to us, for we were +all mixed up. I slept on the ground, without cover, alongside of a +log, got little sleep, resolved at daylight to renew the battle, +and to make a lodgment on the Dallas and Allatoona road if +possible, but the morning revealed a strong line of intrenchments +facing us, with a heavy force of infantry and guns. The battle was +renewed, and without success. McPherson reached Dallas that +morning, viz., the 26th, and deployed his troops to the southeast +and east of the town, placing Davis's division of the Fourteenth +Corps, which had joined him on the road from Rome, on his left; but +this still left a gap of at least three miles between Davis and +Hooker. Meantime, also, General Schofield was closing up on +Thomas's left. + +Satisfied that Johnston in person was at New Hope with all his +army, and that it was so much nearer my "objective;" the railroad, +than Dallas, I concluded to draw McPherson from Dallas to Hooker's +right, and gave orders accordingly; but McPherson also was +confronted with a heavy force, and, as he began to withdraw +according to his orders, on the morning of the 28th he was fiercely +assailed on his right; a bloody battle ensued, in which he repulsed +the attack, inflicting heavy loss on his assailants, and it was not +until the 1st of June that he was enabled to withdraw from Dallas, +and to effect a close junction with Hooker in front of New Hope. +Meantime Thomas and Schofield were completing their deployments, +gradually overlapping Johnston on his right, and thus extending our +left nearer and nearer to the railroad, the nearest point of which +was Acworth, about eight miles distant. All this time a continual +battle was in progress by strong skirmish-lines, taking advantage +of every species of cover, and both parties fortifying each night +by rifle-trenches, with head-logs, many of which grew to be as +formidable as first-class works of defense. Occasionally one party +or the other would make a dash in the nature of a sally, but +usually it sustained a repulse with great loss of life. I visited +personally all parts of our lines nearly every day, was constantly +within musket-range, and though the fire of musketry and cannon +resounded day and night along the whole line, varying from six to +ten miles, I rarely saw a dozen of the enemy at any one time; and +these were always skirmishers dodging from tree to tree, or behind +logs on the ground, or who occasionally showed their heads above +the hastily-constructed but remarkably strong rifle-trenches. On +the occasion of my visit to McPherson on the 30th of May, while +standing with a group of officers, among whom were Generals +McPherson, Logan, Barry, and Colonel Taylor, my former chief of +artillery, a Minie-ball passed through Logan's coat-sleeve, +scratching the skin, and struck Colonel Taylor square in the +breast; luckily he had in his pocket a famous memorandum-book, in +which he kept a sort of diary, about which we used to joke him a +good deal; its thickness and size saved his life, breaking the +force of the ball, so that after traversing the book it only +penetrated the breast to the ribs, but it knocked him down and +disabled him for the rest of the campaign. He was a most competent +and worthy officer, and now lives in poverty in Chicago, sustained +in part by his own labor, and in part by a pitiful pension recently +granted. + +On the 1st of June General McPherson closed in upon the right, and, +without attempting further to carry the enemy's strong position at +New Hope Church, I held our general right in close contact with it, +gradually, carefully, and steadily working by the left, until our +strong infantry-lines had reached and secured possession of all the +wagon-roads between New Hope, Allatoona, and Acworth, when I +dispatched Generals Garrard's and Stoneman's divisions of cavalry +into Allatoona, the first around by the west end of the pass, and +the latter by the direct road. Both reached their destination +without opposition, and orders were at once given to repair the +railroad forward from Kingston to Allatoona, embracing the bridge +across the Etowah River. Thus the real object of my move on Dallas +was accomplished, and on the 4th of June I was preparing to draw +off from New Hope Church, and to take position on the railroad in +front of Allatoona, when, General Johnston himself having evacuated +his position, we effected the change without further battle, and +moved to the railroad, occupying it from Allatoona and Acworth +forward to Big Shanty, in sight of the famous Kenesaw Mountain. + +Thus, substantially in the month of May, we had steadily driven our +antagonist from the strong positions of Dalton, Resaea, Cassville, +Allatoona, and Dallas; had advanced our lines in strong, compact +order from Chattanooga to Big Shanty, nearly a hundred miles of as +difficult country as was ever fought over by civilized armies; and +thus stood prepared to go on, anxious to fight, and confident of +success as soon as the railroad communications were complete to +bring forward the necessary supplies. It is now impossible to +state accurately our loss of life and men in any one separate +battle; for the fighting was continuous, almost daily, among trees +and bushes, on ground where one could rarely see a hundred yards +ahead. + +The aggregate loss in the several corps for the month of May is +reported-as follows in the usual monthly returns sent to the +Adjutant-General's office, which are, therefore, official: + +Casualties during the Month of May, 1864 +(Major-General SHERMAN commanding). + + Killed and Missing. Wounded. Total. + 1,863 7,436 9,299 + + + +General Joseph E. Johnston, in his "Narrative of his Military +Operations," just published (March 27, 1874), gives the effective +strength of his army at and about Dalton on the 1st of May, 1864 +(page 302), as follows: + +Infantry..................... 37,652 +Artillery.................... 2,812 +Cavalry...................... 2,392 + + Total ................... 42,856 + + + +During May, and prior to reaching Cassville, he was further +reenforced (page 352) + +Polk's corps of three divisions....... 12,000 +Martin's division of cavalry.......... 3,500 +Jackson's division of cavalry......... 3,900 + +And at New Hope Church, May 26th + +Brigade of Quarles.................... 2,200 + + Grand-total.................. 64,456 + + +His losses during the month of May are stated by him, as taken from +the report of Surgeon Foard (page 325) + + + Killed Wounded Total + 721 4,672 5,393 + + +These figures include only the killed and wounded, whereas my +statement of losses embraces the "missing," which are usually +"prisoners," and of these we captured, during the whole campaign of +four and a half months, exactly 12,983, whose names, rank, and +regiments, were officially reported to the Commissary-General of +Prisoners; and assuming a due proportion for the month of May, +viz., one-fourth, makes 3,245 to be added to the killed and wounded +given above, making an aggregate loss in Johnston's army, from +Dalton to New Hope, inclusive, of 8,638, against ours of 9,299. + +Therefore General Johnston is greatly in error, in his estimates on +page 357, in stating our loss, as compared with his, at six or ten +to one. + +I always estimated my force at about double his, and could afford +to lose two to one without disturbing our relative proportion; but +I also reckoned that, in the natural strength of the country, in +the abundance of mountains, streams, and forests, he had a fair +offset to our numerical superiority, and therefore endeavored to +act with reasonable caution while moving on the vigorous +"offensive." + +With the drawn battle of New Hope Church, and our occupation of the +natural fortress of Allatoona, terminated the month of May, and the +first stage of the campaign. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ATLANTA CAMPAIGN--BATTLES ABOUT KENESAW MOUNTAIN. + +JUNE, 1864. + + +On the 1st of June our three armies were well in hand, in the +broken and densely-wooded country fronting the enemy intrenched at +New Hope Church, about five miles north of Dallas. General +Stoneman's division of cavalry had occupied Allatoona, on the +railroad, and General Garrard's division was at the western end of +the pass, about Stilesboro. Colonel W. W. Wright, of the +Engineers, was busily employed in repairing the railroad and +rebuilding the bridge across the Etowah (or High tower) River, +which had been destroyed by the enemy on his retreat; and the +armies were engaged in a general and constant skirmish along a +front of about six miles--McPherson the right, Thomas the centre, +and Schofield on the left. By gradually covering our front with +parapet, and extending to the left, we approached the railroad +toward Acworth and overlapped the enemy's right. By the 4th of +June we had made such progress that Johnston evacuated his lines in +the night, leaving us masters of the situation, when I deliberately +shifted McPherson's army to the extreme left, at and in front of +Acworth, with Thomas's about two miles on his right, and +Schofield's on his right all facing east. Heavy rains set in about +the 1st of June, making the roads infamous; but our marches were +short, as we needed time for the repair of the railroad, so as to +bring supplies forward to Allatoona Station. On the 6th I rode +back to Allatoona, seven miles, found it all that was expected, and +gave orders for its fortification and preparation as a "secondary +base." + +General Blair arrived at Acworth on the 8th with his two divisions +of the Seventeenth Corps--the same which had been on veteran +furlough--had come up from Cairo by way of Clifton, on the +Tennessee River, and had followed our general route to Allatoona, +where he had left a garrison of about fifteen hundred men. His +effective strength, as reported, was nine thousand. These, with +new regiments and furloughed men who had joined early in the month +of May, equaled our losses from battle, sickness, and by +detachments; so that the three armies still aggregated about one +hundred thousand effective men. + +On the 10th of June the whole combined army moved forward six +miles, to "Big Shanty," a station on the railroad, whence we had a +good view of the enemy's position, which embraced three prominent +hills known as Kenesaw, Pine Mountain, and Lost Mountain. On each +of these hills the enemy had signal-stations and fresh lines of +parapets. Heavy masses of infantry could be distinctly seen with +the naked eye, and it was manifest that Johnston had chosen his +ground well, and with deliberation had prepared for battle; but his +line was at least ten miles in extent--too long, in my judgment, to +be held successfully by his force, then estimated at sixty +thousand. As his position, however, gave him a perfect view over +our field, we had to proceed with due caution. McPherson had the +left, following the railroad, which curved around the north base of +Kenesaw; Thomas the centre, obliqued to the right, deploying below +Kenesaw and facing Pine Hill; and Schofield, somewhat refused, was +on the general right, looking south, toward Lost Mountain. + +On the 11th the Etowah bridge was done; the railroad was repaired +up to our very skirmish line, close to the base of Kenesaw, and a +loaded train of cars came to Big Shanty. The locomotive, detached, +was run forward to a water-tank within the range of the enemy's +guns on Kenesaw, whence the enemy opened fire on the locomotive; +but the engineer was not afraid, went on to the tank, got water, +and returned safely to his train, answering the guns with the +screams of his engine, heightened by the cheers and shouts of our +men. + +The rains continued to pour, and made our developments slow and +dilatory, for there were no roads, and these had to be improvised +by each division for its own supply train from the depot in Big +Shanty to the camps. Meantime each army was deploying carefully +before the enemy, intrenching every camp, ready as against a sally. +The enemy's cavalry was also busy in our rear, compelling us to +detach cavalry all the way back as far as Resaca, and to +strengthen all the infantry posts as far as Nashville. Besides, +there was great danger, always in my mind, that Forrest would +collect a heavy cavalry command in Mississippi, cross the Tennessee +River, and break up our railroad below Nashville. In anticipation +of this very danger, I had sent General Sturgis to Memphis to take +command of all the cavalry in that quarter, to go out toward +Pontotoc, engage Forrest and defeat him; but on the 14th of June I +learned that General Sturgis had himself been defeated on the 10th +of June, and had been driven by Forrest back into Memphis in +considerable confusion. I expected that this would soon be +followed by a general raid on all our roads in Tennessee. General +G. J. Smith, with the two divisions of the Sixteenth and +Seventeenth Corps which had been with General Banks up Red River, +had returned from that ill-fated expedition, and had been ordered +to General Canby at New Orleans, who was making a diversion about +Mobile; but, on hearing of General Sturgis's defeat, I ordered +General Smith to go out from Memphis and renew the offensive, so as +to keep Forrest off our roads. This he did finally, defeating +Forrest at Tupelo, on the 13th, 14th, and 15th days of July; and +he so stirred up matters in North Mississippi that Forrest could +not leave for Tennessee. This, for a time, left me only the task +of covering the roads against such minor detachments of cavalry as +Johnston could spare from his immediate army, and I proposed to +keep these too busy in their own defense to spare detachments. By +the 14th the rain slackened, and we occupied a continuous line of +ten miles, intrenched, conforming to the irregular position of the +enemy, when I reconnoitred, with a view to make a break in their +line between Kenesaw and Pine Mountain. When abreast of Pine +Mountain I noticed a rebel battery on its crest, with a continuous +line of fresh rifle-trench about half-way down the hill. Our +skirmishers were at the time engaged in the woods about the base of +this hill between the lines, and I estimated the distance to the +battery on the crest at about eight hundred yards. Near it, in +plain view, stood a group of the enemy, evidently observing us with +glasses. General Howard, commanding the Fourth Corps, was near by, +and I called his attention to this group, and ordered him to compel +it to keep behind its cover. He replied that his orders from +General Thomas were to spare artillery-ammunition. This was right, +according to the general policy, but I explained to him that we +must keep up the morale of a bold offensive, that he must use his +artillery, force the enemy to remain on the timid defensive, and +ordered him to cause a battery close by to fire three volleys. I +continued to ride down our line, and soon heard, in quick +succession, the three volleys. The next division in order was +Geary's, and I gave him similar orders. General Polk, in my +opinion, was killed by the second volley fired from the first +battery referred to. + +In a conversation with General Johnston, after the war, he +explained that on that day he had ridden in person from Marietta to +Pine Mountain, held by Bates's division, and was accompanied by +Generals Hardee and Polk. When on Pine Mountain, reconnoitring, +quite a group of soldiers, belonging to the battery close by, +clustered about him. He noticed the preparations of our battery to +fire, and cautioned these men to scatter. They did so, and he +likewise hurried behind the parapet, from which he had an equally +good view of our position but General Polk, who was dignified and +corpulent, walked back slowly, not wishing to appear too hurried or +cautious in the presence of the men, and was struck across the +breast by an unexploded shell, which killed him instantly. This is +my memory of the conversation, and it is confirmed by Johnston +himself in his "Narrative," page 337, except that he calculated the +distance of our battery at six hundred yards, and says that Polk +was killed by the third shot; I know that our guns fired by volley, +and believe that he was hit by a shot of the second volley. It has +been asserted that I fired the gun which killed General Polk, and +that I knew it was directed against that general. The fact is, at +that distance we could not even tell that the group were officers +at all; I was on horseback, a couple of hundred yards off, before +my orders to fire were executed, had no idea that our shot had +taken effect, and continued my ride down along the line to +Schofield's extreme flank, returning late in the evening to my +head-quarters at Big Shanty, where I occupied an abandoned house. +In a cotton-field back of that house was our signal-station, on the +roof of an old gin-house. The signal-officer reported that by +studying the enemy's signals he had learned the key, and that he +could read their signals. He explained to me that he had +translated a signal about noon, from Pine Mountain to Marietta, +"Send an ambulance for General Polk's body;" and later in the day +another, "Why don't you send an ambulance for General Polk?" From +this we inferred that General Polk had been killed, but how or +where we knew not; and this inference was confirmed later in the +same day by the report of some prisoners who had been captured. + +On the 15th we advanced our general lines, intending to attack at +any weak point discovered between Kenesaw and Pine Mountain; but +Pine Mountain was found to be abandoned, and Johnston had +contracted his front somewhat, on a direct line, connecting Kenesaw +with Lost Mountain. Thomas and Schofield thereby gained about two +miles of most difficult, country, and McPherson's left lapped well +around the north end of Kenesaw. We captured a good many +prisoners, among them a whole infantry regiment, the Fourteenth +Alabama, three hundred and twenty strong. + +On the 16th the general movement was continued, when Lost Mountain +was abandoned by the enemy. Our right naturally swung round, so as +to threaten the railroad below Marietta, but Johnston had still +further contracted and strengthened his lines, covering Marietta +and all the roads below. + +On the 17th and 18th the rain again fell in torrents, making army +movements impossible, but we devoted the time to strengthening our +positions, more especially the left and centre, with a view +gradually to draw from the left to add to the right; and we had to +hold our lines on the left extremely strong, to guard against a +sally from Kenesaw against our depot at Big Shanty. Garrard's +division of cavalry was kept busy on our left, McPherson had +gradually extended to his right, enabling Thomas to do the same +still farther; but the enemy's position was so very strong, and +everywhere it was covered by intrenchments, that we found it as +dangerous to assault as a permanent fort. We in like manner +covered our lines of battle by similar works, and even our +skirmishers learned to cover their bodies by the simplest and best +forms of defensive works, such as rails or logs, piled in the form +of a simple lunette, covered on the outside with earth thrown up at +night. + +The enemy and ourselves used the same form of rifle-trench, varied +according to the nature of the ground, viz.: the trees and bushes +were cut away for a hundred yards or more in front, serving as an +abatis or entanglement; the parapets varied from four to six feet +high, the dirt taken from a ditch outside and from a covered way +inside, and this parapet was surmounted by a "head-log," composed +of the trunk of a tree from twelve to twenty inches at the butt, +lying along the interior crest of the parapet and resting in +notches cut in other trunks which extended back, forming an +inclined plane, in case the head-log should be knocked inward by a +cannon-shot. The men of both armies became extremely skillful in +the construction of these works, because each man realized their +value and importance to himself, so that it required no orders for +their construction. As soon as a regiment or brigade gained a +position within easy distance for a sally, it would set to work +with a will, and would construct such a parapet in a single night; +but I endeavored to spare the soldiers this hard labor by +authorizing each division commander to organize out of the freedmen +who escaped to us a pioneer corps of two hundred men, who were fed +out of the regular army supplies, and I promised them ten dollars a +month, under an existing act of Congress. These pioneer +detachments became very useful to us during the rest of the war, +for they could work at night while our men slept; they in turn were +not expected to fight, and could therefore sleep by day. Our +enemies used their slaves for a similar purpose, but usually kept +them out of the range of fire by employing them to fortify and +strengthen the position to their rear next to be occupied in their +general retrograde. During this campaign hundreds if not thousands +of miles of similar intrenchments were built by both armies, and, +as a rule, whichever party attacked got the worst of it. + +On the 19th of June the rebel army again fell back on its flanks, +to such an extent that for a time I supposed it had retreated to +the Chattahoochee River, fifteen miles distant; but as we pressed +forward we were soon undeceived, for we found it still more +concentrated, covering Marietta and the railroad. These successive +contractions of the enemy's line encouraged us and discouraged him, +but were doubtless justified by sound reasons. On the 20th +Johnston's position was unusually strong. Kenesaw Mountain was his +salient; his two flanks were refused and covered by parapets and by +Noonday and Nose's Creeks. His left flank was his weak point, so +long as he acted on the "defensive," whereas, had he designed to +contract the extent of his line for the purpose of getting in +reserve a force with which to strike "offensively" from his right, +he would have done a wise act, and I was compelled to presume that +such was his object: We were also so far from Nashville and +Chattanooga that we were naturally sensitive for the safety of our +railroad and depots, so that the left (McPherson) was held very +strong. + +About this time came reports that a large cavalry force of the +enemy had passed around our left flank, evidently to strike this +very railroad somewhere below Chattanooga. I therefore reenforced +the cavalry stationed from Resaca to Casaville, and ordered forward +from Huntsville, Alabama, the infantry division of General John E. +Smith, to hold Kingston securely. + +While we were thus engaged about Kenesaw, General Grant had his +hands full with Lee, in Virginia. General Halleck was the chief of +staff at Washington, and to him I communicated almost daily. I +find from my letter-book that on the 21st of June I reported to him +tersely and truly the condition of facts on that day: "This is the +nineteenth day of rain, and the prospect of fair weather is as far +off as ever. The roads are impassable; the fields and woods become +quagmire's after a few wagons have crossed over. Yet we are at +work all the time. The left flank is across Noonday Creek, and the +right is across Nose's Creek. The enemy still holds Kenesaw, a +conical mountain, with Marietta behind it, and has his flanks +retired, to cover that town and the railroad behind. I am all +ready to attack the moment the weather and roads will permit troops +and artillery to move with any thing like life." + +The weather has a wonderful effect on troops: in action and on the +march, rain is favorable; but in the woods, where all is blind and +uncertain, it seems almost impossible for an army covering ten +miles of front to act in concert during wet and stormy weather. +Still I pressed operations with the utmost earnestness, aiming +always to keep our fortified lines in absolute contact with the +enemy, while with the surplus force we felt forward, from one flank +or the other, for his line of communication and retreat. On the +22d of June I rode the whole line, and ordered General Thomas in +person to advance his extreme right corps (Hooker's); and +instructed General Schofield, by letter, to keep his entire army, +viz., the Twenty-third Corps, as a strong right flank in close +support of Hooker's deployed line. During this day the sun came +out, with some promise of clear weather, and I had got back to my +bivouac about dark, when a signal message was received, dated-- + +KULP HOUSE, 5.30 P.M. + +General SHERMAN: +We have repulsed two heavy attacks, and feel confident, our only +apprehension being from our extreme right flank. Three entire +corps are in front of us. + +Major-General HOOKER. + +Hooker's corps (the Twentieth) belonged to Thomas's army; Thomas's +headquarters were two miles nearer to Hooker than mine; and Hooker, +being an old army officer, knew that he should have reported this +fact to Thomas and not to me; I was, moreover, specially disturbed +by the assertion in his report that he was uneasy about his right +flank, when Schofield had been specially ordered to protect that. +I first inquired of my adjutant, Dayton, if he were certain that +General Schofield had received his orders, and he answered that the +envelope in which he had sent them was receipted by General +Schofield himself. I knew, therefore, that General Schofield must +be near by, in close support of Hooker's right flank. General +Thomas had before this occasion complained to me of General +Hooker's disposition to "switch off," leaving wide gaps in his +line, so as to be independent, and to make glory on his own +account. I therefore resolved not to overlook this breach of +discipline and propriety. The rebel army was only composed of +three corps; I had that very day ridden six miles of their lines, +found them everywhere strongly occupied, and therefore Hooker could +not have encountered "three entire corps." Both McPherson and +Schofield had also complained to me of this same tendency of Hooker +to widen the gap between his own corps and his proper army +(Thomas's), so as to come into closer contact with one or other of +the wings, asserting that he was the senior by commission to both +McPherson and Schofield, and that in the event of battle he should +assume command over them, by virtue of his older commission. + +They appealed to me to protect them. I had heard during that day +some cannonading and heavy firing down toward the "Kulp House," +which was about five miles southeast of where I was, but this was +nothing unusual, for at the same moment there was firing along our +lines full ten miles in extent. Early the next day (23d) I rode +down to the "Kulp House," which was on a road leading from Powder +Springs to Marietta, about three miles distant from the latter. On +the way I passed through General Butterfield's division of Hooker's +corps, which I learned had not been engaged at all in the battle of +the day before; then I rode along Geary's and Williams's divisions, +which occupied the field of battle, and the men were engaged in +burying the dead. I found General Schofield's corps on the Powder +Springs road, its head of column abreast of Hooker's right, +therefore constituting "a strong right flank," and I met Generale +Schofield and Hooker together. As rain was falling at the moment, +we passed into a little church standing by the road-side, and I +there showed General Schofield Hooker's signal-message of the day +before. He was very angry, and pretty sharp words passed between +them, Schofield saying that his head of column (Hascall's division) +had been, at the time of the battle, actually in advance of +Hooker's line; that the attack or sally of the enemy struck his +troops before it did Hooker's; that General Hooker knew of it at +the time; and he offered to go out and show me that the dead men of +his advance division (Hascall's) were lying farther out than any of +Hooker's. General Hooker pretended not to have known this fact. I +then asked him why he had called on me for help, until he had used +all of his own troops; asserting that I had just seen Butterfield's +division, and had learned from him that he had not been engaged the +day before at all; and I asserted that the enemy's sally must have +been made by one corps (Hood's), in place of three, and that it had +fallen on Geary's and Williams's divisions, which had repulsed the +attack handsomely. As we rode away from that church General Hooker +was by my side, and I told him that such a thing must not occur +again; in other words, I reproved him more gently than the occasion +demanded, and from that time he began to sulk. General Hooker had +come from the East with great fame as a "fighter," and at +Chattanooga he was glorified by his "battle above the clouds," +which I fear turned his head. He seemed jealous of all the army +commanders, because in years, former rank, and experience, he +thought he was our superior. + +On the 23d of June I telegraphed to General Halleck this summary, +which I cannot again better state: + +We continue to press forward on the principle of an advance against +fortified positions. The whole country is one vast fort, and +Johnston must have at least fifty miles of connected trenches, with +abatis and finished batteries. We gain ground daily, fighting all +the time. On the 21st General Stanley gained a position near the +south end of Kenesaw, from which the enemy attempted in vain to +drive him; and the same day General T. J. Wood's division took a +hill, which the enemy assaulted three times at night without +success, leaving more than a hundred dead on the ground. Yesterday +the extreme right (Hooker and Schofield) advanced on the Powder +Springs road to within three miles of Marietta. The enemy made a +strong effort to drive them away, but failed signally, leaving more +than two hundred dead on the field. Our lines are now in close +contact, and the fighting is incessant, with a good deal of +artillery-fire. As fast as we gain one position the enemy has +another all ready, but I think he will soon have to let go Kenesaw, +which is the key to the whole country. The weather is now better, +and the roads are drying up fast. Our losses are light, and, +not-withstanding the repeated breaks of the road to our rear, +supplies are ample. + +During the 24th and 25th of June General Schofield extended his +right as far as prudent, so as to compel the enemy to thin out his +lines correspondingly, with the intention to make two strong +assaults at points where success would give us the greatest +advantage. I had consulted Generals Thomas, McPherson, and +Schofield, and we all agreed that we could not with prudence +stretch out any more, and therefore there was no alternative but to +attack "fortified lines," a thing carefully avoided up to that +time. I reasoned, if we could make a breach anywhere near the +rebel centre, and thrust in a strong head of column, that with the +one moiety of our army we could hold in check the corresponding +wing of the enemy, and with the other sweep in flank and overwhelm +the other half. The 27th of June was fixed as the day for the +attempt, and in order to oversee the whole, and to be in close +communication with all parts of the army, I had a place cleared on +the top of a hill to the rear of Thomas's centre, and had the +telegraph-wires laid to it. The points of attack were chosen, and +the troops were all prepared with as little demonstration as +possible. About 9 A.M. Of the day appointed, the troops moved to +the assault, and all along our lines for ten miles a furious fire +of artillery and musketry was kept up. At all points the enemy met +us with determined courage and in great force. McPherson's +attacking column fought up the face of the lesser Kenesaw, but +could not reach the summit. About a mile to the right (just below +the Dallas road) Thomas's assaulting column reached the parapet, +where Brigadier-General Barker was shot down mortally wounded, and +Brigadier-General Daniel McCook (my old law-partner) was +desperately wounded, from the effects of which he afterward died. +By 11.30 the assault was in fact over, and had failed. We had not +broken the rebel line at either point, but our assaulting columns +held their ground within a few yards of the rebel trenches, and +there covered themselves with parapet. McPherson lost about five +hundred men and several valuable officers, and Thomas lost nearly +two thousand men. This was the hardest fight of the campaign up to +that date, and it is well described by Johnston in his "Narrative" +(pages 342, 343), where he admits his loss in killed and wounded +as + + Total ............. 808 + +This, no doubt, is a true and fair statement; but, as usual, +Johnston overestimates our loss, putting it at six thousand, +whereas our entire loss was about twenty-five hundred, killed and +wounded. + +While the battle was in progress at the centre, Schofield crossed +Olley's Creek on the right, and gained a position threatening +Johnston's line of retreat; and, to increase the effect, I ordered +Stoneman's cavalry to proceed rapidly still farther to the right, +to Sweetwater. Satisfied of the bloody cost of attacking +intrenched lines, I at once thought of moving the whole army to the +railroad at a point (Fulton) about ten miles below Marietta, or to +the Chattahoochee River itself, a movement similar to the one +afterward so successfully practised at Atlanta. All the orders +were issued to bring forward supplies enough to fill our wagons, +intending to strip the railroad back to Allatoona, and leave that +place as our depot, to be covered as well as possible by Garrard's +cavalry. General Thomas, as usual, shook his head, deeming it +risky to leave the railroad; but something had to be done, and I +had resolved on this move, as reported in my dispatch to General +Halleck on July 1st: + +General Schofield is now south of Olley's Creek, and on the head of +Nickajack. I have been hurrying down provisions and forage, and +tomorrow night propose to move McPherson from the left to the +extreme right, back of General Thomas. This will bring my right +within three miles of the Chattahoochee River, and about five miles +from the railroad. By this movement I think I can force Johnston +to move his whole army down from Kenesaw to defend his railroad and +the Chattahoochee, when I will (by the left flank) reach the +railroad below Marietta; but in this I must cut loose from the +railroad with ten days' supplies in wagons. Johnston may come out +of his intrenchments to attack Thomas, which is exactly what I +want, for General Thomas is well intrenched on a line parallel with +the enemy south of Kenesaw. I think that Allatoona and the line of +the Etowah are strong enough for me to venture on this move. The +movement is substantially down the Sandtown road straight for +Atlanta. + +McPherson drew out of his lines during the night of July 2d, +leaving Garrard's cavalry, dismounted, occupying his trenches, and +moved to the rear of the Army of the Cumberland, stretching down +the Nickajack; but Johnston detected the movement, and promptly +abandoned Marietta and Kenesaw. I expected as much, for, by the +earliest dawn of the 3d of July, I was up at a large spy-glass +mounted on a tripod, which Colonel Poe, United States Engineers, +had at his bivouac close by our camp. I directed the glass on +Kenesaw, and saw some of our pickets crawling up the hill +cautiously; soon they stood upon the very top, and I could plainly +see their movements as they ran along the crest just abandoned by +the enemy. In a minute I roused my staff, and started them off +with orders in every direction for a pursuit by every possible +road, hoping to catch Johnston in the confusion of retreat, +especially at the crossing of the Chattahoochee River. + +I must close this chapter here, so as to give the actual losses +during June, which are compiled from the official returns by +months. These losses, from June 1st to July 3d, were all +substantially sustained about Kenesaw and Marietta, and it was +really a continuous battle, lasting from the 10th day of June till +the 3d of July, when the rebel army fell back from Marietta toward +the Chattahoochee River. Our losses were: + + Killed and Missing Wounded Total +Loss in June Aggregate 1,790 5,740 7,530 + + +Johnston makes his statement of losses from the report of his +surgeon Foard, for pretty much the same period, viz., from June 4th +to July 4th (page 576): + Killed Wounded Total + Total............ 468 3,480 3,948 + + +In the tabular statement the "missing" embraces the prisoners; and, +giving two thousand as a fair proportion of prisoners captured by +us for the month of June (twelve thousand nine hundred and +eighty-three in all the campaign), makes an aggregate loss in the +rebel army of fifty-nine hundred and forty-eight, to ours of +seventy-five hundred and thirty--a less proportion than in the +relative strength of our two armies, viz., as six to ten, thus +maintaining our relative superiority, which the desperate game +of war justified. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +ATLANTA CAMPAIGN--BATTLES ABOUT ATLANTA + +JULY, 1864. + + +As before explained, on the 3d of July, by moving McPherson's +entire army from the extreme left, at the base of Kenesaw to the +right, below Olley's Creek, and stretching it down the Nickajack +toward Turner's Ferry of the Chattahoochee, we forced Johnston to +choose between a direct assault on Thomas's intrenched position, or +to permit us to make a lodgment on his railroad below Marietta, or +even to cross the Chattahoochee. Of course, he chose to let go +Kenesaw and Marietta, and fall back on an intrenched camp prepared +by his orders in advance on the north and west bank of the +Chattahoochee, covering the railroad-crossing and his several +pontoon-bridges. I confess I had not learned beforehand of the +existence of this strong place, in the nature of a tete-du-pont, +and had counted on striking him an effectual blow in the expected +confusion of his crossing the Chattahoochee, a broad and deep river +then to his rear. Ordering every part of the army to pursue +vigorously on the morning of the 3d of July, I rode into Marietta, +just quitted by the rebel rear-guard, and was terribly angry at the +cautious pursuit by Garrard's cavalry, and even by the head of our +infantry columns. But Johnston had in advance cleared and +multiplied his roads, whereas ours had to cross at right angles +from the direction of Powder Springs toward Marrietta, producing +delay and confusion. By night Thomas's head of column ran up +against a strong rear-guard intrenched at Smyrna camp-ground, six +miles below Marietta, and there on the next day we celebrated our +Fourth of July, by a noisy but not a desperate battle, designed +chiefly to hold the enemy there till Generals McPherson and +Schofield could get well into position below him, near the +Chattahoochee crossings. + +It was here that General Noyes, late Governor of Ohio, lost his +leg. I came very near being shot myself while reconnoitring in the +second story of a house on our picket-line, which was struck +several times by cannon-shot, and perfectly riddled with +musket-balls. + +During the night Johnston drew back all his army and trains inside +the tete-du-pont at the Chattahoochee, which proved one of the +strongest pieces of field-fortification I ever saw. We closed up +against it, and were promptly met by a heavy and severe fire. +Thomas was on the main road in immediate pursuit; next on his right +was Schofield; and McPherson on the extreme right, reaching the +Chattahoochee River below Turner's Ferry. Stoneman's cavalry was +still farther to the right, along down the Chattahoochee River as +far as opposite Sandtown; and on that day I ordered Garrard's +division of cavalry up the river eighteen miles, to secure +possession of the factories at Roswell, as well as to hold an +important bridge and ford at that place. + +About three miles out from the Chattahoochee the main road forked, +the right branch following substantially the railroad, and the left +one leading straight for Atlanta, via Paice's Ferry and Buckhead. +We found the latter unoccupied and unguarded, and the Fourth Corps +(Howard's) reached the river at Paice's Ferry. The right-hand road +was perfectly covered by the tete-du-pont before described, where +the resistance was very severe, and for some time deceived me, for +I was pushing Thomas with orders to fiercely assault his enemy, +supposing that he was merely opposing us to gain time to get his +trains and troops across the Chattahoochee; but, on personally +reconnoitring, I saw the abatis and the strong redoubts, which +satisfied me of the preparations that had been made by Johnston in +anticipation of this very event. While I was with General Jeff. C. +Davis, a poor negro came out of the abatis, blanched with fright, +said he had been hidden under a log all day, with a perfect storm +of shot, shells, and musket-balls, passing over him, till a short +lull had enabled him to creep out and make himself known to our +skirmishers, who in turn had sent him back to where we were. This +negro explained that he with about a thousand slaves had been at +work a month or more on these very lines, which, as he explained, +extended from the river about a mile above the railroad-bridge to +Turner's Ferry below,--being in extent from five to six miles. + +Therefore, on the 5th of July we had driven our enemy to cover in +the valley of the Chattahoochee, and we held possession of the +river above for eighteen miles, as far as Roswell, and below ten +miles to the mouth of the Sweetwater. Moreover, we held the high +ground and could overlook his movements, instead of his looking +down on us, as was the case at Kenesaw. + +From a hill just back of Mining's Station I could see the houses in +Atlanta, nine miles distant, and the whole intervening valley of +the Chattahoochee; could observe the preparations for our reception +on the other side, the camps of men and large trains of covered +wagons; and supposed, as a matter of course, that Johnston had +passed the river with the bulk of his army, and that he had only +left on our side a corps to cover his bridges; but in fact he had +only sent across his cavalry and trains. Between Howard's corps at +Paice's Ferry and the rest of Thomas's army pressing up against +this tete-du-pont, was a space concealed by dense woods, in +crossing which I came near riding into a detachment of the enemy's +cavalry; and later in the same day Colonel Frank Sherman, of +Chicago, then on General Howard's staff, did actually ride straight +into the enemy's camp, supposing that our lines were continuous. +He was carried to Atlanta, and for some time the enemy supposed +they were in possession of the commander-in-chief of the opposing +army. + +I knew that Johnston would not remain long on the west bank of the +Chattahoochee, for I could easily practise on that ground to better +advantage our former tactics of intrenching a moiety in his front, +and with the rest of our army cross the river and threaten either +his rear or the city of Atlanta itself, which city was of vital +importance to the existence not only of his own army, but of the +Confederacy itself. In my dispatch of July 6th to General Halleck, +at Washington, I state that: + + +Johnston (in his retreat from Kenesaw) has left two breaks in the +railroad--one above Marietta and one near Mining's Station. The +former is already repaired, and Johnston's army has heard the sound +of our locomotives. The telegraph is finished to Mining's Station, +and the field-wire has just reached my bivouac, and will be ready +to convey this message as soon as it is written and translated into +cipher. + +I propose to study the crossings of the Chattahoochee, and, when +all is ready, to move quickly. As a beginning, I will keep the +troops and wagons well back from the river, and only display to the +enemy our picket-line, with a few field-batteries along at random. +I have already shifted Schofield to a point in our left rear, +whence he can in a single move reach the Chattahoochee at a point +above the railroad-bridge, where there is a ford. At present the +waters are turbid and swollen from recent rains; but if the present +hot weather lasts, the water will run down very fast. We have +pontoons enough for four bridges, but, as our crossing will be +resisted, we must manoeuvre some. All the regular crossing-places +are covered by forts, apparently of long construction; but we shall +cross in due time, and, instead of attacking Atlanta direct, or any +of its forts, I propose to make a circuit, destroying all its +railroads. This is a delicate movement, and must be done with +caution. Our army is in good condition and full of confidence; but +the weather is intensely hot, and a good many men have fallen with +sunstroke. The country is high and healthy, and the sanitary +condition of the army is good. + +At this time Stoneman was very active on our extreme right, +pretending to be searching the river below Turner's Ferry for a +crossing, and was watched closely by the enemy's cavalry on the +other side, McPherson, on the right, was equally demonstrative at +and near Turner's Ferry. Thomas faced substantially the intrenched +tete-du-pont, and had his left on the Chattahoochee River, at +Paice's Ferry. Garrard's cavalry was up at Roswell, and McCook's +small division of cavalry was intermediate, above Soap's Creek. +Meantime, also, the railroad-construction party was hard at work, +repairing the railroad up to our camp at Vining's Station. + +Of course, I expected every possible resistance in crossing the +Chattahoochee River, and had made up my mind to feign on the right, +but actually to cross over by the left. We had already secured a +crossing place at Roswell, but one nearer was advisable; General +Schofield had examined the river well, found a place just below the +mouth of Soap's Creek which he deemed advantageous, and was +instructed to effect an early crossing there, and to intrench a +good position on the other side, viz., the east bank. But, +preliminary thereto, I had ordered General Rousseau, at Nashville, +to collect, out of the scattered detachments of cavalry in +Tennessee, a force of a couple of thousand men, to rendezvous at +Decatur, Alabama, thence to make a rapid march for Opelika, to +break up the railroad links between Georgia and Alabama, and then +to make junction with me about Atlanta; or, if forced, to go on to +Pensacola, or even to swing across to some of our posts in +Mississippi. General Rousseau asked leave to command this +expedition himself, to which I consented, and on the 6th of July he +reported that he was all ready at Decatur, and I gave him orders to +start. He moved promptly on the 9th, crossed the Coosa below the +"Ten Islands" and the Tallapoosa below "Horseshoe Bend," having +passed through Talladega. He struck the railroad west of Opelika, +tore it up for twenty miles, then turned north and came to Marietta +on the 22d of July, whence he reported to me. This expedition was +in the nature of a raid, and must have disturbed the enemy +somewhat; but, as usual, the cavalry did not work hard, and their +destruction of the railroad was soon repaired. Rousseau, when he +reported to me in person before Atlanta, on the 28d of July, stated +his entire loss to have been only twelve killed and thirty wounded. +He brought in four hundred captured mules and three hundred horses, +and also told me a good story. He said he was far down in Alabama, +below Talladega, one hot, dusty day, when the blue clothing of his +men was gray with dust; he had halted his column along a road, and +he in person, with his staff, had gone to the house of a planter, +who met him kindly on the front-porch. He asked for water, which +was brought, and as the party sat on the porch in conversation he +saw, in a stable-yard across the road, quite a number of good +mules. He remarked to the planter, "My good sir, I fear I must take +some of your mules." The planter remonstrated, saying he had +already contributed liberally to the good cause; that it was only +last week he had given to General Roddy ten mules. Rousseau +replied, "Well, in this war you should be at least neutral--that +is, you should be as liberal to us as to Roddy" (a rebel cavalry +general). "Well, ain't you on our side?" "No," said Rousseau; "I +am General Rousseau, and all these men you see are Yanks." "Great +God! is it possible! Are these Yanks! Who ever supposed they +would come away down here in Alabama?" Of course, Rousseau took +his ten mules. + +Schofield effected his crossing at Soap's Creek very handsomely on +the 9th, capturing the small guard that was watching the crossing. +By night he was on the high ground beyond, strongly intrenched, +with two good pontoon-bridges finished, and was prepared, if +necessary, for an assault by the whole Confederate army. The same +day Garrard's cavalry also crossed over at Roswell, drove away the +cavalry-pickets, and held its ground till relieved by Newton's +division of Howard's corps, which was sent up temporarily, till it +in turn was relieved by Dodge's corps (Sixteenth) of the Army of +the Tennessee, which was the advance of the whole of that army. + +That night Johnston evacuated his trenches, crossed over the +Chattahoochee, burned the railroad bridge and his pontoon and +trestle bridges, and left us in full possession of the north or +west bank-besides which, we had already secured possession of the +two good crossings at Roswell and Soap's Creek. I have always +thought Johnston neglected his opportunity there, for he had lain +comparatively idle while we got control of both banks of the river +above him. + +On the 13th I ordered McPherson, with the Fifteenth Corps, to move +up to Roswell, to cross over, prepare good bridges, and to make a +strong tete-du-pont on the farther side. Stoneman had been sent +down to Campbellton, with orders to cross over and to threaten the +railroad below Atlanta, if he could do so without too much risk; +and General Blair, with the Seventeenth Corps, was to remain at +Turner's Ferry, demonstrating as much as possible, thus keeping up +the feint below while we were actually crossing above. Thomas was +also ordered to prepare his bridges at Powers's and Paice's +Ferries. By crossing the Chattahoochee above the railroad bridge, +we were better placed to cover our railroad and depots than below, +though a movement across the river below the railroad, to the south +of Atlanta, might have been more decisive. But we were already so +far from home, and would be compelled to accept battle whenever +offered, with the Chattahoochee to our rear, that it became +imperative for me to take all prudential measures the case admitted +of, and I therefore determined to pass the river above the +railroad-bridge-McPherson on the left, Schofield in the centre, +and Thomas on the right. On the 13th I reported to General Halleck +as follows: + + +All is well. I have now accumulated stores at Allatoona and +Marietta, both fortified and garrisoned points. Have also three +places at which to cross the Chattahoochee in our possession, and +only await General Stoneman's return from a trip down the river, to +cross the army in force and move on Atlanta. + +Stoneman is now out two days, and had orders to be back on the +fourth or fifth day at furthest. + + +From the 10th to the 15th we were all busy in strengthening the +several points for the proposed passage of the Chattahoochee, in +increasing the number and capacity of the bridges, rearranging the +garrisons to our rear, and in bringing forward supplies. On the +15th General Stoneman got back to Powder Springs, and was ordered +to replace General Blair at Turner's Ferry, and Blair, with the +Seventeenth Corps, was ordered up to Roswell to join McPherson. On +the 17th we began the general movement against Atlanta, Thomas +crossing the Chattahoochee at Powers's and Paice's, by pontoon- +bridges; Schofield moving out toward Cross Keys, and McPherson +toward Stone Mountain. We encountered but little opposition except +by cavalry. On the 18th all the armies moved on a general right +wheel, Thomas to Buckhead, forming line of battle facing +Peach-Tree Creek; Schofield was on his left, and McPherson well +over toward the railroad between Stone Mountain and Decatur, which +he reached at 2 p.m. of that day, about four miles from Stone +Mountain, and seven miles east of Decatur, and there he turned +toward Atlanta, breaking up the railroad as he progressed, his +advance-guard reaching Ecatur about night, where he came into +communication with Schofield's troops, which had also reached +Decatur. About 10 A.M. of that day (July 18th), when the armies +were all in motion, one of General Thomas's staff-officers brought +me a citizen, one of our spies, who had just come out of Atlanta, +and had brought a newspaper of the same day, or of the day before, +containing Johnston's order relinquishing the command of the +Confederate forces in Atlanta, and Hood's order assuming the +command. I immediately inquired of General Schofield, who was his +classmate at West Point, about Hood, as to his general character, +etc., and learned that he was bold even to rashness, and courageous +in the extreme; I inferred that the change of commanders meant +"fight." Notice of this important change was at once sent to all +parts of the army, and every division commander was cautioned to be +always prepared for battle in any shape. This was just what we +wanted, viz., to fight in open ground, on any thing like equal +terms, instead of being forced to run up against prepared +intrenchments; but, at the same time, the enemy having Atlanta +behind him, could choose the time and place of attack, and could at +pleasure mass a superior force on our weakest points. Therefore, +we had to be constantly ready for sallies. + +On the 19th the three armies were converging toward Atlanta, +meeting such feeble resistance that I really thought the enemy +intended to evacuate the place. McPherson was moving astride of +the railroad, near Decatur; Schofield along a road leading toward +Atlanta, by Colonel Howard's house and the distillery; and Thomas +was crossing "Peach-Tree" in line of battle, building bridges for +nearly every division as deployed. There was quite a gap between +Thomas and Schofield, which I endeavored to close by drawing two of +Howard's divisions nearer Schofield. On the 20th I was with +General Schofield near the centre, and soon after noon heard heavy +firing in front of Thomas's right, which lasted an hour or so, and +then ceased. + +I soon learned that the enemy had made a furious sally, the blow +falling on Hooker's corps (the Twentieth), and partially on +Johnson's division of the Fourteenth, and Newton's of the Fourth. +The troops had crossed Peach-Tree Creek, were deployed, but at the +time were resting for noon, when, without notice, the enemy came +pouring out of their trenches down upon them, they became +commingled, and fought in many places hand to hand. General Thomas +happened to be near the rear of Newton's division, and got some +field-batteries in a good position, on the north side of Peach-Tree +Creek, from which he directed a furious fire on a mass of the +enemy, which was passing around Newton's left and exposed flank. +After a couple of hours of hard and close conflict, the enemy +retired slowly within his trenches, leaving his dead and many +wounded on the field. Johnson's and Newton's losses were light, for +they had partially covered their fronts with light parapet; but +Hooker's whole corps fought in open ground, and lost about fifteen +hundred men. He reported four hundred rebel dead left on the +ground, and that the rebel wounded would number four thousand; but +this was conjectural, for most of them got back within their own +lines. We had, however, met successfully a bold sally, had +repelled it handsomely, and were also put on our guard; and the +event illustrated the future tactics of our enemy. This sally came +from the Peach-Tree line, which General Johnston had carefully +prepared in advance, from which to fight us outside of Atlanta. We +then advanced our lines in compact order, close up to these +finished intrenchments, overlapping them on our left. From various +parts of our lines the houses inside of Atlanta were plainly +visible, though between us were the strong parapets, with ditch, +fraise, chevaux-de-frise, and abatis, prepared long in advance by +Colonel Jeremy F. Gilmer, formerly of the United States Engineers. +McPherson had the Fifteenth Corps astride the Augusta Railroad, and +the Seventeenth deployed on its left. Schofield was next on his +right, then came Howard's, Hooker's, and Palmer's corps, on the +extreme right. Each corps was deployed with strong reserves, and +their trains were parked to their rear. McPherson's trains were in +Decatur, guarded by a brigade commanded by Colonel Sprague of the +Sixty-third Ohio. The Sixteenth Corps (Dodge's) was crowded out of +position on the right of McPherson's line, by the contraction of +the circle of investment; and, during the previous afternoon, the +Seventeenth Corps (Blair's) had pushed its operations on the +farther side of the Augusta Railroad, so as to secure possession of +a hill, known as Leggett's Hill, which Leggett's and Force's +divisions had carried by assault. Giles A. Smith's division was on +Leggett's left, deployed with a weak left flank "in air," in +military phraseology. The evening before General Gresham, a great +favorite, was badly wounded; and there also Colonel Tom Reynolds, +now of Madison, Wisconsin, was shot through the leg. When the +surgeons were debating the propriety of amputating it in his +hearing, he begged them to spare the leg, as it was very valuable, +being an "imported leg." He was of Irish birth, and this +well-timed piece of wit saved his leg, for the surgeons thought, if +he could perpetrate a joke at such a time, they would trust to his +vitality to save his limb. + +During the night, I had full reports from all parts of our line, +most of which was partially intrenched as against a sally, and +finding that McPherson was stretching out too much on his left +flank, I wrote him a note early in the morning not to extend so +much by his left; for we had not troops enough to completely invest +the place, and I intended to destroy utterly all parts of the +Augusta Railroad to the east of Atlanta, then to withdraw from the +left flank and add to the right. In that letter I ordered +McPherson not to extend any farther to the left, but to employ +General Dodge's corps (Sixteenth), then forced out of position, to +destroy every rail and tie of the railroad, from Decatur up to his +skirmish-line, and I wanted him (McPherson) to be ready, as soon as +General Garrard returned from Covington (whither I had sent him), +to move to the extreme right of Thomas, so as to reach if possible +the railroad below Atlanta, viz., the Macon road. In the morning +we found the strong line of parapet, "Peach-Tree line," to the +front of Schofield and Thomas, abandoned, and our lines were +advanced rapidly close up to Atlanta. For some moments I supposed +the enemy intended to evacuate, and in person was on horseback at +the head of Schofield's troops, who had advanced in front of the +Howard House to some open ground, from which we could plainly see +the whole rebel line of parapets, and I saw their men dragging up +from the intervening valley, by the distillery, trees and saplings +for abatis. Our skirmishers found the enemy down in this valley, +and we could see the rebel main line strongly manned, with guns in +position at intervals. Schofield was dressing forward his lines, +and I could hear Thomas farther to the right engaged, when General +McPherson and his staff rode up. We went back to the Howard House, +a double frame-building with a porch, and sat on the steps, +discussing the chances of battle, and of Hood's general character. +McPherson had also been of the same class at West Point with Hood, +Schofield, and Sheridan. We agreed that we ought to be unusually +cautious and prepared at all times for sallies and for hard +fighting, because Hood, though not deemed much of a scholar, or of +great mental capacity, was undoubtedly a brave, determined, and +rash man; and the change of commanders at that particular crisis +argued the displeasure of the Confederate Government with the +cautious but prudent conduct of General Jos. Johnston. + +McPherson was in excellent spirits, well pleased at the progress of +events so far, and had come over purposely to see me about the +order I had given him to use Dodge's corps to break up the +railroad, saying that the night before he had gained a position on +Leggett's Hill from which he could look over the rebel parapet, and +see the high smoke-stack of a large foundery in Atlanta; that +before receiving my order he had diverted Dodge's two divisions +(then in motion) from the main road, along a diagonal one that led +to his extreme left flank, then held by Giles A. Smith's division +(Seventeenth Corps), for the purpose of strengthening that flank; +and that he had sent some intrenching-tools there, to erect some +batteries from which he intended to knock down that foundery, and +otherwise to damage the buildings inside of Atlanta. He said he +could put all his pioneers to work, and do with them in the time +indicated all I had proposed to do with General Dodge's two +divisions. Of course I assented at once, and we walked down the +road a short distance, sat down by the foot of a tree where I had +my map, and on it pointed out to him Thomas's position and his own. +I then explained minutely that, after we had sufficiently broken up +the Augusta road, I wanted to shift his whole army around by the +rear to Thomas's extreme right, and hoped thus to reach the other +railroad at East Point. While we sat there we could hear lively +skirmishing going on near us (down about the distillery), and +occasionally round-shot from twelve or twenty-four pound guns came +through the trees in reply to those of Schofield, and we could hear +similar sounds all along down the lines of Thomas to our right, and +his own to the left; but presently the firing appeared a little +more brisk (especially over about Giles G. Smith's division), and +then we heard an occasional gun back toward Decatur. I asked him +what it meant. We took my pocket-compass (which I always carried), +and by noting the direction of the sound, we became satisfied that +the firing was too far to our left rear to be explained by known +facts, and he hastily called for his horse, his staff, and his +orderlies. + +McPherson was then in his prime (about thirty-four years old), over +six feet high, and a very handsome man in every way, was +universally liked, and had many noble qualities. He had on his +boots outside his pantaloons, gauntlets on his hands, had on his +major-general's uniform, and wore a sword-belt, but no sword. He +hastily gathered his papers (save one, which I now possess) into a +pocket-book, put it in his breast-pocket, and jumped on his horse, +saying he would hurry down his line and send me back word what +these sounds meant. His adjutant-general, Clark, Inspector-General +Strong, and his aides, Captains Steele and Gile, were with him. +Although the sound of musketry on our left grew in volume, I was +not so much disturbed by it as by the sound of artillery back +toward Decatur. I ordered Schofield at once to send a brigade back +to Decatur (some five miles) and was walking up and down the porch +of the Howard House, listening, when one of McPherson's staff, with +his horse covered with sweat, dashed up to the porch, and reported +that General McPherson was either "killed or a prisoner." He +explained that when they had left me a few minutes before, they had +ridden rapidly across to the railroad, the sounds of battle +increasing as they neared the position occupied by General Giles A. +Smith's division, and that McPherson had sent first one, then +another of his staff to bring some of the reserve brigades of the +Fifteenth Corps over to the exposed left flank; that he had reached +the head of Dodge's corps (marching by the flank on the diagonal +road as described), and had ordered it to hurry forward to the same +point; that then, almost if not entirely alone, he had followed +this road leading across the wooded valley behind the Seventeenth +Corps, and had disappeared in these woods, doubtless with a sense +of absolute security. The sound of musketry was there heard, and +McPherson's horse came back, bleeding, wounded, and riderless. I +ordered the staff-officer who brought this message to return at +once, to find General Logan (the senior officer present with the +Army of the Tennessee), to report the same facts to him, and to +instruct him to drive back this supposed small force, which had +evidently got around the Seventeenth Corps through the blind woods +in rear of our left flank. I soon dispatched one of my own staff +(McCoy, I think) to General Logan with similar orders, telling him +to refuse his left flank, and to fight the battle (holding fast to +Leggett's Hill) with the Army of the Tennessee; that I would +personally look to Decatur and to the safety of his rear, and would +reenforce him if he needed it. I dispatched orders to General +Thomas on our right, telling him of this strong sally, and my +inference that the lines in his front had evidently been weakened +by reason thereof, and that he ought to take advantage of the +opportunity to make a lodgment in Atlanta, if possible. + +Meantime the sounds of the battle rose on our extreme left more and +more furious, extending to the place where I stood, at the Howard +House. Within an hour an ambulance came in (attended by Colonels +Clark and Strong, and Captains Steele and Gile), bearing +McPherson's body. I had it carried inside of the Howard House, and +laid on a door wrenched from its hinges. Dr. Hewitt, of the army, +was there, and I asked him to examine the wound. He opened the +coat and shirt, saw where the ball had entered and where it came +out, or rather lodged under the skin, and he reported that +McPherson must have died in a few seconds after being hit; that the +ball had ranged upward across his body, and passed near the heart. +He was dressed just as he left me, with gauntlets and boots on, but +his pocket-book was gone. On further inquiry I learned that his +body must have been in possession of the enemy some minutes, during +which time it was rifled of the pocket-book, and I was much +concerned lest the letter I had written him that morning should +have fallen into the hands of some one who could read and +understand its meaning. Fortunately the spot in the woods where +McPherson was shot was regained by our troops in a few minutes, and +the pocket-book found in the haversack of a prisoner of war +captured at the time, and it and its contents were secured by one +of McPherson's staff. + +While we were examining the body inside the house, the battle was +progressing outside, and many shots struck the building, which I +feared would take fire; so I ordered Captains Steele and Gile to +carry the body to Marietta. They reached that place the same +night, and, on application, I ordered his personal staff to go on +and escort the body to his home, in Clyde, Ohio, where it was +received with great honor, and it is now buried in a small +cemetery, close by his mother's house, which cemetery is composed +in part of the family orchard, in which he used to play when a boy. +The foundation is ready laid for the equestrian monument now in +progress, under the auspices of the Society of the Army of the +Tennessee. + +The reports that came to me from all parts of the field revealed +clearly what was the game of my antagonist, and the ground somewhat +favored him. The railroad and wagon-road from Decatur to Atlanta +lie along the summit, from which the waters flow, by short, steep +valleys, into the "Peach-Tree" and Chattahoochee, to the west, and +by other valleys, of gentler declivity, toward the east (Ocmulgee). +The ridges and level ground were mostly cleared, and had been +cultivated as corn or cotton fields; but where the valleys were +broken, they were left in a state of nature--wooded, and full of +undergrowth. McPherson's line of battle was across this railroad, +along a general ridge, with a gentle but cleared valley to his +front, between him and the defenses of Atlanta; and another valley, +behind him, was clear of timber in part, but to his left rear the +country was heavily wooded. Hood, during the night of July 21st, +had withdrawn from his Peach-Tree line, had occupied the fortified +line of Atlanta, facing north and east, with Stewart's--formerly +Polk's--corps and part of Hardee's, and with G. W. Smith's division +of militia. His own corps, and part of Hardee's, had marched out +to the road leading from McDonough to Decatur, and had turned so as +to strike the left and, rear of McPherson's line "in air." At the +same time he had sent Wheeler's division of cavalry against the +trains parked in Decatur. Unluckily for us, I had sent away the +whole of Garrard's division of cavalry during the night of the +20th, with orders to proceed to Covington, thirty miles east, to +burn two important bridges across the Ulcofauhatchee and Yellow +Rivers, to tear up the railroad, to damage it as much as possible +from Stone Mountain eastward, and to be gone four days; so that +McPherson had no cavalry in hand to guard that flank. + +The enemy was therefore enabled, under cover or the forest, to +approach quite near before he was discovered; indeed, his +skirmish-line had worked through the timber and got into the field to +the rear of Giles A. Smith's division of the Seventeenth Corps +unseen, had captured Murray's battery of regular artillery, moving +through these woods entirely unguarded, and had got possession of +several of the hospital camps. The right of this rebel line struck +Dodge's troops in motion; but, fortunately, this corps (Sixteenth) +had only to halt, face to the left, and was in line of battle; and +this corps not only held in check the enemy, but drove him back +through the woods. About the same time this same force had struck +General Giles A. Smith's left flank, doubled it back, captured four +guns in position and the party engaged in building the very battery +which was the special object of McPherson's visit to me, and almost +enveloped the entire left flank. The men, however, were skillful and +brave, and fought for a time with their backs to Atlanta. They +gradually fell back, compressing their own line, and gaining strength +by making junction with Leggett's division of the Seventeenth Corps, +well and strongly posted on the hill. One or two brigades of the +Fifteenth Corps, ordered by McPherson, came rapidly across the open +field to the rear, from the direction of the railroad, filled up the +gap from Blair's new left to the head of Dodge's column--now facing +to the general left--thus forming a strong left flank, at right +angles to the original line of battle. The enemy attacked, boldly and +repeatedly, the whole of this flank, but met an equally fierce +resistance; and on that ground a bloody battle raged from little +after noon till into the night. A part of Hood's plan of action was +to sally from Atlanta at the same moment; but this sally was not, for +some reason, simultaneous, for the first attack on our extreme left +flank had been checked and repulsed before the sally came from the +direction of Atlanta. Meantime, Colonel Sprague, in Decatur, had got +his teams harnessed up, and safely conducted his train to the rear of +Schofield's position, holding in check Wheeler's cavalry till he had +got off all his trains, with the exception of three or four wagons. +I remained near the Howard House, receiving reports and sending +orders, urging Generals Thomas and Schofield to take advantage of the +absence from their front of so considerable a body as was evidently +engaged on our left, and, if possible, to make a lodgment in Atlanta +itself; but they reported that the lines to their front, at all +accessible points, were strong, by nature and by art, and were fully +manned. About 4 p.m. the expected, sally came from Atlanta, directed +mainly against Leggett's Hill and along the Decatur road. At +Leggett's Hill they were met and bloodily repulsed. Along the +railroad they were more successful. Sweeping over a small force with +two guns, they reached our main line, broke through it, and got +possession of De Gress's battery of four twenty-pound Parrotts, +killing every horse, and turning the guns against us. General +Charles R. Wood's division of the Fifteenth Corps was on the extreme +right of the Army of the Tennessee, between the railroad and the +Howard House, where he connected with Schofield's troops. He +reported to me in person that the line on his left had been swept +back, and that his connection with General Logan, on Leggett's Hill, +was broken. I ordered him to wheel his brigades to the left, to +advance in echelon, and to catch the enemy in flank. General +Schofield brought forward all his available batteries, to the number +of twenty guns, to a position to the left front of the Howard House, +whence we could overlook the field of action, and directed a heavy +fire over the heads of General Wood's men against the enemy; and we +saw Wood's troops advance and encounter the enemy, who had secured +possession of the old line of parapet which had been held by our men. +His right crossed this parapet, which he swept back, taking it in +flank; and, at the same time, the division which had been driven back +along the railroad was rallied by General Logan in person, and fought +for their former ground. These combined forces drove the enemy into +Atlanta, recovering the twenty pound Parrott guns but one of them was +found "bursted" while in the possession of the enemy. The two +six-pounders farther in advance were, however, lost, and had been +hauled back by the enemy into Atlanta. Poor Captain de Gress came to +me in tears, lamenting the loss of his favorite guns; when they were +regained he had only a few men left, and not a single horse. He asked +an order for a reequipment, but I told him he must beg and borrow of +others till he could restore his battery, now reduced to three guns. +How he did so I do not know, but in a short time he did get horses, +men, and finally another gun, of the same special pattern, and served +them with splendid effect till the very close of the war. This +battery had also been with me from Shiloh till that time. + +The battle of July 22d is usually called the battle of Atlanta. It +extended from the Howard House to General Giles A. Smith's +position, about a mile beyond the Augusta Railroad, and then back +toward Decatur, the whole extent of ground being fully seven miles. +In part the ground was clear and in part densely wooded. I rode +over the whole of it the next day, and it bore the marks of a +bloody conflict. The enemy had retired during the night inside of +Atlanta, and we remained masters of the situation outside. I +purposely allowed the Army of the Tennessee to fight this battle +almost unaided, save by demonstrations on the part of General +Schofield and Thomas against the fortified lines to their immediate +fronts, and by detaching, as described, one of Schofield's brigades +to Decatur, because I knew that the attacking force could only be a +part of Hood's army, and that, if any assistance were rendered by +either of the other armies, the Army of the Tennessee would be +jealous. Nobly did they do their work that day, and terrible was +the slaughter done to our enemy, though at sad cost to ourselves, +as shown by the following reports: + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD NEAR ATLANTA, July 23,1864. + +General HALLECK, Washington, D. C. + +Yesterday morning the enemy fell back to the intrenchments proper +of the city of Atlanta, which are in a general circle, with a +radius of one and a half miles, and we closed in. While we were +forming our lines, and selecting positions for our batteries, the +enemy appeared suddenly out of the dense woods in heavy masses on +our extreme left, and struck the Seventeenth Corps (General Blair) +in flank, and was forcing it back, when the Sixteenth Corps +(General Dodge) came up and checked the movement, but the enemy's +cavalry got well to our rear, and into Decatur, and for some hours +our left flank was completely enveloped. The fight that resulted +was continuous until night, with heavy loss on both sides. The +enemy took one of our batteries (Murray's, of the Regular Army) +that was marching in its place in column in the road, unconscious +of danger. About 4 p.m. the enemy sallied against the division of +General Morgan L. Smith, of the Fifteenth Corps, which occupied an +abandoned line of rifle-trench near the railroad east of the city, +and forced it back some four hundred yards, leaving in his hands +for the time two batteries, but the ground and batteries were +immediately after recovered by the same troops reenforced. I +cannot well approximate our loss, which fell heavily on the +Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps, but count it as three thousand; I +know that, being on the defensive, we have inflicted equally heavy +loss on the enemy. + +General McPherson, when arranging his troops about 11.00 A.M., and +passing from one column to another, incautiously rode upon an +ambuscade without apprehension, at some distance ahead of his staff +and orderlies, and was shot dead. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD NEAR ATLANTA, July 26,1864. + +Major-General HALLECK, Washington, D. C. + +GENERAL: I find it difficult to make prompt report of results, +coupled with some data or information, without occasionally making +mistakes. McPherson's sudden death, and Logan succeeding to the +command as it were in the midst of battle, made some confusion on +our extreme left; but it soon recovered and made sad havoc with the +enemy, who had practised one of his favorite games of attacking our +left when in motion, and before it had time to cover its weak +flank. After riding over the ground and hearing the varying +statements of the actors, I directed General Logan to make an +official report of the actual result, and I herewith inclose it. + +Though the number of dead rebels seems excessive, I am disposed to +give full credit to the report that our loss, though only +thirty-five hundred and twenty-one killed, wounded, and missing, the +enemy's dead alone on the field nearly equaled that number, viz., +thirty-two hundred and twenty. Happening at that point of the line +when a flag of truce was sent in to ask permission for each party to +bury its dead, I gave General Logan authority to permit a temporary +truce on that flank alone, while our labors and fighting proceeded at +all others. + +I also send you a copy of General Garrard's report of the breaking +of the railroad toward Augusta. I am now grouping my command to +attack the Macon road, and with that view will intrench a strong +line of circumvallation with flanks, so as to have as large an +infantry column as possible, with all the cavalry to swing round to +the south and east, to strike that road at or below East Point. + +I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE +BEFORE ATLANTA GEORGIA, July 24, 1864 + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Military Division of the +Mississippi. + +GENERAL: I have the honor to report the following general summary +of the result of the attack of the enemy on this army on the 22d +inst. + +Total loss, killed, wounded, and missing, thirty-five hundred and +twenty-one, and ten pieces of artillery. + +We have buried and delivered to the enemy, under a flag of truce +sent in by them, in front of the Third Division, Seventeenth Corps, +one thousand of their killed. + +The number of their dead in front of the Fourth Division of the +same corps, including those on the ground not now occupied by our +troops, General Blair reports, will swell the number of their dead +on his front to two thousand. + +The number of their dead buried in front of the Fifteenth Corps, up +to this hour, is three hundred and sixty, and the commanding +officer reports that at least as many more are yet unburied; +burying-parties being still at work. + +The number of dead buried in front of the Sixteenth Corps is four +hundred and twenty-two. We have over one thousand of their wounded +in our hands, the larger number of the wounded being carried off +during the night, after the engagement, by them. + +We captured eighteen stands of colors, and have them now. We also +captured five thousand stands of arms. + +The attack was made on our lines seven times, and was seven times +repulsed. Hood's and Hardee's corps and Wheeler's cavalry engaged +us. + +We have sent to the rear one thousand prisoners, including +thirty-three commissioned officers of high rank. + +We still occupy the field, and the troops are in fine spirits. A +detailed and full report will be furnished as soon as completed. + +Recapitulation. + +Our total loss............................ 3,521 +Enemy's dead, thus far reported, buried, +and delivered to them..................... 3,220 +Total prisoners sent North................ 1,017 +Total prisoners, wounded, in our hands.... 1,000 +Estimated loss of the enemy, at least.... 10,000 + +Very respectfully, your obedient servant, +Joan A. Logan, Major-General. + + +On the 22d of July General Rousseau reached Marietta, having +returned from his raid on the Alabama road at Opelika, and on the +next day General Garrard also returned from Covington, both having +been measurably successful. The former was about twenty-five +hundred strong, the latter about four thousand, and both reported +that their horses were jaded and tired, needing shoes and rest. +But, about this time, I was advised by General Grant (then +investing Richmond) that the rebel Government had become aroused to +the critical condition of things about Atlanta, and that I must +look out for Hood being greatly reenforced. I therefore was +resolved to push matters, and at once set about the original +purpose of transferring the whole of the Army of the Tennessee to +our right flank, leaving Schofield to stretch out so as to rest his +left on the Augusta road, then torn up for thirty miles eastward; +and, as auxiliary thereto, I ordered all the cavalry to be ready to +pass around Atlanta on both flanks, to break up the Macon road at +some point below, so as to cut off all supplies to the rebel army +inside, and thus to force it to evacuate, or come out and fight us +on equal terms. + +But it first became necessary to settle the important question of +who should succeed General McPherson? General Logan had taken +command of the Army of the Tennessee by virtue of his seniority, +and had done well; but I did not consider him equal to the command +of three corps. Between him and General Blair there existed a +natural rivalry. Both were men of great courage and talent, but +were politicians by nature and experience, and it may be that for +this reason they were mistrusted by regular officers like Generals +Schofield, Thomas, and myself. It was all-important that there +should exist a perfect understanding among the army commanders, and +at a conference with General George H. Thomas at the headquarters +of General Thomas J. Woods, commanding a division in the Fourth +Corps, he (Thomas) remonstrated warmly against my recommending that +General Logan should be regularly assigned to the command of the +Army of the Tennessee by reason of his accidental seniority. We +discussed fully the merits and qualities of every officer of high +rank in the army, and finally settled on Major-General O. O. Howard +as the best officer who was present and available for the purpose; +on the 24th of July I telegraphed to General Halleck this +preference, and it was promptly ratified by the President. General +Howard's place in command of the Fourth Corps was filled by General +Stanley, one of his division commanders, on the recommendation of +General Thomas. All these promotions happened to fall upon +West-Pointers, and doubtless Logan and Blair had some reason to +believe that we intended to monopolize the higher honors of the war +for the regular officers. I remember well my own thoughts and +feelings at the time, and feel sure that I was not intentionally +partial to any class, I wanted to succeed in taking Atlanta, and +needed commanders who were purely and technically soldiers, men who +would obey orders and execute them promptly and on time; for I knew +that we would have to execute some most delicate manoeuvres, +requiring the utmost skill, nicety, and precision. I believed that +General Howard would do all these faithfully and well, and I think +the result has justified my choice. I regarded both Generals Logan +and Blair as "volunteers," that looked to personal fame and glory +as auxiliary and secondary to their political ambition, and not as +professional soldiers. + +As soon as it was known that General Howard had been chosen to +command the Army of the Tennessee; General Hooker applied to +General Thomas to be relieved of the command of the Twentieth +Corps, and General Thomas forwarded his application to me approved +and heartily recommended. I at once telegraphed to General +Halleck, recommending General Slocum (then at Vicksburg) to be his +successor, because Slocum had been displaced from the command of +his corps at the time when the Eleventh and Twelfth were united and +made the Twentieth. + +General Hooker was offended because he was not chosen to succeed +McPherson; but his chances were not even considered; indeed, I had +never been satisfied with him since his affair at the Gulp House, +and had been more than once disposed to relieve him of his corps, +because of his repeated attempts to interfere with Generals +McPherson and Schofield. I had known Hooker since 1836, and was +intimately associated with him in California, where we served +together on the staff of General Persifer F. Smith. He had come to +us from the East with a high reputation as a "fighter," which he +had fully justified at Chattanooga and Peach-Tree Creek; at which +latter battle I complimented him on the field for special +gallantry, and afterward in official reports. Still, I did feel a +sense of relief when he left us. We were then two hundred and +fifty miles in advance of our base, dependent on a single line of +railroad for our daily food. We had a bold, determined foe in our +immediate front, strongly intrenched, with communication open to +his rear for supplies and reenforcements, and every soldier +realized that we had plenty of hard fighting ahead, and that all +honors had to be fairly earned. + +Until General Slocum joined (in the latter part of August), the +Twentieth Corps was commanded by General A. S. Williams, the senior +division commander present. On the 25th of July the army, +therefore, stood thus: the Army of the Tennessee (General O. O. +Howard commanding) was on the left, pretty much on the same ground +it had occupied during the battle of the 22d, all ready to move +rapidly by the rear to the extreme right beyond Proctor's Creek; +the Army of the Ohio (General Schofield) was next in order, with +its left flank reaching the Augusta Railroad; next in order, +conforming closely with the rebel intrenchments of Atlanta, was +General Thomas's Army of the Cumberland, in the order of--the +Fourth Corps (Stanley's), the Twentieth Corps (Williams's), and the +Fourteenth Corps (Palmer's). Palmer's right division (Jefferson C. +Davis's) was strongly refused along Proctor's Creek. This line was +about five miles long, and was intrenched as against a sally about +as strong as was our enemy. The cavalry was assembled in two +strong divisions; that of McCook (including the brigade of Harrison +which had been brought in from Opelika by General Rousseau) +numbered about thirty-five hundred effective cavalry, and was +posted to our right rear, at Turner's Ferry, where we had a good +pontoon-bridge; and to our left rear, at and about Decatur, were +the two cavalry divisions of Stoneman, twenty-five hundred, and +Garrard, four thousand, united for the time and occasion under the +command of Major-General George Stoneman, a cavalry-officer of high +repute. My plan of action was to move the Army of the Tennessee to +the right rapidly and boldly against the railroad below Atlanta, +and at the same time to send all the cavalry around by the right +and left to make a lodgment on the Macon road about Jonesboro. + +All the orders were given, and the morning of the 27th was fixed +for commencing the movement. On the 26th I received from General +Stoneman a note asking permission (after having accomplished his +orders to break up the railroad at Jonesboro) to go on to Macon to +rescue our prisoners of war known to be held there, and then to +push on to Andersonville, where was the great depot of Union +prisoners, in which were penned at one time as many as twenty-three +thousand of our men, badly fed and harshly treated. I wrote him an +answer consenting substantially to his proposition, only modifying +it by requiring him to send back General Garrard's division to its +position on our left flank after he had broken up the railroad at +Jonesboro. Promptly, and on time, all got off, and General Dodge's +corps (the Sixteenth, of the Army of the Tennessee) reached its +position across Proctor's Creek the same evening, and early the +next morning (the 28th) Blair's corps (the Seventeenth) deployed on +his right, both corps covering their front with the usual parapet; +the Fifteenth Corps (General Logan's) came up that morning on the +right of Blair, strongly refused, and began to prepare the usual +cover. As General Jeff. C. Davis's division was, as it were, left +out of line, I ordered it on the evening before to march down +toward Turner's Ferry, and then to take a road laid down on our +maps which led from there toward East Point, ready to engage any +enemy that might attack our general right flank, after the same +manner as had been done to the left flank on the 22d. + +Personally on the morning of the 28th I followed the movement, and +rode to the extreme right, where we could hear some skirmishing and +an occasional cannon-shot. As we approached the ground held by the +Fifteenth Corps, a cannon-ball passed over my shoulder and killed +the horse of an orderly behind; and seeing that this gun enfiladed +the road by which we were riding, we turned out of it and rode down +into a valley, where we left our horses and walked up to the hill +held by Morgan L. Smith's division of the Fifteenth Corps. Near a +house I met Generals Howard and Logan, who explained that there was +an intrenched battery to their front, with the appearance of a +strong infantry support. I then walked up to the ridge, where I +found General Morgan L. Smith. His men were deployed and engaged +in rolling logs and fence-rails, preparing a hasty cover. From +this ridge we could overlook the open fields near a meeting-house +known as "Ezra Church," close by the Poor-House. We could see the +fresh earth of a parapet covering some guns (that fired an +occasional shot), and there was also an appearance of activity +beyond. General Smith was in the act of sending forward a regiment +from, his right flank to feel the position of the enemy, when I +explained to him and to Generals Logan and Howard that they must +look out for General Jeff. C. Davis's division, which was coming +up from the direction of Turner's Ferry. + +As the skirmish-fire warmed up along the front of Blair's corps, as +well as along the Fifteenth Corps (Logan's), I became convinced +that Hood designed to attack this right flank, to prevent, if +possible, the extension of our line in that direction. I regained +my horse, and rode rapidly back to see that Davis's division had +been dispatched as ordered. I found General Davis in person, who +was unwell, and had sent his division that morning early, under the +command of his senior brigadier, Morgan; but, as I attached great +importance to the movement, he mounted his horse, and rode away to +overtake and to hurry forward the movement, so as to come up on the +left rear of the enemy, during the expected battle. + +By this time the sound of cannon and musketry denoted a severe +battle as in progress, which began seriously at 11.30 a.m., and +ended substantially by 4 p.m. It was a fierce attack by the enemy +on our extreme right flank, well posted and partially covered. The +most authentic account of the battle is given by General Logan, who +commanded the Fifteenth Corps, in his official report to the +Adjutant-General of the Army of the Tennessee, thus: + + +HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS +BEFORE ATLANTA, GEORGIA, July 29, 1864 + +Lieutenant-Colonel WILLIAM T. CLARK, Assistant Adjutant-General, +Army of the Tennessee, present. + +COLONEL: I have the honor to report that, in pursuance of orders, I +moved my command into position on the right of the Seventeenth +Corps, which was the extreme right of the army in the field, during +the night of the 27th and morning of the 28th; and, while advancing +in line of battle to a more favorable position, we were met by the +rebel infantry of Hardee's and Lee's corps, who made a determined +and desperate attack on us at 11 A.M. of the 28th (yesterday). + +My lines were only protected by logs and rails, hastily thrown up +in front of them. + +The first onset was received and checked, and the battle commenced +and lasted until about three o'clock in the evening. During that +time six successive charges were made, which were six times +gallantly repulsed, each time with fearful loss to the enemy. + +Later in the evening my lines were several times assaulted +vigorously, but each time with like result. The worst of the +fighting occurred on General Harrow's and Morgan L. Smith's fronts, +which formed the centre and right of the corps. The troops could +not have displayed greater courage, nor greater determination not +to give ground; had they shown less, they would have been driven +from their position. + +Brigadier-Generals C. R. Woods, Harrow, and Morgan L. Smith, +division commanders, are entitled to equal credit for gallant +conduct and skill in repelling the assault. My thanks are due to +Major-Generals Blair and Dodge for sending me reenforeements at a +time when they were much needed. My losses were fifty killed, four +hundred and forty-nine wounded, and seventy-three missing: +aggregate, five hundred and seventy-two. + +The division of General Harrow captured five battle-flags. There +were about fifteen hundred or two thousand muskets left on the +ground. One hundred and six prisoners were captured, exclusive of +seventy-three wounded, who were sent to our hospital, and are being +cared for by our surgeons. Five hundred and sixty-five rebels have +up to this time been buried, and about two hundred are supposed to +be yet unburied. A large number of their wounded were undoubtedly +carried away in the night, as the enemy did not withdraw till near +daylight. The enemy's loss could not have been less than six or +seven thousand men. A more detailed report will hereafter be made. + +I am, very respectfully, +Your obedient servant, + +JOHN A. LOGAN, +Major-General, commanding Fifteenth Army Corps. + + +General Howard, in transmitting this report, added: + +I wish to express my high gratification with the conduct of the +troops engaged. I never saw better conduct in battle. General +Logan, though ill and much worn out, was indefatigable, and the +success of the day is as much attributable to him as to any one +man. + + +This was, of coarse, the first fight in which General Howard had +commanded the Army of the Tennessee, and he evidently aimed to +reconcile General Logan in his disappointment, and to gain the +heart of his army, to which he was a stranger. He very properly +left General Logan to fight his own corps, but exposed himself +freely; and, after the firing had ceased, in the afternoon he +walked the lines; the men, as reported to me, gathered about him in +the most affectionate way, and he at once gained their respect and +confidence. To this fact I at the time attached much importance, +for it put me at ease as to the future conduct of that most +important army. + +At no instant of time did I feel the least uneasiness about the +result on the 28th, but wanted to reap fuller results, hoping that +Davis's division would come up at the instant of defeat, and catch +the enemy in flank; but the woods were dense, the roads obscure, +and as usual this division got on the wrong road, and did not come +into position until about dark. In like manner, I thought that +Hood had greatly weakened his main lines inside of Atlanta, and +accordingly sent repeated orders to Schofield and Thomas to make an +attempt to break in; but both reported that they found the parapets +very strong and full manned. + +Our men were unusually encouraged by this day's work, for they +realized that we could compel Hood to come out from behind his +fortified lines to attack us at a disadvantage. In conversation +with me, the soldiers of the Fifteenth Corps, with whom I was on +the most familiar terms, spoke of the affair of the 28th as the +easiest thing in the world; that, in fact, it was a common +slaughter of the enemy; they pointed out where the rebel lines had +been, and how they themselves had fired deliberately, had shot down +their antagonists, whose bodies still lay unburied, and marked +plainly their lines of battle, which must have halted within easy +musket-range of our men, who were partially protected by their +improvised line of logs and fence-rails. All bore willing +testimony to the courage and spirit of the foe, who, though +repeatedly repulsed, came back with increased determination some +six or more times. + +The next morning the Fifteenth Corps wheeled forward to the left +over the battle-field of the day before, and Davis's division still +farther prolonged the line, which reached nearly to the +ever-to-be-remembered "Sandtown road." + +Then, by further thinning out Thomas's line, which was well +entrenched, I drew another division of Palmer's corps (Baird's) +around to the right, to further strengthen that flank. I was +impatient to hear from the cavalry raid, then four days out, and +was watching for its effect, ready to make a bold push for the +possession of East Point. General Garrard's division returned to +Decatur on the 31st, and reported that General Stoneman had posted +him at Flat Rock, while he (Stoneman) went on. The month of July +therefore closed with our infantry line strongly entrenched, but +drawn out from the Augusta road on the left to the Sandtown road on +the right, a distance of full ten measured miles. + +The enemy, though evidently somewhat intimidated by the results of +their defeats on the 22d and 28th, still presented a bold front at +all points, with fortified lines that defied a direct assault. Our +railroad was done to the rear of our camps, Colonel W. P. Wright +having reconstructed the bridge across the Chattahoochee in six +days; and our garrisons and detachments to the rear had so +effectually guarded the railroad that the trains from Nashville +arrived daily, and our substantial wants were well supplied. + +The month, though hot in the extreme, had been one of constant +conflict, without intermission, and on four several occasions +--viz., July 4th, 20th, 22d, and 28th--these affairs had amounted to +real battles, with casualty lists by the thousands. Assuming the +correctness of the rebel surgeon Foard's report, on page 577 of +Johnston's "Narrative," commencing with July 4th and terminating +with July 31st, we have: + + Aggregate loss of the enemy......... 10,841 + +Our losses, as compiled from the official returns for July, +1864, are: + Killed and Missing. Wounded. Total. + +Aggregate loss of July....... 3,804 5,915 9,719 + + +In this table the column of "killed and missing" embraces the +prisoners that fell into the hands of the enemy, mostly lost in the +Seventeenth Corps, on the 22d of July, and does not embrace the +losses in the cavalry divisions of Garrard and McCook, which, +however, were small for July. In all other respects the statement +is absolutely correct. I am satisfied, however, that Surgeon Foard +could not have been in possession of data sufficiently accurate to +enable him to report the losses in actual battle of men who never +saw the hospital. During the whole campaign I had rendered to me +tri-monthly statements of "effective strength," from which I +carefully eliminated the figures not essential for my conduct, so +that at all times I knew the exact fighting-strength of each corps, +division, and brigade, of the whole army, and also endeavored to +bear in mind our losses both on the several fields of battle and by +sickness, and well remember that I always estimated that during the +month of July we had inflicted heavier loss on the enemy than we +had sustained ourselves, and the above figures prove it +conclusively. Before closing this chapter, I must record one or +two minor events that occurred about this time, that may prove of +interest. + +On the 24th of July I received a dispatch from Inspector-General +James A. Hardie, then on duty at the War Department in Washington, +to the effect that Generals Osterhaus and Alvan P. Hovey had been +appointed major-generals. Both of these had begun the campaign +with us in command of divisions, but had gone to the rear--the +former by reason of sickness, and the latter dissatisfied with +General Schofield and myself about the composition of his division +of the Twenty-third Corps. Both were esteemed as first-class +officers, who had gained special distinction in the Vicksburg +campaign. But up to that time, when the newspapers announced daily +promotions elsewhere, no prominent officers serving with me had +been advanced a peg, and I felt hurt. I answered Hardie on the +25th, in a dispatch which has been made public, closing with this +language: "If the rear be the post of honor, then we had better all +change front on Washington." To my amazement, in a few days I +received from President Lincoln himself an answer, in which he +caught me fairly. I have not preserved a copy of that dispatch, +and suppose it was burned up in the Chicago fire; but it was +characteristic of Mr. Lincoln, and was dated the 26th or 27th day +of July, contained unequivocal expressions of respect for those who +were fighting hard and unselfishly, offering us a full share of the +honors and rewards of the war, and saying that, in the cases of +Hovey and Osterhaus, he was influenced mainly by the +recommendations of Generals Grant and Sherman. On the 27th I +replied direct, apologizing somewhat for my message to General +Hardie, saying that I did not suppose such messages ever reached +him personally, explaining that General Grant's and Sherman's +recommendations for Hovey and Osterhaus had been made when the +events of the Vicksburg campaign were fresh with us, and that my +dispatch of the 25th to General Hardie had reflected chiefly the +feelings of the officers then present with me before Atlanta. The +result of all this, however, was good, for another dispatch from +General Hardie, of the 28th, called on me to nominate eight +colonels for promotion as brigadier-generals. I at once sent a +circular note to the army-commanders to nominate two colonels from +the Army of the Ohio and three from each of the others; and the +result was, that on the 29th of July I telegraphed the names of-- + +Colonel William Gross, Thirty-sixth Indiana; Colonel Charles C. +Walcutt, Forty-sixth Ohio; Colonel James W. Riley, One Hundred and +Fourth Ohio; Colonel L. P. Bradley, Fifty-first Illinois; Colonel +J. W. Sprague, Sixty-third Ohio; Colonel Joseph A. Cooper, Sixth +East Tennessee; Colonel John T. Croxton, Fourth Kentucky; Colonel +William W. Belknap, Fifteenth Iowa. These were promptly appointed +brigadier-generals, were already in command of brigades or +divisions; and I doubt if eight promotions were ever made fairer, +or were more honestly earned, during the whole war. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +CAPTURE OF ATLANTA. + +AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, 1864 + + +The month of August opened hot and sultry, but our position before +Atlanta was healthy, with ample supply of wood, water, and +provisions. The troops had become habituated to the slow and +steady progress of the siege; the skirmish-lines were held close up +to the enemy, were covered by rifle-trenches or logs, and kept up a +continuous clatter of musketry. The mainlines were held farther +back, adapted to the shape of the ground, with muskets loaded and +stacked for instant use. The field-batteries were in select +positions, covered by handsome parapets, and occasional shots from +them gave life and animation to the scene. The men loitered about +the trenches carelessly, or busied themselves in constructing +ingenious huts out of the abundant timber, and seemed as snug, +comfortable, and happy, as though they were at home. General +Schofield was still on the extreme left, Thomas in the centre, and +Howard on the right. Two divisions of the Fourteenth Corps +(Baird's and Jeff. C. Davis's) were detached to the right rear, +and held in reserve. + +I thus awaited the effect of the cavalry movement against the +railroad about Jonesboro, and had heard from General Garrard that +Stoneman had gone on to Mason; during that day (August 1st) Colonel +Brownlow, of a Tennessee cavalry regiment, came in to Marietta from +General McCook, and reported that McCook's whole division had been +overwhelmed, defeated, and captured at Newnan. Of course, I was +disturbed by this wild report, though I discredited it, but made +all possible preparations to strengthen our guards along the +railroad to the rear, on the theory that the force of cavalry which +had defeated McCook would at once be on the railroad about +Marietta. At the same time Garrard was ordered to occupy the +trenches on our left, while Schofield's whole army moved to the +extreme right, and extended the line toward East Point. Thomas was +also ordered still further to thin out his lines, so as to set free +the other division (Johnson's) of the Fourteenth Corps (Palmer's), +which was moved to the extreme right rear, and held in reserve +ready to make a bold push from that flank to secure a footing on +the Mason Railroad at or below East Point. + +These changes were effected during the 2d and 3d days of August, +when General McCook came in and reported the actual results of his +cavalry expedition. He had crossed the Chattahoochee River below +Campbellton, by his pontoon-bridge; had then marched rapidly across +to the Mason Railroad at Lovejoy's Station, where he had reason to +expect General Stoneman; but, not hearing of him, he set to work, +tore up two miles of track, burned two trains of cars, and cut away +five miles of telegraph-wire. He also found the wagon-train +belonging to the rebel army in Atlanta, burned five hundred wagons, +killed eight hundred mules; and captured seventy-two officers and +three hundred and fifty men. Finding his progress eastward, toward +McDonough, barred by a superior force, he turned back to Newnan, +where he found himself completely surrounded by infantry and +cavalry. He had to drop his prisoners and fight his way out, +losing about six hundred men in killed and captured, and then +returned with the remainder to his position at Turner's Ferry. +This was bad enough, but not so bad as had been reported by Colonel +Brownlow. Meantime, rumors came that General Stoneman was down +about Mason, on the east bank of the Ocmulgee. On the 4th of +August Colonel Adams got to Marietta with his small brigade of nine +hundred men belonging to Stoneman's cavalry, reporting, as usual, +all the rest lost, and this was partially confirmed by a report +which came to me all the way round by General Grant's headquarters +before Richmond. A few days afterward Colonel Capron also got in, +with another small brigade perfectly demoralized, and confirmed the +report that General Stoneman had covered the escape of these two +small brigades, himself standing with a reserve of seven hundred +men, with which he surrendered to a Colonel Iverson. Thus another +of my cavalry divisions was badly damaged, and out of the fragments +we hastily reorganized three small divisions under +Brigadier-Generals Garrard, McCook, and Kilpatrick. + +Stoneman had not obeyed his orders to attack the railroad first +before going to Macon and Andersonville, but had crossed the +Ocmulgee River high up near Covington, and had gone down that river +on the east bank. He reached Clinton, and sent out detachments +which struck the railroad leading from Macon to Savannah at +Griswold Station, where they found and destroyed seventeen +locomotives and over a hundred cars; then went on and burned the +bridge across the Oconee, and reunited the division before Macon. +Stoneman shelled the town across the river, but could not cross +over by the bridge, and returned to Clinton, where he found his +retreat obstructed, as he supposed, by a superior force. There he +became bewildered, and sacrificed himself for the safety of his +command. He occupied the attention of his enemy by a small force +of seven hundred men, giving Colonels Adams and Capron leave, with +their brigades, to cut their way back to me at Atlanta. The former +reached us entire, but the latter was struck and scattered at some +place farther north, and came in by detachments. Stoneman +surrendered, and remained a prisoner until he was exchanged some +time after, late in September, at Rough and Ready. + +I now became satisfied that cavalry could not, or would not, make a +sufficient lodgment on the railroad below Atlanta, and that nothing +would suffice but for us to reach it with the main army. Therefore +the most urgent efforts to that end were made, and to Schofield, on +the right, was committed the charge of this special object. He had +his own corps (the Twenty-third), composed of eleven thousand and +seventy-five infantry and eight hundred and eighty-five artillery, +with McCook's broken division of cavalry, seventeen hundred and +fifty-four men and horses. For this purpose I also placed the +Fourteenth Corps (Palmer) under his orders. This corps numbered at +the time seventeen thousand two hundred and eighty-eight infantry +and eight hundred and twenty-six artillery; but General Palmer +claimed to rank General Schofield in the date of his commission as +major-general, and denied the latter's right to exercise command +over him. General Palmer was a man of ability, but was not +enterprising. His three divisions were compact and strong, well +commanded, admirable on the defensive, but slow to move or to act +on the offensive. His corps (the Fourteenth) had sustained, up to +that time, fewer hard knocks than any other corps in the whole +army, and I was anxious to give it a chance. I always expected to +have a desperate fight to get possession of the Macon road, which +was then the vital objective of the campaign. Its possession by us +would, in my judgment, result in the capture of Atlanta, and give +us the fruits of victory, although the destruction of Hood's army +was the real object to be desired. Yet Atlanta was known as the +"Gate-City of the South," was full of founderies, arsenals, and +machine-shops, and I knew that its capture would be the death-knell +of the Southern Confederacy. + +On the 4th of August I ordered General Schofield to make a bold +attack on the railroad, anywhere about East Point, and ordered +General Palmer to report to him for duty. He at once denied +General Schofield's right to command him; but, after examining the +dates of their respective commissions, and hearing their arguments, +I wrote to General Palmer. + + +August 4th.-10.45 p.m. + +From the statements made by yourself and General Schofield to-day, +my decision is, that he ranks you as a major-general, being of the +same date of present commission, by reason of his previous superior +rank as brigadier-general. The movements of to-morrow are so +important that the orders of the superior on that flank must be +regarded as military orders, and not in the nature of cooperation. +I did hope that there would be no necessity for my making this +decision; but it is better for all parties interested that no +question of rank should occur in actual battle. The Sandtown road, +and the railroad, if possible, must be gained to-morrow, if it +costs half your command. I regard the loss of time this afternoon +as equal to the loss of two thousand men. + + +I also communicated the substance of this to General Thomas, to +whose army Palmer's corps belonged, who replied on the 5th: + + +I regret to hear that Palmer has taken the course he has, and I +know that he intends to offer his resignation as soon as he can +properly do so. I recommend that his application be granted. + + +And on the 5th I again wrote to General Palmer, arguing the point +with him, advising him, as a friend, not to resign at that crisis +lest his motives might be misconstrued, and because it might damage +his future career in civil life; but, at the same time, I felt it +my duty to say to him that the operations on that flank, during the +4th and 5th, had not been satisfactory--not imputing to him, +however, any want of energy or skill, but insisting that "the +events did not keep pace with my desires." General Schofield had +reported to me that night: + + +I am compelled to acknowledge that I have totally failed to make +any aggressive movement with the Fourteenth Corps. I have ordered +General Johnson's division to replace General Hascall's this +evening, and I propose to-morrow to take my own troops +(Twenty-third Corps) to the right, and try to recover what has been +lost by two days' delay. The force may likely be too small. + + +I sanctioned the movement, and ordered two of Palmers divisions +--Davis's and Baird's--to follow en echelon in support of Schofield, +and summoned General Palmer to meet me in person: He came on the +6th to my headquarters, and insisted on his resignation being +accepted, for which formal act I referred him to General Thomas. +He then rode to General Thomas's camp, where he made a written +resignation of his office as commander of the Fourteenth Corps, and +was granted the usual leave of absence to go to his home in +Illinois, there to await further orders. General Thomas +recommended that the resignation be accepted; that Johnson, the +senior division commander of the corps, should be ordered back to +Nashville as chief of cavalry, and that Brigadier-General Jefferson +C. Davis, the next in order, should be promoted major general, and +assigned to command the corps. These changes had to be referred to +the President, in Washington, and were, in due time, approved and +executed; and thenceforward I had no reason to complain of the +slowness or inactivity of that splendid corps. It had been +originally formed by General George H. Thomas, had been commanded +by him in person, and had imbibed some what his personal character, +viz., steadiness, good order, and deliberation nothing hasty or +rash, but always safe, "slow, and sure." On August 7th I +telegraphed to General Halleck: + + +Have received to-day the dispatches of the Secretary of War and of +General Grant, which are very satisfactory. We keep hammering away +all the time, and there is no peace, inside or outside of Atlanta. +To-day General Schofield got round the line which was assaulted +yesterday by General Reilly's brigade, turned it and gained the +ground where the assault had been made, and got possession of all +our dead and wounded. He continued to press on that flank, and +brought on a noisy but not a bloody battle. He drove the enemy +behind his main breastworks, which cover the railroad from Atlanta +to East Point, and captured a good many of the skirmishers, who are +of his best troops--for the militia hug the breastworks close. I +do not deem it prudent to extend any more to the right, but will +push forward daily by parallels, and make the inside of Atlanta too +hot to be endured. I have sent back to Chattanooga for two +thirty-pound Parrotts, with which we can pick out almost any house in +town. I am too impatient for a siege, and don't know but this is as +good a place to fight it out on, as farther inland. One thing is +certain, whether we get inside of Atlanta or not, it will be a +used-up community when we are done with it. + + +In Schofield's extension on the 5th, General Reilly's brigade had +struck an outwork, which he promptly attacked, but, as usual, got +entangled in the trees and bushes which had been felled, and lost +about five hundred men, in killed and wounded; but, as above +reported, this outwork was found abandoned the next day, and we +could see from it that the rebels were extending their lines, +parallel with the railroad, about as fast as we could add to our +line of investment. On the 10th of August the Parrott +thirty-pounders were received and placed in Position; for a couple +of days we kept up a sharp fire from all our batteries converging +on Atlanta, and at every available point we advanced our +infantry-lines, thereby shortening and strengthening the +investment; but I was not willing to order a direct assault, unless +some accident or positive neglect on the part of our antagonist +should reveal an opening. However, it was manifest that no such +opening was intended by Hood, who felt secure behind his strong +defenses. He had repelled our cavalry attacks on his railroad, and +had damaged us seriously thereby, so I expected that he would +attempt the same game against our rear. Therefore I made +extraordinary exertions to recompose our cavalry divisions, which +were so essential, both for defense and offense. Kilpatrick was +given that on our right rear, in support of Schofield's exposed +flank; Garrard retained that on our general left; and McCook's +division was held somewhat in reserve, about Marietta and the +railroad. On the 10th, having occasion to telegraph to General +Grant, then in Washington, I used this language: + + +Since July 28th Hood has not attempted to meet us outside his +parapets. In order to possess and destroy effectually his +communications, I may have to leave a corps at the railroad-bridge, +well intrenched, and cut loose with the balance to make a circle of +desolation around Atlanta. I do not propose to assault the works, +which are too strong, nor to proceed by regular approaches. I have +lost a good many regiments, and will lose more, by the expiration +of service; and this is the only reason why I want reenforcements. +We have killed, crippled, and captured more of the enemy than we +have lost by his acts. + + +On the 12th of August I heard of the success of Admiral Farragut in +entering Mobile Bay, which was regarded as a most valuable +auxiliary to our operations at Atlanta; and learned that I had been +commissioned a major-general in the regular army, which was +unexpected, and not desired until successful in the capture of +Atlanta. These did not change the fact that we were held in check +by the stubborn defense of the place, and a conviction was forced +on my mind that our enemy would hold fast, even though every house +in the town should be battered down by our artillery. It was +evident that we most decoy him out to fight us on something like +equal terms, or else, with the whole army, raise the siege and +attack his communications. Accordingly, on the 13th of August, I +gave general orders for the Twentieth Corps to draw back to the +railroad-bridge at the Chattahoochee, to protect our trains, +hospitals, spare artillery, and the railroad-depot, while the rest +of the army should move bodily to some point on the Macon Railroad +below East Point. + +Luckily, I learned just then that the enemy's cavalry, under +General Wheeler, had made a wide circuit around our left flank, and +had actually reached our railroad at Tilton Station, above Resaca, +captured a drove of one thousand of our beef-cattle, and was strong +enough to appear before Dalton, and demand of its commander, +Colonel Raum, the surrender of the place. General John E. Smith, +who was at Kingston, collected together a couple of thousand men, +and proceeded in cars to the relief of Dalton when Wheeler +retreated northward toward Cleveland. On the 16th another +detachment of the enemy's cavalry appeared in force about Allatoona +and the Etowah bridge, when I became fully convinced that Hood had +sent all of his cavalry to raid upon our railroads. For some days +our communication with Nashville was interrupted by the destruction +of the telegraph-lines, as well as railroad. I at once ordered +strong reconnoissances forward from our flanks on the left by +Garrard, and on the right by Kilpatrick. The former moved with so +much caution that I was displeased; but Kilpatrick, on the +contrary, displayed so much zeal and activity that I was attracted +to him at once. He reached Fairburn Station, on the West Point +road, and tore it up, returning safely to his position on our right +flank. I summoned him to me, and was so pleased with his spirit +and confidence, that I concluded to suspend the general movement of +the main army, and to send him with his small division of cavalry +to break up the Macon road about Jonesboro, in the hopes that it +would force Hood to evacuate Atlanta, and that I should thereby not +only secure possession of the city itself, but probably could catch +Hood in the confusion of retreat; and, further to increase the +chances of success. + +I ordered General Thomas to detach two brigades of Garrard's +division of cavalry from the left to the right rear, to act as a +reserve in support of General Kilpatrick. Meantime, also, the +utmost activity was ordered along our whole front by the infantry +and artillery. Kilpatrick got off during the night of the 18th, +and returned to us on the 22d, having made the complete circuit of +Atlanta. He reported that he had destroyed three miles of the +railroad about Jonesboro, which he reckoned would take ten days to +repair; that he had encountered a division of infantry and a +brigade of cavalry (Ross's); that he had captured a battery and +destroyed three of its guns, bringing one in as a trophy, and he +also brought in three battle-flags and seventy prisoners. On the +23d, however, we saw trains coming into Atlanta from the south, +when I became more than ever convinced that cavalry could not or +would not work hard enough to disable a railroad properly, and +therefore resolved at once to proceed to the execution of my +original plan. Meantime, the damage done to our own railroad and +telegraph by Wheeler, about Resaca and Dalton, had been repaired, +and Wheeler himself was too far away to be of any service to his +own army, and where he could not do us much harm, viz., up about +the Hiawaesee. On the 24th I rode down to the Chattahoochee +bridge, to see in person that it could be properly defended by the +single corps proposed to be left there for that purpose, and found +that the rebel works, which had been built by Johnston to resist +us, could be easily utilized against themselves; and on returning +to my camp, at that same evening, I telegraphed to General +Halleck as follows: + + +Heavy fires in Atlanta all day, caused by our artillery. I will be +all ready, and will commence the movement around Atlanta by the +south, tomorrow night, and for some time you will hear little of +us. I will keep open a courier line back to the Chattahoochee +bridge, by way of Sandtown. The Twentieth Corps will hold the +railroad-bridge, and I will move with the balance of the army, +provisioned for twenty days. + + +Meantime General Dodge (commanding the Sixteenth Corps) had been +wounded in the forehead, had gone to the rear, and his two +divisions were distributed to the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps. +The real movement commenced on the 25th, at night. The Twentieth +Corps drew back and took post at the railroad-bridge, and the +Fourth Corps (Stanley) moved to his right rear, closing up with the +Fourteenth Corps (Jeff. C. Davis) near Utoy Creek; at the same time +Garrard's cavalry, leaving their horses out of sight, occupied the +vacant trenches, so that the enemy did not detect the change at +all. The next night (26th) the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps, +composing the Army of the Tennessee (Howard), drew out of their +trenches, made a wide circuit, and came up on the extreme right of +the Fourth and Fourteenth Corps of the Army of the Cumberland +(Thomas) along Utoy Creek, facing south. The enemy seemed to +suspect something that night, using his artillery pretty freely; +but I think he supposed we were going to retreat altogether. An +artillery-shot, fired at random, killed one man and wounded +another, and the next morning some of his infantry came out of +Atlanta and found our camps abandoned. It was afterward related +that there was great rejoicing in Atlanta "that the Yankees were +gone;" the fact was telegraphed all over the South, and several +trains of cars (with ladies) came up from Macon to assist in the +celebration of their grand victory. + +On the 28th (making a general left-wheel, pivoting on Schofield) +both Thomas and Howard reached the West Point Railroad, extending +from East Point to Red-Oak Station and Fairburn, where we spent the +next day (29th) in breaking it up thoroughly. The track was heaved +up in sections the length of a regiment, then separated rail by +rail; bonfires were made of the ties and of fence-rails on which +the rails were heated, carried to trees or telegraph-poles, wrapped +around and left to cool. Such rails could not be used again; and, +to be still more certain, we filled up many deep cuts with trees, +brush, and earth, and commingled with them loaded shells, so +arranged that they would explode on an attempt to haul out the +bushes. The explosion of one such shell would have demoralized a +gang of negroes, and thus would have prevented even the attempt to +clear the road. + +Meantime Schofield, with the Twenty-third Corps, presented a bold +front toward East Point, daring and inviting the enemy to sally out +to attack him in position. His first movement was on the 30th, to +Mount Gilead Church, then to Morrow's Mills, facing Rough and +Ready. Thomas was on his right, within easy support, moving by +cross-roads from Red Oak to the Fayetteville road, extending from +Couch's to Renfrew's; and Howard was aiming for Jonesboro. + +I was with General Thomas that day, which was hot but otherwise +very pleasant. We stopped for a short noon-rest near a little +church (marked on our maps as Shoal-Creek Church), which stood back +about a hundred yards from the road, in a grove of native oaks. +The infantry column had halted in the road, stacked their arms, and +the men were scattered about--some lying in the shade of the trees, +and others were bringing corn-stalks from a large corn-field across +the road to feed our horses, while still others had arms full of +the roasting-ears, then in their prime. Hundreds of fires were +soon started with the fence-rails, and the men were busy roasting +the ears. Thomas and I were walking up and down the road which led +to the church, discussing the chances of the movement, which he +thought were extra-hazardous, and our path carried us by a fire at +which a soldier was roasting his corn. The fire was built +artistically; the man was stripping the ears of their husks, +standing them in front of his fire, watching them carefully, and +turning each ear little by little, so as to roast it nicely. He +was down on his knees intent on his business, paying little heed to +the stately and serious deliberations of his leaders. Thomas's +mind was running on the fact that we had cut loose from our base of +supplies, and that seventy thousand men were then dependent for +their food on the chance supplies of the country (already +impoverished by the requisitions of the enemy), and on the contents +of our wagons. Between Thomas and his men there existed a most +kindly relation, and he frequently talked with them in the most +familiar way. Pausing awhile, and watching the operations of this +man roasting his corn, he said, "What are you doing?" The man +looked up smilingly "Why, general, I am laying in a supply of +provisions." "That is right, my man, but don't waste your +provisions." As we resumed our walk, the man remarked, in a sort +of musing way, but loud enough for me to hear: "There he goes, +there goes the old man, economizing as usual." "Economizing" with +corn, which cost only the labor of gathering and roasting! + +As we walked, we could hear General Howard's guns at intervals, +away off to our right front, but an ominous silence continued +toward our left, where I was expecting at each moment to hear the +sound of battle. That night we reached Renfrew's, and had reports +from left to right (from General Schofield, about Morrow's Mills, +to General Howard, within a couple of miles of Jonesboro). The +next morning (August 31st) all moved straight for the railroad. +Schofield reached it near Rough and Ready, and Thomas at two points +between there and Jonesboro. Howard found an intrenched foe +(Hardee's corps) covering Jonesboro, and his men began at once to +dig their accustomed rifle-pits. Orders were sent to Generals +Thomas and Schofield to turn straight for Jonesboro, tearing up the +railroad-track as they advanced. About 3.00 p.m. the enemy +sallied from Jonesboro against the Fifteenth corps, but was easily +repulsed, and driven back within his lines. All hands were kept +busy tearing up the railroad, and it was not until toward evening +of the 1st day of September that the Fourteenth Corps (Davis) +closed down on the north front of Jonesboro, connecting on his +right with Howard, and his left reaching the railroad, along which +General Stanley was moving, followed by Schofield. General Davis +formed his divisions in line about 4 p.m., swept forward over some +old cotton-fields in full view, and went over the rebel parapet +handsomely, capturing the whole of Govan's brigade, with two +field-batteries of ten guns. Being on the spot, I checked Davis's +movement, and ordered General Howard to send the two divisions of +the Seventeenth Corps (Blair) round by his right rear, to get below +Jonesboro, and to reach the railroad, so as to cut off retreat in +that direction. I also dispatched orders after orders to hurry +forward Stanley, so as to lap around Jonesboro on the east, hoping +thus to capture the whole of Hardee's corps. I sent first Captain +Audenried (aide-de-camp), then Colonel Poe, of the Engineers, and +lastly General Thomas himself (and that is the only time during the +campaign I can recall seeing General Thomas urge his horse into a +gallop). Night was approaching, and the country on the farther +side of the railroad was densely wooded. General Stanley had come +up on the left of Davis, and was deploying, though there could not +have been on his front more than a skirmish-line. Had he moved +straight on by the flank, or by a slight circuit to his left, he +would have inclosed the whole ground occupied by Hardee's corps, +and that corps could not have escaped us; but night came on, and +Hardee did escape. + +Meantime General Slocum had reached his corps (the Twentieth), +stationed at the Chattahoochee bridge, had relieved General A. S. +Williams in command, and orders had been sent back to him to feel +forward occasionally toward Atlanta, to observe the effect when we +had reached the railroad. That night I was so restless and +impatient that I could not sleep, and about midnight there arose +toward Atlanta sounds of shells exploding, and other sound like +that of musketry. I walked to the house of a farmer close by my +bivouac, called him out to listen to the reverberations which came +from the direction of Atlanta (twenty miles to the north of us), +and inquired of him if he had resided there long. He said he had, +and that these sounds were just like those of a battle. An +interval of quiet then ensued, when again, about 4 a.m., arose +other similar explosions, but I still remained in doubt whether the +enemy was engaged in blowing up his own magazines, or whether +General Slocum had not felt forward, and become engaged in a real +battle. + +The next morning General Hardee was gone, and we all pushed forward +along the railroad south, in close pursuit, till we ran up against +his lines at a point just above Lovejoy's Station. While bringing +forward troops and feeling the new position of our adversary, +rumors came from the rear that the enemy had evacuated Atlanta, and +that General Slocum was in the city. Later in the day I received a +note in Slocum's own handwriting, stating that he had heard during +the night the very sounds that I have referred to; that he had +moved rapidly up from the bridge about daylight, and had entered +Atlanta unopposed. His letter was dated inside the city, so there +was no doubt of the fact. General Thomas's bivouac was but a short +distance from mine, and, before giving notice to the army in +general orders, I sent one of my staff-officers to show him the +note. In a few minutes the officer returned, soon followed by +Thomas himself, who again examined the note, so as to be perfectly +certain that it was genuine. The news seemed to him too good to be +true. He snapped his fingers, whistled, and almost danced, and, as +the news spread to the army, the shouts that arose from our men, +the wild hallooing and glorious laughter, were to us a full +recompense for the labor and toils and hardships through which we +had passed in the previous three months. + +A courier-line was at once organized, messages were sent back and +forth from our camp at Lovejoy's to Atlanta, and to our +telegraph-station at the Chattahoochee bridge. Of course, the glad +tidings flew on the wings of electricity to all parts of the North, +where the people had patiently awaited news of their husbands, sons, +and brothers, away down in "Dixie Land;" and congratulations came +pouring back full of good-will and patriotism. This victory was most +opportune; Mr. Lincoln himself told me afterward that even he had +previously felt in doubt, for the summer was fast passing away; that +General Grant seemed to be checkmated about Richmond and Petersburg, +and my army seemed to have run up against an impassable barrier, +when, suddenly and unexpectedly, came the news that "Atlanta was +ours, and fairly won." On this text many a fine speech was made, but +none more eloquent than that by Edward Everett, in Boston. A +presidential election then agitated the North. Mr. Lincoln +represented the national cause, and General McClellan had accepted +the nomination of the Democratic party, whose platform was that the +war was a failure, and that it was better to allow the South to go +free to establish a separate government, whose corner-stone should be +slavery. Success to our arms at that instant was therefore a +political necessity; and it was all-important that something +startling in our interest should occur before the election in +November. The brilliant success at Atlanta filled that requirement, +and made the election of Mr. Lincoln certain. Among the many letters +of congratulation received, those of Mr. Lincoln and General Grant +seem most important: + + +EXECUTIVE MANSION +WASHINGTON, D.C. September 3, 1864. + +The national thanks are rendered by the President to Major-General +W. T. Sherman and the gallant officers and soldiers of his command +before Atlanta, for the distinguished ability and perseverance +displayed in the campaign in Georgia, which, under Divine favor, +has resulted in the capture of Atlanta. The marches, battles, +sieges, and other military operations, that have signalized the +campaign, must render it famous in the annals of war, and have +entitled those who have participated therein to the applause and +thanks of the nation. + +ABRAHAM LINCOLN +President of the United States + + +CITY POINT VIRGINIA, September 4, 1864-9 P.M. + +Major-General SHERMAN: +I have just received your dispatch announcing the capture of +Atlanta. In honor of your great victory, I have ordered a salute +to be fired with shotted guns from every battery bearing upon the +enemy. The salute will be fired within an hour, amid great +rejoicing. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +These dispatches were communicated to the army in general orders, +and we all felt duly encouraged and elated by the praise of those +competent to bestow it. + +The army still remained where the news of success had first found +us, viz., Lovejoy's; but, after due refection, I resolved not to +attempt at that time a further pursuit of Hood's army, but slowly +and deliberately to move back, occupy Atlanta, enjoy a short period +of rest, and to think well over the next step required in the +progress of events. Orders for this movement were made on the 5th +September, and three days were given for each army to reach the +place assigned it, viz.: the Army of the Cumberland in and about +Atlanta; the Army of the Tennessee at East Point; and the Army of +the Ohio at Decatur. + +Personally I rode back to Jonesboro on the 6th, and there inspected +the rebel hospital, full of wounded officers and men left by Hardee +in his retreat. The next night we stopped at Rough and Ready, and +on the 8th of September we rode into Atlanta, then occupied by the +Twentieth Corps (General Slocum). In the Court-House Square was +encamped a brigade, embracing the Massachusetts Second and +Thirty-third Regiments, which had two of the finest bands of the +army, and their music was to us all a source of infinite pleasure +during our sojourn in that city. I took up my headquarters in the +house of Judge Lyons, which stood opposite one corner of the +Court-House Square, and at once set about a measure already ordered, +of which I had thought much and long, viz., to remove the entire +civil population, and to deny to all civilians from the rear the +expected profits of civil trade. Hundreds of sutlers and traders +were waiting at Nashville and Chattanooga, greedy to reach Atlanta +with their wares and goods, with, which to drive a profitable trade +with the inhabitants. I gave positive orders that none of these +traders, except three (one for each separate army), should be +permitted to come nearer than Chattanooga; and, moreover, I +peremptorily required that all the citizens and families resident in +Atlanta should go away, giving to each the option to go south or +north, as their interests or feelings dictated. I was resolved to +make Atlanta a pure military garrison or depot, with no civil +population to influence military measures. I had seen Memphis, +Vicksburg, Natchez, and New Orleans, all captured from the enemy, and +each at once was garrisoned by a full division of troops, if not +more; so that success was actually crippling our armies in the field +by detachments to guard and protect the interests of a hostile +population. + +I gave notice of this purpose, as early as the 4th of September, to +General Halleck, in a letter concluding with these words: + +If the people raise a howl against my barbarity and cruelty, I will +answer that war is war, and not popularity-seeking. If they want +peace, they and their relatives most stop the war. + +I knew, of course, that such a measure would be strongly +criticised, but made up my mind to do it with the absolute +certainty of its justness, and that time would sanction its wisdom. +I knew that the people of the South would read in this measure two +important conclusions: one, that we were in earnest; and the other, +if they were sincere in their common and popular clamor "to die in +the last ditch," that the opportunity would soon come. + +Soon after our reaching Atlanta, General Hood had sent in by a flag +of truce a proposition, offering a general exchange of prisoners, +saying that he was authorized to make such an exchange by the +Richmond authorities, out of the vast number of our men then held +captive at Andersonville, the same whom General Stoneman had hoped +to rescue at the time of his raid. Some of these prisoners had +already escaped and got in, had described the pitiable condition of +the remainder, and, although I felt a sympathy for their hardships +and sufferings as deeply as any man could, yet as nearly all the +prisoners who had been captured by us during the campaign had been +sent, as fast as taken, to the usual depots North, they were then +beyond my control. There were still about two thousand, mostly +captured at Jonesboro, who had been sent back by cars, but had not +passed Chattanooga. These I ordered back, and offered General Hood +to exchange them for Stoneman, Buell, and such of my own army as +would make up the equivalent; but I would not exchange for his +prisoners generally, because I knew these would have to be sent to +their own regiments, away from my army, whereas all we could give +him could at once be put to duty in his immediate army. Quite an +angry correspondence grew up between us, which was published at the +time in the newspapers, but it is not to be found in any book of +which I have present knowledge, and therefore is given here, as +illustrative of the events referred to, and of the feelings of the +actors in the game of war at that particular crisis, together with +certain other original letters of Generals Grant and Halleck, never +hitherto published. + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, September 12, 1864 + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Military Division of the +Mississippi + +GENERAL: I send Lieutenant-Colonel Horace Porter, of my staff, with +this. Colonel Porter will explain to you the exact condition of +affairs here, better than I can do in the limits of a letter. +Although I feel myself strong enough now for offensive operations, +I am holding on quietly, to get advantage of recruits and +convalescents, who are coming forward very rapidly. My lines are +necessarily very long, extending from Deep Bottom, north of the +James, across the peninsula formed by the Appomattox and the James, +and south of the Appomattox to the Weldon road. This line is very +strongly fortified, and can be held with comparatively few men; +but, from its great length, necessarily takes many in the +aggregate. I propose, when I do move, to extend my left so as to +control what is known as the Southside, or Lynchburg & Petersburg +road; then, if possible, to keep the Danville road out. At the +same time this move is made, I want to send a force of from six to +ten thousand men against Wilmington. The way I propose to do this +is to land the men north of Fort Fisher, and hold that point. At +the same time a large naval fleet will be assembled there, and the +iron-clads will run the batteries as they did at Mobile. This will +give us the same control of the harbor of Wilmington that we now +have of the harbor of Mobile. What you are to do with the forces +at your command, I do not exactly see. The difficulties of +supplying your army, except when they are constantly moving beyond +where you are, I plainly see. If it had not been for Price's +movement, Canby could have sent twelve thousand more men to Mobile. +From your command on the Mississippi, an equal number could have +been taken. With these forces, my idea would have been to divide +them, sending one-half to Mobile, and the other half to Savannah. +You could then move as proposed in your telegram, so as to threaten +Macon and Augusta equally. Whichever one should be abandoned by +the enemy, you could take and open up a new base of supplies. My +object now in sending a staff-officer to you is not so much to +suggest operations for you as to get your views, and to have plans +matured by the time every thing can be got ready. It would +probably be the 5th of October before any of the plans here +indicated will be executed. If you have any promotions to +recommend, send the names forward, and I will approve them. + +In conclusion, it is hardly necessary for me to say that I feel you +have accomplished the most gigantic undertaking given to any +general in this war, and with a skill and ability that will be +acknowledged in history as unsurpassed, if not unequaled. It gives +me as much pleasure to record this in your favor as it world in +favor of any living man, myself included. +Truly yours, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, September 20, 1864. + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief, City Point, +Virgina. + +GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge, at the hands of +Lieutenant Colonel Porter, of your staff, your letter of September +12th, and accept with thanks the honorable and kindly mention +of the services of this army in the great cause in which we are all +engaged. + +I send by Colonel Porter all official reports which are completed, +and will in a few days submit a list of names which are deemed +worthy of promotion. + +I think we owe it to the President to save him the invidious task +of selection among the vast number of worthy applicants, and have +ordered my army commanders to prepare their lists with great care, +and to express their preferences, based upon claims of actual +capacity and services rendered. + +These I will consolidate, and submit in such a form that, if +mistakes are made, they will at least be sanctioned by the best +contemporaneous evidence of merit, for I know that vacancies do not +exist equal in number to that of the officers who really deserve +promotion. + +As to the future, I am pleased to know that your army is being +steadily reinforced by a good class of men, and I hope it will go +on until you have a force that is numerically double that of your +antagonist, so that with one part you can watch him, and with the +other push out boldly from your left flank, occupy the Southside +Railroad, compel him to attack you in position, or accept battle on +your own terms. + +We ought to ask our country for the largest possible armies that +can be raised, as so important a thing as the self-existence of a +great nation should not be left to the fickle chances of war. + +Now that Mobile is shut out to the commerce of our enemy, it calls +for no further effort on our part, unless the capture of the city +can be followed by the occupation of the Alabama River and the +railroad to Columbus, Georgia, when that place would be a +magnificent auxiliary to my further progress into Georgia; but, +until General Canby is much reinforced, and until he can more +thoroughly subdue the scattered armies west of the Mississippi, I +suppose that much cannot be attempted by him against the Alabama +River and Columbus, Georgia. + +The utter destruction of Wilmington, North Carolina, is of +importance only in connection with the necessity of cutting off all +foreign trade to our enemy, and if Admiral Farragut can get across +the bar, and move quickly, I suppose he will succeed. From my +knowledge of the mouth of Cape Fear River, I anticipate more +difficulty in getting the heavy ships across the bar than in +reaching the town of Wilmington; but, of course, the soundings of +the channel are well known at Washington, as well as the draught of +his iron-clads, so that it must be demonstrated to be feasible, or +else it would not be attempted. If successful, I suppose that Fort +Caswell will be occupied, and the fleet at once sent to the +Savannah River. Then the reduction of that city is the next +question. It once in our possession, and the river open to us, I +would not hesitate to cross the State of Georgia with sixty +thousand men, hauling some stores, and depending on the country for +the balance. Where a million of people find subsistence, my army +won't starve; but, as you know, in a country like Georgia, with few +roads and innumerable streams, an inferior force can so delay an +army and harass it, that it would not be a formidable object; but +if the enemy knew that we had our boats in the Savannah River I +could rapidly move to Milledgeville, where there is abundance of +corn and meat, and could so threaten Macon and Augusta that the +enemy world doubtless give up Macon for Augusta; then I would move +so as to interpose between Augusta and Savannah, and force him to +give us Augusta, with the only powder-mills and factories remaining +in the South, or let us have the use of the Savannah River. Either +horn of the dilemma will be worth a battle. I would prefer his +holding Augusta (as the probabilities are); for then, with the +Savannah River in our possession, the taking of Augusta would be a +mere matter of time. This campaign can be made in the winter. + +But the more I study the game, the more am I convinced that it +would be wrong for us to penetrate farther into Georgia without an +objective beyond. It would not be productive of much good. I can +start east and make a circuit south and back, doing vast damage to +the State, but resulting in no permanent good; and by mere +threatening to do so, I hold a rod over the Georgians, who are not +over-loyal to the South. I will therefore give it as my opinion +that your army and Canby's should be reinforced to the maximum; +that, after you get Wilmington, you should strike for Savannah and +its river; that General Canby should hold the Mississippi River, +and send a force to take Columbus, Georgia, either by way of the +Alabama or Appalachicola River; that I should keep Hood employed +and put my army in fine order for a march on Augusta, Columbia, and +Charleston; and start as soon as Wilmington is sealed to commerce, +and the city of Savannah is in our possession. + +I think it will be found that the movements of Price and Shelby, +west of the Mississippi, are mere diversions. They cannot hope to +enter Missouri except as raiders; and the truth is, that General +Rosecrans should be ashamed to take my troops for such a purpose. +If you will secure Wilmington and the city of Savannah from your +centre, and let General Canby leave command over the Mississippi +River and country west of it, I will send a force to the Alabama +and Appalachicola, provided you give me one hundred thousand of the +drafted men to fill up my old regiments; and if you will fix a day +to be in Savannah, I will insure our possession of Macon and a +point on the river below Augusta. The possession of the Savannah +River is more than fatal to the possibility of Southern +independence. They may stand the fall of Richmond, but not of all +Georgia. + +I will have a long talk with Colonel Porter, and tell him every +thing that may occur to me of interest to you. + +In the mean time, know that I admire your dogged perseverance and +pluck more than ever. If you can whip Lee and I can march to the +Atlantic, I think Uncle Abe will give us a twenty days' leave of +absence to see the young folks. + +Yours as ever, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, +WASHINGTON, September 16, 1864. + +General W. T. SHERMAN, Atlanta, Georgia. + +My DEAR GENERAL: Your very interesting letter of the 4th is just +received. Its perusal has given me the greatest pleasure. I have +not written before to congratulate you on the capture of Atlanta, +the objective point of your brilliant campaign, for the reason that +I have been suffering from my annual attack of "coryza," or +hay-cold. It affects my eyes so much that I can scarcely see to +write. As you suppose, I have watched your movements most +attentively and critically, and I do not hesitate to say that your +campaign has been the most brilliant of the war. Its results are +less striking and less complete than those of General Grant at +Vicksburg, but then you have had greater difficulties to encounter, +a longer line of communications to keep up, and a longer and more +continuous strain upon yourself and upon your army. + +You must have been very considerably annoyed by the State negro +recruiting-agents. Your letter was a capital one, and did much +good. The law was a ridiculous one; it was opposed by the War +Department, but passed through the influence of Eastern +manufacturers, who hoped to escape the draft in that way. They +were making immense fortunes out of the war, and could well afford +to purchase negro recruits, and thus save their employees at home. + +I fully agree with you in regard to the policy of a stringent +draft; but, unfortunately, political influences are against us, and +I fear it will not amount to much. Mr. Seward's speech at Auburn, +again prophesying, for the twentieth time, that the rebellion would +be crushed in a few months, and saying that there would be no +draft, as we now had enough soldiers to end the war, etc., has done +much harm, in a military point of view. I have seen enough of +politics here to last me for life. You are right in avoiding them. +McClellan may possibly reach the White House, but he will lose the +respect of all honest, high-minded patriots, by his affiliation +with such traitors and Copperheads as B---, V---, W---, S---, & Co. +He would not stand upon the traitorous Chicago platform, but he had +not the manliness to oppose it. A major-general in the United +States Army, and yet not one word to utter against rebels or the +rebellion! I had much respect for McClellan before he became a +politician, but very little after reading his letter accepting the +nomination. + +Hooker certainly made a mistake in leaving before the capture of +Atlanta. I understand that, when here, he said that you would +fail; your army was discouraged and dissatisfied, etc., etc. He is +most unmeasured in his abuse of me. I inclose you a specimen of +what he publishes in Northern papers, wherever he goes. They are +dictated by himself and written by W. B. and such worthies. The +funny part of the business is, that I had nothing whatever to do +with his being relieved on either occasion. Moreover, I have never +said any thing to the President or Secretary of War to injure him +in the slightest degree, and he knows that perfectly well. His +animosity arises from another source. He is aware that I know some +things about his character and conduct in California, and, fearing +that I may use that information against him, he seeks to ward off +its effect by making it appear that I am his personal enemy, am +jealous of him, etc. I know of no other reason for his hostility +to me. He is welcome to abuse me as much as he pleases; I don't +think it will do him much good, or me much harm. I know very +little of General Howard, but believe him to be a true, honorable +man. Thomas is also a noble old war-horse. It is true, as you +say, that he is slow, but he is always sure. + +I have not seen General Grant since the fall of Atlanta, and do not +know what instructions he has sent you. I fear that Canby has not +the means to do much by way of Mobile. The military effects of +Banks's disaster are now showing themselves by the threatened +operations of Price & Co. toward Missouri, thus keeping in check +our armies west of the Mississippi. + +With many thanks for your kind letter, and wishes for your future +success, yours truly, + +H. W. HALLECK. + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +ATLANTA, GEORGIA, September 20, 1864. + +Major General HALLECK, Chief of Staff, Washington D.C. + +GENERAL: I have the honor herewith to submit copies of a +correspondence between General Hood, of the Confederate Army, the +Mayor of Atlanta, and myself, touching the removal of the +inhabitants of Atlanta. + +In explanation of the tone which marks some of these letters, I +will only call your attention to the fact that, after I had +announced my determination, General Hood took upon himself to +question my motives. I could not tamely submit to such +impertinence; and I have also seen that, in violation of all +official usage, he has published in the Macon newspapers such parts +of the correspondence as suited his purpose. This could have had +no other object than to create a feeling on the part of the people; +but if he expects to resort to such artifices, I think I can meet +him there too. + +It is sufficient for my Government to know that the removal of the +inhabitants has been made with liberality and fairness, that it has +been attended with no force, and that no women or children have +suffered, unless for want of provisions by their natural protectors +and friends. + +My real reasons for this step were: + +We want all the houses of Atlanta for military storage and +occupation. + +We want to contract the lines of defense, so as to diminish the +garrison to the limit necessary to defend its narrow and vital +parts, instead of embracing, as the lines now do, the vast suburbs. +This contraction of the lines, with the necessary citadels and +redoubts, will make it necessary to destroy the very houses used by +families as residences. + +Atlanta is a fortified town, was stubbornly defended, and fairly +captured. As captors, we have a right to it. + +The residence here of a poor population would compel us, sooner or +later, to feed them or to see them starve under our eyes. + +The residence here of the families of our enemies would be a +temptation and a means to keep up a correspondence dangerous and +hurtful to our cause; a civil population calls for provost-guards, +and absorbs the attention of officers in listening to everlasting +complaints and special grievances that are not military. + +These are my reasons; and, if satisfactory to the Government of the +United States, it makes no difference whether it pleases General +Hood and his people or not. I am, with respect, your obedient +servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, September 7, 1864. + +General HOOD, commanding Confederate Army. + +GENERAL: I have deemed it to the interest of the United States that +the citizens now residing in Atlanta should remove, those who +prefer it to go south, and the rest north. For the latter I can +provide food and transportation to points of their election in +Tennessee, Kentucky, or farther north. For the former I can +provide transportation by cars as far as Rough and Ready, and also +wagons; but, that their removal may be made with as little +discomfort as possible, it will be necessary for you to help the +families from Rough and Ready to the care at Lovejoy's. If you +consent, I will undertake to remove all the families in Atlanta who +prefer to go south to Rough and Ready, with all their movable +effects, viz., clothing, trunks, reasonable furniture, bedding, +etc., with their servants, white and black, with the proviso that +no force shall be used toward the blacks, one way or the other. If +they want to go with their masters or mistresses, they may do so; +otherwise they will be sent away, unless they be men, when they may +be employed by our quartermaster. Atlanta is no place for families +or non-combatants, and I have no desire to send them north if you +will assist in conveying them south. If this proposition meets +your views, I will consent to a truce in the neighborhood of Rough +and Ready, stipulating that any wagons, horses, animals, or persons +sent there for the purposes herein stated, shall in no manner be +harmed or molested; you in your turn agreeing that any care, +wagons, or carriages, persons or animals sent to the same point, +shall not be interfered with. Each of us might send a guard of, +say, one hundred men, to maintain order, and limit the truce to, +say, two days after a certain time appointed. + +I have authorized the mayor to choose two citizens to convey to you +this letter, with such documents as the mayor may forward in +explanation, and shall await your reply. I have the honor to be +your obedient servant. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + +Major General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding United States Forces in +Georgia + +GENERAL: Your letter of yesterday's date, borne by James M. Ball +and James R. Crew, citizens of Atlanta, is received. You say +therein, "I deem it to be to the interest of the United States that +the citizens now residing in Atlanta should remove," etc. I do not +consider that I have any alternative in this matter. I therefore +accept your proposition to declare a truce of two days, or such +time as may be necessary to accomplish the purpose mentioned, and +shall render all assistance in my power to expedite the +transportation of citizens in this direction. I suggest that a +staff-officer be appointed by you to superintend the removal from +the city to Rough and Ready, while I appoint a like officer to +control their removal farther south; that a guard of one hundred +men be sent by either party as you propose, to maintain order at +that place, and that the removal begin on Monday next. + +And now, sir, permit me to say that the unprecedented measure you +propose transcends, in studied and ingenious cruelty, all acts ever +before brought to my attention in the dark history of war. + +In the name of God and humanity, I protest, believing that you will +find that you are expelling from their homes and firesides the +wives and children of a brave people. I am, general, very +respectfully, your obedient servant, + +J. B. HOOD, General. + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, September 10, 1864. + +General J. B. HOOD, commanding Army of Tennessee, Confederate Army. + +GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of this date, at the hands of Messrs. Ball and Crew, consenting to +the arrangements I had proposed to facilitate the removal south of +the people of Atlanta, who prefer to go in that direction. I +inclose you a copy of my orders, which will, I am satisfied, +accomplish my purpose perfectly. + +You style the measures proposed "unprecedented," and appeal to the +dark history of war for a parallel, as an act of "studied and +ingenious cruelty." It is not unprecedented; for General Johnston +himself very wisely and properly removed the families all the way +from Dalton down, and I see no reason why Atlanta should be +excepted. Nor is it necessary to appeal to the dark history of +war, when recent and modern examples are so handy. You yourself +burned dwelling-houses along your parapet, and I have seen to-day +fifty houses that you have rendered uninhabitable because they +stood in the way of your forts and men. You defended Atlanta on a +line so close to town that every cannon-shot and many musket-shots +from our line of investment, that overshot their mark, went into +the habitations of women and children. General Hardee did the same +at Jonesboro, and General Johnston did the same, last summer, at +Jackson, Mississippi. I have not accused you of heartless cruelty, +but merely instance these cases of very recent occurrence, and +could go on and enumerate hundreds of others, and challenge any +fair man to judge which of us has the heart of pity for the +families of a "brave people." + +I say that it is kindness to these families of Atlanta to remove +them now, at once, from scenes that women and children should not +be exposed to, and the "brave people" should scorn to commit their +wives and children to the rude barbarians who thus, as you say, +violate the laws of war, as illustrated in the pages of its dark +history. + +In the name of common-sense, I ask you not to appeal to a just God +in such a sacrilegious manner. You who, in the midst of peace and +prosperity, have plunged a nation into war--dark and cruel war--who +dared and badgered us to battle, insulted our flag, seized our +arsenals and forts that were left in the honorable custody of +peaceful ordnance-sergeants, seized and made "prisoners of war" the +very garrisons sent to protect your people against negroes and +Indians, long before any overt act was committed by the (to you) +hated Lincoln Government; tried to force Kentucky and Missouri into +rebellion, spite of themselves; falsified the vote of Louisiana; +turned loose your privateers to plunder unarmed ships; expelled +Union families by the thousands, burned their houses, and declared, +by an act of your Congress, the confiscation of all debts due +Northern men for goods had and received! Talk thus to the marines, +but not to me, who have seen these things, and who will this day +make as much sacrifice for the peace and honor of the South as the +best-born Southerner among you! If we must be enemies, let us be +men, and fight it out as we propose to do, and not deal in arch +hypocritical appeals to God and humanity. God will judge us in due +time, and he will pronounce whether it be more humane to fight with +a town full of women and the families of a brave people at our back +or to remove them in time to places of safety among their own +friends and people. +I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE +September 12, 1864 + +Major-General W. T, SHERMAN, commanding Military Division of the +Mississippi. + + +GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter +of the 9th inst., with its inclosure in reference to the women, +children, and others, whom you have thought proper to expel from +their homes in the city of Atlanta. Had you seen proper to let the +matter rest there, I would gladly have allowed your letter to close +this correspondence, and, without your expressing it in words, +would have been willing to believe that, while "the interests of +the United States," in your opinion, compelled you to an act of +barbarous cruelty, you regretted the necessity, and we would have +dropped the subject; but you have chosen to indulge in statements +which I feel compelled to notice, at least so far as to signify my +dissent, and not allow silence in regard to them to be construed as +acquiescence. + +I see nothing in your communication which induces me to modify the +language of condemnation with which I characterized your order. It +but strengthens me in the opinion that it stands "preeminent in the +dark history of war for studied and ingenious cruelty." Your +original order was stripped of all pretenses; you announced the +edict for the sole reason that it was "to the interest of the +United States." This alone you offered to us and the civilized +world as an all-sufficient reason for disregarding the laws of God +and man. You say that "General Johnston himself very wisely and +properly removed the families all the way from Dalton down." It is +due to that gallant soldier and gentleman to say that no act of his +distinguished career gives the least color to your unfounded +aspersions upon his conduct. He depopulated no villages, nor +towns, nor cities, either friendly or hostile. He offered and +extended friendly aid to his unfortunate fellow-citizens who +desired to flee from your fraternal embraces. You are equally +unfortunate in your attempt to find a justification for this act of +cruelty, either in the defense of Jonesboro, by General Hardee, or +of Atlanta, by myself. General Hardee defended his position in +front of Jonesboro at the expense of injury to the houses; an +ordinary, proper, and justifiable act of war. I defended Atlanta +at the same risk and cost. If there was any fault in either case, +it was your own, in not giving notice, especially in the case of +Atlanta, of your purpose to shell the town, which is usual in war +among civilized nations. No inhabitant was expelled from his home +and fireside by the orders of General Hardee or myself, and +therefore your recent order can find no support from the conduct of +either of us. I feel no other emotion other than pain in reading +that portion of your letter which attempts to justify your shelling +Atlanta without notice under pretense that I defended Atlanta upon +a line so close to town that every cannon-shot and many +musket-balls from your line of investment, that overshot their mark, +went into the habitations of women and children. I made no complaint +of your firing into Atlanta in any way you thought proper. I make +none now, but there are a hundred thousand witnesses that you fired +into the habitations of women and children for weeks, firing far +above and miles beyond my line of defense. I have too good an +opinion, founded both upon observation and experience, of the skill +of your artillerists, to credit the insinuation that they for several +weeks unintentionally fired too high for my modest field-works, and +slaughtered women and children by accident and want of skill. + +The residue of your letter is rather discussion. It opens a wide +field for the discussion of questions which I do not feel are +committed to me. I am only a general of one of the armies of the +Confederate States, charged with military operations in the field, +under the direction of my superior officers, and I am not called +upon to discuss with you the causes of the present war, or the +political questions which led to or resulted from it. These grave +and important questions have been committed to far abler hands than +mine, and I shall only refer to them so far as to repel any unjust +conclusion which might be drawn from my silence. You charge my +country with "daring and badgering you to battle." The truth is, +we sent commissioners to you, respectfully offering a peaceful +separation, before the first gun was fired on either aide. You say +we insulted your flag. The truth is, we fired upon it, and those +who fought under it, when you came to our doors upon the mission of +subjugation. You say we seized upon your forts and arsenals, and +made prisoners of the garrisons sent to protect us against negroes +and Indians. The truth is, we, by force of arms, drove out +insolent intruders and took possession of our own forts and +arsenals, to resist your claims to dominion over masters, slaves, +and Indians, all of whom are to this day, with a unanimity +unexampled in the history of the world, warring against your +attempts to become their masters. You say that we tried to force +Missouri and Kentucky into rebellion in spite of themselves. The +truth is, my Government, from the beginning of this struggle to +this hour, has again and again offered, before the whole world, to +leave it to the unbiased will of these States, and all others, to +determine for themselves whether they will cast their destiny with +your Government or ours; and your Government has resisted this +fundamental principle of free institutions with the bayonet, and +labors daily, by force and fraud, to fasten its hateful tyranny +upon the unfortunate freemen of these States. You say we falsified +the vote of Louisiana. The truth is, Louisiana not only separated +herself from your Government by nearly a unanimous vote of her +people, but has vindicated the act upon every battle-field from +Gettysburg to the Sabine, and has exhibited an heroic devotion to +her decision which challenges the admiration and respect of every +man capable of feeling sympathy for the oppressed or admiration for +heroic valor. You say that we turned loose pirates to plunder your +unarmed ships. The truth is, when you robbed us of our part of the +navy, we built and bought a few vessels, hoisted the flag of our +country, and swept the seas, in defiance of your navy, around the +whole circumference of the globe. You say we have expelled Union +families by thousands. The truth is, not a single family has been +expelled from the Confederate States, that I am aware of; but, on +the contrary, the moderation of our Government toward traitors has +been a fruitful theme of denunciation by its enemies and +well-meaning friends of our cause. You say my Government, by acts +of Congress, has confiscated "all debts due Northern men for goods +sold and delivered." The truth is, our Congress gave due and ample +time to your merchants and traders to depart from our shores with +their ships, goods, and effects, and only sequestrated the property +of our enemies in retaliation for their acts--declaring us +traitors, and confiscating our property wherever their power +extended, either in their country or our own. Such are your +accusations, and such are the facts known of all men to be true. + +You order into exile the whole population of a city; drive men, +women and children from their homes at the point of the bayonet, +under the plea that it is to the interest of your Government, and +on the claim that it is "an act of kindness to these families of +Atlanta." Butler only banished from New Orleans the registered +enemies of his Government, and acknowledged that he did it as a +punishment. You issue a sweeping edict, covering all the +inhabitants of a city, and add insult to the injury heaped upon the +defenseless by assuming that you have done them a kindness. This +you follow by the assertion that you will "make as much sacrifice +for the peace and honor of the South as the best-born Southerner." +And, because I characterize what you call as kindness as being real +cruelty, you presume to sit in judgment between me and my God; and +you decide that my earnest prayer to the Almighty Father to save +our women and children from what you call kindness, is a +"sacrilegious, hypocritical appeal." + +You came into our country with your army, avowedly for the purpose +of subjugating free white men, women, and children, and not only +intend to rule over them, but you make negroes your allies, and +desire to place over us an inferior race, which we have raised from +barbarism to its present position, which is the highest ever +attained by that race, in any country, in all time. I must, +therefore, decline to accept your statements in reference to your +kindness toward the people of Atlanta, and your willingness to +sacrifice every thing for the peace and honor of the South, and +refuse to be governed by your decision in regard to matters between +myself, my country, and my God. + +You say, "Let us fight it out like men." To this my reply is--for +myself, and I believe for all the free men, ay, and women and +children, in my country--we will fight you to the death! Better +die a thousand deaths than submit to live under you or your +Government and your negro allies! + +Having answered the points forced upon me by your letter of the 9th +of September, I close this correspondence with you; and, +notwithstanding your comments upon my appeal to God in the cause of +humanity, I again humbly and reverently invoke his almighty aid in +defense of justice and right. Respectfully, your obedient servant, + +J. B. HOOD, General. + + +ATLANTA, GEORGIA, September 11, 1864 +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN. + +Sir: We the undersigned, Mayor and two of the Council for the city +of Atlanta, for the time being the only legal organ of the people +of the said city, to express their wants and wishes, ask leave most +earnestly but respectfully to petition you to reconsider the order +requiring them to leave Atlanta. + +At first view, it struck us that the measure world involve +extraordinary hardship and loss, but since we have seen the +practical execution of it so far as it has progressed, and the +individual condition of the people, and heard their statements as +to the inconveniences, loss, and suffering attending it, we are +satisfied that the amount of it will involve in the aggregate +consequences appalling and heart-rending. + +Many poor women are in advanced state of pregnancy, others now +having young children, and whose husbands for the greater part are +either in the army, prisoners, or dead. Some say: "I have such a +one sick at my house; who will wait on them when I am gone?" +Others say: "What are we to do? We have no house to go to, and no +means to buy, build, or rent any; no parents, relatives, or +friends, to go to." Another says: "I will try and take this or +that article of property, but such and such things I must leave +behind, though I need them much." We reply to them: "General +Sherman will carry your property to Rough and Ready, and General +Hood will take it thence on." And they will reply to that: "But I +want to leave the railroad at such a place, and cannot get +conveyance from there on." + +We only refer to a few facts, to try to illustrate in part how this +measure will operate in practice. As you advanced, the people +north of this fell back; and before your arrival here, a large +portion of the people had retired south, so that the country south +of this is already crowded, and without houses enough to +accommodate the people, and we are informed that many are now +staying in churches and other out-buildings. + +This being so, how is it possible for the people still here (mostly +women and children) to find any shelter? And how can they live +through the winter in the woods--no shelter or subsistence, in the +midst of strangers who know them not, and without the power to +assist them much, if they were willing to do so? + +This is but a feeble picture of the consequences of this measure. +You know the woe, the horrors, and the suffering, cannot be +described by words; imagination can only conceive of it, and we ask +you to take these things into consideration. + +We know your mind and time are constantly occupied with the duties +of your command, which almost deters us from asking your attention +to this matter, but thought it might be that you had not considered +this subject in all of its awful consequences, and that on more +reflection you, we hope, would not make this people an exception to +all mankind, for we know of no such instance ever having occurred +--surely never in the United States--and what has this helpless +people done, that they should be driven from their homes, to wander +strangers and outcasts, and exiles, and to subsist on charity? + +We do not know as yet the number of people still here; of those who +are here, we are satisfied a respectable number, if allowed to +remain at home, could subsist for several months without +assistance, and a respectable number for a much longer time, and +who might not need assistance at any time. + +In conclusion, we most earnestly and solemnly petition you to +reconsider this order, or modify it, and suffer this unfortunate +people to remain at home, and enjoy what little means they have. +Respectfully submitted +JAMES M. CALHOUN, Mayor. +E. E. RAWSON, Councilman. +S. C. Warns, Councilman. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, September 12, 1864. + +JAMES M. CALHOUN, Mayor, E. E. RAWSON and S. C. Wares, representing +City Council of Atlanta. + +GENTLEMEN: I have your letter of the 11th, in the nature of a +petition to revoke my orders removing all the inhabitants from +Atlanta. I have read it carefully, and give full credit to your +statements of the distress that will be occasioned, and yet shall +not revoke my orders, because they were not designed to meet the +humanities of the case, but to prepare for the future struggles in +which millions of good people outside of Atlanta have a deep +interest. We must have peace, not only at Atlanta, but in all +America. To secure this, we must stop the war that now desolates +our once happy and favored country. To stop war, we must defeat +the rebel armies which are arrayed against the laws and +Constitution that all must respect and obey. To defeat those +armies, we must prepare the way to reach them in their recesses, +provided with the arms and instruments which enable us to +accomplish our purpose. Now, I know the vindictive nature of our +enemy, that we may have many years of military operations from this +quarter; and, therefore, deem it wise and prudent to prepare in +time. The use of Atlanta for warlike purposes is inconsistent with +its character as a home for families. There will be no +manufactures, commerce, or agriculture here, for the maintenance of +families, and sooner or later want will compel the inhabitants to +go. Why not go now, when all the arrangements are completed for +the transfer,--instead of waiting till the plunging shot of +contending armies will renew the scenes of the past months. Of +course, I do not apprehend any such thing at this moment, but you +do not suppose this army will be here until the war is over. I +cannot discuss this subject with you fairly, because I cannot +impart to you what we propose to do, but I assert that our military +plans make it necessary for the inhabitants to go away, and I can +only renew my offer of services to make their exodus in any +direction as easy and comfortable as possible. + +You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is +cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into +our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can +pour out. I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I +will make more sacrifices to-day than any of you to secure peace. +But you cannot have peace and a division of our country. If the +United States submits to a division now, it will not stop, but will +go on until we reap the fate of Mexico, which is eternal war. The +United States does and must assert its authority, wherever it once +had power; for, if it relaxes one bit to pressure, it is gone, and +I believe that such is the national feeling. This feeling assumes +various shapes, but always comes back to that of Union. Once admit +the Union, once more acknowledge the authority of the national +Government, and, instead of devoting your houses and streets and +roads to the dread uses of war, I and this army become at once your +protectors and supporters, shielding you from danger, let it come +from what quarter it may. I know that a few individuals cannot +resist a torrent of error and passion, such as swept the South into +rebellion, but you can point out, so that we may know those who +desire a government, and those who insist on war and its +desolation. + +You might as well appeal against the thunder-storm as against these +terrible hardships of war. They are inevitable, and the only way +the people of Atlanta can hope once more to live in peace and quiet +at home, is to stop the war, which can only be done by admitting +that it began in error and is perpetuated in pride. + +We don't want your negroes, or your horses, or your houses, or your +lands, or any thing you have, but we do want and will have a just +obedience to the laws of the United States. That we will have, +and, if it involves the destruction of your improvements, we cannot +help it. + +You have heretofore read public sentiment in your newspapers, that +live by falsehood and excitement; and the quicker you seek for +truth in other quarters, the better. I repeat then that, by the +original compact of Government, the United States had certain +rights in Georgia, which have never been relinquished and never +will be; that the South began war by seizing forts, arsenals, +mints, custom-houses, etc., etc., long before Mr. Lincoln was +installed, and before the South had one jot or tittle of +provocation. I myself have seen in Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, +and Mississippi, hundreds and thousands of women and children +fleeing from your armies and desperadoes, hungry and with bleeding +feet. In Memphis, Vicksburg, and Mississippi, we fed thousands +upon thousands of the families of rebel soldiers left on our hands, +and whom we could not see starve. Now that war comes home to you; +you feel very different. You deprecate its horrors, but did not +feel them when you sent car-loads of soldiers and ammunition, and +moulded shells and shot, to carry war into Kentucky and Tennessee, +to desolate the homes of hundreds and thousands of good people who +only asked to live in peace at their old homes, and under the +Government of their inheritance. But these comparisons are idle. +I want peace, and believe it can only be reached through union and +war, and I will ever conduct war with a view to perfect and early +success. + +But, my dear sirs, when peace does come, you may call on me for any +thing. Then will I share with you the last cracker, and watch with +you to shield your homes and families against danger from every +quarter. + +Now you must go, and take with you the old and feeble, feed and +nurse them, and build for them, in more quiet places, proper +habitations to shield them against the weather until the mad +passions of men cool down, and allow the Union and peace once more +to settle over your old homes at Atlanta. Yours in haste, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, September 14, 1864. + +General J. B. HOOD, commanding Army of the Tennessee, Confederate +Army. + +GENERAL: Yours of September 12th is received, and has been +carefully perused. I agree with you that this discussion by two +soldiers is out of place, and profitless; but you must admit that +you began the controversy by characterizing an official act of mine +in unfair and improper terms. I reiterate my former answer, and to +the only new matter contained in your rejoinder add: We have no +"negro allies" in this army; not a single negro soldier left +Chattanooga with this army, or is with it now. There are a few +guarding Chattanooga, which General Steedman sent at one time to +drive Wheeler out of Dalton. + +I was not bound by the laws of war to give notice of the shelling +of Atlanta, a "fortified town, with magazines, arsenals, +founderies, and public stores;" you were bound to take notice. See +the books. + +This is the conclusion of our correspondence, which I did not +begin, and terminate with satisfaction. I am, with respect, your +obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY +WASHINGTON, September 28, 1864, + +Major-General SHERMAN, Atlanta, Georgia. + +GENERAL: Your communications of the 20th in regard to the removal +of families from Atlanta, and the exchange of prisoners, and also +the official report of your campaign, are just received. I have +not had time as yet to examine your report. The course which you +have pursued in removing rebel families from Atlanta, and in the +exchange of prisoners, is fully approved by the War Department. +Not only are you justified by the laws and usages of war in +removing these people, but I think it was your duty to your own +army to do so. Moreover, I am fully of opinion that the nature of +your position, the character of the war, the conduct of the enemy +(and especially of non-combatants and women of the territory which +we have heretofore conquered and occupied), will justify you in +gathering up all the forage and provisions which your army may +require, both for a siege of Atlanta and for your supply in your +march farther into the enemy's country. Let the disloyal families +of the country, thus stripped, go to their husbands, fathers, and +natural protectors, in the rebel ranks; we have tried three years +of conciliation and kindness without any reciprocation; on the +contrary, those thus treated have acted as spies and guerrillas in +our rear and within our lines. The safety of our armies, and a +proper regard for the lives of our soldiers, require that we apply +to our inexorable foes the severe rules of war. We certainly are +not required to treat the so-called non-combatant rebels better +than they themselves treat each other. Even herein Virginia, +within fifty miles of Washington, they strip their own families of +provisions, leaving them, as our army advances, to be fed by us, or +to starve within our lines. We have fed this class of people long +enough. Let them go with their husbands and fathers in the rebel +ranks; and if they won't go, we must send them to their friends and +natural protectors. I would destroy every mill and factory within +reach which I did not want for my own use. This the rebels have +done, not only in Maryland and Pennsylvania, but also in Virginia +and other rebel States, when compelled to fall back before our +armies. In many sections of the country they have not left a mill +to grind grain for their own suffering families, lest we might use +them to supply our armies. We most do the same. + +I have endeavored to impress these views upon our commanders for +the last two years. You are almost the only one who has properly +applied them. I do not approve of General Hunter's course in +burning private homes or uselessly destroying private property. +That is barbarous. But I approve of taking or destroying whatever +may serve as supplies to us or to the enemy's army. + +Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +H. W. HALLECK, Major-General, Chief of Staff + + +In order to effect the exchange of prisoners, to facilitate the +exodus of the people of Atlanta, and to keep open communication +with the South, we established a neutral camp, at and about the +railroad-station next south of Atlanta, known as "Rough and Ready," +to which point I dispatched Lieutenant-Colonel Willard Warner, of +my staff, with a guard of one hundred men, and General Hood sent +Colonel Clare, of his staff, with a similar guard; these officers +and men harmonized perfectly, and parted good friends when their +work was done. In the mean time I also had reconnoitred the entire +rebel lines about Atlanta, which were well built, but were entirely +too extensive to be held by a single corps or division of troops, +so I instructed Colonel Poe, United States Engineers, on my staff, +to lay off an inner and shorter line, susceptible of defense by a +smaller garrison. + +By the middle of September all these matters were in progress, the +reports of the past campaign were written up and dispatched to +Washington, and our thoughts began to turn toward the future. +Admiral Farragut had boldly and successfully run the forts at the +entrance to Mobile Bay, which resulted in the capture of Fort +Morgan, so that General Canby was enabled to begin his regular +operations against Mobile City, with a view to open the Alabama +River to navigation. My first thoughts were to concert operations +with him, either by way of Montgomery, Alabama, or by the +Appalachicula; but so long a line, to be used as a base for further +operations eastward, was not advisable, and I concluded to await +the initiative of the enemy, supposing that he would be forced to +resort to some desperate campaign by the clamor raised at the South +on account of the great loss to them of the city of Atlanta. + +General Thomas occupied a house on Marietta Streets which had a +veranda with high pillars. We were sitting there one evening, +talking about things generally, when General Thomas asked leave to +send his trains back to Chattanooga, for the convenience and +economy of forage. I inquired of him if he supposed we would be +allowed much rest at Atlanta, and he said he thought we would, or +that at all events it would not be prudent for us to go much +farther into Georgia because of our already long line of +communication, viz., three hundred miles from Nashville. This was +true; but there we were, and we could not afford to remain on the +defensive, simply holding Atlanta and fighting for the safety of +its railroad. I insisted on his retaining all trains, and on +keeping all his divisions ready to move at a moment's warning. All +the army, officers and men, seemed to relax more or less, and sink +into a condition of idleness. General Schofield was permitted to +go to Knoxville, to look after matters in his Department of the +Ohio; and Generals Blair and Logan went home to look after +politics. Many of the regiments were entitled to, and claimed, +their discharge, by reason of the expiration of their term of +service; so that with victory and success came also many causes of +disintegration. + +The rebel General Wheeler was still in Middle Tennessee, +threatening our railroads, and rumors came that Forrest was on his +way from Mississippi to the same theatre, for the avowed purpose of +breaking up our railroads and compelling us to fall back from our +conquest. To prepare for this, or any other emergency, I ordered +Newton's division of the Fourth Corps back to Chattanooga, and +Corse's division of the Seventeenth Corps to Rome, and instructed +General Rousseau at Nashville, Granger at Decatur, and Steadman at +Chattanooga, to adopt the most active measures to protect and +insure the safety of our roads. + +Hood still remained about Lovejoy's Station, and, up to the 15th of +September, had given no signs of his future plans; so that with +this date I close the campaign of Atlanta, with the following +review of our relative losses during the months of August and +September, with a summary of those for the whole campaign, +beginning May 6 and ending September 15, 1864. The losses for +August and September are added together, so as to include those +about Jonesboro: + + + Killed and Missing Wounded Total + Grand Aggregate..... 1,408 3,731 5,139 + + + +Hood's losses, as reported for the same period, page 577, +Johnston's "Narrative:" + + Killed Wounded Total + 482 3,223 3,705 + +To which should be added: + + Prisoners captured by us:............ 3,738 + + Giving his total loss ............... 7,440 + + +On recapitulating the entire losses of each army during the entire +campaign, from May to September, inclusive, we have, in the Union +army, as per table appended: + +Killed ........................ 4,423 +Wounded ....................... 22,822 +Missing........................ 4,442 + Aggregate Loss ......... 31,627 + + +In the Southern army, according to the reports of Surgeon Foard +(pp. 576, 577, Johnston's "Narrative ") + + Total killed ................ 3,044 + Total killed and wounded..... 21,996 + Prisoners captured by us .... 12,983 + + Aggregate loss to the + Southern Army .......... 34,979 + + +The foregoing figures are official, and are very nearly correct. I +see no room for error save in the cavalry, which was very much +scattered, and whose reports are much less reliable than of the +infantry and artillery; but as Surgeon Foard's tables do not +embrace Wheeler's, Jackson's, and Martin's divisions of cavalry, I +infer that the comparison, as to cavalry losses, is a "stand-off." + +I have no doubt that the Southern officers flattered themselves +that they had filled and crippled of us two and even six to one, as +stated by Johnston; but they were simply mistaken, and I herewith +submit official tabular statements made up from the archives of the +War Department, in proof thereof. + + +I have also had a careful tabular statement compiled from official +records in the adjutant-general's office, giving the "effective +strength" of the army under my command for each of the months of +May, June, July, August, and September, 1864, which enumerate every +man (infantry, artillery, and cavalry) for duty. The +recapitulation clearly exhibits the actual truth. We opened the +campaign with 98,797 (ninety-eight thousand seven hundred and +ninety-seven) men. Blair's two divisions joined us early in June, +giving 112,819 (one hundred and twelve thousand eight hundred and +nineteen), which number gradually became reduced to 106,070 (one +hundred and six thousand and seventy men), 91,675 (ninety-one +thousand six hundred and seventy-five), and 81,758 (eighty-one +thousand seven hundred and fifty-eight) at the end of the campaign. +This gradual reduction was not altogether owing to death and +wounds, but to the expiration of service, or by detachments sent to +points at the rear. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +ATLANTA AND AFTER--PURSUIT OF HOOD. + +SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, 1864. + + +By the middle of September, matters and things had settled down in +Atlanta, so that we felt perfectly at home. The telegraph and +railroads were repaired, and we had uninterrupted communication to +the rear. The trains arrived with regularity and dispatch, and +brought us ample supplies. General Wheeler had been driven out of +Middle Tennessee, escaping south across the Tennessee River at +Bainbridge; and things looked as though we were to have a period of +repose. + +One day, two citizens, Messrs. Hill and Foster, came into our lines +at Decatur, and were sent to my headquarters. They represented +themselves as former members of Congress, and particular friends of +my brother John Sherman; that Mr. Hill had a son killed in the +rebel army as it fell back before us somewhere near Cassville, and +they wanted to obtain the body, having learned from a comrade where +it was buried. I gave them permission to go by rail to the rear, +with a note to the commanding officer, General John E. Smith, at +Cartersville, requiring him to furnish them an escort and an +ambulance for the purpose. I invited them to take dinner with our +mess, and we naturally ran into a general conversation about +politics and the devastation and ruin caused by the war. They had +seen a part of the country over which the army had passed, and +could easily apply its measure of desolation to the remainder of +the State, if necessity should compel us to go ahead. + +Mr. Hill resided at Madison, on the main road to Augusta, and +seemed to realize fully the danger; said that further resistance on +the part of the South was madness, that he hoped Governor Brown, of +Georgia, would so proclaim it, and withdraw his people from the +rebellion, in pursuance of what was known as the policy of +"separate State action." I told him, if he saw Governor Brown, to +describe to him fully what he had seen, and to say that if he +remained inert, I would be compelled to go ahead, devastating the +State in its whole length and breadth; that there was no adequate +force to stop us, etc.; but if he would issue his proclamation +withdrawing his State troops from the armies of the Confederacy, I +would spare the State, and in our passage across it confine the +troops to the main roads, and would, moreover, pay for all the corn +and food we needed. I also told Mr. Hill that he might, in my +name, invite Governor Brown to visit Atlanta; that I would give him +a safeguard, and that if he wanted to make a speech, I would +guarantee him as full and respectable an audience as any he had +ever spoken to. I believe that Mr. Hill, after reaching his home +at Madison, went to Milledgeville, the capital of the State, and +delivered the message to Governor Brown. I had also sent similar +messages by Judge Wright of Rome, Georgia, and by Mr. King, of +Marietta. On the 15th of September I telegraphed to General +Halleck as follows: + + +My report is done, and will be forwarded as soon as I get in a few +more of the subordinate reports. I am awaiting a courier from +General Grant. All well; the troops are in good, healthy camps, +and supplies are coming forward finely. Governor Brown has +disbanded his militia, to gather the corn and sorghum of the State. +I have reason to believe that he and Stephens want to visit me, and +have sent them hearty invitation. I will exchange two thousand +prisoners with Hood, but no more. + + +Governor Brown's action at that time is fully explained by the +following letter, since made public, which was then only known to +us in part by hearsay: + + +EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT +MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA, September 10, 1864 + +General J. B. HOOD, commanding army of Tennessee. + +GENERAL: As the militia of the State were called out for the +defense of Atlanta during the campaign against it, which has +terminated by the fall of the city into the hands of the enemy, and +as many of these left their homes without preparation (expecting to +be gone but a few weeks), who have remained in service over three +months (most of the time in the trenches), justice requires that +they be permitted, while the enemy are preparing for the winter +campaign, to return to their homes, and look for a time after +important interests, and prepare themselves for such service as may +be required when another campaign commences against other important +points in the State. I therefore hereby withdraw said organization +from your command . . . . + +JOSEPH C. BROWN + + +This militia had composed a division under command of Major-General +Gustavus W. Smith, and were thus dispersed to their homes, to +gather the corn and sorghum, then ripe and ready for the +harvesters. + +On the 17th I received by telegraph from President Lincoln this +dispatch: + + +WASHINGTON, D.C., September 17, 1864 + +Major-General SHERMAN: + +I feel great interest in the subjects of your dispatch, mentioning +corn and sorghum, and the contemplated visit to you. + +A. LINCOLN, President of the United States. + + +I replied at once: + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, September 17, 1864. + +President LINCOLN, Washington., D. C.: + +I will keep the department fully advised of all developments +connected with the subject in which you feel interested. + + +Mr. Wright, former member of Congress from Rome, Georgia, and Mr. +King, of Marietta, are now going between Governor Brown and myself. +I have said to them that some of the people of Georgia are engaged +in rebellion, began in error and perpetuated in pride, but that +Georgia can now save herself from the devastations of war preparing +for her, only by withdrawing her quota out of the Confederate Army, +and aiding me to expel Hood from the borders of the State; in which +event, instead of desolating the land as we progress, I will keep +our men to the high-roads and commons, and pay for the corn and +meat we need and take. + +I am fully conscious of the delicate nature of such assertions, but +it would be a magnificent stroke of policy if we could, without +surrendering principle or a foot of ground, arouse the latent +enmity of Georgia against Davis. + +The people do not hesitate to say that Mr. Stephens was and is a +Union man at heart; and they say that Davis will not trust him or +let him have a share in his Government. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +I have not the least doubt that Governor Brown, at that time, +seriously entertained the proposition; but he hardly felt ready to +act, and simply gave a furlough to the militia, and called a +special session of the Legislature, to meet at Milledgeville, to +take into consideration the critical condition of affairs in the +State. + +On the 20th of September Colonel Horace Porter arrived from General +Grant, at City Point, bringing me the letter of September 12th, +asking my general views as to what should next be done. He staid +several days at Atlanta, and on his return carried back to +Washington my full reports of the past campaign, and my letter of +September 20th to General Grant in answer to his of the 12th. + +About this time we detected signs of activity on the part of the +enemy. On the 21st Hood shifted his army across from the Mason +road, at Lovejoy's, to the West Point road, at Palmetto Station, +and his cavalry appeared on the west side of the Chattahoochee, +toward Powder Springs; thus, as it were, stepping aside, and +opening wide the door for us to enter Central Georgia. I inferred, +however, that his real purpose was to assume the offensive against +our railroads, and on the 24th a heavy force of cavalry from +Mississippi, under General Forrest, made its appearance at Athena, +Alabama, and captured its garrison. + +General Newton's division (of the Fourth Corps), and Corse's (of +the Seventeenth), were sent back by rail, the former to +Chattanooga, and the latter to Rome. On the 25th I telegraphed to +General Halleck: + +Hood seems to be moving, as it were, to the Alabama line, leaving +open the road to Mason, as also to Augusta; but his cavalry is busy +on all our roads. A force, number estimated as high as eight +thousand, are reported to have captured Athena, Alabama; and a +regiment of three hundred and fifty men sent to its relief. I have +sent Newton's division up to Chattanooga in cars, and will send +another division to Rome. If I were sure that Savannah would soon +be in our possession, I should be tempted to march for +Milledgeville and Augusta; but I must first secure what I have. +Jeff. Davis is at Macon. + +On the next day I telegraphed further that Jeff. Davis was with +Hood at Palmetto Station. One of our spies was there at the time, +who came in the next night, and reported to me the substance of his +speech to the soldiers. It was a repetition of those he had made +at Colombia, South Carolina, and Mason, Georgia, on his way out, +which I had seen in the newspapers. Davis seemed to be perfectly +upset by the fall of Atlanta, and to have lost all sense and +reason. He denounced General Jos. Johnston and Governor Brown as +little better than traitors; attributed to them personally the many +misfortunes which had befallen their cause, and informed the +soldiers that now the tables were to be turned; that General +Forrest was already on our roads in Middle Tennessee; and that +Hood's army would soon be there. He asserted that the Yankee army +would have to retreat or starve, and that the retreat would prove +more disastrous than was that of Napoleon from Moscow. He promised +his Tennessee and Kentucky soldiers that their feet should soon +tread their "native soil," etc., etc. He made no concealment of +these vainglorious boasts, and thus gave us the full key to his +future designs. To be forewarned was to be forearmed, and I think +we took full advantage of the occasion. + +On the 26th I received this dispatch. + + +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,September 26,1864-10 a.m. + +Major-General SHERMAN, Atlanta +It will be better to drive Forrest out of Middle Tennessee as a +first step, and do any thing else you may feel your force +sufficient for. When a movement is made on any part of the +sea-coast, I will advise you. If Hood goes to the Alabama line, +will it not be impossible for him to subsist his army? +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + +Answer: + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, September 26, 1864. + +GENERAL: I have your dispatch of to-day. I have already sent one +division (Newton's) to Chattanooga, and another (Corse's) to Rome. + +Our armies are much reduced, and if I send back any more, I will +not be able to threaten Georgia much. There are men enough to the +rear to whip Forrest, but they are necessarily scattered to defend +the roads. + +Can you expedite the sending to Nashville of the recruits that are +in Indiana and Ohio? They could occupy the forts. + +Hood is now on the West Point road, twenty-four miles south of +this, and draws his supplies by that road. Jefferson Davis is +there to-day, and superhuman efforts will be made to break my road. + +Forrest is now lieutenant-general, and commands all the enemy's +cavalry. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +General Grant first thought I was in error in supposing that Jeff. +Davis was at Macon and Palmetto, but on the 27th I received a +printed copy of his speech made at Macon on the 22d, which was so +significant that I ordered it to be telegraphed entire as far as +Louisville, to be sent thence by mail to Washington, and on the +same day received this dispatch: + + +WASHINGTON, D. C., September 27, 1864-9 a.m. +Major-General SHERMAN, Atlanta: +You say Jeff Davis is on a visit to General Hood. I judge that +Brown and Stephens are the objects of his visit. +A. LINCOLN, President of the United States. + +To which I replied: + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, ATLANTA, GEORGIA, September 28, 1864. + +President LINCOLN, Washington, D. C.: + +I have positive knowledge that Mr. Davis made a speech at Macon, on +the 22d, which I mailed to General Halleck yesterday. It was +bitter against General Jos. Johnston and Governor Brown. The +militia are on furlough. Brown is at Milledgeville, trying to get +a Legislature to meet next month, but he is afraid to act unless in +concert with other Governors, Judge Wright, of Rome, has been here, +and Messrs. Hill and Nelson, former members of Congress, are here +now, and will go to meet Wright at Rome, and then go back to +Madison and Milledgeville. + +Great efforts are being made to reenforce Hood's army, and to break +up my railroads, and I should have at once a good reserve force at +Nashville. It would have a bad effect, if I were forced to send +back any considerable part of my army to guard roads, so as to +weaken me to an extent that I could not act offensively if the +occasion calls for it. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +All this time Hood and I were carrying on the foregoing +correspondence relating to the exchange of prisoners, the removal +of the people from Atlanta, and the relief of our prisoners of war +at Andersonville. Notwithstanding the severity of their +imprisonment, some of these men escaped from Andersonville, and got +to me at Atlanta. They described their sad condition: more than +twenty-five thousand prisoners confined in a stockade designed for +only ten thousand; debarred the privilege of gathering wood out of +which to make huts; deprived of sufficient healthy food, and the +little stream that ran through their prison pen poisoned and +polluted by the offal from their cooking and butchering houses +above. On the 22d of September I wrote to General Hood, describing +the condition of our men at Andersonville, purposely refraining +from casting odium on him or his associates for the treatment of +these men, but asking his consent for me to procure from our +generous friends at the North the articles of clothing and comfort +which they wanted, viz., under-clothing, soap, combs, scissors, +etc.--all needed to keep them in health--and to send these stores +with a train, and an officer to issue them. General Hood, on the +24th, promptly consented, and I telegraphed to my friend Mr. James +E. Yeatman, Vice-President of the Sanitary Commission at St. Louis, +to send us all the under-clothing and soap he could spare, +specifying twelve hundred fine-tooth combs, and four hundred pairs +of shears to cut hair. These articles indicate the plague that +most afflicted our prisoners at Andersonville. + +Mr. Yeatman promptly responded to my request, expressed the +articles, but they did not reach Andersonville in time, for the +prisoners were soon after removed; these supplies did, however, +finally overtake them at Jacksonville, Florida, just before the war +closed. + +On the 28th I received from General Grant two dispatches + + +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA; September 27, 1864-8.30 a.m. +Major-General SHERMAN: +It is evident, from the tone of the Richmond press and from other +sources of information, that the enemy intend making a desperate +effort to drive you from where you are. I have directed all new +troops from the West, and from the East too, if necessary, in case +none are ready in the West, to be sent to you. If General +Burbridge is not too far on his way to Abingdon, I think he had +better be recalled and his surplus troops sent into Tennessee. +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA; September 27, 1864-10.30 a.m. +Major-General SHERMAN: +I have directed all recruits and new troops from all the Western +States to be sent to Nashville, to receive their further orders +from you. I was mistaken about Jeff. Davis being in Richmond on +Thursday last. He was then on his way to Macon. +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +Forrest having already made his appearance in Middle Tennessee, and +Hood evidently edging off in that direction, satisfied me that the +general movement against our roads had begun. I therefore +determined to send General Thomas back to Chattanooga, with another +division (Morgan's, of the Fourteenth Corps), to meet the danger in +Tennessee. General Thomas went up on the 29th, and Morgan's +division followed the same day, also by rail. And I telegraphed to +General Halleck + +I take it for granted that Forrest will cut our road, but think we +can prevent him from making a serious lodgment. His cavalry will +travel a hundred miles where ours will ten. I have sent two +divisions up to Chattanooga and one to Rome, and General Thomas +started to-day to drive Forrest out of Tennessee. Our roads should +be watched from the rear, and I am glad that General Grant has +ordered reserves to Nashville. I prefer for the future to make the +movement on Milledgeville, Millen, and Savannah. Hood now rests +twenty-four miles south, on the Chattahoochee, with his right on +the West Point road. He is removing the iron of the Macon road. I +can whip his infantry, but his cavalry is to be feared. + +There was great difficulty in obtaining correct information about +Hood's movements from Palmetto Station. I could not get spies to +penetrate his camps, but on the 1st of October I was satisfied that +the bulk of his infantry was at and across the Chattahoochee River, +near Campbellton, and that his cavalry was on the west side, at +Powder Springs. On that day I telegraphed to General Grant: + +Hood is evidently across the Chattahoochee, below Sweetwater. If +he tries to get on our road, this side of the Etowah, I shall +attack him; but if he goes to the Selma & Talladega road, why will +it not do to leave Tennessee to the forces which Thomas has, and +the reserves soon to come to Nashville, and for me to destroy +Atlanta and march across Georgia to Savannah or Charleston, +breaking roads and doing irreparable damage? We cannot remain on +the defensive. + +The Selma & Talladega road herein referred to was an unfinished +railroad from Selma, Alabama, through Talladega, to Blue Mountain, +a terminus sixty-five miles southwest of Rome and about fifteen +miles southeast of Gadsden, where the rebel army could be supplied +from the direction of Montgomery and Mobile, and from which point +Hood could easily threaten Middle Tennessee. My first impression +was, that Hood would make for that point; but by the 3d of October +the indications were that he would strike our railroad nearer us, +viz., about Kingston or Marietta. + +Orders were at once made for the Twentieth Corps (Slocum's) to hold +Atlanta and the bridges of the Chattahoochee, and the other corps +were put in motion for Marietta. + +The army had undergone many changes since the capture of Atlanta. +General Schofield had gone to the rear, leaving General J. D. Cog +in command of the Army of the Ohio (Twenty-third Corps). General +Thomas, also, had been dispatched to Chattanooga, with Newton's +division of the Fourth Corps and Morgan's of the Fourteenth Corps, +leaving General D. S. Stanley, the senior major-general of the two +corps of his Army of the Cumberland, remaining and available for +this movement, viz., the Fourth and Fourteenth, commanded by +himself and Major-General Jeff. C. Davis; and after General Dodge +was wounded, his corps (the Sixteenth) had been broken up, and its +two divisions were added to the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps, +constituting the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Major-General +O. O. Howard. Generals Logan and Blair had gone home to assist in +the political canvass, leaving their corps, viz., the Fifteenth and +Seventeenth, under the command of Major-Generals Osterhaus and T. +E. G. Ransom. + +These five corps were very much reduced in strength, by detachments +and by discharges, so that for the purpose of fighting Hood I had +only about sixty thousand infantry and artillery, with two small +divisions of cavalry (Kilpatrick's and Garrard's). General Elliott +was the chief of cavalry to the Army of the Cumberland, and was the +senior officer of that arm of service present for duty with me. + +We had strong railroad guards at Marietta and Kenesaw, Allatoona, +Etowah Bridge, Kingston, Rome, Resaca, Dalton, Ringgold, and +Chattanooga. All the important bridges were likewise protected by +good block-houses, admirably constructed, and capable of a strong +defense against cavalry or infantry; and at nearly all the regular +railroad-stations we had smaller detachments intrenched. I had +little fear of the enemy's cavalry damaging our roads seriously, +for they rarely made a break which could not be repaired in a few +days; but it was absolutely necessary to keep General Hood's +infantry off our main route of communication and supply. Forrest +had with him in Middle Tennessee about eight thousand cavalry, and +Hood's army was estimated at from thirty-five to forty thousand +men, infantry and artillery, including Wheeler's cavalry, then +about three thousand strong. + +We crossed the Chattahoochee River during the 3d and 4th of +October, rendezvoused at the old battle-field of Smyrna Camp, and +the next day reached Marietta and Kenesaw. The telegraph-wires had +been cut above Marietta, and learning that heavy masses of +infantry, artillery, and cavalry, had been seen from Kenesaw +(marching north), I inferred that Allatoona was their objective +point; and on the 4th of October I signaled from Mining's Station +to Kenesaw, and from Kenesaw to Allatoona, over the heads of the +enemy, a message for General Corse, at Rome, to hurry back to the +assistance of the garrison at Allatoona. Allatoona was held by, a +small brigade, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Tourtellotte, my +present aide-de-camp. He had two small redoubts on either side of +the railroad, overlooking the village of Allatoona, and the +warehouses, in which were stored over a million rations of bread. + +Reaching Kenesaw Mountain about 8 a.m. of October 5th (a beautiful +day), I had a superb view of the vast panorama to the north and +west. To the southwest, about Dallas, could be seen the smoke of +camp-fires, indicating the presence of a large force of the enemy, +and the whole line of railroad from Big Shanty up to Allatoona +(full fifteen miles) was marked by the fires of the burning +railroad. We could plainly see the smoke of battle about, +Allatoona, and hear the faint reverberation of the cannon. + +From Kenesaw I ordered the Twenty-third Corps (General Cox) to +march due west on the Burnt Hickory road, and to burn houses or +piles of brush as it progressed, to indicate the head of column, +hoping to interpose this corps between Hood's main army at Dallas +and the detachment then assailing Allatoona. The rest of the army +was directed straight for Allatoona, northwest, distant eighteen +miles. The signal-officer on Kenesaw reported that since daylight +he had failed to obtain any answer to his call for Allatoona; but, +while I was with him, he caught a faint glimpse of the tell-tale +flag through an embrasure, and after much time he made out these +letters-" C.," "R.," "S.," "E.," "H.," "E.," "R.," and translated +the message--"Corse is here." It was a source of great relief, for +it gave me the first assurance that General Corse had received his +orders, and that the place was adequately garrisoned. + +I watched with painful suspense the indications of the battle +raging there, and was dreadfully impatient at the slow progress of +the relieving column, whose advance was marked by the smokes which +were made according to orders, but about 2 p.m. I noticed with +satisfaction that the smoke of battle about Allatoona grew less and +less, and ceased altogether about 4 p.m. For a time I attributed +this result to the effect of General Cog's march, but later in the +afternoon the signal-flag announced the welcome tidings that the +attack had been fairly repulsed, but that General Corse was +wounded. The next day my aide, Colonel Dayton, received this +characteristic dispatch: + +ALLATOONA, GEORGIA, October 6, 1884-2 P.M. +Captain L. M. DAYTON, Aide-de-Camp: +I am short a cheek-bone and an ear, but am able to whip all h--l +yet! My losses are very heavy. A force moving from Stilesboro' to +Kingston gives me some anxiety. Tell me where Sherman is. +JOHN M. CORSE, Brigadier-General. + +Inasmuch as the enemy had retreated southwest, and would probably +next appear at Rome, I answered General Corse with orders to get +back to Rome with his troops as quickly as possible. + +General Corse's report of this fight at Allatoona is very full and +graphic. It is dated Rome, October 27, 1864; recites the fact that +he received his orders by signal to go to the assistance of +Allatoona on the 4th, when he telegraphed to Kingston for cars, and +a train of thirty empty cars was started for him, but about ten of +them got off the track and caused delay. By 7 p.m. he had at Rome +a train of twenty cars, which he loaded up with Colonel Rowett's +brigade, and part of the Twelfth Illinois Infantry; started at 8 +p.m., reached Allatoona (distant thirty-five miles) at 1 a.m. of +the 5th, and sent the train back for more men; but the road was in +bad order, and no more men came in time. He found Colonel +Tourtellotte's garrison composed of eight hundred and ninety men; +his reenforcement was one thousand and fifty-four: total for the +defense, nineteen hundred and forty-four. The outposts were +already engaged, and as soon as daylight came he drew back the men +from the village to the ridge on which the redoubts were built. + +The enemy was composed of French's division of three brigades, +variously reported from four to five thousand strong. This force +gradually surrounded the place by 8 a.m., when General French sent +in by flag of truce this note: + + +AROUND ALLATOONA, October 5, 1884. + +Commanding Officer, United States Forces, Allatoona: + +I have placed the forces under my command in such positions that +you are surrounded, and to avoid a needless effusion of blood I +call on you to surrender your forces at once, and unconditionally. + +Five minutes will be allowed you to decide. Should you accede to +this, you will be treated in the most honorable manner as prisoners +of war. + +I have the honor to be, very respectfully yours, + +S. G. FRENCH, +Major-General commanding forces Confederate States. + + +General Corse answered immediately: + +HEADQUARTERS FOURTH DIVISION, FIFTEENTH CORPS +ALLATOONA, GEORGIA, October 5, 1864. + +Major-General S. G. FRENCH, Confederate States, etc: + +Your communication demanding surrender of my command I acknowledge +receipt of, and respectfully reply that we are prepared for the +"needless effusion of blood" whenever it is agreeable to you. + +I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +JOHN M. CORSE, +Brigadier-General commanding forces United States. + + +Of course the attack began at once, coming from front, flank, and +rear. There were two small redoubts, with slight parapets and +ditches, one on each side of the deep railroad-cut. These redoubts +had been located by Colonel Poe, United States Engineers, at the +time of our advance on Kenesaw, the previous June. Each redoubt +overlooked the storehouses close by the railroad, and each could +aid the other defensively by catching in flank the attacking force +of the other. Our troops at first endeavored to hold some ground +outside the redoubts, but were soon driven inside, when the enemy +made repeated assaults, but were always driven back. About 11 a.m., +Colonel Redfield, of the Thirty-ninth Iowa, was killed, and Colonel +Rowett was wounded, but never ceased to fight and encourage his +men. Colonel Tourtellotte was shot through the hips, but continued +to command. General Corse was, at 1 p.m., shot across the face, +the ball cutting his ear, which stunned him, but he continued to +encourage his men and to give orders. The enemy (about 1.30 p.m.) +made a last and desperate effort to carry one of the redoubts, but +was badly cut to pieces by the artillery and infantry fire from the +other, when he began to draw off, leaving his dead and wounded on +the ground. + +Before finally withdrawing, General French converged a heavy fire +of his cannon on the block-house at Allatoona Creek, about two +miles from the depot, set it on fire, and captured its garrison, +consisting of four officers and eighty-five men. By 4 p.m. he was +in full retreat south, on the Dallas road, and got by before the +head of General Cox's column had reached it; still several +ambulances and stragglers were picked up by this command on that +road. General Corse reported two hundred and thirty-one rebel +dead, four hundred and eleven prisoners, three regimental colors, +and eight hundred muskets captured. + +Among the prisoners was a Brigadier-General Young, who thought that +French's aggregate loss would reach two thousand. Colonel +Tourtellotte says that, for days after General Corse had returned +to Rome, his men found and buried at least a hundred more dead +rebels, who had doubtless been wounded, and died in the woods near +Allatoona. I know that when I reached Allatoona, on the 9th, I saw +a good many dead men, which had been collected for burial. + +Corse's entire loss, officially reported, was: + + Killed. Wounded. Missing. Total. + 142 353 212 707 + + +I esteemed this defense of Allatoona so handsome and important, +that I made it the subject of a general order, viz., No. 86, of +October 7, 1864: + + +The general commanding avails himself of the opportunity, in the +handsome defense made of Allatoona, to illustrate the most +important principle in war, that fortified posts should be defended +to the last, regardless of the relative numbers of the party +attacking and attacked . . . . The thanks of this army are due +and are hereby accorded to General Corse, Colonel Tourtellotte, +Colonel Rowett, officers, and men, for their determined and gallant +defense of Allatoona, and it is made an example to illustrate the +importance of preparing in time, and meeting the danger, when +present, boldly, manfully, and well. + +Commanders and garrisons of the posts along our railroad are hereby +instructed that they must hold their posts to the last minute, sure +that the time gained is valuable and necessary to their comrades at +the front. + +By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman, +L. M. DAYTON, Aide-A-Camp. + + +The rebels had struck our railroad a heavy blow, burning every tie, +bending the rails for eight miles, from Big Shanty to above +Acworth, so that the estimate for repairs called for thirty-five +thousand new ties, and six miles of iron. Ten thousand men were +distributed along the break to replace the ties, and to prepare the +road-bed, while the regular repair-party, under Colonel W. W. +Wright, came down from Chattanooga with iron, spikes, etc., and in +about seven days the road was all right again. It was by such acts +of extraordinary energy that we discouraged our adversaries, for +the rebel soldiers felt that it was a waste of labor for them to +march hurriedly, on wide circuits, day and night, to burn a bridge +and tear up a mile or so of track, when they knew that we could lay +it back so quickly. They supposed that we had men and money +without limit, and that we always kept on hand, distributed along +the road, duplicates of every bridge and culvert of any importance. + +A good story is told of one who was on Kenesaw Mountain during our +advance in the previous June or July. A group of rebels lay in the +shade of a tree, one hot day, overlooking our camps about Big +Shanty. One soldier remarked to his fellows: + +"Well, the Yanks will have to git up and git now, for I heard +General Johnston himself say that General Wheeler had blown up the +tunnel near Dalton, and that the Yanks would have to retreat, +because they could get no more rations." + +"Oh, hell!" said a listener, "don't you know that old Sherman +carries a duplicate tunnel along?" + +After the war was over, General Johnston inquired of me who was our +chief railroad-engineer. When I told him that it was Colonel W. W. +Wright, a civilian, he was much surprised, said that our feats of +bridge-building and repairs of roads had excited his admiration; +and he instanced the occasion at Kenesaw in June, when an officer +from Wheeler's cavalry had reported to him in person that he had +come from General Wheeler, who had made a bad break in our road +about Triton Station, which he said would take at least a fortnight +to repair; and, while they were talking, a train was seen coming +down the road which had passed that very break, and had reached me +at Big Shanty as soon as the fleet horseman had reached him +(General Johnston) at Marietta + +I doubt whether the history of war can furnish more examples of +skill and bravery than attended the defense of the railroad from +Nashville to Atlanta during the year 1864. + +In person I reached Allatoona on the 9th of October, still in doubt +as to Hood's immediate intentions. Our cavalry could do little +against his infantry in the rough and wooded country about Dallas, +which masked the enemy's movements; but General Corse, at Rome, +with Spencer's First Alabama Cavalry and a mounted regiment of +Illinois Infantry, could feel the country south of Rome about +Cedartown and Villa Rica; and reported the enemy to be in force at +both places. On the 9th I telegraphed to General Thomas, at +Nashville, as follows: + + +I came up here to relieve our road. The Twentieth Corps remains at +Atlanta. Hood reached the road and broke it up between Big Shanty +and Acworth. He attacked Allatoona, but was repulsed. We have +plenty of bread and meat, but forage is scarce. I want to destroy +all the road below Chattanooga, including Atlanta, and to make for +the sea-coast. We cannot defend this long line of road. + + +And on the same day I telegraphed to General Grant, at City Point: + + +It will be a physical impossibility to protect the roads, now that +Hood, Forrest, Wheeler, and the whole batch of devils, are turned +loose without home or habitation. I think Hood's movements +indicate a diversion to the end of the Selma & Talladega road, at +Blue Mountain, about sixty miles southwest of Rome, from which he +will threaten Kingston, Bridgeport, and Decatur, Alabama. I +propose that we break up the railroad from Ohattanooga forward, and +that we strike out with our wagons for Milledgeville, Millen, and +Savannah. Until we can repopulate Georgia, it is useless for us to +occupy it; but the utter destruction of its roads, houses, and +people, will cripple their military resources. By attempting to +hold the roads, we will lose a thousand men each month, and will +gain no result. I can make this march, and make Georgia howl! We +have on hand over eight thousand head of cattle and three million +rations of bread, but no corn. We can find plenty of forage in the +interior of the State. + + +Meantime the rebel General Forrest had made a bold circuit in +Middle Tennessee, avoiding all fortified points, and breaking up +the railroad at several places; but, as usual, he did his work so +hastily and carelessly that our engineers soon repaired the +damage--then, retreating before General Rousseau, he left the State +of Tennessee, crossing the river near Florence, Alabama, and got +off unharmed. + +On the 10th of October the enemy appeared south of the Etowah River +at Rome, when I ordered all the armies to march to Kingston, rode +myself to Cartersville with the Twenty-third Corps (General Cox), +and telegraphed from there to General Thomas at Nashville: + +It looks to me as though Hood was bound for Tuscumbia. He is now +crossing the Coosa River below Rome, looking west. Let me know if +you can hold him with your forces now in Tennessee and the expected +reenforeements, as, in that event, you know what I propose to do. + +I will be at Kingston to-morrow. I think Rome is strong enough to +resist any attack, and the rivers are all high. If he turns up by +Summerville, I will get in behind him. + + +And on the same day to General Grant, at City Point: + +Hood is now crossing the Coosa, twelve miles below Rome, bound +west. If he passes over to the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, had I not +better execute the plan of my letter sent you by Colonel Porter, +and leave General Thomas, with the troops now in Tennessee, to +defend the State? He will have an ample force when the +reenforcements ordered reach Nashville. + + +I found General John E. Smith at Cartersville, and on the 11th +rode on to Kingston, where I had telegraphic communications in all +directions. + +From General Corse, at Rome, I learned that Hood's army had +disappeared, but in what direction he was still in doubt; and I was +so strongly convinced of the wisdom of my proposition to change the +whole tactics of the campaign, to leave Hood to General Thomas, and +to march across Georgia for Savannah or Charleston, that I again +telegraphed to General Grant: + +We cannot now remain on the defensive. With twenty-five thousand +infantry and the bold cavalry he has, Hood can constantly break my +road. I would infinitely prefer to make a wreck of the road and of +the country from Chattanooga to Atlanta, including the latter city; +send back all my wounded and unserviceable men, and with my +effective army move through Georgia, smashing things to the sea. +Hood may turn into Tennessee and Kentucky, but I believe he will be +forced to follow me. Instead of being on the defensive, I will be +on the offensive. Instead of my guessing at what he means to do, +he will have to guess at my plans. The difference in war would be +fully twenty-five per pent. I can make Savannah, Charleston, or +the month of the Chattahoochee (Appalachicola). Answer quick, as I +know we will not have the telegraph long. + + +I received no answer to this at the time, and the next day went on +to Rome, where the news came that Hood had made his appearance at +Resaca, and had demanded the surrender of the place, which was +commanded by Colonel Weaver, reenforced by Brevet Brigadier-General +Raum. General Hood had evidently marched with rapidity up the +Chattooga Valley, by Summerville, Lafayette, Ship's Gap, and +Snake-Creek Gap, and had with him his whole army, except a small +force left behind to watch Rome. I ordered Resaca to be further +reenforced by rail from Kingston, and ordered General Cox to make a +bold reconnoissance down the Coosa Valley, which captured and +brought into Rome some cavalrymen and a couple of field-guns, with +their horses and men. At first I thought of interposing my whole +army in the Chattooga Valley, so as to prevent Hood's escape south; +but I saw at a glance that he did not mean to fight, and in that +event, after damaging the road all he could, he would be likely to +retreat eastward by Spring Place, which I did not want him to do; +and, hearing from General Raum that he still held Resaca safe, and +that General Edward McCook had also got there with some cavalry +reenforcements, I turned all the heads of columns for Resaca, viz., +General Cox's, from Rome; General Stanley's, from McGuire's; and +General Howard's, from Kingston. We all reached Resaca during that +night, and the next morning (13th) learned that Hood's whole army +had passed up the valley toward Dalton, burning the railroad and +doing all the damage possible. + +On the 12th he had demanded the surrender of Resaca in the +following letter: + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE +IN THE FIELD, October 12,1861. + +To the officer commanding the United Stales Forces at Resaca, +Georgia. + +SIR: I demand the immediate and unconditional surrender of the post +and garrison under your command, and, should this be acceded to, +all white officers and soldiers will be parolled in a few days. If +the place is carried by assault, no prisoners will be taken. Most +respectfully, your obedient servant, + +J. B. HOOD, General. + + +To this Colonel Weaver, then in command, replied: + +HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, FIFTEENTH CORPS +RESACA, GEORGIA, October 12, 1884. + +To General J. B. HOOD + +Your communication of this date just received. In reply, I have to +state that I am somewhat surprised at the concluding paragraph, to +the effect that, if the place is carried by assault, no prisoners +will be taken. In my opinion I can hold this post. If you want it, +come and take it. + +I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, + +CLARK R. WEAVER, Commanding Officer. + + +This brigade was very small, and as Hood's investment extended +only from the Oostenaula, below the town, to the Connesauga above, +he left open the approach from the south, which enabled General +Raum and the cavalry of Generals McCook and Watkins to reenforce +from Kingston. In fact, Hood, admonished by his losses at +Allatoona, did not attempt an assault at all, but limited his +attack to the above threat, and to some skirmishing, giving his +attention chiefly to the destruction of the railroad, which he +accomplished all the way up to Tunnel Hill, nearly twenty miles, +capturing en route the regiment of black troops at Dalton +(Johnson's Forty-fourth United States colored). On the 14th, I +turned General Howard through Snake-Creek Gap, and sent General +Stanley around by Tilton, with orders to cross the mountain to the +west, so as to capture, if possible, the force left by the enemy in +Snake-Creek Gap. We found this gap very badly obstructed by fallen +timber, but got through that night, and the next day the main army +was at Villanow. On the morning of the 16th, the leading division +of General Howard's column, commanded by General Charles R. Woods, +carried Ship's Gap, taking prisoners part of the Twenty-fourth +South Carolina Regiment, which had been left there to hold us in +check. + +The best information there obtained located Hood's army at +Lafayette, near which place I hoped to catch him and force him to +battle; but, by the time we had got enough troops across the +mountain at Ship's Gap, Hood had escaped down the valley of the +Chattooga, and all we could do was to follow him as closely as +possible. From Ship's Gap I dispatched couriers to Chattanooga, +and received word back that General Schofield was there, +endeavoring to cooperate with me, but Hood had broken up the +telegraph, and thus had prevented quick communication. General +Schofield did not reach me till the army had got down to +Gaylesville, about the 21st of October. + +It was at Ship's Gap that a courier brought me the cipher message +from General Halleck which intimated that the authorities in +Washington were willing I should undertake the march across Georgia +to the sea. The translated dispatch named "Horse-i-bar Sound" as +the point where the fleet would await my arrival. After much time +I construed it to mean, "Ossabaw Sound," below Savannah, which was +correct. + +On the 16th I telegraphed to General Thomas, at Nashville: + +Send me Morgan's and Newton's old divisions. Reestablish the road, +and I will follow Hood wherever he may go. I think he will move to +Blue Mountain. We can maintain our men and animals on the country. + + +General Thomas's reply was: + +NASHVILLE, October 17, 1864--10.30 a.m. + +Major-General SHERMAN: + +Your dispatch from Ship's Gap, 5 p.m. of the 16th, just received. +Schofield, whom I placed in command of the two divisions (Wagner's +and Morgan's), was to move up Lookout Valley this A.M., to +intercept Hood, should he be marching for Bridgeport. I will order +him to join you with the two divisions, and will reconstruct the +road as soon as possible. Will also reorganize the guards for +posts and block-houses .... Mower and Wilson have arrived, and are +on their way to join you. I hope you will adopt Grant's idea of +turning Wilson loose, rather than undertake the plan of a march +with the whole force through Georgia to the sea, inasmuch as +General Grant cannot cooperate with you as at first arranged. + +GEORGE H. THOMAS, Major-General. + + +So it is clear that at that date neither General Grant nor General +Thomas heartily favored my proposed plan of campaign. On the same +day, I wrote to General Schofield at Chattanooga: + +Hood is not at Dear Head Cove. We occupy Ship's Gap and Lafayette. +Hood is moving south via Summerville, Alpine, and Gadsden. If he +enters Tennessee, it will be to the west of Huntsville, but I think +he has given up all such idea. I want the road repaired to +Atlanta; the sick and wounded men sent north of the Tennessee; my +army recomposed; and I will then make the interior of Georgia feel +the weight of war. It is folly for us to be moving our armies on +the reports of scouts and citizens. We must maintain the +offensive. Your first move on Trenton and Valley Head was right +--the move to defend Caperton's Ferry is wrong. Notify General +Thomas of these my views. We must follow Hood till he is beyond +the reach of mischief, and then resume the offensive. + + +The correspondence between me and the authorities at Washington, as +well as with the several army commanders, given at length in the +report of the Committee on the Conduct of the War, is full on all +these points. + +After striking our road at Dalton, Hood was compelled to go on to +Chattanooga and Bridgeport, or to pass around by Decatur and +abandon altogether his attempt to make us let go our hold of +Atlanta by attacking our communications. It was clear to me that +he had no intention to meet us in open battle, and the lightness +and celerity of his army convinced me that I could not possibly +catch him on a stern-chase. We therefore quietly followed him down +the Chattooga Valley to the neighborhood of Gadsden, but halted the +main armies near the Coosa River, at the mouth of the Chattooga, +drawing our supplies of corn and meat from the farms of that +comparatively rich valley and of the neighborhood. + +General Slocum, in Atlanta, had likewise sent out, under strong +escort, large trains of wagons to the east, and brought back corn, +bacon, and all kinds of provisions, so that Hood's efforts to cut +off our supplies only reacted on his own people. So long as the +railroads were in good order, our supplies came full and regular +from the North; but when the enemy broke our railroads we were +perfectly justified in stripping the inhabitants of all they had. +I remember well the appeal of a very respectable farmer against our +men driving away his fine flock of sheep. I explained to him that +General Hood had broken our railroad; that we were a strong, hungry +crowd, and needed plenty of food; that Uncle Sam was deeply +interested in our continued health and would soon repair these +roads, but meantime we must eat; we preferred Illinois beef, but +mutton would have to answer. Poor fellow! I don't believe he was +convinced of the wisdom or wit of my explanation. Very soon after +reaching Lafayette we organized a line of supply from Chattanooga +to Ringgold by rail, and thence by wagons to our camps about +Gaylesville. Meantime, also, Hood had reached the neighborhood of +Gadsden, and drew his supplies from the railroad at Blue Mountain. + +On the 19th of October I telegraphed to General Halleck, at +Washington: + +Hood has retreated rapidly by all the roads leading south. Our +advance columns are now at Alpine and Melville Post-Office. I +shall pursue him as far as Gaylesville. The enemy will not venture +toward Tennessee except around by Decatur. I propose to send the +Fourth Corps back to General Thomas, and leave him, with that +corps, the garrisons, and new troops, to defend the line of the +Tennessee River; and with the rest I will push into the heart of +Georgia and come out at Savannah, destroying all the railroads of +the State. The break in our railroad at Big Shanty is almost +repaired, and that about Dalton should be done in ten days. We +find abundance of forage in the country. + + +On the same day I telegraphed to General L. C. Easton, +chief-quartermaster, who had been absent on a visit to Missouri, +but had got back to Chattanooga: + +Go in person to superintend the repairs of the railroad, and make +all orders in my name that will expedite its completion. I want it +finished, to bring back from Atlanta to Chattanooga the sick and +wounded men and surplus stores. On the 1st of November I want +nothing in front of Chattanooga except what we can use as food and +clothing and haul in our wagons. There is plenty of corn in the +country, and we only want forage for the posts. I allow ten days +for all this to be done, by which time I expect to be at or near +Atlanta. + + +I telegraphed also to General Amos Beckwith, chief-commissary in +Atlanta, who was acting as chief-quartermaster during the absence +of General Easton: + +Hood will escape me. I want to prepare for my big raid. On the +1st of November I want nothing in Atlanta but what is necessary for +war. Send all trash to the rear at once, and have on hand thirty +days' food and but little forage. I propose to abandon Atlanta, +and the railroad back to Chattanooga, to sally forth to ruin +Georgia and bring up on the seashore. Make all dispositions +accordingly. I will go down the Coosa until I am sure that Hood +has gone to Blue Mountain. + + +On the 21st of October I reached Gaylesville, had my bivouac in an +open field back of the village, and remained there till the 28th. +During that time General Schofield arrived, with the two divisions +of Generals Wagner (formerly Newton's) and Morgan, which were +returned to their respective corps (the Fourth and Fourteenth), and +General Schofield resumed his own command of the Army of the Ohio, +then on the Coosa River, near Cedar Bluff. General Joseph A. Mower +also arrived, and was assigned to command a division in the +Seventeenth Corps; and General J. H. Wilson came, having been sent +from Virginia by General Grant, for the purpose of commanding all +my cavalry. I first intended to organize this cavalry into a corps +of three small divisions, to be commanded by General Wilson; but +the horses were well run down, and, at Wilson's instance, I +concluded to retain only one division of four thousand five hundred +men, with selected horses, under General Kilpatrick, and to send +General Wilson back with all the rest to Nashville, to be +reorganized and to act under General Thomas in the defense of +Tennessee. Orders to this effect were made on the 24th of October. + +General Grant, in designating General Wilson to command my cavalry, +predicted that he would, by his personal activity, increase the +effect of that arm "fifty per cent.," and he advised that he should +be sent south, to accomplish all that I had proposed to do with the +main army; but I had not so much faith in cavalry as he had, and +preferred to adhere to my original intention of going myself with a +competent force. + +About this time I learned that General Beauregard had reached +Hood's army at Gadsden; that, without assuming direct command of +that army, he had authority from the Confederate Government to +direct all its movements, and to call to his assistance the whole +strength of the South. His orders, on assuming command, were full +of alarm and desperation, dated: + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE WEST +October 17, 1864 + +In assuming command, at this critical juncture, of the Military +Division of the West, I appeal to my countrymen, of all classes and +sections, for their generous support. In assigning me to this +responsible position, the President of the Confederate States has +extended to me the assurance of his earnest support. The +Executives of your States meet me with similar expressions of their +devotion to our cause. The noble army in the field, composed of +brave men and gallant officers, are strangers to me, but I know +they will do all that patriots can achieve..... + +The army of Sherman still defiantly holds Atlanta. He can and must +be driven from it. It is only for the good people of Georgia and +surrounding states to speak the word, and the work is done, we have +abundant provisions. There are men enough in the country, liable +to and able for service, to accomplish the result..... + +My countrymen, respond to this call as you have done in days that +are past, and, with the blessing of a kind and overruling +Providence, the enemy shall be driven from your soil. The security +of your wives and daughters from the insults and outrages of a +brutal foe shall be established soon, and be followed by a +permanent and honorable peace. The claims of home and country, +wife and children, uniting with the demands of honor and +patriotism, summon us to the field. We cannot, dare not, will not +fail to respond. Full of hope and confidence, I come to join you +in your struggles, sharing your privations, and, with your brave +and true men, to strike the blow that shall bring success to our +arms, triumph to our cause, and peace to our country! . . . + +G. T. BEAUREGARD, General. + + +Notwithstanding this somewhat boastful order or appeal, General +Beauregard did not actually accompany General Hood on his +disastrous march to Nashville, but took post at Corinth, +Mississippi, to control the movement of his supplies and to watch +me. + +At Gaylesville the pursuit of Hood by the army under my immediate +command may be said to have ceased. During this pursuit, the +Fifteenth Corps was commanded by its senior major-general present, +P. J. Osterhaus, in the absence of General John A. Logan; and the +Seventeenth Corps was commanded by Brigadier-General T. E. G. +Ransom, the senior officer present, in the absence of General Frank +P. Blair. + +General Ransom was a young, most gallant, and promising officer, +son of the Colonel Ransom who was killed at Chapultepec, in the +Mexican War. He had served with the Army of the Tennessee in 1862 +and 1863, at Vicksburg, where he was severely wounded. He was not +well at the time we started from Atlanta, but he insisted on going +along with his command. His symptoms became more aggravated on the +march, and when we were encamped near Gaylesville, I visited him in +company with Surgeon John Moors, United States Army, who said that +the case was one of typhoid fever, which would likely prove fatal. +A few days after, viz., the 28th, he was being carried on a litter +toward Rome; and as I rode from Gaylesville to Rome, I passed him +by the way, stopped, and spoke with him, but did not then suppose +he was so near his end. The next day, however, his escort reached +Rome, bearing his dead body. The officer in charge reported that, +shortly after I had passed, his symptoms became so much worse that +they stopped at a farmhouse by the road-side, where he died that +evening. His body was at once sent to Chicago for burial, and a +monument has been ordered by the Society of the Army of the +Tennessee to be erected in his memory. + +On the 26th of October I learned that Hood's whole army had made +its appearance about Decatur, Alabama, and at once caused a strong +reconnoissance to be made down the Coosa to near Gadsden, which +revealed the truth that the enemy was gone except a small force of +cavalry, commanded by General Wheeler, which had been left to watch +us. I then finally resolved on my future course, which was to +leave Hood to be encountered by General Thomas, while I should +carry into full effect the long-contemplated project of marching +for the sea-coast, and thence to operate toward Richmond. But it +was all-important to me and to our cause that General Thomas should +have an ample force, equal to any and every emergency. + +He then had at Nashville about eight or ten thousand new troops, +and as many more civil employs of the Quartermaster's Department, +which were not suited for the field, but would be most useful in +manning the excellent forts that already covered Nashville. At +Chattanooga, he had General Steedman's division, about five +thousand men, besides garrisons for Chattanooga, Bridgeport, and +Stevenson; at Murfreesboro' he also had General Rousseau's +division, which was full five thousand strong, independent of the +necessary garrisons for the railroad. At Decatur and Huntsville, +Alabama, was the infantry division of General R. S. Granger, +estimated at four thousand; and near Florence, Alabama, watching +the crossings of the Tennessee, were General Edward Hatch's +division of cavalry, four thousand; General Croxton's brigade, +twenty-five hundred; and Colonel Capron's brigade, twelve hundred; +besides which, General J. H. Wilson had collected in Nashville +about ten thousand dismounted cavalry, for which he was rapidly +collecting the necessary horses for a remount. All these +aggregated about forty-five thousand men. General A. J. Smith at +that time was in Missouri, with the two divisions of the Sixteenth +Corps which had been diverted to that quarter to assist General +Rosecrans in driving the rebel General Price out of Missouri. This +object had been accomplished, and these troops, numbering from +eight to ten thousand, had been ordered to Nashville. To these I +proposed at first to add only the Fourth Corps (General Stanley), +fifteen thousand; and that corps was ordered from Gaylesville to +march to Chattanooga, and thence report for orders to General +Thomas; but subsequently, on the 30th of October, at Rome, Georgia, +learning from General Thomas that the new troops promised by +General Grant were coming forward very slowly, I concluded to +further reenforce him by General Schofield's corps (Twenty-third), +twelve thousand, which corps accordingly marched for Resaca, and +there took the cars for Chattanooga. I then knew that General +Thomas would have an ample force with which to encounter General +Hood anywhere in the open field, besides garrisons to secure the +railroad to his rear and as far forward as Chattanooga. And, +moreover, I was more than convinced that he would have ample time +for preparation; for, on that very day, General R. S. Granger had +telegraphed me from Decatur, Alabama: + +I omitted to mention another reason why Hood will go to Tusomnbia +before crossing the Tennessee River. He was evidently out of +supplies. His men were all grumbling; the first thing the +prisoners asked for was something to eat. Hood could not get any +thing if he should cross this side of Rogersville. + + +I knew that the country about Decatur and Tuscumbia, Alabama, was +bare of provisions, and inferred that General Hood would have to +draw his supplies, not only of food, but of stores, clothing, and +ammunition, from Mobile, Montgomery, and Selma, Alabama, by the +railroad around by Meridian and Corinth, Mississippi, which we had +most effectually disabled the previous winter. + +General Hood did not make a serious attack on Decatur, but hung +around it from October 26th to the 30th, when he drew off and +marched for a point on the south side of the Tennessee River, +opposite Florence, where he was compelled to remain nearly a month, +to collect the necessary supplies for his contemplated invasion of +Tennessee and Kentucky. + +The Fourth Corps (Stanley) had already reached Chattanooga, and had +been transported by rail to Pulaski, Tennessee; and General Thomas +ordered General Schofield, with the Twenty-third Corps, to +Columbia, Tennessee, a place intermediate between Hood (then on the +Tennessee River, opposite Florence) and Forrest, opposite +Johnsonville. + +On the 31st of October General Croxton, of the cavalry, reported +that the enemy had crossed the Tennessee River four miles above +Florence, and that he had endeavored to stop him, but without +success. Still, I was convinced that Hood's army was in no +condition to march for Nashville, and that a good deal of further +delay might reasonably be counted on. I also rested with much +confidence on the fact that the Tennessee River below Muscle Shoals +was strongly patrolled by gunboats, and that the reach of the river +above Muscle Shoals, from Decatur as high up as our railroad at +Bridgeport, was also guarded by gunboats, so that Hood, to cross +over, would be compelled to select a point inaccessible to these +gunboats. He actually did choose such a place, at the old +railroad-piers, four miles above Florence, Alabama, which is below +Muscle Shoals and above Colbert Shoals. + +On the 31st of October Forrest made his appearance on the Tennessee +River opposite Johnsonville (whence a new railroad led to +Nashville), and with his cavalry and field pieces actually crippled +and captured two gunboats with five of our transports, a feat of +arms which, I confess, excited my admiration. + +There is no doubt that the month of October closed to us looking +decidedly squally; but, somehow, I was sustained in the belief that +in a very few days the tide would turn. + +On the 1st of November I telegraphed very fully to General Grant, +at City Point, who must have been disturbed by the wild rumors that +filled the country, and on the 2d of November received (at Rome) +this dispatch: + +CITY POINT, November 1, 1864--6 P.M. + +Major-General SHERMAN: + +Do you not think it advisable, now that Hood has gone so far north, +to entirely ruin him before starting on your proposed campaign? +With Hood's army destroyed, you can go where you please with +impunity. I believed and still believe, if you had started south +while Hood was in the neighborhood of you, he would have been +forced to go after you. Now that he is far away he might look upon +the chase as useless, and he will go in one direction while you are +pushing in the other. If you can see a chance of destroying Hood's +army, attend to that first, and make your other move secondary. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +My answer is dated + +ROME, GEORGIA, November 2, 1864. +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, City Point, Virginia: + +Your dispatch is received. If I could hope to overhaul Hood, I +would turn against him with my whole force; then he would retreat +to the south west, drawing me as a decoy away from Georgia, which +is his chief object. If he ventures north of the Tennessee River, I +may turn in that direction, and endeavor to get below him on his +line of retreat; but thus far he has not gone above the Tennessee +River. General Thomas will have a force strong enough to prevent +his reaching any country in which we have an interest; and he has +orders, if Hood turns to follow me, to push for Selma, Alabama. No +single army can catch Hood, and I am convinced the best results +will follow from our defeating Jeff. Davis's cherished plea of +making me leave Georgia by manoeuvring. Thus far I have confined +my efforts to thwart this plan, and have reduced baggage so that I +can pick up and start in any direction; but I regard the pursuit of +Hood as useless. Still, if he attempts to invade Middle Tennessee, +I will hold Decatur, and be prepared to move in that direction; +but, unless I let go of Atlanta, my force will not be equal to his. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +By this date, under the intelligent and energetic action of Colonel +W. W. Wright, and with the labor of fifteen hundred men, the +railroad break of fifteen miles about Dalton was repaired so far as +to admit of the passage of cars, and I transferred my headquarters +to Kingston as more central; and from that place, on the same day +(November 2d), again telegraphed to General Grant: + +KINGSTON, GEORGIA, November 2, 1884. +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, City Point, Virginia: +If I turn back, the whole effect of my campaign will be lost. By my +movements I have thrown Beauregard (Hood) well to the west, and +Thomas will have ample time and sufficient troops to hold him until +the reenforcements from Missouri reach him. We have now ample +supplies at Chattanooga and Atlanta, and can stand a month's +interruption to our communications. I do not believe the +Confederate army can reach our railroad-lines except by +cavalry-raids, and Wilson will have cavalry enough to checkmate +them. I am clearly of opinion that the best results will follow my +contemplated movement through Georgia. +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +That same day I received, in answer to the Rome dispatch, the +following: + +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, November 2,1864--11.30 a.m. + +Major-General SHERMAN: + +Your dispatch of 9 A.M. yesterday is just received. I dispatched +you the same date, advising that Hood's army, now that it had +worked so far north, ought to be looked upon now as the "object." +With the force, however, that you have left with General Thomas, he +must be able to take care of Hood and destroy him. + +I do not see that you can withdraw from where you are to follow +Hood, without giving up all we have gained in territory. I say, +then, go on as you propose. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General, + + +This was the first time that General Grant ordered the "march to +the sea," and, although many of his warm friends and admirers +insist that he was the author and projector of that march, and that +I simply executed his plans, General Grant has never, in my +opinion, thought so or said so. The truth is fully given in an +original letter of President Lincoln, which I received at Savannah, +Georgia, and have at this instant before me, every word of which is +in his own familiar handwriting. It is dated-- + + +WASHINGTON, December 26, 1864. + +When you were about leaving Atlanta for the Atlantic coast, I was +anxious, if not fearful; but, feeling that you were the better +judge, and remembering "nothing risked, nothing gained," I did not +interfere. Now, the undertaking being a success, the honor is all +yours; for I believe none of us went further than to acquiesce; +and, taking the work of General Thomas into account, as it should +be taken, it is indeed a great success. Not only does it afford +the obvious and immediate military advantages, but, in showing to +the world that your army could be divided, putting the stronger +part to an important new service, and yet leaving enough to +vanquish the old opposing force of the whole, Hood's army, it +brings those who sat in darkness to see a great light. But what +next? I suppose it will be safer if I leave General Grant and +yourself to decide. + +A. LINCOLN + + +Of course, this judgment; made after the event, was extremely +flattering and was all I ever expected, a recognition of the truth +and of its importance. I have often been asked, by well-meaning +friends, when the thought of that march first entered my mind. I +knew that an army which had penetrated Georgia as far as Atlanta +could not turn back. It must go ahead, but when, how, and where, +depended on many considerations. As soon as Hood had shifted +across from Lovejoy's to Palmetto, I saw the move in my "mind's +eye;" and, after Jeff. Davis's speech at Palmetto, of September +26th, I was more positive in my conviction, but was in doubt as to +the time and manner. When General Hood first struck our railroad +above Marietta, we were not ready, and I was forced to watch his +movements further, till he had "carromed" off to the west of +Decatur. Then I was perfectly convinced, and had no longer a +shadow of doubt. The only possible question was as to Thomas's +strength and ability to meet Hood in the open field. I did not +suppose that General Hood, though rash, would venture to attack +fortified places like Allatoona, Resaca, Decatur, and Nashville; +but he did so, and in so doing he played into our hands perfectly. + +On the 2d of November I was at Kingston, Georgia, and my four +corps--the Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Fourteenth, and Twentieth--with +one division of cavalry, were strung from Rome to Atlanta. Our +railroads and telegraph had been repaired, and I deliberately +prepared for the march to Savannah, distant three hundred miles +from Atlanta. All the sick and wounded men had been sent back by +rail to Chattanooga; all our wagon-trains had been carefully +overhauled and loaded, so as to be ready to start on an hour's +notice, and there was no serious enemy in our front. + +General Hood remained still at Florence, Alabama, occupying both +banks of the Tennessee River, busy in collecting shoes and clothing +for his men, and the necessary ammunition and stores with which to +invade Tennessee, most of which had to come from Mobile, Selma, and +Montgomery, Alabama, over railroads that were still broken. +Beauregard was at Corinth, hastening forward these necessary +preparations. + +General Thomas was at Nashville, with Wilson's dismounted cavalry +and a mass of new troops and quartermaster's employs amply +sufficient to defend the place. The Fourth and Twenty-third Corps, +under Generals Stanley and Schofield were posted at Pulaski, +Tennessee, and the cavalry of Hatch, Croxton, and Capron, were +about Florence, watching Hood. Smith's (A. J.) two divisions of +the Sixteenth Corps were still in Missouri, but were reported as +ready to embark at Lexington for the Cumberland River and +Nashville. Of course, General Thomas saw that on him would likely +fall the real blow, and was naturally anxious. He still kept +Granger's division at Decatur, Rousseau's at Murfreesboro', and +Steedman's at Chattanooga, with strong railroad guards at all the +essential points intermediate, confident that by means of this very +railroad he could make his concentration sooner than Hood could +possibly march up from Florence. + +Meantime, General F. P. Blair had rejoined his corps (Seventeenth), +and we were receiving at Kingston recruits and returned +furlough-men, distributing them to their proper companies. +Paymasters had come down to pay off our men before their departure to +a new sphere of action, and commissioners were also on hand from the +several States to take the vote of our men in the presidential +election then agitating the country. + +On the 6th of November, at Kingston, I wrote and telegraphed to +General Grant, reviewing the whole situation, gave him my full plan +of action, stated that I was ready to march as soon as the election +was over, and appointed November 10th as the day for starting. On +the 8th I received this dispatch: + + +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, November 7, 1864-10.30 P.M. + +Major-General SHERMAN: + +Your dispatch of this evening received. I see no present reason +for changing your plan. Should any arise, you will see it, or if I +do I will inform you. I think everything here is favorable now. +Great good fortune attend you! I believe you will be eminently +successful, and, at worst, can only make a march less fruitful of +results than hoped for. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +Meantime trains of cars were whirling by, carrying to the rear an +immense amount of stores which had accumulated at Atlanta, and at +the other stations along the railroad; and General Steedman had +come down to Kingston, to take charge of the final evacuation and +withdrawal of the several garrisons below Chattanooga. + +On the 10th of November the movement may be said to have fairly +begun. All the troops designed for the campaign were ordered to +march for Atlanta, and General Corse, before evacuating his post at +Rome, was ordered to burn all the mills, factories, etc., etc., +that could be useful to the enemy, should he undertake to pursue +us, or resume military possession of the country. This was done on +the night of the 10th, and next day Corse reached Kingston. On the +11th General Thomas and I interchanged full dispatches. He had +heard of the arrival of General A. J. Smith's two divisions at +Paducah, which would surely reach Nashville much sooner than +General Hood could possibly do from Florence, so that he was +perfectly satisfied with his share of the army. + +On the 12th, with a full staff, I started from Kingston for +Atlanta; and about noon of that day we reached Cartersville, and +sat on the edge of a porch to rest, when the telegraph operator, +Mr. Van Valkenburg, or Eddy, got the wire down from the poles to +his lap, in which he held a small pocket instrument. Calling +"Chattanooga," he received this message from General Thomas, +dated-- + + +NASHVILLE, November 12, 1884--8.80 A.M. + +Major-General SHERMAN: + +Your dispatch of twelve o'clock last night is received. I have no +fears that Beauregard can do us any harm now, and, if he attempts +to follow you, I will follow him as far as possible. If he does +not follow you, I will then thoroughly organize my troops, and +believe I shall have men enough to ruin him unless he gets out of +the way very rapidly. + +The country of Middle Alabama, I learn, is teeming with supplies +this year, which will be greatly to our advantage. I have no +additional news to report from the direction of Florence. +I am now convinced that the greater part of Beauregard's army is +near Florence and Tuscumbia, and that you will have at least a +clear road before you for several days, and that your success will +fully equal your expectations. + +George H. THOMAS, Major-General. + + +I answered simply: "Dispatch received--all right." About that +instant of time, some of our men burnt a bridge, which severed the +telegraph-wire, and all communication with the rear ceased +thenceforth. + +As we rode on toward Atlanta that night, I remember the railroad- +trains going to the rear with a furious speed; the engineers and +the few men about the trains waving us an affectionate adieu. It +surely was a strange event--two hostile armies marching in opposite +directions, each in the full belief that it was achieving a final +and conclusive result in a great war; and I was strongly inspired +with the feeling that the movement on our part was a direct attack +upon the rebel army and the rebel capital at Richmond, though a +full thousand miles of hostile country intervened, and that, for +better or worse, it would end the war. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE MARCH TO THE SEA FROM ATLANTA TO SAVANNAH. + +NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1864. + + +On the 12th of November the railroad and telegraph communications +with the rear were broken, and the army stood detached from all +friends, dependent on its own resources and supplies. No time was +to be lost; all the detachments were ordered to march rapidly for +Atlanta, breaking up the railroad en route, and generally to so +damage the country as to make it untenable to the enemy. By the +14th all the troops had arrived at or near Atlanta, and were, +according to orders, grouped into two wings, the right and left, +commanded respectively by Major-Generals O. O. Howard and H. W. +Slocum, both comparatively young men, but educated and experienced +officers, fully competent to their command. + +The right wing was composed of the Fifteenth Corps, Major-General +P. J. Osterhaus commanding, and the Seventeenth Corps, +Major-General Frank P. Blair commanding. + +The left wing was composed of the Fourteenth Corps, Major-General +Jefferson C. Davis commanding, and the Twentieth Corps, +Brigadier-General A. S. Williams commanding. + +The Fifteenth Corps had four divisions, commanded by +Brigadier-Generals Charles R. Woods, W. B. Hazen, John E. Smith, +and John M. Gorse. + +The Seventeenth Corps had three divisions, commanded by +Major-General J. A. Mower, and Brigadier-Generals M. D. Leggett +and Giles A. Smith. + +The Fourteenth Corps had three divisions, commanded by +Brigadier-Generals W. P. Carlin, James D. Morgan, and A. Baird. + +The Twentieth Corps had also three divisions, commanded by +Brigadier-Generals N. J. Jackson, John W. Geary, and W. T. Ward. + +The cavalry division was held separate, subject to my own orders. +It was commanded by Brigadier-General Judson Kilpatrick, and was +composed of two brigades, commanded by Colonels Eli H. Murray, of +Kentucky, and Smith D. Atkins, of Illinois. + +The strength of the army, as officially reported, is given in the +following tables, and shows an aggregate of fifty-five thousand +three hundred and twenty-nine infantry, five thousand and +sixty-three cavalry, and eighteen hundred and twelve artillery in +all, sixty-two thousand two hundred and four officers and men. + +The most extraordinary efforts had been made to purge this army of +non-combatants and of sick men, for we knew well that there was to +be no place of safety save with the army itself; our wagons were +loaded with ammunition, provisions, and forage, and we could ill +afford to haul even sick men in the ambulances, so that all on this +exhibit may be assumed to have been able-bodied, experienced +soldiers, well armed, well equipped and provided, as far as human +foresight could, with all the essentials of life, strength, and +vigorous action. + +The two general orders made for this march appear to me, even at +this late day, so clear, emphatic, and well-digested, that no +account of that historic event is perfect without them, and I give +them entire, even at the seeming appearance of repetition; and, +though they called for great sacrifice and labor on the part of the +officers and men, I insist that these orders were obeyed as well as +any similar orders ever were, by an army operating wholly in an +enemy's country, and dispersed, as we necessarily were, during the +subsequent period of nearly six months. + + +[Special Field Orders, No. 119.] + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, KINGSTON, GEORGIA, November 8, 1864 + +The general commanding deems it proper at this time to inform the +officers and men of the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Seventeenth, and +Twentieth Corps, that he has organized them into an army for a +special purpose, well known to the War Department and to General +Grant. It is sufficient for you to know that it involves a +departure from our present base, and a long and difficult march to +a new one. All the chances of war have been considered and +provided for, as far as human sagacity can. All he asks of you is +to maintain that discipline, patience, and courage, which have +characterized you in the past; and he hopes, through you, to strike +a blow at our enemy that will have a material effect in producing +what we all so much desire, his complete overthrow. Of all things, +the most important is, that the men, during marches and in camp, +keep their places and do not scatter about as stragglers or +foragers, to be picked up by a hostile people in detail. It is +also of the utmost importance that our wagons should not be loaded +with any thing but provisions and ammunition. All surplus +servants, noncombatants, and refugees, should now go to the rear, +and none should be encouraged to encumber us on the march. At some +future time we will be able to provide for the poor whites and +blacks who seek to escape the bondage under which they are now +suffering. With these few simple cautions, he hopes to lead you to +achievements equal in importance to those of the past. + +By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman, +L. M. DAYTON, Aide-de-Camp. + + + + +[Special Field Orders, No. 120.] + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, KINGSTON, GEORGIA, November 9, 1864 + + +1. For the purpose of military operations, this army is divided +into two wings viz.: + +The right wing, Major-General O. O. Howard commanding, composed of +the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps; the left wing, Major-General +H. W. Slocum commanding, composed of the Fourteenth and Twentieth +Corps. + +2. The habitual order of march will be, wherever practicable, by +four roads, as nearly parallel as possible, and converging at +points hereafter to be indicated in orders. The cavalry, +Brigadier-General Kilpatrick commanding, will receive special +orders from the commander-in-chief. + +3. There will be no general train of supplies, but each corps will +have its ammunition-train and provision-train, distributed +habitually as follows: Behind each regiment should follow one wagon +and one ambulance; behind each brigade should follow a due +proportion of ammunition-wagons, provision-wagons, and ambulances. +In case of danger, each corps commander should change this order of +march, by having his advance and rear brigades unencumbered by +wheels. The separate columns will start habitually at 7 a.m., and +make about fifteen miles per day, unless otherwise fixed in orders. + +4. The army will forage liberally on the country during the march. +To this end, each brigade commander will organize a good and +sufficient foraging party, under the command of one or more +discreet officers, who will gather, near the route traveled, corn +or forage of any kind, meat of any kind, vegetables, corn-meal, or +whatever is needed by the command, aiming at all times to keep in +the wagons at least ten days' provisions for his command, and three +days' forage. Soldiers must not enter the dwellings of the +inhabitants, or commit any trespass; but, during a halt or camp, +they may be permitted to gather turnips, potatoes, and other +vegetables, and to drive in stock in sight of their camp. To +regular foraging-parties must be intrusted the gathering of +provisions and forage, at any distance from the road traveled. + +6. To corps commanders alone is intrusted the power to destroy +mills, houses, cotton-gins, etc.; and for them this general +principle is laid down: + +In districts and neighborhoods where the army is unmolested, no +destruction of each property should be permitted; but should +guerrillas or bushwhackers molest our march, or should the +inhabitants burn bridges, obstruct roads, or otherwise manifest +local hostility, then army commanders should order and enforce a +devastation more or less relentless, according to the measure of +such hostility. + +6. As for horses, mules, wagons, etc., belonging to the +inhabitants, the cavalry and artillery may appropriate freely and +without limit; discriminating, however, between the rich, who are +usually hostile, and the poor and industrious, usually neutral or +friendly. Foraging-parties may also take mules or horses, to +replace the jaded animals of their trains, or to serve as +pack-mules for the regiments or brigades. In all foraging, of +whatever kind, the parties engaged will refrain from abusive or +threatening language, and may, where the officer in command thinks +proper, give written certificates of the facts, but no receipts; +and they will endeavor to leave with each family a reasonable +portion for their maintenance, + +7. Negroes who are able-bodied and can be of service to the +several columns may be taken along; but each army commander will +bear in mind that the question of supplies is a very important one, +and that his first duty is to see to those who bear arms. + +8. The organization, at once, of a good pioneer battalion for each +army corps, composed if possible of negroes, should be attended to. +This battalion should follow the advance-guard, repair roads and +double them if possible, so that the columns will not be delayed +after reaching bad places. Also, army commanders should practise +the habit of giving the artillery and wagons the road, marching +their troops on one side, and instruct their troops to assist +wagons at steep hills or bad crossings of streams. + +9. Captain O. M. Poe, chief-engineer, will assign to each wing of +the army a pontoon-train, fully equipped and organized; and the +commanders thereof will see to their being properly protected at +all times. + +By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman, + +L. M. DAYTON, Aide-de-Camp. + + +The greatest possible attention had been given to the artillery and +wagon trains. The number of guns had been reduced to sixty-five, +or about one gun to each thousand men, and these were generally in +batteries of four guns each. + +Each gun, caisson, and forges was drawn by four teams of horses. +We had in all about twenty-five hundred wagons, with teams of six +mules to each, and six hundred ambulances, with two horses to each. +The loads were made comparatively light, about twenty-five hundred +pounds net; each wagon carrying in addition the forage needed by +its own team: Each soldier carried on his person forty rounds of +ammunition, and in the wagons were enough cartridges to make up +about two hundred rounds per man, and in like manner two hundred +rounds of assorted ammunition were carried for each gun. + +The wagon-trains were divided equally between the four corps, so +that each had about eight hundred wagons, and these usually on the +march occupied five miles or more of road. Each corps commander +managed his own train; and habitually the artillery and wagons had +the road, while the men, with the exception of the advance and rear +guards, pursued paths improvised by the aide of the wagons, unless +they were forced to use a bridge or causeway in common. + +I reached Atlanta during the afternoon of the 14th, and found that +all preparations had been made-Colonel Beckwith, chief commissary, +reporting one million two hundred thousand rations in possession of +the troops, which was about twenty days' supply, and he had on hand +a good supply of beef-cattle to be driven along on the hoof. Of +forage, the supply was limited, being of oats and corn enough for +five days, but I knew that within that time we would reach a +country well stocked with corn, which had been gathered and stored +in cribs, seemingly for our use, by Governor Brown's militia. + +Colonel Poe, United States Engineers, of my staff, had been busy in +his special task of destruction. He had a large force at work, had +leveled the great depot, round house, and the machine-shops of the +Georgia Railroad, and had applied fire to the wreck. One of these +machine-shops had been used by the rebels as an arsenal, and in it +were stored piles of shot and shell, some of which proved to be +loaded, and that night was made hideous by the bursting of shells, +whose fragments came uncomfortably, near Judge Lyon's house, in +which I was quartered. The fire also reached the block of stores +near the depot, and the heart of the city was in flames all night, +but the fire did not reach the parts of Atlanta where the +court-house was, or the great mass of dwelling houses. + +The march from Atlanta began on the morning of November 15th, the +right wing and cavalry following the railroad southeast toward +Jonesboro', and General Slocum with the Twentieth Corps leading off +to the east by Decatur and Stone Mountain, toward Madison. These +were divergent lines, designed to threaten both Mason and Augusta +at the same time, so as to prevent a concentration at our intended +destination, or "objective," Milledgeville, the capital of Georgia, +distant southeast about one hundred miles. The time allowed each +column for reaching Milledgeville was seven days. I remained in +Atlanta during the 15th with the Fourteenth Corps, and the +rear-guard of the right wing, to complete the loading of the trains, +and the destruction of the buildings of Atlanta which could be +converted to hostile uses, and on the morning of the 16th started +with my personal staff, a company of Alabama cavalry, commanded by +Lieutenant Snelling, and an infantry company, commanded by Lieutenant +McCrory, which guarded our small train of wagons. + +My staff was then composed of Major L. M. Dayton, aide-de-camp and +acting adjutant-general, Major J. C. McCoy, and Major J. C. +Audenried, aides. Major Ward Nichols had joined some weeks before +at Gaylesville, Alabama, and was attached as an acting +aide-de-camp. Also Major Henry Hitchcock had joined at the same +time as judge-advocate. Colonel Charles Ewing was +inspector-general, and Surgeon John Moore medical director. These +constituted our mess. We had no tents, only the flies, with which +we nightly made bivouacs with the assistance of the abundant +pine-boughs, which made excellent shelter, as well as beds. + +Colonel L. C. Easton was chief-quartermaster; Colonel Amos +Beckwith, chief-commissary; Colonel O. M. Poe, chief-engineer; and +Colonel T. G. Baylor, chief of ordnance. These invariably rode +with us during the day, but they had a separate camp and mess at +night. + +General William F. Barry had been chief of artillery in the +previous campaign, but at Kingston his face was so swollen with +erysipelas that he was reluctantly compelled to leave us for the +rear; and he could not, on recovering, rejoin us till we had +reached Savannah. + +About 7 a.m. of November 16th we rode out of Atlanta by the Decatur +road, filled by the marching troops and wagons of the Fourteenth +Corps; and reaching the hill, just outside of the old rebel works, +we naturally paused to look back upon the scenes of our past +battles. We stood upon the very ground whereon was fought the +bloody battle of July 22d, and could see the copse of wood where +McPherson fell. Behind us lay Atlanta, smouldering and in ruins, +the black smoke rising high in air, and hanging like a pall over +the ruined city. Away off in the distance, on the McDonough road, +was the rear of Howard's column, the gun-barrels glistening in the +sun, the white-topped wagons stretching away to the south; and +right before us the Fourteenth Corps, marching steadily and +rapidly, with a cheery look and swinging pace, that made light of +the thousand miles that lay between us and Richmond. Some band, by +accident, struck up the anthem of "John Brown's soul goes marching +on;" the men caught up the strain, and never before or since have I +heard the chorus of "Glory, glory, hallelujah!" done with more +spirit, or in better harmony of time and place. + +Then we turned our horses' heads to the east; Atlanta was soon lost +behind the screen of trees, and became a thing of the past. Around +it clings many a thought of desperate battle, of hope and fear, +that now seem like the memory of a dream; and I have never seen the +place since. The day was extremely beautiful, clear sunlight, with +bracing air, and an unusual feeling of exhilaration seemed to +pervade all minds--a feeling of something to come, vague and +undefined, still full of venture and intense interest. Even the +common soldiers caught the inspiration, and many a group called out +to me as I worked my way past them, "Uncle Billy, I guess Grant is +waiting for us at Richmond!" Indeed, the general sentiment was +that we were marching for Richmond, and that there we should end +the war, but how and when they seemed to care not; nor did they +measure the distance, or count the cost in life, or bother their +brains about the great rivers to be crossed, and the food required +for man and beast, that had to be gathered by the way. There was a +"devil-may-care" feeling pervading officers and men, that made me +feel the full load of responsibility, for success would be accepted +as a matter of course, whereas, should we fail, this "march" would +be adjudged the wild adventure of a crazy fool. I had no purpose +to march direct for Richmond by way of Augusta and Charlotte, but +always designed to reach the sea-coast first at Savannah or Port +Royal, South Carolina, and even kept in mind the alternative of +Pensacola. + +The first night out we camped by the road-side near Lithonia. +Stone Mountain, a mass of granite, was in plain view, cut out in +clear outline against the blue sky; the whole horizon was lurid +with the bonfires of rail-ties, and groups of men all night were +carrying the heated rails to the nearest trees, and bending them +around the trunks. Colonel Poe had provided tools for ripping up +the rails and twisting them when hot; but the best and easiest way +is the one I have described, of heating the middle of the +iron-rails on bonfires made of the cross-ties, and then winding +them around a telegraph-pole or the trunk of some convenient +sapling. I attached much importance to this destruction of the +railroad, gave it my own personal attention, and made reiterated +orders to others on the subject. + +The next day we passed through the handsome town of Covington, the +soldiers closing up their ranks, the color-bearers unfurling their +flags, and the bands striking up patriotic airs. The white people +came out of their houses to behold the sight, spite of their deep +hatred of the invaders, and the negroes were simply frantic with +joy. Whenever they heard my name, they clustered about my horse, +shouted and prayed in their peculiar style, which had a natural +eloquence that would have moved a stone. I have witnessed +hundreds, if not thousands, of such scenes; and can now see a poor +girl, in the very ecstasy of the Methodist "shout," hugging the +banner of one of the regiments, and jumping up to the "feet of +Jesus." + +I remember, when riding around by a by-street in Covington, to +avoid the crowd that followed the marching column, that some one +brought me an invitation to dine with a sister of Sam. Anderson, +who was a cadet at West Point with me; but the messenger reached me +after we had passed the main part of the town. I asked to be +excused, and rode on to a place designated for camp, at the +crossing of the Ulcofauhachee River, about four miles to the east +of the town. Here we made our bivouac, and I walked up to a +plantation-house close by, where were assembled many negroes, among +them an old, gray-haired man, of as fine a head as I ever saw. I +asked him if he understood about the war and its progress. He said +he did; that he had been looking for the "angel of the Lord" ever +since he was knee-high, and, though we professed to be fighting for +the Union, he supposed that slavery was the cause, and that our +success was to be his freedom. I asked him if all the negro slaves +comprehended this fact, and he said they surely did. I then +explained to him that we wanted the slaves to remain where they +were, and not to load us down with useless mouths, which would eat +up the food needed for our fighting men; that our success was their +assured freedom; that we could receive a few of their young, hearty +men as pioneers; but that, if they followed us in swarms of old and +young, feeble and helpless, it would simply load us down and +cripple us in our great task. I think Major Henry Hitchcock was +with me on that occasion, and made a note of the conversation, and +I believe that old man spread this message to the slaves, which was +carried from mouth to mouth, to the very end of our journey, and +that it in part saved us from the great danger we incurred of +swelling our numbers so that famine would have attended our +progress. It was at this very plantation that a soldier passed me +with a ham on his musket, a jug of sorghum-molasses under his arm, +and a big piece of honey in his hand, from which he was eating, +and, catching my eye, he remarked sotto voce and carelessly to a +comrade, "Forage liberally on the country," quoting from my general +orders. On this occasion, as on many others that fell under my +personal observation, I reproved the man, explained that foraging +must be limited to the regular parties properly detailed, and that +all provisions thus obtained must be delivered to the regular +commissaries, to be fairly distributed to the men who kept their +ranks. + +From Covington the Fourteenth Corps (Davis's), with which I was +traveling, turned to the right for Milledgeville, via Shady Dale. +General Slocum was ahead at Madison, with the Twentieth Corps, +having torn up the railroad as far as that place, and thence had +sent Geary's division on to the Oconee, to burn the bridges across +that stream, when this corps turned south by Eatonton, for +Milledgeville, the common "objective" for the first stage of the +"march." We found abundance of corn, molasses, meal, bacon, and +sweet-potatoes. We also took a good many cows and oxen, and a +large number of mules. In all these the country was quite rich, +never before having been visited by a hostile army; the recent crop +had been excellent, had been just gathered and laid by for the +winter. As a rule, we destroyed none, but kept our wagons full, +and fed our teams bountifully. + +The skill and success of the men in collecting forage was one of +the features of this march. Each brigade commander had authority +to detail a company of foragers, usually about fifty men, with one +or two commissioned officers selected for their boldness and +enterprise. This party would be dispatched before daylight with a +knowledge of the intended day's march and camp; would proceed on +foot five or six miles from the route traveled by their brigade, +and then visit every plantation and farm within range. They would +usually procure a wagon or family carriage, load it with bacon, +corn-meal, turkeys, chickens, ducks, and every thing that could be +used as food or forage, and would then regain the main road, +usually in advance of their train. When this came up, they would +deliver to the brigade commissary the supplies thus gathered by the +way. Often would I pass these foraging-parties at the roadside, +waiting for their wagons to come up, and was amused at their +strange collections--mules, horses, even cattle, packed with old +saddles and loaded with hams, bacon, bags of cornmeal, and poultry +of every character and description. Although this foraging was +attended with great danger and hard work, there seemed to be a +charm about it that attracted the soldiers, and it was a privilege +to be detailed on such a party. Daily they returned mounted on all +sorts of beasts, which were at once taken from them and +appropriated to the general use; but the next day they would start +out again on foot, only to repeat the experience of the day before. +No doubt, many acts of pillage, robbery, and violence, were +committed by these parties of foragers, usually called "bummers;" +for I have since heard of jewelry taken from women, and the plunder +of articles that never reached the commissary; but these acts were +exceptional and incidental. I never heard of any cases of murder +or rape; and no army could have carried along sufficient food and +forage for a march of three hundred miles; so that foraging in some +shape was necessary. The country was sparsely settled, with no +magistrates or civil authorities who could respond to requisitions, +as is done in all the wars of Europe; so that this system of +foraging was simply indispensable to our success. By it our men +were well supplied with all the essentials of life and health, +while the wagons retained enough in case of unexpected delay, and +our animals were well fed. Indeed, when we reached Savannah, the +trains were pronounced by experts to be the finest in flesh and +appearance ever seen with any army. + +Habitually each corps followed some main road, and the foragers, +being kept out on the exposed flank, served all the military uses +of flankers. The main columns gathered, by the roads traveled, +much forage and food, chiefly meat, corn, and sweet-potatoes, and +it was the duty of each division and brigade quartermaster to fill +his wagons as fast as the contents were issued to the troops. The +wagon-trains had the right to the road always, but each wagon was +required to keep closed up, so as to leave no gaps in the column. +If for any purpose any wagon or group of wagons dropped out of +place, they had to wait for the rear. And this was always dreaded, +for each brigade commander wanted his train up at camp as soon +after reaching it with his men as possible. + +I have seen much skill and industry displayed by these +quarter-masters on the march, in trying to load their wagons with +corn and fodder by the way without losing their place in column. +They would, while marching, shift the loads of wagons, so as to have +six or ten of them empty. Then, riding well ahead, they would secure +possession of certain stacks of fodder near the road, or cribs of +corn, leave some men in charge, then open fences and a road back for +a couple of miles, return to their trains, divert the empty wagons +out of column, and conduct them rapidly to their forage, load up and +regain their place in column without losing distance. On one occasion +I remember to have seen ten or a dozen wagons thus loaded with corn +from two or three full cribs, almost without halting. These cribs +were built of logs, and roofed. The train-guard, by a lever, had +raised the whole side of the crib a foot or two; the wagons drove +close alongside, and the men in the cribs, lying on their backs, +kicked out a wagon-load of corn in the time I have taken to describe +it. + +In a well-ordered and well-disciplined army, these things might be +deemed irregular, but I am convinced that the ingenuity of these +younger officers accomplished many things far better than I could +have ordered, and the marches were thus made, and the distances +were accomplished, in the most admirable way. Habitually we +started from camp at the earliest break of dawn, and usually +reached camp soon after noon. The marches varied from ten to +fifteen miles a day, though sometimes on extreme flanks it was +necessary to make as much as twenty, but the rate of travel was +regulated by the wagons; and, considering the nature of the roads, +fifteen miles per day was deemed the limit. + +The pontoon-trains were in like manner distributed in about equal +proportions to the four corps, giving each a section of about nine +hundred feet. The pontoons were of the skeleton pattern, with +cotton-canvas covers, each boat, with its proportion of balks and +cheeses, constituting a load for one wagon. By uniting two such +sections together, we could make a bridge of eighteen hundred feet, +enough for any river we had to traverse; but habitually the leading +brigade would, out of the abundant timber, improvise a bridge +before the pontoon-train could come up, unless in the cases of +rivers of considerable magnitude, such as the Ocmulgee, Oconee, +Ogeechee, Savannah, etc. + +On the 20th of November I was still with the Fourteenth Corps, near +Eatonton Factory, waiting to hear of the Twentieth Corps; and on +the 21st we camped near the house of a man named Mann; the next +day, about 4 p.m., General Davis had halted his head of column on a +wooded ridge, overlooking an extensive slope of cultivated country, +about ten miles short of Milledgeville, and was deploying his +troops for camp when I got up. There was a high, raw wind blowing, +and I asked him why he had chosen so cold and bleak a position. He +explained that he had accomplished his full distance for the day, +and had there an abundance of wood and water. He explained further +that his advance-guard was a mile or so ahead; so I rode on, asking +him to let his rear division, as it came up, move some distance +ahead into the depression or valley beyond. Riding on some +distance to the border of a plantation, I turned out of the main +road into a cluster of wild-plum bushes, that broke the force of +the cold November wind, dismounted, and instructed the staff to +pick out the place for our camp. + +The afternoon was unusually raw and cold. My orderly was at hand +with his invariable saddle-bags, which contained a change of +under-clothing, my maps, a flask of whiskey, and bunch of cigars. +Taking a drink and lighting a cigar, I walked to a row of +negro-huts close by, entered one and found a soldier or two warming +themselves by a wood-fire. I took their place by the fire, +intending to wait there till our wagons had got up, and a camp made +for the night. I was talking to the old negro woman, when some one +came and explained to me that, if I would come farther down the +road, I could find a better place. So I started on foot, and found +on the main road a good double-hewed-log house, in one room of +which Colonel Poe, Dr. Moore, and others, had started a fire. I +sent back orders to the "plum-bushes" to bring our horses and +saddles up to this house, and an orderly to conduct our headquarter +wagons to the same place. In looking around the room, I saw a +small box, like a candle-box, marked "Howell Cobb," and, on +inquiring of a negro, found that we were at the plantation of +General Howell Cobb, of Georgia, one of the leading rebels of the +South, then a general in the Southern army, and who had been +Secretary of the United States Treasury in Mr. Buchanan's time. Of +course, we confiscated his property, and found it rich in corn, +beans, pea-nuts, and sorghum-molasses. Extensive fields were all +round the house; I sent word back to General David to explain whose +plantation it was, and instructed him to spare nothing. That night +huge bonfires consumed the fence-rails, kept our soldiers warm, and +the teamsters and men, as well as the slaves, carried off an +immense quantity of corn and provisions of all sorts. + +In due season the headquarter wagons came up, and we got supper. +After supper I sat on a chair astride, with my back to a good fire, +musing, and became conscious that an old negro, with a +tallow-candle in his hand, was scanning my face closely. I inquired, +"What do you want, old man!" He answered, "Dey say you is Massa +Sherman." I answered that such was the case, and inquired what he +wanted. He only wanted to look at me, and kept muttering, "Dis +nigger can't sleep dis night." I asked him why he trembled so, and +he said that he wanted to be sure that we were in fact "Yankees," +for on a former occasion some rebel cavalry had put on light-blue +overcoats, personating Yankee troops, and many of the negroes were +deceived thereby, himself among the number had shown them sympathy, +and had in consequence been unmercifully beaten therefor. This +time he wanted to be certain before committing himself; so I told +him to go out on the porch, from which he could see the whole +horizon lit up with camp-fires, and he could then judge whether he +had ever seen any thing like it before. The old man became +convinced that the "Yankees" had come at last, about whom he had +been dreaming all his life; and some of the staff officers gave him +a strong drink of whiskey, which set his tongue going. Lieutenant +Spelling, who commanded my escort, was a Georgian, and recognized +in this old negro a favorite slave of his uncle, who resided about +six miles off; but the old slave did not at first recognize his +young master in our uniform. One of my staff-officers asked him +what had become of his young master, George. He did not know, only +that he had gone off to the war, and he supposed him killed, as a +matter of course. His attention was then drawn to Spelling's face, +when he fell on his knees and thanked God that he had found his +young master alive and along with the Yankees. Spelling inquired +all about his uncle and the family, asked my permission to go and +pay his uncle a visit, which I granted, of course, and the next +morning he described to me his visit. The uncle was not cordial, +by any means, to find his nephew in the ranks of the host that was +desolating the land, and Spelling came back, having exchanged his +tired horse for a fresher one out of his uncle's stables, +explaining that surely some of the "bummers" would have got the +horse had he not. + +The next morning, November 23d, we rode into Milledgeville, the +capital of the State, whither the Twentieth Corps had preceded us; +and during that day the left wing was all united, in and around +Milledgeville. From the inhabitants we learned that some of +Kilpatrick's cavalry had preceded us by a couple of days, and that +all of the right wing was at and near Gordon, twelve miles off, +viz., the place where the branch railroad came to Milledgeville +from the Mason & Savannah road. The first stage of the journey +was, therefore, complete, and absolutely successful. + +General Howard soon reported by letter the operations of his right +wing, which, on leaving Atlanta, had substantially followed the two +roads toward Mason, by Jonesboro' and McDonough, and reached the +Ocmulgee at Planters' Factory, which they crossed, by the aid of +the pontoon-train, during the 18th and 19th of November. Thence, +with the Seventeenth Corps (General Blair's) he (General Howard) +had marched via Monticello toward Gordon, having dispatched +Kilpatrick's cavalry, supported by the Fifteenth Corps +(Osterhaus's), to feign on Mason. Kilpatrick met the enemy's +cavalry about four miles out of Mason, and drove them rapidly back +into the bridge-defenses held by infantry. Kilpatrick charged +these, got inside the parapet, but could not hold it, and retired +to his infantry supports, near Griswold Station. The Fifteenth +Corps tore up the railroad-track eastward from Griswold, leaving +Charles R. Wood's division behind as a rear-guard-one brigade of +which was intrenched across the road, with some of Kilpatrick's +cavalry on the flanks. On the 22d of November General G. W. Smith, +with a division of troops, came out of Mason, attacked this brigade +(Walcutt's) in position, and was handsomely repulsed and driven +back into Mason. This brigade was in part armed with Spencer +repeating-rifles, and its fire was so rapid that General Smith +insists to this day that he encountered a whole division; but he is +mistaken; he was beaten by one brigade (Walcutt's), and made no +further effort to molest our operations from that direction. +General Walcutt was wounded in the leg, and had to ride the rest of +the distance to Savannah in a carriage. + +Therefore, by the 23d, I was in Milledgeville with the left wing, +and was in full communication with the right wing at Gordon. The +people of Milledgeville remained at home, except the Governor +(Brown), the State officers, and Legislature, who had ignominiously +fled, in the utmost disorder and confusion; standing not on the +order of their going, but going at once--some by rail, some by +carriages, and many on foot. Some of the citizens who remained +behind described this flight of the "brave and patriotic" Governor +Brown. He had occupied a public building known as the "Governor's +Mansion," and had hastily stripped it of carpets, curtains, and +furniture of all sorts, which were removed to a train of +freight-cars, which carried away these things--even the cabbages and +vegetables from his kitchen and cellar--leaving behind muskets, +ammunition, and the public archives. On arrival at Milledgeville I +occupied the same public mansion, and was soon overwhelmed with +appeals for protection. General Slocum had previously arrived with +the Twentieth Corps, had taken up his quarters at the Milledgeville +Hotel, established a good provost-guard, and excellent order was +maintained. The most frantic appeals had been made by the Governor +and Legislature for help from every quarter, and the people of the +State had been called out en masse to resist and destroy the invaders +of their homes and firesides. Even the prisoners and convicts of the +penitentiary were released on condition of serving as soldiers, and +the cadets were taken from their military college for the same +purpose. These constituted a small battalion, under General Harry +Wayne, a former officer of the United States Army, and son of the +then Justice Wayne of the Supreme Court. But these hastily retreated +east across the Oconee River, leaving us a good bridge, which we +promptly secured. + + +At Milledgeville we found newspapers from all the South, and +learned the consternation which had filled the Southern mind at our +temerity; many charging that we were actually fleeing for our lives +and seeking safety at the hands of our fleet on the sea-coast. All +demanded that we should be assailed, "front, flank, and rear;" that +provisions should be destroyed in advance, so that we would starve; +that bridges should be burned, roads obstructed, and no mercy shown +us. Judging from the tone of the Southern press of that day, the +outside world must have supposed us ruined and lost. I give a few +of these appeals as samples, which to-day must sound strange to the +parties who made them: + + +Corinth, Mississippi, November 18, 1884. + +To the People of Georgia: + + +Arise for the defense of your native soil! Rally around your +patriotic Governor and gallant soldiers! Obstruct and destroy all +the roads in Sherman's front, flank, and rear, and his army will +soon starve in your midst. Be confident. Be resolute. Trust in an +overruling Providence, and success will soon crown your efforts. I +hasten to join you in the defense of your homes and firesides. + +G. T. BEAUREGARD. + + + +RICHMOND, November 18, 1884. + +To the People of Georgia: + +You have now the best opportunity ever yet presented to destroy the +enemy. Put every thing at the disposal of our generals; remove all +provisions from the path of the invader, and put all obstructions +in his path. + +Every citizen with his gun, and every negro with his spade and axe, +can do the work of a soldier. You can destroy the enemy by +retarding his march. + +Georgians, be firm! Act promptly, and fear not! + +B. H. Hill, Senator. + +I most cordially approve the above. +James A. SEDDON, Secretary of War. + + + +Richmond, November 19,1864. + +To the People of Georgia: + + +We have had a special conference with President Davis and the +Secretary of War, and are able to assure you that they have done +and are still doing all that can be done to meet the emergency that +presses upon you. Let every man fly to arms! Remove your negroes, +horses, cattle, and provisions from Sherman's army, and burn what +you cannot carry. Burn all bridges, and block up the roads in his +route. Assail the invader in front, flank, and rear, by night and +by day. Let him have no rest. + +JULIAN HARTRIDGE +MARK BLANDFORD, +J. H. ECHOLS +GEO. N. LESTER +JOHN T. SHUEMAKER +JAS. M. SMITH, + +Members of Congress. + + +Of course, we were rather amused than alarmed at these threats, and +made light of the feeble opposition offered to our progress. Some +of the officers (in the spirit of mischief) gathered together in +the vacant hall of Representatives, elected a Speaker, and +constituted themselves the Legislature of the State of Georgia! A +proposition was made to repeal the ordinance of secession, which +was well debated, and resulted in its repeal by a fair vote! I was +not present at these frolics, but heard of them at the time, and +enjoyed the joke. + +Meantime orders were made for the total destruction of the arsenal +and its contents, and of such public buildings as could be easily +converted to hostile uses. But little or no damage was done to +private property, and General Slocum, with my approval, spared +several mills, and many thousands of bales of cotton, taking what +he knew to be worthless bonds, that the cotton should not be used +for the Confederacy. Meantime the right wing continued its +movement along the railroad toward Savannah, tearing up the track +and destroying its iron. At the Oconee was met a feeble resistance +from Harry Wayne's troops, but soon the pontoon-bridge was laid, +and that wing crossed over. Gilpatrick's cavalry was brought into +Milledgeville, and crossed the Oconee by the bridge near the town; +and on the 23d I made the general orders for the next stage of the +march as far as Millen. These were, substantially, for the right +wing to follow the Savannah Railroad, by roads on its south; the +left wing was to move to Sandersville, by Davisboro' and +Louisville, while the cavalry was ordered by a circuit to the +north, and to march rapidly for Millen, to rescue our prisoners of +war confined there. The distance was about a hundred miles. + +General Wheeler, with his division of rebel cavalry, had succeeded +in getting ahead of us between Milledgeville and Augusta, and +General P. J. Hardee had been dispatched by General Beauregard from +Hood's army to oppose our progress directly in front. He had, +however, brought with him no troops, but relied on his influence +with the Georgians (of whose State he was a native) to arouse the +people, and with them to annihilate Sherman's army! + +On the 24th we renewed the march, and I accompanied the Twentieth +Corps, which took the direct road to Sandersville, which we reached +simultaneously with the Fourteenth Corps, on the 26th. A brigade +of rebel cavalry was deployed before the town, and was driven in +and through it by our skirmish-line. I myself saw the rebel cavalry +apply fire to stacks of fodder standing in the fields at +Sandersville, and gave orders to burn some unoccupied dwellings +close by. On entering the town, I told certain citizens (who would +be sure to spread the report) that, if the enemy attempted to carry +out their threat to burn their food, corn, and fodder, in our +route, I would most undoubtedly execute to the letter the general +orders of devastation made at the outset of the campaign. With +this exception, and one or two minor cases near Savannah, the +people did not destroy food, for they saw clearly that it would be +ruin to themselves. + +At Sandersville I halted the left wing until I heard that the right +wing was abreast of us on the railroad. During the evening a negro +was brought to me, who had that day been to the station (Tenille), +about six miles south of the town. I inquired of him if there were +any Yankees there, and he answered, "Yes." He described in his own +way what he had seen. + +"First, there come along some cavalry-men, and they burned the +depot; then come along some infantry-men, and they tore up the +track, and burned it;" and just before he left they had "sot fire +to the well." + +The next morning, viz., the 27th, I rode down to the station, and +found General Corse's division (of the Fifteenth Corps) engaged in +destroying the railroad, and saw the well which my negro informant +had seen "burnt." It was a square pit about twenty-five feet deep, +boarded up, with wooden steps leading to the bottom, wherein was a +fine copper pump, to lift the water to a tank above. The soldiers +had broken up the pump, heaved in the steps and lining, and set +fire to the mass of lumber in the bottom of the well, which +corroborated the negro's description. + +From this point Blair's corps, the Seventeenth, took up the work of +destroying the railroad, the Fifteenth Corps following another road +leading eastward, farther to the south of the railroad. While the +left wing was marching toward Louisville, north of the railroad, +General Kilpatrick had, with his cavalry division, moved rapidly +toward Waynesboro', on the branch railroad leading from Millen to +Augusta. He found Wheeler's division of rebel cavalry there, and +had considerable skirmishing with it; but, learning that our +prisoners had been removed two days before from Millen, he returned +to Louisville on the 29th, where he found the left wing. Here he +remained a couple of days to rest his horses, and, receiving orders +from me to engage Wheeler and give him all the fighting he wanted, +he procured from General Slocum the assistance of the infantry +division of General Baird, and moved back for Waynesboro' on the 2d +of December, the remainder of the left wing continuing its march on +toward Millers. Near Waynesboro' Wheeler was again encountered, +and driven through the town and beyond Brier Creek, toward Augusta, +thus keeping up the delusion that the main army was moving toward +Augusta. General Kilpatrick's fighting and movements about +Waynesboro' and Brier Creek were spirited, and produced a good +effect by relieving the infantry column and the wagon-trains of all +molestation during their march on Millen. Having thus covered that +flank, he turned south and followed the movement of the Fourteenth +Corps to Buckhead Church, north of Millen and near it. + +On the 3d of December I entered Millen with the Seventeenth Corps +(General Frank P. Blair), and there paused one day, to communicate +with all parts of the army. General Howard was south of the +Ogeechee River, with the Fifteenth Corps, opposite Scarboro'. +General Slocum was at Buckhead Church, four miles north of Millen, +with the Twentieth Corps. The Fourteenth (General Davis) was at +Lumpkin's Station, on the Augusta road, about ten miles north of +Millen, and the cavalry division was within easy support of this +wing. Thus the whole army was in good position and in good +condition. We had largely subsisted on the country; our wagons +were full of forage and provisions; but, as we approached the +sea-coast, the country became more sandy and barren, and food +became more scarce; still, with little or no loss, we had traveled +two-thirds of our distance, and I concluded to push on for +Savannah. At Millen I learned that General Bragg was in Augusta, +and that General Wade Hampton had been ordered there from Richmond, +to organize a large cavalry force with which to resist our +progress. + +General Hardee was ahead, between us and Savannah, with McLaw's +division, and other irregular troops, that could not, I felt +assured, exceed ten thousand men. I caused the fine depot at +Millen to be destroyed, and other damage done, and then resumed the +march directly on Savannah, by the four main roads. The Seventeenth +Corps (General Blair) followed substantially the railroad, +and, along with it, on the 5th of December, I reached Ogeechee +Church, about fifty miles from Savannah, and found there fresh +earthworks, which had been thrown up by McLaw's division; but he +must have seen that both his flanks were being turned, and +prudently retreated to Savannah without a fight. All the columns +then pursued leisurely their march toward Savannah, corn and forage +becoming more and more scarce, but rice-fields beginning to occur +along the Savannah and Ogeechee Rivers, which proved a good +substitute, both as food and forage. The weather was fine, the +roads good, and every thing seemed to favor us. Never do I recall +a more agreeable sensation than the sight of our camps by night, +lit up by the fires of fragrant pine-knots. The trains were all in +good order, and the men seemed to march their fifteen miles a day +as though it were nothing. No enemy opposed us, and we could only +occasionally hear the faint reverberation of a gun to our left +rear, where we knew that General Kilpatrick was skirmishing with +Wheeler's cavalry, which persistently followed him. But the +infantry columns had met with no opposition whatsoever. McLaw's +division was falling back before us, and we occasionally picked up +a few of his men as prisoners, who insisted that we would meet with +strong opposition at Savannah. + +On the 8th, as I rode along, I found the column turned out of the +main road, marching through the fields. Close by, in the corner of +a fence, was a group of men standing around a handsome young +officer, whose foot had been blown to pieces by a torpedo planted +in the road. He was waiting for a surgeon to amputate his leg, and +told me that he was riding along with the rest of his brigade-staff +of the Seventeenth Corps, when a torpedo trodden on by his horse +had exploded, killing the horse and literally blowing off all the +flesh from one of his legs. I saw the terrible wound, and made +full inquiry into the facts. There had been no resistance at that +point, nothing to give warning of danger, and the rebels had +planted eight-inch shells in the road, with friction-matches to +explode them by being trodden on. This was not war, but murder, +and it made me very angry. I immediately ordered a lot of rebel +prisoners to be brought from the provost-guard, armed with picks +and spades, and made them march in close order along the road, so +as to explode their own torpedoes, or to discover and dig them up. +They begged hard, but I reiterated the order, and could hardly help +laughing at their stepping so gingerly along the road, where it was +supposed sunken torpedoes might explode at each step, but they +found no other torpedoes till near Fort McAllister. That night we +reached Pooler's Station, eight miles from Savannah, and during the +next two days, December 9th and 10th, the several corps reached the +defenses of Savannah--the Fourteenth Corps on the left, touching +the river; the Twentieth Corps next; then the Seventeenth; and the +Fifteenth on the extreme right; thus completely investing the city. +Wishing to reconnoitre the place in person, I rode forward by the +Louisville road, into a dense wood of oak, pine, and cypress, left +the horses, and walked down to the railroad-track, at a place where +there was a side-track, and a cut about four feet deep. From that +point the railroad was straight, leading into Savannah, and about +eight hundred yards off were a rebel parapet and battery. I could +see the cannoneers preparing to fire, and cautioned the officers +near me to scatter, as we would likely attract a shot. Very soon I +saw the white puff of smoke, and, watching close, caught sight of +the ball as it rose in its flight, and, finding it coming pretty +straight, I stepped a short distance to one side, but noticed a +negro very near me in the act of crossing the track at right +angles. Some one called to him to look out; but, before the poor +fellow understood his danger, the ball (a thirty-two-pound round +shot) struck the ground, and rose in its first ricochet, caught the +negro under the right jaw, and literally carried away his head, +scattering blood and brains about. A soldier close by spread an +overcoat over the body, and we all concluded to get out of that +railroad-cut. Meantime, General Mower's division of the Seventeenth +Corps had crossed the canal to the right of the Louisville +road, and had found the line of parapet continuous; so at Savannah +we had again run up against the old familiar parapet, with its deep +ditches, canals, and bayous, full of water; and it looked as though +another siege was inevitable. I accordingly made a camp or bivouac +near the Louisville road, about five miles from Savannah, and +proceeded to invest the place closely, pushing forward +reconnoissances at every available point. + +As soon as it was demonstrated that Savannah was well fortified, +with a good garrison, commanded by General William J. Hardee, a +competent soldier, I saw that the first step was to open +communication with our fleet, supposed to be waiting for us with +supplies and clothing in Ossabaw Sound. + +General Howard had, some nights previously, sent one of his best +scouts, Captain Duncan, with two men, in a canoe, to drift past +Fort McAllister, and to convey to the fleet a knowledge of our +approach. General Kilpatrick's cavalry had also been transferred +to the south bank of the Ogeechee, with orders to open +communication with the fleet. Leaving orders with General Slocum +to press the siege, I instructed General Howard to send a division +with all his engineers to Grog's Bridge, fourteen and a half miles +southwest from Savannah, to rebuild it. On the evening of the 12th +I rode over myself, and spent the night at Mr. King's house, where +I found General Howard, with General Hazen's division of the +Fifteenth Corps. His engineers were hard at work on the bridge, +which they finished that night, and at sunrise Hazen's division +passed over. I gave General Hazen, in person, his orders to march +rapidly down the right bank of the Ogeechee, and without hesitation +to assault and carry Fort McAllister by storm. I knew it to be +strong in heavy artillery, as against an approach from the sea, but +believed it open and weak to the rear. I explained to General +Hazen, fully, that on his action depended the safety of the whole +army, and the success of the campaign. Kilpatrick had already felt +the fort, and had gone farther down the coast to Kilkenny Bluff, or +St. Catharine's Sound, where, on the same day, he had communication +with a vessel belonging to the blockading fleet; but, at the time, +I was not aware of this fact, and trusted entirely to General Hazen +and his division of infantry, the Second of the Fifteenth Corps, +the same old division which I had commanded at Shiloh and +Vicksburg, in which I felt a special pride and confidence. + +Having seen General Hazen fairly off, accompanied by General +Howard, I rode with my staff down the left bank of the Ogeechee, +ten miles to the rice-plantation of a Mr. Cheevea, where General +Howard had established a signal-station to overlook the lower +river, and to watch for any vessel of the blockading squadron, +which the negroes reported to be expecting us, because they nightly +sent up rockets, and daily dispatched a steamboat up the Ogeechee +as near to Fort McAllister as it was safe. + +On reaching the rice-mill at Cheevea's, I found a guard and a +couple of twenty-pound Parrott gone, of De Gres's battery, which +fired an occasional shot toward Fort McAllister, plainly seen over +the salt-marsh, about three miles distant. Fort McAllister had the +rebel flag flying, and occasionally sent a heavy shot back across +the marsh to where we were, but otherwise every thing about the +place looked as peaceable and quiet as on the Sabbath. + +The signal-officer had built a platform on the ridge-pole of +the rice-mill. Leaving our horses behind the stacks of rice-straw, +we all got on the roof of a shed attached to the mill, wherefrom I +could communicate with the signal-officer above, and at the same +time look out toward Ossabaw Sound, and across the Ogeechee River +at Fort McAllister. About 2 p.m. we observed signs of commotion +in the fort, and noticed one or two guns fired inland, and some +musket-skirmishing in the woods close by. + +This betokened the approach of Hazen's division, which had been +anxiously expected, and soon thereafter the signal-officer +discovered about three miles above the fort a signal-flag, with +which he conversed, and found it to belong to General Hazen, who +was preparing to assault the fort, and wanted to know if I were +there. On being assured of this fact, and that I expected the fort +to be carried before night, I received by signal the assurance of +General Hazen that he was making his preparations, and would soon +attempt the assault. The sun was rapidly declining, and I was +dreadfully impatient. At that very moment some one discovered a +faint cloud of smoke, and an object gliding, as it were, along the +horizon above the tops of the sedge toward the sea, which little by +little grew till it was pronounced to be the smoke-stack of a +steamer coming up the river. "It must be one of our squadron!" +Soon the flag of the United States was plainly visible, and our +attention was divided between this approaching steamer and the +expected assault. When the sun was about an hour high, another +signal-message came from General Hazen that he was all ready, and I +replied to go ahead, as a friendly steamer was approaching from +below. Soon we made out a group of officers on the deck of this +vessel, signaling with a flag, "Who are you!" The answer went back +promptly, "General Sherman." Then followed the question, "Is Fort +McAllister taken?" "Not yet, but it will be in a minute!" Almost +at that instant of time, we saw Hazen's troops come out of the dark +fringe of woods that encompassed the fort, the lines dressed as on +parade, with colors flying, and moving forward with a quick, steady +pace. Fort McAllister was then all alive, its big guns belching +forth dense clouds of smoke, which soon enveloped our assaulting +lines. One color went down, but was up in a moment. On the lines +advanced, faintly seen in the white, sulphurous smoke; there was a +pause, a cessation of fire; the smoke cleared away, and the +parapets were blue with our men, who fired their muskets in the +air, and shouted so that we actually heard them, or felt that we +did. Fort McAllister was taken, and the good news was instantly +sent by the signal-officer to our navy friends on the approaching +gunboat, for a point of timber had shut out Fort McAllister from +their view, and they had not seen the action at all, but must have +heard the cannonading. + +During the progress of the assault, our little group on Cheeves's +mill hardly breathed; but no sooner did we see our flags on the +parapet than I exclaimed, in the language of the poor negro at +Cobb's plantation, "This nigger will have no sleep this night!" + +I was resolved to communicate with our fleet that night, which +happened to be a beautiful moonlight one. At the wharf belonging +to Cheeves's mill was a small skiff, that had been used by our men +in fishing or in gathering oysters. I was there in a minute, +called for a volunteer crew, when several young officers, Nichols +and Merritt among the number; said they were good oarsmen, and +volunteered to pull the boat down to Fort McAllister. General +Howard asked to accompany me; so we took seats in the stern of the +boat, and our crew of officers pulled out with a will. The tide +was setting in strong, and they had a hard pull, for, though the +distance was but three miles in an air-line, the river was so +crooked that the actual distance was fully six miles. On the way +down we passed the wreck of a steamer which had been sunk some +years before, during a naval attack on Fort McAllister. + +Night had fairly set in when we discovered a soldier on the beach. +I hailed him, and inquired if he knew where General Hazen was. He +answered that the general was at the house of the overseer of the +plantation (McAllister's), and that he could guide me to it. We +accordingly landed, tied our boat to a driftlog, and followed our +guide through bushes to a frame-house, standing in a grove of +live-oaks, near a row of negro quarters. + +General Hazen was there with his staff, in the act of getting +supper; he invited us to join them, which we accepted promptly, for +we were really very hungry. Of course, I congratulated Hazen most +heartily on his brilliant success, and praised its execution very +highly, as it deserved, and he explained to me more in detail the +exact results. The fort was an inclosed work, and its land-front +was in the nature of a bastion and curtains, with good parapet, +ditch, fraise, and chevaux-de-frise, made out of the large branches +of live-oaks. Luckily, the rebels had left the larger and unwieldy +trunks on the ground, which served as a good cover for the +skirmish-line, which crept behind these logs, and from them kept +the artillerists from loading and firing their guns accurately. + +The assault had been made by three parties in line, one from below, +one from above the fort, and the third directly in rear, along the +capital. All were simultaneous, and had to pass a good abatis and +line of torpedoes, which actually killed more of the assailants +than the heavy guns of the fort, which generally overshot the mark. +Hazen's entire loss was reported, killed and wounded, ninety-two. +Each party reached the parapet about the same time, and the +garrison inside, of about two hundred and fifty men (about fifty of +them killed or wounded), were in his power. The commanding +officer, Major Anderson, was at that moment a prisoner, and +General Hazen invited him in to take supper with us, which he did. + +Up to this time General Hazen did not know that a gunboat was in +the river below the fort; for it was shut off from sight by a point +of timber, and I was determined to board her that night, at +whatever risk or cost, as I wanted some news of what was going on +in the outer world. Accordingly, after supper, we all walked down +to the fort, nearly a mile from the house where we had been, +entered Fort McAllister, held by a regiment of Hazen's troops, and +the sentinel cautioned us to be very careful, as the ground outside +the fort was full of torpedoes. Indeed, while we were there, a +torpedo exploded, tearing to pieces a poor fellow who was hunting +for a dead comrade. Inside the fort lay the dead as they had +fallen, and they could hardly be distinguished from their living +comrades, sleeping soundly side by side in the pale moonlight. In +the river, close by the fort, was a good yawl tied to a stake, but +the tide was high, and it required some time to get it in to the +bank; the commanding officer, whose name I cannot recall, manned +the boat with a good crew of his men, and, with General Howard, I +entered, and pulled down-stream, regardless of the warnings all +about the torpedoes. + +The night was unusually bright, and we expected to find the gunboat +within a mile or so; but, after pulling down the river fully three +miles, and not seeing the gunboat, I began to think she had turned +and gone back to the sound; but we kept on, following the bends of +the river, and about six miles below McAllister we saw her light, +and soon were hailed by the vessel at anchor. Pulling alongside, +we announced ourselves, and were received with great warmth and +enthusiasm on deck by half a dozen naval officers, among them +Captain Williamson, United States Navy. She proved to be the +Dandelion, a tender of the regular gunboat Flag, posted at the +mouth of the Ogeechee. All sorts of questions were made and +answered, and we learned that Captain Duncan had safely reached the +squadron, had communicated the good news of our approach, and they +had been expecting us for some days. They explained that Admiral +Dahlgren commanded the South-Atlantic Squadron, which was then +engaged in blockading the coast from Charleston south, and was on +his flag-ship, the Harvest Moon, lying in Wassaw Sound; that +General J. G. Foster was in command of the Department of the South, +with his headquarters at Hilton Head; and that several ships loaded +with stores for the army were lying in Tybee Roads and in Port +Royal Sound. From these officers I also learned that General Grant +was still besieging Petersburg and Richmond, and that matters and +things generally remained pretty much the same as when we had left +Atlanta. All thoughts seemed to have been turned to us in Georgia, +cut off from all communication with our friends; and the rebel +papers had reported us to be harassed, defeated, starving, and +fleeing for safety to the coast. I then asked for pen and paper, +and wrote several hasty notes to General Foster, Admiral Dahlgren, +General Grant, and the Secretary of War, giving in general terms +the actual state of affairs, the fact of the capture of Fort +McAllister, and of my desire that means should be taken to +establish a line of supply from the vessels in port up the Ogeechee +to the rear of the army. As a sample, I give one of these notes, +addressed to the Secretary of War, intended for publication to +relieve the anxiety of our friends at the North generally: + + +ON BOARD DANDELION, OSSABAW SOUND, December 13, 1864--11.50 p.m. + + +To Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.: + +To-day, at 6 p. m., General Hazen's division of the Fifteenth Corps +carried Fort McAllister by assault, capturing its entire garrison +and stores. This opened to us Ossabaw Sound, and I pushed down to +this gunboat to communicate with the fleet. Before opening +communication we had completely destroyed all the railroads leading +into Savannah, and invested the city. The left of the army is on +the Savannah River three miles above the city, and the right on the +Ogeechee, at King's Bridge. The army is in splendid order, and +equal to any thing. The weather has been fine, and supplies were +abundant. Our march was most agreeable, and we were not at all +molested by guerrillas. + +We reached Savannah three days ago, but, owing to Fort McAllister, +could not communicate; but, now that we have McAllister, we can go +ahead. + +We have already captured two boats on the Savannah river and +prevented their gunboats from coming down. + +I estimate the population of Savannah at twenty-five thousand, and +the garrison at fifteen thousand. General Hardee commands. + +We have not lost a wagon on the trip; but have gathered a large +supply of negroes, mules, horses, etc., and our teams are in far +better condition than when we started. + +My first duty will be to clear the army of surplus negroes, mules, +and horses. We have utterly destroyed over two hundred miles of +rails, and consumed stores and provisions that were essential to +Lee's and Hood's armies. + +The quick work made with McAllister, the opening of communication +with our fleet, and our consequent independence as to supplies, +dissipate all their boasted threats to head us off and starve the +army. + + +I regard Savannah as already gained. +Yours truly, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +By this time the night was well advanced, and the tide was running +ebb-strong; so I asked. Captain Williamson to tow us up as near +Fort McAllister as he would venture for the torpedoes, of which the +navy-officers had a wholesome dread. The Dandelion steamed up some +three or four miles, till the lights of Fort McAllister could be +seen, when she anchored, and we pulled to the fort in our own boat. +General Howard and I then walked up to the McAllister House, where +we found General Hazen and his officers asleep on the floor of one +of the rooms. Lying down on the floor, I was soon fast asleep, but +shortly became conscious that some one in the room was inquiring +for me among the sleepers. Calling out, I was told that an officer +of General Fosters staff had just arrived from a steamboat anchored +below McAllister; that the general was extremely anxious to see me +on important business, but that he was lame from an old Mexican-War +wound, and could not possibly come to me. I was extremely weary +from the incessant labor of the day and night before, but got up, +and again walked down the sandy road to McAllister, where I found a +boat awaiting us, which carried us some three miles down the river, +to the steamer W. W. Coit (I think), on board of which we found +General Foster. He had just come from Port Royal, expecting to +find Admiral Dahlgren in Ossabaw Sound, and, hearing of the capture +of Fort McAllister, he had come up to see me. He described fully +the condition of affairs with his own command in South Carolina. +He had made several serious efforts to effect a lodgment on the +railroad which connects Savannah with Charleston near Pocotaligo, +but had not succeeded in reaching the railroad itself, though he +had a full division of troops, strongly intrenched, near Broad +River, within cannon-range of the railroad. He explained, +moreover, that there were at Port Royal abundant supplies of bread +and provisions, as well as of clothing, designed for our use. We +still had in our wagons and in camp abundance of meat, but we +needed bread, sugar, and coffee, and it was all-important that a +route of supply should at once be opened, for which purpose the +assistance of the navy were indispensable. We accordingly +steamed down the Ogeechee River to Ossabaw Sound, in hopes to meet +Admiral Dahlgren, but he was not there, and we continued on by the +inland channel to Warsaw Sound, where we found the Harvest Moon, +and Admiral Dahlgren. I was not personally acquainted with him at +the time, but he was so extremely kind and courteous that I was at +once attracted to him. There was nothing in his power, he said, +which he would not do to assist us, to make our campaign absolutely +successful. He undertook at once to find vessels of light draught +to carry our supplies from Port Royal to Cheeves's Mill, or to +Grog's Bridge above, whence they could be hauled by wagons to our +several camps; he offered to return with me to Fort McAllister, to +superintend the removal of the torpedoes, and to relieve me of all +the details of this most difficult work. General Foster then +concluded to go on to Port Royal, to send back to us six hundred +thousand rations, and all the rifled guns of heavy calibre, and +ammunition on hand, with which I thought we could reach the city of +Savannah, from the positions already secured. Admiral Dahlgren +then returned with me in the Harvest Moon to Fort McAllister. This +consumed all of the 14th of December; and by the 15th I had again +reached Cheeves's Mill, where my horse awaited me, and rode on to +General Howard's headquarters at Anderson's plantation, on the +plank-road, about eight miles back of Savannah. I reached this +place about noon, and immediately sent orders to my own +head-quarters, on the Louisville road, to have them brought over to +the plank-road, as a place more central and convenient; gave written +notice to Generals Slocum and Howard of all the steps taken, and +ordered them to get ready to receive the siege-guns, to put them in +position to bombard Savannah, and to prepare for the general assault. +The country back of Savannah is very low, and intersected with +innumerable saltwater creeks, swamps, and rice-fields. Fortunately +the weather was good and the roads were passable, but, should the +winter rains set in, I knew that we would be much embarrassed. +Therefore, heavy details of men were at once put to work to prepare a +wharf and depot at Grog's Bridge, and the roads leading thereto were +corduroyed in advance. The Ogeechee Canal was also cleared out for +use; and boats, such as were common on the river plantations, were +collected, in which to float stores from our proposed base on the +Ogeechee to the points most convenient to the several camps. + +Slocum's wing extended from the Savannah River to the canal, and +Howard's wing from the canal to the extreme right, along down the +Little Ogeechee. The enemy occupied not only the city itself, with +its long line of outer works, but the many forts which had been +built to guard the approaches from the sea-such as at Beaulieu, +Rosedew, White Bluff, Bonaventura, Thunderbolt, Cansten's Bluff, +Forts Tatnall, Boggs, etc., etc. I knew that General Hardee could +not have a garrison strong enough for all these purposes, and I was +therefore anxious to break his lines before he could receive +reenforcements from Virginia or Augusta. General Slocum had +already captured a couple of steamboats trying to pass down the +Savannah River from Augusta, and had established some of his men on +Argyle and Hutchinson Islands above the city, and wanted to +transfer a whole corps to the South Carolina bank; but, as the +enemy had iron-clad gunboats in the river, I did not deem it +prudent, because the same result could be better accomplished from +General Fosters position at Broad River. + +Fort McAllister was captured as described, late in the evening of +December 13th, and by the 16th many steamboats had passed up as +high as King's Bridge; among them one which General Grant had +dispatched with the mails for the army, which had accumulated since +our departure from Atlanta, under charge of Colonel A. H. Markland. +These mails were most welcome to all the officers and soldiers of +the army, which had been cut off from friends and the world for two +months, and this prompt receipt of letters from home had an +excellent effect, making us feel that home was near. By this +vessel also came Lieutenant Dune, aide-de-camp, with the following +letter of December 3d, from General Grant, and on the next day +Colonel Babcock, United States Engineers, arrived with the letter +of December 6th, both of which are in General Grant's own +handwriting, and are given entire: + + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, December 3, 1864. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Armies near Savannah, +Georgia. + +GENERAL: The little information gleaned from the Southern press +indicating no great obstacle to your progress, I have directed your +mails (which had been previously collected in Baltimore by Colonel +Markland, special-agent of the Post-Office Department) to be sent +as far as the blockading squadron off Savannah, to be forwarded to +you as soon as heard from on the coast. + +Not liking to rejoice before the victory is assured, I abstain from +congratulating you and those under your command, until bottom has +been struck. I have never had a fear, however, for the result. + +Since you left Atlanta no very great progress has been made here. +The enemy has been closely watched, though, and prevented from +detaching against you. I think not one man has gone from here, +except some twelve or fifteen hundred dismounted cavalry. Bragg +has gone from Wilmington. I am trying to take advantage of his +absence to get possession of that place. Owing to some +preparations Admiral Porter and General Butler are making to blow +up Fort Fisher (which, while hoping for the best, I do not believe +a particle in), there is a delay in getting this expedition off. I +hope they will be ready to start by the 7th, and that Bragg will +not have started back by that time. + +In this letter I do not intend to give you any thing like +directions for future action, but will state a general idea I have, +and will get your views after you have established yourself on the +sea-coast. With your veteran army I hope to get control of the only +two through routes from east to west possessed by the enemy before +the fall of Atlanta. The condition will be filled by holding +Savannah and Augusta, or by holding any other port to the east of +Savannah and Branchville. If Wilmington falls, a force from there +can cooperate with you. + +Thomas has got back into the defenses of Nashville, with Hood close +upon him. Decatur has been abandoned, and so have all the roads, +except the main one leading to Chattanooga. Part of this falling +back was undoubtedly necessary, and all of it may have been. It +did not look so, however, to me. In my opinion, Thomas far +outnumbers Hood in infantry. In cavalry Hood has the advantage in +morale and numbers. I hope yet that Hood will be badly crippled, +if not destroyed. The general news you will learn from the papers +better than I can give it. + +After all becomes quiet, and roads become so bad up here that there +is likely to be a week or two when nothing can be done, I will run +down the coast to see you. If you desire it, I will ask Mrs. +Sherman to go with me. +Yours truly, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES. +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, December 6, 1864. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Military Division of the +Mississippi + +GENERAL: On reflection since sending my letter by the hands of +Lieutenant Dunn, I have concluded that the most important operation +toward closing out the rebellion will be to close out Lee and his +army. + +You have now destroyed the roads of the South so that it will +probably take them three months without interruption to reestablish +a through line from east to west. In that time I think the job here +will be effectually completed. + +My idea now is that you establish a base on the sea-coast, fortify +and leave in it all your artillery and cavalry, and enough infantry +to protect them, and at the same time so threaten the interior that +the militia of the South will have to be kept at home. With the +balance of your command come here by water with all dispatch. +Select yourself the officer to leave in command, but you I want in +person. Unless you see objections to this plan which I cannot see, +use every vessel going to you for purposes of transportation. + +Hood has Thomas close in Nashville. I have said all I can to force +him to attack, without giving the positive order until to-day. +To-day, however, I could stand it no longer, and gave the order +without any reserve. I think the battle will take place to-morrow. +The result will probably be known in New York before Colonel +Babcock (the bearer of this) will leave it. Colonel Babcock will +give you full information of all operations now in progress. +Very respectfully your obedient servant, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +The contents of these letters gave me great uneasiness, for I had +set my heart on the capture of Savannah, which I believed to be +practicable, and to be near; for me to embark for Virginia by sea +was so complete a change from what I had supposed would be the +course of events that I was very much concerned. I supposed, as a +matter of course, that a fleet of vessels would soon pour in, ready +to convey the army to Virginia, and as General Grant's orders +contemplated my leaving the cavalry, trains, and artillery, behind, +I judged Fort McAllister to be the best place for the purpose, and +sent my chief-engineer, Colonel Poe, to that fort, to reconnoitre +the ground, and to prepare it so as to make a fortified camp large +enough to accommodate the vast herd of mules and horses that would +thus be left behind. And as some time might be required to collect +the necessary shipping, which I estimated at little less than a +hundred steamers and sailing-vessels, I determined to push +operations, in hopes to secure the city of Savannah before the +necessary fleet could be available. All these ideas are given in +my answer to General Grant's letters (dated December 16, 1864) +herewith, which is a little more full than the one printed in the +report of the Committee on the Conduct of the War, because in that +copy I omitted the matter concerning General Thomas, which now need +no longer be withheld: + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, NEAR SAVANNAH, December 16, 1864. + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief, City Point, +Virginia. + +GENERAL: I received, day before yesterday, at the hands of +Lieutenant Dunn, your letter of December 8d, and last night, at the +hands of Colonel Babcock, that of December 6th. I had previously +made you a hasty scrawl from the tugboat Dandelion, in Ogeechee +River, advising you that the army had reached the sea-coast, +destroying all the railroads across the State of Georgia, investing +closely the city of Savannah, and had made connection with the +fleet. + +Since writing that note, I have in person met and conferred with +General Foster and Admiral Dahlgren, and made all the arrangements +which were deemed essential for reducing the city of Savannah to +our possession. But, since the receipt of yours of the 6th, I have +initiated measures looking principally to coming to you with fifty +or Sixty thousand infantry, and incidentally to capture Savannah, +if time will allow. + +At the time we carried Fort McAllister by assault so handsomely, +with its twenty-two guns and entire garrison, I was hardly aware +of its importance; but, since passing down the river with General +Foster and up with Admiral Dahlgren, I realize how admirably +adapted are Ossabaw Sound and Ogeechee River to supply an army +operating against Savannah. Seagoing vessels can easily come to +King's Bridge, a point on Ogeechee River, fourteen and a half miles +due west of Savannah, from which point we have roads leading to all +our camps. The country is low and sandy, and cut up with marshes, +which in wet weather will be very bad, but we have been so favored +with weather that they are all now comparatively good, and heavy +details are constantly employed in double-corduroying the marshes, +so that I have no fears even of bad weather. Fortunately, also, by +liberal and judicious foraging, we reached the sea-coast abundantly +supplied with forage and provisions, needing nothing on arrival +except bread. Of this we started from Atlanta, with from eight to +twenty days' supply per corps and some of the troops only had one +day's issue of bread during the trip of thirty days; yet they did +not want, for sweet-potatoes were very abundant, as well as +corn-meal, and our soldiers took to them naturally. We started +with about five thousand head of cattle, and arrived with over ten +thousand, of course consuming mostly turkeys, chickens, sheep, +hogs, and the cattle of the country. As to our mules and horses, +we left Atlanta with about twenty-five hundred wagons, many of +which were drawn by mules which had not recovered from the +Chattanooga starvation, all of which were replaced, the poor mules +shot, and our transportation is now in superb condition. I have no +doubt the State of Georgia has lost, by our operations, fifteen +thousand first-rate mules. As to horses, Kilpatrick collected all +his remounts, and it looks to me, in riding along our +columns, as though every officer had three or four led horses, and +each regiment seems to be followed by at least fifty negroes and +foot-sore soldiers, riding on horses and mules. The custom was for +each brigade to send out daily a foraging-party of about fifty men, +on foot, who invariably returned mounted, with several wagons +loaded with poultry, potatoes, etc., and as the army is composed of +about forty brigades, you can estimate approximately the number of +horses collected. Great numbers of these were shot by my order, +because of the disorganizing effect on our infantry of having too +many idlers mounted. General Euston is now engaged in collecting +statistics on this subject, but I know the Government will never +receive full accounts of our captures, although the result aimed at +was fully attained, viz., to deprive our enemy of them. All these +animals I will have sent to Port Royal, or collected behind Fort +McAllister, to be used by General Saxton in his farming operations, +or by the Quartermaster's Department, after they are systematically +accounted for. While General Easton is collecting transportation +for my troops to James River, I will throw to Port Royal Island all +our means of transportation I can, and collect the rest near Fort +McAllister, covered by the Ogeeehee River and intrenchments to be +erected, and for which Captain Poe, my chief-engineer, is now +reconnoitring the ground, but in the mean time will act as I have +begun, as though the city of Savannah were my objective: namely, +the troops will continue to invest Savannah closely, making attacks +and feints wherever we have fair ground to stand upon, and I will +place some thirty-pound Parrotts, which I have got from General +Foster, in position, near enough to reach the centre of the city, +and then will demand its surrender. If General Hardee is alarmed, +or fears starvation, he may surrender; otherwise I will bombard the +city, but not risk the lives of our men by assaults across the +narrow causeways, by which alone I can now reach it. + +If I had time, Savannah, with all its dependent fortifications, +would surely fall into our possession, for we hold all its avenues +of supply. + +The enemy has made two desperate efforts to get boats from above to +the city, in both of which he has been foiled-General Slocum (whose +left flank rests on the river) capturing and burning the first +boat, and in the second instance driving back two gunboats and +capturing the steamer Resolute, with seven naval officers and a +crew of twenty-five seamen. General Slocum occupies Argyle Island +and the upper end of Hutchinson Inland, and has a brigade on the +South Carolina shore opposite, and is very urgent to pass one of +his corps over to that shore. But, in view of the change of plan +made necessary by your order of the 6th, I will maintain things in +statu quo till I have got all my transportation to the rear and out +of the way, and until I have sea-transportation for the troops you +require at James River, which I will accompany and command in +person. Of course, I will leave Kilpatrick, with his cavalry (say +five thousand three hundred), and, it may be, a division of the +Fifteenth Corps; but, before determining on this, I must see +General Foster, and may arrange to shift his force (now over above +the Charleston Railroad, at the head of Broad River) to the +Ogeeohee, where, in cooperation with Kilpatrick's cavalry, he can +better threaten the State of Georgia than from the direction of +Port Royal. Besides, I would much prefer not to detach from my +regular corps any of its veteran divisions, and would even prefer +that other less valuable troops should be sent to reenforce Foster +from some other quarter. My four corps, full of experience and +full of ardor, coming to you en masse, equal to sixty thousand +fighting men, will be a reenforcement that Lee cannot disregard. +Indeed, with my present command, I had expected, after reducing +Savannah, instantly to march to Columbia, South Carolina; thence to +Raleigh, and thence to report to you. But this would consume, it +may be, six weeks' time after the fall of Savannah; whereas, by +sea, I can probably reach you with my men and arms before the +middle of January. + +I myself am somewhat astonished at the attitude of things in +Tennessee. I purposely delayed at Kingston until General Thomas +assured me that he was all ready, and my last dispatch from him of +the 12th of November was full of confidence, in which he promised +me that he would ruin Hood if he dared to advance from Florence, +urging me to go ahead, and give myself no concern about Hood's army +in Tennessee. + +Why he did not turn on him at Franklin, after checking and +discomfiting him, surpasses my understanding. Indeed, I do not +approve of his evacuating Decatur, but think he should have assumed +the offensive against Hood from Pulaski, in the direction of +Waynesburg. +I know full well that General Thomas is slow in mind and in action; +but he is judicious and brave and the troops feel great confidence +in him. I still hope he will out-manoeuvre and destroy Hood. + +As to matters in the Southeast, I think Hardee, in Savannah, has +good artillerists, some five or six thousand good infantry, and, +it may be, a mongrel mass of eight to ten thousand militia. In all +our marching through Georgia, he has not forced us to use any thing +but a skirmish-line, though at several points he had erected +fortifications and tried to alarm us by bombastic threats. In +Savannah he has taken refuge in a line constructed behind swamps +and overflowed rice-fields, extending from a point on the Savannah +River about three miles above the city, around by a branch of the +Little Ogeechee, which stream is impassable from its salt-marshes +and boggy swamps, crossed only by narrow causeways or common +corduroy-roads. + +There must be twenty-five thousand citizens, men, women, and +children, in Savannah, that must also be fed, and how he is to feed +them beyond a few days I cannot imagine. I know that his +requisitions for corn on the interior counties were not filled, and +we are in possession of the rice-fields and mills, which could +alone be of service to him in this neighborhood. He can draw +nothing from South Carolina, save from a small corner down in the +southeast, and that by a disused wagon-road. I could easily get +possession of this, but hardly deem it worth the risk of making a +detachment, which would be in danger by its isolation from the main +army. Our whole army is in fine condition as to health, and the +weather is splendid. For that reason alone I feel a personal +dislike to turning northward. I will keep Lieutenant Dunn here +until I know the result of my demand for the surrender of Savannah, +but, whether successful or not, shall not delay my execution of +your order of the 6th, which will depend alone upon the time it +will require to obtain transportation by sea. + +I am, with respect, etc., your obedient servant, +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General United States Army. + + +Having concluded all needful preparations, I rode from my +headquarters, on the plank-road, over to General Slocum's +headquarters, on the Macon road, and thence dispatched (by flag of +truce) into Savannah, by the hands of Colonel Ewing, +inspector-general, a demand for the surrender of the place. The +following letters give the result. General Hardee refused to +surrender, and I then resolved to make the attempt to break his +line of defense at several places, trusting that some one would +succeed. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, NEAR SAVANNAH, December 17, 1864. + +General WILLIAM J. HARDEE, commanding Confederate Forces in +Savannah. + +GENERAL: You have doubtless observed, from your station at Rosedew +that sea-going vessels now come through Ossabaw Sound and up the +Ogeechee to the rear of my army, giving me abundant supplies of all +kinds, and more especially heavy ordnance necessary for the +reduction of Savannah. I have already received guns that can cast +heavy and destructive shot as far as the heart of your city; also, +I have for some days held and controlled every avenue by which the +people and garrison of Savannah can be supplied, and I am therefore +justified in demanding the surrender of the city of Savannah, and +its dependent forts, and shall wait a reasonable time for your +answer, before opening with heavy ordnance. Should you entertain +the proposition, I am prepared to grant liberal terms to the +inhabitants and garrison; but should I be forced to resort to +assault, or the slower and surer process of starvation, I shall +then feel justified in resorting to the harshest measures, and +shall make little effort to restrain my army--burning to avenge the +national wrong which they attach to Savannah and other large cities +which have been so prominent in dragging our country into civil +war. I inclose you a copy of General Hood's demand for the +surrender of the town of Resaoa, to be used by you for what it is +worth. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA AND FLORIDA +SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, December 17, 1864 + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Federal Forces near +Savannah, Georgia. + +GENERAL: I have to acknowledge the receipt of a communication from +you of this date, in which you demand "the surrender of Savannah +and its dependent forts," on the ground that you "have received +guns that can cast heavy and destructive shot into the heart of the +city," and for the further reason that you "have, for some days, +held and controlled every avenue by which the people and garrison +can be supplied." You add that, should you be "forced to resort to +assault, or to the slower and surer process of starvation, you will +then feel justified in resorting to the harshest measures, and will +make little effort to restrain your army," etc., etc. The position +of your forces (a half-mile beyond the outer line for the +land-defense of Savannah) is, at the nearest point, at least four +miles from the heart of the city. That and the interior line are +both intact. + +Your statement that you have, for some days, held and controlled +every avenue by which the people and garrison can be supplied, is +incorrect. I am in free and constant communication with my +department. + +Your demand for the surrender of Savannah and its dependent forts +is refused. + +With respect to the threats conveyed in the closing paragraphs of +your letter (of what may be expected in case your demand is not +complied with), I have to say that I have hitherto conducted the +military operations intrusted to my direction in strict accordance +with the rules of civilized warfare, and I should deeply regret the +adoption of any course by you that may force me to deviate from +them in future. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your +obedient servant, + +W. J. HARDEE, Lieutenant-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, NEAR SAVANNAH, December 18, 1864 8 p.m. + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, City Point, Virginia. + +GENERAL: I wrote you at length (by Colonel Babcock) on the 16th +instant. As I therein explained my purpose, yesterday I made a +demand on General Hardee for the surrender of the city of Savannah, +and to-day received his answer--refusing; copies of both letters +are herewith inclosed. You will notice that I claim that my lines +are within easy cannon-range of the heart of Savannah; but General +Hardee asserts that we are four and a half miles distant. But I +myself have been to the intersection of the Charleston and Georgia +Central Railroads, and the three-mile post is but a few yards +beyond, within the line of our pickets. The enemy has no pickets +outside of his fortified line (which is a full quarter of a mile +within the three-mile post), and I have the evidence of Mr. R. R. +Cuyler, President of the Georgia Central Railroad (who was a +prisoner in our hands), that the mile-posts are measured from the +Exchange, which is but two squares back from the river. By +to-morrow morning I will have six thirty-pound Parrotts in +position, and General Hardee will learn whether I am right or not. +From the left of our line, which is on the Savannah River, the +spires can be plainly seen; but the country is so densely wooded +with pine and live-oak, and lies so flat, that we can see nothing +from any other portion of our lines. General Slocum feels +confident that he can make a successful assault at one or two +points in front of General Davis's (Fourteenth) corps. All of +General Howard's troops (the right wing) lie behind the Little +Ogeechee, and I doubt if it can be passed by troops in the face of +an enemy. Still, we can make strong feints, and if I can get a +sufficient number of boats, I shall make a cooperative +demonstration up Vernon River or Wassaw Sound. I should like very +much indeed to take Savannah before coming to you; but, as I wrote +to you before, I will do nothing rash or hasty, and will embark for +the James River as soon as General Easton (who is gone to Port +Royal for that purpose) reports to me that he has an approximate +number of vessels for the transportation of the contemplated force. +I fear even this will cost more delay than you anticipate, for +already the movement of our transports and the gunboats has +required more time than I had expected. We have had dense fogs; +there are more mud-banks in the Ogeechee than were reported, and +there are no pilots whatever. Admiral Dahlgren promised to have +the channel buoyed and staked, but it is not done yet. We find +only six feet of water up to King's Bridge at low tide, about ten +feet up to the rice-mill, and sixteen to Fort McAllister. All +these points may be used by us, and we have a good, strong bridge +across Ogeechee at King's, by which our wagons can go to Fort +McAllister, to which point I am sending all wagons not absolutely +necessary for daily use, the negroes, prisoners of war, sick, etc., +en route for Port Royal. In relation to Savannah, you will remark +that General Hardee refers to his still being in communication with +his department. This language he thought would deceive me; but I +am confirmed in the belief that the route to which he refers (the +Union Plank-road on the South Carolina shore) is inadequate to feed +his army and the people of Savannah, and General Foster assures me +that he has his force on that very road, near the head of Broad +River, so that cars no longer run between Charleston and Savannah. +We hold this end of the Charleston Railroad, and have destroyed it +from the three-mile post back to the bridge (about twelve miles). +In anticipation of leaving this country, I am continuing the +destruction of their railroads, and at this moment have two +divisions and the cavalry at work breaking up the Gulf Railroad +from the Ogeechee to the Altamaha; so that, even if I do not take +Savannah, I will leave it in a bad way. But I still hope that +events will give me time to take Savannah, even if I have to +assault with some loss. I am satisfied that, unless we take it, +the gunboats never will, for they can make no impression upon the +batteries which guard every approach from the sea. I have a faint +belief that, when Colonel Babcock reaches you, you will delay +operations long enough to enable me to succeed here. With Savannah +in our possession, at some future time if not now, we can punish +South Carolina as she deserves, and as thousands of the people in +Georgia hoped we would do. I do sincerely believe that the whole +United States, North and South, would rejoice to have this army +turned loose on South Carolina, to devastate that State in the +manner we have done in Georgia, and it would have a direst and +immediate bearing on your campaign in Virginia. + +I have the honor to be your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General United States Army. + + +As soon as the army had reached Savannah, and had opened +communication with the fleet, I endeavored to ascertain what had +transpired in Tennessee since our departure. We received our +letters and files of newspapers, which contained full accounts of +all the events there up to about the 1st of December. As before +described, General Hood had three full corps of infantry--S. D. +Lee's, A. P. Stewart's, and Cheatham's, at Florence, Alabama--with +Forrest's corps of cavalry, numbering in the aggregate about +forty-five thousand men. General Thomas was in Nashville, Tennessee, +quietly engaged in reorganizing his army out of the somewhat broken +forces at his disposal. He had posted his only two regular corps, +the Fourth and Twenty-third, under the general command of +Major-General J. M. Schofield, at Pulaski, directly in front of +Florence, with the three brigades of cavalry (Hatch, Croxton, and +Capron), commanded by Major-General Wilson, watching closely for +Hood's initiative. + +This force aggregated about thirty thousand men, was therefore +inferior to the enemy; and General Schofield was instructed, in +case the enemy made a general advance, to fall back slowly toward +Nashville, fighting, till he should be reenforced by General Thomas +in person. Hood's movement was probably hurried by reason of my +advance into Georgia; for on the 17th his infantry columns marched +from Florence in the direction of Waynesboro', turning, Schofield's +position at Pulaski. The latter at once sent his trains to the +rear, and on the 21st fell back to Columbia, Tennessee. General +Hood followed up this movement, skirmished lightly with Schofield +at Columbia, began the passage of Duck River, below the town, and +Cheatham's corps reached the vicinity of Spring Hill, whither +General Schofield had sent General Stanley, with two of his +divisions, to cover the movement of his trains. During the night +of November 29th General Schofield passed Spring Hill with his +trains and army, and took post at Franklin, on the south aide of +Harpeth River. General Hood now attaches serious blame to General +Cheatham for not attacking General Schofield in flank while in +motion at Spring Hill, for he was bivouacked within eight hundred +yards of the road at the time of the passage of our army. General +Schofield reached Franklin on the morning of November 30th, and +posted his army in front of the town, where some +rifle-intrenchments had been constructed in advance. He had the +two corps of Stanley and Cox (Fourth and Twenty-third), with +Wilson's cavalry on his flanks, and sent his trains behind the +Harpeth. + +General Hood closed upon him the same day, and assaulted his +position with vehemence, at one time breaking the line and wounding +General Stanley seriously; but our men were veterans, cool and +determined, and fought magnificently. The rebel officers led their +men in person to the several persistent assaults, continuing the +battle far into the night, when they drew off, beaten and +discomfited. + +Their loss was very severe, especially in general officers; among +them Generals Cleburn and Adams, division commanders. Hood's loss +on that day was afterward ascertained to be (Thomas's report): +Buried on the field, seventeen hundred and fifty; left in hospital +at Franklin, thirty-eight hundred; and seven hundred and two +prisoners captured and held: aggregate, six thousand two hundred +and fifty-two. General Schofields lose, reported officially, was +one hundred and eighty-nine killed, one thousand and thirty-three +wounded, and eleven hundred and four prisoners or missing: +aggregate, twenty-three hundred and twenty-six. The next day +General Schofield crossed the Harpeth without trouble, and fell +back to the defenses of Nashville. + +Meantime General Thomas had organized the employees of the +Quartermaster's Department into a corps, commanded by the +chief-quartermaster, General J. Z. Donaldson, and placed them in the +fortifications of Nashville, under the general direction of +Major-General Z. B. Tower, now of the United States Engineers. He +had also received the two veteran divisions of the Sixteenth Corps, +under General A. J. Smith, long absent and long expected; and he +had drawn from Chattanooga and Decatur (Alabama) the divisions of +Steedman and of R. S. Granger. These, with General Schofields army +and about ten thousand good cavalry, under General J. H. Wilson, +constituted a strong army, capable not only of defending Nashville, +but of beating Hood in the open field. Yet Thomas remained inside +of Nashville, seemingly passive, until General Hood had closed upon +him and had entrenched his position. + +General Thomas had furthermore held fast to the railroad leading +from Nashville to Chattanooga, leaving strong guards at its +principal points, as at Murfreesboro', Deckerd, Stevenson, +Bridgeport, Whitesides, and Chattanooga. At Murfreesboro' the +division of Rousseau was reenforced and strengthened up to about +eight thousand men. + +At that time the weather was cold and sleety, the ground was +covered with ice and snow, and both parties for a time rested on +the defensive. Those matters stood at Nashville, while we were +closing down on Savannah, in the early part of December, 1864; and +the country, as well as General Grant, was alarmed at the seeming +passive conduct of General Thomas; and General Grant at one time +considered the situation so dangerous that he thought of going to +Nashville in person, but General John A. Logan, happening to be at +City Point, was sent out to supersede General Thomas; luckily for +the latter, he acted in time, gained a magnificent victory, and +thus escaped so terrible a fate. + +On the 18th of December, at my camp by the side of the plank-road, +eight miles back of Savannah, I received General Hardee's letter +declining to surrender, when nothing remained but to assault. The +ground was difficult, and, as all former assaults had proved so +bloody, I concluded to make one more effort to completely surround +Savannah on all aides, so as further to excite Hardee's fears, and, +in case of success, to capture the whole of his army. We had +already completely invested the place on the north, west, and +south, but there remained to the enemy, on the east, the use of the +old dike or plank-road leading into South Carolina, and I knew that +Hardee would have a pontoon-bridge across the river. On examining +my maps, I thought that the division of John P. Hatch, belonging to +General Fosters command, might be moved from its then position at +Broad River, by water, down to Bluffton, from which it could reach +this plank-road, fortify and hold it--at some risk, of course, +because Hardee could avail himself of his central position to fall +on this detachment with his whole army. I did not want to make a +mistake like "Ball's Bluff" at that period of the war; so, taking +one or two of my personal staff, I rode back to Grog's Bridge, +leaving with Generals Howard and Slocum orders to make all +possible preparations, but not to attack, during my two or three +days' absence; and there I took a boat for Wassaw Sound, whence +Admiral Dahlgren conveyed me in his own boat (the Harvest Moon) to +Hilton Head, where I represented the matter to General Foster, and +he promptly agreed to give his personal attention to it. During +the night of the 20th we started back, the wind blowing strong, +Admiral Dahlgren ordered the pilot of the Harvest Moon to run into +Tybee, and to work his way through to Wassaw Sound and the Ogeechee +River by the Romney Marshes. We were caught by a low tide and +stuck in the mud. After laboring some time, the admiral ordered +out his barge; in it we pulled through this intricate and shallow +channel, and toward evening of December 21st we discovered, coming +toward us, a tug, called the Red Legs, belonging to the +Quarter-master's Department, with a staff-officer on board, bearing +letters from Colonel Dayton to myself and the admiral, reporting that +the city of Savannah had been found evacuated on the morning of +December 21st, and was then in our possession. General Hardee had +crossed the Savannah River by a pontoon-bridge, carrying off his men +and light artillery, blowing up his iron-clads and navy-yard, but +leaving for us all the heavy guns, stores, cotton, railway-cars, +steamboats, and an immense amount of public and private property. +Admiral Dahlgren concluded to go toward a vessel (the Sonoma) of his +blockading fleet, which lay at anchor near Beaulieu, and I +transferred to the Red Legs, and hastened up the Ogeechee River to +Grog's Bridge, whence I rode to my camp that same night. I there +learned that, early on the morning of December 21st, the skirmishers +had detected the absence of the enemy, and had occupied his lines +simultaneously along their whole extent; but the left flank (Slocum), +especially Geary's division of the Twentieth Corps, claimed to have +been the first to reach the heart of the city. + +Generals Slocum and Howard moved their headquarters at once into +the city, leaving the bulk of their troops in camps outside. On +the morning of December 22d I followed with my own headquarters, +and rode down Bull Street to the custom-house, from the roof of +which we had an extensive view over the city, the river, and the +vast extent of marsh and rice-fields on the South Carolina side. +The navy-yard, and the wreck of the iron-clad ram Savannah, were +still smouldering, but all else looked quiet enough. Turning back, +we rode to the Pulaski Hotel, which I had known in years long gone, +and found it kept by a Vermont man with a lame leg, who used to be +a clerk in the St. Louis Hotel, New Orleans, and I inquired about +the capacity of his hotel for headquarters. He was very anxious to +have us for boarders, but I soon explained to him that we had a +full mess equipment along, and that we were not in the habit of +paying board; that one wing of the building would suffice for our +use, while I would allow him to keep an hotel for the accommodation +of officers and gentlemen in the remainder. I then dispatched an +officer to look around for a livery-stable that could accommodate +our horses, and, while waiting there, an English gentleman, Mr. +Charles Green, came and said that he had a fine house completely +furnished, for which he had no use, and offered it as headquarters. +He explained, moreover, that General Howard had informed him, the +day before, that I would want his house for headquarters. At first +I felt strongly disinclined to make use of any private dwelling, +lest complaints should arise of damage and lose of furniture, and +so expressed myself to Mr. Green; but, after riding about the city, +and finding his house so spacious, so convenient, with large yard +and stabling, I accepted his offer, and occupied that house during +our stay in Savannah. He only reserved for himself the use of a +couple of rooms above the dining-room, and we had all else, and a +most excellent house it was in all respects. + +I was disappointed that Hardee had escaped with his army, but on +the whole we had reason to be content with the substantial fruits +of victory. The Savannah River was found to be badly obstructed by +torpedoes, and by log piers stretched across the channel below the +city, which piers were filled with the cobble stones that formerly +paved the streets. Admiral Dahlgren was extremely active, visited +me repeatedly in the city, while his fleet still watched +Charleston, and all the avenues, for the blockade-runners that +infested the coast, which were notoriously owned and managed by +Englishmen, who used the island of New Providence (Nassau) as a +sort of entrepot. One of these small blockade-runners came into +Savannah after we were in full possession, and the master did not +discover his mistake till he came ashore to visit the custom-house. +Of coarse his vessel fell a prize to the navy. A heavy force was +at once set to work to remove the torpedoes and obstructions in the +main channel of the river, and, from that time forth, Savannah +became the great depot of supply for the troops operating in that +quarter. + +Meantime, on the 15th and 16th of December, were fought, in front +of Nashville, the great battles in which General Thomas so nobly +fulfilled his promise to ruin Hood, the details of which are fully +given in his own official reports, long-since published. Rumors of +these great victories reached us at Savannah by piecemeal, but his +official report came on the 24th of December, with a letter from +General Grant, giving in general terms the events up to the 18th, +and I wrote at once through my chief of staff, General Webster, to +General Thomas, complimenting him in the highest terms. His +brilliant victory at Nashville was necessary to mine at Savannah to +make a complete whole, and this fact was perfectly comprehended by +Mr. Lincoln, who recognized it fully in his personal letter of +December 26th, hereinbefore quoted at length, and which is also +claimed at the time, in my Special Field Order No. 6, of January 8, +1865, here given: + +(Special Field Order No. 6.) + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, January 8, 1864. + +The general commanding announces to the troops composing the +Military Division of the Mississippi that he has received from the +President of the United States, and from Lieutenant-General Grant, +letters conveying their high sense and appreciation of the campaign +just closed, resulting in the capture of Savannah and the defeat of +Hood's army in Tennessee. + +In order that all may understand the importance of events, it is +proper to revert to the situation of affairs in September last. We +held Atlanta, a city of little value to us, but so important to the +enemy that Mr. Davis, the head of the rebellious faction in the +South, visited his army near Palmetto, and commanded it to regain +the place and also to ruin and destroy us, by a series of measures +which he thought would be effectual. That army, by a rapid march, +gained our railroad near Big Shanty, and afterward about Dalton. +We pursued it, but it moved so rapidly that we could not overtake +it, and General Hood led his army successfully far over toward +Mississippi, in hope to decoy us out of Georgia. But we were not +thus to be led away by him, and preferred to lead and control +events ourselves. Generals Thomas and Schofield, commanding the +departments to our rear, returned to their posts and prepared to +decoy General Hood into their meshes, while we came on to complete +the original journey. We quietly and deliberately destroyed +Atlanta, and all the railroads which the enemy had used to carry on +war against us, occupied his State capital, and then captured his +commercial capital, which had been so strongly fortified from the +sea as to defy approach from that quarter. Almost at the moment of +our victorious entry into Savannah came the welcome and expected +news that our comrades in Tennessee had also fulfilled nobly and +well their part, had decoyed General Hood to Nashville and then +turned on him, defeating his army thoroughly, capturing all his +artillery, great numbers of prisoners, and were still pursuing the +fragments down in Alabama. So complete success in military +operations, extending over half a continent, is an achievement that +entitles it to a place in the military history of the world. The +armies serving in Georgia and Tennessee, as well as the local +garrisons of Decatur, Bridgeport, Chattanooga, and Murfreesboro', +are alike entitled to the common honors, and each regiment may +inscribe on its colors, at pleasure, the word "Savannah" or +"Nashville." The general commanding embraces, in the same general +success, the operations of the cavalry under Generals Stoneman, +Burbridge, and Gillem, that penetrated into Southwest Virginia, and +paralyzed the efforts of the enemy to disturb the peace and safety +of East Tennessee. Instead of being put on the defensive, we have +at all points assumed the bold offensive, and have completely +thwarted the designs of the enemies of our country. + +By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman, +L. M. DAYTON, Aide-de-Camp. + + +Here terminated the "March to the Sea," and I only add a few +letters, selected out of many, to illustrate the general feeling of +rejoicing throughout the country at the time. I only regarded the +march from Atlanta to Savannah as a "shift of base," as the +transfer of a strong army, which had no opponent, and had finished +its then work, from the interior to a point on the sea-coast, from +which it could achieve other important results. I considered this +march as a means to an end, and not as an essential act of war. +Still, then, as now, the march to the sea was generally regarded as +something extraordinary, something anomalous, something out of the +usual order of events; whereas, in fact, I simply moved from +Atlanta to Savannah, as one step in the direction of Richmond, a +movement that had to be met and defeated, or the war was +necessarily at an end. + +Were I to express my measure of the relative importance of the +march to the sea, and of that from Savannah northward, I would +place the former at one, and the latter at ten, or the maximum. + +I now close this long chapter by giving a tabular statement of the +losses during the march, and the number of prisoners captured. The +property captured consisted of horses and mules by the thousand, +and of quantities of subsistence stores that aggregate very large, +but may be measured with sufficient accuracy by assuming that +sixty-five thousand men obtained abundant food for about forty +days, and thirty-five thousand animals were fed for a like period, +so as to reach Savannah in splendid flesh and condition. I also +add a few of the more important letters that passed between +Generals Grant, Halleck, and myself, which illustrate our opinions +at that stage of the war: + +STATEMENT OF CASUALTIES AND PRISONERS CAPTURED BY THE ARMY IN THE +FIELD, CAMPAIGN OF GEORGIA. + + Killed Wounded Missing Captured +Officers/Men Officers/Men Officers/Men Officers/Men + 10 93 24 404 1 277 77 1,261 + + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY +WASHINGTON, December 16, 1864 + +Major-General SHERMAN (via Hilton Head). + + +GENERAL: Lieutenant-General Grant informs me that, in his last +dispatch sent to you, he suggested the transfer of your infantry to +Richmond. He now wishes me to say that you will retain your entire +force, at least for the present, and, with such assistance as may +be given you by General Foster and Admiral Dahlgren, operate from +such base as you may establish on the coast. General Foster will +obey such instructions as may be given by you. + +Should you have captured Savannah, it is thought that by +transferring the water-batteries to the land side that place may be +made a good depot and base of operations on Augusta, Branchville, +or Charleston. If Savannah should not be captured, or if captured +and not deemed suitable for this purpose, perhaps Beaufort would +serve as a depot. As the rebels have probably removed their most +valuable property from Augusta, perhaps Branchville would be the +most important point at which to strike in order to sever all +connection between Virginia and the Southwestern Railroad. + +General Grant's wishes, however, are, that this whole matter of +your future actions should be entirely left to your discretion. + +We can send you from here a number of complete batteries of +field-artillery, with or without horses, as you may desire; also, as +soon as General Thomas can spare them, all the fragments, +convalescents, and furloughed men of your army. It is reported that +Thomas defeated Hood yesterday, near Nashville, but we have no +particulars nor official reports, telegraphic communication being +interrupted by a heavy storm. + +Our last advises from you was General Howard's note, announcing his +approach to Savannah. Yours truly, + +H. W. HALLECK, Major-General, Chief-of-Staff. + + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY +WASHINGTON, December 18, 1864. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, Savannah (via Hilton Head). + +My DEAR GENERAL: Yours of the 13th, by Major Anderson, is just +received. I congratulate you on your splendid success, and shall +very soon expect to hear of the crowning work of your campaign--the +capture of Savannah. Your march will stand out prominently as the +great one of this great war. When Savannah falls, then for another +wide swath through the centre of the Confederacy. But I will not +anticipate. General Grant is expected here this morning, and will +probably write you his own views. + +I do not learn from your letter, or from Major Anderson, that you +are in want of any thing which we have not provided at Hilton Head. +Thinking it probable that you might want more field-artillery, I +had prepared several batteries, but the great difficulty of +foraging horses on the sea-coast will prevent our sending any +unless you actually need them. The hay-crop this year is short, +and the Quartermaster's Department has great difficulty in +procuring a supply for our animals. + +General Thomas has defeated Hood, near Nashville, and it is hoped +that he will completely, crush his army. Breckenridge, at last +accounts, was trying to form a junction near Murfreesboro', but, as +Thomas is between them, Breckenridge must either retreat or be +defeated. + +General Rosecrans made very bad work of it in Missouri, allowing +Price with a small force to overrun the State and destroy millions +of property. + +Orders have been issued for all officers and detachments having +three months or more to serve, to rejoin your army via Savannah. +Those having less than three months to serve, will be retained by +General Thomas. + +Should you capture Charleston, I hope that by some accident the +place may be destroyed, and, if a little salt should be sown upon +its site, it may prevent the growth of future crops of +nullification and secession. +Yours truly, + +H. W. HALLECK, Major-General, Chief-of-Staff. + + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY +WASHINGTON, December 18, 1864. + +To Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Military Division of the +Mississippi. + +My DEAR GENERAL: I have just received and read, I need not tell you +with how mush gratification, your letter to General Halleck. I +congratulate you and the brave officers and men under your command +on the successful termination of your most brilliant campaign. I +never had a doubt of the result. When apprehensions for your +safety were expressed by the President, I assured him with the army +you had, and you in command of it, there was no danger but you +would strike bottom on salt-water some place; that I would not feel +the same security--in fact, would not have intrusted the expedition +to any other living commander. + +It has been very hard work to get Thomas to attack Hood. I gave +him the most peremptory order, and had started to go there myself, +before he got off. He has done magnificently, however, since he +started. Up to last night, five thousand prisoners and forty-nine +pieces of captured artillery, besides many wagons and innumerable +small-arms, had been received in Nashville. This is exclusive of +the enemy's loss at Franklin, which amounted to thirteen general +officers killed, wounded, and captured. The enemy probably lost +five thousand men at Franklin, and ten thousand in the last three +days' operations. Breckenridge is said to be making for +Murfreesboro'. + +I think he is in a most excellent place. Stoneman has nearly wiped +out John Morgan's old command, and five days ago entered Bristol. +I did think the best thing to do was to bring the greater part of +your army here, and wipe out Lee. The turn affairs now seem to be +taking has shaken me in that opinion. I doubt whether you may not +accomplish more toward that result where you are than if brought +here, especially as I am informed, since my arrival in the city, +that it would take about two months to get you here with all the +other calls there are for ocean transportation. + +I want to get your views about what ought to be done, and what can +be done. If you capture the garrison of Savannah, it certainly +will compel Lee to detach from Richmond, or give us nearly the +whole South. My own opinion is that Lee is averse to going out of +Virginia, and if the cause of the South is lost he wants Richmond +to be the last place surrendered. If he has such views, it may be +well to indulge him until we get every thing else in our hands. + +Congratulating you and the army again upon the splendid results of +your campaign, the like of which is not read of in past history, I +subscribe myself, more than ever, if possible, your friend, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, December 26, 1864. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, Savannah, Georgia. + +GENERAL: Your very interesting letter of the 22d inst., brought by +Major Grey of General Foster's staff; is fast at hand. As the +major starts back at once, I can do no more at present than simply +acknowledge its receipt. The capture of Savannah, with all its +immense stores, must tell upon the people of the South. All well +here. +Yours truly, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, December 24, 1864. + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, City Point, Virginia. + +GENERAL: Your letter of December 18th is just received. I feel +very much gratified at receiving the handsome commendation you pay +my army. I will, in general orders, convey to the officers and men +the substance of your note. + +I am also pleased that you have modified your former orders, for I +feared that the transportation by sea would very much disturb the +unity and morale of my army, now so perfect. + +The occupation of Savannah, which I have heretofore reported, +completes the first part of our game, and fulfills a great part of +your instructions; and we are now engaged in dismantling the rebel +forts which bear upon the sea-channels, and transferring the heavy +ordnance and ammunition to Fort Pulaski and Hilton Head, where they +can be more easily guarded than if left in the city. + +The rebel inner lines are well adapted to our purpose, and with +slight modifications can be held by a comparatively small force; +and in about ten days I expect to be ready to sally forth again. I +feel no doubt whatever as to our future plans. I have thought them +over so long and well that they appear as clear as daylight. I +left Augusta untouched on purpose, because the enemy will be in +doubt as to my objective point, after we cross the Savannah River, +whether it be Augusta or Charleston, and will naturally divide his +forces. I will then move either on Branchville or Colombia, by any +curved line that gives us the best supplies, breaking up in our +course as much railroad as possible; then, ignoring Charleston and +Augusta both, I would occupy Columbia and Camden, pausing there +long enough to observe the effect. I would then strike for the +Charleston & Wilmington Railroad, somewhere between the Santee and +Cape Fear Rivers, and, if possible, communicate with the fleet +under Admiral Dahlgren (whom I find a most agreeable gentleman, +accommodating himself to our wishes and plans). Then I would favor +an attack on Wilmington, in the belief that Porter and Butler will +fail in their present undertaking. Charleston is now a mere +desolated wreck, and is hardly worth the time it would take to +starve it out. Still, I am aware that, historically and +politically, much importance is attached to the place, and it may +be that, apart from its military importance, both you and the +Administration may prefer I should give it more attention; and it +would be well for you to give me some general idea on that subject, +for otherwise I would treat it as I have expressed, as a point of +little importance, after all its railroads leading into the +interior have been destroyed or occupied by us. But, on the +hypothesis of ignoring Charleston and taking Wilmington, I would +then favor a movement direct on Raleigh. The game is then up with +Lee, unless he comes out of Richmond, avoids you and fights me; in +which case I should reckon on your being on his heels. Now that +Hood is used up by Thomas, I feel disposed to bring the matter to +an issue as quick as possible. I feel confident that I can break +up the whole railroad system of South Carolina and North Carolina, +and be on the Roanoke, either at Raleigh or Weldon, by the time +spring fairly opens; and, if you feel confident that you can whip +Lee outside of his intrenchments, I feel equally confident that I +can handle him in the open country. + +One reason why I would ignore Charleston is this: that I believe +Hardee will reduce the garrison to a small force, with plenty of +provisions; I know that the neck back of Charleston can be made +impregnable to assault, and we will hardly have time for siege +operations. + +I will have to leave in Savannah a garrison, and, if Thomas can +spare them, I would like to have all detachments, convalescents, +etc., belonging to these four corps, sent forward at once. I do +not want to cripple Thomas, because I regard his operations as +all-important, and I have ordered him to pursue Hood down into +Alabama, trusting to the country for supplies. + +I reviewed one of my corps to-day, and shall continue to review the +whole army. I do not like to boast, but believe this army has a +confidence in itself that makes it almost invincible. I wish you +could run down and see us; it would have a good effect, and show to +both armies that they are acting on a common plan. The weather is +now cool and pleasant, and the general health very good. Your true +friend, + +W. T. SHERMAN Major-General. + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, December 24, 1864. + +Major-General H. W. HALLECK, Chief-of-Staff; Washington, D. C. + +GENERAL: I had the pleasure of receiving your two letters of the +16th and 18th instant to-day, and feel more than usually flattered +by the high encomiums you have passed on our recent campaign, which +is now complete by the occupation of Savannah. + +I am also very glad that General Grant has changed his mind about +embarking my troops for James River, leaving me free to make the +broad swath you describe through South and North Carolina; and +still more gratified at the news from Thomas, in Tennessee, because +it fulfills my plans, which contemplated his being able to dispose +of Hood, in case he ventured north of the Tennessee River. So, I +think, on the whole, I can chuckle over Jeff. Davis's +disappointment in not turning my Atlanta campaign into a "Moscow +disaster." + +I have just finished a long letter to General Grant, and have +explained to him that we are engaged in shifting our base from the +Ogeeohee to the Savannah River, dismantling all the forts made by +the enemy to bear upon the salt-water channels, transferring the +heavy ordnance, etc., to Fort Pulaski and Hilton Head, and in +remodeling the enemy's interior lines to suit our future plans and +purposes. I have also laid down the programme for a campaign which +I can make this winter, and which will put me in the spring on the +Roanoke, in direct communication with General Grant on James River. +In general terms, my plan is to turn over to General Foster the +city of Savannah, to sally forth with my army resupplied, cross the +Savannah, feign on Charleston and Augusta, but strike between, +breaking en route the Charleston & Augusta Railroad, also a large +part of that from Branchville and Camden toward North Carolina, and +then rapidly to move for some point of the railroad from Charleston +to Wilmington, between the Santee and Cape Fear Rivers; then, +communicating with the fleet in the neighborhood of Georgetown, I +would turn upon Wilmington or Charleston, according to the +importance of either. I rather prefer Wilmington, as a live place, +over Charleston, which is dead and unimportant when its railroad +communications are broken. I take it for granted that the present +movement on Wilmington will fail. If I should determine to take +Charleston, I would turn across the country (which I have hunted +over many a time) from Santee to Mount Pleasant, throwing one wing +on the peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper. After +accomplishing one or other of these ends, I would make a bee-line +for Raleigh or Weldon, when Lee world be forced to come out of +Richmond, or acknowledge himself beaten. He would, I think, by the +use of the Danville Railroad, throw himself rapidly between me and +Grant, leaving Richmond in the hands of the latter. This would not +alarm me, for I have an army which I think can maneuver, and I +world force him to attack me at a disadvantage, always under the +supposition that Grant would be on his heels; and, if the worst +come to the worst, I can fight my way down to Albermarle Sound, or +Newbern. + +I think the time has come now when we should attempt the boldest +moves, and my experience is, that they are easier of execution than +more timid ones, because the enemy is disconcerted by them--as, for +instance, my recent campaign. + +I also doubt the wisdom of concentration beyond a certain extent, +for the roads of this country limit the amount of men that can be +brought to bear in any one battle, and I do not believe that any +one general can handle more than sixty thousand men in battle. + +I think our campaign of the last month, as well as every step I +take from this point northward, is as much a direct attack upon +Lee's army as though we were operating within the sound of his +artillery. + +I am very anxious that Thomas should follow up his success to the +very utmost point. My orders to him before I left Kingston were, +after beating Hood, to follow him as far as Columbus, Mississippi, +or Selma, Alabama, both of which lie in districts of country which +are rich in corn and meat. + +I attach more importance to these deep incisions into the enemy's +country, because this war differs from European wars in this +particular: we are not only fighting hostile armies, but a hostile +people, and must make old and young, rich and poor, feel the hard +hand of war, as well as their organized armies. I know that this +recent movement of mine through Georgia has had a wonderful effect +in this respect. Thousands who had been deceived by their lying +newspapers to believe that we were being whipped all the time now +realize the truth, and have no appetite for a repetition of the +same experience. To be sure, Jeff. Davis has his people under +pretty good discipline, but I think faith in him is much shaken in +Georgia, and before we have done with her South Carolina will not +be quite so tempestuous. + +I will bear in mind your hint as to Charleston, and do not think +"salt" will be necessary. When I move, the Fifteenth Corps will be +on the right of the right wing, and their position will naturally +bring them into Charleston first; and, if you have watched the +history of that corps, you will have remarked that they generally +do their work pretty well. The truth is, the whole army is burning +with an insatiable desire to wreak vengeance upon South Carolina. +I almost tremble at her fate, but feel that she deserves all that +seems in store for her. + +Many and many a person in Georgia asked me why we did not go to +South Carolina; and, when I answered that we were enroute for that +State, the invariable reply was, "Well, if you will make those +people feel the utmost severities of war, we will pardon you for +your desolation of Georgia." + +I look upon Colombia as quite as bad as Charleston, and I doubt if +we shall spare the public buildings there as we did at +Milledgeville. + +I have been so busy lately that I have not yet made my official +report, and I think I had better wait until I get my subordinate +reports before attempting it, as I am anxious to explain clearly +not only the reasons for every step, but the amount of execution +done, and this I cannot do until I get the subordinate reports; for +we marched the whole distance in four or more columns, and, of +course, I could only be present with one, and generally that one +engaged in destroying railroads. This work of destruction was +performed better than usual, because I had an engineer-regiment, +provided with claws to twist the bars after being heated. Such +bars can never be used again, and the only way in which a railroad +line can be reconstructed across Georgia is, to make a new road +from Fairburn Station (twenty-four miles southwest of Atlanta) to +Madison, a distance of one hundred miles; and, before that can be +done, I propose to be on the road from Augusta to Charleston, which +is a continuation of the same. I felt somewhat disappointed at +Hardee's escape, but really am not to blame. I moved as quickly as +possible to close up the "Union Causeway," but intervening +obstacles were such that, before I could get troops on the road, +Hardee had slipped out. Still, I know that the men that were in +Savannah will be lost in a measure to Jeff. Davis, for the Georgia +troops, under G. W. Smith, declared they would not fight in South +Carolina, and they have gone north, en route for Augusta, and I +have reason to believe the North Carolina troops have gone to +Wilmington; in other words, they are scattered. I have reason to +believe that Beauregard was present in Savannah at the time of its +evacuation, and think that he and Hardee are now in Charleston, +making preparations for what they suppose will be my next step. + +Please say to the President that I have received his kind message +(through Colonel Markland), and feel thankful for his high favor. +If I disappoint him in the future, it shall not be from want of +zeal or love to the cause. + +From you I expect a full and frank criticism of my plans for the +future, which may enable me to correct errors before it is too +late. I do not wish to be rash, but want to give my rebel friends +no chance to accuse us of want of enterprise or courage. + +Assuring you of my high personal respect, I remain, as ever, your +friend, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + + + +[General Order No. 3.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE +WASHINGTON, January 14, 1865. + +The following resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives +is published to the army: + +[PUBLIC RESOLUTION--No. 4.] + +Joint resolution tendering the thanks of the people and of Congress +to Major-General William T. Sherman, and the officers and soldiers +of his command, for their gallant conduct in their late brilliant +movement through Georgia. + +Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the +United States of America in Congress assembled, That the thanks of +the people and of the Congress of the United States are due and are +hereby tendered to Major-General William T. Sherman, and through +him to the officers and men under his command, for their gallantry +and good conduct in their late campaign from Chattanooga to +Atlanta, and the triumphal march thence through Georgia to +Savannah, terminating in the capture and occupation of that city; +and that the President cause a copy of this joint resolution to be +engrossed and forwarded to Major-General Sherman. + +Approved, January 10, 1865. + +By order of the Secretary of War, +W. A. NICHOLS, Assistant Adjutant-General. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +SAVANNAH AND POCOTALIGO. + +DECEMBER, 1884, AND JANUARY, 1885. + +The city of Savannah was an old place, and usually accounted a +handsome one. Its houses were of brick or frame, with large yards, +ornamented with shrubbery and flowers; its streets perfectly +regular, crossing each other at right angles; and at many of the +intersections were small inclosures in the nature of parks. These +streets and parks were lined with the handsomest shade-trees of +which I have knowledge, viz., the Willow-leaf live-oak, evergreens +of exquisite beauty; and these certainly entitled Savannah to its +reputation as a handsome town more than the houses, which, though +comfortable, would hardly make a display on Fifth Avenue or the +Boulevard Haussmann of Paris. The city was built on a plateau of +sand about forty feet above the level of the sea, abutting against +the river, leaving room along its margin for a street of stores and +warehouses. The customhouse, court-house, post-office, etc., were +on the plateau above. In rear of Savannah was a large park, with a +fountain, and between it and the court-house was a handsome +monument, erected to the memory of Count Pulaski, who fell in 1779 +in the assault made on the city at the time it was held by the +English during the Revolutionary War. Outside of Savannah there +was very little to interest a stranger, except the cemetery of +Bonaventura, and the ride along the Wilmington Channel by way of +Thunderbolt, where might be seen some groves of the majestic +live-oak trees, covered with gray and funereal moss, which were +truly sublime in grandeur, but gloomy after a few days' camping +under them: + +Within an hour of taking up my quarters in Mr. Green's house, Mr. +A. G. Browne, of Salem, Massachusetts, United States Treasury agent +for the Department of the South, made his appearance to claim +possession, in the name of the Treasury Department, of all captured +cotton, rice, buildings, etc. Having use for these articles +ourselves, and having fairly earned them, I did not feel inclined +to surrender possession, and explained to him that the +quartermaster and commissary could manage them more to my liking +than he; but I agreed, after the proper inventories had been +prepared, if there remained any thing for which we had no special +use, I would turn it over to him. It was then known that in the +warehouses were stored at least twenty-five thousand bales of +cotton, and in the forts one hundred and fifty large, heavy +sea-coast guns: although afterward, on a more careful count, there +proved to be more than two hundred and fifty sea-coast or siege +guns, and thirty-one thousand bales of cotton. At that interview +Mr. Browne, who was a shrewd, clever Yankee, told me that a vessel +was on the point of starting for Old Point Comfort, and, if she had +good weather off Cape Hatteras, would reach Fortress Monroe by +Christmas-day, and he suggested that I might make it the occasion +of sending a welcome Christmas gift to the President, Mr. Lincoln, +who peculiarly enjoyed such pleasantry. I accordingly sat down and +wrote on a slip of paper, to be left at the telegraph-office at +Fortress Monroe for transmission, the following: + + +SAVANNAH GEORGIA, December 22, 1884. +To His Excellency President Lincoln, Washington, D. C.: + +I beg to present you as a Christmas-gift the city of Savannah, with +one hundred and fifty heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, also +about twenty five thousand bales of cotton. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +This message actually reached him on Christmas-eve, was extensively +published in the newspapers, and made many a household unusually +happy on that festive day; and it was in the answer to this +dispatch that Mr. Lincoln wrote me the letter of December 28th, +already given, beginning with the words, "many, many thanks," etc., +which he sent at the hands of General John A. Logan, who happened +to be in Washington, and was coming to Savannah, to rejoin his +command. + +On the 23d of December were made the following general orders for +the disposition of the troops in and about Savannah: + +[Special Field Order No. 139.] + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, December 23, 1864. + +Savannah, being now in our possession, the river partially cleared +out, and measures having been taken to remove all obstructions, +will at once be made a grand depot for future operations: + +1. The chief-quartermaster, General Euston, will, after giving the +necessary orders touching the transports in Ogeechee River and +Oasabaw Sound, come in person to Savannah, and take possession of +all public buildings, vacant storerooms, warehouses, etc., that may +be now or hereafter needed for any department of the army. No +rents will be paid by the Government of the United States during +the war, and all buildings must be distributed according to the +accustomed rates of the Quartermaster's Department, as though they +were public property. + +2. The chief commissary of subsistence, Colonel A. Beckwith, will +transfer the grand depot of the army to the city of Savannah, +secure possession of the needful buildings and offices, and give +the necessary orders, to the end that the army may be supplied +abundantly and well. + +S. The chief-engineer, Captain Poe, will at once direct which of +the enemy's forts are to be retained for our use, and which +dismantled and destroyed. The chief ordnance-officer, Captain +Baylor, will in like manner take possession of all property +pertaining to his department captured from the enemy, and cause the +same to be collected and conveyed to points of security; all the +heavy coast-guns will be dismounted and carried to Fort Pulaski. + +4. The troops, for the present, will be grouped about the city of +Savannah, looking to convenience of camps; General Slocum taking +from the Savannah River around to the seven-mile post on the Canal, +and General Howard thence to the sea; General Kilpatrick will hold +King's Bridge until Fort McAllister is dismantled, and the troops +withdrawn from the south side of the Ogeechee, when he will take +post about Anderson's plantation, on the plank-road, and picket all +the roads leading from the north and west. + +5. General Howard will keep a small guard at Forts Rosedale, +Beaulieu, Wimberley, Thunderbolt, and Bonaventura, and he will +cause that shore and Skidaway Island to be examined very closely, +with a view to finding many and convenient points for the +embarkation of troops and wagons on seagoing vessels. + +By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman, + +L. M. DAYTON, Aide-de-Camp. + + + +[Special Field Order No. 143.] + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, December 26, 1864. + +The city of Savannah and surrounding country will be held as a +military post, and adapted to future military uses, but, as it +contains a population of some twenty thousand people, who must be +provided for, and as other citizens may come, it is proper to lay +down certain general principles, that all within its military +jurisdiction may understand their relative duties and obligations. + +1. During war, the military is superior to civil authority, and, +where interests clash, the civil must give way; yet, where there is +no conflict, every encouragement should be given to well-disposed +and peaceful inhabitants to resume their usual pursuits. Families +should be disturbed as little as possible in their residences, and +tradesmen allowed the free use of their shops, tools, etc.; +churches, schools, and all places of amusement and recreation, +should be encouraged, and streets and roads made perfectly safe to +persons in their pursuits. Passes should not be exacted within the +line of outer pickets, but if any person shall abuse these +privileges by communicating with the enemy, or doing any act of +hostility to the Government of the United States, he or she will be +punished with the utmost rigor of the law. Commerce with the outer +world will be resumed to an extent commensurate with the wants of +the citizens, governed by the restrictions and rules of the +Treasury Department. + +2. The chief quartermaster and commissary of the army may give +suitable employment to the people, white and black, or transport +them to such points as they may choose where employment can be had; +and may extend temporary relief in the way of provisions and vacant +houses to the worthy and needy, until such time as they can help +themselves. They will select first the buildings for the necessary +uses of the army; next, a sufficient number of stores, to be turned +over to the Treasury agent for trade-stores. All vacant +store-houses or dwellings, and all buildings belonging to absent +rebels, will be construed and used as belonging to the United States, +until such time as their titles can be settled by the courts of the +United States. + +8. The Mayor and City Council of Savannah will continue to +exercise their functions, and will, in concert with the commanding +officer of the post and the chief-quartermaster, see that the +fire-companies are kept in organization, the streets cleaned and +lighted, and keep up a good understanding between the citizens and +soldiers. They will ascertain and report to the chief commissary +of subsistence, as soon as possible, the names and number of worthy +families that need assistance and support. The mayor will forth +with give public notice that the time has come when all must choose +their course, viz., remain within our lines, and conduct themselves +as good citizens, or depart in peace. He will ascertain the names +of all who choose to leave Savannah, and report their names and +residence to the chief-quartermaster, that measures may be taken to +transport them beyond our lines. + +4. Not more than two newspapers will be published in Savannah; +their editors and proprietors will be held to the strictest +accountability, and will be punished severely, in person and +property, for any libelous publication, mischievous matter, +premature news, exaggerated statements, or any comments whatever +upon the acts of the constituted authorities; they will be held +accountable for such articles, even though copied from other +papers. + +By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman, + +L. M. DAYTON, Aide-de-Camp. + + +It was estimated that there were about twenty thousand inhabitants +in Savannah, all of whom had participated more or less in the war, +and had no special claims to our favor, but I regarded the war as +rapidly drawing to a close, and it was becoming a political +question as to what was to be done with the people of the South, +both white and black, when the war was actually over. I concluded +to give them the option to remain or to join their friends in +Charleston or Augusta, and so announced in general orders. The +mayor, Dr. Arnold, was completely "subjugated," and, after +consulting with him, I authorized him to assemble his City Council +to take charge generally of the interests of the people; but warned +all who remained that they must be strictly subordinate to the +military law, and to the interests of the General Government. +About two hundred persona, mostly the families of men in the +Confederate army, prepared to follow the fortunes of their husbands +and fathers, and these were sent in a steamboat under a flag of +truce, in charge of my aide Captain Audenried, to Charleston +harbor, and there delivered to an officer of the Confederate army. +But the great bulk of the inhabitants chose to remain in Savannah, +generally behaved with propriety, and good social relations at once +arose between them and the army. Shortly after our occupation of +Savannah, a lady was announced at my headquarters by the orderly or +sentinel at the front-door, who was ushered into the parlor, and +proved to be the wife of General G. W. Smith, whom I had known +about 1850, when Smith was on duty at West Point. She was a native +of New London, Connecticut, and very handsome. She began her +interview by presenting me a letter from her husband, who then +commanded a division of the Georgia militia in the rebel army, +which had just quitted Savannah, which letter began, "DEAR SHERMAN: +The fortunes of war, etc-., compel me to leave my wife in Savannah, +and I beg for her your courteous protection," etc., etc. I +inquired where she lived, and if anybody was troubling her. She +said she was boarding with a lady whose husband had, in like manner +with her own, gone off with Hardee's army; that a part of the house +had been taken for the use of Major-General Ward, of Kentucky; that +her landlady was approaching her confinement, and was nervous at +the noise which the younger staff-officers made at night; etc. I +explained to her that I could give but little personal attention to +such matters, and referred her to General Slocum, whose troops +occupied the city. I afterward visited her house, and saw, +personally, that she had no reason to complain. Shortly afterward +Mr. Hardee, a merchant of Savannah, came to me and presented a +letter from his brother, the general, to the same effect, alleging +that his brother was a civilian, had never taken up arms, and asked +of me protection for his family, his cotton, etc. To him I gave +the general assurance that no harm was designed to any of the +people of Savannah who would remain quiet and peaceable, but that I +could give him no guarantee as to his cotton, for over it I had no +absolute control; and yet still later I received a note from the +wife of General A. P. Stewart (who commanded a corps in Hood's +army), asking me to come to see her. This I did, and found her to +be a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, wanting protection, and who was +naturally anxious about the fate of her husband, known to be with +General Hood, in Tennessee, retreating before General Thomas. I +remember that I was able to assure her that he had not been killed +or captured, up to that date, and think that I advised her, instead +of attempting to go in pursuit of her husband, to go to Cincinnati, +to her uncle, Judge Storer, there await the issue of events. + +Before I had reached Savannah, and during our stay there, the rebel +officers and newspapers represented the conduct of the men of our +army as simply infamous; that we respected neither age nor sex; +that we burned every thing we came across--barns, stables, +cotton-gins, and even dwelling-houses; that we ravished the women +and killed the men, and perpetrated all manner of outrages on the +inhabitants. Therefore it struck me as strange that Generals +Hardee and Smith should commit their, families to our custody, and +even bespeak our personal care and attention. These officers knew +well that these reports were exaggerated in the extreme, and yet +tacitly assented to these publications, to arouse the drooping +energies of the people of the South. + +As the division of Major-General John W. Geary, of the Twentieth +Corps, was the first to enter Savannah, that officer was appointed +to command the place, or to act as a sort of governor. He very +soon established a good police, maintained admirable order, and I +doubt if Savannah, either before or since, has had a better +government than during our stay. The guard-mountings and parades, +as well as the greater reviews, became the daily resorts of the +ladies, to hear the music of our excellent bands; schools were +opened, and the churches every Sunday were well filled with most +devout and respectful congregations; stores were reopened, and +markets for provisions, meat, wood, etc., were established, so that +each family, regardless of race, color, or opinion, could procure +all the necessaries and even luxuries of life, provided they had +money. Of course, many families were actually destitute of this, +and to these were issued stores from our own stock of supplies. I +remember to have given to Dr. Arnold, the mayor, an order for the +contents of a large warehouse of rice, which he confided to a +committee of gentlemen, who went North (to Boston), and soon +returned with one or more cargoes of flour, hams, sugar, coffee, +etc., for gratuitous distribution, which relieved the most pressing +wants until the revival of trade and business enabled the people to +provide for themselves. + +A lady, whom I had known in former years as Miss Josephine Goodwin, +told me that, with a barrel of flour and some sugar which she had +received gratuitously from the commissary, she had baked cakes and +pies, in the sale of which she realized a profit of fifty-six +dollars. + +Meantime Colonel Poe had reconnoitred and laid off new lines of +parapet, which would enable a comparatively small garrison to hold +the place, and a heavy detail of soldiers was put to work thereon; +Generals Easton and Beckwith had organized a complete depot of +supplies; and, though vessels arrived almost daily with mails and +provisions, we were hardly ready to initiate a new and hazardous +campaign. I had not yet received from General Grant or General +Halleck any modification of the orders of December 6,1864, to +embark my command for Virginia by sea; but on the 2d of January, +1865, General J. G. Barnard, United States Engineers, arrived +direct from General Grant's headquarters, bearing the following +letter, in the general's own handwriting, which, with my answer, is +here given: + + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, December 27, 1864. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Military Division of the +Mississippi. + +GENERAL: Before writing you definite instructions for the next +campaign, I wanted to receive your answer to my letter written from +Washington. Your confidence in being able to march up and join +this army pleases me, and I believe it can be done. The effect of +such a campaign will be to disorganize the South, and prevent the +organization of new armies from their broken fragments. Hood is +now retreating, with his army broken and demoralized. His loss in +men has probably not been far from twenty thousand, besides +deserters. If time is given, the fragments may be collected +together and many of the deserters reassembled. If we can, we +should act to prevent this. Your spare army, as it were, moving as +proposed, will do it. + +In addition to holding Savannah, it looks to me that an intrenched +camp ought to be held on the railroad between Savannah and +Charleston. Your movement toward Branchville will probably enable +Foster to reach this with his own force. This will give us a +position in the South from which we can threaten the interior +without marching over long, narrow causeways, easily defended, as +we have heretofore been compelled to do. Could not such a camp be +established about Pocotaligo or Coosawhatchie? + +I have thought that, Hood being so completely wiped out for present +harm, I might bring A. J. Smith here, with fourteen to fifteen +thousand men. With this increase I could hold my lines, and move +out with a greater force than Lee has. It would compel Lee to +retain all his present force in the defenses of Richmond or abandon +them entirely. This latter contingency is probably the only danger +to the easy success of your expedition. In the event you should +meet Lee's army, you would be compelled to beat it or find the +sea-coast. Of course, I shall not let Lee's army escape if I can +help it, and will not let it go without following to the best of my +ability. + +Without waiting further directions, than, you may make your +preparations to start on your northern expedition without delay. +Break up the railroads in South and North Carolina, and join the +armies operating against Richmond as soon as you can. I will leave +out all suggestions about the route you should take, knowing that +your information, gained daily in the course of events, will be +better than any that can be obtained now. + +It may not be possible for you to march to the rear of Petersburg; +but, failing in this, you could strike either of the sea-coast +ports in North Carolina held by us. From there you could take +shipping. It would be decidedly preferable, however, if you could +march the whole distance. + +From the best information I have, you will find no difficulty in +supplying your army until you cross the Roanoke. From there here +is but a few days' march, and supplies could be collected south of +the river to bring you through. I shall establish communication +with you there, by steamboat and gunboat. By this means your wants +can be partially supplied. I shall hope to hear from you soon, and +to hear your plan, and about the time of starting. + +Please instruct Foster to hold on to all the property in Savannah, +and especially the cotton. Do not turn it over to citizens or +Treasury agents, without orders of the War Department. + +Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, January 2, 1865. + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, City Point. + +GENERAL: I have received, by the hands of General Barnard, your +note of 26th and letter of 27th December. + +I herewith inclose to you a copy of a projet which I have this +morning, in strict confidence, discussed with my immediate +commanders. + +I shall need, however, larger supplies of stores, especially grain. +I will inclose to you, with this, letters from General Easton, +quartermaster, and Colonel Beckwith, commissary of subsistence, +setting forth what will be required, and trust you will forward +them to Washington with your sanction, so that the necessary steps +may be taken at once to enable me to carry out this plan on time. + +I wrote you very fully on the 24th, and have nothing to add. Every +thing here is quiet, and if I can get the necessary supplies in our +wagons, shall be ready to start at the time indicated in my projet +(January 15th). But, until those supplies are in hand, I can do +nothing; after they are, I shall be ready to move with great +rapidity. + +I have heard of the affair at Cape Fear. It has turned out as you +will remember I expected. + +I have furnished General Easton a copy of the dispatch from the +Secretary of War. He will retain possession of all cotton here, +and ship it as fast as vessels can be had to New York. + +I shall immediately send the Seventeenth Corps over to Port Royal, +by boats, to be furnished by Admiral Dahlgren and General Foster +(without interfering with General Easton's vessels), to make a +lodgment on the railroad at Pocotaligo. + +General Barnard will remain with me a few days, and I send this by +a staff-officer, who can return on one of the vessels of the +supply-fleet. I suppose that, now that General Butler has got +through with them, you can spare them to us. + +My report of recent operations is nearly ready, and will be sent +you in a day or two, as soon as some farther subordinate reports +come in. + +I am, with great respect, very truly, your friend, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + + +[Entirely confidential] + +PROJET FOR JANUARY. + +1. Right wing to move men and artillery by transports to head of +Broad River and Beaufort; reestablish Port Royal Ferry, and mass +the wing at or in the neighborhood of Pocotaligo. + +Left wing and cavalry to work slowly across the causeway toward +Hardeeville, to open a road by which wagons can reach their corps +about Broad River; also, by a rapid movement of the left, to secure +Sister's Ferry, and Augusta road out to Robertsville. + +In the mean time, all guns, shot, shell, cotton, etc., to be moved +to a safe place, easy to guard, and provisions and wagons got ready +for another swath, aiming to have our army in hand about the head +of Broad River, say Pocotaligo, Robertsville, and Coosawhatchie, by +the 15th January. + +2. The whole army to move with loaded wagons by the roads leading +in the direction of Columbia, which afford the best chance of +forage and provisions. Howard to be at Pocotaligo by the 15th +January, and Slocum to be at Robertsville, and Kilpatrick at or +near Coosawhatchie about the same date. General Fosters troops to +occupy Savannah, and gunboats to protect the rivers as soon as +Howard gets Pocotaligo. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +Therefore, on the 2d of January, I was authorized to march with my +entire army north by land, and concluded at once to secure a +foothold or starting-point on the South Carolina side, selecting +Pocotaligo and Hardeeville as the points of rendezvous for the two +wings; but I still remained in doubt as to the wishes of the +Administration, whether I should take Charleston en route, or +confine my whole attention to the incidental advantages of breaking +up the railways of South and North Carolina, and the greater object +of uniting my army with that of General Grant before Richmond. + +General Barnard remained with me several days, and was regarded +then, as now, one of the first engineers of the age, perfectly +competent to advise me on the strategy and objects of the new +campaign. He expressed himself delighted with the high spirit of +the army, the steps already taken, by which we had captured +Savannah, and he personally inspected some of the forts, such as +Thunderbolt and Causten's Bluff, by which the enemy had so long +held at bay the whole of our navy, and had defeated the previous +attempts made in April, 1862, by the army of General Gillmore, +which had bombarded and captured Fort Pulaski, but had failed to +reach the city of Savannah. I think General Barnard expected me to +invite him to accompany us northward in his official capacity; but +Colonel Poe, of my staff, had done so well, and was so perfectly +competent, that I thought it unjust to supersede him by a senior in +his own corps. I therefore said nothing of this to General +Barnard, and soon after he returned to his post with General Grant, +at City Point, bearing letters and full personal messages of our +situation and wants. + +We were very much in want of light-draught steamers for navigating +the shallow waters of the coast, so that it took the Seventeenth +Corps more than a week to transfer from Thunderbolt to Beaufort, +South Carolina. Admiral Dahlgren had supplied the Harvest Moon and +the Pontiac, and General Foster gave us a couple of hired steamers; +I was really amused at the effect this short sea-voyage had on our +men, most of whom had never before looked upon the ocean. Of +course, they were fit subjects for sea-sickness, and afterward they +begged me never again to send them to sea, saying they would rather +march a thousand miles on the worst roads of the South than to +spend a single night on the ocean. By the 10th General Howard had +collected the bulk of the Seventeenth Corps (General Blair) on +Beaufort Island, and began his march for Pocotaligo, twenty-five +miles inland. They crossed the channel between the island and +main-land during Saturday, the 14th of January, by a pontoon- +bridge, and marched out to Garden's Corners, where there was some +light skirmishing; the next day, Sunday, they continued on to +Pocotaligo, finding the strong fort there abandoned, and +accordingly made a lodgment on the railroad, having lost only two +officers and eight men. + +About the same time General Slocum crossed two divisions of the +Twentieth Corps over the Savannah River, above the city, occupied +Hardeeville by one division and Purysburg by another. Thus, by the +middle of January, we had effected a lodgment in South Carolina, +and were ready to resume the march northward; but we had not yet +accumulated enough provisions and forage to fill the wagons, and +other causes of delay occurred, of which I will make mention in due +order. + +On the last day of December, 1864, Captain Breese, United States +Navy, flag-officer to Admiral Porter, reached Savannah, bringing +the first news of General Butler's failure at Fort Fisher, and that +the general had returned to James River with his land-forces, +leaving Admiral Porter's fleet anchored off Cape Fear, in that +tempestuous season. Captain Breese brought me a letter from the +admiral, dated December 29th, asking me to send him from Savannah +one of my old divisions, with which he said he would make short +work of Fort Fisher; that he had already bombarded and silenced its +guns, and that General Butler had failed because he was afraid to +attack, or even give the order to attack, after (as Porter +insisted) the guns of Fort Fisher had been actually silenced by the +navy. + +I answered him promptly on the 31st of December, that I proposed to +march north inland, and that I would prefer to leave the rebel +garrisons on the coast, instead of dislodging and piling them up in +my front as we progressed. From the chances, as I then understood +them, I supposed that Fort Fisher was garrisoned by a comparatively +small force, while the whole division of General Hoke remained +about the city of Wilmington; and that, if Fort Fisher were +captured, it would leave General Hoke free to join the larger force +that would naturally be collected to oppose my progress northward. +I accordingly answered Admiral Porter to this effect, declining to +loan him the use of one of my divisions. It subsequently +transpired, however, that, as soon as General Butler reached City +Point, General Grant was unwilling to rest under a sense of +failure, and accordingly dispatched back the same troops, +reenforced and commanded by General A. H. Terry, who, on the 15th +day of January, successfully assaulted and captured Fort Fisher, +with its entire garrison. After the war was over, about the 20th +of May, when I was giving my testimony before the Congressional +Committee on the Conduct of the War, the chairman of the committee, +Senator B. F. Wade, of Ohio, told me that General Butler had been +summoned before that committee during the previous January, and had +just finished his demonstration to their entire satisfaction that +Fort Fisher could not be carried by assault, when they heard the +newsboy in the hall crying out an "extra" Calling him in, they +inquired the news, and he answered, "Fort Fisher done took!" Of +course, they all laughed, and none more heartily than General +Butler himself. + +On the 11th of January there arrived at Savannah a revenue-cutter, +having on board Simeon Draper, Esq., of New York City, the Hon. E. +M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Quartermaster-General Meigs, +Adjutant-General Townsend, and a retinue of civilians, who had come +down from the North to regulate the civil affairs of Savannah.... + +I was instructed by Mr. Stanton to transfer to Mr. Draper the +custom house, post-office, and such other public buildings as these +civilians needed in the execution of their office, and to cause to +be delivered into their custody the captured cotton. This was +accomplished by-- + + +[Special Field Orders, No. 10.] + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, January 12, 1865. + +1. Brevet Brigadier-General Euston, chief-quartermaster, will turn +over to Simeon Draper, Esq., agent of the United States Treasury +Department, all cotton now in the city of Savannah, prize of war, +taking his receipt for the same in gross, and returning for it to +the quartermaster-general. He will also afford Mr. Draper all the +facilities in his power in the way of transportation, labor, etc., +to enable him to handle the cotton with expedition. + +2. General Euston will also turn over to Mr. Draper the +custom-house, and such other buildings in the city of Savannah as +he may need in the execution of his office. + +By order of General W. T. Sherman, + +L. M. DAYTON, Aide-de-Camp. + + +Up to this time all the cotton had been carefully guarded, with +orders to General Euston to ship it by the return-vessels to New +York, for the adjudication of the nearest prize-court, accompanied +with invoices and all evidence of title to ownership. Marks, +numbers, and other figures, were carefully preserved on the bales, +so that the court might know the history of each bale. But Mr. +Stanton, who surely was an able lawyer, changed all this, and +ordered the obliteration of all the marks; so that no man, friend +or foe, could trace his identical cotton. I thought it strange at +the time, and think it more so now; for I am assured that claims, +real and fictitious, have been proved up against this identical +cotton of three times the quantity actually captured, and that +reclamations on the Treasury have been allowed for more than the +actual quantity captured, viz., thirty-one thousand bales. + +Mr. Stanton staid in Savannah several days, and seemed very curious +about matters and things in general. I walked with him through the +city, especially the bivouacs of the several regiments that +occupied the vacant squares, and he seemed particularly pleased at +the ingenuity of the men in constructing their temporary huts. +Four of the "dog-tents," or tentes d'abri, buttoned together, +served for a roof, and the sides were made of clapboards, or rough +boards brought from demolished houses or fences. I remember his +marked admiration for the hut of a soldier who had made his door +out of a handsome parlor mirror, the glass gone and its gilt frame +serving for his door. + +He talked to me a great deal about the negroes, the former slaves, +and I told him of many interesting incidents, illustrating their +simple character and faith in our arms and progress. He inquired +particularly about General Jeff. C. Davis, who, he said, was a +Democrat, and hostile to the negro. I assured him that General +Davis was an excellent soldier, and I did not believe he had any +hostility to the negro; that in our army we had no negro soldiers, +and, as a rule, we preferred white soldiers, but that we employed a +large force of them as servants, teamsters, and pioneers, who had +rendered admirable service. He then showed me a newspaper account +of General Davis taking up his pontoon-bridge across Ebenezer +Creek, leaving sleeping negro men, women, and children, on the +other side, to be slaughtered by Wheeler's cavalry. I had heard +such a rumor, and advised Mr. Stanton, before becoming prejudiced, +to allow me to send for General Davis, which he did, and General +Davis explained the matter to his entire satisfaction. The truth +was, that, as we approached the seaboard, the freedmen in droves, +old and young, followed the several columns to reach a place of +safety. It so happened that General Davis's route into Savannah +followed what was known as the "River-road," and he had to make +constant use of his pontoon-train--the head of his column reaching +some deep, impassable creek before the rear was fairly over +another. He had occasionally to use the pontoons both day and +night. On the occasion referred to, the bridge was taken up from +Ebenezer Creek while some of the camp-followers remained asleep on +the farther side, and these were picked up by Wheeler's cavalry. +Some of them, in their fright, were drowned in trying to swim over, +and others may have been cruelly killed by Wheeler's men, but this +was a mere supposition. At all events, the same thing might have +resulted to General Howard, or to any other of the many most humane +commanders who filled the army. General Jeff. C. Davis was +strictly a soldier, and doubtless hated to have his wagons and +columns encumbered by these poor negroes, for whom we all felt +sympathy, but a sympathy of a different sort from that of Mr. +Stanton, which was not of pure humanity, but of politics. The +negro question was beginning to loom up among the political +eventualities of the day, and many foresaw that not only would the +slaves secure their freedom, but that they would also have votes. +I did not dream of such a result then, but knew that slavery, as +such, was dead forever, and did not suppose that the former slaves +would be suddenly, without preparation, manufactured into voters, +equal to all others, politically and socially. Mr. Stanton seemed +desirous of coming into contact with the negroes to confer with +them, and he asked me to arrange an interview for him. I +accordingly sent out and invited the most intelligent of the +negroes, mostly Baptist and Methodist preachers, to come to my +rooms to meet the Secretary of War. Twenty responded, and were +received in my room up-stairs in Mr. Green's house, where Mr. +Stanton and Adjutant-General Townsend took down the conversation in +the form of questions and answers. Each of the twenty gave his +name and partial history, and then selected Garrison Frazier as +their spokesman: + +First Question. State what your understanding is in regard to the +acts of Congress and President Lincoln's proclamation touching the +colored people in the rebel States? + +Answer. So far as I understand President Lincoln's proclamation to +the rebel States, it is, that if they will lay down their arms and +submit to the laws of the United States, before the 1st of January, +1863, all should be well; but if they did not, then all the slaves +in the Southern States should be free, henceforth and forever. +That is what I understood. + +Second Question. State what you understand by slavery, and the +freedom that was to be given by the President's proclamation? + +Answer. Slavery is receiving by irresistible power the work of +another man, and not by his consent. The freedom, as I understand +it, promised by the proclamation, is taking us from under the yoke +of bondage and placing us where we can reap the fruit of our own +labor, and take care of ourselves and assist the Government in +maintaining our freedom. + +Fourth Question. State in what manner you would rather live +--whether scattered among the whites, or in colonies by yourselves? + +Answer. I would prefer to live by ourselves, for there is a +prejudice against us in the South that will take years to get over; +but I do not know that I can answer for my brethren. + +(All but Mr. Lynch, a missionary from the North, agreed with +Frazier, but he thought they ought to live together, along with the +whites.) + +Eighth Question. If the rebel leaders were to arm the slaves, what +would be its effect? + +Answer. I think they would fight as long as they were before the +"bayonet," and just as soon as they could get away they would +desert, in my opinion. + +Tenth Question. Do you understand the mode of enlistment of +colored persons in the rebel States by State agents, under the act +of Congress; if yea, what is your understanding? + +Answer. My understanding is, that colored persons enlisted by +State agents are enlisted as substitutes, and give credit to the +State and do not swell the army, because every black man enlisted +by a State agent leaves a white man at home; and also that larger +bounties are given, or promised, by the State agents than are given +by the United States. The great object should be to push through +this rebellion the shortest way; and there seems to be something +wanting in the enlistment by State agents, for it don't strengthen +the army, but takes one away for every colored man enlisted. + +Eleventh Question. State what, in your opinion, is the best way to +enlist colored men as soldiers? + +Answer. I think, sir, that all compulsory operations should be put +a stop to. The ministers would talk to them, and the young men +would enlist. It is my opinion that it world be far better for the +State agents to stay at home and the enlistments be made for the +United States under the direction of General Sherman. + +Up to this time I was present, and, on Mr. Stanton's intimating +that he wanted to ask some questions affecting me, I withdrew, and +then he put the twelfth and last question. + +Twelfth Question. State what is the feeling of the colored people +toward General Sherman, and how far do they regard his sentiments +and actions as friendly to their rights and interests, or +otherwise. + +Answer. We looked upon General Sherman, prior to his arrival, as a +man, in the providence of God, specially set apart to accomplish +this work, and we unanimously felt inexpressible gratitude to him, +looking upon him as a man who should be honored for the faithful +performance of his duty. Some of us called upon him immediately +upon his arrival, and it is probable he did not meet the secretary +with more courtesy than he did us. His conduct and deportment +toward us characterized him as a friend and gentleman. We have +confidence in General Sherman, and think what concerns us could not +be in better hands. This is our opinion now, from the short +acquaintance and intercourse we have had. + + +It certainly was a strange fact that the great War Secretary should +have catechized negroes concerning the character of a general who +had commanded a hundred thousand men in battle, had captured cities +conducted sixty-five thousand men successfully across four hundred +miles of hostile territory, and had just brought tens of thousands +of freedmen to a place of security; but because I had not loaded +down my army by other hundreds of thousands of poor negroes, I was +construed by others as hostile to the black race. I had received +from General Halleck, at Washington, a letter warning me that there +were certain influential parties near the President who were +torturing him with suspicions of my fidelity to him and his negro +policy; but I shall always believe that Mr. Lincoln, though a +civilian, knew better, and appreciated my motives and character. +Though this letter of General Halleck has always been treated by me +as confidential, I now insert it here at length: + + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY +WASHINGTON, D.C., December 30, 1864. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, Savannah. + + +MY DEAR GENERAL: I take the liberty of calling your attention, in +this private and friendly way, to a matter which may possibly +hereafter be of more importance to you than either of us may now +anticipate. + +While almost every one is praising your great march through +Georgia, and the capture of Savannah, there is a certain class +having now great influence with the President, and very probably +anticipating still more on a change of cabinet, who are decidedly +disposed to make a point against you. I mean in regard to +"inevitable Sambo." They say that you have manifested an almost +criminal dislike to the negro, and that you are not willing to +carry out the wishes of the Government in regard to him, but +repulse him with contempt! They say you might have brought with you +to Savannah more than fifty thousand, thus stripping Georgia of +that number of laborers, and opening a road by which as many more +could have escaped from their masters; but that, instead of this, +you drove them from your ranks, prevented their following you by +cutting the bridges in your rear, and thus caused the massacre of +large numbers by Wheeler's cavalry. + +To those who know you as I do, such accusation will pass as the +idle winds, for we presume that you discouraged the negroes from +following you because you had not the means of supporting them, and +feared they might seriously embarrass your march. But there are +others, and among them some in high authority, who think or pretend +to think otherwise, and they are decidedly disposed to make a point +against you. + +I do not write this to induce you to conciliate this class of men +by doing any thing which you do not deem right and proper, and for +the interest of the Government and the country; but simply to call +your attention to certain things which are viewed here somewhat +differently than from your stand-point. I will explain as briefly +as possible: + +Some here think that, in view of the scarcity of labor in the +South, and the probability that a part, at least, of the +able-bodied slaves will be called into the military service of the +rebels, it is of the greatest importance to open outlets by which +these slaves can escape into our lines, and they say that the route +you have passed over should be made the route of escape, and +Savannah the great place of refuge. These, I know, are the views +of some of the leading men in the Administration, and they now +express dissatisfaction that you did not carry them out in your +great raid. + +Now that you are in possession of Savannah, and there can be no +further fears about supplies, would it not be possible for you to +reopen these avenues of escape for the negroes, without interfering +with your military operations? Could not such escaped slaves find +at least a partial supply of food in the rice-fields about +Savannah, and cotton plantations on the coast? + +I merely throw out these suggestions. I know that such a course +would be approved by the Government, and I believe that a +manifestation on your part of a desire to bring the slaves within +our lines will do much to silence your opponents. You will +appreciate my motives in writing this private letter. +Yours truly, + +H. W. HALLECK. + + + + +There is no doubt that Mr. Stanton, when he reached Savannah, +shared these thoughts, but luckily the negroes themselves convinced +him that he was in error, and that they understood their own +interests far better than did the men in Washington, who tried to +make political capital out of this negro question. The idea that +such men should have been permitted to hang around Mr. Lincoln, to +torture his life by suspicions of the officers who were toiling +with the single purpose to bring the war to a successful end, and +thereby to liberate all slaves, is a fair illustration of the +influences that poison a political capital. + +My aim then was, to whip the rebels, to humble their pride, to +follow them to their inmost recesses, and make them fear and dread +us. "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." I did not want +them to cast in our teeth what General Hood had once done in +Atlanta, that we had to call on their slaves to help us to subdue +them. But, as regards kindness to the race, encouraging them to +patience and forbearance, procuring them food and clothing, and +providing them with land whereon to labor, I assert that no army +ever did more for that race than the one I commanded in Savannah. +When we reached Savannah, we were beset by ravenous State agents +from Hilton Head, who enticed and carried away our servants, and +the corps of pioneers which we had organized, and which had done +such excellent service. On one occasion, my own aide-de-camp, +Colonel Audenried, found at least a hundred poor negroes shut up in +a house and pen, waiting for the night, to be conveyed stealthily +to Hilton Head. They appealed to him for protection, alleging that +they had been told that they must be soldiers, that "Massa Lincoln" +wanted them, etc. I never denied the slaves a full opportunity for +voluntary enlistment, but I did prohibit force to be used, for I +knew that the State agents were more influenced by the profit they +derived from the large bounties then being paid than by any love of +country or of the colored race. In the language of Mr. Frazier, +the enlistment of every black man "did not strengthen the army, but +took away one white man from the ranks." + +During Mr. Stanton's stay in Savannah we discussed this negro +question very fully; he asked me to draft an order on the subject, +in accordance with my own views, that would meet the pressing +necessities of the case, and I did so. We went over this order, +No. 15, of January 16, 1865, very carefully. The secretary made +some verbal modifications, when it was approved by him in all its +details, I published it, and it went into operation at once. It +provided fully for the enlistment of colored troops, and gave the +freedmen certain possessory rights to land, which afterward became +matters of judicial inquiry and decision. Of course, the military +authorities at that day, when war prevailed, had a perfect right to +grant the possession of any vacant land to which they could extend +military protection, but we did not undertake to give a fee-simple +title; and all that was designed by these special field orders was +to make temporary provisions for the freedmen and their families +during the rest of the war, or until Congress should take action in +the premises. All that I now propose to assert is, that Mr. +Stanton, Secretary of War, saw these orders in the rough, and +approved every paragraph thereof, before they were made public: + +[Special Field Orders, No. 15.] + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, January 16, 1865. + +1. The islands from Charleston south, the abandoned rice-fields +along the rivers for thirty miles back from the sea, and the +country bordering the St. John's River, Florida, are reserved and +set apart for the settlement of the negroes now made free by the +acts of war and the proclamation of the President of the United +States. + +2. At Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah, Fernandina, St. Augustine, +and Jacksonville, the blacks may remain in their chosen or +accustomed vocations; but on the islands, and in the settlements +hereafter to be established, no white person whatever, unless +military officers and soldiers detailed for duty, will be permitted +to reside; and the sole and exclusive management of affairs will be +left to the freed people themselves, subject only to the United +States military authority, and the acts of Congress. By the laws +of war, and orders of the President of the United States, the negro +is free, and must be dealt with as such. He cannot be subjected to +conscription, or forced military service, save by the written +orders of the highest military authority of the department, under +such regulations as the President or Congress may prescribe. +Domestic servants, blacksmiths, carpenters, and other mechanics, +will be free to select their own work and residence, but the young +and able-bodied negroes must be encouraged to enlist as soldiery in +the service of the United States, to contribute their share toward +maintaining their own freedom, and securing their rights as +citizens of the United States. + +Negroes so enlisted will be organized into companies, battalions, +and regiments, under the orders of the United States military +authorities, and will be paid, fed, and clothed; according to law. +The bounties paid on enlistment may, with the consent of the +recruit, go to assist his family and settlement in procuring +agricultural implements, seed, tools, boots, clothing, and other +articles necessary for their livelihood. + +8. Whenever three respectable negroes, heads of families, shall +desire to settle on land, and shall have selected for that purpose +an island or a locality clearly defined within the limits above +designated, the Inspector of Settlements and Plantations will +himself, or, by such subordinate officer as he may appoint, give +them a license to settle such island or district, and afford them +such assistance as he can to enable them to establish a peaceable +agricultural settlement. The three parties named will subdivide +the land, under the supervision of the inspector, among themselves, +and such others as may choose to settle near them, so that each +family shall have a plot of not more than forty acres of tillable +ground, and, when it borders on some water-channel, with not more +than eight hundred feet water-front, in the possession of which +land the military authorities will afford them protection until +such time as they can protect themselves, or until Congress shall +regulate their title. The quartermaster may, on the requisition of +the Inspector of Settlements and Plantations, place at the disposal +of the inspector one or more of the captured steamers to ply +between the settlements and one or more of the commercial points +heretofore named, in order to afford the settlers the opportunity +to supply their necessary wants, and to sell the products of their +land and labor. + +4. Whenever a negro has enlisted in the military service of the +United States, he may locate his family in any one of the +settlements at pleasure, and acquire a homestead, and all other +rights and privileges of a settler, as though present in person. +In like manner, negroes may settle their families and engage on +board the gunboats, or in fishing, or in the navigation of the +inland waters, without losing any claim to land or other advantages +derived from this system. But no one, unless an actual settler as +above defined, or unless absent on Government service, will be +entitled to claim any right to land or property in any settlement +by virtue of these orders. + +5. In order to carry out this system of settlement, a general +officer will be detailed as Inspector of Settlements and +Plantations, whose duty it shall be to visit the settlements, to +regulate their police and general arrangement, and who will furnish +personally to each head of a family, subject to the approval of the +President of the United States, a possessory title in writing, +giving as near as possible the description of boundaries; and who +shall adjust all claims or conflicts that may arise under the same, +subject to the like approval, treating such titles altogether as +possessory. The same general officer will also be charged with the +enlistment and organization of the negro recruits, and protecting +their interests while absent from their settlements; and will be +governed by the rules and regulations prescribed by the War +Department for such purposes. + +6. Brigadier-General R. Saxton is hereby appointed Inspector of +Settlements and Plantations, and will at once enter on the +performance of his duties. No change is intended or desired in the +settlement now on Beaufort Island, nor will any rights to property +heretofore acquired be affected thereby. + +By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman, +L. M. DAYTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. + + +I saw a good deal of the secretary socially, during the time of his +visit to Savannah. He kept his quarters on the revenue-cutter with +Simeon Draper, Esq., which cutter lay at a wharf in the river, but +he came very often to my quarters at Mr. Green's house. Though +appearing robust and strong, he complained a good deal of internal +pains, which he said threatened his life, and would compel him soon +to quit public office. He professed to have come from Washington +purposely for rest and recreation, and he spoke unreservedly of the +bickerings and jealousies at the national capital; of the +interminable quarrels of the State Governors about their quotas, +and more particularly of the financial troubles that threatened the +very existence of the Government itself. He said that the price of +every thing had so risen in comparison with the depreciated money, +that there was danger of national bankruptcy, and he appealed to +me, as a soldier and patriot, to hurry up matters so as to bring +the war to a close. + +He left for Port Royal about the 15th of January, and promised to +go North without delay, so as to hurry back to me the supplies I +had called for, as indispensable for the prosecution of the next +stage of the campaign. I was quite impatient to get off myself, +for a city-life had become dull and tame, and we were all anxious +to get into the pine-woods again, free from the importunities of +rebel women asking for protection, and of the civilians from the +North who were coming to Savannah for cotton and all sorts of +profit. + +On the 18th of January General Slocum was ordered to turn over the +city of Savannah to General J. G. Foster, commanding the Department +of the South, who proposed to retain his own headquarters at Hilton +Head, and to occupy Savannah by General Grovers division of the +Nineteenth Corps, just arrived from James River; and on the next +day, viz., January 19th, I made the first general orders for the +move. + +These were substantially to group the right wing of the army at +Pocotaligo, already held by the Seventeenth Corps, and the left +wing and cavalry at or near Robertsville, in South Carolina. The +army remained substantially the same as during the march from +Atlanta, with the exception of a few changes in the commanders of +brigades and divisions, the addition of some men who had joined +from furlough, and the loss of others from the expiration of their +term of service. My own personal staff remained the same, with the +exception that General W. F. Barry had rejoined us at Savannah, +perfectly recovered from his attack of erysipelas, and continued +with us to the end of the war. Generals Easton and Beckwith +remained at Savannah, in charge of their respective depots, with +orders to follow and meet us by sea with supplies when we should +reach the coast at Wilmington or Newbern, North Carolina. + +Of course, I gave out with some ostentation, especially among the +rebels, that we were going to Charleston or Augusta; but I had long +before made up my mind to waste no time on either, further than to +play off on their fears, thus to retain for their protection a +force of the enemy which would otherwise concentrate in our front, +and make the passage of some of the great rivers that crossed our +route more difficult and bloody. + +Having accomplished all that seemed necessary, on the 21st of +January, with my entire headquarters, officers, clerks, orderlies, +etc., with wagons and horses, I embarked in a steamer for Beaufort, +South Carolina, touching at Hilton Head, to see General Foster. +The weather was rainy and bad, but we reached Beaufort safely on +the 23d, and found some of General Blair's troops there. The pink +of his corps (Seventeenth) was, however, up on the railroad about +Pocotaligo, near the head of Broad River, to which their supplies +were carried from Hilton Head by steamboats. General Hatch's +division (of General Foster's command) was still at Coosawhatchie +or Tullafinny, where the Charleston & Savannah Railroad crosses the +river of that name. All the country between Beaufort and +Pocotaligo was low alluvial land, cut up by an infinite number of +salt-water sloughs and freshwater creeks, easily susceptible of +defense by a small force; and why the enemy had allowed us to make +a lodgment at Pocotaligo so easily I did not understand, unless it +resulted from fear or ignorance. It seemed to me then that the +terrible energy they had displayed in the earlier stages of the war +was beginning to yield to the slower but more certain industry and +discipline of our Northern men. It was to me manifest that the +soldiers and people of the South entertained an undue fear of our +Western men, and, like children, they had invented such ghostlike +stories of our prowess in Georgia, that they were scared by their +own inventions. Still, this was a power, and I intended to utilize +it. Somehow, our men had got the idea that South Carolina was the +cause of all our troubles; her people were the first to fire on +Fort Sumter, had been in a great hurry to precipitate the country +into civil war; and therefore on them should fall the scourge of +war in its worst form. Taunting messages had also come to us, when +in Georgia, to the effect that, when we should reach South +Carolina, we would find a people less passive, who would fight us +to the bitter end, daring us to come over, etc.; so that I saw and +felt that we would not be able longer to restrain our men as we had +done in Georgia. + +Personally I had many friends in Charleston, to whom I would gladly +have extended protection and mercy, but they were beyond my +personal reach, and I would not restrain the army lest its vigor +and energy should be impaired; and I had every reason to expect +bold and strong resistance at the many broad and deep rivers that +lay across our path. + +General Foster's Department of the South had been enlarged to +embrace the coast of North Carolina, so that the few troops serving +there, under the command of General Innis N. Palmer, at Newbern, +became subject to my command. General A. H. Terry held Fort +Fisher, and a rumor came that he had taken the city of Wilmington; +but this was premature. He had about eight thousand men. General +Schofield was also known to be en route from Nashville for North +Carolina, with the entire Twenty-third Corps, so that I had every +reason to be satisfied that I would receive additional strength as +we progressed northward, and before I should need it. + +General W. J. Hardee commanded the Confederate forces in +Charleston, with the Salkiehatchie River as his line of defense. +It was also known that General Beauregard had come from the +direction of Tennessee, and had assumed the general command of all +the troops designed to resist our progress. + +The heavy winter rains had begun early in January, rendered the +roads execrable, and the Savannah River became so swollen that it +filled its many channels, overflowing the vast extent of +rice-fields that lay on the east bank. This flood delayed our +departure two weeks; for it swept away our pontoon-bridge at +Savannah, and came near drowning John E. Smith's division of the +Fifteenth Corps, with several heavy trains of wagons that were en +route from Savannah to Pocotaligo by the old causeway. + +General Slocum had already ferried two of his divisions across the +river, when Sister's Ferry, about forty miles above Savannah, was +selected for the passage of the rest of his wing and of +Kilpatrick's cavalry. The troops were in motion for that point +before I quitted Savannah, and Captain S. B. Luce, United States +Navy, had reported to me with a gunboat (the Pontiac) and a couple +of transports, which I requested him to use in protecting Sister's +Ferry during the passage of Slocum's wing, and to facilitate the +passage of the troops all he could. The utmost activity prevailed +at all points, but it was manifest we could not get off much before +the 1st day of February; so I determined to go in person to +Pocotaligo, and there act as though we were bound for Charleston. +On the 24th of January I started from Beaufort with a part of my +staff, leaving the rest to follow at leisure, rode across the +island to a pontoon-bridge that spanned the channel between it and +the main-land, and thence rode by Garden's Corners to a plantation +not far from Pocotaligo, occupied by General Blair. There we found +a house, with a majestic avenue of live-oaks, whose limbs had been +cut away by the troops for firewood, and desolation marked one of +those splendid South Carolina estates where the proprietors +formerly had dispensed a hospitality that distinguished the old +regime of that proud State. I slept on the floor of the house, but +the night was so bitter cold that I got up by the fire several +times, and when it burned low I rekindled it with an old +mantel-clock and the wreck of a bedstead which stood in a corner of +the room--the only act of vandalism that I recall done by myself +personally during the war. + +The next morning I rode to Pocotaligo, and thence reconnoitred our +entire line down to Coosawhatchie. Pocotaligo Fort was on low, +alluvial ground, and near it began the sandy pine-land which +connected with the firm ground extending inland, constituting the +chief reason for its capture at the very first stage of the +campaign. Hatch's division was ordered to that point from +Coosawhatchie, and the whole of Howard's right wing was brought +near by, ready to start by the 1st of February. I also +reconnoitred the point of the Salkiehatchie River, where the +Charleston Railroad crossed it, found the bridge protected by a +rebel battery on the farther side, and could see a few men about +it; but the stream itself was absolutely impassable, for the whole +bottom was overflowed by its swollen waters to the breadth of a +full mile. Nevertheless, Force's and Mower's divisions of the +Seventeenth Corps were kept active, seemingly with the intention to +cross over in the direction of Charleston, and thus to keep up the +delusion that that city was our immediate "objective." Meantime, I +had reports from General Slocum of the terrible difficulties he had +encountered about Sister's Ferry, where the Savannah River was +reported nearly three miles wide, and it seemed for a time almost +impossible for him to span it at all with his frail pontoons. +About this time (January 25th), the weather cleared away bright and +cold, and I inferred that the river would soon run down, and enable +Slocum to pass the river before February 1st. One of the divisions +of the Fifteenth Corps (Corse's) had also been cut off by the loss +of the pontoon-bridge at Savannah, so that General Slocum had with +him, not only his own two corps, but Corse's division and +Kilpatrick's cavalry, without which it was not prudent for me to +inaugurate the campaign. We therefore rested quietly about +Pocotaligo, collecting stores and making final preparations, until +the 1st of February, when I learned that the cavalry and two +divisions of the Twentieth Corps were fairly across the river, and +then gave the necessary orders for the march northward. + +Before closing this chapter, I will add a few original letters that +bear directly on the subject, and tend to illustrate it: + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +WASHINGTON, D. C. January 21, 1866. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Military Division of the +Mississippi. + +GENERAL: Your letters brought by General Barnard were received at +City Point, and read with interest. Not having them with me, +however, I cannot say that in this I will be able to satisfy you on +all points of recommendation. As I arrived here at 1 p.m., and +must leave at 6 p.m., having in the mean time spent over three +hours with the secretary and General Halleck, I must be brief. +Before your last request to have Thomas make a campaign into the +heart of Alabama, I had ordered Schofield to Annapolis, Maryland, +with his corps. The advance (six thousand) will reach the seaboard +by the 23d, the remainder following as rapidly as railroad +transportation can be procured from Cincinnati. The corps numbers +over twenty-one thousand men. + +Thomas is still left with a sufficient force, surplus to go to +Selma under an energetic leader. He has been telegraphed to, to +know whether he could go, and, if so, by which of several routes he +would select. No reply is yet received. Canby has been ordered to +set offensively from the seacoast to the interior, toward +Montgomery and Selma. Thomas's forces will move from the north at +an early day, or some of his troops will be sent to Canby. Without +further reenforcement Canby will have a moving column of twenty +thousand men. + +Fort Fisher, you are aware, has been captured. We have a force +there of eight thousand effective. At Newbern about half the +number. It is rumored, through deserters, that Wilmington also has +fallen. I am inclined to believe the rumor, because on the 17th we +knew the enemy were blowing up their works about Fort Caswell, and +that on the 18th Terry moved on Wilmington. + +If Wilmington is captured, Schofield will go there. If not, he +will be sent to Newbern. In either event, all the surplus forces +at the two points will move to the interior, toward Goldsboro', in +cooperation with your movements. From either point, railroad +communications can be run out, there being here abundance of +rolling-stock suited to the gauge of those roads. + +There have been about sixteen thousand men sent from Lee's army +south. Of these, you will have fourteen thousand against you, if +Wilmington is not held by the enemy, casualties at Fort Fisher +having overtaken about two thousand. + +All other troops are subject to your orders as you come in +communication with them. They will be so instructed. From about +Richmond I will watch Lee closely, and if he detaches many men, or +attempts to evacuate, will pitch in. In the meantime, should you +be brought to a halt anywhere, I can send two corps of thirty +thousand effective men to your support, from the troops about +Richmond. + +To resume: Canby is ordered to operate to the interior from the +Gulf. A. J. Smith may go from the north, but I think it doubtful. +A force of twenty-eight or thirty thousand will cooperate with you +from Newbern or Wilmington, or both. You can call for +reenforcements. + +This will be handed you by Captain Hudson, of my staff, who will +return with any message you may have for me. If there is any thing +I can do for you in the way of having supplies on shipboard, at any +point on the seacoast, ready for you, let me know it. + +Yours truly, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, POCOTALIGO, SOUTH CAROLINA, January 29, 1885. + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, City Point, Virginia. + +DEAR GENERAL: Captain Hudson has this moment arrived with your +letter of January 21st, which I have read with interest. + +The capture of Fort Fisher has a most important bearing on my +campaign, and I rejoice in it for many reasons, because of its +intrinsic importance, and because it gives me another point of +security on the seaboard. I hope General Terry will follow it up +by the capture of Wilmington, although I do not look for it, from +Admiral Porter's dispatch to me. I rejoice that Terry was not a +West-Pointer, that he belonged to your army, and that he had the +same troops with which Butler feared to make the attempt. + +Admiral Dahlgren, whose fleet is reenforced by some more ironclads, +wants to make an assault a la Fisher on Fort Moultrie, but I +withhold my consent, for the reason that the capture of all +Sullivan's Island is not conclusive as to Charleston; the capture +of James Island would be, but all pronounce that impossible at this +time. Therefore, I am moving (as hitherto designed) for the +railroad west of Branchville, then will swing across to Orangeburg, +which will interpose my army between Charleston and the interior. +Contemporaneous with this, Foster will demonstrate up the Edisto, +and afterward make a lodgment at Bull's Bay, and occupy the common +road which leads from Mount Pleasant toward Georgetown. When I get +to Columbia, I think I shall move straight for Goldsboro', via +Fayetteville. By this circuit I cut all roads, and devastate the +land; and the forces along the coast, commanded by Foster, will +follow my movement, taking any thing the enemy lets go, or so +occupy his attention that he cannot detach all his forces against +me. I feel sure of getting Wilmington, and may be Charleston, and +being at Goldsboro', with its railroads finished back to Morehead +City and Wilmington, I can easily take Raleigh, when it seems that +Lee must come out. If Schofield comes to Beaufort, he should be +pushed out to Kinston, on the Neuse, and may be Goldsboro' (or, +rather, a point on the Wilmington road, south of Goldsboro'). It +is not necessary to storm Goldsboro', because it is in a distant +region, of no importance in itself, and, if its garrison is forced +to draw supplies from its north, it, will be eating up the same +stores on which Lee depends for his command. + +I have no doubt Hood will bring his army to Augusta. Canby and +Thomas should penetrate Alabama as far as possible, to keep +employed at least a part of Hood's army; or, what would accomplish +the same thing, Thomas might reoccupy the railroad from Chattanooga +forward to the Etowah, viz., Rome, Kingston, and Allatoona, thereby +threatening Georgia. I know that the Georgia troops are +disaffected. At Savannah I met delegates from several counties of +the southwest, who manifested a decidedly hostile spirit to the +Confederate cause. I nursed the feeling as far as possible, and +instructed Grower to keep it up. + +My left wing must now be at Sister's Ferry, crossing the Savannah +River to the east bank. Slocum has orders to be at Robertsville +to-morrow, prepared to move on Barnwell. Howard is here, all ready +to start for the Augusta Railroad at Midway. + +We find the enemy on the east aide of the Salkiehatchie, and +cavalry in our front; but all give ground on our approach, and seem +to be merely watching us. If we start on Tuesday, in one week we +shall be near Orangeburg, having broken up the Augusta road from +the Edisto westward twenty or twenty-five miles. I will be sure +that every rail is twisted. Should we encounter too much +opposition near Orangeburg, then I will for a time neglect that +branch, and rapidly move on Columbia, and fill up the triangle +formed by the Congaree and Wateree (tributaries of the Santee), +breaking up that great centre of the Carolina roads. Up to that +point I feel full confidence, but from there may have to manoeuvre +some, and will be guided by the questions of weather and supplies. + +You remember we had fine weather last February for our Meridian +trip, and my memory of the weather at Charleston is, that February +is usually a fine month. Before the March storms come we should be +within striking distance of the coast. The months of April and May +will be the best for operations from Goldsboro' to Raleigh and the +Roanoke. You may rest assured that I will keep my troops well in +hand, and, if I get worsted, will aim to make the enemy pay so +dearly that you will have less to do. I know that this trip is +necessary; it must be made sooner or later; I am on time, and in +the right position for it. My army is large enough for the +purpose, and I ask no reinforcement, but simply wish the utmost +activity to be kept up at all other points, so that concentration +against me may not be universal. + +I suspect that Jeff. Davis will move heaven and earth to catch me, +for success to this column is fatal to his dream of empire. +Richmond is not more vital to his cause than Columbia and the heart +of South Carolina. + +If Thomas will not move on Selma, order him to occupy Rome, +Kingston, and Allatoona, and again threaten Georgia in the +direction of Athena. + +I think the "poor white trash" of the South are falling out of +their ranks by sickness, desertion, and every available means; but +there is a large class of vindictive Southerners who will fight to +the last. The squabbles in Richmond, the howls in Charleston, and +the disintegration elsewhere, are all good omens for us; we must +not relax one iota, but, on the contrary, pile up our efforts: I +world, ere this, have been off, but we had terrific rains, which +caught us in motion, and nearly drowned some of the troops in the +rice-fields of the Savannah, swept away our causeway (which had +been carefully corduroyed), and made the swamps hereabout mere +lakes of slimy mud. The weather is now good, and I have the army +on terra firma. Supplies, too, came for a long time by daily +driblets instead of in bulk; this is now all remedied, and I hope +to start on Tuesday. + +I will issue instructions to General Foster, based on the +reenforcements of North Carolina; but if Schofield comes, you had +better relieve Foster, who cannot take the field, and needs an +operation on his leg. Let Schofield take command, with his +headquarters at Beaufort, North Carolina, and with orders to secure +Goldsboro' (with its railroad communication back to Beaufort and +Wilmington). If Lee lets us get that position, he is gone up. + +I will start with my Atlanta army (sixty thousand), supplied as +before, depending on the country for all food in excess of thirty +days. I will have less cattle on the hoof, but I hear of hogs, +cows, and calves, in Barnwell and the Colombia districts. Even +here we have found some forage. Of course, the enemy will carry +off and destroy some forage, but I will burn the houses where the +people burn their forage, and they will get tired of it. + +I must risk Hood, and trust to you to hold Lee or be on his heels +if he comes south. I observe that the enemy has some respect for +my name, for they gave up Pocotaligo without a fight when they +heard that the attacking force belonged to my army. I will try and +keep up that feeling, which is a real power. With respect, your +friend, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-general commanding. + +P. S.--I leave my chief-quartermaster and commissary behind to +follow coastwise. +W. T. S. + + + + +[Dispatch No. 6.] + +FLAG-STEAMER PHILADELPHIA +SAVANNAH RIVER, January 4, 1865. + +HON. GIDEON WELLS, Secretary of the Navy. + +SIR: I have already apprised the Department that the army of +General Sherman occupied the city of Savannah on the 21st of +December. + +The rebel army, hardly respectable in numbers or condition, escaped +by crossing the river and taking the Union Causeway toward the +railroad. + +I have walked about the city several times, and can affirm that its +tranquillity is undisturbed. The Union soldiers who are stationed +within its limits are as orderly as if they were in New York or +Boston.... One effect of the march of General Sherman through +Georgia has been to satisfy the people that their credulity has +been imposed upon by the lying assertions of the rebel Government, +affirming the inability of the United States Government to +withstand the armies of rebeldom. They have seen the old flag of +the United States carried by its victorious legions through their +State, almost unopposed, and placed in their principal city without +a blow. + +Since the occupation of the city General Sherman has been occupied +in making arrangements for its security after he leaves it for the +march that he meditates. My attention has been directed to such +measures of cooperation as the number and quality of my force +permit. + +On the 2d I arrived here from Charleston, whither, as I stated in +my dispatch of the 29th of December, I had gone in consequence of +information from the senior officer there that the rebels +contemplated issuing from the harbor, and his request for my +presence. Having placed a force there of seven monitors, +sufficient to meet each an emergency, and not perceiving any sign +of the expected raid, I returned to Savannah, to keep in +communication with General Sherman and be ready to render any +assistance that might be desired. General Sherman has fully +informed me of his plans, and, so far as my means permit, they +shall not lack assistance by water. + +On the 3d the transfer of the right wing to Beaufort was began, and +the only suitable vessel I had at hand (the Harvest Moon) was sent +to Thunderbolt to receive the first embarkation. This took place +about 3 p.m., and was witnessed by General Sherman and General +Bernard (United States Engineers) and myself. The Pontiac is +ordered around to assist, and the army transports also followed the +first move by the Harvest Moon. + +I could not help remarking the unbroken silence that prevailed in +the large array of troops; not a voice was to be heard, as they +gathered in masses on the bluff to look at the vessels. The notes +of a solitary bugle alone came from their midst. + +General Barnard made a brief visit to one of the rebel works +(Cansten's Bluff) that dominated this water-course--the best +approach of the kind to Savannah. + +I am collecting data that will fully exhibit to the Department the +powerful character of the defenses of the city and its approaches. +General Sherman will not retain the extended limits they embrace. +but will contract the line very much. + +General Foster still holds the position near the Tullifinny. With +his concurrence I have detached the fleet brigade, and the men +belonging to it have returned to their vessels. The excellent +service performed by this detachment has fully realized my wishes, +and exemplified the efficiency of the organization--infantry and +light artillery handled as skirmishers. The howitzers were always +landed as quickly as the men, and were brought into action before +the light pieces of the land-service could be got ashore. + +I regret very much that the reduced complements of the vessels +prevent me from maintaining the force in constant organization. +With three hundred more marines and five hundred seamen I could +frequently operate to great advantage, at the present time, when +the attention of the rebels is so engrossed by General Sherman. + +It is said that they have a force at Hardeeville, the pickets of +which were retained on the Union Causeway until a few days since, +when some of our troops crossed the river and pushed them back. +Concurrently with this, I caused the Sonoma to anchor so as to +sweep the ground in the direction of the causeway. + +The transfer of the right-wing (thirty thousand men) to Beaufort +will so imperil the rebel force at Hardeeville that it will be cut +off or dispersed, if not moved in season. + +Meanwhile I will send the Dai-Ching to St. Helena, to meet any want +that may arise in that quarter, while the Mingo and Pontiac will be +ready to act from Broad River. + +The general route of the army will be northward; but the exact +direction must be decided more or less by circumstances which it +may not be possible to foresee.... + +My cooperation will be confined to assistance in attacking +Charleston, or in establishing communication at Georgetown, in case +the army pushes on without attacking Charleston, and time alone +will show which of these will eventuate. + +The weather of the winter first, and the condition of the ground in +spring, would permit little advantage to be derived from the +presence of the army at Richmond until the middle of May. So that +General Sherman has no reason to move in haste, but can choose such +objects as he prefers, and take as much time as their attainment +may demand. The Department will learn the objects in view of +General Sherman more precisely from a letter addressed by him to +General Halleck, which he read to me a few days since. + +I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +J. A. DAHLGREN, +Rear-Admiral, commanding South-Atlantic Blockading Squadron. + + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, POCOTALIGO, SOUTH CAROLINA, January 29, 1885. + +Major-General J. G. FOSTER, commanding Department of the South. + +GENERAL: I have just received dispatches from General Grant, +stating that Schofield's corps (the Twenty-third), twenty-one +thousand strong, is ordered east from Tennessee, and will be sent +to Beaufort, North Carolina. That is well; I want that force to +secure a point on the railroad about Goldsboro', and then to build +the railroad out to that point. If Goldsboro' be too strong to +carry by a rapid movement, then a point near the Neuse, south of +Goldsboro', will answer, but the bridge and position about Kinston, +should be held and fortified strong. The movement should be masked +by the troops already at Newbern. Please notify General Palmer +that these troops are coming, and to be prepared to receive them. +Major-General Schofield will command in person, and is admirably +adapted for the work. If it is possible, I want him to secure +Goldsboro', with the railroad back to Morehead City and Wilmington. +As soon as General Schofield reaches Fort Macon, have him to meet +some one of your staff, to explain in full the details of the +situation of affairs with me; and you can give him the chief +command of all troops at Cape Fear and in North Carolina. If he +finds the enemy has all turned south against me, he need not +follow, but turn his attention against Raleigh; if he can secure +Goldsboro' and Wilmington, it will be as much as I expect before I +have passed the Santee. Send him all detachments of men that have +come to join my army. They can be so organized and officered as to +be efficient, for they are nearly all old soldiers who have been +detached or on furlough. Until I pass the Santee, you can better +use these detachments at Bull's Bay, Georgetown, etc. + +I will instruct General McCallum, of the Railroad Department, to +take his men up to Beaufort, North Carolina, and employ them on the +road out. I do not know that he can use them on any road here. I +did instruct him, while awaiting information from North Carolina, +to have them build a good trestle-bridge across Port Royal ferry; +but I now suppose the pontoon-bridge will do. If you move the +pontoons, be sure to make a good road out to Garden's Corners, and +mark it with sign-boards--obstructing the old road, so that, should +I send back any detachments, they would not be misled. + +I prefer that Hatch's force should not be materially weakened until +I am near Columbia, when you may be governed by the situation of +affairs about Charleston. If you can break the railroad between +this and Charleston, then this force could be reduced. + +I am, with respect, etc., + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, POCOTALIGO, SOUTH CAROLINA, January 18, 1865. + +Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. + +SIR: When you left Savannah a few days ago, you forgot the map +which General Geary had prepared for you, showing the route by +which his division entered the city of Savannah, being the first +troops to occupy that city. I now send it to you. + +I avail myself of the opportunity also to inclose you copies of all +my official orders touching trade and intercourse with the people +of Georgia, as well as for the establishment of the negro +settlements. + +Delegations of the people of Georgia continue to come in, and I am +satisfied that, by judicious handling and by a little respect shown +to their prejudices, we can create a schism in Jeff. Davis's +dominions. All that I have conversed with realize the truth that +slavery as an institution is defunct, and the only questions that +remain are what disposition shall be made of the negroes +themselves. I confess myself unable to offer a complete solution +for these questions, and prefer to leave it to the slower +operations of time. We have given the initiative, and can afford +to await the working of the experiment. + +As to trade-matters, I also think it is to our interest to keep the +Southern people somewhat dependent on the articles of commerce to +which they have hitherto been accustomed. General Grover is now +here, and will, I think, be able to handle this matter judiciously, +and may gradually relax, and invite cotton to come in in large +quantities. But at first we should manifest no undue anxiety on +that score; for the rebels would at once make use of it as a power +against us. We should assume, a tone of perfect contempt for +cotton and every thing else in comparison with the great object of +the war--the restoration of the Union, with all its rights and +power. It the rebels burn cotton as a war measure, they simply +play into our hands by taking away the only product of value they +have to exchange in foreign ports for war-ships and munitions. By +such a course, also, they alienate the feelings of a large class of +small farmers who look to their little parcels of cotton to +exchange for food and clothing for their families. I hope the +Government will not manifest too much anxiety to obtain cotton in +large quantities, and especially that the President will not +indorse the contracts for the purchase of large quantities of +cotton. Several contracts, involving from six to ten thousand +bales, indorsed by Mr. Lincoln, have been shown me, but were not in +such a form as to amount to an order to compel me to facilitate +their execution. + +As to Treasury agents, and agents to take charge of confiscated and +abandoned property, whose salaries depend on their fees, I can only +say that, as a general rule, they are mischievous and disturbing +elements to a military government, and it is almost impossible for +us to study the law and regulations so as to understand fully their +powers and duties. I rather think the Quartermaster's Department +of the army could better fulfill all their duties and accomplish +all that is aimed at by the law. Yet on this subject I will leave +Generals Foster and Grover to do the best they can. + +I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, POCOTALIGO, SOUTH CAROLINA, January 2, 1865. + +Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. + +SIR: I have just received from Lieutenant-General Grant a copy of +that part of your telegram to him of December 26th relating to +cotton, a copy of which has been immediately furnished to General +Easton, chief-quartermaster, who will be strictly governed by it. + +I had already been approached by all the consuls and half the +people of Savannah on this cotton question, and my invariable +answer was that all the cotton in Savannah was prize of war, +belonged to the United States, and nobody should recover a bale of +it with my consent; that, as cotton had been one of the chief +causes of this war, it should help to pay its expenses; that all +cotton became tainted with treason from the hour the first act of +hostility was committed against the United States some time in +December, 1860; and that no bill of sale subsequent to that date +could convey title. + +My orders were that an officer of the Quartermaster's Department, +United States Army, might furnish the holder, agent, or attorney, a +mere certificate of the fact of seizure, with description of the +bales' marks, etc., the cotton then to be turned over to the agent +of the Treasury Department, to be shipped to New York for sale. +But, since the receipt of your dispatch, I have ordered General +Easton to make the shipment himself to the quartermaster at New +York, where you can dispose of it at pleasure. I do not think the +Treasury Department ought to bother itself with the prizes or +captures of war. + +Mr. Barclay, former consul at New York, representing Mr. Molyneux, +former consul here, but absent a long time, called on me with +reference to cotton claimed by English subjects. He seemed amazed +when I told him I should pay no respect to consular certificates, +that in no event would I treat an English subject with more favor +than one of our own deluded citizens, and that for my part I was +unwilling to fight for cotton for the benefit of Englishmen openly +engaged in smuggling arms and instruments of war to kill us; that, +on the contrary, it would afford me great satisfaction to conduct +my army to Nassau, and wipe out that nest of pirates. I explained +to him, however, that I was not a diplomatic agent of the General +Government of the United States, but that my opinion, so frankly +expressed, was that of a soldier, which it would be well for him to +heed. It appeared, also, that he owned a plantation on the line of +investment of Savannah, which, of course, was pillaged, and for +which he expected me to give some certificate entitling him to +indemnification, which I declined emphatically. + +I have adopted in Savannah rules concerning property--severe but +just--founded upon the laws of nations and the practice of +civilized governments, and am clearly of opinion that we should +claim all the belligerent rights over conquered countries, that the +people may realize the truth that war is no child's play. + +I embrace in this a copy of a letter, dated December 31, 1864, in +answer to one from Solomon Cohen (a rich lawyer) to General Blair, +his personal friend, as follows: + +Major-General F. P. BLAIR, commanding Seventeenth Army Corps. + +GENERAL: Your note, inclosing Mr. Cohen's of this date, is +received, and I answer frankly through you his inquiries. + +1. No one can practise law as an attorney in the United States +without acknowledging the supremacy of our Government. If I am not +in error, an attorney is as much an officer of the court as the +clerk, and it would be a novel thing in a government to have a +court to administer law which denied the supremacy of the +government itself. + +2. No one will be allowed the privileges of a merchant, or, +rather, to trade is a privilege which no one should seek of the +Government without in like manner acknowledging its supremacy. + +3. If Mr. Cohen remains in Savannah as a denizen, his property, +real and personal, will not be disturbed unless its temporary use +be necessary for the military authorities of the city. The title +to property will not be disturbed in any event, until adjudicated +by the courts of the United States. + +4. If Mr. Cohen leaves Savannah under my Special Order No. 148, it +is a public acknowledgment that he "adheres to the enemies of the +United States," and all his property becomes forfeited to the +United States. But, as a matter of favor, he will be allowed to +carry with him clothing and furniture for the use of himself, his +family, and servants, and will be trans ported within the enemy's +lines, but not by way of Port Royal. + +These rules will apply to all parties, and from them no exception +will be made. + +I have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +This letter was in answer to specific inquiries; it is clear, and +covers all the points, and, should I leave before my orders are +executed, I will endeavor to impress upon my successor, General +Foster, their wisdom and propriety. + +I hope the course I have taken in these matters will meet your +approbation, and that the President will not refund to parties +claiming cotton or other property, without the strongest evidence +of loyalty and friendship on the part of the claimant, or unless +some other positive end is to be gained. + +I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +CAMPAIGN OF THE CAROLINAS. + +FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 1865. + +On the 1st day of February, as before explained, the army designed +for the active campaign from Savannah northward was composed of two +wings, commanded respectively by Major-Generals Howard and Slocum, +and was substantially the same that had marched from Atlanta to +Savannah. The same general orders were in force, and this campaign +may properly be classed as a continuance of the former. + +The right wing, less Corse's division, Fifteenth Corps, was grouped +at or near Pocotaligo, South Carolina, with its wagons filled with +food, ammunition, and forage, all ready to start, and only waiting +for the left wing, which was detained by the flood in the Savannah +River. It was composed as follows: + +Fifteenth Corps, Major-General JOHN A. LOGAN. + +First Division, Brigadier-General Charles R. Woods; +Second Division, Major-General W. B. Hazen; +Third Division, Brigadier-General John E. Smith; +Fourth Division, Brigadier-General John M. Corse. +Artillery brigade, eighteen guns, Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Ross, +First Michigan Artillery. + + +Seventeenth. Corps, Major-General FRANK P. BLAIR, JR. + +First Division, Major-General Joseph A. Mower; +Second Division, Brigadier-General M. F. Force; +Fourth Division, Brigadier-General Giles A. Smith. +Artillery brigade, fourteen guns, Major A. C. Waterhouse, First +Illinois Artillery. + + +The left wing, with Corse's division and Kilpatrick's cavalry, +was at and near Sister's Ferry, forty miles above the city of +Savannah, engaged in crossing the river, then much swollen. +It was composed as follows: + +Fourteenth Corps, Major-General JEFF. C. DAVIS. + +First Division, Brigadier-General W. P. Carlin; +Second Division, Brigadier-General John D. Morgan; +Third Division, Brigadier-General A. Baird. +Artillery brigade, sixteen guns, Major Charles Houghtaling, First +Illinois Artillery. + + +Twentieth Corps, Brigadier-General A. S. WILLIAMS. + +First Division, Brigadier-General N. I. Jackson; +Second Division, Brigadier-General J. W. Geary; +Third Division, Brigadier-General W. T. Ward. +Artillery brigade, Sixteen gnus, Major J. A. Reynolds, First New +York Artillery. + + +Cavalry Division, Brigadier-General JUDSON KILPATRICK. + +First Brigade, Colonel T. J. Jordan, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry; +Second Brigade, Colonel S. D. Atkins, Ninety-second Illinois Vol.; +Third Brigade, Colonel George E. Spencer, First Alabama Cavalry. +One battery of four guns. + + +The actual strength of the army, as given in the following official +tabular statements, was at the time sixty thousand and seventy-nine +men, and sixty-eight guns. The trains were made up of about +twenty-five hundred wagons, with six mules to each wagon, and about +six hundred ambulances, with two horses each. The contents of the +wagons embraced an ample supply of ammunition for a great battle; +forage for about seven days, and provisions for twenty days, mostly +of bread, sugar, coffee, and salt, depending largely for fresh meat +on beeves driven on the hoof and such cattle, hogs, and poultry, as +we expected to gather along our line of march. + +RECAPITULATION-CAMPAIGN OF THE CAROLINAS. + + February 1. March 1. April 1. April 10 +Pers: 60,079 57,676 81,150 88,948 + + +The enemy occupied the cities of Charleston and Augusta, with +garrisons capable of making a respectable if not successful +defense, but utterly unable to meet our veteran columns in the open +field. To resist or delay our progress north, General Wheeler had +his division of cavalry (reduced to the size of a brigade by his +hard and persistent fighting ever since the beginning of the +Atlanta campaign), and General Wade Hampton had been dispatched +from the Army of Virginia to his native State of South Carolina, +with a great flourish of trumpets, and extraordinary powers to +raise men, money, and horses, with which "to stay the progress of +the invader," and "to punish us for our insolent attempt to invade +the glorious State of South Carolina!" He was supposed at the time +to have, at and near Columbia, two small divisions of cavalry +commanded by himself and General Butler. + +Of course, I had a species of contempt for these scattered and +inconsiderable forces, knew that they could hardly delay us an +hour; and the only serious question that occurred to me was, would +General Lee sit down in Richmond (besieged by General Grant), and +permit us, almost unopposed, to pass through the States of South +and North Carolina, cutting off and consuming the very supplies on +which he depended to feed his army in Virginia, or would he make an +effort to escape from General Grant, and endeavor to catch us +inland somewhere between Columbia and Raleigh? I knew full well at +the time that the broken fragments of Hood's army (which had +escaped from Tennessee) were being hurried rapidly across Georgia, +by Augusta, to make junction in my front; estimating them at the +maximum twenty-five thousand men, and Hardee's, Wheeler's, and +Hampton's forces at fifteen thousand, made forty thousand; which, +if handled with spirit and energy, would constitute a formidable +force, and might make the passage of such rivers as the Santee and +Cape Fear a difficult undertaking. Therefore, I took all possible +precautions, and arranged with Admiral Dahlgren and General Foster +to watch our progress inland by all the means possible, and to +provide for us points of security along the coast; as, at Bull's +Bay, Georgetown, and the mouth of Cape Fear River. Still, it was +extremely desirable in one march to reach Goldsboro' in the State +of North Carolina (distant four hundred and twenty-five miles), a +point of great convenience for ulterior operations, by reason of +the two railroads which meet there, coming from the seacoast at +Wilmington and Newbern. Before leaving Savannah I had sent to +Newbern Colonel W. W. Wright, of the Engineers, with orders to look +to these railroads, to collect rolling-stock, and to have the roads +repaired out as far as possible in six weeks--the time estimated as +necessary for us to march that distance. + +The question of supplies remained still the one of vital +importance, and I reasoned that we might safely rely on the country +for a considerable quantity of forage and provisions, and that, if +the worst came to the worst, we could live several months on the +mules and horses of our trains. Nevertheless, time was equally +material, and the moment I heard that General Slocum had finished +his pontoon-bridge at Sister's Ferry, and that Kilpatrick's cavalry +was over the river, I gave the general orders to march, and +instructed all the columns to aim for the South Carolina Railroad +to the west of Branchville, about Blackville and Midway. + +The right wing moved up the Salkiehatchie, the Seventeenth Corps on +the right, with orders on reaching Rivers's Bridge to cross over, +and the Fifteenth Corps by Hickory Hill to Beaufort's Bridge. +Kilpatrick was instructed to march by way of Barnwell; Corse's +division and the Twentieth Corps to take such roads as would bring +them into communication with the Fifteenth Corps about Beaufort's +Bridge. All these columns started promptly on the 1st of February. +We encountered Wheeler's cavalry, which had obstructed the road by +felling trees, but our men picked these up and threw them aside, so +that this obstruction hardly delayed us an hour. In person I +accompanied the Fifteenth Corps (General Logan) by McPhersonville +and Hickory Hill, and kept couriers going to and fro to General +Slocum with instructions to hurry as much as possible, so as to +make a junction of the whole army on the South Carolina Railroad +about Blackville. + +I spent the night of February 1st at Hickory Hill Post-Office, and +that of the 2d at Duck Branch Post-Office, thirty-one miles out +from Pocotaligo. On the 3d the Seventeenth Corps was opposite +Rivers's Bridge, and the Fifteenth approached Beaufort's Bridge. +The Salkiehatchie was still over its banks, and presented a most +formidable obstacle. The enemy appeared in some force on the +opposite bank, had cut away all the bridges which spanned the many +deep channels of the swollen river, and the only available passage +seemed to be along the narrow causeways which constituted the +common roads. At Rivers's Bridge Generals Mower and Giles A. +Smith led, their heads of column through this swamp, the water up +to their shoulders, crossed over to the pine-land, turned upon the +rebel brigade which defended the passage, and routed it in utter +disorder. It was in this attack that General Wager Swayne lost his +leg, and he had to be conveyed back to Pocotaligo. Still, the loss +of life was very small, in proportion to the advantages gained, for +the enemy at once abandoned the whole line of the Salkiehatchie, +and the Fifteenth Corps passed over at Beaufort's Bridge, without +opposition. + +On the 5th of February I was at Beaufort's Bridge, by which time +General A. S. Williams had got up with five brigades' of the +Twentieth Corps; I also heard of General Kilpatrick's being abreast +of us, at Barnwell, and then gave orders for the march straight for +the railroad at Midway. I still remained with the Fifteenth Corps, +which, on the 6th of February, was five miles from Bamberg. As a +matter of course, I expected severe resistance at this railroad, +for its loss would sever all the communications of the enemy in +Charleston with those in Augusta. + +Early on the 7th, in the midst of a rain-storm, we reached the +railroad; almost unopposed, striking it at several points. General +Howard told me a good story concerning this, which will bear +repeating: He was with the Seventeenth Corps, marching straight for +Midway, and when about five miles distant he began to deploy the +leading division, so as to be ready for battle. Sitting on his +horse by the road-side, while the deployment was making, he saw a +man coming down the road, riding as hard as he could, and as he +approached he recognized him as one of his own "foragers," mounted +on a white horse, with a rope bridle and a blanket for saddle. As +he came near he called out, "Hurry up, general; we have got the +railroad!" So, while we, the generals, were proceeding +deliberately to prepare for a serious battle, a parcel of our +foragers, in search of plunder, had got ahead and actually captured +the South Carolina Railroad, a line of vital importance to the +rebel Government. + +As soon as we struck the railroad, details of men were set to work +to tear up the rails, to burn the ties and twist the bars. This +was a most important railroad, and I proposed to destroy it +completely for fifty miles, partly to prevent a possibility of its +restoration and partly to utilize the time necessary for General +Slocum to get up. + +The country thereabouts was very poor, but the inhabitants mostly +remained at home. Indeed, they knew not where to go. The enemy's +cavalry had retreated before us, but his infantry was reported in +some strength at Branchville, on the farther side of the Edisto; +yet on the appearance of a mere squad of our men they burned their +own bridges the very thing I wanted, for we had no use for them, +and they had. + +We all remained strung along this railroad till the 9th of +February--the Seventeenth Corps on the right, then the Fifteenth, +Twentieth, and cavalry, at Blackville. General Slocum reached +Blackville that day, with Geary's division of the Twentieth Corps, +and reported the Fourteenth Corps (General Jeff. C. Davis's) to be +following by way of Barnwell. On the 10th I rode up to Blackville, +where I conferred with Generals Slocum and Kilpatrick, became +satisfied that the whole army would be ready within a day, and +accordingly made orders for the next movement north to Columbia, +the right wing to strike Orangeburg en route. Kilpatrick was +ordered to demonstrate strongly toward Aiken, to keep up the +delusion that we might turn to Augusta; but he was notified that +Columbia was the next objective, and that he should cover the left +flank against Wheeler, who hung around it. I wanted to reach +Columbia before any part of Hood's army could possibly get there. +Some of them were reported as having reached Augusta, under the +command of General Dick Taylor. + +Having sufficiently damaged the railroad, and effected the junction +of the entire army, the general march was resumed on the 11th, each +corps crossing the South Edisto by separate bridges, with orders to +pause on the road leading from Orangeberg to Augusta, till it was +certain that the Seventeenth Corps had got possession of +Orangeburg. This place was simply important as its occupation +would sever the communications between Charleston and Columbia. +All the heads of column reached this road, known as the Edgefield +road, during the 12th, and the Seventeenth Corps turned to the +right, against Orangeburg. When I reached the head of column +opposite Orangeburg, I found Giles A. Smith's division halted, with +a battery unlimbered, exchanging shots with a party on the opposite +side of the Edisto. He reported that the bridge was gone, and that +the river was deep and impassable. I then directed General Blair +to send a strong division below the town, some four or five miles, +to effect a crossing there. He laid his pontoon-bridge, but the +bottom on the other side was overflowed, and the men had to wade +through it, in places as deep as their waists. I was with this +division at the time, on foot, trying to pick my way across the +overflowed bottom; but, as soon as the head of column reached the +sand-hills, I knew that the enemy would not long remain in +Orangeburg, and accordingly returned to my horse, on the west bank, +and rode rapidly up to where I had left Giles A. Smith. I found +him in possession of the broken bridge, abreast of the town, which +he was repairing, and I was among the first to cross over and enter +the town. By and before the time either Force's or Giles A. +Smith's skirmishers entered the place, several stores were on fire, +and I am sure that some of the towns-people told me that a Jew +merchant had set fire to his own cotton and store, and from this +the fire had spread. This, however, was soon put out, and the +Seventeenth Corps (General Blair) occupied the place during that +night. I remember to have visited a large hospital, on the hill +near the railroad depot, which was occupied by the orphan children +who had been removed from the asylum in Charleston. We gave them +protection, and, I think, some provisions. The railroad and depot +were destroyed by order, and no doubt a good deal of cotton was +burned, for we all regarded cotton as hostile property, a thing to +be destroyed. General Blair was ordered to break up this railroad, +forward to the point where it crossed the Santee, and then to turn +for Columbia. On the morning of the 13th I again joined the +Fifteenth Corps, which crossed the North Edisto by Snilling's +Bridge, and moved straight for Columbia, around the head of Caw-Caw +Swamp. Orders were sent to all the columns to turn for Columbia, +where it was supposed the enemy had concentrated all the men they +could from Charleston, Augusta, and even from Virginia. That night +I was with the Fifteenth Corps, twenty-one miles from Columbia, +where my aide, Colonel Audenried, picked up a rebel officer on the +road, who, supposing him to be of the same service with himself, +answered all his questions frankly, and revealed the truth that +there was nothing in Columbia except Hampton's cavalry. The fact +was, that General Hardee, in Charleston, took it for granted that +we were after Charleston; the rebel troops in Augusta supposed they +were "our objective;" so they abandoned poor Columbia to the care +of Hampton's cavalry, which was confused by the rumors that poured +in on it, so that both Beauregard and Wade Hampton, who were in +Columbia, seem to have lost their heads. + +On the 14th the head of the Fifteenth Corps, Charles R. Woods's +division, approached the Little Congaree, a broad, deep stream, +tributary to the Main Congaree; six or eight miles below Columbia. +On the opposite side of this stream was a newly-constructed fort, +and on our side--a wide extent of old cotton-fields, which, had been +overflowed, and was covered with a deep slime. General Woods had +deployed his leading brigade, which was skirmishing forward, but he +reported that the bridge was gone, and that a considerable force of +the enemy was on the other side. I directed General Howard or +Logan to send a brigade by a circuit to the left, to see if this +stream could not be crossed higher up, but at the same time knew +that General Slocum's route world bring him to Colombia behind this +stream, and that his approach would uncover it. Therefore, there +was no need of exposing much life. The brigade, however, found +means to cross the Little Congaree, and thus uncovered the passage +by the main road, so that General Woods's skirmishers at once +passed over, and a party was set to work to repair the bridge, +which occupied less than an hour, when I passed over with my whole +staff. I found the new fort unfinished and unoccupied, but from +its parapet could see over some old fields bounded to the north and +west by hills skirted with timber. There was a plantation to our +left, about half a mile, and on the edge of the timber was drawn up +a force of rebel cavalry of about a regiment, which advanced, and +charged upon some, of our foragers, who were plundering the +plantation; my aide, Colonel Audenried, who had ridden forward, +came back somewhat hurt and bruised, for, observing this charge of +cavalry, he had turned for us, and his horse fell with him in +attempting to leap a ditch. General Woods's skirmish-line met this +charge of cavalry, and drove it back into the woods and beyond. We +remained on that ground during the night of the 15th, and I camped +on the nearest dry ground behind the Little Congaree, where on the +next morning were made the written' orders for the government of +the troops while occupying Columbia. These are dated February 16, +1865, in these words: + +General Howard will cross the Saluda and Broad Rivers as near their +mouths as possible, occupy Columbia, destroy the public buildings, +railroad property, manufacturing and machine shops; but will spare +libraries, asylums, and private dwellings. He will then move to +Winnsboro', destroying en route utterly that section of the +railroad. He will also cause all bridges, trestles, water-tanks, +and depots on the railroad back to the Wateree to be burned, +switches broken, and such other destruction as he can find time to +accomplish consistent with proper celerity. + +These instructions were embraced in General Order No. 26, which +prescribed the routes of march for the several columns as far as +Fayetteville, North Carolina, and is conclusive that I then +regarded Columbia as simply one point on our general route of +march, and not as an important conquest. + +During the 16th of February the Fifteenth Corps reached the point +opposite Columbia, and pushed on for the Saluda Factory three miles +above, crossed that stream, and the head of column reached Broad +River just in time to find its bridge in flames, Butler's cavalry +having just passed over into Columbia. The head of Slocum's column +also reached the point opposite Columbia the same morning, but the +bulk of his army was back at Lexington. I reached this place early +in the morning of the 16th, met General Slocum there; and explained +to him the purport of General Order No. 26, which contemplated the +passage of his army across Broad River at Alston, fifteen miles +above Columbia. Riding down to the river-bank, I saw the wreck of +the large bridge which had been burned by the enemy, with its many +stone piers still standing, but the superstructure gone. Across +the Congaree River lay the city of Columbia, in plain, easy view. +I could see the unfinished State-House, a handsome granite +structure, and the ruins of the railroad depot, which were still +smouldering. Occasionally a few citizens or cavalry could be seen +running across the streets, and quite a number of negroes were +seemingly busy in carrying off bags of grain or meal, which were +piled up near the burned depot. + +Captain De Gres had a section of his twenty-pound Parrott guns +unlimbered, firing into the town. I asked him what he was firing +for; he said he could see some rebel cavalry occasionally at the +intersections of the streets, and he had an idea that there was a +large force of infantry concealed on the opposite bank, lying low, +in case we should attempt to cross over directly into the town. I +instructed him not to fire any more into the town, but consented to +his bursting a few shells near the depot, to scare away the negroes +who were appropriating the bags of corn and meal which we wanted, +also to fire three shots at the unoccupied State-House. I stood by +and saw these fired, and then all firing ceased. Although this +matter of firing into Columbia has been the subject of much abuse +and investigation, I have yet to hear of any single person having +been killed in Columbia by our cannon. On the other hand, the +night before, when Woods's division was in camp in the open fields +at Little Congaree, it was shelled all night by a rebel battery +from the other aide of the river. This provoked me much at the +time, for it was wanton mischief, as Generals Beauregard and +Hampton must have been convinced that they could not prevent our +entrance into Columbia. I have always contended that I would have +been justified in retaliating for this unnecessary act of war, but +did not, though I always characterized it as it deserved. + +The night of the 16th I camped near an old prison bivouac opposite +Columbia, known to our prisoners of war as "Camp Sorghum," where +remained the mud-hovels and holes in the ground which our prisoners +had made to shelter themselves from the winter's cold and the +summer's heat. The Fifteenth Corps was then ahead, reaching to +Broad River, about four miles above Columbia; the Seventeenth Corps +was behind, on the river-bank opposite Columbia; and the left wing +and cavalry had turned north toward Alston. + +The next morning, viz., February 17th, I rode to the head of +General Howard's column, and found that during the night he had +ferried Stone's brigade of Woods's division of the Fifteenth +Corps across by rafts made of the pontoons, and that brigade was +then deployed on the opposite bank to cover the construction of a +pontoon-bridge nearly finished. + +I sat with General Howard on a log, watching the men lay this +bridge; and about 9 or 10 A.M. a messenger came from Colonel Stone +on the other aide, saying that the Mayor of Columbia had come out +of the city to surrender the place, and asking for orders. I +simply remarked to General Howard that he had his orders, to let +Colonel Stone go on into the city, and that we would follow as soon +as the bridge was ready. By this same messenger I received a note +in pencil from the Lady Superioress of a convent or school in +Columbia, in which she claimed to have been a teacher in a convent +in Brown County, Ohio, at the time my daughter Minnie was a pupil +there, and therefore asking special protection. My recollection +is, that I gave the note to my brother-in-law, Colonel Ewing, then +inspector-general on my staff, with instructions to see this lady, +and assure her that we contemplated no destruction of any private +property in Columbia at all. + +As soon as the bridge was done, I led my horse over it, followed by +my whole staff. General Howard accompanied me with his, and +General Logan was next in order, followed by General C. R. Woods, +and the whole of the Fifteenth Corps. Ascending the hill, we soon +emerged into a broad road leading into Columbia, between old fields +of corn and cotton, and, entering the city, we found seemingly all +its population, white and black, in the streets. A high and +boisterous wind was prevailing from the north, and flakes of cotton +were flying about in the air and lodging in the limbs of the trees, +reminding us of a Northern snow-storm. Near the market-square we +found Stone's brigade halted, with arms stacked, and a large detail +of his men, along with some citizens, engaged with an old +fire-engine, trying to put out the fire in a long pile of burning +cotton-bales, which I was told had been fired by the rebel cavalry +on withdrawing from the city that morning. I know that, to avoid +this row of burning cotton-bales, I had to ride my horse on the +sidewalk. In the market-square had collected a large crowd of +whites and blacks, among whom was the mayor of the city, Dr. +Goodwin, quite a respectable old gentleman, who was extremely +anxious to protect the interests of the citizens. He was on foot, +and I on horseback, and it is probable I told him then not to be +uneasy, that we did not intend to stay long, and had no purpose to +injure the private citizens or private property. About this time I +noticed several men trying to get through the crowd to speak with +me, and called to some black people to make room for them; when +they reached me, they explained that they were officers of our +army, who had been prisoners, had escaped from the rebel prison and +guard, and were of course overjoyed to find themselves safe with +us. I told them that, as soon as things settled down, they should +report to General Howard, who would provide for their safety, and +enable them to travel with us. One of them handed me a paper, +asking me to read it at my leisure; I put it in my breast-pocket +and rode on. General Howard was still with me, and, riding down +the street which led by the right to the Charleston depot, we found +it and a large storehouse burned to the ground, but there were, on +the platform and ground near by, piles of cotton bags filled with +corn and corn-meal, partially burned. + +A detachment of Stone's brigade was guarding this, and separating +the good from the bad. We rode along the railroad-track, some +three or four hundred yards, to a large foundery, when some man +rode up and said the rebel cavalry were close by, and he warned us +that we might get shot. We accordingly turned back to the +market-square, and en route noticed that, several of the men were +evidently in liquor, when I called General Howard's attention to +it. He left me and rode toward General Woods's head of column, +which was defiling through the town. On reaching the +market-square, I again met Dr. Goodwin, and inquired where he +proposed to quarter me, and he said that he had selected the house +of Blanton Duncan, Esq., a citizen of Louisville, Kentucky, then a +resident there, who had the contract for manufacturing the +Confederate money, and had fled with Hampton's cavalry. We all +rode some six or eight squares back from the new State-House, and +found a very good modern house, completely furnished, with stabling +and a large yard, took it as our headquarters, and occupied it +during our stay. I considered General Howard as in command of the +place, and referred the many applicants for guards and protection +to him. Before our headquarters-wagons had got up, I strolled +through the streets of Columbia, found sentinels posted at the +principal intersections, and generally good order prevailing, but +did not again return to the main street, because it was filled with +a crowd of citizens watching the soldiers marching by. + +During the afternoon of that day, February 17th, the whole of the +Fifteenth Corps passed through the town and out on the Camden and +Winnsboro' roads. The Seventeenth Corps did not enter the city at +all, but crossed directly over to the Winnsboro' road from the +pontoon bridge at Broad River, which was about four miles above the +city. + +After we had got, as it were, settled in Blanton Duncan's house, +say about 2 p.m., I overhauled my pocket according to custom, to +read more carefully the various notes and memoranda received during +the day, and found the paper which had been given me, as described, +by one of our escaped prisoners. It proved to be the song of +"Sherman's March to the Sea," which had been composed by Adjutant +S. H. M. Byers, of the Fifth Iowa Infantry, when a prisoner in the +asylum at Columbia, which had been beautifully written off by a +fellow-prisoner, and handed to me in person. This appeared to me +so good that I at once sent for Byers, attached him to my staff, +provided him with horse and equipment, and took him as far as +Fayetteville, North Carolina, whence he was sent to Washington as +bearer of dispatches. He is now United States consul at Zurich, +Switzerland, where I have since been his guest. I insert the song +here for convenient reference and preservation. Byers said that +there was an excellent glee-club among the prisoners in Columbia, +who used to sing it well, with an audience often of rebel ladies: + + +SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA. + +Composed by Adjutant Byers, Fifth Iowa Infantry. Arranged and sung +by the Prisoners in Columbia Prison. + + +I + +Our camp-fires shone bright on the mountain +That frowned on the river below, +As we stood by our guns in the morning, +And eagerly watched for the foe; +When a rider came out of the darkness +That hung over mountain and tree, +And shouted, "Boys, up and be ready! +For Sherman will march to the sea!" + + +CHORUS: + +Then sang we a song of our chieftain, +That echoed over river and lea; +And the stars of our banner shone brighter +When Sherman marched down to the sea! + + +II + +Then cheer upon cheer for bold Sherman +Went up from each valley and glen, +And the bugles reechoed the music +That came from the lips of the men; +For we knew that the stars in our banner +More bright in their splendor would be, +And that blessings from Northland world greet us, +When Sherman marched down to the sea! + Then sang we a song, etc. + +III + +Then forward, boys! forward to battle! +We marched on our wearisome way, +We stormed the wild hills of Resacar +God bless those who fell on that day! +Then Kenesaw frowned in its glory, +Frowned down on the flag of the free; +But the East and the West bore our standard, +And Sherman marched on to the sea! + Then sang we a song, etc. + + +IV + +Still onward we pressed, till our banners +Swept out from Atlanta's grim walls, +And the blood of the patriot dampened +The soil where the traitor-flag falls; +But we paused not to weep for the fallen, +Who slept by each river and tree, +Yet we twined them a wreath of the laurel, +As Sherman marched down to the sea! + Then sang we a song, etc. + +V + +Oh, proud was our army that morning, +That stood where the pine darkly towers, +When Sherman said, "Boys, you are weary, +But to-day fair Savannah is ours!" +Then sang we the song of our chieftain, +That echoed over river and lea, +And the stars in our banner shone brighter +When Sherman camped down by the sea! + + +Toward evening of February 17th, the mayor, Dr. Goodwin, came to my +quarters at Duncan's house, and remarked that there was a lady in +Columbia who professed to be a special friend of mine. On his +giving her name, I could not recall it, but inquired as to her +maiden or family name. He answered Poyas. It so happened that, +when I was a lieutenant at Fort Moultrie, in 1842-'46, I used very +often to visit a family of that name on the east branch of Cooper +River, about forty miles from Fort Moultrie, and to hunt with the +son, Mr. James Poyas, an elegant young fellow and a fine sportsman. +His father, mother, and several sisters, composed the family, and +were extremely hospitable. One of the ladies was very fond of +painting in water-colors, which was one of my weaknesses, and on +one occasion I had presented her with a volume treating of +water-colors. Of course, I was glad to renew the acquaintance, and +proposed to Dr. Goodwin that we should walk to her house and visit +this lady, which we did. The house stood beyond the Charlotte +depot, in a large lot, was of frame, with a high porch, which was +reached by a set of steps outside. Entering this yard, I noticed +ducks and chickens, and a general air of peace and comfort that was +really pleasant to behold at that time of universal desolation; the +lady in question met us at the head of the steps and invited us +into a parlor which was perfectly neat and well furnished. After +inquiring about her father, mother, sisters, and especially her +brother James, my special friend, I could not help saying that I +was pleased to notice that our men had not handled her house and +premises as roughly as was their wont. "I owe it to you, general," +she answered. "Not at all. I did not know you were here till a +few minutes ago." She reiterated that she was indebted to me for +the perfect safety of her house and property, and added, "You +remember, when you were at our house on Cooper River in 1845, you +gave me a book;" and she handed me the book in question, on the fly +leaf of which was written: "To Miss Poyas, with the compliments of +W. T. Sherman, First-lieutenant Third Artillery." She then +explained that, as our army approached Columbia, there was a doubt +in her mind whether the terrible Sherman who was devastating the +land were W. T. Sherman or T. W. Sherman, both known to be generals +in the Northern army; but, on the supposition that he was her old +acquaintance, when Wade Hampton's cavalry drew out of the city, +calling out that the Yankees were coming, she armed herself with +this book, and awaited the crisis. Soon the shouts about the +markethouse announced that the Yankees had come; very soon men were +seen running up and down the streets; a parcel of them poured over +the fence, began to chase the chickens and ducks, and to enter her +house. She observed one large man, with full beard, who exercised +some authority, and to him she appealed in the name of "his +general." "What do you know of Uncle Billy?" "Why," she said, +"when he was a young man he used to be our friend in Charleston, +and here is a book he gave me." The officer or soldier took the +book, looked at the inscription, and, turning to his fellows, said: +"Boys, that's so; that's Uncle Billy's writing, for I have seen it +often before." He at once commanded the party to stop pillaging, +and left a man in charge of the house, to protect her until the +regular provost-guard should be established. I then asked her if +the regular guard or sentinel had been as good to her. She assured +me that he was a very nice young man; that he had been telling her +all about his family in Iowa; and that at that very instant of time +he was in another room minding her baby. Now, this lady had good +sense and tact, and had thus turned aside a party who, in five +minutes more, would have rifled her premises of all that was good +to eat or wear. I made her a long social visit, and, before +leaving Columbia, gave her a half-tierce of rice and about one +hundred pounds of ham from our own mess-stores. + +In like manner, that same evening I found in Mrs. Simons another +acquaintance--the wife of the brother of Hon. James Simons, of +Charleston, who had been Miss Wragg. When Columbia was on fire +that night, and her house in danger, I had her family and effects +carried to my own headquarters, gave them my own room and bed, and, +on leaving Columbia the next day, supplied her with a half-barrel +of hams and a half-tierce of rice. I mention these specific facts +to show that, personally, I had no malice or desire to destroy that +city or its inhabitants, as is generally believed at the South. + +Having walked over much of the suburbs of Columbia in the +afternoon, and being tired, I lay down on a bed in Blanton Duncan's +house to rest. Soon after dark I became conscious that a bright +light was shining on the walls; and, calling some one of my staff +(Major Nichols, I think) to inquire the cause, he said there seemed +to be a house on fire down about the market-house. The same high +wind still prevailed, and, fearing the consequences, I bade him go +in person to see if the provost-guard were doing its duty. He soon +returned, and reported that the block of buildings directly +opposite the burning cotton of that morning was on fire, and that +it was spreading; but he had found General Woods on the ground, +with plenty of men trying to put the fire out, or, at least, to +prevent its extension. The fire continued to increase, and the +whole heavens became lurid. I dispatched messenger after messenger +to Generals Howard, Logan, and Woods, and received from them +repeated assurances that all was being done that could be done, but +that the high wind was spreading the flames beyond all control. +These general officers were on the ground all night, and Hazen's +division had been brought into the city to assist Woods's division, +already there. About eleven o'clock at night I went down-town +myself, Colonel Dayton with me; we walked to Mr. Simons's house, +from which I could see the flames rising high in the air, and could +hear the roaring of the fire. I advised the ladies to move to my +headquarters, had our own headquarter-wagons hitched up, and their +effects carried there, as a place of greater safety. The whole air +was full of sparks and of flying masses of cotton, shingles, etc., +some of which were carried four or five blocks, and started new +fires. The men seemed generally under good control, and certainly +labored hard to girdle the fire, to prevent its spreading; but, so +long as the high wind prevailed, it was simply beyond human +possibility. Fortunately, about 3 or 4 a.m., the wind moderated, +and gradually the fire was got under control; but it had burned out +the very heart of the city, embracing several churches, the old +State-House, and the school or asylum of that very Sister of +Charity who had appealed for my personal protection. Nickerson's +Hotel, in which several of my staff were quartered, was burned +down, but the houses occupied by myself, Generals Howard and Logan, +were not burned at all. Many of the people thought that this fire +was deliberately planned and executed. This is not true. It was +accidental, and in my judgment began with the cotton which General +Hampton's men had set fire to on leaving the city (whether by his +orders or not is not material), which fire was partially subdued +early in the day by our men; but, when night came, the high wind +fanned it again into full blaze, carried it against the +frame-houses, which caught like tinder, and soon spread beyond our +control. + +This whole subject has since been thoroughly and judicially +investigated, in some cotton cases, by the mixed commission on +American and British claims, under the Treaty of Washington, which +commission failed to award a verdict in favor of the English +claimants, and thereby settled the fact that the destruction of +property in Columbia, during that night, did not result from the +acts of the General Government of the United States--that is to +say, from my army. In my official report of this conflagration, I +distinctly charged it to General Wade Hampton, and confess I did so +pointedly, to shake the faith of his people in him, for he was in +my opinion boastful, and professed to be the special champion of +South Carolina. + +The morning sun of February 18th rose bright and clear over a +ruined city. About half of it was in ashes and in smouldering +heaps. Many of the people were houseless, and gathered in groups +in the suburbs, or in the open parks and spaces, around their +scanty piles of furniture. General Howard, in concert with the +mayor, did all that was possible to provide other houses for them; +and by my authority he turned over to the Sisters of Charity the +Methodist College, and to the mayor five hundred beef-cattle; to +help feed the people; I also gave the mayor (Dr. Goodwin) one +hundred muskets, with which to arm a guard to maintain order after +we should leave the neighborhood. During the 18th and 19th we +remained in Columbia, General Howard's troops engaged in tearing up +and destroying the railroad, back toward the Wateree, while a +strong detail, under the immediate supervision of Colonel O. M. +Poe, United States Engineers, destroyed the State Arsenal, which +was found to be well supplied with shot, shell, and ammunition. +These were hauled in wagons to the Saluda River, under the +supervision of Colonel Baylor, chief of ordnance, and emptied into +deep water, causing a very serious accident by the bursting of a +percussion-shell, as it struck another on the margin of the water. +The flame followed back a train of powder which had sifted out, +reached the wagons, still partially loaded, and exploded them, +killing sixteen men and destroying several wagons and teams of +mules. We also destroyed several valuable founderies and the +factory of Confederate money. The dies had been carried away, but +about sixty handpresses remained. There was also found an immense +quantity of money, in various stages of manufacture, which our men +spent and gambled with in the most lavish manner. + +Having utterly ruined Columbia, the right wing began its march +northward, toward Winnsboro', on the 20th, which we reached on the +21st, and found General Slocum, with the left wing, who had come by +the way of Alston. Thence the right wing was turned eastward, +toward Cheraw, and Fayetteville, North Carolina, to cross the +Catawba River at Peay's Ferry. The cavalry was ordered to follow +the railroad north as far as Chester, and then to turn east to +Rocky Mount, the point indicated for the passage of the left wing. +In person I reached Rocky Mount on the 22d, with the Twentieth +Corps, which laid its pontoon-bridge and crossed over during the +23d. Kilpatrick arrived the next day, in the midst of heavy rain, +and was instructed to cross the Catawba at once, by night, and to +move up to Lancaster, to make believe we were bound for Charlotte, +to which point I heard that Beauregard had directed all his +detachments, including a corps of Hood's old army, which had been +marching parallel with us, but had failed to make junction with, +the forces immediately opposing us. Of course, I had no purpose of +going to Charlotte, for the right wing was already moving rapidly +toward Fayetteville, North Carolina. The rain was so heavy and +persistent that the Catawba, River rose fast, and soon after I had +crossed the pontoon bridge at Rocky Mount it was carried away, +leaving General Davis, with the Fourteenth Corps, on the west bank. +The roads were infamous, so I halted the Twentieth Corps at Hanging +Rock for some days, to allow time for the Fourteenth to get over. + +General Davis had infinite difficulty in reconstructing his bridge, +and was compelled to use the fifth chains of his wagons for +anchor-chains, so that we were delayed nearly a week in that +neighborhood. While in camp at Hanging Rock two prisoners were +brought to me--one a chaplain, the other a boy, son of Richard Bacot, +of Charleston, whom I had known as a cadet at West Point. They were +just from Charleston, and had been sent away by General Hardee in +advance, because he was, they said, evacuating Charleston. Rumors to +the same effect had reached me through the negroes, and it was, +moreover, reported that Wilmington, North Carolina, was in possession +of the Yankee troops; so that I had every reason to be satisfied that +our march was fully reaping all the fruits we could possibly ask for. +Charleston was, in fact, evacuated by General Hardee on the 18th of +February, and was taken possession of by a brigade of General Fosters +troops, commanded by General Schimmelpfennig, the same day. Hardee +had availed himself of his only remaining railroad, by Florence to +Cheraw; had sent there much of his ammunition and stores, and reached +it with the effective part of the garrison in time to escape across +the Pedee River before our arrival. Wilmington was captured by +General Terry on the 22d of February; but of this important event we +only knew by the vague rumors which reached us through rebel sources. + +General Jeff. C. Davis got across the Catawba during the 27th, and +the general march was resumed on Cheraw. Kilpatrick remained near +Lancaster, skirmishing with Wheeler's and Hampton's cavalry, +keeping up the delusion that we proposed to move on Charlotte and +Salisbury, but with orders to watch the progress of the Fourteenth +Corps, and to act in concert with it, on its left rear. On the 1st +of March I was at Finlay's Bridge across Lynch's Creek, the roads +so bad that we had to corduroy nearly every foot of the way; but I +was in communication with all parts of the army, which had met no +serious opposition from the enemy. On the 2d of March we entered +the village of Chesterfield, skirmishing with Butler's cavalry, +which gave ground rapidly. There I received a message from General +Howard, who, reported that he was already in Cheraw with the +Seventeenth Corps, and that the Fifteenth was near at hand. + +General Hardee had retreated eastward across the Pedee, burning the +bridge. I therefore directed the left wing to march for +Sneedsboro', about ten miles above Cheraw, to cross the Pedee +there, while I in person proposed to cross over and join the right +wing in Cheraw. Early in the morning of the 3d of March I rode out +of Chesterfield along with the Twentieth Corps, which filled the +road, forded Thompson's Creek, and, at the top of the hill beyond, +found a road branching off to the right, which corresponded with +the one, on my map leading to Cheraw. Seeing a negro standing by +the roadside, looking at the troops passing, I inquired of him what +road that was. "Him lead to Cheraw, master!" "Is it a good road, +and how far?" "A very good road, and eight or ten miles." "Any +guerrillas?" + +"Oh! no, master, dey is gone two days ago; you could have played +cards on der coat-tails, dey was in sich a hurry!" I was on my +Lexington horse, who was very handsome and restive, so I made +signal to my staff to follow, as I proposed to go without escort. +I turned my horse down the road, and the rest of the staff +followed. General Barry took up the questions about the road, and +asked the same negro what he was doing there. He answered, "Dey +say Massa Sherman will be along soon!" "Why," said General Barry, +"that was General Sherman you were talking to." The poor negro, +almost in the attitude of prayer, exclaimed: "De great God! just +look at his horse!" He ran up and trotted by my side for a mile or +so, and gave me all the information he possessed, but he seemed to +admire the horse more than the rider. + +We reached Cheraw in a couple of hours in a drizzling rain, and, +while waiting for our wagons to come up, I staid with General Blair +in a large house, the property of a blockade-runner, whose family +remained. General Howard occupied another house farther down-town. +He had already ordered his pontoon-bridge to be laid across the +Pedee, there a large, deep, navigable stream, and Mower's division +was already across, skirmishing with the enemy about two miles out. +Cheraw was found to be full of stores which had been sent up from +Charleston prior to its evacuation, and which could not be removed. +I was satisfied, from inquiries, that General Hardee had with him +only the Charleston garrison, that the enemy had not divined our +movements, and that consequently they were still scattered from +Charlotte around to Florence, then behind us. Having thus secured +the passage of the Pedee, I felt no uneasiness about the future, +because there remained no further great impediment between us and +Cape Fear River, which I felt assured was by that time in +possession of our friends. The day was so wet that we all kept +in-doors; and about noon General Blair invited us to take lunch +with him. We passed down into the basement dining-room, where the +regular family table was spread with an excellent meal; and during +its progress I was asked to take some wine, which stood upon the +table in venerable bottles. It was so very good that I inquired +where it came from. General Blair simply asked, "Do you like it?" +but I insisted upon knowing where he had got it; he only replied by +asking if I liked it, and wanted some. He afterward sent to my +bivouac a case containing a dozen bottles of the finest madeira I +ever tasted; and I learned that he had captured, in Cheraw, the +wine of some of the old aristocratic families of Charleston, who +had sent it up to Cheraw for safety, and heard afterward that Blair +had found about eight wagon-loads of this wine, which he +distributed to the army generally, in very fair proportions. + +After finishing our lunch, as we passed out of the dining room, +General Blair asked me, if I did not want some saddle-blankets, or +a rug for my tent, and, leading me into the hall to a space under +the stairway, he pointed out a pile of carpets which had also been +sent up from Charleston for safety. After our headquarter-wagons +got up, and our bivouac was established in a field near by, I sent +my orderly (Walter) over to General Blair, and he came back +staggering under a load of carpets, out of which the officers and +escort made excellent tent-rugs, saddle-cloths, and blankets. +There was an immense amount of stores in Cheraw, which were used or +destroyed; among them twenty-four guns, two thousand muskets, and +thirty-six hundred barrels of gunpowder. By the carelessness of a +soldier, an immense pile of this powder was exploded, which shook +the town badly; and killed and maimed several of our men. + +We remained in or near Cheraw till the 6th of March, by which time +the army was mostly across the Pedee River, and was prepared to +resume the march on Fayetteville. In a house where General Hardee +had been, I found a late New York Tribune, of fully a month later +date than any I had seen. It contained a mass of news of great +interest to us, and one short paragraph which I thought extremely +mischievous. I think it was an editorial, to the effect that at +last the editor had the satisfaction to inform his readers that +General Sherman would next be heard from about Goldsboro', because +his supply-vessels from Savannah were known to be rendezvousing at +Morehead City:--Now, I knew that General Hardee had read that same +paper, and that he would be perfectly able to draw his own +inferences. Up to, that moment I had endeavored so to feign to our +left that we had completely, misled our antagonists; but this was +no longer possible, and I concluded that we must be ready, for the +concentration in our front of all the force subject to General Jos. +Johnston's orders, for I was there also informed that he had been +restored to the full command of the Confederate forces in South and +North Carolina. + +On the 6th of March I crossed the Pedee, and all the army marched +for Fayetteville: the Seventeenth Corps kept well to the right, to +make room; the Fifteenth Corps marched by a direct road; the +Fourteenth Corps also followed a direct road from Sneedsboro', +where it had crossed the Pedee; and the Twentieth Corps, which had +come into Cheraw for the convenience of the pontoon-bridge, +diverged to the left, so as to enter Fayetteville next after the +Fourteenth Corps, which was appointed to lead into Fayetteville. +Kilpatrick held his cavalry still farther to the left rear on the +roads from Lancaster, by way of Wadesboro' and New Gilead, so as to +cover our trains from Hampton's and Wheeler's cavalry, who had +first retreated toward the north. I traveled with the Fifteenth +Corps, and on the 8th of March reached Laurel Hill, North Carolina. +Satisfied that our troops must be at Wilmington, I determined to +send a message there; I called for my man, Corporal Pike, whom I +had rescued as before described, at Columbia, who was then +traveling with our escort, and instructed him in disguise to work +his way to the Cape Fear River, secure a boat, and float down to +Wilmington to convey a letter, and to report our approach. I also +called on General Howard for another volunteer, and he brought me a +very clever young sergeant, who is now a commissioned officer in +the regular army. Each of these got off during the night by +separate routes, bearing the following message, reduced to the same +cipher we used in telegraphic messages: + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, LAUREL HILL, Wednesday, March 8, 1865. + +Commanding Officer, Wilmington, North Carolina: + +We are marching for Fayetteville, will be there Saturday, Sunday, +and Monday, and will then march for Goldsboro'. + +If possible, send a boat up Cape Fear River, and have word conveyed +to General Schofield that I expect to meet him about Goldsboro'. +We are all well and have done finely. The rains make our roads +difficult, and may delay us about Fayetteville, in which case I +would like to have some bread, sugar, and coffee. We have +abundance of all else. I expect to reach Goldsboro' by the 20th +instant. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +On the 9th I was with the Fifteenth Corps, and toward evening +reached a little church called Bethel, in the woods, in which we +took refuge in a terrible storm of rain, which poured all night, +making the roads awful. All the men were at work corduroying the +roads, using fence-rails and split saplings, and every foot of the +way had thus to be corduroyed to enable the artillery and wagons to +pass. On the 10th we made some little progress; on the 11th I +reached Fayetteville, and found that General Hardee, followed by +Wade Hampton's cavalry, had barely escaped across Cape Fear River, +burning the bridge which I had hoped to save. On reaching +Fayetteville I found General Slocum already in possession with the +Fourteenth Corps, and all the rest of the army was near at hand. A +day or two before, General Kilpatrick, to our left rear, had +divided his force into two parts, occupying roads behind the +Twentieth Corps, interposing between our infantry columns and Wade +Hampton's cavalry. The latter, doubtless to make junction with +General Hardee, in Fayetteville, broke across this line, captured +the house in which General Kilpatrick and the brigade-commander, +General Spencer, were, and for a time held possession of the camp +and artillery of the brigade. However, General Kilpatrick and most +of his men escaped into a swamp with their arms, reorganized and +returned, catching Hampton's men--in turn, scattered and drove them +away, recovering most of his camp and artillery; but Hampton got +off with Kilpatrick's private horses and a couple hundred +prisoners, of which he boasted much in passing through +Fayetteville. + +It was also reported that, in the morning after Hardee's army was +all across the bridge at Cape Fear River, Hampton, with a small +bodyguard, had remained in town, ready to retreat and burn the +bridge as soon as our forces made their appearance. He was getting +breakfast at the hotel when the alarm was given, when he and his +escort took saddle, but soon realized that the alarm came from a +set of our foragers, who, as usual, were extremely bold and rash. +On these he turned, scattered them, killing some and making others +prisoners; among them General Howard's favorite scout, Captain +Duncan. Hampton then crossed the bridge and burned it. + +I took up my quarters at the old United States Arsenal, which was +in fine order, and had been much enlarged by the Confederate +authorities, who never dreamed that an invading army would reach it +from the west; and I also found in Fayetteville the widow and +daughter of my first captain (General Childs), of the Third +Artillery, learned that her son Fred had been the ordnance-officer +in charge of the arsenal, and had of course fled with Hardee's +army. + +During the 11th. the whole army closed down upon Fayetteville, and +immediate preparations were made to lay two pontoon bridges, one +near the burned bridge, and another about four miles lower down. + +Sunday, March 12th, was a day of Sabbath stillness in Fayetteville. +The people generally attended their churches, for they were a very +pious people, descended in a large measure from the old Scotch +Covenanters, and our men too were resting from the toils and labors +of six weeks of as hard marching as ever fell to the lot of +soldiers. Shortly after noon was heard in the distance the shrill +whistle of a steamboat, which came nearer and nearer, and soon a +shout, long and continuous, was raised down by the river, which +spread farther and farther, and we all felt that it meant a +messenger from home. The effect was electric, and no one can +realize the feeling unless, like us, he has been for months cut off +from all communication with friends, and compelled to listen to the +croakings and prognostications of open enemies. But in a very few +minutes came up through the town to the arsenal on the plateau +behind a group of officers, among whom was a large, florid +seafaring man, named Ainsworth, bearing a small mail-bag from +General Terry, at Wilmington, having left at 2 p.m. the day +before. Our couriers had got through safe from Laurel Hill, and +this was the prompt reply. + +As in the case of our former march from Atlanta, intense anxiety +had been felt for our safety, and General Terry had been prompt to +open communication. After a few minutes' conference with Captain +Ainsworth about the capacity of his boat, and the state of facts +along the river, I instructed him to be ready to start back at 6 +p.m., and ordered Captain Byers to get ready to carry dispatches to +Washington. I also authorized General Howard to send back by this +opportunity some of the fugitives who had traveled with his army +all the way from Columbia, among whom were Mrs. Feaster and her two +beautiful daughters. + +I immediately prepared letters for Secretary Stanton, Generals +Halleck and Grant, and Generals Schofield, Foster, Easton, and +Beckwith, all of which have been published, but I include here only +those to the Secretary of War, and Generals Grant and Terry, as +samples of the whole: + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, IN THE FIELD, +FAYETTVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, Sunday, March. 12, 1885. + +Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + +DEAR SIR: I know you will be pleased to hear that my army has +reached this point, and has opened communication with Wilmington. +A tug-boat came up this morning, and will start back at 6 P. M. + +I have written a letter to General Grant, the substance of which he +will doubtless communicate, and it must suffice for me to tell you +what I know will give you pleasure--that I have done all that I +proposed, and the fruits seem to me ample for the time employed. +Charleston, Georgetown, and Wilmington, are incidents, while the +utter demolition of the railroad system of South Carolina, and the +utter destruction of the enemy's arsenals of Columbia, Cheraw, and +Fayetteville, are the principals of the movement. These points +were regarded as inaccessible to us, and now no place in the +Confederacy is safe against the army of the West. Let Lee hold on +to Richmond, and we will destroy his country; and then of what use +is Richmond. He must come out and fight us on open ground, and for +that we must ever be ready. Let him stick behind his parapets, and +he will perish. + +I remember well what you asked me, and think I am on the right +road, though a long one. My army is as united and cheerful as +ever, and as full of confidence in itself and its leaders. It is +utterly impossible for me to enumerate what we have done, but I +inclose a slip just handed me, which is but partial. At Columbia +and Cheraw we destroyed nearly all the gunpowder and cartridges +which the Confederacy had in this part of the country. This +arsenal is in fine order, and has been much enlarged. I cannot +leave a detachment to hold it, therefore shall burn it, blow it up +with gunpowder, and then with rams knock down its walls. I take it +for granted the United States will never again trust North Carolina +with an arsenal to appropriate at her pleasure. + +Hoping that good fortune may still attend my army. I remain your +servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, IN THE FIELD, +FAYETTVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, Sunday, March. 12, 1885. + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, commanding United States Army, +City Point, Virginia. + +DEAR GENERAL: We reached this place yesterday at noon; Hardee, as +usual, retreating across the Cape Fear, burning his bridges; but +our pontoons will be up to-day, and, with as little delay as +possible, I will be after him toward Goldsboro'. + +A tug has just come up from Wilmington, and before I get off from +here, I hope to get from Wilmington some shoes and stockings, +sugar, coffee, and flour. We are abundantly supplied with all +else, having in a measure lived off the country. + +The army is in splendid health, condition, and spirits, though we +have had foul weather, and roads that would have stopped travel to +almost any other body of men I ever heard of. + +Our march, was substantially what I designed--straight on Columbia, +feigning on Branchville and Augusta. We destroyed, in passing, the +railroad from the Edisto nearly up to Aiken; again, from Orangeburg +to the Congaree; again, from Colombia down to Kingsville on the +Wateree, and up toward Charlotte as far as the Chester line; thence +we turned east on Cheraw and Fayetteville. At Colombia we +destroyed immense arsenals and railroad establishments, among which +wore forty-three cannon. At Cheraw we found also machinery and +material of war sent from Charleston, among which were twenty-five +guns and thirty-six hundred barrels of powder; and here we find +about twenty guns and a magnificent United States' arsenal. + +We cannot afford to leave detachments, and I shall therefore +destroy this valuable arsenal, so the enemy shall not have its use; +and the United States should never again confide such valuable +property to a people who have betrayed a trust. + +I could leave here to-morrow, but want to clear my columns of the +vast crowd of refugees and negroes that encumber us. Some I will +send down the river in boats, and the rest to Wilmington by land, +under small escort, as soon as we are across Cape Fear River. + +I hope you have not been uneasy about us, and that the fruits of +this march will be appreciated. It had to be made not only to +destroy the valuable depots by the way, but for its incidents in +the necessary fall of Charleston, Georgetown, and Wilmington. If I +can now add Goldsboro' without too much cost, I will be in a +position to aid you materially in the spring campaign. + +Jos. Johnston may try to interpose between me here and Schofield +about Newbern; but I think he will not try that, but concentrate +his scattered armies at Raleigh, and I will go straight at him as +soon as I get our men reclothed and our wagons reloaded. + +Keep everybody busy, and let Stoneman push toward Greensboro' or +Charlotte from Knoxville; even a feint in that quarter will be most +important. + +The railroad from Charlotte to Danville is all that is left to the +enemy, and it will not do for me to go there, on account of the +red-clay hills which are impassable to wheels in wet weather. + +I expect to make a junction with General Schofield in ten days. + +Yours truly, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, IN THE FIELD, +FAYETTVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, Sunday, March. 12, 1885. + +Major-General TERRY, commanding United States Forces, +Wilmington, North Carolina. + +GENERAL: I have just received your message by the tug which left +Wilmington at 2 p.m. yesterday, which arrived here without +trouble. The scout who brought me your cipher-message started back +last night with my answers, which are superseded by the fact of +your opening the river. + +General Howard just reports that he has secured one of the enemy's +steamboats below the city, General Slocum will try to secure two +others known to be above, and we will load them with refugees +(white and black) who have clung to our skirts, impeded our +movements, and consumed our food. + +We have swept the country well from Savannah to here, and the men +and animals are in fine condition. Had it not been for the foul +weather, I would have caught Hardee at Cheraw or here; but at +Columbia, Cheraw, and here, we have captured immense stores, and +destroyed machinery, guns, ammunition, and property, of inestimable +value to our enemy. At all points he has fled from us, "standing +not on the order of his going." + +The people of South Carolina, instead of feeding Lee's army, will +now call on Lee to feed them. + +I want you to send me all the shoes, stockings, drawers, sugar, +coffee, and flour, you can spare; finish the loads with oats or +corn: Have the boats escorted, and let them run at night at any +risk. We must not give time for Jos. Johnston to concentrate at +Goldsboro'. We cannot prevent his concentrating at Raleigh, but he +shall have no rest. I want General Schofield to go on with his +railroad from Newbern as far as he can, and you should do the same +from Wilmington. If we can get the roads to and secure Goldsboro' +by April 10th, it will be soon enough; but every day now is worth a +million of dollars. I can whip Jos. Johnston provided he does not +catch one of my corps in flank, and I will see that the army +marches hence to Goldsboro' in compact form. + +I must rid our army of from twenty to thirty thousand useless +mouths; as many to go down Cape Fear as possible, and the rest to +go in vehicles or on captured horses via Clinton to Wilmington. + +I thank you for the energetic action that has marked your course, +and shall be most happy to meet you. I am, truly your friend, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + +In quick succession I received other messages from General Terry, +of older date, and therefore superseded by that brought by the tug +Davidson, viz., by two naval officers, who had come up partly by +canoes and partly by land; General Terry had also sent the +Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry to search for us, under Colonel +Kerwin, who had dispatched Major Berks with fifty men, who reached +us at Fayetteville; so that, by March 12th, I was in full +communication with General Terry and the outside world. Still, I +was anxious to reach Goldsboro', there to make junction with +General Schofield, so as to be ready for the next and last stage of +the war. I then knew that my special antagonist, General Jos. E. +Johnston, was back, with part of his old army; that he would not be +misled by feints and false reports, and would somehow compel me to +exercise more caution than I had hitherto done. I then +over-estimated his force at thirty-seven thousand infantry, +supposed to be made up of S. D. Lee's corps, four thousand; +Cheatham's, five thousand; Hoke's, eight thousand; Hardee's, ten +thousand; and other detachments, ten thousand; with Hampton's, +Wheeler's, and Butler's cavalry, about eight thousand. Of these, +only Hardee and the cavalry were immediately in our front, while +the bulk of Johnston's army was supposed to be collecting at or +near Raleigh. I was determined, however, to give him as little +time for organization as possible, and accordingly crossed Cape +Fear River, with all the army, during the 13th and 14th, leaving +one division as a rearguard, until the arsenal could be completely +destroyed. This was deliberately and completely leveled on the +14th, when fire was applied to the wreck. Little other damage was +done at Fayetteville. + +On the 14th the tug Davidson again arrived from Wilmington, with +General Dodge, quartermaster, on board, reporting that there was no +clothing to be had at Wilmington; but he brought up some sugar and +coffee, which were most welcome, and some oats. He was followed by +a couple of gunboats, under command of Captain Young, United States +Navy, who reached Fayetteville after I had left, and undertook to +patrol the river as long as the stage of water would permit; and +General Dodge also promised to use the captured steamboats for a +like purpose. Meantime, also, I had sent orders to General +Schofield, at Newbern, and to General Terry, at Wilmington, to move +with their effective forces straight for Goldsboro', where I +expected to meet them by the 20th of March. + +On the 15th of March the whole army was across Cape Fear River, and +at once began its march for Goldsboro'; the Seventeenth Corps still +on the right, the Fifteenth next in order, then the Fourteenth and +Twentieth on the extreme left; the cavalry, acting in close concert +with the left flank. With almost a certainty of being attacked on +this flank, I had instructed General Slocum to send his +corps-trains under strong escort by an interior road, holding four +divisions ready for immediate battle. General Howard was in like +manner ordered to keep his trains well to his right, and to have +four divisions unencumbered, about six miles ahead of General +Slocum, within easy support. + +In the mean time, I had dispatched by land to Wilmington a train of +refugees who had followed the army all the way from Columbia, South +Carolina, under an escort of two hundred men, commanded by Major +John A. Winson (One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois Infantry), so +that we were disencumbered, and prepared for instant battle on our +left and exposed flank. + +In person I accompanied General Slocum, and during the night of +March 15th was thirteen miles out on the Raleigh road. This flank +followed substantially a road along Cape Fear River north, +encountered pretty stubborn resistance by Hardee's infantry, +artillery, and cavalry, and the ground favored our enemy; for the +deep river, Cape Fear, was on his right, and North River on his +left, forcing us to attack him square in front. I proposed to +drive Hardee well beyond Averysboro', and then to turn to the right +by Bentonville for Goldsboro'. During the day it rained very +hard, and I had taken refuge in an old cooper-shop, where a +prisoner of war was brought to me (sent back from the skirmish-line +by General Kilpatrick), who proved to be Colonel Albert Rhett, +former commander of Fort Sumter. He was a tall, slender, and +handsome young man, dressed in the most approved rebel uniform, +with high jackboots beautifully stitched, and was dreadfully +mortified to find himself a prisoner in our hands. General Frank +Blair happened to be with me at the moment, and we were much amused +at Rhett's outspoken disgust at having been captured without a +fight. He said he was a brigade commander, and that his brigade +that day was Hardee's rear-guard; that his command was composed +mostly of the recent garrisons of the batteries of Charleston +Harbor, and had little experience in woodcraft; that he was giving +ground to us as fast as Hardee's army to his rear moved back, and +during this operation he was with a single aide in the woods, and +was captured by two men of Kilpatrick's skirmish-line that was +following up his retrograde movement. These men called on him to +surrender, and ordered him, in language more forcible than polite, +to turn and ride back. He first supposed these men to be of +Hampton's cavalry, and threatened to report them to General Hampton +for disrespectful language; but he was soon undeceived, and was +conducted to Kilpatrick, who sent him back to General Slocum's +guard. + +The rain was falling heavily, and, our wagons coming up, we went +into camp there, and had Rhett and General Blair to take supper +with us, and our conversation was full and quite interesting. In +due time, however, Rhett was passed over by General Slocum to his +provost-guard, with orders to be treated with due respect,--and was +furnished with a horse to ride. + +The next day (the 16th) the opposition continued stubborn, and near +Averysboro' Hardee had taken up a strong position, before which +General Slocum deployed Jackson's division (of the Twentieth +Corps), with part of Ward's. Kilpatrick was on his right front. +Coming up, I advised that a brigade should make a wide circuit by +the left, and, if possible, catch this line in flank. The movement +was completely successful, the first line of the enemy was swept +away, and we captured the larger part of Rhett's brigade, two +hundred and seventeen men, including Captain Macbeth's battery of +three guns, and buried one hundred and eight dead. + +The deployed lines (Ward's and Jackson's) pressed on, and found +Hardee again intrenched; but the next morning he was gone, in full +retreat toward Smithfield. In this action, called the battle of +Averysboro', we lost twelve officers and sixty-five men killed, and +four hundred and seventy-seven men wounded; a serious loss, because +every wounded man had to be carried in an ambulance. The rebel +wounded (sixty-eight) were carried to a house near by, all surgical +operations necessary were performed by our surgeons, and then these +wounded men were left in care of an officer and four men of the +rebel prisoners, with a scanty supply of food, which was the best +we could do for them. In person I visited this house while the +surgeons were at work, with arms and legs lying around loose, in +the yard and on the porch; and in a room on a bed lay a pale, +handsome young fellow, whose left arm had just been cut off near +the shoulder. Some one used my name, when he asked, in a feeble +voice, if I were General Sherman. He then announced himself as +Captain Macbeth, whose battery had just been captured; and said +that he remembered me when I used to visit his father's house, in +Charleston. I inquired about his family, and enabled him to write +a note to his mother, which was sent her afterward from Goldsboro'. +I have seen that same young gentleman since in St. Louis, where he +was a clerk in an insurance-office. + +While the battle of Averysboro' was in progress, and I was sitting +on my horse, I was approached by a man on foot, without shoes or +coat, and his head bandaged by a handkerchief. He announced +himself as the Captain Duncan who had been captured by Wade Hampton +in Fayetteville, but had escaped; and, on my inquiring how he +happened to be in that plight, he explained that when he was a +prisoner Wade Hampton's men had made him "get out of his coat, hat, +and shoes," which they appropriated to themselves. He said Wade +Hampton had seen them do it, and he had appealed to him personally +for protection, as an officer, but Hampton answered him with a +curse. I sent Duncan to General Kilpatrick, and heard afterward +that Kilpatrick had applied to General Slocum for his prisoner, +Colonel Rhett, whom he made march on foot the rest of the way to +Goldsboro', in retaliation. There was a story afloat that +Kilpatrick made him get out of those fine boots, but restored them +because none of his own officers had feet delicate enough to wear +them. Of course, I know nothing of this personally, and have never +seen Rhett since that night by the cooper-shop; and suppose that he +is the editor who recently fought a duel in New Orleans. + +From Averysboro' the left wing turned east, toward Goldsboro', the +Fourteenth Corps leading. I remained with this wing until the +night of the 18th, when we were within twenty-seven miles of +Goldsboro' and five from Bentonsville; and, supposing that all +danger was over, I crossed over to join Howard's column, to the +right, so as to be nearer to Generals Schofield and Terry, known to +be approaching Goldsboro'. I overtook General Howard at +Falling-Creek Church, and found his column well drawn out, by reason +of the bad roads. I had heard some cannonading over about Slocum's +head of column, and supposed it to indicate about the same measure of +opposition by Hardee's troops and Hampton's cavalry before +experienced; but during the day a messenger overtook me, and notified +me that near Bentonsville General Slocum had run up against +Johnston's whole army. I sent back orders for him to fight +defensively to save time, and that I would come up with +reenforcements from the direction of Cog's Bridge, by the road which +we had reached near Falling-Creek Church. The country was very +obscure, and the maps extremely defective. + +By this movement I hoped General Slocum would hold Johnston's army +facing west, while I would come on his rear from the east. The +Fifteenth Corps, less one division (Hazen's), still well to the +rear, was turned at once toward Bentonsville; Hazen's division was +ordered to Slocum's flank, and orders were also sent for General +Blair, with the Seventeenth Corps, to come to the same destination. +Meantime the sound of cannon came from the direction of +Bentonsville. + +The night of the 19th caught us near Falling-Creek Church; but +early the next morning the Fifteenth Corps, General C. R. Woods's +division leading, closed down on Bentonsville, near which it was +brought up by encountering a line of fresh parapet, crossing the +road and extending north, toward Mill Creek. + +After deploying, I ordered General Howard to proceed with due +caution, using skirmishers alone, till he had made junction with +General Slocum, on his left. These deployments occupied all day, +during which two divisions of the Seventeenth Corps also got up. +At that time General Johnston's army occupied the form of a V, the +angle reaching the road leading from Averysboro' to Goldsboro', and +the flanks resting on Mill Creek, his lines embracing the village +of Bentonsville. + +General Slocum's wing faced one of these lines and General Howard's +the other; and, in the uncertainty of General Johnston's strength, +I did not feel disposed to invite a general battle, for we had been +out from Savannah since the latter part of January, and our +wagon-trains contained but little food. I had also received messages +during the day from General Schofield, at Kinston, and General +Terry, at Faison's Depot, approaching Goldsboro', both expecting to +reach it by March 21st. During the 20th we simply held our ground +and started our trains back to Kinston for provisions, which would +be needed in the event of being forced to fight a general battle at +Bentonsville. The next day (21st) it began to rain again, and we +remained quiet till about noon, when General Mower, ever rash, +broke through the rebel line on his extreme left flank, and was +pushing straight for Bentonsville and the bridge across Mill Creek. +I ordered him back to connect with his own corps; and, lest the +enemy should concentrate on him, ordered the whole rebel line to be +engaged with a strong skirmish-fire. + +I think I made a mistake there, and should rapidly have followed +Mower's lead with the whole of the right wing, which would have +brought on a general battle, and it could not have resulted +otherwise than successfully to us, by reason of our vastly superior +numbers; but at the moment, for the reasons given, I preferred to +make junction with Generals Terry and Schofield, before engaging +Johnston's army, the strength of which was utterly unknown. The +next day he was gone, and had retreated on Smithfield; and, the +roads all being clear, our army moved to Goldsboro'. The heaviest +fighting at Bentonsville was on the first day, viz., the 19th, when +Johnston's army struck the head of Slocum's columns, knocking back +Carlin's division; but, as soon as General Slocum had brought up +the rest of the Fourteenth Corps into line, and afterward the +Twentieth on its left, he received and repulsed all attacks, and +held his ground as ordered, to await the coming back of the right +wing. His loss, as reported, was nine officers and one hundred and +forty-five men killed, eight hundred and sixteen wounded, and two +hundred and twenty-six missing. He reported having buried of the +rebel dead one hundred and sixty-seven, and captured three hundred +and thirty-eight prisoners. + +The loss of the right wing was two officers and thirty-five men +killed, twelve officers and two hundred and eighty-nine men +wounded, and seventy missing. General Howard reported that he had +buried one hundred of the rebel dead, and had captured twelve +hundred and eighty-seven prisoners. + +Our total loss, therefore, at Bentonsville was: 1,604 + +General Johnston, in his "Narrative" (p. 392), asserts that his +entire force at Bentonsville, omitting Wheeler's and Butler's +cavalry, only amounted to fourteen thousand one hundred infantry +and artillery; and (p. 393) states his losses as: 2,343 + + +Wide discrepancies exist in these figures: for instance, General +Slocum accounts for three hundred and thirty-eight prisoners +captured, and General Howard for twelve hundred and eighty-seven, +making sixteen hundred and twenty-five in all, to Johnston's six +hundred and fifty three--a difference of eight hundred and +seventy-two. I have always accorded to General Johnston due credit +for boldness in his attack on our exposed flank at Bentonville, +but I think he understates his strength, and doubt whether at the +time he had accurate returns from his miscellaneous army, collected +from Hoke, Bragg, Hardee, Lee, etc. After the first attack on +Carlin's division, I doubt if the fighting was as desperate as +described by him, p. 385, et seq. I was close up with the +Fifteenth Corps, on the 20th and 21st, considered the fighting as +mere skirmishing, and know that my orders were to avoid a general +battle, till we could be sure of Goldsboro', and of opening up a +new base of supply. With the knowledge now possessed of his small +force, of course I committed an error in not overwhelming +Johnston's army on the 21st of March, 1865. But I was content then +to let him go, and on the 22d of March rode to Cog's Bridge, where +I met General Terry, with his two divisions of the Tenth Corps; and +the next day we rode into Goldsboro', where I found General +Schofield with the Twenty-third Corps, thus effecting a perfect +junction of all the army at that point, as originally contemplated. +During the 23d and 24th the whole army was assembled at Goldsboro'; +General Terry's two divisions encamped at Faison's Depot to the +south, and General Kilpatrick's cavalry at Mount Olive Station, +near him, and there we all rested, while I directed my special +attention to replenishing the army for the next and last stage of +the campaign. Colonel W. W. Wright had been so indefatigable, that +the Newbern Railroad was done, and a locomotive arrived in +Goldsboro' on the 25th of March. + +Thus was concluded one of the longest and most important marches +ever made by an organized army in a civilized country. The +distance from Savannah to Goldsboro' is four hundred and +twenty-five miles, and the route traversed embraced five large +navigable rivers, viz., the Edisto, Broad, Catawba, Pedee, and Cape +Fear, at either of which a comparatively small force, well-handled, +should have made the passage most difficult, if not impossible. +The country generally was in a state of nature, with innumerable +swamps, with simply mud roads, nearly every mile of which had to be +corduroyed. In our route we had captured Columbia, Cheraw, and +Fayetteville, important cities and depots of supplies, had +compelled the evacuation of Charleston City and Harbor, had utterly +broken up all the railroads of South Carolina, and had consumed a +vast amount of food and forage, essential to the enemy for the +support of his own armies. We had in mid-winter accomplished the +whole journey of four hundred and twenty-five miles in fifty days, +averaging ten miles per day, allowing ten lay-days, and had reached +Goldsboro' with the army in superb order, and the trains almost as +fresh as when we had started from Atlanta. + +It was manifest to me that we could resume our march, and come +within the theatre of General Grant's field of operations in all +April, and that there was no force in existence that could delay +our progress, unless General Lee should succeed in eluding General +Grant at Petersburg, make junction with General Johnston, and thus +united meet me alone; and now that we had effected a junction with +Generals Terry and Schofield, I had no fear even of that event. On +reaching Goldsboro, I learned from General Schofield all the +details of his operations about Wilmington and Newbern; also of the +fight of the Twenty-third Corps about Kinston, with General Bragg. +I also found Lieutenant Dunn, of General Grant's staff, awaiting +me, with the general's letter of February 7th, covering +instructions to Generals Schofield and Thomas; and his letter of +March 16th, in answer to mine of the 12th, from Fayetteville. + +These are all given here to explain the full reasons for the events +of the war then in progress, with two or three letters from myself, +to fill out the picture. + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, February 7, 1865 + + + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Military Division of the +Mississippi. + +GENERAL: Without much expectation of it reaching you in time to be +of any service, I have mailed to you copies of instructions to +Schofield and Thomas. I had informed Schofield by telegraph of the +departure of Mahone's division, south from the Petersburg front. +These troops marched down the Weldon road, and, as they apparently +went without baggage, it is doubtful whether they have not +returned. I was absent from here when they left. Just returned +yesterday morning from Cape Fear River. I went there to determine +where Schofield's corps had better go to operate against Wilmington +and Goldsboro'. The instructions with this will inform you of the +conclusion arrived at. + +Schofield was with me, and the plan of the movement against +Wilmington fully determined before we started back; hence the +absence of more detailed instructions to him. He will land one +division at Smithville, and move rapidly up the south side of the +river, and secure the Wilmington & Charlotte Railroad, and with his +pontoon train cross over to the island south of the city, if he +can. With the aid of the gunboats, there is no doubt but this move +will drive the enemy from their position eight miles east of the +city, either back to their line or away altogether. There will be +a large force on the north bank of Cape Fear River, ready to follow +up and invest the garrison, if they should go inside. + +The railroads of North Carolina are four feet eight and one-half +inches gauge. I have sent large parties of railroad-men there to +build them up, and have ordered stock to run them. We have +abundance of it idle from the non-use of the Virginia roads. I +have taken every precaution to have supplies ready for you wherever +you may turn up. I did this before when you left Atlanta, and +regret that they did not reach you promptly when you reached +salt-water.... + +Alexander Stephens, R. M. T. Hunter, and Judge Campbell, are now at +my headquarters, very desirous of going to Washington to see Mr. +Lincoln, informally, on the subject of peace. The peace feeling +within the rebel lines is gaining ground rapidly. This, however, +should not relax our energies in the least, but should stimulate us +to greater activity. + +I have received your very kind letters, in which you say you would +decline, or are opposed to, promotion. No one world be more +pleased at your advancement than I, and if you should be placed in +my position, and I put subordinate, it would not change our +personal relations in the least. I would make the same exertions to +support you that you have ever done to support me, and would do all +in my power to make our cause win. + +Yours truly, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, January 81, 1865. + +Major-General G. H. THOMAS, commanding Army of the Cumberland. + +GENERAL: With this I send you a letter from General Sherman. At +the time of writing it, General Sherman was not informed of the +depletion of your command by my orders. It will, be impossible at +present for you to move south as he contemplated, with the force of +infantry indicated. General Slocum is advised before this of the +changes made, and that for the winter you will be on the defensive. +I think, however, an expedition from East Tennessee, under General +Stoneman might penetrate South Carolina, well down toward Columbia, +destroying the railroad and military resources of the country, thus +visiting a portion of the State which will not be reached by +Sherman's forces. He might also be able to return to East +Tennessee by way of Salisbury, North Carolina, thus releasing home +our prisoners of war in rebel hands. + +Of the practicability of doing this, General Stoneman will have to +be the judge, making up his mind from information obtained while +executing the first part of his instructions. Sherman's movements +will attract the attention of all the force the enemy can collect, +thus facilitating the execution of this. + +Three thousand cavalry would be a sufficient force to take. This +probably can be raised in the old Department of the Ohio, without +taking any now under General Wilson. It would require, though, the +reorganization of the two regiments of Kentucky Cavalry, which +Stoneman had in his very successful raid into Southwestern +Virginia. + +It will be necessary, probably, for you to send, in addition to the +force now in East Tennessee, a small division of infantry, to +enable General Gillem to hold the upper end of Holston Valley, and +the mountain-passes in rear of Stevenson. + +You may order such an expedition. To save time, I will send a copy +of this to General Stoneman, so that he can begin his preparations +without loss of time, and can commence his correspondence with you +as to these preparations. + +As this expedition goes to destroy and not to fight battles, but to +avoid them when practicable, particularly against any thing like +equal forces, or where a great object is to be gained, it should go +as light as possible. Stoneman's experience, in raiding will teach +him in this matter better than he can be directed. + +Let there be no delay in the preparations for this expedition, and +keep me advised of its progress. Very respectfully, your obedient +servant, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, January 81, 1865. + +Major-General J. M. SCHOFIELD, commanding army of the Ohio. + +GENERAL: I have requested by telegraph that, for present purposes, +North Carolina be erected into a department, and that you be placed +in command of it, subject to Major-General Sherman's orders. Of +course, you will receive orders from me direct until such time as +General Sherman gets within communicating distance of you. This +obviates the necessity of my publishing the order which I informed +you would meet you at Fortress Monroe. If the order referred to +should not be published from the Adjutant-General's office, you +will read these instructions as your authority to assume command of +all the troops in North Carolina, dating all official +communications, "Headquarters Army of the Ohio." Your headquarters +will be in the field, and with the portion of the army where you +feel yourself most needed. In the first move you will go to Cape +Fear River. + +Your movements are intended as cooperative with Sherman's movement +through the States of South and North Carolina. The first point to +be obtained is to secure Wilmington. Goldsboro' will then be your +objective point, moving either from Wilmington or Newbern, or both, +as you may deem best. Should you not be able to reach Goldsboro', +you will advance on the line or lines of railway connecting that +place with the sea-coast, as near to it as you can, building the +road behind you. The enterprise under you has two objects: the +first is, to give General Sherman material aid, if needed, in his +march north; the second, to open a base of supplies for him on the +line of his march. As soon, therefore, as you can determine which +of the two points, Wilmington or Newbern, you can best use for +throwing supplies from to the interior, you will commence the +accumulation of twenty days rations and forage for sixty thousand +men and twenty thousand animals. You will get of these as many as +you can house and protect, to such point in the interior as you may +be able to occupy. + +I believe General Innis N. Palmer has received some instructions +directly from General Sherman, on the subject of securing supplies +for his army. You can learn what steps he has taken, and be +governed in your requisitions accordingly. A supply of +ordnance-stores will also be necessary. + +Make all your requisitions upon the chiefs of their respective +departments, in the field, with me at City Point. Communicate with +me by every opportunity, and, should you deem it necessary at any +time, send a special boat to Fortress Monroe, from which point you +can communicate by telegraph. + +The supplies referred to in these instructions are exclusive of +those required by your own command. + +The movements of the enemy may justify you, or even make it your +imperative duty, to cut loose from your base and strike for the +interior, to aid Sherman. In such case you will act on your own +judgment, without waiting for instructions. You will report, +however, what you propose doing. The details for carrying out +these instructions are necessarily left to you. I would urge, +however, if I did not know that you are already fully alive to the +importance of it, prompt action. Sherman may be looked for in the +neighborhood of Goldsboro' any time from the 22d to the 28th of +February. This limits your time very materially. + +If rolling-stock is not secured in the capture of Wilmington, it +can be supplied from Washington: A large force of railroad-men has +already been sent to Beaufort, and other mechanics will go to Fort +Fisher in a day or two. On this point I have informed you by +telegraph. + +Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, March 16, 1865. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding military Division of the +Mississippi. + +GENERAL: Your interesting letter of the 12th inst. is just +received. I have never felt any uneasiness for your safety, but I +have felt great anxiety to know just how you were progressing. I +knew, or thought I did, that, with the magnificent army with you, +you would come out safely somewhere. + +To secure certain success, I deemed the capture of Wilmington of +the greatest importance. Butler came near losing that prize to us. +But Terry and Schofield have since retrieved his blunders, and I do +not know but the first failure has been as valuable a success for +the country as the capture of Fort Fisher. Butler may not see it +in that light. + +Ever since you started on the last campaign, and before, I have +been attempting to get something done in the West, both to +cooperate with you and to take advantage of the enemy's weakness +there--to accomplish results favorable to us. Knowing Thomas to be +slow beyond excuse, I depleted his army to reinforce Canby, so that +he might act from Mobile Bay on the interior. With all I have +said, he has not moved at last advices. Canby was sending a +cavalry force, of about seven thousand, from Vicksburg toward +Selma. I ordered Thomas to send Wilson from Eastport toward the +same point, and to get him off as soon after the 20th of February +as possible. He telegraphed me that he would be off by that date. +He has not yet started, or had not at last advices. I ordered him +to send Stoneman from East Tennessee into Northwest South Carolina, +to be there about the time you would reach Columbia. He would +either have drawn off the enemy's cavalry from you, or would have +succeeded in destroying railroads, supplies, and other material, +which you could not reach. At that time the Richmond papers were +full of the accounts of your movements, and gave daily accounts of +movements in West North Carolina. I supposed all the time it was +Stoneman. You may judge my surprise when I afterward learned that +Stoneman was still in Louisville, Kentucky, and that the troops in +North Carolina were Kirk's forces! In order that Stoneman might +get off without delay, I told Thomas that three thousand men would +be sufficient for him to take. In the mean time I had directed +Sheridan to get his cavalry ready, and, as soon as the snow in the +mountains melted sufficiently, to start for Staunton, and go on and +destroy the Virginia Central Railroad and canal. Time advanced, +until he set the 28th of February for starting. I informed Thomas, +and directed him to change the course of Stoneman toward Lynchburg, +to destroy the road in Virginia up as near to that place as +possible. Not hearing from Thomas, I telegraphed to him about the +12th, to know if Stoneman was yet off. He replied not, but that he +(Thomas) would start that day for Knoxville, to get him off as soon +as possible. + +Sheridan has made his raid, and with splendid success, so far as +heard. I am looking for him at "White House" to-day. Since about +the 20th of last month the Richmond papers have been prohibited +from publishing accounts of army movements. We are left to our own +resources, therefore, for information. You will see from the +papers what Sheridan has done; if you do not, the officer who bears +this will tell you all. + +Lee has depleted his army but very little recently, and I learn of +none going south. Some regiments may have been detached, but I +think no division or brigade. The determination seems to be to +hold Richmond as long as possible. I have a force sufficient to +leave enough to hold our lines (all that is necessary of them), and +move out with plenty to whip his whole army. But the roads are +entirely impassable. Until they improve, I shall content myself +with watching Lee, and be prepared to pitch into him if he attempts +to evacuate the place. I may bring Sheridan over--think I will +--and break up the Danville and Southside Railroads. These are the +last avenues left to the enemy. + +Recruits have come in so rapidly at the West that Thomas has now +about as much force as he had when he attacked Hood. I have +stopped all who, under previous orders, would go to him, except +those from Illinois. + +Fearing the possibility of the enemy falling back to Lynchburg, and +afterward attempting to go into East Tennessee or Kentucky, I have +ordered Thomas to move the Fourth Corps to Bull's Gap, and to +fortify there, and to hold out to the Virginia line, if he can. He +has accumulated a large amount of supplies in Knoxville, and has +been ordered not to destroy any of the railroad west of the +Virginia Hue. I told him to get ready for a campaign toward +Lynchburg, if it became necessary. He never can make one there or +elsewhere; but the steps taken will prepare for any one else to +take his troops and come east or go toward Rome, whichever may be +necessary. I do not believe either will. + +When I hear that you and Schofield are together, with your back +upon the coast, I shall feel that you are entirely safe against any +thing the enemy can do. Lee may evacuate Richmond, but he cannot +get there with force enough to touch you. His army is now +demoralized and deserting very fast, both to us and to their homes. +A retrograde movement would cost him thousands of men, even if we +did not follow. + +Five thousand men, belonging to the corps with you, are now on +their way to join you. If more reenforcements are necessary, I +will send them. My notion is, that you should get Raleigh as soon +as possible, and hold the railroad from there back. This may take +more force than you now have. + +From that point all North Carolina roads can be made useless to the +enemy, without keeping up communications with the rear. + +Hoping to hear soon of your junction with the forces from +Wilmington and Newborn, I remain, very respectfully, your obedient +servant, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD, +COX'S BRIGADE, NEUSE RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA, March 22, 1865 + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief, City Point, +Virginia. + +GENERAL: I wrote you from Fayetteville, North Carolina, on Tuesday, +the 14th instant, that I was all ready to start for Goldsboro', to +which point I had also ordered General Schofield, from Newborn, and +General Terry, from Wilmington. I knew that General Jos. Johnston +was supreme in command against me, and that he would have time to +concentrate a respectable army to oppose the last stage of this +march. Accordingly, General Slocum was ordered to send his main +supply-train, under escort of two divisions, straight for +Bentonsville, while he, with his other four divisions, +disencumbered of all unnecessary wagons, should march toward +Raleigh, by way of threat, as far as Averysboro'. General Howard, +in like manner, sent his trains with the Seventeenth Corps, well to +the right, and, with the four divisions of the Fifteenth Corps, +took roads which would enable him to come promptly to the exposed +left flank. We started on the 16th, but again the rains set in, +and the roads, already bad enough, became horrible. + +On Tuesday, the 16th, General Slocum found Hardee's army, from +Charleston, which had retreated before us from Cheraw, in position +across the narrow, swampy neck between Cape Fear and North Rivers, +where the road branches off to Goldsboro'. There a pretty severe +fight occurred, in which General Slocum's troops carried handsomely +the advanced line, held by a South Carolina brigade, commanded by a +Colonel Butler. Its Commander, Colonel Rhett, of Fort Sumter +notoriety, with one of his staff, had the night before been +captured, by Kilpatrick's scouts, from his very skirmish-line. The +next morning Hardee was found gone, and was pursued through and +beyond Averysboro'. General Slocum buried one hundred and eight +dead rebels, and captured and destroyed three guns. Some eighty +wounded rebels were left in our hands, and, after dressing their +wounds, we left them in a house, attended by a Confederate officer +and four privates, detailed out of our prisoners and paroled for +the purpose. + +We resumed the march toward Goldsboro'. I was with the left wing +until I supposed all danger had passed; but, when General Slocum's +head of column was within four miles of Bentonsville, after +skirmishing as usual with cavalry, he became aware that there was +infantry in his front. He deployed a couple of brigades, which, on +advancing, sustained a partial repulse, but soon rallied, when he +formed a line of the two leading divisions (Morgan's and Carlin's) +of Jeff. C. Davis's corps. The enemy attacked these with violence, +but was repulsed. This was in the forenoon of Sunday, the 19th. +General Slocum brought forward the two divisions of the Twentieth +Corps, hastily disposed of them for defense, and General Kilpatrick +massed his cavalry on the left. + +General Jos. Johnston had, the night before, marched his whole army +(Bragg, Cheatham, S. D. Lee, Hardee, and all the troops he had +drawn from every quarter), determined, as he told his men, to crash +one of our corps, and then defeat us in detail. He attacked +General Slocum in position from 3 P. M. on the 19th till dark; but +was everywhere repulsed, and lost heavily. At the time, I was with +the Fifteenth Corps, marching on a road more to the right; but, on +hearing of General Slocum's danger, directed that corps toward +Cox's Bridge, in the night brought Blair's corps over, and on the +20th marched rapidly on Johnston's flank and rear. We struck him +about noon, forced him to assume the defensive, and to fortify. +Yesterday we pushed him hard, and came very near crushing him, the +right division of the Seventeenth Corps (Mower's) having broken in +to within a hundred yards of where Johnston himself was, at the +bridge across Mill Creek. Last night he retreated, leaving us in +possession of the field, dead, and wounded. We have over two +thousand prisoners from this affair and the one at Averysboro', and +I am satisfied that Johnston's army was so roughly handled +yesterday that we could march right on to Raleigh; but we have now +been out six weeks, living precariously upon the collections of our +foragers, our men dirty, ragged, and saucy, and we must rest and +fix up a little. Our entire losses thus far (killed, wounded, and +prisoners) will be covered by twenty-five hundred, a great part of +which are, as usual, slight wounds. The enemy has lost more than +double as many, and we have in prisoners alone full two thousand. + +I limited the pursuit, this morning, to Mill Creek, and will +forthwith march the army to Goldsboro', there to rest, reclothe, +and get some rations. + +Our combinations were such that General Schofield entered +Goldsboro' from Newborn; General Terry got Cox's Bridge, with +pontoons laid, and a brigade across Neuse River intrenched; and we +whipped Jos. Johnston--all on the same day. + +After riding over the field of battle to-day, near Bentonsville, +and making the necessary orders, I have ridden down to this place +(Cox's Bridge) to see General Terry, and to-morrow shall ride into +Goldsboro. + +I propose to collect there my army proper; shall post General Terry +about Faison's Depot, and General Schofield about Kinston, partly +to protect the road, but more to collect such food and forage as +the country affords, until the railroads are repaired leading into +Goldsboro'. + +I fear these have not been pushed with the vigor I had expected; +but I will soon have them both going. I shall proceed at once to +organize three armies of twenty-five thousand men each, and will +try and be all ready to march to Raleigh or Weldon, as we may +determine, by or before April 10th. + +I inclose you a copy of my orders of to-day. I would like to be +more specific, but have not the data. We have lost no general +officers nor any organization. General Slocum took three guns at +Averysboro', and lost three others at the first dash on him at +Bentonsville. We have all our wagons and trains in good order. + +Yours truly, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD, +COX'S BRIGADE, GOLDSBORO', NORTH CAROLINA, March 23, 1865. + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, commanding the Armies of the United +States, City Point, Virginia. + +GENERAL: On reaching Goldsboro' this morning, I found Lieutenant +Dunn awaiting me with your letter of March 18th and dispatch of the +17th. I wrote you fully from Cox's Bridge yesterday, and since +reaching Goldsboro' have learned that my letter was sent punctually +to Newborn, whence it will be dispatched to you. + +I am very glad to hear that General Sheridan did such good service +between Richmond and Lynchburg, and hope he will keep the ball +moving, I know that these raids and dashes disconcert our enemy and +discourage him much. + +General Slocum's two corps (Fourteenth and Twentieth) are now +coming in. I will dispose of them north of Goldsboro', between the +Weldon road and Little River. General Howard to-day is marching +south of the Nenae, and to-morrow will come in and occupy ground +north of Goldsboro', extending from the Weldon Railroad to that +leading to Kinston. + +I have ordered all the provisional divisions, made up of troops +belonging to the regular corps, to be broken up, and the men to +join their proper regiments and organizations; and have ordered +General Schofield to guard the railroads back to Newborn and +Wilmington, and to make up a movable column equal to twenty-five +thousand men, with which to take the field. His army will be the +centre, as on the Atlanta campaign. I do not think I want any more +troops (other than absentees and recruits) to fill up the present +regiments, and I can make up an army of eighty thousand men by +April 10th. I will post General Kilpatrick at Mount Olive Station +on the Wilmington road, and then allow the army some rest. + +We have sent all our empty wagons, under escort, with the proper +staff-officers, to bring up from Kinston clothing and provisions. +As long as we move we can gather food and forage; but, the moment +we stop, trouble begins. + +I feel sadly disappointed that our railroads are not done. I do +not like to say there has been any neglect until I make inquiries; +but it does seem to me the repairs should have been made ere this, +and the road properly stocked. I can only hear of one locomotive +(besides the four old ones) on the Newbern road, and two damaged +locomotives (found by General Terry) on the Wilmington road. I +left Generals Easton and Beckwith purposely to make arrangements in +anticipation of my arrival, and have heard from neither, though I +suppose them both to be at Morehead City. + +At all events, we have now made a junction of all the armies, and +if we can maintain them, will, in a short time, be in a position to +march against Raleigh, Gaston, Weldon, or even Richmond, as you may +determine. + +If I get the troops all well planed, and the supplies working well, +I may run up to see you for a day or two before diving again into +the bowels of the country. + +I will make, in a very short time, accurate reports of our +operations for the past two months. Yours truly, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD, +COX'S BRIGADE, GOLDSBORO', NORTH CAROLINA, March 24, 1865. + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, City Point, Virginia. + +GENERAL: I have kept Lieutenant Dunn over to-day that I might +report farther. All the army is now in, save the cavalry (which I +have posted at Mount Olive Station, south of the Nenae) and General +Terry's command (which--to-morrow will move from Cog's Ferry to +Faison's Depot, also on the Wilmington road). I send you a copy of +my orders of this morning, the operation of which will, I think, +soon complete our roads. The telegraph is now done to Morehead +City, and by it I learn that stores have been sent to Kinston in +boats, and that our wagons are loading with rations and clothing. +By using the Neuse as high up as Kinston, hauling from there +twenty-six miles, and by equipping the two roads to Morehead City +and Wilmington, I feel certain we can not only feed and equip the +army, but in a short time fill our wagons for another start. I +feel certain, from the character of the fighting, that we have got +Johnston's army afraid of us. He himself acts with timidity and +caution. His cavalry alone manifests spirit, but limits its +operations to our stragglers and foraging-parties. My marching +columns of infantry do not pay the cavalry any attention, but walk +right through it. + +I think I see pretty clearly how, in one more move, we can +checkmate Lee, forcing him to unite Johnston with him in the defense +of Richmond, or to abandon the cause. I feel certain, if he leaves +Richmond, Virginia leaves the Confederacy. I will study my maps a +little more before giving my positive views. I want all possible +information of the Roanoke as to navigability, how far up, and with +what draught. + +We find the country sandy, dry, with good roads, and more corn and +forage than I had expected. The families remain, but I will +gradually push them all out to Raleigh or Wilmington. We will need +every house in the town. Lieutenant Dunn can tell you of many +things of which I need not write. Yours truly, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD, +COX'S BRIGADE, GOLDSBORO', NORTH CAROLINA, April 5,1865 + +Major-General George H. Thomas, commanding Department of the +Cumberland. + +DEAR GENERAL: I can hardly help smiling when I contemplate my +command--it is decidedly mixed. I believe, but am not certain, +that you are in my jurisdiction, but I certainly cannot help you in +the way of orders or men; nor do I think you need either. General +Cruft has just arrived with his provisional division, which will at +once be broken up and the men sent to their proper regiments, as +that of Meagher was on my arrival here. + +You may have some feeling about my asking that General Slocum +should have command of the two corps that properly belong to you, +viz., the Fourteenth and Twentieth, but you can recall that he was +but a corps commander, and could not legally make orders of +discharge, transfer, etc., which was imperatively necessary. I +therefore asked that General Slocum should be assigned to command +"an army in the field," called the Army of Georgia, composed of the +Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps. The order is not yet made by the +President, though I have recognized it because both, General Grant +and the President have sanctioned it, and promised to have the +order made. + +My army is now here, pretty well clad and provided, divided into +three parts, of two corps each--much as our old Atlanta army was. + +I expect to move on in a few days, and propose (if Lee remains in +Richmond) to pass the Roanoke, and open communication with the +Chowan and Norfolk. This will bring me in direct communication +with General Grant. + +This is an admirable point--country open, and the two railroads in +good order back to Wilmington and Beaufort. We have already +brought up stores enough to fill our wagons, and only await some +few articles, and the arrival of some men who are marching up from +the coast, to be off. + +General Grant explained to me his orders to you, which, of course, +are all right. You can make reports direct to Washington or to +General Grant, but keep me advised occasionally of the general +state of affairs, that I may know what is happening. I must give +my undivided attention to matters here. You will hear from a +thousand sources pretty fair accounts of our next march. Yours +truly, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + + +[LETTER FROM ADMIRAL DAHLGREN] + +SOUTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON +FLAG-SHIP PHILADELPHIA, CHARLESTON, April 20, 1865 + + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Armies of the Tennessee, +Georgia, and Mississippi. + +Mr DEAR GENERAL: I was much gratified by a sight of your +handwriting, which has just reached me from Goldsboro'; it was very +suggestive of a past to me, when these regions were the scene of +your operations. + +As you progressed through South Carolina, there was no +manifestation of weakness or of an intention to abandon Charleston, +until within a few hours of the fact. On the 11th of February I +was at Stono, and a spirited demonstration was made by General +Schimmel-pfennig and the vessels. He drove the rebels from their +rifle-pits in front of the lines, extending from Fort Pringle, and +pushed them vigorously. The next day I was at Bull's Bay, with a +dozen steamers, among them the finest of the squadron. General +Potter had twelve to fifteen hundred men, the object being to carry +out your views. We made as much fuss as possible, and with better +success than I anticipated, for it seems that the rebs conceived +Stono to be a feint, and the real object at Bull's Bay, supposing, +from the number of steamers and boats, that we had several thousand +men. Now came an aide from General Gillmore, at Port Royal, with +your cipher-dispatch from Midway, so I steamed down to Port Royal +to see him. Next day was spent in vain efforts to decipher-finally +it was accomplished. You thought that the state of the roads might +force you to turn upon Charleston; so I went there on the 15th, but +there was no sign yet of flinching. Then I went to Bull's Bay next +day (16th), and found that the troops were not yet ashore, owing to +the difficulties of shoal water. One of the gunboats had contrived +to get up to within shelling range, and both soldiers and sailors +were working hard. On the evening of the 18th I steamed down to +Stono to see how matters were going there. Passing Charleston, I +noticed two large fires, well inside--probably preparing to leave. +On the 17th, in Stono, rumors were flying about loose of +evacuation. In course of the morning, General Schimmelpfennig +telegraphed me, from Morris Island, that there were symptoms of +leaving; that he would again make a push at Stono, and asked for +monitors. General Schimmelpfennig came down in the afternoon, and +we met in the Folly Branch, near Secessionville. He was sore that +the rebs would be off that night, so he was to assault them in +front, while a monitor and gunboats stung their flanks both sides. +I also sent an aide to order my battery of five eleven-inch guns, +at Cumming's Point, to fire steadily all night on Sullivan's +Island, and two monitors to close up to the island for the same +object. Next morning (18th) the rascals were found to be off, and +we broke in from all directions, by land and water. The main +bodies had left at eight or nine in the evening, leaving +detachments to keep up a fire from the batteries. I steamed round +quickly, and soon got into the city, threading the streets with a +large group of naval captains who had joined me. All was silent as +the grave. No one to be seen but a few firemen. + +No one can question the excellence of your judgment in taking the +track you did, and I never had any misgivings, but it was natural +to desire to go into the place with a strong hand, for, if any one +spot in the land was foremost in the trouble, it was Charleston. + +Your campaign was the final blow, grand in conception, complete in +execution; and now it is yours to secure the last army which +rebeldom possesses. I hear of your being in motion by the 9th, and +hope that the result may be all that you wish. + +Tidings of the murder of the President have just come, and shocked +every mind. Can it be that such a resort finds root in any stratum +of American opinion? Evidently it has not been the act of one man, +nor of a madman. Who have prompted him? + +I am grateful for your remembrance of my boy; the thought of him is +ever nearest to my heart. Generous, brave, and noble, as I ever +knew him to be, that he should close his young life so early, even +under the accepted conditions of a soldier's life, as a son of the +Union, would have been grief sufficient for me to bear; but that +his precious remains should have been so treated by the brutes into +whose hands they fell, adds even to the bitterness of death. I am +now awaiting the hour when I can pay my last duties to his memory. + +With my best and sincere wishes, my dear general, for your success +and happiness, I am, most truly, your friend, + +J. A. DAHLGREN. + + + + +[General Order No. 50.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE +WASHINGTON, March 27, 1865 + +Ordered--1. That at the hour of noon, on the 14th day of April, +1885, Brevet Major-General Anderson will raise and plant upon the +ruins of Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, the same United States +flag which floated over the battlements of that fort during the +rebel assault, and which was lowered and saluted by him and the +small force of his command when the works were evacuated on the +14th day of April, 1861. + +2. That the flag, when raised, be saluted by one hundred guns from +Fort Sumter, and by a national salute from every fort and rebel +battery that fired upon Fort Sumter. + +3. That suitable ceremonies be had upon the occasion, under the +direction of Major-General William T. Sherman, whose military +operations compelled the rebels to evacuate Charleston, or, in his +absence, under the charge of Major-General Q. A. Gilmore, +commanding the department. Among the ceremonies will be the +delivery of a public address by the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. + +4. That the naval forces at Charleston, and their commander on +that station, be invited to participate in the ceremonies of the +occasion. + +By order of the President of the United States, + +EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + + + +[General Order No. 41.] + +HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH +HILTON HEAD, SOUTH CAROLINA, April 10, 1865 + +Friday next, the 14th inst., will be the fourth anniversary of the +capture of Fort Sumter by the rebels. A befitting celebration on +that day, in honor of its reoccupation by the national forces, has +been ordered by the President, in pursuance of which Brevet Major- +General Robert Anderson, United States Army, will restore to its +original place on the fort the identical flag which, after an +honorable and gallant defense, he was compelled to lower to the +insurgents in South Carolina, in April, 1861. + +The ceremonies for the occasion will commence with prayer, at +thirty minutes past eleven o'clock a.m. + +At noon precisely, the flag will be raised and saluted with one +hundred guns from Fort Sumter, and with a national salute from Fort +Moultrie and Battery Bee on Sullivan's Island, Fort Putnam on +Morris Island, and Fort Johnson on James's Island; it being +eminently appropriate that the places which were so conspicuous in +the inauguration of the rebellion should take a part not less +prominent in this national rejoicing over the restoration of the +national authority. + +After the salutes, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher will deliver an +address. + +The ceremonies will close with prayer and a benediction. + +Colonel Stewart L. Woodford, chief of staff, under such verbal +instructions as he may receive, is hereby charged with the details +of the celebration, comprising all the arrangements that it may be +necessary to make for the accommodation of the orator of the day, +and the comfort and safety of the invited guests from the army and +navy, and from civil life. + +By command of Major-General Q. A. Gillmore, +W. L. M. BURGER, Assistant Adjutant-General. + + + +Copy of Major ANDERSON's Dispatch, announcing the Surrender of Fort +Sumter, April 14, 1861. + +STEAMSHIP BALTIC, OFF SANDY HOOK +April 10, 1861, 10.30 a.m. via New York + +Honorable S. Cameron, Secretary of War, Washington + +Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four hours, until the +quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire, +the gorge-walls seriously injured, the magazine surrounded by +flames, and its door closed from the effect of heat, four barrels +and three cartridges of powder only being available, and no +provisions remaining but pork, I accepted terms of evacuation +offered by General Beauregard, being the same offered by him on the +11th inst., prior to the commencement of hostilities, and marched +out of the fort, Sunday afternoon, the 14th inst., with colors +flying and drums beating, bringing away company and private +property, and saluting my flag with fifty guns. + +ROBERT ANDERSON, Major First Artillery, commanding. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +END OF THE WAR--FROM GOLDSBORO' TO RALEIGH AND WASHINGTON. + +APRIL AND MAY, 1865. + +As before described, the armies commanded respectively by Generals +J. M. Schofield, A. H. Terry, and myself, effected a junction in +and about Goldsboro', North Carolina, during the 22d and 23d of +March, 1865, but it required a few days for all the troops and +trains of wagons to reach their respective camps. In person I +reached Goldsboro' on the 23d, and met General Schofield, who +described fully his operations in North Carolina up to that date; +and I also found Lieutenant Dunn, aide-de-camp to General Grant, +with a letter from him of March 16th, giving a general description +of the state of facts about City Point. The next day I received +another letter, more full, dated the 22d, which I give herewith. + +Nevertheless, I deemed it of great importance that I should have a +personal interview with the general, and determined to go in person +to City Point as soon as the repairs of the railroad, then in +progress under the personal direction of Colonel W. W. Wright, +would permit: + + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, March 22, 1865 + +Major-General SHERMAN, Commanding Military Division of the +Mississippi. + +GENERAL: Although the Richmond papers do not communicate the fact, +yet I saw enough in them to satisfy me that you occupied Goldsboro' +on the 19th inst. I congratulate you and the army on what may be +regarded as the successful termination of the third campaign since +leaving the Tennessee River, less than one year ago. + +Since Sheridan's very successful raid north of the James, the enemy +are left dependent on the Southside and Danville roads for all +their supplies. These I hope to cut next week. Sheridan is at +White House, "shoeing up" and resting his cavalry. I expect him to +finish by Friday night and to start the following morning, raid +Long Bridge, Newmarket, Bermuda Hundred, and the extreme left of +the army around Petersburg. He will make no halt with the armies +operating here, but will be joined by a division of cavalry, five +thousand five hundred strong, from the Army of the Potomac, and +will proceed directly to the Southside and Danville roads. His +instructions will be to strike the Southside road as near +Petersburg as he can, and destroy it so that it cannot be repaired +for three or four days, and push on to the Danville road, as near +to the Appomattox as he can get. Then I want him to destroy the +road toward Burkesville as far as he can; then push on to the +Southside road, west of Burkesville, and destroy it effectually. +From that point I shall probably leave it to his discretion either +to return to this army, crossing the Danville road south of +Burkesville, or go and join you, passing between Danville and +Greensboro'. When this movement commences I shall move out by my +left, with all the force I can, holding present intrenched lines. +I shall start with no distinct view, further than holding Lee's +forces from following Sheridan. But I shall be along myself, and +will take advantage of any thing that turns up. If Lee detaches, I +will attack; or if he comes out of his lines I will endeavor to +repulse him, and follow it up to the best advantage. + +It is most difficult to understand what the rebels intend to do; so +far but few troops have been detached from Lee's army. Much +machinery has been removed, and material has been sent to +Lynchburg, showing a disposition to go there. Points, too, have +been fortified on the Danville road. + +Lee's army is much demoralized, and great numbers are deserting. +Probably, from returned prisoners, and such conscripts as can be +picked up, his numbers may be kept up. I estimate his force now at +about sixty-five thousand men. + +Wilson started on Monday, with twelve thousand cavalry, from +Eastport. Stoneman started on the same day, from East Tennessee, +toward Lynchburg. Thomas is moving the Fourth Corps to Bull's Gap. +Canby is moving with a formidable force on Mobile and the interior +of Alabama. + +I ordered Gilmore, as soon as the fall of Charleston was known, to +hold all important posts on the sea-coast, and to send to +Wilmington all surplus forces. Thomas was also directed to forward +to Newbern all troops belonging to the corps with you. I +understand this will give you about five thousand men, besides +those brought east by Meagher. + +I have been telegraphing General Meigs to hasten up locomotives and +cars for you. General McCallum, he informs me, is attending to it. +I fear they are not going forward as fast as I world like. + +Let me know if you want more troops, or any thing else. + +Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +The railroad was repaired to Goldsboro' by the evening of March +25th, when, leaving General Schofield in chief command, with a +couple of staff-officers I started for City Point, Virginia, in a +locomotive, in company with Colonel Wright, the constructing +engineer. We reached Newbern that evening, which was passed in the +company of General Palmer and his accomplished lady, and early the +next morning we continued on to Morehead City, where General Easton +had provided for us the small captured steamer Russia, Captain +Smith. We put to sea at once and steamed up the coast, reaching +Fortress Monroe on the morning of the 27th, where I landed and +telegraphed to my brother, Senator Sherman, at Washington, inviting +him to come down and return with me to Goldsboro. We proceeded on +up James River to City Point, which we reached the same afternoon. +I found General Grant, with his family and staff, occupying a +pretty group of huts on the bank of James River, overlooking the +harbor, which was full of vessels of all classes, both war and +merchant, with wharves and warehouses on an extensive scale. The +general received me most heartily, and we talked over matters very +fully. After I had been with him an hour or so, he remarked that +the President, Mr. Lincoln, was then on board the steamer River +Queen, lying at the wharf, and he proposed that we should call and +see him. We walked down to the wharf, went on board, and found Mr. +Lincoln alone, in the after-cabin. He remembered me perfectly, and +at once engaged in a most interesting conversation. He was full of +curiosity about the many incidents of our great march, which had +reached him officially and through the newspapers, and seemed to +enjoy very much the more ludicrous parts-about the "bummers," and +their devices to collect food and forage when the outside world +supposed us to be starving; but at the same time he expressed a +good deal of anxiety lest some accident might happen to the army in +North Carolina during my absence. I explained to him that that +army was snug and comfortable, in good camps, at Goldsboro'; that +it would require some days to collect forage and food for another +march; and that General Schofield was fully competent to command it +in my absence. Having made a good, long, social visit, we took our +leave and returned to General Grant's quarters, where Mrs. Grant +had provided tea. While at the table, Mrs. Grant inquired if we +had seen Mrs. Lincoln. "No," said the general, "I did not ask for +her;" and I added that I did not even know that she was on board. +Mrs. Grant then exclaimed, "Well, you are a pretty pair!" and added +that our neglect was unpardonable; when the general said we would +call again the next day, and make amends for the unintended slight. + +Early the next day, March 28th, all the principal officers of the +army and navy called to see me, Generals Meade, Ord, Ingalls, etc., +and Admiral Porter. At this time the River Queen was at anchor out +in the river, abreast of the wharf, and we again started to visit +Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln. Admiral Porter accompanied us. We took a +small, tug at the wharf, which conveyed us on board, where we were +again received most courteously by the President, who conducted us +to the after-cabin. After the general compliments, General Grant +inquired after Mrs. Lincoln, when the President went to her state- +room, returned, and begged us to excuse her, as she was not well. +We then again entered upon a general conversation, during which +General Grant explained to the President that at that very instant +of time General Sheridan was crossing James River from the north, +by a pontoon-bridge below City Point; that he had a large, +well-appointed force of cavalry, with which he proposed to strike +the Southside and Danville Railroads, by which alone General Lee, +in Richmond, supplied his army; and that, in his judgment, matters +were drawing to a crisis, his only apprehension being that General +Lee would not wait long enough. I also explained that my army at +Goldsboro' was strong enough to fight Lee's army and Johnston's +combined, provided that General Grant could come up within a day or +so; that if Lee would only remain in Richmond another fortnight, I +could march up to Burkesville, when Lee would have to starve inside +of his lines, or come out from his intrenchments and fight us on +equal terms. + +Both General Grant and myself supposed that one or the other of us +would have to fight one more bloody battle, and that it would be +the last. Mr. Lincoln exclaimed, more than once, that there had +been blood enough shed, and asked us if another battle could not be +avoided. I remember well to have said that we could not control +that event; that this necessarily rested with our enemy; and I +inferred that both Jeff. Davis and General Lee would be forced to +fight one more desperate and bloody battle. I rather supposed it +would fall on me, somewhere near Raleigh; and General Grant added +that, if Lee would only wait a few more days, he would have his +army so disposed that if the enemy should abandon Richmond, and +attempt to make junction with General Jos. Johnston in North +Carolina, he (General Grant) would be on his heels. Mr. Lincoln +more than once expressed uneasiness that I was not with my army at +Goldsboro', when I again assured him that General Schofield was +fully competent to command in my absence; that I was going to start +back that very day, and that Admiral Porter had kindly provided for +me the steamer Bat, which he said was much swifter than my own +vessel, the Russia. During this interview I inquired of the +President if he was all ready for the end of the war. What was to +be done with the rebel armies when defeated? And what should be +done with the political leaders, such as Jeff. Davis, etc.? Should +we allow them to escape, etc.? He said he was all ready; all he +wanted of us was to defeat the opposing armies, and to get the men +composing the Confederate armies back to their homes, at work on +their farms and in their shops. As to Jeff. Davis, he was hardly +at liberty to speak his mind fully, but intimated that he ought to +clear out, "escape the country," only it would not do for him to +say so openly. As usual, he illustrated his meaning by a story: + +A man once had taken the total-abstinence pledge. When visiting a +friend, he was invited to take a drink, but declined, on the score +of his pledge; when his friend suggested lemonade, which was +accepted. In preparing the lemonade, the friend pointed to the +brandy-bottle, and said the lemonade would be more palatable if he +were to pour in a little brandy; when his guest said, if he could +do so "unbeknown" to him, he would "not object." From which +illustration I inferred that Mr. Lincoln wanted Davis to escape, +"unbeknown" to him. + +I made no notes of this conversation at the time, but Admiral +Porter, who was present, did, and in 1866 he furnished me an +account thereof, which I insert below, but the admiral describes +the first visit, of the 27th, whereas my memory puts Admiral +Porter's presence on the following day. Still he may be right, and +he may have been with us the day before, as I write this chiefly +from memory. There were two distinct interviews; the first was +late in the afternoon of March 27th, and the other about noon of +the 28th, both in the after-cabin of the steamer River Queen; on +both occasions Mr. Lincoln was full and frank in his conversation, +assuring me that in his mind he was all ready for the civil +reorganization of affairs at the South as soon as the war was over; +and he distinctly authorized me to assure Governor Vance and the +people of North Carolina that, as soon as the rebel armies laid +down their arms, and resumed their civil pursuits, they would at +once be guaranteed all their rights as citizens of a common +country; and that to avoid anarchy the State governments then in +existence, with their civil functionaries, would be recognized by +him as the government de facto till Congress could provide others. + +I know, when I left him, that I was more than ever impressed by his +kindly nature, his deep and earnest sympathy with the afflictions +of the whole people, resulting from the war, and by the march of +hostile armies through the South; and that his earnest desire +seemed to be to end the war speedily, without more bloodshed or +devastation, and to restore all the men of both sections to their +homes. In the language of his second inaugural address, he seemed +to have "charity for all, malice toward none," and, above all, an +absolute faith in the courage, manliness, and integrity of the +armies in the field. When at rest or listening, his legs and arms +seemed to hang almost lifeless, and his face was care-worn and +haggard; but, the moment he began to talk, his face lightened up, +his tall form, as it were, unfolded, and he was the very +impersonation of good-humor and fellowship. The last words I +recall as addressed to me were that he would feel better when I was +back at Goldsboro'. We parted at the gangway of the River Queen, +about noon of March 28th, and I never saw him again. Of all the +men I ever met, he seemed to possess more of the elements of +greatness, combined with goodness, than any other. + + + +ADMIRAL PORTER'S ACCOUNT OF THE INTERVIEW WITH +Mr. LINCOLN. + +The day of General Sherman's arrival at City Point (I think the +27th of March, 1866), I accompanied him and General Grant on board +the President's flagship, the Queen, where the President received +us in the upper saloon, no one but ourselves being present. + +The President was in an exceedingly pleasant mood, and delighted to +meet General Sherman, whom he cordially greeted. + +It seems that this was the first time he had met Sherman, to +remember him, since the beginning of the war, and did not remember +when he had seen him before, until the general reminded him of the +circumstances of their first meeting. + +This was rather singular on the part of Mr. Lincoln, who was, I +think, remarkable for remembering people, having that kingly +quality in an eminent degree. Indeed, such was the power of his +memory, that he seemed never to forget the most minute +circumstance. + +The conversation soon turned on the events of Sherman's campaign +through the South, with every movement of which the President +seemed familiar. + +He laughed over some of the stories Sherman told of his "bummers," +and told others in return, which illustrated in a striking manner +the ideas he wanted to convey. For example, he would often express +his wishes by telling an apt story, which was quite a habit with +him, and one that I think he adopted to prevent his committing +himself seriously. + +The interview between the two generals and the President lasted +about an hour and a half, and, as it was a remarkable one, I jotted +down what I remembered of the conversation, as I have made a +practice of doing during the rebellion, when any thing interesting +occurred. + +I don't regret having done so, as circumstances afterward occurred +(Stanton's ill conduct toward Sherman) which tended to cast odium +on General Sherman for allowing such liberal terms to Jos. +Johnston. + +Could the conversation that occurred on board the Queen, between +the President and General Sherman, have been known, Sherman would +not, and could not, have been censored. Mr. Lincoln, had he lived, +would have acquitted the general of any blame, for he was only +carrying out the President's wishes. + +My opinion is, that Mr. Lincoln came down to City Point with the +most liberal views toward the rebels. He felt confident that we +would be successful, and was willing that the enemy should +capitulate on the most favorable terms. + +I don't know what the President would have done had he been left to +himself, and had our army been unsuccessful, but he was than +wrought up to a high state of excitement. He wanted peace on +almost any terms, and there is no knowing what proposals he might +have been willing to listen to. His heart was tenderness +throughout, and, as long as the rebels laid down their arms, he did +not care how it was done. I do not know how far he was influenced +by General Grant, but I presume, from their long conferences, that +they must have understood each other perfectly, and that the terms +given to Lee after his surrender were authorized by Mr. Lincoln. I +know that the latter was delighted when he heard that they had been +given, and exclaimed, a dozen times, "Good!" "All right!" +"Exactly the thing!" and other similar expressions. Indeed, the +President more than once told me what he supposed the terms would +be: if Lee and Johnston surrendered, he considered the war ended, +and that all the other rebel forces world lay down their arms at +once. + +In this he proved to be right. Grant and Sherman were both of the +same opinion, and so was everyone else who knew anything about the +matter. + +What signified the terms to them, so long as we obtained the actual +surrender of people who only wanted a good opportunity to give up +gracefully? The rebels had fought "to the last ditch," and all +that they had left them was the hope of being handed down in +history as having received honorable terms. + +After hearing General Sherman's account of his own position, and +that of Johnston, at that time, the President expressed fears that +the rebel general would escape south again by the railroads, and +that General Sherman would have to chase him anew, over the same +ground; but the general pronounced this to be impracticable. He +remarked: "I have him where he cannot move without breaking up his +army, which, once disbanded, can never again be got together; and I +have destroyed the Southern railroads, so that they cannot be used +again for a long time." General Grant remarked, "What is to +prevent their laying the rails again?" "Why," said General +Sherman, "my bummers don't do things by halves. Every rail, after +having been placed over a hot fire, has been twisted as crooked as +a ram's-horn, and they never can be used again." + +This was the only remark made by General Grant during the +interview, as he sat smoking a short distance from the President, +intent, no doubt, on his own plans, which were being brought to a +successful termination. + +The conversation between the President and General Sherman, about +the terms of surrender to be allowed Jos. Johnston, continued. +Sherman energetically insisted that he could command his own terms, +and that Johnston would have to yield to his demands; but the +President was very decided about the matter, and insisted that the +surrender of Johnston's army most be obtained on any terms. + +General Grant was evidently of the same way of thinking, for, +although he did not join in the conversation to any extent, yet he +made no objections, and I presume had made up his mind to allow the +best terms himself. + +He was also anxious that Johnston should not be driven into +Richmond, to reenforce the rebels there, who, from behind their +strong intrenchments, would have given us incalculable trouble. + +Sherman, as a subordinate officer, yielded his views to those of +the President, and the terms of capitulation between himself and +Johnston were exactly in accordance with Mr. Lincoln's wishes. He +could not have done any thing which would have pleased the +President better. + +Mr. Lincoln did, in fact, arrange the (so considered) liberal terms +offered General Jos. Johnston, and, whatever may have been General +Sherman's private views, I feel sure that he yielded to the wishes +of the President in every respect. It was Mr. Lincoln's policy +that was carried out, and, had he lived long enough, he would have +been but too glad to have acknowledged it. Had Mr. Lincoln lived, +Secretary Stanton would have issued no false telegraphic +dispatches, in the hope of killing off another general in the +regular army, one who by his success had placed himself in the way +of his own succession. + +The disbanding of Jos. Johnston's army was so complete, that the +pens and ink used in the discussion of the matter were all wasted. + +It was asserted, by the rabid ones, that General Sherman had given +up all that we had been fighting for, had conceded every thing to +Jos. Johnston, and had, as the boys say, "knocked the fat into the +fire;" but sober reflection soon overruled these harsh expressions, +and, with those who knew General Sherman, and appreciated him, he +was still the great soldier, patriot, and gentleman. In future +times this matter will be looked at more calmly and +dispassionately. The bitter animosities that have been engendered +during the rebellion will have died out for want of food on which +to live, and the very course Grant, Sherman, and others pursued, in +granting liberal terms to the defeated rebels, will be applauded. +The fact is, they met an old beggar in the road, whose crutches had +broken from under him: they let him have only the broken crutches +to get home with! + +I sent General Sherman back to Newbern, North Carolina, in the +steamer Bat. + +While he was absent from his command he was losing no time, for he +was getting his army fully equipped with stores and clothing; and, +when he returned, he had a rested and regenerated army, ready to +swallow up Jos. Johnston and all his ragamuffins. + +Johnston was cornered, could not move without leaving every thing +behind him, and could not go to Richmond without bringing on a +famine in that destitute city. + +I was with Mr. Lincoln all the time he was at City Point, and until +he left for Washington. He was more than delighted with the +surrender of Lee, and with the terms Grant gave the rebel general; +and would have given Jos. Johnston twice as much, had the latter +asked for it, and could he have been certain that the rebel world +have surrendered without a fight. I again repeat that, had Mr. +Lincoln lived, he would have shouldered all the responsibility. + +One thing is certain: had Jos. Johnston escaped and got into +Richmond, and caused a larger list of killed and wounded than we +had, General Sherman would have been blamed. Then why not give him +the full credit of capturing on the best terms the enemy's last +important army and its best general, and putting an end to the +rebellion. + +It was a finale worthy of Sherman's great march through the swamps +and deserts of the South, a march not excelled by any thing we read +of in modern military history. + +D. D. PORTER, Vice-Admiral. + +(Written by the admiral in 1866, at the United States Naval Academy +at Annapolis, Md., and mailed to General Sherman at St. Louis, Mo.) + + +As soon as possible, I arranged with General Grant for certain +changes in the organization of my army; and the general also +undertook to send to North Carolina some tug-boat and barges to +carry stores from Newbern up as far as Kinston, whence they could +be hauled in wagons to our camps, thus relieving our railroads to +that extent. I undertook to be ready to march north by April 10th, +and then embarked on the steamer Bat, Captain Barnes, for North +Carolina. We steamed down James River, and at Old Point Comfort +took on board my brother, Senator Sherman, and Mr. Edwin Stanton, +son of the Secretary of War, and proceeded at once to our +destination. On our way down the river, Captain Barnes expressed +himself extremely obliged to me for taking his vessel, as it had +relieved him of a most painful dilemma. He explained that he had +been detailed by Admiral Porter to escort the President's unarmed +boat, the River Queen, in which capacity it became his special duty +to look after Mrs. Lincoln. The day before my arrival at City +Point, there had been a grand review of a part of the Army of the +James, then commanded by General Ord. The President rode out from +City Point with General Grant on horseback, accompanied by a +numerous staff, including Captain Barnes and Mrs. Ord; but Mrs. +Lincoln and Mrs. Grant had followed in a carriage. + +The cavalcade reached the review-ground some five or six miles out +from City Point, found the troops all ready, drawn up in line, and +after the usual presentation of arms, the President and party, +followed by Mrs. Ord and Captain Barnes on horseback, rode the +lines, and returned to the reviewing stand, which meantime had been +reached by Mrs. Lincoln and Mrs. Grant in their carriage, which had +been delayed by the driver taking a wrong road. Mrs. Lincoln, +seeing Mrs. Ord and Captain Barnes riding with the retinue, and +supposing that Mrs. Ord had personated her, turned on Captain +Barnes and gave him a fearful scolding; and even indulged in some +pretty sharp upbraidings to Mrs. Ord. + +This made Barne's position very unpleasant, so that he felt much +relieved when he was sent with me to North Carolina. The Bat was +very fast, and on the morning of the 29th we were near Cape +Hatteras; Captain Barnes, noticing a propeller coming out of +Hatteras Inlet, made her turn back and pilot us in. We entered +safely, steamed up Pamlico Sound into Neuse River, and the next +morning,--by reason of some derangement of machinery, we anchored +about seven miles below Newbern, whence we went up in Captain +Barnes's barge. As soon as we arrived at Newbern, I telegraphed up +to General Schofield at Goldsboro' the fact of my return, and that +I had arranged with General Grant for the changes made necessary in +the reorganization of the army, and for the boats necessary to +carry up the provisions and stores we needed, prior to the renewal +of our march northward. + +These changes amounted to constituting the left wing a distinct +army, under the title of "the Army of Georgia," under command of +General Slocum, with his two corps commanded by General Jeff. C. +Davis and General Joseph A. Mower; the Tenth and Twenty-third Corps +already constituted another army, "of the Ohio," under the command +of Major-General Schofield, and his two corps were commanded by +Generals J. D. Cox and A. H. Terry. These changes were necessary, +because army commanders only could order courts-martial, grant +discharges, and perform many other matters of discipline and +administration which were indispensable; but my chief purpose was +to prepare the whole army for what seemed among the probabilities +of the time--to fight both Lee's and Johnston's armies combined, in +case their junction could be formed before General Grant could +possibly follow Lee to North Carolina. + +General George H. Thomas, who still remained at Nashville, was not +pleased with these changes, for the two corps with General Slocum, +viz., the Fourteenth and Twentieth, up to that time, had remained +technically a part of his "Army of the Cumberland;" but he was so +far away, that I had to act to the best advantage with the troops +and general officers actually present. I had specially asked for +General Mower to command the Twentieth Corps, because I regarded +him as one of the boldest and best fighting generals in the whole +army. His predecessor, General A. S. Williams, the senior division +commander present, had commanded the corps well from Atlanta to +Goldsboro', and it may have seemed unjust to replace him at that +precise moment; but I was resolved to be prepared for a most +desperate and, as then expected, a final battle, should it fall on +me. + +I returned to Goldsboro' from Newbern by rail the evening of March +30th, and at once addressed myself to the task of reorganization +and replenishment of stores, so as to be ready to march by April +10th, the day agreed on with General Grant. + +The army was divided into the usual three parts, right and left +wings, and centre. The tabular statements herewith will give the +exact composition of these separate armies, which by the 10th of +April gave the following effective strength: + + + Infantry ................... 80,968 + Artillery .................. 2,448 + Cavalry .................... 5,587 + + Aggregate ............ 88,948 + Total number of guns, 91 + + +The railroads to our rear had also been repaired, so that stores +were arriving very fast, both from Morehead City and Wilmington. +The country was so level that a single locomotive could haul +twenty-five and thirty cars to a train, instead of only ten, as was +the case in Tennessee and Upper Georgia. + +By the 5th of April such progress had been made, that I issued the +following Special Field Orders, No. 48, prescribing the time and +manner of the next march + + +[Special Field Orders, No. 48.] + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, GOLDSBORO', NORTH CAROLINA, April 5, 1865. + +Confidential to Army Commanders, Corps Commanders, and Chiefs of +Staff Departments: + +The next grand objective is to place this army (with its full +equipment) north of Roanoke River, facing west, with a base for +supplies at Norfolk, and at Winton or Murfreesboro' on the Chowan, +and in full communication with the Army of the Potomac, about +Petersburg; and also to do the enemy as much harm as possible en +route: + +1. To accomplish this result the following general plan will be +followed, or modified only by written orders from these +headquarters, should events require a change: + +(1.) On Monday, the 10th of April, all preparations are presumed to +be complete, and the outlying detachments will be called in, or +given directions to meet on the next march. All preparations will +also be complete to place the railroad-stock back of Kinston on the +one road, and below the Northeast Branch on the other. + +(2.) On Tuesday, the 11th, the columns will draw out on their lines +of march, say, about seven miles, and close up. + +(3.) On Wednesday the march will begin in earnest, and will be kept +up at the rate, say, of about twelve miles a day, or according to +the amount of resistance. All the columns will dress to the left +(which is the exposed flank), and commanders will study always to +find roads by which they can, if necessary, perform a general left +wheel, the wagons to be escorted to some place of security on the +direct route of march. Foraging and other details may continue as +heretofore, only more caution and prudence should be observed; and +foragers should not go in advance of the advance-guard, but look +more to our right rear for corn, bacon, and meal. + +2. The left wing (Major-General Slocum commanding) will aim +straight for the railroad-bridge near Smithfield; thence along up +the Neuse River to the railroad-bridge over Neuse River, northeast +of Raleigh (Powell's); thence to Warrenton, the general point of +concentration. + +The centre (Major-General Schofield commanding) will move to +Whitley's Mill, ready to support the left until it is past +Smithfield, when it will follow up (substantially) Little River to +about Rolesville, ready at all times to move to the support of the +left; after passing Tar River, to move to Warrenton. + +The right wing (Major-General Howard commanding), preceded by the +cavalry, will move rapidly on Pikeville and Nahunta, then swing +across to Bulah to Folk's Bridge, ready to make junction with the +other armies in case the enemy offers battle this side of Neuse +River, about Smithfield; thence, in case of no serious opposition +on the left, will work up toward Earpsboro', Andrews, B----, and +Warrenton. + +The cavalry (General Kilpatrick commanding), leaving its +encumbrances with the right wing, will push as though straight for +Weldon, until the enemy is across Tar River, and that bridge +burned; then it will deflect toward Nashville and Warrenton, +keeping up communication with general headquarters. + +3. As soon as the army starts, the chief-quartermaster and +commissary will prepare a resupply of stores at some point on +Pamlico or Albemarle Sounds, ready to be conveyed to Kinston or +Winton and Murfreesboro', according to developments. As soon as +they have satisfactory information that the army is north of the +Roanoke, they will forthwith establish a depot at Winton, with a +sub-depot at Murfreesboro'. Major-General Schofield will hold, as +heretofore, Wilmington (with the bridge across Northern Branch as +an outpost), Newborn (and Kinston as its outpost), and will be +prepared to hold Winton and Murfreesboro' as soon as the time +arrives for that move. The navy has instructions from Admiral +Porter to cooperate, and any commanding officer is authorized to +call on the navy for assistance and cooperation, always in writing, +setting forth the reasons, of which necessarily the naval +commander must be the judge. + +4. The general-in-chief will be with the centre habitually, but +may in person shift to either flank where his presence may be +needed, leaving a staff-officer to receive reports. He requires, +absolutely, a report of each army or grand detachment each night, +whether any thing material has occurred or not, for often the +absence of an enemy is a very important fact in military +prognostication. + +By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman, + +L. M. DAYTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. + + +But the whole problem became suddenly changed by the news of the +fall of Richmond and Petersburg, which reached as at Goldsboro', on +the 6th of April. The Confederate Government, with Lee's army, had +hastily abandoned Richmond, fled in great disorder toward Danville, +and General Grant's whole army was in close pursuit. Of course, I +inferred that General Lee would succeed in making junction with +General Johnston, with at least a fraction of his army, somewhere +to my front. I at once altered the foregoing orders, and prepared +on the day appointed, viz., April 10th, to move straight on +Raleigh, against the army of General Johnston, known to be at +Smithfield, and supposed to have about thirty-five thousand men. +Wade Hampton's cavalry was on his left front and Wheeler's on his +right front, simply watching us and awaiting our initiative. +Meantime the details of the great victories in Virginia came thick +and fast, and on the 8th I received from General Grant this +communication, in the form of a cipher-dispatch: + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +WILSON'S STATION, April 5, 1865 + + +Major-General SHERMAN, Goldsboro', North Carolina: + +All indications now are that Lee will attempt to reach Danville +with the remnant of his force. Sheridan, who was up with him last +night, reports all that is left with him--horse, foot, and +dragoons--at twenty thousand, much demoralized. We hope to reduce +this number one-half. I will push on to Burkesville, and, if a +stand is made at Danville, will, in a very few days, go there. If +you can possibly do so, push on from where you are, and let us see +if we cannot finish the job with Lee's and Johnston's armies. +Whether it will be better for you to strike for Greensboro' or +nearer to Danville, you will be better able to judge when you +receive this. Rebel armies now are the only strategic points to +strike at. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +I answered immediately that we would move on the 10th, prepared to +follow Johnston wherever he might go. Promptly on Monday morning, +April 10th, the army moved straight on Smithfield; the right wing +making a circuit by the right, and the left wing, supported by the +centre, moving on the two direct roads toward Raleigh, distant +fifty miles. General Terry's and General Kilpatrick's troops moved +from their positions on the south or west bank of the Neuse River +in the same general direction, by Cox's Bridge. On the 11th we +reached Smithfield, and found it abandoned by Johnston's army, +which had retreated hastily on Raleigh, burning the bridges. To +restore these consumed the remainder of the day, and during that +night I received a message from General Grant, at Appomattox, that +General Lee had surrendered to him his whole army, which I at once +announced to the troops in orders: + + +[Special Field Orders, No. 54] + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, SMITHFIELD, NORTH CAROLINA, April 12, 1865. + +The general commanding announces to the army that he has official +notice from General Grant that General Lee surrendered to him his +entire army, on the 9th inst., at Appomattox Court-House, Virginia. + +Glory to God and our country, and all honor to our comrades in +arms, toward whom we are marching! + +A little more labor, a little more toil on our part, the great race +is won, and our Government stands regenerated, after four long +years of war. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + +Of course, this created a perfect furore, of rejoicing, and we all +regarded the war as over, for I knew well that General Johnston had +no army with which to oppose mine. So that the only questions that +remained were, would he surrender at Raleigh? or would he allow +his army to disperse into guerrilla bands, to "die in the last +ditch," and entail on his country an indefinite and prolonged +military occupation, and of consequent desolation? I knew well +that Johnston's army could not be caught; the country was too open; +and, without wagons, the men could escape us, disperse, and +assemble again at some place agreed on, and thus the war might be +prolonged indefinitely. + +I then remembered Mr. Lincoln's repeated expression that he wanted +the rebel soldiers not only defeated, but "back at their homes, +engaged in their civil pursuits." On the evening of the 12th I was +with the head of Slocum's column, at Gulley's, and General +Kilpatrick's cavalry was still ahead, fighting Wade Hampton's +rear-guard, with orders to push it through Raleigh, while I would +give a more southerly course to the infantry columns, so as, if +possible, to prevent a retreat southward. On the 13th, early, I +entered Raleigh, and ordered the several heads of column toward +Ashville in the direction of Salisbury or Charlotte. Before +reaching Raleigh, a locomotive came down the road to meet me, +passing through both Wade Hampton's and Kilpatrick's cavalry, +bringing four gentlemen, with a letter from Governor Vance to me, +asking protection for the citizens of Raleigh. These gentlemen +were, of course, dreadfully excited at the dangers through which +they had passed. Among them were ex-Senator Graham, Mr. Swain, +president of Chapel Hill University, and a Surgeon Warren, of the +Confederate army. They had come with a flag of truce, to which +they were not entitled; still, in the interest of peace, I +respected it, and permitted them to return to Raleigh with their +locomotive, to assure the Governor and the people that the war was +substantially over, and that I wanted the civil authorities to +remain in the execution of their office till the pleasure of the +President could be ascertained. On reaching Raleigh I found these +same gentlemen, with Messrs. Badger, Bragg, Holden, and others, but +Governor Vance had fled, and could not be prevailed on to return, +because he feared an arrest and imprisonment. From the Raleigh +newspapers of the 10th I learned that General Stoneman, with his +division of cavalry, had come across the mountains from East +Tennessee, had destroyed the railroad at Salisbury, and was then +supposed to be approaching Greensboro'. I also learned that +General Wilson's cavalry corps was "smashing things" down about +Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, and was pushing for Columbus and +Macon, Georgia; and I also had reason to expect that General +Sheridan would come down from Appomattox to join us at Raleigh with +his superb cavalry corps. I needed more cavalry to check +Johnston's retreat, so that I could come up to him with my +infantry, and therefore had good reason to delay. I ordered the +railroad to be finished up to Raleigh, so that I could operate from +it as a base, and then made: + + +[Special Field Orders, No. 55] + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD, +RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, April 14, 1865. + +The next movement will be on Ashboro', to turn the position of the +enemy at the "Company's Shops" in rear of Haw River Bridge, and at +Greensboro', and to cut off his only available line of retreat by +Salisbury and Charlotte: + +1. General Kilpatrick will keep up a show of pursuit in the +direction of Hillsboro' and Graham, but be ready to cross Haw River +on General Howard's bridge, near Pittsboro', and thence will +operate toward Greensboro', on the right front of the right wing. + +2. The right wing, Major-General Howard commanding, will move out +on the Chapel Hill road, and send a light division up in the +direction of Chapel Hill University to act in connection with the +cavalry; but the main columns and trains will move via Hackney's +Cross-Roads, and Trader's Hill, Pittsboro', St. Lawrence, etc., to +be followed by the cavalry and light division, as soon as the +bridge is laid over Haw River. + +8. The centre, Major-General Schofield commanding, will move via +Holly Springs, New Hill, Haywood, and Moffitt's Mills. + +4. The left wing, Major-General Slocum commanding, will move +rapidly by the Aven's Ferry road, Carthage, Caledonia, and Cox's +Mills. + +5. All the troops will draw well out on the roads designated +during today and to-morrow, and on the following day will move with +all possible rapidity for Ashboro'. No further destruction of +railroads, mills, cotton, and produce, will be made without the +specific orders of an army commander, and the inhabitants will be +dealt with kindly, looking to an early reconciliation. The troops +will be permitted, however, to gather forage and provisions as +heretofore; only more care should be taken not to strip the poorer +classes too closely. + +By order of General W. T. Sherman, + +L. M. DAYTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. + + +Thus matters stood, when on the morning of the 14th General +Kilpatrick reported from Durham's Station, twenty-six miles up the +railroad toward Hillsboro', that a flag of truce had come in from +the enemy with a package from General Johnston addressed to me. +Taking it for granted that this was preliminary to a surrender, I +ordered the message to be sent me at Raleigh, and on the 14th +received from General Johnston a letter dated April 13, 1865, in +these words: + + +The results of the recent campaign in Virginia have changed the +relative military condition of the belligerents. I am, therefore, +induced to address you in this form the inquiry whether, to stop +the further effusion of blood and devastation of property, you are +willing to make a temporary suspension of active operations, and to +communicate to Lieutenant-General Grant, commanding the armies of +the United States, the request that he will take like action in +regard to other armies, the object being to permit the civil +authorities to enter into the needful arrangements to terminate the +existing war. + + +To which I replied as follows: + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, April 14, 1865. + +General J. E. JOHNSTON, commanding Confederate Army. + +GENERAL: I have this moment received your communication of this +date. I am fully empowered to arrange with you any terms for the +suspension of farther hostilities between the armies commanded by +you and those commanded by myself, and will be willing to confer +with you to that end. I will limit the advance of my main column, +to-morrow, to Morrisville, and the cavalry to the university, and +expect that you will also maintain the present position of your +forces until each has notice of a failure to agree. + +That a basis of action may be had, I undertake to abide by the same +terms and conditions as were made by Generals Grant and Lee at +Appomattox Court-House, on the 9th instant, relative to our two +armies; and, furthermore, to obtain from General Grant an order to +suspend the movements of any troops from the direction of Virginia. +General Stoneman is under my command, and my order will suspend any +devastation or destruction contemplated by him. I will add that I +really desire to save the people of North Carolina the damage they +would sustain by the march of this army through the central or +western parts of the State. + +I am, with respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +I sent my aide-de-camp, Colonel McCoy, up to Durham's Station with +this letter, with instructions to receive the answer, to telegraph +its contents back to me at Raleigh, and to arrange for an +interview. On the 16th I received a reply from General Johnston, +agreeing to meet me the next day at a point midway between our +advance at Durham and his rear at Hillsboro'. I ordered a car and +locomotive to be prepared to convey me up to Durham's at eight +o'clock of the morning of April 17th. Just as we were entering the +car, the telegraph-operator, whose office was up-stairs in the +depot-building, ran down to me and said that he was at that instant +of time receiving a most important dispatch in cipher from Morehead +City, which I ought to see. I held the train for nearly half an +hour, when he returned with the message translated and written out. +It was from Mr. Stanton, announcing the assassination of Mr. +Lincoln, the attempt on the life of Mr. Seward and son, and a +suspicion that a like fate was designed for General Grant and all +the principal officers of the Government. Dreading the effect of +such a message at that critical instant of time, I asked the +operator if any one besides himself had seen it; he answered No! +I then bade him not to reveal the contents by word or look till I +came back, which I proposed to do the same afternoon. The train +then started, and, as we passed Morris's Station, General Logan, +commanding the Fifteenth Corps, came into my car, and I told him I +wanted to see him on my return, as I had something very important +to communicate. He knew I was going to meet General Johnston, and +volunteered to say that he hoped I would succeed in obtaining his +surrender, as the whole army dreaded the long march to Charlotte +(one hundred and seventy-five miles), already begun, but which had +been interrupted by the receipt of General Johnston's letter of the +13th. We reached Durham's, twenty-six miles, about 10 a.m., where +General Kilpatrick had a squadron of cavalry drawn up to receive +me. We passed into the house in which he had his headquarters, and +soon after mounted some led horses, which he had prepared for +myself and staff. General Kilpatrick sent a man ahead with a white +flag, followed by a small platoon, behind which we rode, and were +followed by the rest of the escort. We rode up the Hillsboro' road +for about five miles, when our flag bearer discovered another +coming to meet him: They met, and word was passed back to us that +General Johnston was near at hand, when we rode forward and met +General Johnston on horseback, riding side by side with General +Wade Hampton. We shook hands, and introduced our respective +attendants. I asked if there was a place convenient where we could +be private, and General Johnston said he had passed a small +farmhouse a short distance back, when we rode back to it together +side by side, our staff-officers and escorts following. We had +never met before, though we had been in the regular army together +for thirteen years; but it so happened that we had never before +come +together. He was some twelve or more years my senior; but we knew +enough of each other to be well acquainted at once. We soon +reached the house of a Mr. Bennett, dismounted, and left our horses +with orderlies in the road. Our officers, on foot, passed into the +yard, and General Johnston and I entered the small frame-house. We +asked the farmer if we could have the use of his house for a few +minutes, and he and his wife withdrew into a smaller log-house, +which stood close by. + +As soon as we were alone together I showed him the dispatch +announcing Mr. Lincoln's assassination, and watched him closely. +The perspiration came out in large drops on his forehead, and he +did not attempt to conceal his distress. He denounced the act as a +disgrace to the age, and hoped I did not charge it to the +Confederate Government. I told him I could not believe that he or +General Lee, or the officers of the Confederate army, could +possibly be privy to acts of assassination; but I would not say as +much for Jeff. Davis, George Sanders, and men of that stripe. We +talked about the effect of this act on the country at large and on +the armies, and he realized that it made my situation extremely +delicate. I explained to him that I had not yet revealed the news +to my own personal staff or to the army, and that I dreaded the +effect when made known in Raleigh. Mr. Lincoln was peculiarly +endeared to the soldiers, and I feared that some foolish woman or +man in Raleigh might say something or do something that would +madden our men, and that a fate worse than that of Columbia would +befall the place. + +I then told Johnston that he must be convinced that he could not +oppose my army, and that, since Lee had surrendered, he could do +the same with honor and propriety. He plainly and repeatedly +admitted this, and added that any further fighting would be +"murder;" but he thought that, instead of surrendering piecemeal, +we might arrange terms that would embrace all the Confederate +armies. I asked him if he could control other armies than his own; +he said, not then, but intimated that he could procure authority +from Mr. Davis. I then told him that I had recently had an +interview with General Grant and President Lincoln, and that I was +possessed of their views; that with them and the people North there +seemed to be no vindictive feeling against the Confederate armies, +but there was against Davis and his political adherents; and that +the terms that General Grant had given to General Lee's army were +certainly most generous and liberal. All this he admitted, but +always recurred to the idea of a universal surrender, embracing his +own army, that of Dick Taylor in Louisiana and Texas, and of Maury, +Forrest, and others, in Alabama and Georgia. General Johnston's +account of our interview in his "Narrative" (page 402, et seq.) is +quite accurate and correct, only I do not recall his naming the +capitulation of Loeben, to which he refers. Our conversation was +very general and extremely cordial, satisfying me that it could +have but one result, and that which we all desired, viz., to end +the war as quickly as possible; and, being anxious to return to +Raleigh before the news of Mr. Lincoln's assassination could be +divulged, on General Johnston's saying that he thought that, during +the night, he could procure authority to act in the name of all the +Confederate armies in existence we agreed to meet again the next +day at noon at the same place, and parted, he for Hillsboro' and I +for Raleigh. + +We rode back to Durham's Station in the order we had come, and then +I showed the dispatch announcing Mr. Lincoln's death. I cautioned +the officers to watch the soldiers closely, to prevent any violent +retaliation by them, leaving that to the Government at Washington; +and on our way back to Raleigh in the cars I showed the same +dispatch to General Logan and to several of the officers of the +Fifteenth Corps that were posted at Morrisville and Jones's +Station, all of whom were deeply impressed by it; but all gave +their opinion that this sad news should not change our general +course of action. + +As soon as I reached Raleigh I published the following orders to +the army, announcing the assassination of the President, and I +doubt if, in the whole land, there were more sincere mourners over +his sad fate than were then in and about Raleigh. I watched the +effect closely, and was gratified that there was no single act of +retaliation; though I saw and felt that one single word by me would +have laid the city in ashes, and turned its whole population +houseless upon the country, if not worse: + +[Special Field Orders, No. 56.] + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, April 17, 1865. + +The general commanding announces, with pain and sorrow, that on the +evening of the 14th instant, at the theatre in Washington city, his +Excellency the President of the United States, Mr. Lincoln, was +assassinated by one who uttered the State motto of Virginia. At +the same time, the Secretary of State, Mr. Seward, while suffering +from a broken arm, was also stabbed by another murderer in his own +house, but still survives, and his son was wounded, supposed +fatally. It is believed, by persons capable of judging, that other +high officers were designed to share the same fate. Thus it seems +that our enemy, despairing of meeting us in open, manly warfare, +begins to resort to the assassin's tools. + +Your general does not wish you to infer that this is universal, for +he knows that the great mass of the Confederate army world scorn to +sanction each acts, but he believes it the legitimate consequence +of rebellion against rightful authority. + +We have met every phase which this war has assumed, and must now be +prepared for it in its last and worst shape, that of assassins and +guerrillas; but woe onto the people who seek to expend their wild +passions in such a manner, for there is but one dread result! + +By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman, + +L. M. DAYTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. + + +During the evening of the 17th and morning of the 18th I saw nearly +all the general officers of the army (Schofield, Slocum, Howard, +Logan, Blair), and we talked over the matter of the conference at +Bennett's house of the day before, and, without exception, all +advised me to agree to some terms, for they all dreaded the long +and harassing march in pursuit of a dissolving and fleeing army-- +a march that might carry us back again over the thousand miles that +we had just accomplished. We all knew that if we could bring +Johnston's army to bay, we could destroy it in an hour, but that +was simply impossible in the country in which we found ourselves. +We discussed all the probabilities, among which was, whether, if +Johnston made a point of it, I should assent to the escape from the +country of Jeff. Davis and his fugitive cabinet; and some one of my +general officers, either Logan or Blair, insisted that, if asked +for, we should even provide a vessel to carry them to Nassau from +Charleston. + +The next morning I again started in the cars to Durham's Station, +accompanied by most of my personal staff, and by Generals Blair, +Barry, Howard, etc., and, reaching General Kilpatrick's +headquarters at Durham's, we again mounted, and rode, with the same +escort of the day, before, to Bennett's house, reaching there +punctually at noon. General Johnston had not yet arrived, but a +courier shortly came, and reported him as on the way. It must have +been nearly 2 p.m. when he arrived, as before, with General Wade +Hampton. He had halted his escort out of sight, and we again +entered Bennett's house, and I closed the door. General Johnston +then assured me that he had authority over all the Confederate +armies, so that they would obey his orders to surrender on the same +terms with his own, but he argued that, to obtain so cheaply this +desirable result, I ought to give his men and officers some +assurance of their political rights after their surrender. I +explained to him that Mr. Lincoln's proclamation of amnesty, of +December 8, 1863, still in force; enabled every Confederate soldier +and officer, below the rank of colonel, to obtain an absolute +pardon, by simply laying down his arms, and taking the common oath +of allegiance, and that General Grant, in accepting the surrender +of General Lee's army, had extended the same principle to all the +officers, General Lee included; such a pardon, I understood, would +restore to them all their rights of citizenship. But he insisted +that the officers and men of the Confederate army were +unnecessarily alarmed about this matter, as a sort of bugbear. He +then said that Mr. Breckenridge was near at hand, and he thought +that it would be well for him to be present. I objected, on the +score that he was then in Davis's cabinet, and our negotiations +should be confined strictly to belligerents. He then said +Breckenridge was a major-general in the Confederate army, and might +sink his character of Secretary of War. I consented, and he sent +one of his staff-officers back, who soon returned with +Breckenridge, and he entered the room. General Johnston and I then +again went over the whole ground, and Breckenridge confirmed what +he had said as to the uneasiness of the Southern officers and +soldiers about their political rights in case of surrender. While +we were in consultation, a messenger came with a parcel of papers, +which General Johnston said were from Mr. Reagan, +Postmaster-General. He and Breckenridge looked over them, and, +after some side conversation, he handed one of the papers to me. +It was in Reagan's handwriting, and began with a long preamble and +terms, so general and verbose, that I said they were inadmissible. +Then recalling the conversation of Mr. Lincoln, at City Point, I +sat down at the table, and wrote off the terms, which I thought +concisely expressed his views and wishes, and explained that I was +willing to submit these terms to the new President, Mr. Johnson, +provided that both armies should remain in statu quo until the +truce therein declared should expire. I had full faith that +General Johnston would religiously respect the truce, which he did; +and that I would be the gainer, for in the few days it would take +to send the papers to Washington, and receive an answer, I could +finish the railroad up to Raleigh, and be the better prepared for a +long chase. + +Neither Mr. Breckenridge nor General Johnston wrote one word of +that paper. I wrote it myself, and announced it as the best I +could do, and they readily assented. + +While copies of this paper were being made for signature, the +officers of our staffs commingled in the yard at Bennett's house, +and were all presented to Generals Johnston and Breckenridge. All +without exception were rejoiced that the war was over, and that in +a very few days we could turn our faces toward home. I remember +telling Breckenridge that he had better get away, as the feeling of +our people was utterly hostile to the political element of the +South, and to him especially, because he was the Vice-President of +the United States, who had as such announced Mr. Lincoln, of +Illinois, duly and properly elected the President of the United +States, and yet that he had afterward openly rebelled and taken up +arms against the Government. He answered me that he surely would +give us no more trouble, and intimated that he would speedily leave +the country forever. I may have also advised him that Mr. Davis +too should get abroad as soon as possible. + +The papers were duly signed; we parted about dark, and my party +returned to Raleigh. Early the next morning, April 19th, I +dispatched by telegraph to Morehead City to prepare a fleet-steamer +to carry a messenger to Washington, and sent Major Henry Hitchcock +down by rail, bearing the following letters, and agreement with +General Johnston, with instructions to be very careful to let +nothing escape him to the greedy newspaper correspondents, but to +submit his papers to General Halleck, General Grant, or the +Secretary of War, and to bring me back with all expedition their +orders and instructions. + +On their face they recited that I had no authority to make final +terms involving civil or political questions, but that I submitted +them to the proper quarter in Washington for their action; and the +letters fully explained that the military situation was such that +the delay was an advantage to us. I cared little whether they were +approved, modified, or disapproved in toto; only I wanted +instructions. Many of my general officers, among whom, I am almost +positive, were Generals Logan and Blair, urged me to accept the +"terms," without reference at all to Washington, but I preferred +the latter course: + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, IN THE FIELD, +RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, April 18, 1886. + +General H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff, Washington, D. C. + +GENERAL: I received your dispatch describing the man Clark, +detailed to assassinate me. He had better be in a hurry, or he +will be too late. + +The news of Mr. Lincoln's death produced a most intense effect on +our troops. At first I feared it would lead to excesses; but now +it has softened down, and can easily be guided. None evinced more +feeling than General Johnston, who admitted that the act was +calculated to stain his cause with a dark hue; and he contended +that the loss was most serious to the South, who had begun to +realize that Mr. Lincoln was the best friend they had. + +I cannot believe that even Mr. Davis was privy to the diabolical +plot, but think it the emanation of a set of young men of the +South, who are very devils. I want to throw upon the South the +care of this class of men, who will soon be as obnoxious to their +industrial classes as to us. + +Had I pushed Johnston's army to an extremity, it would have +dispersed, and done infinite mischief. Johnston informed me that +General Stoneman had been at Salisbury, and was now at Statesville. +I have sent him orders to come to me. + +General Johnston also informed me that General Wilson was at +Columbia, Georgia, and he wanted me to arrest his progress. I leave +that to you. + +Indeed, if the President sanctions my agreement with Johnston, our +interest is to cease all destruction. + +Please give all orders necessary according to the views the +Executive may take, and influence him, if possible, not to vary the +terms at all, for I have considered every thing, and believe that, +the Confederate armies once dispersed, we can adjust all else +fairly and well. I am, yours, etc., + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, April 18, 1865. + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, or Major-General HALLECK, +Washington, D. C. + +GENERAL: I inclose herewith a copy of an agreement made this day +between General Joseph E. Johnston and myself, which, if approved +by the President of the United States, will produce peace from the +Potomac to the Rio Grande. Mr. Breckenridge was present at our +conference, in the capacity of major-general, and satisfied me of +the ability of General Johnston to carry out to their full extent +the terms of this agreement; and if you will get the President to +simply indorse the copy, and commission me to carry out the terms, +I will follow them to the conclusion. + +You will observe that it is an absolute submission of the enemy to +the lawful authority of the United States, and disperses his armies +absolutely; and the point to which I attach most importance is, +that the dispersion and disbandment of these armies is done in such +a manner as to prevent their breaking up into guerrilla bands. On +the other hand, we can retain just as much of an army as we please. +I agreed to the mode and manner of the surrender of arms set forth, +as it gives the States the means of repressing guerrillas, which we +could not expect them to do if we stripped them of all arms. + +Both Generals Johnston and Breckenridge admitted that slavery was +dead, and I could not insist on embracing it in such a paper, +because it can be made with the States in detail. I know that all +the men of substance South sincerely want peace, and I do not +believe they will resort to war again during this century. I have +no doubt that they will in the future be perfectly subordinate to +the laws of the United States. The moment my action in this matter +is approved, I can spare five corps, and will ask for orders to +leave General Schofield here with the Tenth Corps, and to march +myself with the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Twentieth, and +Twenty-third Corps via Burkesville and Gordonsville to Frederick or +Hagerstown, Maryland, there to be paid and mustered out. + +The question of finance is now the chief one, and every soldier and +officer not needed should be got home at work. I would like to be +able to begin the march north by May 1st. + +I urge, on the part of the President, speedy action, as it is +important to get the Confederate armies to their homes as well as +our own. + +I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + +Memorandum, or Basis of agreement, made this 18th day of April, A. +D. 1865, near Durham's Station, in the State of North Carolina, by +and between General Joseph E. JOHNSTON, commanding the Confederate +Army, and Major-General William T. SHERMAN, commanding the army of +the United States in North Carolina, both present: + +1. The contending armies now in the field to maintain the statu +quo until notice is given by the commanding general of any one to +its opponent, and reasonable time--say, forty-eight hours--allowed. + +2. The Confederate armies now in existence to be disbanded and +conducted to their several State capitals, there to deposit their +arms and public property in the State Arsenal; and each officer and +man to execute and file an agreement to cease from acts of war, and +to abide the action of the State and Federal authority. The number +of arms and munitions of war to be reported to the Chief of +Ordnance at Washington City, subject to the future action of the +Congress of the United States, and, in the mean time, to be needed +solely to maintain peace and order within the borders of the States +respectively. + +3. The recognition, by the Executive of the United States, of the +several State governments, on their officers and Legislatures +taking the oaths prescribed by the Constitution of the United +States, and, where conflicting State governments have resulted from +the war, the legitimacy of all shall be submitted to the Supreme +Court of the United States. + +4. The reestablishment of all the Federal Courts in the several +States, with powers as defined by the Constitution of the United +States and of the States respectively. + +5. The people and inhabitants of all the States to be guaranteed, +so far as the Executive can, their political rights and franchises, +as well as their rights of person sad property, as defined by the +Constitution of the United States and of the States respectively. + +6. The Executive authority of the Government of the United States +not to disturb any of the people by reason of the late war, so long +as they live in peace and quiet, abstain from acts of armed +hostility, and obey the laws in existence at the place of their +residence. + +7. In general terms--the war to cease; a general amnesty, so far +as the Executive of the United States can command, on condition of +the disbandment of the Confederate armies, the distribution of the +arms, and the resumption of peaceful pursuits by the officers and +men hitherto composing said armies. + +Not being fully empowered by our respective principals to fulfill +these terms, we individually and officially pledge ourselves to +promptly obtain the necessary authority, and to carry out the above +programme. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, +Commanding Army of the United States in North Carolina. + +J. E. JOHNSTON, General, +Commanding Confederate States Army in North Carolina. + + +Major Hitchcock got off on the morning of the 20th, and I reckoned +that it would take him four or five days to go to Washington and +back. During that time the repairs on all the railroads and +telegraph-lines were pushed with energy, and we also got possession +of the railroad and telegraph from Raleigh to Weldon, in the +direction of Norfolk. Meantime the troops remained statu quo, our +cavalry occupying Durham's Station and Chapel Hill. General +Slocum's head of column was at Aven's Ferry on Cape Fear River, and +General Howard's was strung along the railroad toward Hillsboro'; +the rest of the army was in and about Raleigh. + +On the 20th I reviewed the Tenth Corps, and was much pleased at the +appearance of General Paines's division of black troops, the first +I had ever seen as a part of an organized army; and on the 21st I +reviewed the Twenty-third Corps, which had been with me to Atlanta, +but had returned to Nashville had formed an essential part of the +army which fought at Franklin, and with which General Thomas had +defeated General Hood in Tennessee. It had then been transferred +rapidly by rail to Baltimore and Washington by General Grant's +orders, and thence by sea to North Carolina. Nothing of interest +happened at Raleigh till the evening of April 23d, when Major +Hitchcock reported by telegraph his return to Morehead City, and +that he would come up by rail during the night. He arrived at 6 +a.m., April 24th, accompanied by General Grant and one or two +officers of his staff, who had not telegraphed the fact of their +being on the train, for prudential reasons. Of course, I was both +surprised and pleased to see the general, soon learned that my +terms with Johnston had been disapproved, was instructed by him to +give the forty-eight hours' notice required by the terms of the +truce, and afterward to proceed to attack or follow him. I +immediately telegraphed to General Kilpatrick, at Durham's, to have +a mounted courier ready to carry the following message, then on its +way up by rail, to the rebel lines: + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, April 24, 1865 6 A.M. + +General JOHNSTON, commanding Confederate Army, Greensboro': + +You will take notice that the truce or suspension of hostilities +agreed to between us will cease in forty-eight hours after this is +received at your lines, under the first of the articles of +agreement. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. + + +At the same time I wrote another short note to General Johnston, of +the same date: + +I have replies from Washington to my communications of April 18th. +I am instructed to limit my operations to your immediate command, +and not to attempt civil negotiations. I therefore demand the +surrender of your army on the same terms as were given to General +Lee at Appomattox, April 9th instant, purely and simply. + +Of course, both these papers were shown to General Grant at the +time, before they were sent, and he approved of them. + +At the same time orders were sent to all parts of the army to be +ready to resume the pursuit of the enemy on the expiration of the +forty-eight hours' truce, and messages were sent to General +Gillmore (at Hilton Head) to the same effect, with instructions to +get a similar message through to General Wilson, at Macon, by some +means. + +General Grant had brought with him, from Washington, written +answers from the Secretary of War, and of himself, to my +communications of the 18th, which I still possess, and here give +the originals. They embrace the copy of a dispatch made by Mr. +Stanton to General Grant, when he was pressing Lee at Appomattox, +which dispatch, if sent me at the same time (as should have been +done), would have saved a world of trouble. I did not understand +that General Grant had come down to supersede me in command, nor +did he intimate it, nor did I receive these communications as a +serious reproof, but promptly acted on them, as is already shown; +and in this connection I give my answer made to General Grant, at +Raleigh, before I had received any answer from General Johnston to +the demand for the surrender of his own army, as well as my answer +to Mr. Stanton's letter, of the same date, both written on the +supposition that I might have to start suddenly in pursuit of +Johnston, and have no other chance to explain. + + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, April 21, 1865. + +Lieutenant-General GRANT. + +GENERAL: The memorandum or basis agreed upon between General +Sherman and General Johnston having been submitted to the +President, they are disapproved. You will give notice of the +disapproval to General Sherman, and direct him to resume +hostilities at the earliest moment. + +The instructions given to you by the late President, Abraham +Lincoln, on the 3d of March, by my telegraph of that date, +addressed to you, express substantially the views of President +Andrew Johnson, and will be observed by General Sherman. A copy is +herewith appended. + +The President desires that you proceed immediately to the +headquarters of Major-General Sherman, and direct operations +against the enemy. + +Yours truly, + +EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + +The following telegram was received 2 p.m., City Point, March 4, +1865 (from Washington, 12 M., March 3,1865) + +[CIPHER] + +OFFICE UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH, +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES + +Lieutenant-General GRANT: + +The President directs me to say to you that he wishes you to have +no conference with General Lee, unless it be for the capitulation +of Lee's army or on solely minor and purely military matters. + +He instructs me to say that you are not to decide, discuss, or +confer upon any political question; such questions the President +holds in his own hands, and will submit them to no military +conferences or conventions. + +Meantime you are to press to the utmost your military advantages. + +EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +WASHINGTON, D.C. April 21, 1865. + +Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding Military Division of the +Mississippi. + +GENERAL: The basis of agreement entered into between yourself and +General J. E. Johnston, for the disbandment of the Southern army, +and the extension of the authority of the General Government over +all the territory belonging to it, sent for the approval of the +President, is received. + +I read it carefully myself before submitting it to the President +and Secretary of War, and felt satisfied that it could not possibly +be approved. My reason for these views I will give you at another +time, in a more extended letter. + +Your agreement touches upon questions of such vital importance +that, as soon as read, I addressed a note to the Secretary of War, +notifying him of their receipt, and the importance of immediate +action by the President; and suggested, in view of their +importance, that the entire Cabinet be called together, that all +might give an expression of their opinions upon the matter. The +result was a disapproval by the President of the basis laid down; a +disapproval of the negotiations altogether except for the surrender +of the army commanded by General Johnston, and directions to me to +notify you of this decision. I cannot do no better than by sending +you the inclosed copy of a dispatch (penned by the late President, +though signed by the Secretary of War) in answer to me, on sending +a letter received from General Lee, proposing to meet me for the +purpose of submitting the question of peace to a convention of +officers. + +Please notify General Johnston, immediately on receipt of this, of +the termination of the truce, and resume hostilities against his +army at the earliest moment you can, acting in good faith. + +Very respectfully your obedient servant, + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, April 25, 1865. + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, present. + +GENERAL: I had the honor to receive your letter of April 21st, with +inclosures, yesterday, and was well pleased that you came along, as +you must have observed that I held the military control so as to +adapt it to any phase the case might assume. + +It is but just I should record the fact that I made my terms with +General Johnston under the influence of the liberal terms you +extended to the army of General Lee at Appomattox Court-House on +the 9th, and the seeming policy of our Government, as evinced by +the call of the Virginia Legislature and Governor back to Richmond, +under yours and President Lincoln's very eyes. + +It now appears this last act was done without any consultation with +you or any knowledge of Mr. Lincoln, but rather in opposition to a +previous policy well considered. + +I have not the least desire to interfere in the civil policy of our +Government, but would shun it as something not to my liking; but +occasions do arise when a prompt seizure of results is forced on +military commanders not in immediate communication with the proper +authority. It is probable that the terms signed by General +Johnston and myself were not clear enough on the point, well +understood between us, that our negotiations did not apply to any +parties outside the officers and men of the Confederate armies, +which could easily have been remedied. + +No surrender of any army not actually at the mercy of an antagonist +was ever made without "terms," and these always define the military +status of the surrendered. Thus you stipulated that the officers +and men of Lee's army should not be molested at their homes so long +as they obeyed the laws at the place of their residence. + +I do not wish to discuss these points involved in our recognition +of the State governments in actual existence, but will merely state +my conclusions, to await the solution of the future. + +Such action on our part in no manner recognizes for a moment the +so-called Confederate Government, or makes us liable for its debts +or acts. + +The laws and acts done by the several States during the period of +rebellion are void, because done without the oath prescribed by our +Constitution of the United States, which is a "condition +precedent." + +We have a right to, use any sort of machinery to produce military +results; and it is the commonest thing for military commanders to +use the civil governments in actual existence as a means to an end. +I do believe we could and can use the present State governments +lawfully, constitutionally, and as the very best possible means to +produce the object desired, viz., entire and complete submission to +the lawful authority of the United States. + +As to punishment for past crimes, that is for the judiciary, and +can in no manner of way be disturbed by our acts; and, so far as I +can, I will use my influence that rebels shall suffer all the +personal punishment prescribed by law, as also the civil +liabilities arising from their past acts. + +What we now want is the new form of law by which common men may +regain the positions of industry, so long disturbed by the war. + +I now apprehend that the rebel armies will disperse; and, instead +of dealing with six or seven States, we will have to deal with +numberless bands of desperadoes, headed by such men as Mosby, +Forrest, Red Jackson, and others, who know not and care not for +danger and its consequences. + +I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, April 25, 1865. + +Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington. + +DEAR SIR: I have been furnished a copy of your letter of April 21st +to General Grant, signifying your disapproval of the terms on which +General Johnston proposed to disarm and disperse the insurgents, on +condition of amnesty, etc. I admit my folly in embracing in a +military convention any civil matters; but, unfortunately, such is +the nature of our situation that they seem inextricably united, and +I understood from you at Savannah that the financial state of the +country demanded military success, and would warrant a little +bending to policy. + +When I had my conference with General Johnston I had the public +examples before me of General Grant's terms to Lee's army, and +General Weitzel's invitation to the Virginia Legislature to +assemble at Richmond. + +I still believe the General Government of the United States has +made a mistake; but that is none of my business--mine is a +different task; and I had flattered myself that, by four years of +patient, unremitting, and successful labor, I deserved no reminder +such as is contained in the last paragraph of your letter to +General Grant. You may assure the President that I heed his +suggestion. I am truly, etc., + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + +On the same day, but later, I received an answer from General +Johnston, agreeing to meet me again at Bennett's house the next +day, April 26th, at noon. He did not even know that General Grant +was in Raleigh. + +General Grant advised me to meet him, and to accept his surrender +on the same terms as his with General Lee; and on the 26th I again +went up to Durham's Station by rail, and rode out to Bennett's +house, where we again met, and General Johnston, without +hesitation, agreed to, and we executed, the following final terms: + + +Terms of a Military Convention, entered into this 26th day of +April, 1865, at Bennett's House, near Durham's Station., North +Carolina, between General JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, commanding the +Confederate Army, and Major-General W. T. SHERMAN, commanding the +United States Army in North Carolina: + +1. All acts of war on the part of the troops under General +Johnston's command to cease from this date. + +2. All arms and public property to be deposited at Greensboro', +and delivered to an ordnance-officer of the United States Army. + +3. Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate; one +copy to be retained by the commander of the troops, and the other +to be given to an officer to be designated by General Sherman. +Each officer and man to give his individual obligation in writing +not to take up arms against the Government of the United States, +until properly released from this obligation. + +4. The side-arms of officers, and their private horses and +baggage, to be retained by them. + +5. This being done, all the officers and men will be permitted to +return to their homes, not to be disturbed by the United States +authorities, so long as they observe their obligation and the laws +in force where they may reside. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, +Commanding United States Forces in North Carolina. + +J. E. JOHNSTON, General, +Commanding Confederate States Forces in North Carolina. + +Approved: + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +I returned to Raleigh the same evening, and, at my request, General +Grant wrote on these terms his approval, and then I thought the +matter was surely at an end. He took the original copy, on the +27th returned to Newbern, and thence went back to Washington. + +I immediately made all the orders necessary to carry into effect +the terms of this convention, devolving on General Schofield the +details of granting the parole and making the muster-rolls of +prisoners, inventories of property, etc., of General Johnston's +army at and about Greensboro', North Carolina, and on General +Wilson the same duties in Georgia; but, thus far, I had been +compelled to communicate with the latter through rebel sources, and +General Wilson was necessarily confused by the conflict of orders +and information. I deemed it of the utmost importance to establish +for him a more reliable base of information and supply, and +accordingly resolved to go in person to Savannah for that purpose. +But, before starting, I received a New York Times, of April 24th, +containing the following extraordinary communications: + + +[First Bulletin] + +WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, April 22, 1885. + +Yesterday evening a bearer of dispatches arrived from General +Sherman. An agreement for a suspension of hostilities, and a +memorandum of what is called a basis for peace, had been entered +into on the 18th inst. by General Sherman, with the rebel General +Johnston. Brigadier-General Breckenridge was present at the +conference. + +A cabinet meeting was held at eight o'clock in the evening, at +which the action of General Sherman was disapproved by the +President, by the Secretary of War, by General Grant, and by every +member of the cabinet. General Sherman was ordered to resume +hostilities immediately, and was directed that the instructions +given by the late President, in the following telegram, which was +penned by Mr. Lincoln himself, at the Capitol, on the night of the +3d of March, were approved by President Andrew Johnson, and were +reiterated to govern the action of military commanders. + +On the night of the 3d of March, while President Lincoln and his +cabinet were at the Capitol, a telegram from General Grant was +brought to the Secretary of War, informing him that General Lee had +requested an interview or conference, to make an arrangement for +terms of peace. The letter of General Lee was published in a +letter to Davis and to the rebel Congress. General Grant's +telegram was submitted to Mr. Lincoln, who, after pondering a few +minutes, took up his pen and wrote with his own hand the following +reply, which he submitted to the Secretary of State and Secretary +of War. It was then dated, addressed, and signed, by the Secretary +of War, and telegraphed to General Grant: + + +WASHINGTON, March 3, 1865-12 P.M. + +Lieutenant-General GRANT: + +The President directs me to say to you that he wishes you to have +no conference with General Lee, unless it be for the capitulation +of General Lee's army, or on some minor or purely military matter. +He instructs me to say that you are not to decide, discuss, or +confer upon any political questions. Such questions the President +holds in his own hands, and will submit them to no military +conferences or conventions. + +Meantime you are to press to the utmost your military advantages. + +EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + +The orders of General Sherman to General Stoneman to withdraw from +Salisbury and join him will probably open the way for Davis to +escape to Mexico or Europe with his plunder, which is reported to +be very large, including not only the plunder of the Richmond +banks, but previous accumulations. + +A dispatch received by this department from Richmond says: "It is +stated here, by respectable parties, that the amount of specie +taken south by Jeff. Davis and his partisans is very large, +including not only the plunder of the Richmond banks, but previous +accumulations. They hope, it is said, to make terms with General +Sherman, or some other commander, by which they will be permitted, +with their effects, including this gold plunder, to go to Mexico or +Europe. Johnston's negotiations look to this end." + +After the cabinet meeting last night, General Grant started for +North Carolina, to direct operations against Johnston's army. + +EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + +Here followed the terms, and Mr. Stanton's ten reasons for +rejecting them. + +The publication of this bulletin by authority was an outrage on me, +for Mr. Stanton had failed to communicate to me in advance, as was +his duty, the purpose of the Administration to limit our +negotiations to purely military matters; but, on the contrary, at +Savannah he had authorized me to control all matters, civil and +military. + +By this bulletin, he implied that I had previously been furnished +with a copy of his dispatch of March 3d to General Grant, which was +not so; and he gave warrant to the impression, which was sown +broadcast, that I might be bribed by banker's gold to permit Davis +to escape. Under the influence of this, I wrote General Grant the +following letter of April 28th, which has been published in the +Proceedings of the Committee on the Conduct of the War. + +I regarded this bulletin of Mr. Stanton as a personal and official +insult, which I afterward publicly resented. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI +IN THE FIELD, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, April 28,1865. + +Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, General-in-Chief, Washington, D. C. + +GENERAL: Since you left me yesterday, I have seen the New York +Times of the 24th, containing a budget of military news, +authenticated by the signature of the Secretary of War, Hon. E. M. +Stanton, which is grouped in such a way as to give the public very +erroneous impressions. It embraces a copy of the basis of +agreement between myself and General Johnston, of April 18th, with +comments, which it will be time enough to discuss two or three +years hence, after the Government has experimented a little more in +the machinery by which power reaches the scattered people of the +vast country known as the "South." + +In the mean time, however, I did think that my rank (if not past +services) entitled me at least to trust that the Secretary of War +would keep secret what was communicated for the use of none but the +cabinet, until further inquiry could be made, instead of giving +publicity to it along with documents which I never saw, and drawing +therefrom inferences wide of the truth. I never saw or had +furnished me a copy of President Lincoln's dispatch to you of the +3d of March, nor did Mr. Stanton or any human being ever convey to +me its substance, or any thing like it. On the contrary, I had +seen General Weitzel's invitation to the Virginia Legislature, made +in Mr. Lincoln's very presence, and failed to discover any other +official hint of a plan of reconstruction, or any ideas calculated +to allay the fears of the people of the South, after the +destruction of their armies and civil authorities would leave them +without any government whatever. + +We should not drive a people into anarchy, and it is simply +impossible for our military power to reach all the masses of their +unhappy country. + +I confess I did not desire to drive General Johnston's army into +bands of armed men, going about without purpose, and capable only +of infinite mischief. But you saw, on your arrival here, that I +had my army so disposed that his escape was only possible in a +disorganized shape; and as you did not choose to "direct military +operations in this quarter," I inferred that you were satisfied +with the military situation; at all events, the instant I learned +what was proper enough, the disapproval of the President, I acted +in such a manner as to compel the surrender of General Johnston's +whole army on the same terms which you had prescribed to General +Lee's army, when you had it surrounded and in your absolute power. + +Mr. Stanton, in stating that my orders to General Stoneman were +likely to result in the escape of "Mr. Davis to Mexico or Europe," +is in deep error. General Stoneman was not at "Salisbury," but had +gone back to "Statesville." Davis was between us, and therefore +Stoneman was beyond him. By turning toward me he was approaching +Davis, and, had he joined me as ordered, I would have had a mounted +force greatly needed for Davis's capture, and for other purposes. +Even now I don't know that Mr. Stanton wants Davis caught, and as +my official papers, deemed sacred, are hastily published to the +world, it will be imprudent for me to state what has been done in +that regard. + +As the editor of the Times has (it may be) logically and fairly +drawn from this singular document the conclusion that I am +insubordinate, I can only deny the intention. + +I have never in my life questioned or disobeyed an order, though +many and many a time have I risked my life, health, and reputation, +in obeying orders, or even hints to execute plans and purposes, not +to my liking. It is not fair to withhold from me the plans and +policy of Government (if any there be), and expect me to guess at +them; for facts and events appear quite different from different +stand-points. For four years I have been in camp dealing with +soldiers, and I can assure you that the conclusion at which the +cabinet arrived with such singular unanimity differs from mine. +I conferred freely with the best officers in this army as to the +points involved in this controversy, and, strange to say, they were +singularly unanimous in the other conclusion. They will learn with +pain and amazement that I am deemed insubordinate, and wanting in +commonsense; that I, who for four years have labored day and night, +winter and summer, who have brought an army of seventy thousand men +in magnificent condition across a country hitherto deemed +impassable, and placed it just where it was wanted, on the day +appointed, have brought discredit on our Government! I do not wish +to boast of this, but I do say that it entitled me to the courtesy +of being consulted, before publishing to the world a proposition +rightfully submitted to higher authority for adjudication, and then +accompanied by statements which invited the dogs of the press to be +let loose upon me. It is true that non-combatants, men who sleep +in comfort and security while we watch on the distant lines, are +better able to judge than we poor soldiers, who rarely see a +newspaper, hardly hear from our families, or stop long enough to +draw our pay. I envy not the task of "reconstruction," and am +delighted that the Secretary of War has relieved me of it. + +As you did not undertake to assume the management of the affairs of +this army, I infer that, on personal inspection, your mind arrived +at a different conclusion from that of the Secretary of War. I +will therefore go on to execute your orders to the conclusion, and, +when done, will with intense satisfaction leave to the civil +authorities the execution of the task of which they seem so +jealous. But, as an honest man and soldier, I invite them to go +back to Nashville and follow my path, for they will see some things +and hear some things that may disturb their philosophy. + +With sincere respect, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General commanding. + +P. S.--As Mr. Stanton's most singular paper has been published, I +demand that this also be made public, though I am in no manner +responsible to the press, but to the law, and my proper superiors. +W. T. S., Major-General. + + +On the 28th I summoned all the army and corps commanders together +at my quarters in the Governor's mansion at Raleigh, where every +thing was explained to them, and all orders for the future were +completed. Generals Schofield, Terry, and Kilpatrick, were to +remain on duty in the Department of North Carolina, already +commanded by General Schofield, and the right and left wings were +ordered to march under their respective commanding generals North +by easy stages to Richmond, Virginia, there to await my return +from the South. + +On the 29th of April, with a part of my personal staff, I proceeded +by rail to Wilmington, North Carolina, where I found Generals +Hawley and Potter, and the little steamer Russia, Captain Smith, +awaiting me. After a short pause in Wilmington, we embarked, and +proceeded down the coast to Port Royal and the Savannah River, +which we reached on the 1st of May. There Captain Hoses, who had +just come from General Wilson at Macon, met us, bearing letters for +me and General Grant, in which General Wilson gave a brief summary +of his operations up to date. He had marched from Eastport, +Mississippi, five hundred miles in thirty days, took six thousand +three hundred prisoners, twenty-three colors, and one hundred and +fifty-six guns, defeating Forrest, scattering the militia, and +destroying every railroad, iron establishment, and factory, in +North Alabama and Georgia. + +He spoke in the highest terms of his cavalry, as "cavalry," +claiming that it could not be excelled, and he regarded his corps +as a model for modern cavalry in organization, armament, and +discipline. Its strength was given at thirteen thousand five +hundred men and horses on reaching Macon. Of course I was +extremely gratified at his just confidence, and saw that all he +wanted for efficient action was a sure base of supply, so that he +need no longer depend for clothing, ammunition, food, and forage, +on the country, which, now that war had ceased, it was our solemn +duty to protect, instead of plunder. I accordingly ordered the +captured steamer Jeff. Davis to be loaded with stores, to proceed +at once up the Savannah River to Augusta, with a small detachment +of troops to occupy the arsenal, and to open communication with +General Wilson at Macon; and on the next day, May 2d, this steamer +was followed by another with a fall cargo of clothing, sugar, +coffee, and bread, sent from Hilton Head by the department +commander, General Gillmore, with a stronger guard commanded by +General Molineux. Leaving to General Gillmore, who was present, +and in whose department General Wilson was, to keep up the supplies +at Augusta, and to facilitate as far as possible General Wilson's +operations inland, I began my return on the 2d of May. We went +into Charleston Harbor, passing the ruins of old Forts Moultrie and +Sumter without landing. We reached the city of Charleston, which +was held by part of the division of General John P. Hatch, the +same that we had left at Pocotaligo. We walked the old familiar +streets--Broad, King, Meeting, etc.--but desolation and ruin were +everywhere. The heart of the city had been burned during the +bombardment, and the rebel garrison at the time of its final +evacuation had fired the railroad-depots, which fire had spread, +and was only subdued by our troops after they had reached the city. + +I inquired for many of my old friends, but they were dead or gone, +and of them all I only saw a part of the family of Mrs. Pettigru. +I doubt whether any city was ever more terribly punished than +Charleston, but, as her people had for years been agitating for war +and discord, and had finally inaugurated the civil war by an attack +on the small and devoted garrison of Major Anderson, sent there by +the General Government to defend them, the judgment of the world +will be, that Charleston deserved the fate that befell her. +Resuming our voyage, we passed into Cape Fear River by its mouth at +Fort Caswell and Smithville, and out by the new channel at Fort +Fisher, and reached Morehead City on the 4th of May. We found +there the revenue-cutter Wayanda, on board of which were the Chief- +Justice, Mr. Chase, and his daughter Nettie, now Mrs. Hoyt. The +Chief-Justice at that moment was absent on a visit to Newbern, but +came back the next day. Meantime, by means of the telegraph, I was +again in correspondence with General Schofield at Raleigh. He had +made great progress in paroling the officers and men of Johnston's +army at Greensboro', but was embarrassed by the utter confusion and +anarchy that had resulted from a want of understanding on many +minor points, and on the political questions that had to be met at +the instant. In order to facilitate the return to their homes of +the Confederate officers and men, he had been forced to make with +General Johnston the following supplemental terms, which were of +course ratified and approved: + + +MILITARY CONVENTION OF APRIL 26, 1865. +SUPPLEMENTAL TERMS. + +1. The field transportation to be loaned to the troops for their +march to their homes, and for subsequent use in their industrial +pursuits. Artillery-horses may be used in field-transportation, if +necessary. + +2. Each brigade or separate body to retain a number of arms equal +to one-seventh of its effective strength, which, when the troops +reach the capitals of their states, will be disposed of as the +general commanding the department may direct. + +3. Private horses, and other private property of both officers and +men, to be retained by them. + +4. The commanding general of the Military Division of West +Mississippi, Major-General Canby, will be requested to give +transportation by water, from Mobile or New Orleans, to the troops +from Arkansas and Texas. + +5. The obligations of officers and soldiers to be signed by their +immediate commanders. + +6. Naval forces within the limits of General Johnston's command to +be included in the terms of this convention. + + + +J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major-General, +Commanding United States Forces in North Carolina. + + +J. E. JOHNSTON, General, +Commanding Confederate States Forces in North Carolina. + + +The total number of prisoners of war parolled by +General Schofield, at Greensboro', North Carolina, +as afterward officially reported, amounted to ........ 38,817 + +And the total number who surrendered in Georgia +and Florida, as reported by General J. H. Wilson, +was .................................................. 52,458 + +Aggregate surrendered under the capitulation of +General J. E. Johnston ............................... 89,270 + + +On the morning of the 5th I also received from General Schofield +this dispatch: + + +RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, May 5, 1866. + +To Major-General W: T. SHERMAN, Morehead City: + +When General Grant was here, as you doubtless recollect, he said +the lines (for trade and intercourse) had been extended to embrace +this and other States south. The order, it seems, has been +modified so as to include only Virginia and Tennessee. I think it +would be an act of wisdom to open this State to trade at once. + +I hope the Government will make known its policy as to the organs +of State government without delay. Affairs must necessarily be in +a very unsettled state until that is done. The people are now in a +mood to accept almost anything which promises a definite +settlement. "What is to be done with the freedmen?" is the +question of all, and it is the all important question. It requires +prompt and wise notion to prevent the negroes from becoming a huge +elephant on our hands. If I am to govern this State, it is +important for me to know it at once. If another is to be sent +here, it cannot be done too soon, for he probably will undo the +most that I shall have done. I shall be glad to hear from you +fully, when you have time to write. I will send your message to +General Wilson at once. + +J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major-General. + + +I was utterly without instructions from any source on the points of +General Schofield's inquiry, and under the existing state of facts +could not even advise him, for by this time I was in possession of +the second bulletin of Mr. Stanton, published in all the Northern +papers, with comments that assumed that I was a common traitor and +a public enemy; and high officials had even instructed my own +subordinates to disobey my lawful orders. General Halleck, who had +so long been in Washington as the chief of staff, had been sent on +the 21st of April to Richmond, to command the armies of the Potomac +and James, in place of General Grant, who had transferred his +headquarters to the national capital, and he (General Halleck) was +therefore in supreme command in Virginia, while my command over +North Carolina had never been revoked or modified. + + +[Second Bulletin.] + +WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, April 27 9.30 a.m. + +To Major-General DIX: + +The department has received the following dispatch from Major- +General Halleck, commanding the Military Division of the James. +Generals Canby and Thomas were instructed some days ago that +Sherman's arrangements with Johnston were disapproved by the +President, and they were ordered to disregard it and push the enemy +in every direction. + +E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + + +RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, April 26-9.30 p.m. + +HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: + +Generals Meade, Sheridan, and Wright, are acting under orders to +pay no regard to any truce or orders of General Sherman respecting +hostilities, on the ground that Sherman's agreement could bind his +command only, and no other. + +They are directed to push forward, regardless of orders from any +one except from General Grant, and cut off Johnston's retreat. + +Beauregard has telegraphed to Danville that a new arrangement has +been made with Sherman, and that the advance of the Sixth Corps was +to be suspended until further orders. + +I have telegraphed back to obey no orders of Sherman, but to push +forward as rapidly as possible. + +The bankers here have information to-day that Jeff. Davis's specie +is moving south from Goldsboro', in wagons, as fast as possible. + +I suggest that orders be telegraphed, through General Thomas, that +Wilson obey no orders from Sherman, and notifying him and Canby, +and all commanders on the Mississippi, to take measures to +intercept the rebel chiefs and their plunder. + +The specie taken with them is estimated here at from six to +thirteen million dollars. + +H. W. HALLECK, Major-General commanding. + + +Subsequently, before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, in +Washington, on the 22d of May, I testified fully on this whole +matter, and will abide the judgment of the country on the +patriotism and wisdom of my public conduct in this connection. +General Halleck's measures to capture General Johnston's army, +actually surrendered to me at the time, at Greensboro', on the 26th +of April, simply excited my contempt for a judgment such as he was +supposed to possess. The assertion that Jeff. Davis's specie- +train, of six to thirteen million dollars, was reported to be +moving south from Goldsboro' in wagons as fast as possible, found +plenty of willing ears, though my army of eighty thousand men had +been at Goldsboro' from March 22d to the date of his dispatch, +April 26th; and such a train would have been composed of from +fifteen to thirty-two six-mule teams to have hauled this specie, +even if it all were in gold. I suppose the exact amount of +treasure which Davis had with him is now known to a cent; some of +it was paid to his escort, when it disbanded at and near +Washington, Georgia, and at the time of his capture he had a small +parcel of gold and silver coin, not to exceed ten thousand dollars, +which is now retained in the United States Treasury-vault at +Washington, and shown to the curious. + +The thirteen millions of treasure, with which Jeff. Davis was to +corrupt our armies and buy his escape, dwindled down to the +contents of a hand-valise! + +To say that I was merely angry at the tone and substance of these +published bulletins of the War Department, would hardly express the +state of my feelings. I was outraged beyond measure, and was +resolved to resent the insult, cost what it might. I went to the +Wayanda and showed them to Mr. Chase, with whom I had a long and +frank conversation, during which he explained to me the confusion +caused in Washington by the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, the +sudden accession to power of Mr. Johnson, who was then supposed to +be bitter and vindictive in his feelings toward the South, and the +wild pressure of every class of politicians to enforce on the new +President their pet schemes. He showed me a letter of his own, +which was in print, dated Baltimore, April 11th, and another of +April 12th, addressed to the President, urging him to recognize the +freedmen as equal in all respects to the whites. He was the first +man, of any authority or station, who ever informed me that the +Government of the United States would insist on extending to the +former slaves of the South the elective franchise, and he gave as a +reason the fact that the slaves, grateful for their freedom, for +which they were indebted to the armies and Government of the North, +would, by their votes, offset the disaffected and rebel element of +the white population of the South. At that time quite a storm was +prevailing at sea, outside, and our two vessels lay snug at the +wharf at Morehead City. I saw a good deal of Mr. Chase, and +several notes passed between us, of which I have the originals yet. +Always claiming that the South had herself freed all her slaves by +rebellion, and that Mr. Lincoln's proclamation of freedom (of +September 22, 1862) was binding on all officers of the General +Government, I doubted the wisdom of at once clothing them with the +elective franchise, without some previous preparation and +qualification; and then realized the national loss in the death at +that critical moment of Mr. Lincoln, who had long pondered over the +difficult questions involved, who, at all events, would have been +honest and frank, and would not have withheld from his army +commanders at least a hint that would have been to them a guide. +It was plain to me, therefore, that the manner of his assassination +had stampeded the civil authorities in Washington, had unnerved +them, and that they were then undecided as to the measures +indispensably necessary to prevent anarchy at the South. + +On the 7th of May the storm subsided, and we put to sea, Mr. Chase +to the south, on his proposed tour as far as New Orleans, and I for +James River. I reached Fortress Monroe on the 8th, and thence +telegraphed my arrival to General Grant, asking for orders. I +found at Fortress Monroe a dispatch from General Halleck, +professing great friendship, and inviting me to accept his +hospitality at Richmond. I answered by a cipher-dispatch that I +had seen his dispatch to Mr. Stanton, of April 26th, embraced in +the second bulletin, which I regarded as insulting, declined his +hospitality, and added that I preferred we should not meet as I +passed through Richmond. I thence proceeded to City Point in the +Russia, and on to Manchester, opposite Richmond, via Petersburg, by +rail. I found that both wings of the army had arrived from +Raleigh, and were in camp in and around Manchester, whence I again +telegraphed General Grant, an the 9th of May, for orders, and also +reported my arrival to General Halleck by letter. I found that +General Halleck had ordered General Davis's corps (the Fourteenth) +for review by himself. This I forbade. All the army knew of the +insult that had been made me by the Secretary of War and General +Halleck, and watched me closely to see if I would tamely submit. +During the 9th I made a full and complete report of all these +events, from the last report made at Goldsboro' up to date, and the +next day received orders to continue the march to Alexandria, near +Washington. + + +On the morning of the 11th we crossed the pontoon-bridge at +Richmond, marched through that city, and out on the Hanover +Court House road, General Slocum's left wing leading. The right wing +(General Logan) followed the next day, viz., the 12th. Meantime, +General O. O. Howard had been summoned to Washington to take charge +of the new Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, and, +from that time till the army was finally disbanded, General John A. +Logan was in command of the right wing, and of the Army of the +Tennessee. The left wing marched through Hanover Court House, and +thence took roads well to the left by Chilesburg; the Fourteenth +Corps by New Market and Culpepper, Manassas, etc.; the Twentieth +Corps by Spotsylvania Court-House and Chancellorsville. The right +wing followed the more direct road by Fredericksburg. On my way +north I endeavored to see as much of the battle-fields of the Army +of the Potomac as I could, and therefore shifted from one column to +the other, visiting en route Hanover Court-House, Spotsylvania, +Fredericksburg, Dumfries, etc., reaching Alexandria during the +afternoon of May 19th, and pitched my camp by the road side, about +half-way between Alexandria and the Long Bridge. During the same +and next day the whole army reached Alexandria, and camped round +about it; General Meade's Army of the Potomac had possession of the +camps above, opposite Washington and Georgetown. The next day (by +invitation) I went over to Washington and met many friends--among +them General Grant and President Johnson. The latter occupied +rooms in the house on the corner of Fifteenth and H Streets, +belonging to Mr. Hooper. He was extremely cordial to me, and +knowing that I was chafing under the censures of the War +Department, especially of the two war bulletins of Mr. Stanton, he +volunteered to say that he knew of neither of them till seen in the +newspapers, and that Mr. Stanton had shown neither to him nor to +any of his associates in the cabinet till they were published. +Nearly all the members of the cabinet made similar assurances to me +afterward, and, as Mr. Stanton made no friendly advances, and +offered no word of explanation or apology, I declined General +Grant's friendly offices for a reconciliation, but, on the +contrary, resolved to resent what I considered an insult, as +publicly as it was made. My brother, Senator Sherman, who was Mr. +Stanton's neighbor, always insisted that Mr. Stanton had been +frightened by the intended assassination of himself, and had become +embittered thereby. At all events, I found strong military guards +around his house, as well as all the houses occupied by the cabinet +and by the principal officers of Government; and a sense of +insecurity pervaded Washington, for which no reason existed. + +On the 19th I received a copy of War Department Special Order No. +239, Adjutant-General's office, of May 18th, ordering a grand +review, by the President and cabinet, of all the armies then near +Washington; General Meade's to occur on Tuesday, May 23d, mine on +Wednesday, the 24th; and on the 20th I made the necessary orders +for my part. Meantime I had also arranged (with General Grant's +approval) to remove after the review, my armies from the south side +of the Potomac to the north; both for convenience and because our +men had found that the grounds assigned them had been used so long +for camps that they were foul and unfit. + +By invitation I was on the reviewing-stand, and witnessed the +review of the Army of the Potomac (on the 23d), commanded by +General Meade in person. The day was beautiful, and the pageant +was superb. Washington was full of strangers, who filled the +streets in holiday-dress, and every house was decorated with flags. +The army marched by divisions in close column around the Capitol, +down Pennsylvania Avenue, past the President and cabinet, who +occupied a large stand prepared for the occasion, directly in front +of the White House. + +I had telegraphed to Lancaster for Mrs. Sherman, who arrived that +day, accompanied by her father, the Hon. Thomas Ewing, and my son +Tom, then eight years old. + +During the afternoon and night of the 23d, the Fifteenth, Seventeenth, +and Twentieth Corps, crossed Long Bridge, bivouacked in the +streets about the Capitol, and the Fourteenth Corps closed up to +the bridge. The morning of the 24th was extremely beautiful, and +the ground was in splendid order for our review. The streets were +filled with people to see the pageant, armed with bouquets of +flowers for their favorite regiments or heroes, and every thing was +propitious. Punctually at 9 A.M. the signal-gun was fired, when in +person, attended by General Howard and all my staff, I rode slowly +down Pennsylvania Avenue, the crowds of men, women, and children, +densely lining the sidewalks, and almost obstructing the way. We +were followed close by General Logan and the head of the Fifteenth +Corps. When I reached the Treasury-building, and looked back, the +sight was simply magnificent. The column was compact, and the +glittering muskets looked like a solid mass of steel, moving with +the regularity of a pendulum. We passed the Treasury building, in +front of which and of the White House was an immense throng of +people, for whom extensive stands had been prepared on both sides +of the avenue. As I neared the brick-house opposite the lower +corner of Lafayette Square, some one asked me to notice Mr. Seward, +who, still feeble and bandaged for his wounds, had been removed +there that he might behold the troops. I moved in that direction +and took off my hat to Mr. Seward, who sat at an upper window. He +recognized the salute, returned it, and then we rode on steadily +past the President, saluting with our swords. All on his stand +arose and acknowledged the salute. Then, turning into the gate of +the presidential grounds, we left our horses with orderlies, and +went upon the stand, where I found Mrs. Sherman, with her father +and son. Passing them, I shook hands with the President, General +Grant, and each member of the cabinet. As I approached Mr. +Stanton, he offered me his hand, but I declined it publicly, and +the fact was universally noticed. I then took my post on the left +of the President, and for six hours and a half stood, while the +army passed in the order of the Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Twentieth, +and Fourteenth Corps. It was, in my judgment, the most magnificent +army in existence--sixty-five thousand men, in splendid physique, +who had just completed a march of nearly two thousand miles in a +hostile country, in good drill, and who realized that they were +being closely scrutinized by thousands of their fellow-countrymen +and by foreigners. Division after division passed, each commander +of an army corps or division coming on the stand during the passage +of his command, to be presented to the President, cabinet, and +spectators. The steadiness and firmness of the tread, the careful +dress on the guides, the uniform intervals between the companies, +all eyes directly to the front, and the tattered and bullet-ridden +flags, festooned with flowers, all attracted universal notice. +Many good people, up to that time, had looked upon our Western army +as a sort of mob; but the world then saw, and recognized the fact, +that it was an army in the proper sense, well organized, well +commanded and disciplined; and there was no wonder that it had +swept through the South like a tornado. For six hours and a half +that strong tread of the Army of the West resounded along +Pennsylvania Avenue; not a soul of that vast crowd of spectators +left his place; and, when the rear of the column had passed by, +thousands of the spectators still lingered to express their sense +of confidence in the strength of a Government which could claim +such an army. + +Some little scenes enlivened the day, and called for the laughter +and cheers of the crowd. Each division was followed by six +ambulances, as a representative of its baggage-train. Some of the +division commanders had added, by way of variety, goats, milch- +cows, and pack-mules, whose loads consisted of game-cocks, poultry, +hams, etc., and some of them had the families of freed slaves +along, with the women leading their children. Each division was +preceded by its corps of black pioneers, armed with picks and +spades. These marched abreast in double ranks, keeping perfect +dress and step, and added much to the interest of the occasion. On +the whole, the grand review was a splendid success, and was a +fitting conclusion to the campaign and the war. + +I will now conclude by a copy of my general orders taking leave of +the army, which ended my connection with the war, though I +afterward visited and took a more formal leave of the officers and +men on July 4, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky: + + + + +[SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS NO. 76] + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +IN THE FIELD, WASHINGTON, D.C. May 30, 1865 + +The general commanding announces to the Armies of the Tennessee and +Georgia that the time has come for us to part. Our work is done, +and armed enemies no longer defy us. Some of you will go to your +homes, and others will be retained in military service till further +orders. + +And now that we are all about to separate, to mingle with the civil +world, it becomes a pleasing duty to recall to mind the situation +of national affairs when, but little more than a year ago, we were +gathered about the cliffs of Lookout Mountain, and all the future +was wrapped in doubt and uncertainty. + +Three armies had come together from distant fields, with separate +histories, yet bound by one common cause--the union of our country, +and the perpetuation of the Government of our inheritance. There +is no need to recall to your memories Tunnel Hill, with Rocky-Face +Mountain and Buzzard-Roost Gap, and the ugly forts of Dalton +behind. + +We were in earnest, and paused not for danger and difficulty, but +dashed through Snake-Creek Gap and fell on Resaca; then on to the +Etowah, to Dallas, Kenesaw; and the heats of summer found us on the +banks of the Chattahoochee, far from home, and dependent on a +single road for supplies. Again we were not to be held back by any +obstacle, and crossed over and fought four hard battles for the +possession of the citadel of Atlanta. That was the crisis of our +history. A doubt still clouded our future, but we solved the +problem, destroyed Atlanta, struck boldly across the State of +Georgia, severed all the main arteries of life to our enemy, and +Christmas found us at Savannah. + +Waiting there only long enough to fill our wagons, we again began a +march which, for peril, labor, and results, will compare with any +ever made by an organized army. The floods of the Savannah, the +swamps of the Combahee and Edisto, the "high hills" and rocks of +the Santee, the flat quagmires of the Pedee and Cape Fear Rivers, +were all passed in midwinter, with its floods and rains, in the +face of an accumulating enemy; and, after the battles of +Averysboro' and Bentonsville, we once more came out of the +wilderness, to meet our friends at Goldsboro'. Even then we paused +only long enough to get new clothing, to reload our wagons, again +pushed on to Raleigh and beyond, until we met our enemy suing for +peace, instead of war, and offering to submit to the injured laws +of his and our country. As long as that enemy was defiant, nor +mountains nor rivers, nor swamps, nor hunger, nor cold, had checked +us; but when he, who had fought us hard and persistently, offered +submission, your general thought it wrong to pursue him farther, +and negotiations followed, which resulted, as you all know, in his +surrender. + +How far the operations of this army contributed to the final +overthrow of the Confederacy and the peace which now dawns upon us, +must be judged by others, not by us; but that you have done all +that men could do has been admitted by those in authority, and we +have a right to join in the universal joy that fills our land +because the war is over, and our Government stands vindicated +before the world by the joint action of the volunteer armies and +navy of the United States. + +To such as remain in the service, your general need only remind you +that success in the past was due to hard work and discipline, and +that the same work and discipline are equally important in the +future. To such as go home, he will only say that our favored +country is so grand, so extensive, so diversified in climate, soil, +and productions, that every man may find a home and occupation +suited to his taste; none should yield to the natural impatience +sure to result from our past life of excitement and adventure. You +will be invited to seek new adventures abroad; do not yield to the +temptation, for it will lead only to death and disappointment. + +Your general now bids you farewell, with the full belief that, as +in war you have been good soldiers, so in peace you will make good +citizens; and if, unfortunately, new war should arise in our +country, "Sherman's army" will be the first to buckle on its old +armor, and come forth to defend and maintain the Government of our +inheritance. + +By order of Major-General W. T. Sherman, + +L. M. DAYTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. + + + +List of the Average Number of Miles marched by the Different Army +Corps of the United States Forces under Command of Major-General W. +T. SHERMAN, United States Army, during his Campaigns: 1863-'64-'65. + + 4th 14th 15th 16th 17th 20th + Corps. Corps. Corps. Corps Corps. Corps. + +Miles: 110 1,586 2,289 508 2,076 1,525 + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +CONCLUSION--MILITARY LESSONS OF THE WAR. + +Having thus recorded a summary of events, mostly under my own +personal supervision, during the years from 1846 to 1865, it seems +proper that I should add an opinion of some of the useful military +lessons to be derived therefrom. + +That civil war, by reason of the existence of slavery, was +apprehended by most of the leading statesmen of the half-century +preceding its outbreak, is a matter of notoriety. General Scott +told me on my arrival at New York, as early as 1850, that the +country was on the eve of civil war; and the Southern politicians +openly asserted that it was their purpose to accept as a casus +belli the election of General Fremont in 1856; but, fortunately or +unfortunately, he was beaten by Mr. Buchanan, which simply +postponed its occurrence for four years. Mr. Seward had also +publicly declared that no government could possibly exist half +slave and half free; yet the Government made no military +preparation, and the Northern people generally paid no attention, +took no warning of its coming, and would not realize its existence +till Fort Sumter was fired on by batteries of artillery, handled by +declared enemies, from the surrounding islands and from the city of +Charleston. + +General Bragg, who certainly was a man of intelligence, and who, in +early life, ridiculed a thousand times, in my hearing, the threats +of the people of South Carolina to secede from the Federal Union, +said to me in New Orleans, in February, 1861, that he was convinced +that the feeling between the slave and free States had become so +embittered that it was better to part in peace; better to part +anyhow; and, as a separation was inevitable, that the South should +begin at once, because the possibility of a successful effort was +yearly lessened by the rapid and increasing inequality between the +two sections, from the fact that all the European immigrants were +coming to the Northern States and Territories, and none to the +Southern. + +The slave population m 1860 was near four millions, and the money +value thereof not far from twenty-five hundred million dollars. +Now, ignoring the moral side of the question, a cause that +endangered so vast a moneyed interest was an adequate cause of +anxiety and preparation, and the Northern leaders surely ought to +have foreseen the danger and prepared for it. After the election +of Mr. Lincoln in 1860, there was no concealment of the declaration +and preparation for war in the South. In Louisiana, as I have +related, men were openly enlisted, officers were appointed, and war +was actually begun, in January, 1861. The forts at the mouth of +the Mississippi were seized, and occupied by garrisons that hauled +down the United States flag and hoisted that of the State. The +United States Arsenal at Baton Rouge was captured by New Orleans +militia, its garrison ignominiously sent off, and the contents of +the arsenal distributed. These were as much acts of war as was the +subsequent firing on Fort Sumter, yet no public notice was taken +thereof; and when, months afterward, I came North, I found not one +single sign of preparation. It was for this reason, somewhat, that +the people of the South became convinced that those of the North +were pusillanimous and cowardly, and the Southern leaders were +thereby enabled to commit their people to the war, nominally in +defense of their slave property. Up to the hour of the firing on +Fort Sumter, in April, 1861, it does seem to me that our public +men, our politicians, were blamable for not sounding the note of +alarm. + +Then, when war was actually begun, it was by a call for seventy- +five thousand "ninety-day" men, I suppose to fulfill Mr. Seward's +prophecy that the war would last but ninety days. + +The earlier steps by our political Government were extremely +wavering and weak, for which an excuse can be found in the fact +that many of the Southern representatives remained in Congress, +sharing in the public councils, and influencing legislation. But +as soon as Mr. Lincoln was installed, there was no longer any +reason why Congress and the cabinet should have hesitated. They +should have measured the cause, provided the means, and left the +Executive to apply the remedy. + +At the time of Mr. Lincoln's inauguration, viz., March 4, 1861, the +Regular Army, by law, consisted of two regiments of dragoons, two +regiments of cavalry, one regiment of mounted rifles, four +regiments of artillery, and ten regiments of infantry, admitting of +an aggregate strength of thirteen thousand and twenty-four officers +and men. On the subsequent 4th of May the President, by his own +orders (afterward sanctioned by Congress), added a regiment of +cavalry, a regiment of artillery, and eight regiments of infantry, +which, with the former army, admitted of a strength of thirty-nine +thousand nine hundred and seventy-three; but at no time during the +war did the Regular Army attain a strength of twenty-five thousand +men. + +To the new regiments of infantry was given an organization +differing from any that had heretofore prevailed in this country-- +of three battalions of eight companies each; but at no time did +more than one of these regiments attain its full standard; nor in +the vast army of volunteers that was raised during the war were any +of the regiments of infantry formed on the three-battalion system, +but these were universally single battalions of ten companies; so +that, on the reorganization of the Regular Army at the close of the +war, Congress adopted the form of twelve companies for the +regiments of cavalry and artillery, and that of ten companies for +the infantry, which is the present standard. + +Inasmuch as the Regular Army will naturally form the standard of +organization for any increase or for new regiments of volunteers, +it becomes important to study this subject in the light of past +experience, and to select that form which is best for peace as well +as war. + +A cavalry regiment is now composed of twelve companies, usually +divided into six squadrons, of two companies each, or better +subdivided into three battalions of four companies each. This is +an excellent form, easily admitting of subdivision as well as union +into larger masses. + +A single battalion of four companies, with a field-officer, will +compose a good body for a garrison, for a separate expedition, or +for a detachment; and, in war, three regiments would compose a good +brigade, three brigades a division, and three divisions a strong +cavalry corps, such as was formed and fought by Generals Sheridan +and Wilson during the war. + +In the artillery arm, the officers differ widely in their opinion +of the true organization. A single company forms a battery, and +habitually each battery acts separately, though sometimes several +are united or "massed;" but these always act in concert with +cavalry or infantry. + +Nevertheless, the regimental organization for artillery has always +been maintained in this country for classification and promotion. +Twelve companies compose a regiment, and, though probably no +colonel ever commanded his full regiment in the form of twelve +batteries, yet in peace they occupy our heavy sea-coast forts or +act as infantry; then the regimental organization is both necessary +and convenient. + +But the infantry composes the great mass of all armies, and the +true form of the regiment or unit has been the subject of infinite +discussion; and, as I have stated, during the civil war the +regiment was a single battalion of ten companies. In olden times +the regiment was composed of eight battalion companies and two +flank companies. The first and tenth companies were armed with +rifles, and were styled and used as "skirmishers;" but during 'the +war they were never used exclusively for that special purpose, and +in fact no distinction existed between them and the other eight +companies. + +The ten-company organization is awkward in practice, and I am +satisfied that the infantry regiment should have the same identical +organization as exists for the cavalry and artillery, viz., twelve +companies, so as to be susceptible of division into three +battalions of four companies each. + +These companies should habitually be about a hundred one men +strong, giving twelve hundred to a regiment, which in practice +would settle down to about one thousand men. + +Three such regiments would compose a brigade, three brigades a +division, and three divisions a corps. Then, by allowing to an +infantry corps a brigade of cavalry and six batteries of +field-artillery, we would have an efficient corps d'armee of +thirty thousand men, whose organization would be simple and most +efficient, and whose strength should never be allowed to fall below +twenty-five thousand men. + +The corps is the true unit for grand campaigns and battle, should +have a full and perfect staff, and every thing requisite for +separate action, ready at all times to be detached and sent off for +any nature of service. The general in command should have the rank +of lieutenant-general, and should be, by experience and education, +equal to any thing in war. Habitually with us he was a major- +general, specially selected and assigned to the command by an order +of the President, constituting, in fact, a separate grade. + + +The division is the unit of administration, and is the legitimate +command of a major general. + +The brigade is the next subdivision, and is commanded by a +brigadier-general. + +The regiment is the family. The colonel, as the father, should +have a personal acquaintance with every officer and man, and should +instill a feeling of pride and affection for himself, so that his +officers and men would naturally look to him for personal advice +and instruction. In war the regiment should never be subdivided, +but should always be maintained entire. In peace this is +impossible. + +The company is the true unit of discipline, and the captain is the +company. A good captain makes a good company, and he should have +the power to reward as well as punish. The fact that soldiers +world naturally like to have a good fellow for their captain is the +best reason why he should be appointed by the colonel, or by some +superior authority, instead of being elected by the men. + +In the United States the people are the "sovereign," all power +originally proceeds from them, and therefore the election of +officers by the men is the common rule. This is wrong, because an +army is not a popular organization, but an animated machine, an +instrument in the hands of the Executive for enforcing the law, and +maintaining the honor and dignity of the nation; and the President, +as the constitutional commander-in-chief of the army and navy, +should exercise the power of appointment (subject to the +confirmation of the Senate) of the officers of "volunteers," as +well as of "regulars." + +No army can be efficient unless it be a unit for action; and the +power must come from above, not from below: the President usually +delegates his power to the commander-in-chief, and he to the next, +and so on down to the lowest actual commander of troops, however +small the detachment. No matter how troops come together, when +once united, the highest officer in rank is held responsible, and +should be consequently armed with the fullest power of the +Executive, subject only to law and existing orders. The more +simple the principle, the greater the likelihood of determined +action; and the less a commanding officer is circumscribed by +bounds or by precedent, the greater is the probability that he will +make the best use of his command and achieve the best results. + +The Regular Army and the Military Academy at West Point have in the +past provided, and doubtless will in the future provide an ample +supply of good officers for future wars; but, should their numbers +be insufficient, we can always safely rely on the great number of +young men of education and force of character throughout the +country, to supplement them. At the close of our civil war, +lasting four years, some of our best corps and division generals, +as well as staff-officers, were from civil life; but I cannot +recall any of the most successful who did not express a regret that +he had not received in early life instruction in the elementary +principles of the art of war, instead of being forced to acquire +this knowledge in the dangerous and expensive school of actual war. + +But the vital difficulty was, and will be again, to obtain an +adequate number of good soldiers. We tried almost every system +known to modern nations, all with more or less success--voluntary +enlistments, the draft, and bought substitutes--and I think that all +officers of experience will confirm my assertion that the men who +voluntarily enlisted at the outbreak of the war were the best, +better than the conscript, and far better than the bought +substitute. When a regiment is once organized in a State, and +mustered into the service of the United States, the officers and +men become subject to the same laws of discipline and government as +the regular troops. They are in no sense "militia," but compose +a part of the Army of the United States, only retain their State +title for convenience, and yet may be principally recruited from +the neighborhood of their original organization: Once organized, +the regiment should be kept full by recruits, and when it becomes +difficult to obtain more recruits the pay should be raised by +Congress, instead of tempting new men by exaggerated bounties. I +believe it would have been more economical to have raised the pay +of the soldier to thirty or even fifty dollars a month than to have +held out the promise of three hundred and even six hundred dollars +in the form of bounty. Toward the close of the war, I have often +heard the soldiers complain that the "stay at-home" men got better +pay, bounties, and food, than they who were exposed to all the +dangers and vicissitudes of the battles and marches at the front. +The feeling of the soldier should be that, in every event, the +sympathy and preference of his government is for him who fights, +rather than for him who is on provost or guard duty to the rear, +and, like most men, he measures this by the amount of pay. Of +course, the soldier must be trained to obedience, and should be +"content with his wages;" but whoever has commanded an army in the +field knows the difference between a willing, contented mass of +men, and one that feels a cause of grievance. There is a soul to +an army as well as to the individual man, and no general can +accomplish the full work of his army unless he commands the soul of +his men, as well as their bodies and legs. + +The greatest mistake made in our civil war was in the mode of +recruitment and promotion. When a regiment became reduced by the +necessary wear and tear of service, instead of being filled up at +the bottom, and the vacancies among the officers filled from the +best noncommissioned officers and men, the habit was to raise new +regiments, with new colonels, captains, and men, leaving the old +and experienced battalions to dwindle away into mere skeleton +organizations. I believe with the volunteers this matter was left +to the States exclusively, and I remember that Wisconsin kept her +regiments filled with recruits, whereas other States generally +filled their quotas by new regiments, and the result was that we +estimated a Wisconsin regiment equal to an ordinary brigade. I +believe that five hundred new men added to an old and experienced +regiment were more valuable than a thousand men in the form of a +new regiment, for the former by association with good, experienced +captains, lieutenants, and non-commissioned officers, soon became +veterans, whereas the latter were generally unavailable for a year. +The German method of recruitment is simply perfect, and there is no +good reason why we should not follow it substantially. + +On a road, marching by the flank, it would be considered "good +order" to have five thousand men to a mile, so that a full corps of +thirty thousand men would extend six miles, but with the average +trains and batteries of artillery the probabilities are that it +would draw out to ten miles. On a long and regular march the +divisions and brigades should alternate in the lead, the leading +division should be on the road by the earliest dawn, and march at +the rate of about two miles, or, at most, two and a half miles an +hour, so as to reach camp by noon. Even then the rear divisions +and trains will hardly reach camp much before night. Theoretically, +a marching column should preserve such order that by simply halting +and facing to the right or left, it would be in line of battle; but +this is rarely the case, and generally deployments are made +"forward," by conducting each brigade by the flank obliquely to the +right or left to its approximate position in line of battle, and +there deployed. In such a line of battle, a brigade of three +thousand infantry would occupy a mile of "front;" but for a strong +line of battle five-thousand men with two batteries should be +allowed to each mile, or a division would habitually constitute a +double line with skirmishers and a reserve on a mile of "front." + +The "feeding" of an army is a matter of the most vital importance, +and demands the earliest attention of the general intrusted with a +campaign. To be strong, healthy, and capable of the largest +measure of physical effort, the soldier needs about three pounds +gross of food per day, and the horse or mule about twenty pounds. +When a general first estimates the quantity of food and forage +needed for an army of fifty or one hundred thousand men, he is apt +to be dismayed, and here a good staff is indispensable, though the +general cannot throw off on them the responsibility. He must give +the subject his personal attention, for the army reposes in him +alone, and should never doubt the fact that their existence +overrides in importance all other considerations. Once satisfied +of this, and that all has been done that can be, the soldiers are +always willing to bear the largest measure of privation. Probably +no army ever had a more varied experience in this regard than the +one I commanded in 1864'65. + +Our base of supply was at Nashville, supplied by railways and the +Cumberland River, thence by rail to Chattanooga, a "secondary +base," and thence forward a single-track railroad. The stores came +forward daily, but I endeavored to have on hand a full supply for +twenty days in advance. These stores were habitually in the +wagon-trains, distributed to corps, divisions, and regiments, in +charge of experienced quartermasters and commissaries, and became +subject to the orders of the generals commanding these bodies. +They were generally issued on provision returns, but these had to +be closely scrutinized, for too often the colonels would make +requisitions for provisions for more men than they reported for +battle. Of course, there are always a good many non-combatants +with an army, but, after careful study, I limited their amount to +twenty-five per cent. of the "effective strength," and that was +found to be liberal. An ordinary army-wagon drawn by six mules may +be counted on to carry three thousand pounds net, equal to the food +of a full regiment for one day, but, by driving along beef-cattle, +a commissary may safely count the contents of one wagon as +sufficient for two days' food for a regiment of a thousand men; and +as a corps should have food on hand for twenty days ready for +detachment, it should have three hundred such wagons, as a +provision-train; and for forage, ammunition, clothing, and other +necessary stores, it was found necessary to have three hundred more +wagons, or six hundred wagons in all, for a corps d'armee. + +These should be absolutely under the immediate control of the corps +commander, who will, however, find it economical to distribute them +in due proportion to his divisions, brigades, and even regiments. +Each regiment ought usually to have at least one wagon for +convenience to distribute stores, and each company two pack-mules, +so that the regiment may always be certain of a meal on reaching +camp without waiting for the larger trains. + +On long marches the artillery and wagon-trains should always have +the right of way, and the troops should improvise roads to one +side, unless forced to use a bridge in common, and all trains +should have escorts to protect them, and to assist them in bad +places. To this end there is nothing like actual experience, only, +unless the officers in command give the subject their personal +attention, they will find their wagon-trains loaded down with +tents, personal baggage, and even the arms and knapsacks of the +escort. Each soldier should, if not actually "sick or wounded," +carry his musket and equipments containing from forty to sixty +rounds of ammunition, his shelter-tent, a blanket or overcoat, and +an extra pair of pants, socks, and drawers, in the form of a scarf, +worn from the left shoulder to the right side in lieu of knapsack, +and in his haversack he should carry some bread, cooked meat, salt, +and coffee. I do not believe a soldier should be loaded down too +much, but, including his clothing, arms, and equipment, he can +carry about fifty pounds without impairing his health or activity. +A simple calculation will show that by such a distribution a corps +will-thus carry the equivalent of five hundred wagon-loads--an +immense relief to the trains. + +Where an army is near one of our many large navigable rivers, or +has the safe use of a railway, it can usually be supplied with the +full army ration, which is by far the best furnished to any army in +America or Europe; but when it is compelled to operate away from +such a base, and is dependent on its own train of wagons, the +commanding officer must exercise a wise discretion in the selection +of his stores. In my opinion, there is no better food for man than +beef-cattle driven on the hoof, issued liberally, with salt, bacon, +and bread. Coffee has also become almost indispensable, though +many substitutes were found for it, such as Indian-corn, roasted, +ground, and boiled as coffee; the sweet-potato, and the seed of the +okra plant prepared in the same way. All these were used by the +people of the South, who for years could procure no coffee, but I +noticed that the women always begged of us some real coffee, which +seems to satisfy a natural yearning or craving more powerful than +can be accounted for on the theory of habit. Therefore I would +always advise that the coffee and sugar ration be carried along, +even at the expense of bread, for which there are many substitutes. +Of these, Indian-corn is the best and most abundant. Parched in a +frying-pan, it is excellent food, or if ground, or pounded and +boiled with meat of any sort, it makes a most nutritious meal. The +potato, both Irish and sweet, forms an excellent substitute for +bread, and at Savannah we found that rice (was) also suitable, both for +men and animals. For the former it should be cleaned of its husk +in a hominy block, easily prepared out of a log, and sifted with a +coarse corn bag; but for horses it should be fed in the straw. +During the Atlanta campaign we were supplied by our regular +commissaries with all sorts of patent compounds, such as desiccated +vegetables, and concentrated milk, meat-biscuit, and sausages, but +somehow the men preferred the simpler and more familiar forms of +food, and usually styled these "desecrated vegetables and +consecrated milk." We were also supplied liberally with +lime-juice, sauerkraut, and pickles, as an antidote to scurvy, and +I now recall the extreme anxiety of my medical director, Dr. Kittoe, +about the scurvy, which he reported at one time as spreading and +imperiling the army. This occurred at a crisis about Kenesaw, when +the railroad was taxed to its utmost capacity to provide the +necessary ammunition, food, and forage, and could not possibly +bring us an adequate supply of potatoes and cabbage, the usual +anti-scorbutics, when providentially the black berries ripened and +proved an admirable antidote, and I have known the skirmish-line, +without orders, to fight a respectable battle for the possession of +some old fields that were full of blackberries. Soon, thereafter, +the green corn or roasting-ear came into season, and I heard no +more of the scurvy. Our country abounds with plants which can be +utilized for a prevention to the scurvy; besides the above are the +persimmon, the sassafras root and bud, the wild-mustard, the +"agave," turnip tops, the dandelion cooked as greens, and a +decoction of the ordinary pine-leaf. + +For the more delicate and costly articles of food for the sick we +relied mostly on the agents of the Sanitary Commission. I do not +wish to doubt the value of these organizations, which gained so +much applause during our civil war, for no one can question the +motives of these charitable and generous people; but to be honest I +must record an opinion that the Sanitary Commission should limit +its operations to the hospitals at the rear, and should never +appear at the front. They were generally local in feeling, aimed +to furnish their personal friends and neighbors with a better class +of food than the Government supplied, and the consequence was, that +one regiment of a brigade would receive potatoes and fruit which +would be denied another regiment close by: Jealousy would be the +inevitable result, and in an army all parts should be equal; there +should be no "partiality, favor, or affection." The Government +should supply all essential wants, and in the hospitals to the rear +will be found abundant opportunities for the exercise of all +possible charity and generosity. During the war I several times +gained the ill-will of the agents of the Sanitary Commission +because I forbade their coming to the front unless they would +consent to distribute their stores equally among all, regardless of +the parties who had contributed them. + +The sick, wounded, and dead of an army are the subjects of the +greatest possible anxiety, and add an immense amount of labor to +the well men. Each regiment in an active campaign should have a +surgeon and two assistants always close at hand, and each brigade +and division should have an experienced surgeon as a medical +director. The great majority of wounds and of sickness should be +treated by the regimental surgeon, on the ground, under the eye of +the colonel. As few should be sent to the brigade or division +hospital as possible, for the men always receive better care with +their own regiment than with strangers, and as a rule the cure is +more certain; but when men receive disabling wounds, or have +sickness likely to become permanent, the sooner they go far to the +rear the better for all. The tent or the shelter of a tree is a +better hospital than a house, whose walls absorb fetid and +poisonous emanations, and then give them back to the atmosphere. +To men accustomed to the open air, who live on the plainest food, +wounds seem to give less pain, and are attended with less danger to +life than to ordinary soldiers in barracks. + + +Wounds which, in 1861, would have sent a man to the hospital for +months, in 1865 were regarded as mere scratches, rather the subject +of a joke than of sorrow. To new soldiers the sight of blood and +death always has a sickening effect, but soon men become accustomed +to it, and I have heard them exclaim on seeing a dead comrade borne +to the rear, "Well, Bill has turned up his toes to the daisies." +Of course, during a skirmish or battle, armed men should never +leave their ranks to attend a dead or wounded comrade--this should +be seen to in advance by the colonel, who should designate his +musicians or company cooks as hospital attendants, with a white rag +on their arm to indicate their office. A wounded man should go +himself (if able) to the surgeon near at hand, or, if he need help, +he should receive it from one of the attendants and not a comrade. +It is wonderful how soon the men accustom themselves to these +simple rules. In great battles these matters call for a more +enlarged attention, and then it becomes the duty of the division +general to see that proper stretchers and field hospitals are ready +for the wounded, and trenches are dug for the dead. There should +be no real neglect of the dead, because it has a bad effect on the +living; for each soldier values himself and comrade as highly as +though he were living in a good house at home. + +The regimental chaplain, if any, usually attends the burials from +the hospital, should make notes and communicate details to the +captain of the company, and to the family at home. Of course it is +usually impossible to mark the grave with names, dates, etc., and +consequently the names of the "unknown" in our national cemeteries +equal about one-half of all the dead. + +Very few of the battles in which I have participated were fought as +described in European text-books, viz., in great masses, in perfect +order, manoeuvring by corps, divisions, and brigades. We were +generally in a wooded country, and, though our lines were deployed +according to tactics, the men generally fought in strong +skirmish-lines, taking advantage of the shape of ground, and of +every cover. We were generally the assailants, and in wooded and +broken countries the "defensive" had a positive advantage over us, +for they were always ready, had cover, and always knew the ground +to their immediate front; whereas we, their assailants, had to +grope our way over unknown ground, and generally found a cleared +field or prepared entanglements that held us for a time under a +close and withering fire. Rarely did the opposing lines in compact +order come into actual contact, but when, as at Peach-Tree Creek +and Atlanta, the lines did become commingled, the men fought +individually in every possible style, more frequently with the +musket clubbed than with the bayonet, and in some instances the men +clinched like wrestlers, and went to the ground together. +Europeans frequently criticised our war, because we did not always +take full advantage of a victory; the true reason was, that +habitually the woods served as a screen, and we often did not +realize the fact that our enemy had retreated till he was already +miles away and was again intrenched, having left a mere +skirmish-line to cover the movement, in turn to fall back to the +new position. + +Our war was fought with the muzzle-loading rifle. Toward the close +I had one brigade (Walcutt's) armed with breech-loading "Spencer's;" +the cavalry generally had breach-loading carbines, "Spencer's" and +"Sharp's," both of which were good arms. + +The only change that breech-loading arms will probably make in the +art and practice of war will be to increase the amount of +ammunition to be expended, and necessarily to be carried along; to +still further "thin out" the lines of attack, and to reduce battles +to short, quick, decisive conflicts. It does not in the least +affect the grand strategy, or the necessity for perfect +organization, drill, and discipline. The companies and battalions +will be more dispersed, and the men will be less under the +immediate eye of their officers, and therefore a higher order of +intelligence and courage on the part of the individual soldier will +be an element of strength. + +When a regiment is deployed as skirmishers, and crosses an open +field or woods, under heavy fire, if each man runs forward from +tree to tree, or stump to stump, and yet preserves a good general +alignment, it gives great confidence to the men themselves, for +they always keep their eyes well to the right and left, and watch +their comrades; but when some few hold back, stick too close or too +long to a comfortable log, it often stops the line and defeats the +whole object. Therefore, the more we improve the fire-arm the more +will be the necessity for good organization, good discipline and +intelligence on the part of the individual soldier and officer. +There is, of course, such a thing as individual courage, which has +a value in war, but familiarity with danger, experience in war and +its common attendants, and personal habit, are equally valuable +traits, and these are the qualities with which we usually have to +deal in war. All men naturally shrink from pain and danger, and +only incur their risk from some higher motive, or from habit; so +that I would define true courage to be a perfect sensibility of the +measure of danger, and a mental willingness to incur it, rather +than that insensibility to danger of which I have heard far more +than I have seen. The most courageous men are generally +unconscious of possessing the quality; therefore, when one +professes it too openly, by words or bearing, there is reason to +mistrust it. I would further illustrate my meaning by describing a +man of true courage to be one who possesses all his faculties and +senses perfectly when serious danger is actually present. + +Modern wars have not materially changed the relative values or +proportions of the several arms of service: infantry, artillery, +cavalry, and engineers. If any thing, the infantry has been +increased in value. The danger of cavalry attempting to charge +infantry armed with breech-loading rifles was fully illustrated at +Sedan, and with us very frequently. So improbable has such a thing +become that we have omitted the infantry-square from our recent +tactics. Still, cavalry against cavalry, and as auxiliary to +infantry, will always be valuable, while all great wars will, as +heretofore, depend chiefly on the infantry. Artillery is more +valuable with new and inexperienced troops than with veterans. In +the early stages of the war the field-guns often bore the +proportion of six to a thousand men; but toward the close of the +war one gun; or at most two, to a thousand men, was deemed enough. +Sieges; such as characterized the wars of the last century, are too +slow for this period of the world, and the Prussians recently +almost ignored them altogether, penetrated France between the +forts, and left a superior force "in observation," to watch the +garrison and accept its surrender when the greater events of the +war ahead made further resistance useless; but earth-forts, and +especially field-works, will hereafter play an important part in +war, because they enable a minor force to hold a superior one in +check for a time, and time is a most valuable element in all wars. +It was one of Prof. Mahan's maxims that the spade was as useful in +war as the musket, and to this I will add the axe. The habit of +intrenching certainly does have the effect of making new troops +timid. When a line of battle is once covered by a good parapet, +made by the engineers or by the labor of the men themselves, it +does require an effort to make them leave it in the face of danger; +but when the enemy is intrenched, it becomes absolutely necessary +to permit each brigade and division of the troops immediately +opposed to throw up a corresponding trench for their own protection +in case of a sudden sally. We invariably did this in all our +recent campaigns, and it had no ill effect, though sometimes our +troops were a little too slow in leaving their well-covered lines +to assail the enemy in position or on retreat. Even our +skirmishers were in the habit of rolling logs together, or of +making a lunette of rails, with dirt in front, to cover their +bodies; and, though it revealed their position, I cannot say that +it worked a bad effect; so that, as a rule, it may safely be left +to the men themselves: On the "defensive," there is no doubt of the +propriety of fortifying; but in the assailing army the general must +watch closely to see that his men do not neglect an opportunity to +drop his precautionary defenses, and act promptly on the +"offensive" at every chance. + +I have many a time crept forward to the skirmish-line to avail +myself of the cover of the pickets "little fort," to observe more +closely some expected result; and always talked familiarly with the +men, and was astonished to see how well they comprehended the +general object, and how accurately they were informed of the sate +of facts existing miles away from their particular corps. Soldiers +are very quick to catch the general drift and purpose of a +campaign, and are always sensible when they are well commanded or +well cared for. Once impressed with this fact, and that they are +making progress, they bear cheerfully any amount of labor and +privation. + +In camp, and especially in the presence of an active enemy, it is +much easier to maintain discipline than in barracks in time of +peace. Crime and breaches of discipline are much less frequent, +and the necessity for courts-martial far less. The captain can +usually inflict all the punishment necessary, and the colonel +should always. The field-officers' court is the best form for war, +viz., one of the field-officers-the lieutenant-colonel or major +--can examine the case and report his verdict, and the colonel +should execute it. Of course, there are statutory offenses which +demand a general court-martial, and these must be ordered by the +division or corps commander; but, the presence of one of our +regular civilian judge-advocates in an army in the field would be a +first-class nuisance, for technical courts always work mischief. +Too many courts-martial in any command are evidence of poor +discipline and inefficient officers. + +For the rapid transmission of orders in an army covering a large +space of ground, the magnetic telegraph is by far the best, though +habitually the paper and pencil, with good mounted orderlies, +answer every purpose. I have little faith in the signal-service by +flags and torches, though we always used them; because, almost +invariably when they were most needed, the view was cut off by +intervening trees, or by mists and fogs. There was one notable +instance in my experience, when the signal-flags carried a message. +of vital importance over the heads of Hood's army, which had +interposed between me and Allatoona, and had broken the +telegraph-wires--as recorded in Chapter XIX.; but the value of the +magnetic telegraph in war cannot be exaggerated, as was illustrated +by the perfect concert of action between the armies in Virginia and +Georgia during 1864. Hardly a day intervened when General Grant +did not know the exact state of facts with me, more than fifteen +hundred miles away as the wires ran. So on the field a thin +insulated wire may be run on improvised stakes or from tree to tree +for six or more miles in a couple of hours, and I have seen +operators so skillful, that by cutting the wire they would receive +a message with their tongues from a distant station. As a matter +of course, the ordinary commercial wires along the railways form +the usual telegraph-lines for an army, and these are easily +repaired and extended as the army advances, but each army and wing +should have a small party of skilled men to put up the field-wire, +and take it down when done. This is far better than the +signal-flags and torches. Our commercial telegraph-lines will +always supply for war enough skillful operators. + +The value of railways is also fully recognized in war quite as much +as, if not more so than, in peace. The Atlanta campaign would +simply have been impossible without the use of the railroads from +Louisville to Nashville--one hundred and eighty-five miles--from +Nashville to Chattanooga--one hundred and fifty-one miles--and from +Chattanooga to Atlanta--one hundred and thirty-seven miles. Every +mile of this "single track" was so delicate, that one man could in +a minute have broken or moved a rail, but our trains usually +carried along the tools and means to repair such a break. We had, +however, to maintain strong guards and garrisons at each important +bridge or trestle--the destruction of which would have necessitated +time for rebuilding. For the protection of a bridge, one or two +log block houses, two stories high, with a piece of ordnance and a +small infantry guard, usually sufficed. The block-house had a +small parapet and ditch about it, and the roof was made shot proof +by earth piled on. These points could usually be reached only by a +dash of the enemy's cavalry, and many of these block houses +successfully resisted serious attacks by both cavalry and +artillery. The only block-house that was actually captured on the +main was the one described near Allatoona. Our trains from +Nashville forward were operated under military rules, and ran about +ten miles an hour in gangs of four trains of ten cars each. Four +such groups of trains daily made one hundred and sixty cars, of ten +tons each, carrying sixteen hundred tons, which exceeded the +absolute necessity of the army, and allowed for the accidents that +were common and inevitable. But, as I have recorded, that single +stem of railroad, four hundred and seventy-three miles long, +supplied an army of one hundred thousand men and thirty-five +thousand animals for the period of one hundred and ninety-six days, +viz., from May 1 to November 12, 1864. To have delivered regularly +that amount of food and forage by ordinary wagons would have +required thirty-six thousand eight hundred wagons of six mules +each, allowing each wagon to have hauled two tons twenty miles each +day, a simple impossibility in roads such as then existed in that +region of country. Therefore, I reiterate that the Atlanta +campaign was an impossibility without these railroads; and only +then, because we had the men and means to maintain and defend them, +in addition to what were necessary to overcome the enemy. +Habitually, a passenger-car will carry fifty men with their +necessary baggage. Box-cars, and even platform-cars, answer the +purpose well enough, but they, should always have rough +board-seats. For sick and wounded men, box-cars filled with straw +or bushes were usually employed. Personally, I saw but little of +the practical working of the railroads, for I only turned back once +as far as Resaca; but I had daily reports from the engineer in +charge, and officers who came from the rear often explained to me +the whole thing, with a description of the wrecked trains all the +way from Nashville to Atlanta. I am convinced that the risk to +life to the engineers and men on that railroad fully equaled that +on the skirmish-line, called for as high an order of courage, and +fully equaled it in importance. Still, I doubt if there be any +necessity in time of peace to organize a corps specially to work +the military railroads in time of war, because in peace these same +men gain all the necessary experience, possess all the daring and +courage of soldiers, and only need the occasional protection and +assistance of the necessary train-guard, which may be composed of +the furloughed men coming and going, or of details made from the +local garrisons to the rear. + +For the transfer of large armies by rail, from one theatre of +action to another by the rear--the cases of the transfer of the +Eleventh and Twelfth Corps--General Hooker, twenty-three thousand +men--from the East to Chattanooga, eleven hundred and ninety-two +miles in seven days, in the fall of 1863; and that of the Army of +the Ohio--General Schofield, fifteen thousand men--from the valley +of the Tennessee to Washington, fourteen hundred miles in eleven +days, en route to North Carolina in January, 1865, are the best +examples of which I have any knowledge, and reference to these is +made in the report of the Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, dated +November 22, 1865. + +Engineer troops attached to an army are habitually employed in +supervising the construction of forts or field works of a nature +more permanent than the lines need by the troops in motion, and in +repairing roads and making bridges. I had several regiments of +this kind that were most useful, but as a rule we used the +infantry, or employed parties of freedmen, who worked on the +trenches at night while the soldiers slept, and these in turn +rested by day. Habitually the repair of the railroad and its +bridges was committed to hired laborers, like the English navies, +under the supervision of Colonel W. W. Wright, a railroad-engineer, +who was in the military service at the time, and his successful +labors were frequently referred to in the official reports of the +campaign. + +For the passage of rivers, each army corps had a pontoon-train with +a detachment of engineers, and, on reaching a river, the leading +infantry division was charged with the labor of putting it down. +Generally the single pontoon-train could provide for nine hundred +feet of bridge, which sufficed; but when the rivers were very wide +two such trains would be brought together, or the single train was +supplemented by a trestle-bridge, or bridges made on crib-work, out +of timber found near the place. The pontoons in general use were +skeleton frames, made with a hinge, so as to fold back and +constitute a wagon-body. In this same wagon were carried the +cotton canvas cover, the anchor and chains, and a due proportion of +the balks, cheeses, and lashings. All the troops became very +familiar with their mechanism and use, and we were rarely delayed +by reason of a river, however broad. I saw, recently, in +Aldershot, England, a very complete pontoon-train; the boats were +sheathed with wood and felt, made very light; but I think these +were more liable to chafing and damage in rough handling than were +our less expensive and rougher boats. On the whole, I would prefer +the skeleton frame and canvas cover to any style of pontoon that I +have ever seen. + +In relation to guards, pickets, and vedettes, I doubt if any +discoveries or improvements were made during our war, or in any of +the modern wars in Europe. These precautions vary with the nature +of the country and the situation of each army. When advancing or +retreating in line of battle, the usual skirmish-line constitutes +the picket-line, and may have "reserves," but usually the main line +of battle constitutes the reserve; and in this connection I will +state that the recent innovation introduced into the new infantry +tactics by General Upton is admirable, for by it each regiment, +brigade, and division deployed, sends forward as "skirmishers" the +one man of each set of fours, to cover its own front, and these can +be recalled or reenforced at pleasure by the bugle-signal. + +For flank-guards and rear-guards, one or more companies should be +detached under their own officers, instead of making up the guard +by detailing men from the several companies. + +For regimental or camp guards, the details should be made according +to existing army regulations; and all the guards should be posted +early in the evening, so as to afford each sentinel or vedette a +chance to study his ground before it becomes too dark. + +In like manner as to the staff. The more intimately it comes into +contact with the troops, the more useful and valuable it becomes. +The almost entire separation of the staff from the line, as now +practised by us, and hitherto by the French, has proved +mischievous, and the great retinues of staff-officers with which +some of our earlier generals began the war were simply ridiculous. +I don't believe in a chief of staff at all, and any general +commanding an army, corps, or division, that has a staff-officer +who professes to know more than his chief, is to be pitied. Each +regiment should have a competent adjutant, quartermaster, and +commissary, with two or three medical officers. Each brigade +commander should have the same staff, with the addition of a couple +of young aides-de-camp, habitually selected from the subalterns of +the brigade, who should be good riders, and intelligent enough to +give and explain the orders of their general. + +The same staff will answer for a division. The general in command +of a separate army, and of a corps d'armee, should have the same +professional assistance, with two or more good engineers, and his +adjutant-general should exercise all the functions usually ascribed +to a chief of staff, viz., he should possess the ability to +comprehend the scope of operations, and to make verbally and in +writing all the orders and details necessary to carry into effect +the views of his general, as well as to keep the returns and +records of events for the information of the next higher authority, +and for history. A bulky staff implies a division of +responsibility, slowness of action, and indecision, whereas a small +staff implies activity and concentration of purpose. The smallness +of General Grant's staff throughout the civil war forms the best +model for future imitation. So of tents, officers furniture, etc., +etc. In real war these should all be discarded, and an army is +efficient for action and motion exactly in the inverse ratio of its +impedimenta. Tents should be omitted altogether, save one to a +regiment for an office, and a few for the division hospital. +Officers should be content with a tent fly, improvising poles and +shelter out of bushes. The tents d'abri, or shelter-tent, carried +by the soldier himself, is all-sufficient. Officers should never +seek for houses, but share the condition of their men. + +A recent message (July 18, 1874) made to the French Assembly by +Marshal MacMahon, President of the French Republic, submits a +projet de loi, with a report prepared by a board of French generals +on "army administration," which is full of information, and is as +applicable to us as to the French. I quote from its very +beginning: "The misfortunes of the campaign of 1870 have +demonstrated the inferiority of our system.... Two separate +organizations existed with parallel functions--the 'general' more +occupied in giving direction to his troops than in providing for +their material wants, which he regarded as the special province of +the staff, and the 'intendant' (staff) often working at random, +taking on his shoulders a crushing burden of functions and duties, +exhausting himself with useless efforts, and aiming to accomplish +an insufficient service, to the disappointment of everybody. This +separation of the administration and command, this coexistence of +two wills, each independent of the other, which paralyzed both and +annulled the dualism, was condemned. It was decided by the board +that this error should be "proscribed" in the new military system. +The report then goes on at great length discussing the provisions. +of the "new law," which is described to be a radical change from +the old one on the same subject. While conceding to the Minister +of War in Paris the general control and supervision of the entire +military establishment primarily, especially of the annual +estimates or budget, and the great depots of supply, it distributes +to the commanders of the corps d'armee in time of peace, and to all +army commanders generally in time of war, the absolute command of +the money, provisions, and stores, with the necessary staff- +officers to receive, issue, and account for them. I quote further: +"The object of this law is to confer on the commander of troops +whatever liberty of action the case demands. He has the power even +to go beyond the regulations, in circumstances of urgency and +pressing necessity. The extraordinary measures he may take on +these occasions may require their execution without delay. The +staff-officer has but one duty before obeying, and that is to +submit his observations to the general, and to ask his orders in +writing. + +With this formality his responsibility ceases, and the +responsibility for the extraordinary act falls solely on the +general who gives the order. The officers and agents charged with +supplies are placed under the orders of the general in command of +the troops, that is, they are obliged both in war and peace to +obey, with the single qualification above named, of first making +their observations and securing the written order of the general. + +With us, to-day, the law and regulations are that, no matter what +may be the emergency, the commanding general in Texas, New Mexico, +and the remote frontiers, cannot draw from the arsenals a pistol- +cartridge, or any sort of ordnance-stores, without first procuring +an order of the Secretary of War in Washington. The commanding +general--though intrusted with the lives of his soldiers and with +the safety of a frontier in a condition of chronic war--cannot +touch or be trusted with ordnance-stores or property, and that is +declared to be the law! Every officer of the old army remembers +how, in 1861, we were hampered with the old blue army regulations, +which tied our hands, and that to do any thing positive and +necessary we had to tear it all to pieces--cut the red-tape, as it +was called, a dangerous thing for an army to do, for it was +calculated to bring the law and authority into contempt; but war +was upon us, and overwhelming necessity overrides all law. + +This French report is well worth the study of our army-officers, of +all grades and classes, and I will only refer again, casually, to +another part, wherein it discusses the subject of military +correspondence: whether the staff-officer should correspond +directly with his chief in Paris, submitting to his general copies, +or whether he should be required to carry on his correspondence +through his general, so that the latter could promptly forward the +communication, indorsed with his own remarks and opinions. The +latter is declared by the board to be the only safe role, because +"the general should never be ignorant of any thing that is +transpiring that concerns his command." + +In this country, as in France, Congress controls the great +questions of war and peace, makes all laws for the creation and +government of armies, and votes the necessary supplies, leaving to +the President to execute and apply these laws, especially the +harder task of limiting the expenditure of public money to the +amount of the annual appropriations. The executive power is +further subdivided into the seven great departments, and to the +Secretary of War is confided the general care of the military +establishment, and his powers are further subdivided into ten +distinct and separate bureaus. + +The chiefs of these bureaus are under the immediate orders of the +Secretary of War, who, through them, in fact commands the army from +"his office," but cannot do so "in the field"--an absurdity in +military if not civil law. + +The subordinates of these staff-corps and departments are selected +and chosen from the army itself, or fresh from West Point, and too +commonly construe themselves into the elite, as made of better clay +than the common soldier. Thus they separate themselves more and +more from their comrades of the line, and in process of time +realize the condition of that old officer of artillery who thought +the army would be a delightful place for a gentleman if it were not +for the d-d soldier; or, better still, the conclusion of the young +lord in "Henry IV.," who told Harry Percy (Hotspur) that "but for +these vile guns he would himself have been a soldier." This is all +wrong; utterly at variance with our democratic form of government +and of universal experience; and now that the French, from whom we +had copied the system, have utterly "proscribed" it, I hope that +our Congress will follow suit. I admit, in its fullest force, the +strength of the maxim that the civil law should be superior to the +military in time of peace; that the army should be at all times +subject to the direct control of Congress; and I assert that, from +the formation of our Government to the present day, the Regular +Army has set the highest example of obedience to law and authority; +but, for the very reason that our army is comparatively so very +small, I hold that it should be the best possible, organized and +governed on true military principles, and that in time of peace we +should preserve the "habits and usages of war," so that, when war +does come, we may not again be compelled to suffer the disgrace, +confusion, and disorder of 1861. + +The commanding officers of divisions, departments, and posts, +should have the amplest powers, not only to command their troops, +but all the stores designed for their use, and the officers of the +staff necessary to administer them, within the area of their +command; and then with fairness they could be held to the most +perfect responsibility. The President and Secretary of War can +command the army quite as well through these generals as through +the subordinate staff-officers. Of course, the Secretary would, as +now, distribute the funds according to the appropriation bills, and +reserve to himself the absolute control and supervision of the +larger arsenals and depots of supply. The error lies in the law, +or in the judicial interpretation thereof, and no code of army +regulations can be made that meets the case, until Congress, like +the French Corps Legislatif, utterly annihilates and "proscribes" +the old law and the system which has grown up under it. + +It is related of Napoleon that his last words were, "Tete d'armee!" +Doubtless, as the shadow of death obscured his memory, the last +thought that remained for speech was of some event when he was +directing an important "head of column." I believe that every +general who has handled armies in battle most recall from his own +experience the intensity of thought on some similar occasion, when +by a single command he had given the finishing stroke to some +complicated action; but to me recurs another thought that is worthy +of record, and may encourage others who are to follow us in our +profession. I never saw the rear of an army engaged in battle but +I feared that some calamity had happened at the front the apparent +confusion, broken wagons, crippled horses, men lying about dead and +maimed, parties hastening to and fro in seeming disorder, and a +general apprehension of something dreadful about to ensue; all +these signs, however, lessened as I neared the front, and there the +contrast was complete--perfect order, men and horses--full of +confidence, and it was not unusual for general hilarity, laughing, +and cheering. Although cannon might be firing, the musketry +clattering, and the enemy's shot hitting close, there reigned a +general feeling of strength and security that bore a marked +contrast to the bloody signs that had drifted rapidly to the rear; +therefore, for comfort and safety, I surely would rather be at the +front than the rear line of battle. So also on the march, the head +of a column moves on steadily, while the rear is alternately +halting and then rushing forward to close up the gap; and all sorts +of rumors, especially the worst, float back to the rear. Old +troops invariably deem it a special privilege to be in the front +--to be at the "head of column"--because experience has taught them +that it is the easiest and most comfortable place, and danger only +adds zest and stimulus to this fact. + +The hardest task in war is to lie in support of some position or +battery, under fire without the privilege of returning it; or to +guard some train left in the rear, within hearing but out of +danger; or to provide for the wounded and dead of some corps which +is too busy ahead to care for its own. + +To be at the head of a strong column of troops, in the execution of +some task that requires brain, is the highest pleasure of war--a +grim one and terrible, but which leaves on the mind and memory the +strongest mark; to detect the weak point of an enemy's line; to +break through with vehemence and thus lead to victory; or to +discover some key-point and hold it with tenacity; or to do some +other distinct act which is afterward recognized as the real cause +of success. These all become matters that are never forgotten. +Other great difficulties, experienced by every general, are to +measure truly the thousand-and-one reports that come to him in the +midst of conflict; to preserve a clear and well-defined purpose at +every instant of time, and to cause all efforts to converge to that +end. + +To do these things he must know perfectly the strength and quality +of each part of his own army, as well as that of his opponent, and +must be where he can personally see and observe with his own eyes, +and judge with his own mind. No man can properly command an army +from the rear, he must be "at its front;" and when a detachment is +made, the commander thereof should be informed of the object to be +accomplished, and left as free as possible to execute it in his own +way; and when an army is divided up into several parts, the +superior should always attend that one which he regards as most +important. Some men think that modern armies may be so regulated +that a general can sit in an office and play on his several columns +as on the keys of a piano; this is a fearful mistake. The +directing mind must be at the very head of the army--must be seen +there, and the effect of his mind and personal energy must be felt +by every officer and man present with it, to secure the best +results. Every attempt to make war easy and safe will result in +humiliation and disaster. + +Lastly, mail facilities should be kept up with an army if possible, +that officers and men may receive and send letters to their +friends, thus maintaining the home influence of infinite assistance +to discipline. Newspaper correspondents with an army, as a rule, +are mischievous. They are the world's gossips, pick up and retail +the camp scandal, and gradually drift to the headquarters of some +general, who finds it easier to make reputation at home than with +his own corps or division. They are also tempted to prophesy +events and state facts which, to an enemy, reveal a purpose in time +to guard against it. Moreover, they are always bound to see facts +colored by the partisan or political character of their own +patrons, and thus bring army officers into the political +controversies of the day, which are always mischievous and wrong. +Yet, so greedy are the people at large for war news, that it is +doubtful whether any army commander can exclude all reporters, +without bringing down on himself a clamor that may imperil his own +safety. Time and moderation must bring a just solution to this +modern difficulty. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +AFTER THE WAR + +In the foregoing pages I have endeavored to describe the public +events in which I was an actor or spectator before and during the +civil war of 1861-'65, and it now only remains for me to treat of +similar matters of general interest subsequent to the civil war. +Within a few days of the grand review of May 24, 1865, I took leave +of the army at Washington, and with my family went to Chicago to +attend a fair held in the interest of the families of soldiers +impoverished by the war. I remained there about two weeks; on the +22d of June was at South Bend, Indiana, where two of my children +were at school, and reached my native place, Lancaster, Ohio, on +the 24th. On the 4th of July I visited at Louisville, Kentucky, +the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Army Corps, +which had come from Washington, under the command of General John +A. Logan, for "muster out," or "further orders." I then made a +short visit to General George H. Thomas at Nashville, and returned +to Lancaster, where I remained with the family till the receipt of +General Orders No. 118 of June 27, 1865, which divided the whole +territory of the United States into nineteen departments and five +military divisions, the second of which was the military division +of the "Mississippi," afterward changed to "Missouri," Major- +General W. T. Sherman to command, with, headquarters at St. Louis, +to embrace the Departments of the Ohio, Missouri, and Arkansas. + +This territorial command included the States north of the Ohio +River, and the States and Territories north of Texas, as far west +as the Rocky Mountains, including Montana, Utah, and New Mexico, +but the part east of the Mississippi was soon transferred to +another division. The department commanders were General E. O. C. +Ord, at Detroit; General John Pope, at Fort Leavenworth; and +General J. J. Reynolds, at Little Rock, but these also were soon +changed. I at once assumed command, and ordered my staff and +headquarters from Washington to St. Louis, Missouri, going there in +person on the 16th of July. + +My thoughts and feelings at once reverted to the construction of +the great Pacific Railway, which had been chartered by Congress in +the midst of war, and was then in progress. I put myself in +communication with the parties engaged in the work, visiting them +in person, and assured them that I would afford them all possible +assistance and encouragement. Dr. Durant, the leading man of the +Union Pacific, seemed to me a person of ardent nature, of great +ability and energy, enthusiastic in his undertaking, and determined +to build the road from Omaha to San Francisco. He had an able +corps of assistants, collecting materials, letting out contracts +for ties, grading, etc., and I attended the celebration of the +first completed division of sixteen and a half miles, from Omaha to +Papillon. When the orators spoke so confidently of the +determination to build two thousand miles of railway across the +plains, mountains, and desert, devoid of timber, with no +population, but on the contrary raided by the bold and bloody Sioux +and Cheyennes, who had almost successfully defied our power for +half a century, I was disposed to treat it jocularly, because I +could not help recall our California experience of 1855-'56, when +we celebrated the completion of twenty-two and a half miles of the +same road eastward of Sacramento; on which occasion Edward Baker +had electrified us by his unequalled oratory, painting the glorious +things which would result from uniting the Western coast with the +East by bands of iron. Baker then, with a poet's imagination, saw +the vision of the mighty future, but not the gulf which meantime +was destined to swallow up half a million of the brightest and best +youth of our land, and that he himself would be one of the first +victims far away on the banks of the Potomac (he was killed in +battle at Balls Bluff, October 21, 1861). + +The Kansas Pacific was designed to unite with the main branch about +the 100 deg. meridian, near Fort Kearney. Mr. Shoemaker was its +general superintendent and building contractor, and this branch in +1865 was finished about forty miles to a point near Lawrence, +Kansas. I may not be able to refer to these roads again except +incidentally, and will, therefore, record here that the location of +this branch afterward was changed from the Republican to the Smoky +Hill Fork of the Kansas River, and is now the main line to Denver. +The Union and Central Railroads from the beginning were pushed with +a skill, vigor, and courage which always commanded my admiration, +the two meeting at Promontory Point, Utah, July 15, 1869, and in my +judgment constitute one of the greatest and most beneficent +achievements of man on earth. + +The construction of the Union Pacific Railroad was deemed so +important that the President, at my suggestion, constituted on the +5th of March, 1866, the new Department of the Platte, General P. +St. George Cooke commanding, succeeded by General C. C. Augur, +headquarters at Omaha, with orders to give ample protection to the +working-parties, and to afford every possible assistance in the +construction of the road; and subsequently in like manner the +Department of Dakota was constituted, General A. H. Terry +commanding, with headquarters at St. Paul, to give similar +protection and encouragement to the Northern Pacific Railroad. +These departments, with changed commanders, have continued up to +the present day, and have fulfilled perfectly the uses for which +they were designed. + +During the years 1865 and 1866 the great plains remained almost in +a state of nature, being the pasture-fields of about ten million +buffalo, deer, elk, and antelope, and were in full possession of +the Sioux, Cheyennes, Arapahoes, and Kiowas, a race of bold +Indians, who saw plainly that the construction of two parallel +railroads right through their country would prove destructive to +the game on which they subsisted, and consequently fatal to +themselves. + +The troops were posted to the best advantage to protect the parties +engaged in building these roads, and in person I reconnoitred well +to the front, traversing the buffalo regions from south to north, +and from east to west, often with a very small escort, mingling +with the Indians whenever safe, and thereby gained personal +knowledge of matters which enabled me to use the troops to the best +advantage. I am sure that without the courage and activity of the +department commanders with the small bodies of regular troops on +the plains during the years 1866-'69, the Pacific Railroads could +not have been built; but once built and in full operation the fate +of the buffalo and Indian was settled for all time to come. + +At the close of the civil war there were one million five hundred +and sixteen names on the muster-rolls, of which seven hundred and +ninety-seven thousand eight hundred and seven were present, and two +hundred and two thousand seven hundred and nine absent, of which +twenty-two thousand nine hundred and twenty-nine were regulars, the +others were volunteers, colored troops, and veteran reserves. The +regulars consisted of six regiments of cavalry, five of artillery, +and nineteen of infantry. By the act of July 28, 1866, the peace +establishment was fixed at one general (Grant), one lieutenant- +general (Sherman), five major-generals (Halleck, Meade, Sheridan, +Thomas, and Hancock), ten brigadiers (McDowell, Cooke, Pope, +Hooker, Schofield, Howard, Terry, Ord, Canby, and Rousseau), ten +regiments of cavalry, five of artillery, and forty-five of +infantry, admitting of an aggregate force of fifty-four thousand +six hundred and forty-one men. + +All others were mustered out, and thus were remanded to their homes +nearly a million of strong, vigorous men who had imbibed the +somewhat erratic habits of the soldier; these were of every +profession and trade in life, who, on regaining their homes, found +their places occupied by others, that their friends and neighbors +were different, and that they themselves had changed. They +naturally looked for new homes to the great West, to the new +Territories and States as far as the Pacific coast, and we realize +to-day that the vigorous men who control Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota, +Montana, Colorado, etc., etc., were soldiers of the civil war. +These men flocked to the plains, and were rather stimulated than +retarded by the danger of an Indian war. This was another potent +agency in producing the result we enjoy to-day, in having in so +short a time replaced the wild buffaloes by more numerous herds of +tame cattle, and by substituting for the useless Indians the +intelligent owners of productive farms and cattle-ranches. + +While these great changes were being wrought at the West, in the +East politics had resumed full sway, and all the methods of +anti-war times had been renewed. President Johnson had differed +with his party as to the best method of reconstructing the State +governments of the South, which had been destroyed and impoverished +by the war, and the press began to agitate the question of the next +President. Of course, all Union men naturally turned to General +Grant, and the result was jealousy of him by the personal friends +of President Johnson and some of his cabinet. Mr. Johnson always +seemed very patriotic and friendly, and I believed him honest and +sincere in his declared purpose to follow strictly the Constitution +of the United States in restoring the Southern States to their +normal place in the Union; but the same cordial friendship +subsisted between General Grant and myself, which was the outgrowth +of personal relations dating back to 1839. So I resolved to keep +out of this conflict. In September, 1866, I was in the mountains +of New Mexico, when a message reached me that I was wanted at +Washington. I had with me a couple of officers and half a dozen +soldiers as escort, and traveled down the Arkansas, through the +Kiowas, Comanches, Cheyennes, and Arapahoes, all more or less +disaffected, but reached St. Louis in safety, and proceeded to +Washington, where I reported to General Grant. + +He explained to me that President Johnson wanted to see me. He did +not know the why or wherefore, but supposed it had some connection +with an order he (General Grant) had received to escort the newly +appointed Minister, Hon. Lew Campbell, of Ohio, to the court of +Juarez, the President-elect of Mexico, which country was still in +possession of the Emperor Maximilian, supported by a corps of +French troops commanded by General Bazaine. General Grant denied +the right of the President to order him on a diplomatic mission +unattended by troops; said that he had thought the matter over, +world disobey the order, and stand the consequences. He manifested +much feeling; and said it was a plot to get rid of him. I then +went to President Johnson, who treated me with great cordiality, +and said that he was very glad I had come; that General Grant was +about to go to Mexico on business of importance, and he wanted me +at Washington to command the army in General Grant's absence. I +then informed him that General Grant would not go, and he seemed +amazed; said that it was generally understood that General Grant +construed the occupation of the territories of our neighbor, +Mexico, by French troops, and the establishment of an empire +therein, with an Austrian prince at its head, as hostile to +republican America, and that the Administration had arranged with +the French Government for the withdrawal of Bazaine's troops, which +would leave the country free for the President-elect Juarez to +reoccupy the city of Mexico, etc., etc.; that Mr. Campbell had been +accredited to Juarez, and the fact that he was accompanied by so +distinguished a soldier as General Grant would emphasize the act of +the United States. I simply reiterated that General Grant would +not go, and that he, Mr. Johnson, could not afford to quarrel with +him at that time. I further argued that General Grant was at the +moment engaged on the most delicate and difficult task of +reorganizing the army under the act of July 28, 1866; that if the +real object was to put Mr. Campbell in official communication with +President Juarez, supposed to be at El Paso or Monterey, either +General Hancock, whose command embraced New Mexico, or General +Sheridan, whose command included Texas, could fulfill the object +perfectly; or, in the event of neither of these alternates proving +satisfactory to the Secretary of State, that I could be easier +spared than General Grant. "Certainly," answered the President, +"if you will go, that will answer perfectly." + +The instructions of the Secretary of State, W. H. Seward, to Hon. +Lewis D. Campbell, Minister to Mexico, dated October 25, 1866; a +letter from President Johnson to Secretary of War Stanton, dated +October 26, 1866; and the letter of Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of +War, to General Grant, dated October 27th, had been already +prepared and printed, and the originals or copies were furnished +me; but on the 30th of October, 1866, the following letter passed + + +EXECUTIVE MANSION + +WASHINGTON, D. C., October 30,1866. + +SIR: General Ulysses S. Grant having found it inconvenient to +assume the duties specified in my letter to you of the 26th inst., +you will please relieve him, and assign them in all respects to +William T. Sherman, Lieutenant-General of the Army of the United +States. By way of guiding General Sherman in the performance of +his duties, you will furnish him with a copy of your special orders +to General Grant made in compliance with my letter of the 26th +inst., together with a copy of the instructions of the Secretary of +State to Lewis D. Campbell, Esq., therein mentioned. + +The lieutenant-general will proceed to the execution of his duties +without delay. + +Very respectfully yours, + +ANDREW JOHNSON +To the Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + +At the Navy Department I learned that the United States ship +Susquehanna, Captain Alden, was fitting out in New York for the use +of this mission, and that there would be time for me to return to +St. Louis to make arrangements for a prolonged absence, as also to +communicate with Mr. Campbell, who was still at his home in +Hamilton, Ohio. By correspondence we agreed to meet in New York, +November 8th, he accompanied by Mr. Plumb, secretary of legation, +and I by my aide, Colonel Audenried. + +We embarked November 10th, and went to sea next day, making for +Havana and Vera Cruz, and, as soon as we were outside of Sandy +Hook, I explained to Captain Alden that my mission was ended, +because I believed by substituting myself for General Grant I had +prevented a serious quarrel between him and the Administration, +which was unnecessary. We reached Havana on the 18th, with nothing +to vary the monotony of an ordinary sea-voyage, except off Hatteras +we picked up one woman and twenty men from open boats, who had just +abandoned a propeller bound from Baltimore to Charleston which +foundered. The sea was very rough, but by the personal skill and +supervision of Captain Alden every soul reached our deck safely, +and was carried to our consul at Havana. At Havana we were very +handsomely entertained, especially by Senor Aldama, who took us by +rail to his sugar-estates at Santa Ross, and back by Matanzas. + +We took our departure thence on the 25th, and anchored under Isla +Verde, off Vera Cruz, on the 29th. + +Everything about Vera Cruz indicated the purpose of the French to +withdraw, and also that the Emperor Maximilian would precede them, +for the Austrian frigate Dandolo was in port, and an Austrian bark, +on which were received, according to the report of our consul, Mr. +Lane, as many as eleven hundred packages of private furniture to be +transferred to Miramar, Maximilian's home; and Lieutenant Clarin, +of the French navy, who visited the Susquehanna from the French +commodore, Clouet, told me, without reserve, that, if we had +delayed eight days more, we would have found Maximilian gone. +General Bazaine was reported to be in the city of Mexico with about +twenty-eight thousand French troops; but instead of leaving Mexico +in three detachments, viz., November, 1866, March, 1867, and +November, 1867, as described in Mr. Seward's letter to Mr. +Campbell, of October 25, 1866, it looked to me that, as a soldier, +he would evacuate at some time before November, 1867, all at once, +and not by detachments. Lieutenant Clarin telegraphed Bazaine at +the city of Mexico the fact of our arrival, and he sent me a most +courteous and pressing invitation to come up to the city; but, as +we were accredited to the government of Juarez, it was considered +undiplomatic to establish friendly relations with the existing +authorities. Meantime we could not hear a word of Juarez, and +concluded to search for him along the coast northward. When I was +in Versailles, France, July, 1872, learning that General Bazaine +was in arrest for the surrender of his army and post at Metz, in +1870, I wanted to call on him to thank him for his courteous +invitation to me at Vera Cruz in 1866. I inquired of President +Thiera if I could with propriety call on the marshal. He answered +that it would be very acceptable, no doubt, but suggested for +form's sake that I should consult the Minister of War, General de +Cissey, which I did, and he promptly assented. Accordingly, I +called with my aide, Colonel Audenried, on Marshal Bazaine, who +occupied a small, two-story stone house at Versailles, in an +inclosure with a high garden wall, at the front gate or door of +which was a lodge, in which was a military guard. We were shown to +a good room on the second floor, where was seated the marshal in +military half-dress, with large head, full face, short neck, and +evidently a man of strong physique. He did not speak English, but +spoke Spanish perfectly. We managed to carry on a conversation in +which I endeavored to convey my sense of his politeness in inviting +me so cordially up to the city of Mexico, and my regret that the +peculiar duty on which I was engaged did not admit of a compliance, +or even of an intelligent explanation, at the time. He spoke of +the whole Mexican business as a "sad affair," that the empire +necessarily fell with the result of our civil war, and that poor +Maximilian was sacrificed to his own high sense of honor. + +While on board the Susquehanna, on the 1st day of December, 1866, +we received the proclamation made by the Emperor Maximilian at +Orizaba, in which, notwithstanding the near withdrawal of the +French troops, he declared his purpose to remain and "shed the last +drop of his blood in defense of his dear country." Undoubtedly +many of the most substantial people of Mexico, having lost all +faith in the stability of the native government, had committed +themselves to what they considered the more stable government of +Maximilian, and Maximilian, a man of honor, concluded at the last +moment he could not abandon them; the consequence was his death. + +Failing to hear of Juarez, we steamed up the coast to the Island of +Lobos, and on to Tampico, off which we found the United States +steamer Paul Jones, which, drawing less water than the Susquehanna, +carried us over the bar to the city, then in possession of the +Liberal party, which recognized Juarez as their constitutional +President, but of Juarez and his whereabout we could hear not a +word; so we continued up the coast and anchored off Brazos +Santiago, December 7th. Going ashore in small boats, we found a +railroad, under the management of General J. R. West, now one of +the commissioners of the city of Washington, who sent us up to +Brownsville, Texas. We met on the way General Sheridan, returning +from a tour of inspection of the Rio Grande frontier. On Sunday, +December 9th, we were all at Matamoras, Mexico, where we met +General Escobedo, one of Juarez's trusty lieutenants, who developed +to us the general plan agreed on for the overthrow of the empire, +and the reestablishment of the republican government of Mexico. He +asked of us no assistance, except the loan of some arms, +ammunition, clothing, and camp-equipage. It was agreed that Mr. +Campbell should, as soon as he could get his baggage off the +Susquehanna, return to Matamoras, and thence proceed to Monterey, +to be received by Juarez in person as, the accredited Minister of +the United States to the Republic of Mexico. Meantime the weather +off the coast was stormy, and the Susquehanna parted a cable, so +that we were delayed some days at Brazos; but in due time Mr. +Campbell got his baggage, and we regained the deck of the +Susquehanna, which got up steam and started for New Orleans. We +reached New Orleans December 20th, whence I reported fully +everything to General Grant, and on the 21st received the following +dispatch: + +WASHINGTON, December 21,1866. +Lieutenant-General SHERMAN, New Orleans. + +Your telegram of yesterday has been submitted to the President. +You are authorized to proceed to St. Louis at your convenience. +Your proceedings in the special and delicate duties assigned you +are cordially approved by the President and Cabinet and this +department. +EDWIN M. STANTON. + +And on the same day I received this dispatch + +GALVESTON, December 21, 1866. +To General SHERMAN, or General SHERIDAN. + +Will be in New Orleans to-morrow. Wish to see you both on arrival, +on matters of importance. +LEWIS D. CAMPBELL, Minister to Mexico. + + +Mr. Campbell arrived on the 22d, but had nothing to tell of the +least importance, save that he was generally disgusted with the +whole thing, and had not found Juarez at all. I am sure this whole +movement was got up for the purpose of getting General Grant away +from Washington, on the pretext of his known antagonism to the +French occupation of Mexico, because he was looming up as a +candidate for President, and nobody understood the animus and +purpose better than did Mr. Stanton. He himself was not then on +good terms with President Johnson, and with several of his +associates in the Cabinet. By Christmas I was back in St. Louis. + +By this time the conflict between President Johnson and Congress +had become open and unconcealed. Congress passed the bill known as +the "Tenure of Civil Office" on the 2d of March, 1867 (over the +President's veto), the first clause of which, now section 1767 of +the Revised Statutes, reads thus: "Every person who holds any civil +office to which he has been or hereafter may be appointed, by and +with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall have +become duly qualified to act therein, shall be entitled to hold +such office during the term for which he was appointed, unless +sooner removed by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, or +by the appointment with the like advice and consent of a successor +in his place, except as herein otherwise provided." + +General E. D. Townsend, in his "Anecdotes of the Civil War," states +tersely and correctly the preliminary circumstances of which I must +treat. He says: "On Monday morning, August 5, 1867, President +Johnson invited Mr. Stanton to resign as Secretary of War. Under +the tenure-of-civil-office law, Mr. Stanton declined. The President +a week after suspended him, and appointed General Grant, General- +in-Chief of the Army, to exercise the functions. This continued +until January 13, 1868, when according to the law the Senate passed +a resolution not sustaining the President's action. The next +morning General Grant came to my office and handed me the key of +the Secretary's room, saying: 'I am to be found over at my office +at army headquarters. I was served with a copy of the Senate +resolution last evening.' I then went up-stairs and delivered the +key of his room to Mr. Stanton." + +The mode and manner of Mr. Stanton's regaining his office, and of +General Grant's surrendering it, were at the time subjects of +bitter controversy. Unhappily I was involved, and must bear +testimony. In all January, 1868, I was a member of a board ordered +to compile a code of articles of war and army regulations, of which +Major-General Sheridan and Brigadier-General C. C. Augur were +associate members. Our place of meeting was in the room of the old +War Department, second floor, next to the corner room occupied by +the Secretary of War, with a door of communication. While we were +at work it was common for General Grant and, afterward, for Mr. +Stanton to drop in and chat with us on the social gossip of the +time. + +On Saturday, January 11th, General Grant said that he had more +carefully read the law (tenure of civil office), and it was +different from what he had supposed; that in case the Senate did +not consent to the removal of Secretary of War Stanton, and he +(Grant) should hold on, he should incur a liability of ten thousand +dollars and five years' imprisonment. We all expected the +resolution of Senator Howard, of Michigan, virtually restoring Mr. +Stanton to his office, would pass the Senate, and knowing that the +President expected General Grant to hold on, I inquired if he had +given notice of his change of purpose; he answered that there was +no hurry, because he supposed Mr. Stanton would pursue toward him +(Grant) the same course which he (Stanton) had required of him the +preceding August, viz., would address him a letter claiming the +office, and allow him a couple of days for the change. Still, he +said he would go to the White House the same day and notify the +President of his intended action. + +That afternoon I went over to the White House to present General +Pope, who was on a visit to Washington, and we found the President +and General Grant together. We made our visit and withdrew, +leaving them still together, and I always supposed the subject of +this conference was the expected decision of the Senate, which +would in effect restore Mr. Stanton to his civil office of +Secretary of War. That evening I dined with the Hon. Reverdy +Johnson, Senator from Maryland, and suggested to him that the best +way to escape a conflict was for the President to nominate some +good man as Secretary of War whose confirmation by the Senate would +fall within the provisions of the law, and named General J. D. Cox, +then Governor of Ohio, whose term of office was drawing to a close, +who would, I knew, be acceptable to General Grant and the army +generally. Mr. Johnson was most favorably impressed with this +suggestion, and promised to call on the President the next day +(Sunday), which he did, but President Johnson had made up his mind +to meet the conflict boldly. I saw General Grant that afternoon at +his house on I Street, and told him what I had done, and so anxious +was he about it that he came to our room at the War Department the +next morning (Monday), the 13th, and asked me to go in person to +the White House to urge the President to send in the name of +General Cox. I did so, saw the President, and inquired if he had +seen Mr. Reverdy Johnson the day before about General Cox. He +answered that he had, and thought well of General Cox, but would +say no further. + +Tuesday, January 14, 1868, came, and with it Mr. Stanton. He +resumed possession of his former office; came into that where +General Sheridan, General Augur, and I were at work, and greeted us +very cordially. He said he wanted to see me when at leisure, and +at half-past 10 A.M. I went into his office and found him and +General Grant together. Supposing they had some special matters of +business, I withdrew, with the remark that I was close at hand, and +could come in at any moment. In the afternoon I went again into +Mr. Stanton's office, and we had a long and most friendly +conversation; but not one word was spoken about the +"tenure-of-office" matter. I then crossed over Seventeenth Street +to the headquarters of the army, where I found General Grant, who +expressed himself as by no means pleased with the manner in which +Mr. Stanton had regained his office, saying that he had sent a +messenger for him that morning as of old, with word that "he wanted +to see him." We then arranged to meet at his office the next +morning at half-past nine, and go together to see the President. + +That morning the National Intelligencer published an article +accusing General Grant of acting in bad faith to the President, and +of having prevaricated in making his personal explanation to the +Cabinet, so that General Grant at first felt unwilling to go, but +we went. The President received us promptly and kindly. Being +seated, General Grant said, "Mr. President, whoever gave the facts +for the article of the Intelligencer of this morning has made some +serious mistakes." The President: "General Grant, let me interrupt +you just there. I have not seen the Intelligencer of this morning, +and have no knowledge of the contents of any article therein" +General Grant then went on: "Well, the idea is given there that I +have not kept faith with you. Now, Mr. President, I remember, when +you spoke to me on this subject last summer, I did say that, like +the case of the Baltimore police commissioners, I did suppose Mr. +Stanton could not regain his office except by a process through the +courts." To this the President assented, saying he "remembered the +reference to the case of the Baltimore commissioners," when General +Grant resumed: "I said if I changed my opinion I would give you +notice, and put things as they were before my appointment as +Secretary of War ad interim." + +We then entered into a general friendly conversation, both parties +professing to be satisfied, the President claiming that he had +always been most friendly to General Grant, and the latter +insisting that he had taken the office, not for honor or profit, +but in the general interests of the army. + +As we withdrew, at the very door, General Grant said, "Mr. +President, you should make some order that we of the army are not +bound to obey the orders of Mr. Stanton as Secretary of War," which +the President intimated he would do. + +No such "orders" were ever made; many conferences were held, and +the following letters are selected out of a great mass to show the +general feeling at the time: + + +1321 K STREET, WASHINGTON, +January 28,1868, Saturday. + +To the President: + +I neglected this morning to say that I had agreed to go down to +Annapolis to spend Sunday with Admiral Porter. General Grant also +has to leave for Richmond on Monday morning at 6 A.M. + +At a conversation with the General after our interview, wherein I +offered to go with him on Monday morning to Mr. Stanton, and to say +that it was our joint opinion be should resign, it was found +impossible by reason of his (General Grant) going to Richmond and +my going to Annapolis. The General proposed this course: He will +call on you to-morrow, and offer to go to Mr. Stanton to say, for +the good of the Army and of the country, he ought to resign. This +on Sunday. On Monday I will again call on you, and, if you think +it necessary, I will do the same, viz., go to Mr. Stanton and tell +him he should resign. + +If he will not, then it will be time to contrive ulterior measures. +In the mean time it so happens that no necessity exists for +precipitating matters. +Yours truly, +W. T. SHERMAN, Lieutenant-General. + + +DEAR GENERAL: On the point of starting, I have written the above, +and will send a fair copy of it to the President. Please retain +this, that in case of necessity I may have a copy. The President +clearly stated to me that he relied on us in this category. + +Think of the propriety of your putting in writing what you have to +say tomorrow, even if you have to put it in the form of a letter to +hand him in person, retaining a copy. I'm afraid that acting as a +go-between for three persons, I may share the usual fate of +meddlers, at last get kinks from all. We ought not to be involved +in politics, but for the sake of the Army we are justified in +trying at least to cut this Gordian knot, which they do not appear +to have any practicable plan to do. In haste as usual, + +W. T. SHERMAN. + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +January 29, 1888. + +DEAR SHERMAN: I called on the President and Mr. Stanton to-day, but +without any effect. + +I soon found that to recommend resignation to Mr. Stanton would +have no effect, unless it was to incur further his displeasure; +and, therefore, did not directly suggest it to him. I explained to +him, however, the course I supposed he would pursue, and what I +expected to do in that case, namely, to notify the President of his +intentions, and thus leave him to violate the "Tenure-of-Office +Bill" if he chose, instead of having me do it. + +I would advise that you say nothing to Mr. Stanton on the subject +unless he asks your advice. It will do no good, and may embarrass +you. I did not mention your name to him, at least not in +connection with his position, or what you thought upon it. + +All that Mr. Johnson said was pacific and compromising. While I +think he wanted the constitutionality of the "Tenure Bill" tested, +I think now he would be glad either to get the vacancy of Secretary +of War, or have the office just where it was during suspension. +Yours truly, + +U. S. GRANT. + + + +WASHINGTON D. C., January 27, 1868. + +To the President. + +DEAR SIR: As I promised, I saw Mr. Ewing yesterday, and after a +long conversation asked him to put down his opinion in writing, +which he has done and which I now inclose. + +I am now at work on these Army Regulations, and in the course of +preparation have laid down the Constitution and laws now in force, +clearer than I find them elsewhere; and beg leave herewith to +inclose you three pages of printed matter for your perusal. My +opinion is, if you will adopt these rules and make them an +executive order to General Grant, they will so clearly define the +duties of all concerned that no conflict can arise. I hope to get +through this task in the course of this week, and want very much to +go to St. Louis. For eleven years I have been tossed about so much +that I really do want to rest, study, and make the acquaintance of +my family. I do not think, since 1857, I have averaged thirty days +out of three hundred and sixty-five at home. + +Next summer also, in fulfillment of our promise to the Sioux, I +must go to Fort Phil Kearney early in the spring, so that, unless I +can spend the next two months at home, I might as well break up my +house at St. Louis, and give up all prospect of taking care of my +family. + +For these reasons especially I shall soon ask leave to go to St. +Louis, to resume my proper and legitimate command. With great +respect, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Lieutenant-General. + + +[Inclosure] + +WASHINGTON, D. C., January 25, 1868. + +MY DEAR GENERAL: I am quite clear in the opinion that it is not +expedient for the President to take any action now in the case of +Stanton. So far as he and his interests are concerned, things are +in the best possible condition. Stanton is in the Department, got +his secretary, but the secretary of the Senate, who have taken upon +themselves his sins, and who place him there under a large salary +to annoy and obstruct the operations of the Executive. This the +people well enough understand, and he is a stench in the nostrils +of their own party. + +I thought the nomination of Cox at the proper juncture would have +been wise as a peace-offering, but perhaps it would have let off +the Senate too easily from the effect of their arbitrary act. Now +the dislodging of Stanton and filling the office even temporarily +without the consent of the Senate would raise a question as to the +legality of the President's acts, and he would belong to the +attacked instead of the attacking party. If the war between +Congress and the President is to go on, as I suppose it is, Stanton +should be ignored by the President, left to perform his clerical +duties which the law requires him to perform, and let the party +bear the odium which is already upon them for placing him where he +is. So much for the President. + + +As to yourself, I wish you as far as possible to keep clear of +political complications. I do not think the President will require +you to do an act of doubtful legality. Certainly he will not +without sanction of the opinion of his Attorney-General; and you +should have time, in a questionable case, to consult with me before +called upon to act. The office of Secretary of War is a civil +office, as completely so as that of Secretary of State; and you as +a military officer cannot, I think, be required to assume or +exercise it. This may, if necessary, be a subject for further +consideration. Such, however, will not, I think, be the case. +The appeal is to the people, and it is better for the President to +persist in the course he has for some time pursued--let the +aggressions all come from the other side; and I think there is no +doubt he will do so. Affectionately, T. EWING. + +To--Lieutenant-General SHERMAN. + + + +LIBRARY ROOM, WAR DEPARTMENT, +WASHINGTON, D. C., January 31, 1868. + +To the President: + +Since our interview of yesterday I have given the subject of our +conversation all my thoughts, and I beg you will pardon my reducing +the same to writing. + +My personal preferences, as expressed, were to be allowed to return +to St. Louis to resume my present command, because my command was +important, large, suited to my rank and inclination, and because my +family was well provided for there in house, facilities, schools, +living, and agreeable society; while, on the other hand, Washington +was for many (to me) good reasons highly objectionable, especially +because it is the political capital of the country; and focus of +intrigue, gossip, and slander. Your personal preferences were, as +expressed, to make a new department East, adequate to my rank, with +headquarters at Washington, and assign me to its command, to remove +my family here, and to avail myself of its schools, etc.; to remove +Mr. Stanton from his office as Secretary of War, and have me to +discharge the duties. + +To effect this removal two modes were indicated: to simply cause +him to quit the War-Office Building, and notify the Treasury +Department and the Army Staff Departments no longer to respect him +as Secretary of War; or to remove him and submit my name to the +Senate for confirmation. + +Permit me to discuss these points a little, and I will premise by +saying that I have spoken to no one on the subject, and have not +even seen Mr. Ewing, Mr. Stanbery, or General Grant, since I was +with you. + +It has been the rule and custom of our army, since the organization +of the government, that the second officer of the army should be at +the second (in importance) command, and remote from general +headquarters. To bring me to Washington world put three heads to +an army, yourself, General Grant, and myself, and we would be more +than human if we were not to differ. In my judgment it world ruin +the army, and would be fatal to one or two of us. + +Generals Scott and Taylor proved themselves soldiers and patriots +in the field, but Washington was fatal to both. This city, and the +influences that centre here, defeated every army that had its +headquarters here from 1861 to 1864, and would have overwhelmed +General Grant at Spottsylvania and Petersburg, had he not been +fortified by a strong reputation, already hard-earned, and because +no one then living coveted the place; whereas, in the West, we made +progress from the start, because there was no political capital +near enough to poison our minds, and kindle into life that craving, +itching for fame which has killed more good men than bullets. I +have been with General Grant in the midst of death and slaughter +when the howls of people reached him after Shiloh; when messengers +were speeding to and from his army to Washington, bearing slanders, +to induce his removal before he took Vicksburg; in Chattanooga, +when the soldiers were stealing the corn of the starving mules to +satisfy their own hunger; at Nashville, when he was ordered to the +"forlorn hope" to command the Army of the Potomac, so often +defeated--and yet I never saw him more troubled than since he has +been in Washington, and been compelled to read himself a "sneak and +deceiver," based on reports of four of the Cabinet, and apparently +with your knowledge. If this political atmosphere can disturb the +equanimity of one so guarded and so prudent as he is, what will be +the result with me, so careless, so outspoken as I am? Therefore, +with my consent, Washington never. + +As to the Secretary of War, his office is twofold. As a Cabinet +officer he should not be there without your hearty, cheerful +assent, and I believe that is the judgment and opinion of every +fair-minded man. As the holder of a civil office, having the +supervision of moneys appropriated by Congress and of contracts for +army supplies, I do think Congress, or the Senate by delegation +from Congress, has a lawful right to be consulted. At all events, +I would not risk a suit or contest on that phase of the question. +The law of Congress, of March 2, 1867, prescribing the manner in +which orders and instructions relating to "military movements" +shall reach the army, gives you as constitutional Commander-in- +Chief the very power you want to exercise, and enables you to +prevent the Secretary from making any such orders and instructions; +and consequently he cannot control the army, but is limited and +restricted to a duty that an Auditor of the Treasury could perform. +You certainly can afford to await the result. The Executive power +is not weakened, but rather strengthened. Surely he is not such an +obstruction as would warrant violence, or even s show of force, +which would produce the very reaction and clamor that he hopes for +to save him from the absurdity of holding an empty office "for the +safety of the country." + +This is so much as I ought to say, and more too, but if it produces +the result I will be more than satisfied, viz., that I be simply +allowed to resume my proper post and duties in St. Louis. With +great respect, yours truly, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Lieutenant-General. + + + +On the 1st of February, the board of which I was the president +submitted to the adjutant-general our draft of the "Articles of War +and Army Regulations," condensed to a small compass, the result of +our war experience. But they did not suit the powers that were, +and have ever since slept the sleep that knows no waking, to make +room for the ponderous document now in vogue, which will not stand +the strain of a week's campaign in real war. + +I hurried back to St. Louis to escape the political storm I saw +brewing. The President repeatedly said to me that he wanted me in +Washington, and I as often answered that nothing could tempt me to +live in that center of intrigue and excitement; but soon came the +following: + +HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES, +WASHINGTON, February 10, 1868. + +DEAR GENERAL: I have received at last the President's reply to my +last, letter. He attempts to substantiate his statements by his +Cabinet. In this view it is important that I should have a letter +from you, if you are willing to give it, of what I said to you +about the effect of the "Tenure-of-Office Bill," and my object in +going to see the President on Saturday before the installment of +Mr. Stanton. What occurred after the meeting of the Cabinet on the +Tuesday following is not a subject under controversy now; +therefore, if you choose to write down your recollection (and I +would like to have it) on Wednesday, when you and I called on the +President, and your conversation with him the last time you saw +him, make that a separate communication. + +Your order to come East was received several days ago, but the +President withdrew it, I supposed to make some alteration, but it +has not been returned. +Yours truly, + +U. S. GRANT. + + + +[TELEGRAM.] + +WASHINGTON, D. C., February 18, 1868. + +Lieutenant-General W. T. SHERMAN, St. Louis. + +The order is issued ordering you to Atlantic Division. + +U. S. GRANT, General. + + + +[TELEGRAM] + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI, +St. Louis, February 14, 1868. + +General U. S. GRANT, Washington, D. C. + +Your dispatch is received informing me that the order for the +Atlantic Division has been issued, and that I am assigned to its +command. I was in hopes I had escaped the danger, and now were I +prepared I should resign on the spot, as it requires no foresight +to predict such must be the inevitable result in the end. I will +make one more desperate effort by mail, which please await. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Lieutenant-General. + + + +[TELEGRAM.] + +WASHINGTON, February 14, 1868. +Lieutenant-General W. T. SHERMAN, St. Louis. + +I think it due to you that your letter of January 31st to the +President of the United States should be published, to correct +misapprehension in the public mind about your willingness to come +to Washington. It will not be published against your will. + +(Sent in cipher.) + + + +[TELEGRAM.] + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI, +St. Louis, MISSOURI, February 14, 1868. + +General U. S. GRANT, Washington, D. C. + +Dispatch of to-day received. Please await a letter I address this +day through you to the President, which will in due time reach the +public, covering the very point you make. + +I don't want to come to Washington at all. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Lieutenant-General. + + + +[TELEGRAM.] + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI, +St. Loins, MISSOURI, February 14, 1868. + +Hon. John SHERMAN, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. + +Oppose confirmation of myself as brevet general, on ground that it +is unprecedented, and that it is better not to extend the system of +brevets above major-general. If I can't avoid coming to +Washington, I may have to resign. + +W. T. SHERMAN, Lieutenant-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, +WASHINGTON, D. C., February 12, 1868. + +The following orders are published for the information and guidance +of all concerned: + +U. S. GRANT, General. + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, +WASHINGTON, D. C., February 12, 1868. + +GENERAL: You will please issue an order creating a military +division to be styled the Military Division of the Atlantic, to be +composed of the Department of the Lakes, the Department of the +East, and the Department of Washington, to be commanded by +Lieutenant-General W. T. Sherman, with his headquarters at +Washington. Until further orders from the President, you will +assign no officer to the permanent command of the Military Division +of the Missouri. + +Respectfully yours, + +ANDREW JOHNSON. + + +GENERAL U. S. GRANT, +Commanding Armies of The United States, Washington, D. C. + +Major-General P. H. Sheridan, the senior officer in the Military +Division of the Missouri, will temporarily perform the duties of +commander of the Military Division of the Missouri in addition to +his duties of department commander. By command of General Grant: + +E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. + + + +This order, if carried into effect, would have grouped in +Washington: + +1. The President, constitutional Commander-in-Chief. + +2. The Secretary of War, congressional Commander-in-Chief. + +3. The General of the Armies of the United States. + +4. The Lieutenant-General of the Army. + +5. The Commanding General of the Department of Washington. + +6. The commander of the post-of Washington. + +At that date the garrison of Washington was a brigade of infantry +and a battery of artillery. I never doubted Mr. Johnson's +sincerity in wishing to befriend me, but this was the broadest kind +of a farce, or meant mischief. I therefore appealed to him by +letter to allow me to remain where I was, and where I could do +service, real service, and received his most satisfactory answer. + + + +HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSOURI, +St. Louis, MISSOURI, February 14, 1868. + +General U. S. GRANT, Washington, D. C. + +DEAR GENERAL: Last evening, just before leaving my office, I +received your note of the 10th, and had intended answering it +according to your request; but, after I got home, I got your +dispatch of yesterday, announcing that the order I dreaded so much +was issued. I never felt so troubled in my life. Were it an order +to go to Sitka, to the devil, to battle with rebels or Indians, I +think you would not hear a whimper from me, but it comes in such a +questionable form that, like Hamlet's ghost, it curdles my blood +and mars my judgment. My first thoughts were of resignation, and I +had almost made up my mind to ask Dodge for some place on the +Pacific road, or on one of the Iowa roads, and then again various +colleges ran through my memory, but hard times and an expensive +family have brought me back to staring the proposition square in +the face, and I have just written a letter to the President, which +I herewith transmit through you, on which I will hang a hope of +respite till you telegraph me its effect. The uncertainties ahead +are too great to warrant my incurring the expense of breaking up my +house and family here, and therefore in no event will I do this +till I can be assured of some permanence elsewhere. If it were at +all certain that you would accept the nomination of President in +May, I would try and kill the intervening time, and then judge of +the chances, but I do not want you to reveal your plans to me till +you choose to do so. + +I have telegraphed to John Sherman to oppose the nomination which +the papers announce has been made of me for brevet general. + +I have this minute received your cipher dispatch of to-day, which I +have just answered and sent down to the telegraph-office, and the +clerk is just engaged in copying my letter to the President to go +with this. If the President or his friends pretend that I seek to +go to Washington, it will be fully rebutted by letters I have +written to the President, to you, to John Sherman, to Mr. Ewing, +and to Mr. Stanbery. You remember that in our last talk you +suggested I should write again to the President. I thought of it, +and concluded my letter of January 31st, already delivered, was +full and emphatic. Still, I did write again to Mr. Stanbery, +asking him as a friend to interpose in my behalf. There are plenty +of people who know my wishes, and I would avoid, if possible, the +publication of a letter so confidential as that of January 31st, in +which I notice I allude to the President's purpose of removing Mr. +Stanton by force, a fact that ought not to be drawn out through me +if it be possible to avoid it. In the letter herewith I confine +myself to purely private matters, and will not object if it reaches +the public in any proper way. My opinion is, the President thinks +Mrs. Sherman would like to come to Washington by reason of her +father and brothers being there. This is true, for Mrs. Sherman +has an idea that St. Louis is unhealthy for our children, and +because most of the Catholics here are tainted with the old secesh +feeling. But I know better what is to our common interest, and +prefer to judge of the proprieties myself. What I do object to is +the false position I would occupy as between you and the President. +Were there an actual army at or near Washington, I could be +withdrawn from the most unpleasant attitude of a "go-between," but +there is no army there, nor any military duties which you with a +host of subordinates can not perform. Therefore I would be there +with naked, informal, and sinecure duties, and utterly out of +place. This you understand well enough, and the army too, but the +President and the politicians, who flatter themselves they are +saving the country, cannot and will not understand. My opinion is, +the country is doctored to death, and if President and Congress +would go to sleep like Rip Van Winkle, the country would go on +under natural influences, and recover far faster than under their +joint and several treatment. This doctrine would be accounted by +Congress, and by the President too, as high treason, and therefore +I don't care about saying so to either of them, but I know you can +hear anything, and give it just what thought or action it merits. + +Excuse this long letter, and telegraph me the result of my letter +to the President as early as you can. If he holds my letter so +long as to make it improper for me to await his answer, also +telegraph me. + +The order, when received, will, I suppose, direct me as to whom and +how I am to turn over this command, which should, in my judgment, +not be broken up, as the three departments composing the division +should be under one head. + +I expect my staff-officers to be making for me within the hour to +learn their fate, so advise me all you can as quick as possible. + +With great respect, yours truly, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Lieutenant-General. + + + +To the President. + +DEAR SIR: It is hard for me to conceive you would purposely do me +an unkindness unless under the pressure of a sense of public duty, +or because you do not believe me sincere. I was in hopes, since my +letter to you of the 31st of January, that you had concluded to +pass over that purpose of yours expressed more than once in +conversation--to organize a new command for me in the East, with +headquarters in Washington; but a telegram from General Grant of +yesterday says that "the order was issued ordering you" (me) "to +Atlantic Division"; and the newspapers of this morning contain the +same information, with the addition that I have been nominated as +brevet general. I have telegraphed my own brother in the Senate to +oppose my confirmation, on the ground that the two higher grades in +the army ought not to be complicated with brevets, and I trust you +will conceive my motives aright. If I could see my way clear to +maintain my family, I should not hesitate a moment to resign my +present commission, and seek some business wherein I would be free +from these unhappy complications that seem to be closing about me, +spite of my earnest efforts to avoid them; but necessity ties my +hands, and I must submit with the best grace I can till I make +other arrangements. + +In Washington are already the headquarters of a department, and of +the army itself, and it is hard for me to see wherein I can render +military service there. Any staff-officer with the rank of major +could surely fill any gap left between these two military officers; +and, by being placed in Washington, I will be universally construed +as a rival to the General-in-Chief, a position damaging to me in +the highest degree. Our relations have always been most +confidential and friendly, and if, unhappily, any cloud of +differences should arise between us, my sense of personal dignity +and duty would leave me no alternative but resignation. For this I +am not yet prepared, but I shall proceed to arrange for it as +rapidly as possible, so that when the time does come (as it surely +will if this plan is carried into effect) I may act promptly. + +Inasmuch as the order is now issued, I cannot expect a full +revocation of it, but I beg the privilege of taking post at New +York, or any point you may name within the new military division +other than Washington. This privilege is generally granted to all +military commanders, and I see no good reason why I too may not ask +for it, and this simple concession, involving no public interest, +will much soften the blow, which, right or wrong, I construe as one +of the hardest I have sustained in a life somewhat checkered with +adversity. With great respects yours truly, + +W. T. SHERMAN, Lieutenant-General. + + + +WASHINGTON, D. C., 2 p.m., February 19, 1888. +Lieutenant-General W. T. SHERMAN, St. Louis, Missouri: + +I have just received, with General Grant's indorsement of +reference, your letter to me of the fourteenth (14th) inst. + +The order to which you refer was made in good faith, and with a +view to the best interests of the country and the service; as, +however, your assignment to a new military division seems so +objectionable, you will retain your present command. + +ANDREW JOHNSON. + + +On that same 19th of February he appointed Adjutant, General +Lorenzo Thomas to be Secretary of War ad interim, which finally +resulted in the articles of impeachment and trial of President +Johnson before the Senate. I was a witness on that trial, but of +course the lawyers would not allow me to express any opinion of the +President's motives or intentions, and restricted me to the facts +set forth in the articles of impeachment, of which I was glad to +know nothing. The final test vote revealed less than two thirds, +and the President was consequently acquitted. Mr. Stanton +resigned. General Schofield, previously nominated, was confirmed +as Secretary of War, thus putting an end to what ought never to +have happened at all. + + + +INDIAN PEACE COMMISSION. + +On the 20th of July, 1867, President Johnson approved an act to +establish peace with certain hostile Indian tribes, the first +section of which reads as follows: "Be it enacted, etc., that the +President of the United States be and is hereby authorized to +appoint a commission to consist of three (3) officers of the army +not below the rank of brigadier-general, who, together with N. G. +Taylor, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, John B. Henderson, +chairman of the Committee of Indian Affairs of the Senate, S. F. +Tappan, and John B. Sanborn, shall have power and authority to +call together the chiefs and head men of such bands or tribes of +Indians as are now waging war against the United States, or +committing depredations on the people thereof, to ascertain the +alleged reasons for their acts of hostility, and in their +discretion, under the direction of the President, to make and +conclude with said bands or tribes such treaty stipulations, +subject to the action of the Senate, as may remove all just causes +of complaint on their part, and at the same time establish security +for person and property along the lines of railroad now being +constructed to the Pacific and other thoroughfares of travel to the +Western Territories, and such as will most likely insure +civilization for the Indians, and peace and safety for the whites." + +The President named as the military members Lieutenant-General +Sherman, Brigadier-Generals A. H. Terry and W. S. Harney. +Subsequently, to insure a full attendance, Brigadier-General C. C. +Augur was added to the commission, and his name will be found on +most of the treaties. The commissioners met at St. Louis and +elected N. G. Taylor, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, +president; J. B. Sanborn, treasurer; and A. S. H. White, Esq., of +Washington, D. C., secretary. The year 1867 was too far advanced +to complete the task assigned during that season, and it was agreed +that a steamboat (St. John's) should be chartered to convey the +commission up the Missouri River, and we adjourned to meet at +Omaha. In the St. John's the commission proceeded up the Missouri +River, holding informal "talks" with the Santees at their agency +near the Niobrara, the Yanktonnais at Fort Thompson, and the +Ogallallas, Minneconjous, Sans Arcs, etc., at Fort Sully. From +this point runners were sent out to the Sioux occupying the country +west of the Missouri River, to meet us in council at the Forks of +the Platte that fall, and to Sitting Bull's band of outlaw Sioux, +and the Crows on the upper Yellowstone, to meet us in May, 1868, at +Fort Laramie. We proceeded up the river to the mouth of the +Cheyenne and turned back to Omaha, having ample time on this +steamboat to discuss and deliberate on the problems submitted to +our charge. + +We all agreed that the nomad Indians should be removed from the +vicinity of the two great railroads then in rapid construction, and +be localized on one or other of the two great reservations south of +Kansas and north of Nebraska; that agreements not treaties, should +be made for their liberal maintenance as to food, clothing, +schools, and farming implements for ten years, during which time we +believed that these Indians should become self-supporting. To the +north we proposed to remove the various bands of Sioux, with such +others as could be induced to locate near them; and to the south, +on the Indian Territory already established, we proposed to remove +the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas, Comanches, and such others as we +could prevail on to move thither. + +At that date the Union Pacific construction had reached the Rocky +Mountains at Cheyenne, and the Kansas Pacific to about Fort +Wallace. We held council with the Ogallallas at the Forks of the +Platte, and arranged to meet them all the next spring, 1868. In +the spring of 1868 we met the Crows in council at Fort Laramie, the +Sioux at the North Platte, the Shoshones or Snakes at Fort Hall, +the Navajos at Fort Sumner, on the Pecos, and the Cheyennes and +Arapahoes at Medicine Lodge. To accomplish these results the +commission divided up into committees, General Augur going to the +Shoshones, Mr. Tappan and I to the Navajos, and the remainder to +Medicine Lodge. In that year we made treaties or arrangements with +all the tribes which before had followed the buffalo in their +annual migrations, and which brought them into constant conflict +with the whites. + +Mr. Tappan and I found it impossible to prevail on the Navajos to +remove to the Indian Territory, and had to consent to their return +to their former home, restricted to a limited reservation west of +Santa Fe, about old Fort Defiance, and there they continue unto +this day, rich in the possession of herds of sheep and goats, with +some cattle and horses; and they have remained at peace ever since. + +A part of our general plan was to organize the two great +reservations into regular Territorial governments, with Governor, +Council, courts, and civil officers. General Harney was +temporarily assigned to that of the Sioux at the north, and General +Hazen to that of the Kiowas, Comanches, Cheyennes, Arapahoes, etc., +etc., at the south, but the patronage of the Indian Bureau was too +strong for us, and that part of our labor failed. Still, the +Indian Peace Commission of 1867-'68 did prepare the way for the +great Pacific Railroads, which, for better or worse, have settled +the fate of the buffalo and Indian forever. There have been wars +and conflicts since with these Indians up to a recent period too +numerous and complicated in their detail for me to unravel and +record, but they have been the dying struggles of a singular race +of brave men fighting against destiny, each less and less violent, +till now the wild game is gone, the whites too numerous and +powerful; so that the Indian question has become one of sentiment +and charity, but not of war. + +The peace, or "Quaker" policy, of which so much has been said, +originated about thus: By the act of Congress, approved March +3,1869, the forty-five regiments of infantry were reduced to +twenty-five, and provision was made for the "muster out" of many of +the surplus officers, and for retaining others to be absorbed by +the usual promotions and casualties. On the 7th of May of that +year, by authority of an act of Congress approved June 30, 1834, +nine field-officers and fifty-nine captains and subalterns were +detached and ordered to report to the Commissioner of Indian +Affairs, to serve as Indian superintendents and agents. Thus by an +old law surplus army officers were made to displace the usual civil +appointees, undoubtedly a change for the better, but most +distasteful to members of Congress, who looked to these +appointments as part of their proper patronage. The consequence +was the law of July 15, 1870, which vacated the military commission +of any officer who accepted or exercised the functions of a civil +officer. I was then told that certain politicians called on +President Grant, informing him that this law was chiefly designed +to prevent his using army officers for Indian agents, "civil +offices," which he believed to be both judicious and wise; army +officers, as a rule, being better qualified to deal with Indians +than the average political appointees. The President then quietly +replied: "Gentlemen, you have defeated my plan of Indian +management; but you shall not succeed in your purpose, for I will +divide these appointments up among the religious churches, with +which you dare not contend." The army officers were consequently +relieved of their "civil offices," and the Indian agencies were +apportioned to the several religious churches in about the +proportion of their--supposed strength--some to the Quakers, some +to the Methodists, to the Catholics, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, +etc., etc.--and thus it remains to the present time, these +religious communities selecting the agents to be appointed by the +Secretary of the Interior. The Quakers, being first named, gave +name to the policy, and it is called the "Quaker" policy to-day. +Meantime railroads and settlements by hardy, bold pioneers have +made the character of Indian agents of small concern, and it +matters little who are the beneficiaries. + +As was clearly foreseen, General U. S. Grant was duly nominated, +and on the 7th of November, 1868, was elected President of the +United States for the four years beginning with March 4, 1869. + +On the 15th and 16th of December, 1868, the four societies of the +Armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee, Ohio, and Georgia, held a +joint reunion at Chicago, at which were present over two thousand +of the surviving officers and soldiers of the war. The ceremonies +consisted of the joint meeting in Crosby's magnificent opera-house, +at which General George H. Thomas presided. General W. W. Belknap +was the orator for the Army of the Tennessee, General Charles Cruft +for the Army of the Cumberland, General J. D. Cox for the Army of +the Ohio, and General William Cogswell for the Army of Georgia. +The banquet was held in the vast Chamber of Commerce, at which I +presided. General Grant, President-elect, General J. M. Schofield, +Secretary of War, General H. W. Slocum, and nearly every general +officer of note was present except General Sheridan, who at the +moment was fighting the Cheyennes in Southern Kansas and the Indian +country. + +At that time we discussed the army changes which would necessarily +occur in the following March, and it was generally understood that +I was to succeed General Grant as general-in-chief, but as to my +successor, Meade, Thomas, and Sheridan were candidates. And here I +will remark that General Grant, afterward famous as the "silent +man," used to be very gossipy, and no one was ever more fond than +he of telling anecdotes of our West Point and early army life. At +the Chicago reunion he told me that I would have to come to +Washington, that he wanted me to effect a change as to the general +staff, which he had long contemplated, and which was outlined in +his letter to Mr. Stanton of January 29,1866, given hereafter, +which had been repeatedly published, and was well known to the +military world; that on being inaugurated President on the 4th of +March he would retain General Schofield as his Secretary of War +until the change had become habitual; that the modern custom of the +Secretary of War giving military orders to the adjutant-general and +other staff officers was positively wrong and should be stopped. +Speaking of General Grant's personal characteristics at that period +of his life, I recall a conversation in his carriage, when, riding +down Pennsylvania Avenue, he, inquired of me in a humorous way, +"Sherman, what special hobby do you intend to adopt?" I inquired +what he meant, and he explained that all men had their special +weakness or vanity, and that it was wiser to choose one's own than +to leave the newspapers to affix one less acceptable, and that for +his part he had chosen the "horse," so that when anyone tried to +pump him he would turn the conversation to his "horse." I answered +that I would stick to the "theatre and balls," for I was always +fond of seeing young people happy, and did actually acquire a +reputation for "dancing," though I had not attempted the waltz, or +anything more than the ordinary cotillon, since the war. + +On the 24th of February, 1869, I was summoned to Washington, +arriving on the 26th, taking along my aides, Lieutenant-Colonels +Dayton and Audenried. + +On the 4th of March General Grant was duly inaugurated President of +the United States, and I was nominated and confirmed as General of +the Army. + +Major-General P. H. Sheridan was at the same time nominated and +confirmed as lieutenant-general, with orders to command the +Military Division of the Missouri, which he did, moving the +headquarters from St. Louis to Chicago; and General Meade was +assigned to command the Military Division of the Atlantic, with +headquarters at Philadelphia. + +At that moment General Meade was in Atlanta, Georgia, commanding +the Third Military District under the "Reconstruction Act;" and +General Thomas, whose post was in Nashville, was in Washington on a +court of inquiry investigating certain allegations against General +A. B. Dyer, Chief of Ordnance. He occupied the room of the second +floor in the building on the corner of H and Fifteenth Streets, +since become Wormley's Hotel. I at the time was staying with my +brother, Senator Sherman, at his residence, 1321 K Street, and it +was my habit each morning to stop at Thomas's room on my way to the +office in the War Department to tell him the military news, and to +talk over matters of common interest. We had been intimately +associated as "man and boy" for thirty-odd years, and I profess to +have had better opportunities to know him than any man then living. +His fame as the "Rock of Chickamauga" was perfect, and by the world +at large he was considered as the embodiment of strength, calmness, +and imperturbability. Yet of all my acquaintances Thomas worried +and fretted over what he construed neglects or acts of favoritism +more than any other. + +At that time he was much worried by what he supposed was injustice +in the promotion of General Sheridan, and still more that General +Meade should have an Eastern station, which compelled him to remain +at Nashville or go to the Pacific. General Thomas claimed that all +his life he had been stationed in the South or remote West, and had +not had a fair share of Eastern posts, whereas that General Meade +had always been there. I tried to get him to go with me to see +President Grant and talk the matter over frankly, but he would not, +and I had to act as a friendly mediator. General Grant assured me +at the time that he not only admired and respected General Thomas, +but actually loved him as a man, and he authorized me in making up +commands for the general officers to do anything and everything to +favor him, only he could not recede from his former action in +respect to Generals Sheridan and Meade. + +Prior to General Grant's inauguration the army register showed as +major-generals Halleck, Meade, Sheridan, Thomas, and Hancock. +Therefore, the promotion of General Sheridan to be lieutenant- +general did not "overslaugh" Thomas, but it did Meade and Halleck. +The latter did not expect promotion; General Meade did, but was +partially, not wholly, reconciled by being stationed at +Philadelphia, the home of his family; and President Grant assured +me that he knew of his own knowledge that General Sheridan had been +nominated major-general before General Meade, but had waived dates +out of respect for his age and longer service, and that he had +nominated him as lieutenant-general by reason of his special +fitness to command the Military Division of the Missouri, embracing +all the wild Indians, at that very moment in a state of hostility. +I gave General Thomas the choice of every other command in the +army, and of his own choice he went to San Francisco, California, +where he died, March 28, 1870. The truth is, Congress should have +provided by law for three lieutenant-generals for these three +pre-eminent soldiers, and should have dated their commissions with +"Gettysburg," "Winchester," and "Nashville." It would have been a +graceful act, and might have prolonged the lives of two most +popular officers, who died soon after, feeling that they had +experienced ingratitude and neglect. + +Soon after General Grant's inauguration as President, and, as I +supposed, in fulfilment of his plan divulged in Chicago the +previous December, were made the following: + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, +WASHINGTON, March 8, 1869. + +General Orders No. 11: + +The following orders of the President of the United States are +published for the information and government of all concerned: + +WAR DEPARTMENT, +WASHINGTON CITY, March 5, 1869. + +By direction of the President, General William T. Sherman will +assume command of the Army of the United States. + +The chiefs of staff corps, departments, and bureaus will report to +and act under the immediate orders of the general commanding the +army. + +Any official business which by law or regulation requires the +action of the President or Secretary of War will be submitted by +the General of the Army to the Secretary of War, and in general all +orders from the President or Secretary of War to any portion of the +army, line or staff, will be transmitted through the General of the +Army. + +J. M. SCHOFIELD, Secretary of War. + +By command of the General of the Army. + +E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. + + +On the same day I issued my General Orders No. 12, assuming command +and naming all the heads of staff departments and bureaus as +members of my staff, adding to my then three aides, Colonels McCoy, +Dayton, and Audenried, the names of Colonels Comstock, Horace +Porter, and Dent, agreeing with President Grant that the two latter +could remain with him till I should need their personal services or +ask their resignations. + +I was soon made aware that the heads of several of the staff corps +were restive under this new order of things, for by long usage they +had grown to believe themselves not officers of the army in a +technical sense, but a part of the War Department, the civil branch +of the Government which connects the army with the President and +Congress. + +In a short time General John A. Rawlins, General Grant's former +chief of staff, was nominated and confirmed as Secretary of War; +and soon appeared this order: + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, + +ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, +WASHINGTON, March 27, 1869. + +General Orders No. 28: + +The following orders received for the War Department are published +for the government of all concerned: + +WAR DEPARTMENT, + +WASHINGTON CITY, March 26, 1869. + +By direction of the President, the order of the Secretary of War, +dated War Department, March 5, 1869, and published in General +Orders No. 11, headquarters of the army, Adjutant-General's Office, +dated March 8, 1869, except so much as directs General W. T. +Sherman to assume command of the Army of the United States, is +hereby rescinded. + +All official business which by law or regulations requires the +action of the President or Secretary of War will be submitted by +the chiefs of staff corps, departments, and bureaus to the +Secretary of War. + +All orders and instructions relating to military operations issued +by the President or Secretary of War will be issued through the +General of the Army. + +JOHN A. RAWLINS, Secretary of War. + +By command of General SHERMAN: + +E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. + + +Thus we were thrown back on the old method in having a double--if +not a treble-headed machine. Each head of a bureau in daily +consultation with the Secretary of War, and the general to command +without an adjutant, quartermaster, commissary, or any staff except +his own aides, often reading in the newspapers of military events +and orders before he could be consulted or informed. This was the +very reverse of what General Grant, after four years' experience in +Washington as general-in-chief, seemed to want, different from what +he had explained to me in Chicago, and totally different from the +demand he had made on Secretary of War Stanton in his complete +letter of January 29, 1866. I went to him to know the cause: He +said he had been informed by members of Congress that his action, +as defined by his order of March 5th, was regarded as a violation +of laws making provision for the bureaus of the War Department; +that he had repealed his own orders, but not mine, and that he had +no doubt that General Rawlins and I could draw the line of +separation satisfactorily to us both. General Rawlins was very +conscientious, but a very sick man when appointed Secretary of War. +Several times he made orders through the adjutant-general to +individuals of the army without notifying me, but always when his +attention was called to it he apologized, and repeatedly said to me +that he understood from his experience on General Grant's staff how +almost insulting it was for orders to go to individuals of a +regiment, brigade, division, or an army of any kind without the +commanding officer being consulted or even advised. This habit is +more common at Washington than any place on earth, unless it be in +London, where nearly the same condition of facts exists. Members +of Congress daily appeal to the Secretary of War for the discharge +of some soldier on the application of a mother, or some young +officer has to be dry-nursed, withdrawn from his company on the +plains to be stationed near home. The Secretary of War, sometimes +moved by private reasons, or more likely to oblige the member of +Congress, grants the order, of which the commanding general knows +nothing till he reads it in the newspapers. Also, an Indian tribe, +goaded by the pressure of white neighbors, breaks out in revolt. +The general-in-chief must reenforce the local garrisons not only +with men, but horses, wagons, ammunition, and food. All the +necessary information is in the staff bureaus in Washington, but +the general has no right to call for it, and generally finds it +more practicable to ask by telegraph of the distant division or +department commanders for the information before making the formal +orders. The general in actual command of the army should have a +full staff, subject to his own command. If not, he cannot be held +responsible for results. + +General Rawlins sank away visibly, rapidly, and died in Washington, +September 6,1869, and I was appointed to perform the duties of his +office till a successor could be selected. I realized how much +easier and better it was to have both offices conjoined. + +The army then had one constitutional commander-in-chief of both +army and navy, and one actual commanding general, bringing all +parts into real harmony. An army to be useful must be a unit, and +out of this has grown the saying, attributed to Napoleon, but +doubtless spoken before the days of Alexander, that an army with an +inefficient commander was better than one with two able heads. Our +political system and methods, however, demanded a separate +Secretary of War, and in October President Grant asked me to scan +the list of the volunteer generals of good record who had served in +the civil war, preferably from the "West." I did so, and submitted +to him in writing the names of W. W. Belknap, of Iowa; G. M. +Dodge, the Chief Engineer of the Union Pacific Railroad; and Lucius +Fairchild, of Madison, Wisconsin. I also named General John W. +Sprague, then employed by the Northern Pacific Railroad in +Washington Territory. General Grant knew them all personally, and +said if General Dodge were not connected with the Union Pacific +Railroad, with which the Secretary of War must necessarily have +large transactions, he would choose him, but as the case stood, and +remembering the very excellent speech made by General Belknap at +the Chicago reunion of December, 1868, he authorized me to +communicate with him to ascertain if he were willing to come to +Washington as Secretary of War. General Belknap was then the +collector of internal revenue at Keokuk, Iowa. I telegraphed him +and received a prompt and favorable answer. His name was sent to +the Senate, promptly confirmed, and he entered on his duties +October 25,1869. General Belknap surely had at that date as fair a +fame as any officer of volunteers of my personal acquaintance. He +took up the business where it was left off, and gradually fell into +the current which led to the command of the army itself as of the +legal and financial matters which properly pertain to the War +Department. Orders granting leaves of absence to officers, +transfers, discharges of soldiers for favor, and all the old +abuses, which had embittered the life of General Scott in the days +of Secretaries of War Marcy and Davis, were renewed. I called his +attention to these facts, but without sensible effect. My office +was under his in the old War Department, and one day I sent my +aide-de-camp, Colonel Audenried, up to him with some message, and +when he returned red as a beet, very much agitated, he asked me as +a personal favor never again to send him to General Belknap. I +inquired his reason, and he explained that he had been treated with +a rudeness and discourtesy he had never seen displayed by any +officer to a soldier. Colonel Audenried was one of the most +polished gentlemen in the army, noted for his personal bearing and +deportment, and I had some trouble to impress on him the patience +necessary for the occasion, but I promised on future occasions to +send some other or go myself. Things went on from bad to worse, +till in 1870 I received from Mr. Hugh Campbell, of St. Louis, a +personal friend and an honorable gentleman, a telegraphic message +complaining that I had removed from his position Mr. Ward, post +trader at Fort Laramie, with only a month in which to dispose of +his large stock of goods, to make room for his successor. + +It so happened that we of the Indian Peace Commission had been much +indebted to this same trader, Ward, for advances of flour, sugar, +and coffee, to provide for the Crow Indians, who had come down from +their reservation on the Yellowstone to meet us in 1868, before our +own supplies had been received. For a time I could not-comprehend +the nature of Mr. Campbell's complaint, so I telegraphed to the +department commander, General C. C. Augur, at Omaha, to know if any +such occurrence had happened, and the reasons therefor. I received +a prompt answer that it was substantially true, and had been +ordered by The Secretary of War. It so happened that during +General Grant's command of the army Congress had given to the +general of the army the appointment of "post-traders." He had +naturally devolved it on the subordinate division and department +commanders, but the legal power remained with the general of the +army. I went up to the Secretary of War, showed him the +telegraphic correspondence, and pointed out the existing law in the +Revised Statutes. General Belknap was visibly taken aback, and +explained that he had supposed the right of appointment rested with +him, that Ward was an old rebel Democrat, etc.; whereas Ward had +been in fact the sutler of Fort Laramie, a United States military +post, throughout the civil war. I told him that I should revoke +his orders, and leave the matter where it belonged, to the local +council of administration and commanding officers. Ward was +unanimously reelected and reinstated. He remained the trader of +the post until Congress repealed the law, and gave back the power +of appointment to the Secretary of War, when of course he had to +go. But meantime he was able to make the necessary business +arrangements which saved him and his partners the sacrifice which +would have been necessary in the first instance. I never had any +knowledge whatever of General Belknap's transactions with the +traders at Fort Sill and Fort Lincoln which resulted in his +downfall. I have never sought to ascertain his motives for +breaking with me, because he knew I had always befriended him while +under my military command, and in securing him his office of +Secretary of War. I spoke frequently to President Grant of the +growing tendency of his Secretary of War to usurp all the powers of +the commanding general, which would surely result in driving me +away. He as frequently promised to bring us together to agree upon +a just line of separation of our respective offices, but never did. + +Determined to bring the matter to an issue, I wrote the following +letter: + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES, +WASHINGTON, D. C., August 17, 1870. + +General W. W. BELKNAP, Secretary of War. + +GENERAL: I must urgently and respectfully invite your attention +when at leisure to a matter of deep interest to future commanding +generals of the army more than to myself, of the imperative +necessity of fixing and clearly defining the limits of the powers +and duties of the general of the army or of whomsoever may succeed +to the place of commander-in-chief. + +The case is well stated by General Grant in his letter of January +29, 1866, to the Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, hereto appended, +and though I find no official answer recorded, I remember that +General Grant told me that the Secretary of War had promptly +assured him in conversation that he fully approved of his views as +expressed in this letter. + +At that time the subject was much discussed, and soon after +Congress enacted the bill reviving the grade of general, which bill +was approved July 25, 1866, and provided that the general, when +commissioned, may be authorized under the direction and during the +pleasure of the President to command the armies of the United +States; and a few days after, viz., July 28, 1866, was enacted the +law which defined the military peace establishment. The enacting +clause reads: "That the military peace establishment of the United +States shall hereafter consist of five regiments of artillery, ten +regiments of cavalry, forty-five regiments of infantry, the +professors and Corps of Cadets of the United States Military +Academy, and such other forces as shall be provided for by this +act, to be known as the army of the United States." + +The act then recites in great detail all the parts of the army, +making no distinction between the line and staff, but clearly makes +each and every part an element of the whole. + +Section 37 provides for a board to revise the army regulations and +report; and declares that the regulations then in force, viz., +those of 1863, should remain until Congress "shall act on said +report;" and section 38 and last enacts that all laws and parts of +laws inconsistent with the provisions of this act be and the same +are hereby repealed. + +Under the provisions of this law my predecessor, General Grant, did +not hesitate to command and make orders to all parts of the army, +the Military Academy, and staff, and it was under his advice that +the new regulations were compiled in 1868 that drew the line more +clearly between the high and responsible duties of the Secretary of +War and the general of the army. He assured me many a time before +I was called here to succeed him that he wanted me to perfect the +distinction, and it was by his express orders that on assuming the +command of the army I specifically placed the heads of the staff +corps here in Washington in the exact relation to the army which +they would bear to an army in the field. + +I am aware that subsequently, in his orders of March 26th, he +modified his former orders of March 5th, but only as to the heads +of bureaus in Washington, who have, he told me, certain functions +of office imposed on them by special laws of Congress, which laws, +of course, override all orders and regulations, but I did not +either understand from him in person, or from General Rawlins, at +whose instance this order was made, that it was designed in any way +to modify, alter, or change his purposes that division and +department commanders, as well as the general of the army, should +exercise the same command of the staff as they did of the line of +the army. + +I need not remind the Secretary that orders and reports are made to +and from the Military Academy which the general does not even see, +though the Military Academy is specifically named as a part of that +army which he is required to command. Leaves of absence are +granted, the stations of officers are changed, and other orders are +now made directly to the army, not through the general, but direct +through other officials and the adjutant-general. + +So long as this is the case I surely do not command the army of the +United States, and am not responsible for it. + +I am aware that the confusion results from the fact that the +thirty-seventh section of the act of July 28, 1866, clothes the +army regulations of 1863 with the sanction of law, but the next +section repeals all laws and parts of laws inconsistent with the +provisions of this act. The regulations of 1863 are but a +compilation of orders made prior to the war, when such men as Davis +and Floyd took pleasure in stripping General Scott of even the +semblance of power, and purposely reduced him to a cipher in the +command of the army. + +Not one word can be found in those regulations speaking of the +duties of the lieutenant-general commanding the army, or defining a +single act of authority rightfully devolving on him. Not a single +mention is made of the rights and duties of a commander-in-chief of +the army. He is ignored, and purposely, too, as a part of the +programme resulting in the rebellion, that the army without a +legitimate head should pass into the anarchy which these men were +shaping for the whole country. + +I invite your attention to the army regulations of 1847, when our +best soldiers lived, among whom was your own father, and see +paragraphs 48 and 49, page 8, and they are so important that I +quote them entire: + +"48. The military establishment is placed under the orders of the +major-general commanding in chief in all that regards its +discipline and military control. Its fiscal arrangements properly +belong to the administrative departments of the staff and to the +Treasury Department under the direction of the Secretary of War. + +"49. The general of the army will watch over the economy of the +service in all that relates to the expenditure of money, supply of +arms, ordnance and ordnance stores, clothing, equipments, +camp-equipage, medical and hospital stores, barracks, quarters, +transportation, Military Academy, pay, and subsistence: in short, +everything which enters into the expenses of the military +establishment, whether personal or material. He will also see that +the estimates for the military service are based on proper data, +and made for the objects contemplated by law, and necessary to the +due support and useful employment of the army. In carrying into +effect these important duties, he will call to his counsel and +assistance the staff, and those officers proper, in his opinion, to +be employed in verifying and inspecting all the objects which may +require attention. The rules and regulations established for the +government of the army, and the laws relating to the military +establishment, are the guides to the commanding general in the +performance of his duties." + +Why was this, or why was all mention of any field of duty for the +head of the army left out of the army regulations? Simply because +Jefferson Davis had a purpose, and absorbed to himself, as +Secretary of War, as General Grant well says, all the powers of +commander-in-chief. Floyd succeeded him, and the last regulations +of 1863 were but a new compilation of their orders, hastily +collected and published to supply a vast army with a new edition. + +I contend that all parts of these regulations inconsistent with the +law of July 28, 1866, are repealed. + +I surely do not ask for any power myself, but I hope and trust, now +when we have a military President and a military Secretary of War, +that in the new regulations to be laid before Congress next session +the functions and duties of the commander-in-chief will be so +clearly marked out and defined that they may be understood by +himself and the army at large. + +I am, with great respect, your obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, General. + +[Inclosure.] + +WASHINGTON, January 29, 1866. + +Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: + +From the period of the difficulties between Major-General (now +Lieutenant-General) Scott with Secretary Marcy, during the +administration of President Polk, the command of the army virtually +passed into the hands of the Secretary of War. + +From that day to the breaking out of the rebellion the general- +in-chief never kept his headquarters in Washington, and could not, +consequently, with propriety resume his proper functions. To +administer the affairs of the army properly, headquarters and the +adjutant-general's office must be in the same place. + +During the war, while in the field, my functions as commander of +all the armies was never impaired, but were facilitated in all +essential matters by the Administration and by the War Department. +Now, however, that the war is over, and I have brought my head- +quarters to the city, I find my present position embarrassing and, +I think, out of place. I have been intending, or did intend, to +make the beginning of the New Year the time to bring this matter +before you, with the view of asking to have the old condition of +affairs restored, but from diffidence about mentioning the matter +have delayed. In a few words I will state what I conceive to be my +duties and my place, and ask respectfully to be restored to them +and it. + +The entire adjutant-general's office should be under the entire +control of the general-in-chief of the army. No orders should go +to the army, or the adjutant-general, except through the general- +in-chief. Such as require the action of the President would be +laid before the Secretary of War, whose actions would be regarded +as those of the President. In short, in my opinion, the general- +in-chief stands between the President and the army in all official +matters, and the Secretary of War is between the army (through the +general-in-chief) and the President. + +I can very well conceive that a rule so long disregarded could not, +or would not, be restored without the subject being presented, and +I now do so respectfully for your consideration. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +General Belknap never answered that letter. + +In August, 1870, was held at Des Moines, Iowa, an encampment of old +soldiers which I attended, en route to the Pacific, and at Omaha +received this letter: + + +LONG BRANCH, New Jersey, August 18,1870. + +General W. T. SHERMAN. + +DEAR GENERAL: Your letter of the 7th inst. did not reach Long +Branch until after I had left for St. Louis, and consequently is +just before me for the first time. I do not know what changes +recent laws, particularly the last army bill passed, make in the +relations between the general of the army and the Secretary of War. + +Not having this law or other statutes here, I cannot examine the +subject now, nor would I want to without consultation with the +Secretary of War. On our return to Washington I have no doubt but +that the relations between the Secretary and yourself can be made +pleasant, and the duties of each be so clearly defined as to leave +no doubt where the authority of one leaves off and the other +commences. + +My own views, when commanding the army, were that orders to the +army should go through the general. No changes should be made, +however, either of the location of troops or officers, without the +knowledge of the Secretary of War. + +In peace, the general commanded them without reporting to the +Secretary farther than he chose the specific orders he gave from +time to time, but subjected himself to orders from the Secretary, +the latter deriving his authority to give orders from the +President. As Congress has the right, however, to make rules and +regulations for the government of the army, rules made by them +whether they are as they should be or not, will have to govern. As +before stated, I have not examined the recent law. + +Yours truly, + +U. S. GRANT. + + +To which I replied: + +OMAHA, NEBRASKA, September 2,1870. + +General U. S. GRANT, Washington, D. C. + +DEAR GENERAL: I have received your most acceptable letter of August +18th, and assure you that I am perfectly willing to abide by any +decision you may make. We had a most enthusiastic meeting at Des +Moines, and General Bellknap gave us a fine, finished address. I +have concluded to go over to San Francisco to attend the annual +celebration of the Pioneers, to be held on the 9th instant; from +there I will make a short tour, aiming to get back to St. Louis by +the 1st of October, and so on to Washington without unnecessary +delay. + +Conscious of the heavy burdens already on you, I should refrain +from adding one ounce to your load of care, but it seems to me now +is the time to fix clearly and plainly the field of duty for the +Secretary of War and the commanding general of the army, so that we +may escape the unpleasant controversy that gave so much scandal in +General Scott's time, and leave to our successors a clear field. + +No matter what the result, I promise to submit to whatever decision +you may make. I also feel certain that General Belknap thinks he +is simply executing the law as it now stands, but I am equally +certain that he does not interpret the law reviving the grade of +general, and that fixing the "peace establishment" of 1868, as I +construe them. + +For instance, I am supposed to control the discipline of the +Military Academy as a part of the army, whereas General Belknap +ordered a court of inquiry in the case of the colored cadet, made +the detail, reviewed the proceedings, and made his order, without +my knowing a word of it, except through the newspapers; and more +recently, when I went to Chicago to attend to some division +business, I found the inspector-general (Hardie) under orders from +the Secretary of War to go to Montana on some claim business. + +All I ask is that such orders should go through me. If all the +staff-officers are subject to receive orders direct from the +Secretary of War it will surely clash with the orders they may be +in the act of executing from me, or from their immediate +commanders. + +I ask that General Belknap draw up some clear, well-defined rules +for my action, that he show them to me before publication, that I +make on them my remarks, and then that you make a final decision. +I promise faithfully to abide by it, or give up my commission. + +Please show this to General Belknap, and I will be back early in +October. With great respect, your friend, + +W. T. SHERMAN + +I did return about October 15th, saw President Grant, who said +nothing had been done in the premises, but that he would bring +General Belknap and me together and settle this matter. Matters +went along pretty much as usual till the month of August, 1871, +when I dined at the Arlington with Admiral Alder and General +Belknap. The former said he had been promoted to rear-admiral and +appointed to command the European squadron, then at Villa Franca, +near Nice, and that he was going out in the frigate Wabash, +inviting me to go along. I had never been to Europe, and the +opportunity was too tempting to refuse. After some preliminaries I +agreed to go along, taking with me as aides-de-camp Colonel +Audenried and Lieutenant Fred Grant. The Wabash was being +overhauled at the Navy-Yard at Boston, and was not ready to sail +till November, when she came to New-York, where we all embarked +Saturday, November 11th. + +I have very full notes of the whole trip, and here need only state +that we went out to the Island of Madeira, and thence to Cadiz and +Gibraltar. Here my party landed, and the Wabash went on to Villa +Franca. From Gibraltar we made the general tour of Spain to +Bordeaux, through the south of France to Marseilles, Toulon, etc., +to Nice, from which place we rejoined the Wabash and brought ashore +our baggage. + +From Nice we went to Genoa, Turin, the Mont Cenis Tunnel, Milan, +Venice, etc., to Rome. Thence to Naples, Messina, and Syracuse, +where we took a steamer to Malta. From Malta to Egypt and +Constantinople, to Sebastopol, Poti, and Tiflis. At Constantinople +and Sebastopol my party was increased by Governor Curtin, his son, +and Mr. McGahan. + +It was my purpose to have reached the Caspian, and taken boats to +the Volga, and up that river as far as navigation would permit, but +we were dissuaded by the Grand-Duke Michael, Governor-General of +the Caucasas, and took carriages six hundred miles to Taganrog, on +the Sea of Azof, to which point the railroad system of Russia was +completed. From Taganrog we took cars to Moscow and St. +Petersburg. Here Mr. Curtin and party remained, he being our +Minister at that court; also Fred Grant left us to visit his aunt +at Copenhagen. Colonel Audenried and I then completed the tour of +interior Europe, taking in Warsaw, Berlin, Vienna, Switzerland, +France, England, Scotland, and Ireland, embarking for home in the +good steamer Baltic, Saturday, September 7, 1872, reaching +Washington, D. C., September 22d. I refrain from dwelling on this +trip, because it would swell this chapter beyond my purpose. + +When I regained my office I found matters unchanged since my +departure, the Secretary of War exercising all the functions of +commander-in-chief, and I determined to allow things to run to their +necessary conclusion. In 1873 my daughter Minnie also made a trip +to Europe, and I resolved as soon as she returned that I would +simply move back to St. Louis to execute my office there as best I +could. But I was embarrassed by being the possessor of a large +piece of property in Washington on I Street, near the corner of +Third, which I could at the time neither sell nor give away. It +came into my possession as a gift from friends in New York and +Boston, who had purchased it of General Grant and transferred to me +at the price of $65,000. + +The house was very large, costly to light, heat, and maintain, and +Congress had reduced my pay four or five thousand dollars a year, +so that I was gradually being impoverished. Taxes, too, grew +annually, from about four hundred dollars a year to fifteen +hundred, besides all sorts of special taxes. + +Finding myself caught in a dilemma, I added a new hall, and made +out of it two houses, one of which I occupied, and the other I +rented, and thus matters stood in 1873-'74. By the agency of Mr. +Hall, a neighbor and broker, I effected a sale of the property to +the present owner, Mr. Emory, at a fair price, accepting about half +payment in notes, and the other half in a piece of property on E +Street, which I afterward exchanged for a place in Cite Brilliante, +a suburb of St. Louis, which I still own. Being thus foot-loose, +and having repeatedly notified President Grant of my purpose, I +wrote the Secretary of War on the 8th day of May, 1874, asking the +authority of the President and the War Department to remove my +headquarters to St. Louis. + +On the 11th day of May General Belknap replied that I had the +assent of the President and himself, inclosing the rough draft of +an order to accomplish this result, which I answered on the 15th, +expressing my entire satisfaction, only requesting delay in the +publication of the orders till August or September, as I preferred +to make the changes in the month of October. + +On the 3d of September these orders were made: + + +WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, September 8, +1874. + +General Orders No. 108. + +With the assent of the President, and at the request of the +General, the headquarters of the armies of the United States will +be established at St. Louis, Missouri, in the month of October +next. + +The regulations and orders now governing the functions of the +General of the Army, and those in relation to transactions of +business with the War Department and its bureaus, will continue in +force. + +By order of the Secretary of War: + +E. D. TOWNSEND, Adjutant-General. + + + +Our daughter Minnie was married October 1, 1874, to Thomas W. +Fitch, United States Navy, and we all forthwith packed up and +regained our own house at St. Louis, taking an office on the corner +of Tenth and Locust Streets. The only staff I brought with me were +the aides allowed by law, and, though we went through the forms of +"command," I realized that it was a farce, and it did not need a +prophet to foretell it would end in a tragedy. We made ourselves +very comfortable, made many pleasant excursions into the interior, +had a large correspondence, and escaped the mortification of being +slighted by men in Washington who were using their temporary power +for selfish ends. + +Early in March, 1676, appeared in all the newspapers of the day the +sensational report from Washington that Secretary of War Belknap +had been detected in selling sutlerships in the army; that he had +confessed it to Representative Blackburn, of Kentucky; that he had +tendered his resignation, which had been accepted by the President; +and that he was still subject to impeachment,--would be impeached +and tried by the Senate. I was surprised to learn that General +Belknap was dishonest in money matters, for I believed him a brave +soldier, and I sorely thought him honest; but the truth was soon +revealed from Washington, and very soon after I received from Judge +Alphonso Taft, of Cincinnati, a letter informing me that he had +been appointed Secretary of War, and should insist on my immediate +return to Washington. I answered that I was ready to go to +Washington, or anywhere, if assured of decent treatment. + +I proceeded to Washington, when, on the 6th of April, were +published these orders: + +General Orders No. 28. + +The following orders of the President of the United States are +hereby promulgated for the information and guidance of all +concerned: + +The headquarters of the army are hereby reestablished at Washington +City, and all orders and instructions relative to military +operations or affecting the military control and discipline of the +army issued by the President through the Secretary of War, shall be +promulgated through the General of the Army, and the departments of +the Adjutant-General and the Inspector-General shall report to him, +and be under his control in all matters relating thereto. + +By order of the Secretary of War: + +E. D. TOWNSEND, Adjutant-General. + + +This was all I had ever asked; accordingly my personal staff were +brought back to Washington, where we resumed our old places; only I +did not, for some time, bring back the family, and then only to a +rented house on Fifteenth Street, which we occupied till we left +Washington for good. During the period from 1876 to 1884 we had as +Secretaries of War in succession, the Hon's. Alphonso Taft, J. D. +Cameron, George W. McCrary, Alexander Ramsey, and R. T. Lincoln, +with each and all of whom I was on terms of the most intimate and +friendly relations. + +And here I will record of Washington that I saw it, under the magic +hand of Alexander R. Shepherd, grow from a straggling, ill-paved +city, to one of the cleanest, most beautiful, and attractive cities +of the whole world. Its climate is salubrious, with as much +sunshine as any city of America. The country immediately about it +is naturally beautiful and romantic, especially up the Potomac, in +the region of the Great Falls; and, though the soil be poor as +compared with that of my present home, it is susceptible of easy +improvement and embellishment. The social advantages cannot be +surpassed even in London, Paris, or Vienna; and among the resident +population, the members of the Supreme Court, Senate, House of +Representatives, army, navy, and the several executive departments, +may be found an intellectual class one cannot encounter in our +commercial and manufacturing cities. The student may, without tax +and without price, have access, in the libraries of Congress and of +the several departments, to books of every nature and kind; and the +museums of natural history are rapidly approaching a standard of +comparison with the best of the world. Yet it is the usual and +proper center of political intrigue, from which the army especially +should keep aloof, because the army must be true and faithful to +the powers that be, and not be subjected to a temptation to favor +one or other of the great parties into which our people have +divided, and will continue to divide, it may be, with advantage to +the whole. + +It would be a labor of love for me, in this connection, to pay a +tribute of respect, by name, to the many able and most patriotic +officers with whom I was so long associated as the commanding +generals of military divisions and departments, as well as +staff-officers; but I must forego the temptation, because of the +magnitude of the subject, certain that each and all of them will +find biographers better posted and more capable than myself; and I +would also like to make recognition of the hundreds of acts of most +graceful hospitality on the part of the officers and families at +our remote military posts in the days, of the "adobe," the "jacal," +and "dug-out," when a board floor and a shingle roof were luxuries +expected by none except the commanding officer. I can see, in +memory, a beautiful young city-bred lady, who had married a poor +second-lieutenant, and followed him to his post on the plains, +whose quarters were in a "dug-out" ten feet by about fifteen, seven +feet high, with a dirt roof; four feet of the walls were the +natural earth, the other three of sod, with holes for windows and +corn-sacks for curtains. This little lady had her Saratoga trunk, +which was the chief article of furniture; yet, by means of a rug on +the ground-floor, a few candle-boxes covered with red cotton calico +for seats, a table improvised out of a barrel-head, and a fireplace +and chimney excavated in the back wall or bank, she had transformed +her "hole in the ground" into a most attractive home for her young +warrior husband; and she entertained me with a supper consisting of +the best of coffee, fried ham, cakes, and jellies from the +commissary, which made on my mind an impression more lasting than +have any one of the hundreds of magnificent banquets I have since +attended in the palaces and mansions of our own and foreign lands. + +Still more would I like to go over again the many magnificent trips +made across the interior plains, mountains, and deserts before the +days of the completed Pacific Railroad, with regular "Doughertys" +drawn by four smart mules, one soldier with carbine or loaded +musket in hand seated alongside the driver; two in the back seat +with loaded rifles swung in the loops made for them; the lightest +kind of baggage, and generally a bag of oats to supplement the +grass, and to attach the mules to their camp. With an outfit of +two, three, or four of such, I have made journeys of as much as +eighteen hundred miles in a single season, usually from post to +post, averaging in distance about two hundred miles a week, with as +much regularity as is done today by the steam-car its five hundred +miles a day; but those days are gone, and, though I recognize the +great national advantages of the more rapid locomotion, I cannot +help occasionally regretting the change. One instance in 1866 +rises in my memory, which I must record: Returning eastward from +Fort Garland, we ascended the Rocky Mountains to the Sangre-de- +Cristo Pass. The road descending the mountain was very rough and +sidling. I got out with my rifle, and walked ahead about four +miles, where I awaited my "Dougherty." After an hour or so I saw, +coming down the road, a wagon; and did not recognize it as my own +till quite near. It had been upset, the top all mashed in, and no +means at hand for repairs. I consequently turned aside from the +main road to a camp of cavalry near the Spanish Peaks, where we +were most hospitably received by Major A---- and his accomplished +wife. They occupied a large hospital-tent, which about a dozen +beautiful greyhounds were free to enter at will. The ambulance was +repaired, and the next morning we renewed our journey, escorted by +the major and his wife on their fine saddle-horses. + +They accompanied us about ten miles of the way; and, though age has +since begun to tell on them, I shall ever remember them in their +pride and strength as they galloped alongside our wagons down the +long slopes of the Spanish Peaks in a driving snow-storm. + +And yet again would it be a pleasant task to recall the many +banquets and feasts of the various associations of officers and +soldiers, who had fought the good battles of the civil war, in +which I shared as a guest or host, when we could indulge in a +reasonable amount of glorification at deeds done and recorded, with +wit, humor, and song; these when memory was fresh, and when the old +soldiers were made welcome to the best of cheer and applause in +every city and town of the land. But no! I must hurry to my +conclusion, for this journey has already been sufficiently +prolonged. + +I had always intended to divide time with my natural successor, +General P. H. Sheridan, and early, notified him that I should about +the year 1884 retire from the command of the army, leaving him +about an equal period of time for the highest office in the army. +It so happened that Congress had meantime by successive "enactments" +cut down the army to twenty-five thousand men, the usual strength +of a corps d'armee, the legitimate command of a lieutenant-general. +Up to 1882 officers not disabled by wounds or sickness could only +avail themselves of the privileges of retirement on application, +after thirty years of service, at sixty-two years of age; but on +the 30th of June, 1882, a bill was passed which, by operation of +the law itself, compulsorily retired all army officers, regardless +of rank, at the age of sixty-four years. At the time this law was +debated in Congress, I was consulted by Senators and others in the +most friendly manner, representing that, if I wanted it, an +exception could justly and easily be made in favor of the general +and lieutenant-general, whose commissions expired with their lives; +but I invariably replied that I did not ask or expect an exception +in my case, because no one could know or realize when his own +mental and physical powers began to decline. I remembered well the +experience of Gil Blas with the Bishop of Granada, and favored the +passage of the law fixing a positive period for retirement, to +obviate in the future special cases of injustice such as I had seen +in the recent past. The law was passed, and every officer then knew +the very day on which he must retire, and could make his +preparations accordingly. In my own case the law was liberal in +the extreme, being "without reduction in his current pay and +allowances." + +I would be sixty-four years old on the 8th of February, 1884, a +date inconvenient to move, and not suited to other incidents; so I +resolved to retire on the 1st day of November, 1883, to resume my +former home at St. Louis, and give my successor ample time to meet +the incoming Congress, But, preliminary thereto, I concluded to +make one more tour of the continent, going out to the Pacific by +the Northern route, and returning by that of the thirty-fifth +parallel. This we accomplished, beginning at Buffalo, June 21st, +and ending at St. Louis, Missouri, September 30, 1883, a full and +most excellent account of which can be found in Colonel Tidball's +"Diary," which forms part of the report of the General of the Army +for the year 1883. + +Before retiring also, as was my duty, I desired that my aides- +de-camp who had been so faithful and true to me should not suffer +by my act. All were to retain the rank of colonels of cavalry till +the last day, February 8, 1884; but meantime each secured places, +as follows: + +Colonel O. M. Poe was lieutenant-colonel of the Engineer Corps +United States Army, and was by his own choice assigned to Detroit +in charge of the engineering works on the Upper Lakes, which duty +was most congenial to him. + +Colonel J. C. Tidball was assigned to command the Artillery School +at Fort Monroe, by virtue of his commission as lieutenant-colonel, +Third Artillery, a station for which he was specially qualified. + +Colonel John E. Tourtelotte was then entitled to promotion to +major of the Seventh Cavalry, a rank in which he could be certain +of an honorable command. + +The only remaining aide-de-camp was Colonel John M. Bacon, who +utterly ignored self in his personal attachment to me. He was then +a captain of the Ninth Cavalry, but with almost a certainty of +promotion to be major of the Seventh before the date of my official +retirement, which actually resulted. The last two accompanied me +to St. Louis, and remained with me to the end. Having previously +accomplished the removal of my family to St. Louis, and having +completed my last journey to the Pacific, I wrote the following +letter: + +HEADQUARTERS ARMY UNITED STATES, +WASHINGTON, D. C., October 8, 1883. + +Hon. R. T. LINCOLN, Secretary of War. + +SIR: By the act of Congress, approved June 30, 1882, all +army-officers are retired on reaching the age of sixty-four years. +If living, I will attain that age on the 8th day of February, 1884; +but as that period of the year is not suited for the changes +necessary on my retirement, I have contemplated anticipating the +event by several months, to enable the President to meet these +changes at a more convenient season of the year, and also to enable +my successor to be in office before the assembling of the next +Congress. + +I therefore request authority to turn over the command of the army +to Lieutenant-General Sheridan on the 1st day of November, 1883, +and that I be ordered to my home at St. Louis, Missouri, there to +await the date of my legal retirement; and inasmuch as for a long +time I must have much correspondence about war and official +matters, I also ask the favor to have with me for a time my two +present aides-de-camp, Colonels J. E. Tourtelotte and J. M. Bacon. + +The others of my personal staff, viz., Colonels O. M. Poe and J. +C. Tidball, have already been assigned to appropriate duties in +their own branches of the military service, the engineers and +artillery. All should retain the rank and pay as aides-de-camp +until February 8,1884. By or before the 1st day of November I can +complete all official reports, and believe I can surrender the army +to my successor in good shape and condition, well provided in all +respects, and distributed for the best interests of the country. + +I am grateful that my physical and mental-strength remain +unimpaired by years, and am thankful for the liberal provision made +by Congress for my remaining years, which will enable me to respond +promptly to any call the President may make for my military service +or judgment as long as I live. I have the honor to be your +obedient servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, General. + + +The answer was: + + + + +WAR DEPARTMENT, +WASHINGTON CITY, October 10, 1888. + +General W. T. SHERMAN, Washington, D. C. + +GENERAL: I have submitted to the President your letter of the 8th +instant, requesting that you be relieved of the command of the army +on the 1st of November next, as a more convenient time for making +the changes in military commands which must follow your retirement +from active service, than would be the date of your retirement +under the law. + +In signifying his approval of your request, the President directs +me to express to you his earnest hope that there may be given you +many years of health and happiness in which to enjoy the gratitude +of your fellow-citizens, well earned by your most distinguished +public services. + +It will give me pleasure to comply with your wishes respecting your +aides-de-camp, and the necessary orders will be duly issued. + +I have the honor to be, General, your obedient servant, + +ROBERT T. LINCOLN, Secretary of War. + + +On the 27th day of October I submitted to the Secretary of +War, the Hon. R. T. Lincoln, my last annual report, embracing among +other valuable matters the most interesting and condensed report of +Colonel O. M. Poe, A. D. C., of the "original conception, progress, +and completion" of the four great transcontinental railways, which +have in my judgment done more for the subjugation and civilization +of the Indians than all other causes combined, and have made +possible the utilization of the vast area of pasture lands and +mineral regions which before were almost inaccessible, for my +agency in which I feel as much pride as for my share in any of the +battles in which I took part. + +Promptly on the 1st of November were made the following general +orders, and the command of the Army of the United States passed +from me to Lieutenant-General P. H. Sheridan, with as little +ceremony as would attend the succession of the lieutenant-colonel +of a regiment to his colonel about to take a leave of absence: + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY +WASHINGTON, November 1, 1885. + +General Orders No. 77: + +By and with the consent of the President, as contained in General +Orders No. 71, of October 13, 1883, the undersigned relinquishes +command of the Army of the United States. + +In thus severing relations which have hitherto existed between us, +he thanks all officers and men for their fidelity to the high trust +imposed on them during his official life, and will, in his +retirement, watch with parental solicitude their progress upward in +the noble profession to which they have devoted their lives. + +W. T. SHERMAN, General. + +Official: R. C. DRUM, Adjutant-General. + + + +HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY +WASHINGTON, November 1, 1885. + +General Orders No. 78: + +In obedience to orders of the President, promulgated in General +Orders No. 71, October 13, 1883, from these headquarters, the +undersigned hereby assumes command of the Army of the United +States.... + +P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-General. + +Official: R. C. DRUM, adjutant-General. + + +After a few days in which to complete my social visits, and after a +short visit to my daughter, Mrs. A. M. Thackara, at Philadelphia, I +quietly departed for St. Louis; and, as I hope, for "good and all," +the family was again reunited in the same place from which we were +driven by a cruel, unnecessary civil war initiated in Charleston +Harbor in April, 1861. + +On the 8th day of February, 1884; I was sixty-four years of age, +and therefore retired by the operation of the act of Congress, +approved June 30, 1882; but the fact was gracefully noticed by +President Arthur in the following general orders: + +WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, +WASHINGTON, February 8, 1984. + +The following order of the President is published to the army: + +EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 8, 1884. + +General William T. Sherman, General of the Army, having this day +reached the age of sixty-four years, is, in accordance with the +law, placed upon the retired list of the army, without reduction in +his current pay and allowances. + +The announcement of the severance from the command of the army of +one who has been for so many years its distinguished chief, can but +awaken in the minds, not only of the army, but of the people of the +United States, mingled emotions of regret and gratitude--regret at +the withdrawal from active military service of an officer whose +lofty sense of duty has been a model for all soldiers since he +first entered the army in July, 1840; and gratitude, freshly +awakened, for the services of incalculable value rendered by him in +the war for the Union, which his great military genius and daring +did so much to end. + +The President deems this a fitting occasion to give expression, in +this manner, to the gratitude felt toward General Sherman by his +fellow-citizens, and to the hope that Providence may grant him many +years of health and happiness in the relief from the active duties +of his profession. + +By order of the Secretary of War: + +CHESTER A. ARTHUR. + +R. C. DRUM, Adjutant-General. + + + +To which I replied: + +St. Louis, February 9, 1884. + +His Excellency CHESTER A. ARTHUR, +President of the United States. + +DEAR SIR: Permit me with a soldier's frankness to thank you +personally for the handsome compliment bestowed in general orders +of yesterday, which are reported in the journals of the day. To me +it was a surprise and a most agreeable one. I had supposed the +actual date of my retirement would form a short paragraph in the +common series of special orders of the War Department; but as the +honored Executive of our country has made it the occasion for his +own hand to pen a tribute of respect and affection to an officer +passing from the active stage of life to one of ease and rest, I +can only say I feel highly honored, and congratulate myself in thus +rounding out my record of service in a manner most gratifying to my +family and friends. Not only this, but I feel sure, when the +orders of yesterday are read on parade to the regiments and +garrisons of the United States, many a young hero will tighten his +belt, and resolve anew to be brave and true to the starry flag, +which we of our day have carried safely through one epoch of +danger, but which may yet be subjected to other trials, which may +demand similar sacrifices, equal fidelity and courage, and a larger +measure of intelligence. Again thanking you for so marked a +compliment, and reciprocating the kind wishes for the future, + +I am, with profound respect, your friend and servant, + +W. T. SHERMAN, General. + +This I construe as the end of my military career. In looking back +upon the past I can only say, with millions of others, that I have +done many things I should not have done, and have left undone still +more which ought to have been done; that I can see where hundreds +of opportunities have been neglected, but on the whole am content; +and feel sure that I can travel this broad country of ours, and be +each night the welcome guest in palace or cabin; and, as + + "all the world's stage, + And all the men and women merely players," + +I claim the privilege to ring down the curtain. + +W. T. SHERMAN, General. + + + +.............................................................. + + + + +PERSONAL MEMOIRES OF P. H. SHERIDAN, VOLUME 1. + +By Philip Henry Sheridan + + + +PREFACE + +When, yielding to the solicitations of my friends, I finally decided +to write these Memoirs, the greatest difficulty which confronted me +was that of recounting my share in the many notable events of the +last three decades, in which I played a part, without entering too +fully into the history of these years, and at the same time without +giving to my own acts an unmerited prominence. To what extent I have +overcome this difficulty I must leave the reader to judge. + +In offering this record, penned by my own hand, of the events of my +life, and of my participation in our great struggle for national +existence, human liberty, and political equality, I make no +pretension to literary merit; the importance of the subject-matter of +my narrative is my only claim on the reader's attention. + +Respectfully dedicating this work to my comrades in arms during the +War of the Rebellion, I leave it as a heritage to my children, and as +a source of information for the future historian. + +P. H. SHERIDAN. + +Nonguitt, Mass., August 2, 1888 + + + + +PERSONAL MEMOIRS + +P. H. SHERIDAN. + + + + + + +VOLUME I. + +CHAPTER I. + +ANCESTRY--BIRTH--EARLY EDUCATION--A CLERK IN A GROCERY +STORE--APPOINTMENT--MONROE SHOES--JOURNEY TO WEST POINT--HAZING +--A FISTICUFF BATTLE--SUSPENDED--RETURNS TO CLERKSHIP--GRADUATION. + +My parents, John and Mary Sheridan, came to America in 1830, having +been induced by the representations of my father's uncle, Thomas +Gainor, then living in Albany, N. Y., to try their fortunes in the +New World: They were born and reared in the County Cavan, Ireland, +where from early manhood my father had tilled a leasehold on the +estate of Cherrymoult; and the sale of this leasehold provided him +with means to seek a new home across the sea. My parents were +blood relations--cousins in the second degree--my mother, whose +maiden name was Minor, having descended from a collateral branch of +my father's family. Before leaving Ireland they had two children, +and on the 6th of March, 1831, the year after their arrival in this +country, I was born, in Albany, N. Y., the third child in a family +which eventually increased to six--four boys and two girls. + +The prospects for gaining a livelihood in Albany did not meet the +expectations which my parents had been led to entertain, so in 1832 +they removed to the West, to establish themselves in the village of +Somerset, in Perry County, Ohio, which section, in the earliest days +of the State; had been colonized from Pennsylvania and Maryland. At +this period the great public works of the Northwest--the canals and +macadamized roads, a result of clamor for internal improvements--were +in course of construction, and my father turned his attention to +them, believing that they offered opportunities for a successful +occupation. Encouraged by a civil engineer named Bassett, who had +taken a fancy to him, he put in bids for a small contract on the +Cumberland Road, known as the "National Road," which was then being +extended west from the Ohio River. A little success in this first +enterprise led him to take up contracting as a business, which he +followed on various canals and macadamized roads then building in +different parts of the State of Ohio, with some good fortune for +awhile, but in 1853 what little means he had saved were swallowed up +--in bankruptcy, caused by the failure of the Sciota and Hocking +Valley Railroad Company, for which he was fulfilling a contract at +the time, and this disaster left him finally only a small farm, just +outside the village of Somerset, where he dwelt until his death in +1875. + +My father's occupation kept him away from home much of the time +during my boyhood, and as a consequence I grew up under the sole +guidance and training of my mother, whose excellent common sense and +clear discernment in every way fitted her for such maternal duties. +When old enough I was sent to the village school, which was taught by +an old-time Irish "master"--one of those itinerant dominies of the +early frontier--who, holding that to spare the rod was to spoil the +child, if unable to detect the real culprit when any offense had been +committed, would consistently apply the switch to the whole school +without discrimination. It must be conceded that by this means he +never failed to catch the guilty mischief-maker. The school-year was +divided into terms of three months, the teacher being paid in each +term a certain sum--three dollars, I think, for each pupil-and having +an additional perquisite in the privilege of boarding around at his +option in the different families to which his scholars belonged. +This feature was more than acceptable to the parents at times, for +how else could they so thoroughly learn all the neighborhood gossip? +But the pupils were in almost unanimous opposition, because Mr. +McNanly's unheralded advent at any one's house resulted frequently in +the discovery that some favorite child had been playing "hookey," +which means (I will say to the uninitiated, if any such there be) +absenting one's self from school without permission, to go on a +fishing or a swimming frolic. Such at least was my experience more +than once, for Mr. McNanly particularly favored my mother's house, +because of a former acquaintanceship in Ireland, and many a time a +comparison of notes proved that I had been in the woods with two +playfellows, named Binckly and Greiner, when the master thought I was +home, ill, and my mother, that I was at school, deeply immersed in +study. However, with these and other delinquencies not uncommon +among boys, I learned at McNanly's school, and a little later, under +a pedagogue named Thorn, a smattering of geography and history, and +explored the mysteries of Pike's Arithmetic and Bullions' English +Grammar, about as far as I could be carried up to the age of +fourteen. This was all the education then bestowed upon me, and +this--with the exception of progressing in some of these branches by +voluntary study, and by practical application in others, supplemented +by a few months of preparation after receiving my appointment as a +cadet--was the extent of my learning on entering the Military +Academy. + +When about fourteen years old I began to do something for myself; Mr. +John Talbot, who kept a country store in the village, employing me to +deal out sugar, coffee, and calico to his customers at the munificent +salary of twenty-four dollars a year. After I had gained a +twelve-months' experience with Mr. Talbot my services began to be +sought by, others, and a Mr. David Whitehead secured them by the offer +of sixty dollars a year--Talbot refusing to increase my pay, but not +objecting to my advancement. A few months later, before my year was +up, another chance to increase my salary came about; Mr. Henry Dittoe, +the enterprising man of the village, offering me one hundred and +twenty dollars a year to take a position in the dry-goods store of +Fink & Dittoe. I laid the matter before Mr. Whitehead, and he frankly +advised me to accept, though he cautioned me that I might regret it, +adding that he was afraid Henry (referring to Mr. Dittoe) "had too +many irons in the fire." His warning in regard to the enterprising +merchant proved a prophecy, for "too many irons in the fire" brought +about Mr. Dittoe's bankruptcy, although this misfortune did not befall +him till long after I had left his service. I am glad to say, +however, that his failure was an exceptionally honest one, and due +more to the fact that he was in advance of his surroundings than to +any other cause. + +I remained with Fink & Dittoe until I entered the Military Academy, +principally in charge of the book-keeping, which was no small work +for one of my years, considering that in those days the entire +business of country stores in the West was conducted on the credit +system; the customers, being mostly farmers, never expecting to pay +till the product of their farms could be brought to market; and even +then usually squared the book-accounts by notes of hand, that were +often slow of collection. + +From the time I ceased to attend school my employment had +necessitated, to a certain degree, the application of what I had +learned there, and this practical instruction I reinforced somewhat +by doing considerable reading in a general way, until ultimately I +became quite a local authority in history, being frequently chosen as +arbiter in discussions and disputes that arose in the store. The +Mexican War, then going on, furnished, of course, a never-ending +theme for controversy, and although I was too young to enter the +military service when volunteers were mustering in our section, yet +the stirring events of the times so much impressed and absorbed me +that my sole wish was to become a soldier, and my highest aspiration +to go to West Point as a Cadet from my Congressional district. My +chances for this seemed very remote, however, till one day an +opportunity was thrown in my way by the boy who then held the place +failing to pass his examination. When I learned that by this +occurrence a vacancy existed, I wrote to our representative in +Congress, the Hon. Thomas Ritchey, and asked him for the appointment, +reminding him that we had often met in Fink & Dittoe's store, and +that therefore he must know something of my qualifications. He +responded promptly by enclosing my warrant for the class of 1848; so, +notwithstanding the many romances that have been published about the +matter, to Mr. Ritchey, and to him alone, is due all the credit--if +my career justifies that term--of putting me in the United States +Army. + +At once I set about preparing for the examination which precedes +admission to the Military Academy, studying zealously under the +direction of Mr. William Clark; my old teachers, McNanly and Thorn, +having disappeared from Somerset and sought new fields of usefulness. +The intervening months passed rapidly away, and I fear that I did not +make much progress, yet I thought I should be able to pass the +preliminary examination. That which was to follow worried me more +and gave me many sleepless nights; but these would have been less in +number, I fully believe, had it not been for one specification of my, +outfit which the circular that accompanied my appointment demanded. +This requirement was a pair of "Monroe shoes." Now, out in Ohio, +what "Monroe shoes" were was a mystery--not a shoemaker in my section +having so much as an inkling of the construction of the perplexing +things, until finally my eldest brother brought an idea of them from +Baltimore, when it was found that they were a familiar pattern under +another name. + +At length the time for my departure came, and I set out for West +Point, going by way of Cleveland and across Lake Erie to Buffalo. On +the steamer I fell in with another appointee en route to the academy, +David S. Stanley, also from Ohio; and when our acquaintanceship had +ripened somewhat, and we had begun to repose confidence in each +other, I found out that he had no "Monroe shoes," so I deemed myself +just that much ahead of my companion, although my shoes might not +conform exactly to the regulations in Eastern style and finish. At +Buffalo, Stanley and I separated, he going by the Erie Canal and I by +the railroad, since I wanted to gain time on account of commands to +stop in Albany to see my father's uncle. Here I spent a few days, +till Stanley reached Albany, when we journeyed together down the +river to West Point. The examination began a few days after our +arrival, and I soon found myself admitted to the Corps of Cadets, to +date from July 1, 1848, in a class composed of sixty-three members, +many of whom--for example, Stanley, Slocum, Woods, Kautz, and Crook +--became prominent generals in later years, and commanded divisions, +corps, and armies in the war of the rebellion. + +Quickly following my admission I was broken in by a course of hazing, +with many of the approved methods that the Cadets had handed down +from year to year since the Academy was founded; still, I escaped +excessive persecution, although there were in my day many occurrences +so extreme as to call forth condemnation and an endeavor to suppress +the senseless custom, which an improved civilization has now about +eradicated, not only at West Point, but at other colleges. + +Although I had met the Academic board and come off with fair success, +yet I knew so little of Algebra or any of the higher branches of +mathematics that during my first six months at the Academy I was +discouraged by many misgivings as to the future, for I speedily +learned that at the January examination the class would have to stand +a test much severer than that which had been applied to it on +entering. I resolved to try hard, however, and, besides, good +fortune gave me for a room-mate a Cadet whose education was more +advanced than mine, and whose studious habits and willingness to aid +others benefited me immensely. This room-mate was Henry W. Slocum, +since so signally distinguished in both military and civil capacities +as to win for his name a proud place in the annals of his country. +After taps--that is, when by the regulations of the Academy all the +lights were supposed to be extinguished, and everybody in bed--Slocum +and I would hang a blanket over the one window of our room and +continue our studies--he guiding me around scores of stumbling-blocks +in Algebra and elucidating many knotty points in other branches of +the course with which I was unfamiliar. On account of this +association I went up before the Board in January with less +uneasiness than otherwise would have been the case, and passed the +examination fairly well. When it was over, a self-confidence in my +capacity was established that had not existed hitherto, and at each +succeeding examination I gained a little in order of merit till my +furlough summer came round--that is, when I was half through the +four-year course. + +My furlough in July and August, 1850, was spent at my home in Ohio, +with the exception of a visit or two to other Cadets on furlough in +the State, and at the close of my leave I returned to the Academy in +the full expectation of graduating with my class in 1852. + +A quarrel of a belligerent character in September, ,1851, with Cadet +William R. Terrill, put an end to this anticipation, however, and +threw me back into the class which graduated in 1853. Terrill was a +Cadet Sergeant, and, while my company was forming for parade, having, +given me an order, in what I considered an improper tone, to "dress" +in a certain direction, when I believed I was accurately dressed, I +fancied I had a grievance, and made toward him with a lowered +bayonet, but my better judgment recalled me before actual contact +could take place. Of course Terrill reported me for this, and my ire +was so inflamed by his action that when we next met I attacked him, +and a fisticuff engagement in front of barracks followed, which was +stopped by an officer appearing on the scene. Each of us handed in +an explanation, but mine was unsatisfactory to the authorities, for I +had to admit that I was the assaulting party, and the result was that +I was suspended by the Secretary of War, Mr. Conrad, till August 28, +1852--the Superintendent of the Academy, Captain Brewerton, being +induced to recommend this milder course, he said, by my previous good +conduct. At the time I thought, of course, my suspension a very +unfair punishment, that my conduct was justifiable and the +authorities of the Academy all wrong, but riper experience has led me +to a different conclusion, and as I look back, though the +mortification I then endured was deep and trying, I am convinced that +it was hardly as much as I deserved for such an outrageous breach of +discipline. + +There was no question as to Terrill's irritating tone, but in giving +me the order he was prompted by the duty of his position as a file +closer, and I was not the one to remedy the wrong which I conceived +had been done me, and clearly not justifiable in assuming to correct +him with my own hands. In 1862, when General Buell's army was +assembling at Louisville, Terrill was with it as a brigadier-general +(for, although a Virginian, he had remained loyal), and I then took +the initiative toward a renewal of our acquaintance. Our renewed +friendship was not destined to be of long duration, I am sorry to +say, for a few days later, in the battle of Perryville, while +gallantly fighting for his country, poor Terrill was killed. + +My suspension necessitated my leaving the Academy, and I returned +home in the fall of 1851, much crestfallen. Fortunately, my good +friend Henry Dittoe again gave me employment in keeping the books of +his establishment, and this occupation of my time made the nine +months which were to elapse before I could go back to West Point pass +much more agreeably than they would have done had I been idle. In +August, 1852, I joined the first class at the Academy in accordance +with the order of the War Department, taking my place at the foot of +the class and graduating with it the succeeding June, number +thirty-four in a membership of fifty-two. At the head of this class +graduated James B. McPherson, who was killed in the Atlanta campaign +while commanding the Army of the Tennessee. It also contained such +men as John M. Schofield, who commanded the Army of the Ohio; Joshua +W. Sill, killed as a brigadier in the battle of Stone River; and many +others who, in the war of the rebellion, on one side or the other, +rose to prominence, General John B. Hood being the most distinguished +member of the class among the Confederates. + +At the close of the final examination I made no formal application +for assignment to any particular arm of the service, for I knew that +my standing would not entitle me to one of the existing vacancies, +and that I should be obliged to take a place among the brevet second +lieutenants. When the appointments were made I therefore found +myself attached to the First Infantry, well pleased that I had +surmounted all the difficulties that confront the student at our +national school, and looking forward with pleasant anticipation to +the life before me. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ORDERED TO FORT DUNCAN, TEXAS--"NORTHERS"--SCOUTING +DUTY--HUNTING--NEARLY CAUGHT BY THE INDIANS--A PRIMITIVE HABITATION +--A BRAVE DRUMMERBOY'S DEATH--A MEXICAN BALL. + +On the 1st day of July, 1853, I was commissioned a brevet second +lieutenant in the First Regiment of United States Infantry, then +stationed in Texas. The company to which I was attached was +quartered at Fort Duncan, a military post on the Rio Grande opposite +the little town of Piedras Negras, on the boundary line between the +United States and the Republic of Mexico. + +After the usual leave of three months following graduation from the +Military Academy I was assigned to temporary duty at Newport +Barracks, a recruiting station and rendezvous for the assignment of +young officers preparatory to joining their regiments. Here I +remained from September, 1853, to March, 1854, when I was ordered to +join my company at Fort Duncan. To comply with this order I +proceeded by steamboat down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New +Orleans, thence by steamer across the Gulf of Mexico to Indianola, +Tex., and after landing at that place, continued in a small schooner +through what is called the inside channel on the Gulf coast to Corpus +Christi, the headquarters of Brigadier-General Persifer F. Smith, who +was commanding the Department of Texas. Here I met some of my old +friends from the Military Academy, among them Lieutenant Alfred +Gibbs, who in the last year of the rebellion commanded under me a +brigade of cavalry, and Lieutenant Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte, of the +Mounted Rifles, who resigned in 1854 to accept service in the French +Imperial army, but to most of those about headquarters I was an +entire stranger. Among the latter was Captain Stewart Van Vliet, of +the Quartermaster's Department, now on the retired list. With him I +soon came in frequent contact, and, by reason of his connection with +the Quartermaster's Department, the kindly interest he took in +forwarding my business inaugurated between us--a lasting friendship. + +A day or two after my arrival at Corpus Christi a train of Government +wagons, loaded with subsistence stores and quartermaster's supplies, +started for Laredo, a small town on the Rio Grande below Fort Duncan. +There being no other means of reaching my station I put my small +personal possessions, consisting of a trunk, mattress, two blankets, +and a pillow into one of the heavily loaded wagons and proceeded to +join it, sitting on the boxes or bags of coffee and sugar, as I might +choose. The movement of the train was very slow, as the soil was +soft on the newly made and sandy roads. We progressed but a few +miles on our first day's journey, and in the evening parked our train +at a point where there was no wood, a scant supply of water--and that +of bad quality--but an abundance of grass. There being no +comfortable place to sleep in any of the wagons, filled as they were +to the bows with army supplies, I spread my blankets on the ground +between the wheels of one of them, and awoke in the morning feeling +as fresh and bright as would have been possible if all the comforts +of civilization had been at my command. + +It took our lumbering train many days to reach Laredo, a distance of +about one hundred and sixty miles from Corpus Christi. Each march +was but a repetition of the first day's journey, its monotony +occasionally relieved, though, by the passage of immense flocks of +ducks and geese, and the appearance at intervals of herds of deer, +and sometimes droves of wild cattle, wild horses and mules. The +bands of wild horses I noticed were sometimes led by mules, but +generally by stallions with long wavy manes, and flowing tails which +almost touched the ground. + +We arrived at Laredo during one of those severe storms incident to +that section, which are termed "Northers" from the fact that the +north winds culminate occasionally in cold windstorms, frequently +preceded by heavy rains. Generally the blow lasts for three days, +and the cold becomes intense and piercing. While the sudden +depression of the temperature is most disagreeable, and often causes +great suffering, it is claimed that these "Northers" make the climate +more healthy and endurable. They occur from October to May, and in +addition to the destruction which, through the sudden depression of +the temperature, they bring on the herds in the interior, they are +often of sufficient violence to greatly injure the harbors on the +coast. + +The post near Laredo was called Fort McIntosh, and at this period the +troops stationed there consisted of eight companies of the Fifth +Infantry and two of the First, one of the First Artillery, and three +of the Mounted Rifles. Just before the "Norther" began these troops +had completed a redoubt for the defense of the post, with the +exception of the ditches, but as the parapet was built of sand--the +only material about Laredo which could be obtained for its +construction--the severity of the winds was too much for such a +shifting substance, and the work was entirely blown away early in the +storm. + +I was pleasantly and hospitably welcomed by the officers at the post, +all of whom were living in tents, with no furniture except a cot and +trunk, and an improvised bed for a stranger, when one happened to +come along. After I had been kindly taken in by one of the younger +officers, I reported to the commanding officer, and was informed by +him that he would direct the quartermaster to furnish me, as soon as +convenient, with transportation to Fort Duncan, the station of my +company. + +In the course of a day or two, the quartermaster notified me that a +Government six-mule wagon would be placed at my disposal to proceed +to my destination. No better means offering, I concluded to set out +in this conveyance, and, since it was also to carry a quantity of +quartermaster's property for Fort Duncan, I managed to obtain room +enough for my bed in the limited space between the bows and load, +where I could rest tolerably well, and under cover at night, instead +of sleeping on the ground under the wagon, as I had done on the road +from Corpus Christi to Laredo. + +I reached Fort Duncan in March, 1854., and was kindly received by the +commanding officer of the, regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson +Morris, and by the captain of my company ("D"), Eugene E. McLean, and +his charming wife the only daughter of General E. V. Sumner, who was +already distinguished in our service, but much better known in after +years in the operations of the Army of the Potomac, during its early +campaigns in Virginia. Shortly after joining company "D" I was sent +out on scouting duty with another company of the regiment to Camp La +Pena, about sixty or seventy miles east of Fort Duncan, in a section +of country that had for some time past been subjected to raids by the +Lipan and Comanche Indians. Our outpost at La Pena was intended as a +protection against the predatory incursions of these savages, so +almost constant scouting became a daily occupation. This enabled me +soon to become familiar with and make maps of the surrounding +country, and, through constant association with our Mexican guide, to +pick up in a short time quite a smattering of the Spanish language, +which was very useful to one serving on that frontier. + +At that early day western Texas was literally filled with game, and +the region in the immediate vicinity of La Pena contained its full +proportion of deer, antelope, and wild turkeys. The temptation to +hunt was therefore constantly before me, and a desire to indulge in +this pastime, whenever free from the legitimate duty of the camp, +soon took complete possession of me, so expeditions in pursuit of +game were of frequent occurrence. In these expeditions I was always +accompanied by a soldier named Frankman, belonging to "D" company, +who was a fine sportsman, and a butcher by trade. In a short period +I learned from Frankman how to approach and secure the different +species of game, and also how to dress and care for it when killed. +Almost every expedition we made was rewarded with a good supply of +deer, antelope, and wild turkeys, and we furnished the command in +camp with such abundance that it was relieved from the necessity of +drawing its beef ration, much to the discomfiture of the disgruntled +beef contractor. + +The camp at La Pena was on sandy ground, unpleasant for men and +animals, and by my advice it was moved to La Pendencia, not far from +Lake Espantosa. Before removal from our old location, however, early +one bright morning Frankman and I started on one of our customary +expeditions, going down La Pena Creek to a small creek, at the head +of which we had established a hunting rendezvous. After proceeding +along the stream for three or four miles we saw a column of smoke on +the prairie, and supposing it arose from a camp of Mexican rancheros +catching wild horses or wild cattle, and even wild mules, which were +very numerous in that section of country along the Nueces River, we +thought we would join the party and see how much success they were +having, and observe the methods employed in this laborious and +sometimes dangerous vocation. With this object in view, we continued +on until we found it necessary to cross to the other side of the +creek to reach the point indicated by the smoke. Just before +reaching the crossing I discovered moccasin tracks near the water's +edge, and realizing in an instant that the camp we were approaching +might possibly be one of hostile Indians--all Indians in that country +at that time were hostile--Frankman and I backed out silently, and +made eager strides for La Pena, where we had scarcely arrived when +Captain M. E. Van Buren, of the Mounted Rifle regiment, came in with +a small command, and reported that he was out in pursuit of a band of +Comanche Indians, which had been committing depredations up about +Fort Clark, but that he had lost the trail. I immediately informed +him of what had occurred to me during the morning, and that I could +put him on the trail of the Indians he was desirous of punishing. + +We hurriedly supplied with rations his small command of thirteen, +men, and I then conducted him to the point where I had seen the +smoke, and there we found signs indicating it to be the recently +abandoned camp of the Indians he was pursuing, and we also noticed +that prairie rats had formed the principal article of diet at the +meal they had just completed. As they had gone, I could do no more +than put him on the trail made in their departure, which was well +marked; for Indians, when in small parties, and unless pressed, +usually follow each other in single file. Captain Van Buren followed +the trail by Fort Ewell, and well down toward Corpus Christi, day and +night, until the Indians, exhausted and used up, halted, on an open +plain, unsaddled their horses, mounted bareback, and offered battle. +Their number was double that of Van Buren's detachment, but he +attacked them fearlessly, and in the fight was mortally wounded by an +arrow which entered his body in front, just above the sword belt, and +came through the belt behind. The principal chief of the Indians was +killed, and the rest fled. Captain Van Buren's men carried him to +Corpus Christi, where in a few days he died. + +After our removal to La Pendencia a similar pursuit of savages +occurred, but with more fortunate results. Colonel John H. King, now +on the retired list, then a captain in the First Infantry, came to +our camp in pursuit of a marauding band of hostile Indians, and I was +enabled to put him also on the trail. He soon overtook them, and +killing two without loss to himself, the band dispersed like a flock +of quail and left him nothing to follow. He returned to our camp +shortly after, and the few friendly Indian scouts he had with him +held a grand pow-wow and dance over the scalps of the fallen braves. + +Around La Pendencia, as at La Pena, the country abounded in deer, +antelope, wild turkeys, and quail, and we killed enough to supply +abundantly the whole command with the meat portion of the ration. +Some mornings Frankman and I would bring in as many as seven deer, +and our hunting expeditions made me so familiar with the region +between our camp and Fort Duncan, the headquarters of the regiment, +that I was soon enabled to suggest a more direct route of +communication than the circuitous one then traversed, and in +a short time it was established. + +Up to this time I had been on detached duty, but soon my own company +was ordered into the field to occupy a position on Turkey Creek, +about ten or twelve miles west of the Nueces River, on the road from +San Antonio to Fort Duncan, and I was required to join the company. +Here constant work and scouting were necessary, as our camp was +specially located with reference to protecting from Indian raids the +road running from San Antonio to Fort Duncan, and on to the interior +of Mexico. In those days this road was the great line of travel, and +Mexican caravans were frequently passing over it, to and fro, in such +a disorganized condition as often to invite attack from marauding +Comanches and Lipans. Our time, therefore, was incessantly occupied +in scouting, but our labors were much lightened because they were +directed with intelligence and justice by Captain McLean, whose +agreeable manners and upright methods are still so impressed on my +memory that to this day I look back upon my service with "D" Company +of the First Infantry as among those events which I remember with +most pleasure. + +In this manner my first summer of active field duty passed rapidly +away, and in the fall my company returned to Fort Duncan to go into +winter quarters. These quarters, when constructed, consisted of "A" +tents pitched under a shed improvised by the company. With only +these accommodations I at first lived around as best I could until +the command was quartered, and then, requesting a detail of wagons +from the quartermaster, I went out some thirty miles to get poles to +build a more comfortable habitation for myself. In a few days enough +poles for the construction of a modest residence were secured and +brought in, and then the building of my house began. First, the +poles were cut the proper length, planted in a trench around four +sides of a square of very small proportions, and secured at the top +by string-pieces stretched from one angle to another, in which +half-notches hack been made at proper intervals to receive the +uprights. The poles were then made rigid by strips nailed on +half-way to the ground, giving the sides of the structure firmness, +but the interstices were large and frequent; still, with the aid of +some old condemned paulins obtained from the quartermaster, the walls +were covered and the necessity for chinking obviated. This method of +covering the holes in the side walls also possessed the advantage of +permitting some little light to penetrate to the interior of the +house, and avoided the necessity of constructing a window, for which, +by the way, no glass could have been obtained. Next a good large +fire-place and chimney were built in one corner by means of stones +and mud, and then the roof was put on--a thatched one of prairie +grass. The floor was dirt compactly tamped. + +My furniture was very primitive: a chair or two, with about the same +number of camp stools, a cot, and a rickety old bureau that I +obtained in some way not now remembered. My washstand consisted of a +board about three feet long, resting on legs formed by driving sticks +into the ground until they held it at about the proper height from +the floor. This washstand was the most expensive piece of furniture +I owned, the board having cost me three dollars, and even then I +obtained it as a favor, for lumber on the Rio Grande was so scarce in +those days that to possess even the smallest quantity was to indulge +in great luxury. Indeed, about all that reached the post was what +came in the shape of bacon boxes, and the boards from these were +reserved for coffins in which to bury our dead. + +In this rude habitation I spent a happy winter, and was more +comfortably off than many of the officers, who had built none, but +lived in tents and took the chances of "Northers." During this period +our food was principally the soldier's ration: flour, pickled pork, +nasty bacon--cured in the dust of ground charcoal--and fresh beef, of +which we had a plentiful supply, supplemented with game of various +kinds. The sugar, coffee, and smaller parts of the ration were good, +but we had no vegetables, and the few jars of preserves and some few +vegetables kept by the sutler were too expensive to be indulged in. +So during all the period I lived at Fort Duncan and its sub-camps, +nearly sixteen months, fresh vegetables were practically +unobtainable. To prevent scurvy we used the juice of the maguey +plant, called pulque, and to obtain a supply of this anti-scorbutic I +was often detailed to march the company out about forty miles, cut +the plant, load up two or three wagons with the stalks, and carry +them to camp. Here the juice was extracted by a rude press, and put +in bottles until it fermented and became worse in odor than +sulphureted hydrogen. At reveille roll-call every morning this +fermented liquor was dealt out to the company, and as it was my duty, +in my capacity of subaltern, to attend these roll-calls and see that +the men took their ration of pulque, I always began the duty by +drinking a cup of the repulsive stuff myself. Though hard to +swallow, its well-known specific qualities in the prevention and cure +of scurvy were familiar to all, so every man in the command gulped +down his share notwithstanding its vile taste and odor. + +Considering our isolation, the winter passed very pleasantly to us +all. The post was a large one, its officers congenial, and we had +many enjoyable occasions. Dances, races, and horseback riding filled +in much of the time, and occasional raids from Indians furnished more +serious occupation in the way of a scout now and then. The proximity +of the Indians at times rendered the surrounding country somewhat +dangerous for individuals or small parties at a distance from the +fort; but few thought the savages would come near, so many risks were +doubtless run by various officers, who carried the familiar +six-shooter as their only weapon while out horseback riding, until +suddenly we were awakened to the dangers we had been incurring. + +About mid-winter a party of hostile Lipans made a swoop around and +skirting the garrison, killing a herder--a discharged drummer-boy--in +sight of the flag-staff. Of course great excitement followed. +Captain J. G. Walker, of the Mounted Rifles, immediately started with +his company in pursuit of the Indians, and I was directed to +accompany the command. Not far away we found the body of the boy +filled with arrows, and near him the body of a fine looking young +Indian, whom the lad had undoubtedly killed before he was himself +overpowered. We were not a great distance behind the Indians when +the boy's body was discovered, and having good trailers we gained on +them rapidly, with the prospect of overhauling them, but as soon as +they found we were getting near they headed for the Rio Grande, made +the crossing to the opposite bank, and were in Mexico before we could +overtake them. When on the other side of the boundary they grew very +brave, daring us to come over to fight them, well aware all the time +that the international line prevented us from continuing the pursuit. +So we had to return to the post without reward for our exertion +except the consciousness of having made the best effort we could to +catch the murderers. That night, in company with Lieutenant Thomas +G. Williams, I crossed over the river to the Mexican village of +Piedras Negras, and on going to a house where a large baille, or +dance, was going on we found among those present two of the Indians +we had been chasing. As soon as they saw us they strung their bows +for a fight, and we drew our six-shooters, but the Mexicans quickly +closed in around the Indians and forced them out of the house--or +rude jackal--where the "ball" was being held, and they escaped. We +learned later something about the nature of the fight the drummer had +made, and that his death had cost them dear, for, in addition to the +Indian killed and lying by his side, he had mortally wounded another +and seriously wounded a third, with the three shots that he had +fired. + +At this period I took up the notion of making a study of ornithology, +incited to it possibly by the great number of bright-colored birds +that made their winter homes along the Rio Grande, and I spent many a +leisure hour in catching specimens by means of stick traps, with +which I found little difficulty in securing almost every variety of +the feathered tribes. I made my traps by placing four sticks of a +length suited to the size desired so as to form a square, and +building up on them in log-cabin fashion until the structure came +almost to a point by contraction of the corners. Then the sticks +were made secure, the trap placed at some secluded spot, and from the +centre to the outside a trench was dug in the ground, and thinly +covered when a depth had been obtained that would leave an aperture +sufficiently large to admit the class of birds desired. Along this +trench seeds and other food were scattered, which the birds soon +discovered, and of course began to eat, unsuspectingly following the +tempting bait through the gallery till they emerged from its farther +end in the centre of the trap, where they contentedly fed till the +food was all gone. Then the fact of imprisonment first presented +itself, and they vainly endeavored to escape through the interstices +of the cage, never once guided by their instinct to return to liberty +through the route by which they had entered. + +Among the different kinds of birds captured in this way, +mocking-birds, blue-birds, robins, meadow larks, quail, and plover +were the most numerous. They seemed to have more voracious appetites +than other varieties, or else they were more unwary, and consequently +more easily caught. A change of station, however, put an end to my +ornithological plans, and activities of other kinds prevented me from +resuming them in after life. + +There were quite a number of young officers at the post during the +winter, and as our relations with the Mexican commandant at Piedras +Negras were most amicable, we were often invited to dances at his +house. He and his hospitable wife and daughter drummed up the female +portion of the elite of Piedras Negras and provided the house, which +was the official as well as the personal residence of the commandant, +while we--the young officers--furnished the music and such +sweetmeats, candies, &c., for the baille as the country would afford. + +We generally danced in a long hall on a hard dirt floor. The girls +sat on one side of the hall, chaperoned by their mothers or some old +duennas, and the men on the other. When the music struck up each man +asked the lady whom his eyes had already selected to dance with him, +and it was not etiquette for her to refuse--no engagements being +allowed before the music began. When the dance, which was generally +a long waltz, was over, he seated his partner, and then went to a +little counter at the end of the room and bought his dulcinea a plate +of the candies and sweetmeats provided. Sometimes she accepted them, +but most generally pointed to her duenna or chaperon behind, who held +up her apron and caught the refreshments as they were slid into it +from the plate. The greatest decorum was maintained at these dances, +primitively as they were conducted; and in a region so completely cut +off from the world, their influence was undoubtedly beneficial to a +considerable degree in softening the rough edges in a half-breed +population. + +The inhabitants of this frontier of Mexico were strongly marked with +Indian characteristics, particularly with those of the Comanche type, +and as the wild Indian blood predominated, few of the physical traits +of the Spaniard remained among them, and outlawry was common. The +Spanish conquerors had left on the northern border only their +graceful manners and their humility before the cross. The sign of +Christianity was prominently placed at all important points on roads +or trails, and especially where any one had been killed; and as the +Comanche Indians, strong and warlike, had devastated northeastern +Mexico in past years, all along the border, on both sides of the Rio +Grande, the murderous effects of their raids were evidenced by +numberless crosses. For more than a century forays had been made on +the settlements and towns by these bloodthirsty savages, and, the +Mexican Government being too weak to afford protection, property was +destroyed, the women and children carried off or ravished, and the +men compelled to look on in an agony of helplessness till relieved by +death. During all this time, however, the forms and ceremonials of +religion, and the polite manners received from the Spaniards, were +retained, and reverence for the emblems of Christianity was always +uppermost in the mind of even the most ignorant. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ORDERED TO FORT READING, CAL.--A DANGEROUS UNDERTAKING--A RESCUED +SOLDIER--DISCOVERING INDIANS--PRIMITIVE FISHING--A DESERTED +VILLAGE--CAMPING OPPOSITE FORT VANCOUVER. + +In November, 1854, I received my promotion to a second lieutenancy in +the Fourth Infantry, which was stationed in California and Oregon. In +order to join my company at Fort Reading, California, I had to go to +New York as a starting point, and on arrival there, was placed on +duty, in May, 1855, in command of a detachment of recruits at +Bedloe's Island, intended for assignment to the regiments on the +Pacific coast. I think there were on the island (now occupied by the +statue of Liberty Enlightening the World) about three hundred +recruits. For a time I was the only officer with them, but shortly +before we started for California, Lieutenant Francis H. Bates, of the +Fourth Infantry, was placed in command. We embarked for the Pacific +coast in July, 1855, and made the journey without incident via the +Isthmus of Panama, in due time landing our men at Benecia Barracks, +above San Francisco. + +From this point I proceeded to join my company at Fort Reading, and +on reaching that post, found orders directing me to relieve +Lieutenant John B. Hood--afterward well known as a distinguished +general in the Confederate service. Lieutenant Hood was in command +of the personal mounted escort of Lieutenant R. S. Williamson, who +was charged with the duty of making such explorations and surveys as +would determine the practicability of connecting, by railroad, the +Sacramento Valley in California with the Columbia River in Oregon +Territory, either through the Willamette Valley, or (if this route +should prove to be impracticable) by the valley of the Des Chutes +River near the foot-slopes of the Cascade chain. The survey was +being made in accordance with an act of Congress, which provided both +for ascertaining the must practicable and economical route for a +railroad between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean, and for +military and geographical surveys west of the Mississippi River. + +Fort Reading was the starting-point for this exploring expedition, +and there I arrived some four or five days after the party under +Lieutenant Williamson had begun its march. His personal escort +numbered about sixty mounted men, made up of detachments from +companies of the First Dragoons, under command of Lieutenant Hood, +together with about one hundred men belonging to the Fourth Infantry +and Third Artillery, commanded by Lieutenant Horatio Gates Gibson, +the present colonel of the Third United States Artillery. Lieutenant +George Crook--now major-general--was the quartermaster and commissary +of subsistence of the expedition. + +The commanding officer at Fort Reading seemed reluctant to let me go +on to relieve Lieutenant Hood, as the country to be passed over was +infested by the Pit River Indians, known to be hostile to white +people and especially to small parties. I was very anxious to +proceed, however, and willing to take the chances; so, consent being +finally obtained, I started with a corporal and two mounted men, +through a wild and uninhabited region, to overtake if possible +Lieutenant Williamson. Being on horseback, and unencumbered by +luggage of any kind except blankets and a little hard bread, coffee +and smoking-tobacco, which were all carried on our riding animals, we +were sanguine of succeeding, for we traversed in one day fully the +distance made in three by Lieutenant Williamson's party on foot. + +The first day we reached the base of Lassan's Butte, where I +determined to spend the night near an isolated cabin, or dugout, that +had been recently constructed by a hardy pioneer. The wind was +blowing a disagreeable gale, which had begun early in the day. This +made it desirable to locate our camp under the best cover we could +find, and I spent some little time in looking about for a +satisfactory place, but nothing better offered than a large fallen +tree, which lay in such a direction that by encamping on its lee side +we would be protected from the fury of the storm. This spot was +therefore fixed upon, and preparation made for spending the night as +comfortably as the circumstances would permit. + +After we had unsaddled I visited the cabin to inquire in regard to +the country ahead, and there found at first only a soldier of +Williamson's party; later the proprietor of the ranch appeared. The +soldier had been left behind by the surveying party on account of +illness, with instructions to make his way back to Fort Reading as +best he could when he recovered. His condition having greatly +improved, however, since he had been left, he now begged me in +beseeching terms to take him along with my party, which I finally +consented to do, provided that if he became unable to keep up with +me, and I should be obliged to abandon him, the responsibility would +be his, not mine. This increased my number to five, and was quite a +reinforcement should we run across any hostile Indians; but it was +also certain to prove an embarrassment should the man again fall ill. + +During the night, notwithstanding the continuance of the storm, I had +a very sound and refreshing sleep behind the protecting log where we +made our camp, and at daylight next morning we resumed our journey, +fortified by a breakfast of coffee and hard bread. I skirted around +the base of Lassan's Butte, thence down Hat Creek, all the time +following the trail made by Lieutenant Williamson's party. About +noon the soldier I had picked up at my first camp gave out, and could +go no farther. As stipulated when I consented to take him along, I +had the right to abandon him, but when it came to the test I could +not make up my mind to do it. Finding a good place not far off the +trail, one of my men volunteered to remain with him until he died; +and we left them there, with a liberal supply of hard bread and +coffee, believing that we would never again see the invalid. My +reinforcement was already gone, and another man with it. + +With my diminished party I resumed the trail and followed it until +about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when we heard the sound of voices, +and the corporal, thinking we were approaching Lieutenant +Williamson's party, was so overjoyed in anticipation of the junction, +that he wanted to fire his musket as an expression of his delight. +This I prevented his doing, however, and we continued cautiously and +slowly on to develop the source of the sounds in front. We had not +gone far before I discovered that the noise came from a band of Pit +River Indians, who had struck the trail of the surveying expedition, +and were following it up, doubtless with evil intent. Dismounting +from my horse I counted the moccasin tracks to ascertain the number +of Indians, discovered it to be about thirty, and then followed on +behind them cautiously, but with little difficulty, as appearances of +speed on their part indicated that they wished to overtake Lieutenant +Williamson's party, which made them less on the lookout than usual +for any possible pursuers. After following the trail until nearly +sundown, I considered it prudent to stop for the night, and drew off +some little distance, where, concealed in a dense growth of timber, +we made our camp. + +As I had with me now only two men, I felt somewhat nervous, so I +allowed no fires to be built, and in consequence our supper consisted +of hard bread only. I passed an anxious night, but beyond our own +solicitude there was nothing to disturb us, the Indians being too +much interested in overtaking the party in front to seek for victims +in the rear, After a hard-bread breakfast we started again on the +trail, and had proceeded but a short distance when, hearing the +voices of the Indians, we at once slackened our speed so as not to +overtake them. + +Most of the trail on which we traveled during the morning ran over an +exceedingly rough lava formation--a spur of the lava beds often +described during the Modoc war of 1873 so hard and flinty that +Williamson's large command made little impression on its surface, +leaving in fact, only indistinct traces of its line of march. By +care and frequent examinations we managed to follow his route through +without much delay, or discovery by the Indians, and about noon, +owing to the termination of the lava formation, we descended into the +valley of Hat Greek, a little below where it emerges from the second +canon and above its confluence with Pit River. As soon as we reached +the fertile soil of the valley, we found Williamson's trail well +defined, deeply impressed in the soft loam, and coursing through +wild-flowers and luxuriant grass which carpeted the ground on every +hand. + +When we struck this delightful locality we traveled with considerable +speed, and after passing over hill and vale for some distance, the +trail becoming more and more distinct all the time, I suddenly saw in +front of me the Pit River Indians. + +This caused a halt, and having hurriedly re-capped our guns and +six-shooters, thus preparing for the worst, I took a look at the band +through my field-glass. They were a half-mile or more in our front +and numbered about thirty individuals, armed with bows and arrows +only. Observing us they made friendly demonstrations, but I had not +implicit faith in a Pit River Indian at that period of the settlement +of our country, and especially in that wild locality, so after a +"council of war" with the corporal and man, I concluded to advance to +a point about two hundred yards distant from the party, when, relying +on the speed of our horses rather than on the peaceable intentions of +the savages, I hoped to succeed in cutting around them and take the +trail beyond. Being on foot they could not readily catch us, and +inasmuch as their arrows were good for a range of only about sixty +yards, I had no fear of any material damage on that score. + +On reaching the place selected for our flank movement we made a dash +to the left of the trail, through the widest part of the valley, and +ran our horses swiftly by, but I noticed that the Indians did not +seem to be disturbed by the manoeuvre and soon realized that this +indifference was occasioned by the knowledge that we could not cross +Hat Creek, a deep stream with vertical banks, too broad to be leaped +by our horses. We were obliged, therefore, to halt, and the Indians +again made demonstrations of friendship, some of them even getting +into the stream to show that they were at the ford. Thus reassured, +we regained our confidence and boldly crossed the river in the midst +of them. After we had gained the bluff on the other side of the +creek, I looked down into the valley of Pit River, and could plainly +see the camp of the surveying party. Its proximity was the influence +which had doubtless caused the peaceable conduct of the Indians. +Probably the only thing that saved us was their ignorance of our +being in their rear, until we stumbled on them almost within sight of +the large party under Williamson. + +The Pit River Indians were very hostile at that time, and for many +succeeding years their treachery and cruelty brought misfortune and +misery to the white settlers who ventured their lives in search of +home and fortune in the wild and isolated section over which these +savages roamed. Not long after Williamson's party passed through +their country, the Government was compelled to send into it a +considerable force for the purpose of keeping them under control. +The outcome of this was a severe fight--resulting in the loss of a +good many lives--between the hostiles and a party of our troops under +Lieutenant George Crook. It finally ended in the establishment of a +military post in the vicinity of the battle-ground, for the permanent +occupation of the country. + +A great load was lifted from my heart when I found myself so near +Williamson's camp, which I joined August 4, 1855, receiving a warm +welcome from the officers. During the afternoon I relieved +Lieutenant Hood of the command of the personal escort, and he was +ordered to return, with twelve of the mounted men, over the trail I +had followed. I pointed out to him on the map the spot where he +would find the two men left on the roadside, and he was directed to +take them into Fort Reading. They were found without difficulty, and +carried in to the post. The sick man--Duryea--whom I had expected +never to see again, afterward became the hospital steward at Fort +Yamhill, Oregon, when I was stationed there. + +The Indians that I had passed at the ford came to the bluff above the +camp, and arranging themselves in a squatting posture, looked down +upon Williamson's party with longing eyes, in expectation of a feast. +They were a pitiable lot, almost naked, hungry and cadaverous. +Indians are always hungry, but these poor creatures were particularly +so, as their usual supply of food had grown very scarce from one +cause and another. + +In prosperity they mainly subsisted on fish, or game killed with the +bow and arrow. When these sources failed they lived on grasshoppers, +and at this season the grasshopper was their principal food. In +former years salmon were very abundant in the streams of the +Sacramento Valley, and every fall they took great quantities of these +fish and dried them for winter use, but alluvial mining had of late +years defiled the water of the different streams and driven the fish +out. On this account the usual supply of salmon was very limited. +They got some trout high up on the rivers, above the sluices and +rockers of the miners, but this was a precarious source from which to +derive food, as their means of taking the trout were very primitive. +They had neither hooks nor lines, but depended entirely on a +contrivance made from long, slender branches of willow, which grew on +the banks of most of the streams. One of these branches would be +cut, and after sharpening the butt-end to a point, split a certain +distance, and by a wedge the prongs divided sufficiently to admit a +fish between. The Indian fisherman would then slyly put the forked +end in the water over his intended victim, and with a quick dart +firmly wedge him between the prongs. When secured there, the work of +landing him took but a moment. When trout were plentiful this +primitive mode of taking them was quite successful, and I have often +known hundreds of pounds to be caught in this way, but when they were +scarce and suspicious the rude method was not rewarded with good +results. + +The band looking down on us evidently had not had much fish or game +to eat for some time, so when they had made Williamson understand +that they were suffering for food he permitted them to come into +camp, and furnished them with a supply, which they greedily swallowed +as fast as it was placed at their service, regardless of possible +indigestion. When they had eaten all they could hold, their +enjoyment was made complete by the soldiers, who gave them a quantity +of strong plug tobacco. This they smoked incessantly, inhaling all +the smoke, so that none of the effect should be lost. When we +abandoned this camp the next day, the miserable wretches remained in +it and collected the offal about the cooks' fires to feast still +more, piecing out the meal, no doubt, with their staple article of +food--grasshoppers. + +On the morning of August 5 Lieutenant Hood started back to Fort +Reading, and Lieutenant Williamson resumed his march for the Columbia +River. Our course was up Pit River, by the lower and upper canons, +then across to the Klamath Lakes, then east, along their edge to the +upper lake. At the middle Klamath Lake, just after crossing Lost +River and the Natural Bridge, we met a small party of citizens from +Jacksonville, Oregon, looking for hostile Indians who had committed +some depredations in their neighborhood. From them we learned that +the Rogue River Indians in southern Oregon were on the war-path, and +that as the "regular troops up there were of no account, the citizens +had taken matters in hand, and intended cleaning up the hostiles." +They swaggered about our camp, bragged a good deal, cursed the +Indians loudly, and soundly abused the Government for not giving them +better protection. It struck me, however, that they had not worked +very hard to find the hostiles; indeed, it could plainly be seen that +their expedition was a town-meeting sort of affair, and that anxiety +to get safe home was uppermost in their thoughts. The enthusiasm +with which they started had all oozed out, and that night they +marched back to Jacksonville. The next day, at the head of the lake, +we came across an Indian village, and I have often wondered since +what would have been the course pursued by these valiant warriors +from Jacksonville had they gone far enough to get into its vicinity. + +When we reached the village the tepees--made of grass--were all +standing, the fires burning and pots boiling--the pots filled with +camas and tula roots--but not an Indian was to be seen. Williamson +directed that nothing in the village should be disturbed; so guards +were placed over it to carry out his instructions and we went into +camp just a little beyond. We had scarcely established ourselves +when a very old Indian rose up from the high grass some distance off, +and with peaceable signs approached our camp, evidently for the +purpose of learning whether or not our intentions were hostile. +Williamson told him we were friendly; that we had passed through his +village without molesting it, that we had put a guard there to secure +the property his people had abandoned in their fright, and that they +might come back in safety. The old man searchingly eyed everything +around for some little time, and gaining confidence from the +peaceable appearance of the men, who were engaged in putting up the +tents and preparing their evening meal, he concluded to accept our +professions of friendship, and bring his people in. Going out about +half a mile from the village he gave a peculiar yell, at which +between three and four hundred Indians arose simultaneously from the +ground, and in answer to his signal came out of the tall grass like a +swarm of locusts and soon overran our camp in search of food, for +like all Indians they were hungry. They too, proved to be Pit +Rivers, and were not less repulsive than those of their tribe we had +met before. They were aware of the hostilities going on between the +Rogue Rivers and the whites, but claimed that they had not taken any +part in them. I question if they had, but had our party been small, +I fear we should have been received at their village in a very +different manner. + +From the upper Klamath Lake we marched over the divide and down the +valley of the Des Chutes River to a point opposite the mountains +called the Three Sisters. Here, on September 23, the party divided, +Williamson and I crossing through the crater of the Three Sisters and +along the western slope of the Cascade Range, until we struck the +trail on McKenzie River, which led us into the Willamette Valley not +far from Eugene City. We then marched down the Willamette Valley to +Portland, Oregon, where we arrived October 9, 1855 + +The infantry portion of the command, escorting Lieutenant Henry L. +Abbot, followed farther down the Des Chutes River, to a point +opposite Mount Hood, from which it came into the Willamette Valley +and then marched to Portland. At Portland we all united, and moving +across the point between the Willamette and Columbia rivers, encamped +opposite Fort Vancouver, on the south bank of the latter stream, on +the farm of an old settler named Switzler, who had located there many +years before. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +"OLD RED"--SKILLFUL SHOOTING--YAKIMA--WAR--A LUDICROUS +MISTAKE--"CUT-MOUTH JOHN'S" ENCOUNTER--FATHER PANDOZA'S +MISSION--A SNOW-STORM--FAILURE OF THE EXPEDITION. + +Our camp on the Columbia, near Fort Vancouver, was beautifully +situated on a grassy sward close to the great river; and--as little +duty was required of us after so long a journey, amusement of one +kind or another, and an interchange of visits with the officers at +the post, filled in the time acceptably. We had in camp an old +mountaineer guide who had accompanied us on the recent march, and who +had received the sobriquet of "Old Red," on account of the shocky and +tangled mass of red hair and beard, which covered his head and face +so completely that only his eyes could be seen. His eccentricities +constantly supplied us with a variety of amusements. Among the +pastimes he indulged in was one which exhibited his skill with the +rifle, and at the same time protected the camp from the intrusions +and ravages of a drove of razor-backed hogs which belonged to Mr. +Switzler. These hogs were frequent visitors, and very destructive to +our grassy sward, rooting it up in front of our tents and all about +us; in pursuit of bulbous roots and offal from the camp. Old Red +conceived the idea that it would be well to disable the pigs by +shooting off the tips of their snouts, and he proceeded to put his +conception into execution, and continued it daily whenever the hogs +made their appearance. Of course their owner made a row about it; +but when Old Red daily settled for his fun by paying liberally with +gold-dust from some small bottles of the precious metal in his +possession, Switzler readily became contented, and I think even +encouraged the exhibitions--of skill. + +It was at this period (October, 1855) that the Yakima Indian war +broke out, and I was detached from duty with the exploring party and +required by Major Gabriel J. Rains, then commanding the district, to +join an expedition against the Yakimas. They had some time before +killed their agent, and in consequence a force under Major Granville +O. Haller had been sent out from the Dalles of the Columbia to +chastise them; but the expedition had not been successful; in fact, +it had been driven back, losing a number of men and two mountain +howitzers. + +The object of the second expedition was to retrieve this disaster. +The force was composed of a small body of regular troops, and a +regiment of Oregon mounted volunteers under command of Colonel James +W. Nesmith--subsequently for several years United States Senator from +Oregon. The whole force was under the command of Major Rains, Fourth +Infantry, who, in order that he might rank Nesmith, by some +hocus-pocus had been made a brigadier-general, under an appointment +from the Governor of Washington Territory. + +We started from the Dalles October 30, under conditions that were not +conducive to success. The season was late for operations; and worse +still, the command was not in accord with the commanding officer, +because of general belief in his incompetency, and on account of the +fictitious rank he assumed. On the second day out I struck a small +body of Indians with my detachment of dragoons, but was unable to do +them any particular injury beyond getting possession of a large +quantity of their winter food, which their hurried departure +compelled them to abandon. This food consisted principally of dried +salmon-pulverized and packed in sacks made of grass-dried +huckleberries, and dried camas; the latter a bulbous root about the +size of a small onion, which, when roasted and ground, is made into +bread by the Indians and has a taste somewhat like cooked chestnuts. + +Our objective point was Father Pandoza's Mission, in the Yakima +Valley, which could be reached by two different routes, and though +celerity of movement was essential, our commanding officer +"strategically" adopted the longer route, and thus the Indians had +ample opportunity to get away with their horses, cattle, women and +children, and camp property. + +After the encounter which I just now referred to, the command, which +had halted to learn the results of my chase, resumed its march to and +through the Klikitat canon, and into the lower Yakima Valley, in the +direction of the Yakima River. I had charge at the head of the +column as it passed through the canon, and on entering the valley +beyond, saw in the distance five or six Indian scouts, whom I pressed +very closely, until after a run of several miles they escaped across +the Yakima River. + +The soil in the valley was light and dry, and the movement of animals +over it raised great clouds of dust, that rendered it very difficult +to distinguish friend from foe; and as I was now separated from the +main column a considerable distance, I deemed it prudent to call a +halt until we could discover the direction taken by the principal +body of the Indians. We soon learned that they had gone up the +valley, and looking that way, we discovered a column of alkali dust +approaching us, about a mile distant, interposing between my little +detachment and the point where I knew General Rains intended to +encamp for the night. After hastily consulting with Lieutenant +Edward H. Day, of the Third United States Artillery, who was with me, +we both concluded that the dust was caused by a body of the enemy +which had slipped in between us and our main force. There seemed no +alternative left us but to get back to our friends by charging +through these Indians; and as their cloud of dust was much larger +than ours, this appeared a desperate chance. Preparations to charge +were begun, however, but, much to our surprise, before they were +completed the approaching party halted for a moment and then +commenced to retreat. This calmed the throbbing of our hearts, and +with a wild cheer we started in a hot pursuit, that continued for +about two miles, when to our great relief we discovered that we were +driving into Rains's camp a squadron of Nesmith's battalion of Oregon +volunteers that we had mistaken for Indians, and who in turn believed +us to be the enemy. When camp was reached, we all indulged in a +hearty laugh over the affair, and at the fright each party had given +the other. The explanations which ensued proved that the squadron of +volunteers had separated from the column at the same time that I had +when we debouched from the canon, and had pursued an intermediate +trail through the hills, which brought it into the valley of the +Yakima at a point higher up the river than where I had struck it. + +Next day we resumed our march up the valley, parallel to the Yakima. +About 1 o'clock we saw a large body of Indians on the opposite side +of the river, and the general commanding made up his mind to cross +and attack them. The stream was cold, deep, and swift, still I +succeeded in passing my dragoons over safely, but had hardly got them +well on the opposite bank when the Indians swooped down upon us. +Dismounting my men, we received the savages with a heavy fire, which +brought them to a halt with some damage and more or less confusion. + +General Rains now became very much excited and alarmed about me, and +endeavored to ford the swift river with his infantry and artillery, +but soon had to abandon the attempt, as three or four of the poor +fellows were swept off their feet and drowned. Meantime Nesmith came +up with his mounted force, crossed over, and joined me. + +The Indians now fell back to a high ridge, on the crest of which they +marched and countermarched, threatening to charge down its face. +Most of them were naked, and as their persons were painted in gaudy +colors and decorated with strips of red flannel, red blankets and gay +war-bonnets, their appearance presented a scene of picturesque +barbarism, fascinating but repulsive. As they numbered about six +hundred, the chances of whipping them did not seem overwhelmingly in +our favor, yet Nesmith and I concluded we would give them a little +fight, provided we could engage them without going beyond the ridge. +But all our efforts were in vain, for as we advanced they retreated, +and as we drew back they reappeared and renewed their parade and +noisy demonstrations, all the time beating their drums and yelling +lustily. They could not be tempted into a fight where we desired it, +however, and as we felt unequal to any pursuit beyond the ridge +without the assistance of the infantry and artillery, we re-crossed +the river and encamped with Rains. It soon became apparent that the +noisy demonstrations of the Indians were intended only as a blind to +cover the escape of their women and children to a place of safety in +the mountains. + +Next morning we took up our march without crossing the river; and as +our route would lead us by the point on the opposite bank where the +Indians had made their picturesque display the day before, they at an +early hour came over to our side, and rapidly moved ahead of us to +some distant hills, leaving in our pathway some of the more +venturesome young braves, who attempted, to retard our advance by +opening fire at long range from favorable places where they lay +concealed. This fire did us little harm, but it had the effect of +making our progress so slow that the patience of every one but +General Rains was well-nigh exhausted. + +About 2 o'clock in the afternoon we arrived well up near the base of +the range of hills, and though it was growing late we still had time +to accomplish something, but our commanding officer decided that it +was best to go into camp, and make a systematic attack next morning. +I proposed that he let me charge with my dragoons through the narrow +canon where the river broke through the range, while the infantry +should charge up the hill and drive the enemy from the top down on +the other side. In this way I thought we might possibly catch some +of the fugitives, but his extreme caution led him to refuse the +suggestion, so we pitched our tents out of range of their desultory +fire, but near enough to observe plainly their menacing and +tantalizing exhibitions of contempt. + +In addition to firing occasionally, they called us all sorts of bad +names, made indecent gestures, and aggravated us, so that between 3 +and 4 o'clock in the afternoon, by an inexplicable concert of action, +and with a serious breach of discipline, a large number of the men +and many of the officers broke en masse from the camp with loud yells +and charged the offending savages. As soon as this mob got within +musket-shot they opened fire on the Indians, who ran down the other +face of the ridge without making the slightest resistance. The hill +was readily taken by this unmilitary proceeding, and no one was hurt +on either side, but as Rains would not permit it to be held, a large +bonfire was lighted on the crest in celebration of the victory, and +then all hands marched back to camp, where they had no sooner arrived +and got settled down than the Indians returned to the summit of the +ridge, seemingly to enjoy the fire that had been so generously built +for their benefit, and with renewed taunts and gestures continued to +insult us. + +Our camp that night was strongly picketed, and when we awoke in the +morning the Indians still occupied their position on the hill. At +daylight we advanced against them, two or three companies of infantry +moving forward to drive them from the summit, while our main column +passed through the canon into the upper Yakima Valley led by my +dragoons, who were not allowed to charge into the gorge, as the +celerity of such a movement might cause the tactical combination to +fail. + +As we passed slowly and cautiously through the canon the Indians ran +rapidly away, and when we reached the farther end they had entirely +disappeared from our front, except one old fellow, whose lame horse +prevented him keeping up with the main body. This presented an +opportunity for gaining results which all thought should not be lost, +so our guide, an Indian named "Cut-mouth John," seized upon it, and +giving hot chase, soon, overtook the poor creature, whom he speedily +killed without much danger to himself, for the fugitive was armed +with only an old Hudson's Bay flint-lock horse-pistol which could not +be discharged. + +"Cut-mouth John's" engagement began and ended all the fighting that +took place on this occasion, and much disappointment and discontent +followed, Nesmith's mounted force and my dragoons being particularly +disgusted because they had not been "given a chance." During the +remainder of the day we cautiously followed the retreating foe, and +late in the evening went into camp a short distance from Father +Pandoza's Mission; where we were to await a small column of troops +under command of Captain Maurice Maloney, of the Fourth Infantry, +that was to join us from Steilicom by way of the Natchez Pass, and +from which no tidings had as yet been received. + +Next morning the first thing I saw when I put my head out from my +blankets was "Cut-mouth John," already mounted and parading himself +through the camp. The scalp of the Indian he had despatched the day +before was tied to the cross-bar of his bridle bit, the hair dangling +almost to the ground, and John was decked out in the sacred vestments +of Father Pandoza, having, long before any one was stirring in camp, +ransacked the log-cabin at the Mission in which the good man had +lived. John was at all times a most repulsive looking individual, a +part of his mouth having been shot away in a fight with Indians near +Walla Walla some years before, in which a Methodist missionary had +been killed; but his revolting personal appearance was now worse than +ever, and the sacrilegious use of Father Pandoza's vestments, coupled +with the ghastly scalp that hung from his bridle, so turned opinion +against him that he was soon captured, dismounted, and his parade +brought to an abrupt close, and I doubt whether he ever after quite +reinstated himself in the good graces of the command. + +In the course of the day nearly all the men visited the Mission, but +as it had been plundered by the Indians at the outbreak of +hostilities, when Father Pandoza was carried off, little of value was +left about it except a considerable herd of pigs, which the father +with great difficulty had succeeded in accumulating from a very small +beginning. The pigs had not been disturbed by the Indians, but the +straggling troops soon disposed of them, and then turned their +attention to the cabbages and potatoes in the garden, with the +intention, no doubt, of dining that day on fresh pork and fresh +vegetables instead of on salt junk and hard bread, which formed their +regular diet on the march. In digging up the potatoes some one +discovered half a keg of powder, which had been buried in the garden +by the good father to prevent the hostile Indians from getting it to +use against the whites. As soon as this was unearthed wild +excitement ensued, and a cry arose that Father Pandoza was the person +who furnished powder to the Indians; that here was the proof; that at +last the mysterious means by which the Indians obtained ammunition +was explained--and a rush was made for the mission building. This was +a comfortable log-house of good size, built by the Indians for a +school and church, and attached to one end was the log-cabin +residence of the priest. Its destruction was a matter of but a few +moments. A large heap of dry wood was quickly collected and piled in +the building, matches applied, and the whole Mission, including the +priest's house, was soon enveloped in flames, and burned to the +ground before the officers in camp became aware of the disgraceful +plundering in which their men were engaged. + +The commanding officer having received no news from Captain Maloney +during the day, Colonel Nesmith and I were ordered to go to his +rescue, as it was concluded that he had been surrounded by Indians in +the Natchez Pass. We started early the next morning, the snow +falling slightly as we set out, and soon arrived at the eastern mouth +of the Natchez Pass. On the way we noticed an abandoned Indian +village, which had evidently not been occupied for some time. As we +proceeded the storm increased, and the snow-fall became deeper and +deeper, until finally our horses could not travel through it. In +consequence we were compelled to give up further efforts to advance, +and obliged to turn back to the abandoned village, where we encamped +for the night. Near night-fall the storm greatly increased, and our +bivouac became most uncomfortable; but spreading my blankets on the +snow and covering them with Indian matting, I turned in and slept +with that soundness and refreshment accorded by nature to one +exhausted by fatigue. When I awoke in the morning I found myself +under about two feet of snow, from which I arose with difficulty, yet +grateful that it had kept me warm during the night. + +After a cup of coffee and a little hard bread, it was decided we +should return to the main camp near the Mission, for we were now +confident that Maloney was delayed by the snow, and safe enough on +the other side of the mountains. At all events he was beyond aid +from us, for the impassable snowdrifts could not be overcome with the +means in our possession. It turned out that our suppositions as to +the cause of his delay were correct. He had met with the same +difficulties that confronted us, and had been compelled to go into +camp. + +Meanwhile valuable time had been lost, and the Indians, with their +families and stock, were well on their way to the Okenagan country, a +region into which we could not penetrate in the winter season. No +other course was therefore left but to complete the dismal failure of +the expedition by returning home, and our commander readily gave the +order to march back to the Dalles by the "short" route over the +Yakima Mountains. + +As the storm was still unabated, it was evident our march home would +be a most difficult one, and it was deemed advisable to start back at +once, lest we should be blocked up in the mountains by the snows for +a period beyond which our provisions would not last. Relying on the +fact that the short route to the Dalles would lead us over the range +at its most depressed point, where it was hoped the depth of snow was +not yet so great as to make the route impassable, we started with +Colonel Nesmith's battalion in advance to break the road, followed by +my dragoons. In the valley we made rapid progress, but when we +reached the mountain every step we took up its side showed the snow +to be growing deeper and deeper. At last Nesmith reached the summit, +and there found a depth of about six feet of snow covering the +plateau in every direction, concealing all signs of the trail so +thoroughly that his guides became bewildered and took the wrong +divide. The moment I arrived at the top my guide--Donald Mc Kay--who +knew perfectly the whole Yakima range, discovered Nesmith's mistake. +Word was sent to bring him back, but as he had already nearly crossed +the plateau, considerable delay occurred before he returned. When he +arrived we began anew the work of breaking a road for the foot troops +behind us, my detachment now in advance. The deep snow made our work +extremely laborious, exhausting men and horses almost to the point of +relinquishing the struggle, but our desperate situation required that +we should get down into the valley beyond, or run the chance of +perishing on the mountain in a storm which seemed unending. About +midnight the column reached the valley, very tired and hungry, but +much elated over its escape. We had spent a day of the most intense +anxiety, especially those who had had the responsibility of keeping +to the right trail, and been charged with the hard work of breaking +the road for the infantry and artillery through such a depth of snow. + +Our main difficulties were now over, and in due time we reached the +Dalles, where almost everyone connected with the expedition voted it +a wretched failure; indeed, General Rains himself could not think +otherwise, but he scattered far and wide blame for the failure of his +combinations. This, of course, led to criminations and +recriminations, which eventuated in charges of incompetency preferred +against him by Captain Edward O. C. Ord, of the Third Artillery. +Rains met the charges with counter-charges against Ord, whom he +accused of purloining Father Pandoza's shoes, when the soldiers in +their fury about the ammunition destroyed the Mission. At the time +of its destruction a rumor of this nature was circulated through +camp, started by some wag, no doubt in jest; for Ord, who was +somewhat eccentric in his habits, and had started on the expedition +rather indifferently shod in carpet-slippers, here came out in a +brand-new pair of shoes. Of course there was no real foundation for +such a report, but Rains was not above small things, as the bringing +of this petty accusation attests. Neither party was ever tried, for +General John E. Wool the department commander, had not at command a +sufficient number of officers of appropriate rank to constitute a +court in the case of Rains, and the charges against Ord were very +properly ignored on account of their trifling character. + +Shortly after the expedition returned to the Dalles, my detachment +was sent down to Fort Vancouver, and I remained at that post during +the winter of 1855-'56, till late in March. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +AN INDIAN CONFEDERATION--MASSACRE AT THE CASCADES OF THE +COLUMBIA--PLAN TO RELIEVE THE BLOCKHOUSE--A HAZARDOUS FLANK +MOVEMENT--A NEW METHOD OF ESTABLISHING GUILT--EXECUTION OF +THE INDIAN MURDERERS. + +The failure of the Haller expedition from lack of a sufficient force, +and of the Rains expedition from the incompetency of its commander, +was a great mortification to the officers and men connected with +them, and, taken together, had a marked effect upon the Indian +situation in Oregon and Washington Territories at that particular +era. Besides, it led to further complications and troubles, for it +had begun to dawn upon the Indians that the whites wanted to come in +and dispossess them of their lands and homes, and the failures of +Haller and Rains fostered the belief with the Indians that they could +successfully resist the pressure of civilization. + +Acting under these influences, the Spokanes, Walla Wallas, Umatillas, +and Nez Perces cast their lot with the hostiles, and all the savage +inhabitants of the region east of the Cascade Range became involved +in a dispute as to whether the Indians or the Government should +possess certain sections of the country, which finally culminated in +the war of 1856. + +Partly to meet the situation that was approaching, the Ninth Infantry +had been sent out from the Atlantic coast to Washington Territory, +and upon its arrival at Fort Vancouver encamped in front of the +officers' quarters, on the beautiful parade-ground of that post, and +set about preparing for the coming campaign. The commander, Colonel +George Wright, who had been promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment +upon its organization the previous year, had seen much active duty +since his graduation over thirty years before, serving with credit in +the Florida and Mexican wars. For the three years previous to his +assignment to the Ninth Infantry he had been stationed on the Pacific +coast, and the experience he had there acquired, added to his +excellent soldierly qualities, was of much benefit in the active +campaigns in which, during the following years, he was to +participate. Subsequently his career was brought to an untimely +close when, nine years after this period, as he was returning to the +scene of his successes, he, in common with many others was drowned by +the wreck of the ill-fated steamer Brother Jonathan. Colonel Wright +took command of the district in place of Rains, and had been at +Vancouver but a short time before he realized that it would be +necessary to fight the confederated tribes east of the Cascade Range +of mountains, in order to disabuse them of the idea that they were +sufficiently strong to cope with the power of the Government. He +therefore at once set about the work of organizing and equipping his +troops for a start in the early spring against the hostile Indians, +intending to make the objective point of his expedition the heart of +the Spokane country on the Upper Columbia River, as the head and +front of the confederation was represented in the person of old +Cammiackan, chief of the Spokanes. + +The regiment moved from Fort Vancouver by boat, March 25, 1856, and +landed at the small town called the Dalles, below the mouth of the +Des Chutes River at the eastern base of the Cascade Range, and just +above where the Columbia River enters those mountains. This +rendezvous was to be the immediate point of departure, and all the +troops composing the expedition were concentrated there. + +On the morning of March 26 the movement began, but the column had +only reached Five Mile Creek when the Yakimas, joined by many young +warriors-free lances from other tribes, made a sudden and unexpected +attack at the Cascades of the Columbia, midway between Vancouver and +the Dalles, killed several citizens, women and children, and took +possession of the Portage by besieging the settlers in their cabins +at the Upper Cascades, and those who sought shelter at the Middle +Cascades in the old military block-house, which had been built some +years before as a place of refuge under just such circumstances. +These points held out, and were not captured, but the landing at the +Lower Cascades fell completely into the hands of the savages. +Straggling settlers from the Lower Cascades made their way down to +Fort Vancouver, distant about thirty-six miles, which they reached +that night; and communicated the condition of affairs. As the +necessity for early relief to the settlers and the re-establishment +of communication with the Dalles were apparent, all the force that +could be spared was ordered out, and in consequence I immediately +received directions to go with my detachment of dragoons, numbering +about forty effective men, to the relief of the middle blockhouse, +which really meant to retake the Cascades. I got ready at once, and +believing that a piece of artillery would be of service to me, asked +for one, but as there proved to be no guns at the post, I should have +been obliged to proceed without one had it not been that the regular +steamer from San Francisco to Portland was lying at the Vancouver +dock unloading military supplies, and the commander, Captain Dall, +supplied me with the steamer's small iron cannon, mounted on a wooden +platform, which he used in firing salutes at different ports on the +arrival and departure of the vessel. Finding at the arsenal a supply +of solid shot that would fit the gun, I had it put upon the steamboat +Belle, employed to carry my command to the scene of operations, and +started up the Columbia River at 2 A.M. on the morning of the 27th. +We reached the Lower Cascades early in the day, where, selecting a +favorable place for the purpose, I disembarked my men and gun on the +north bank of the river, so that I could send back the steamboat to +bring up any volunteer assistance that in the mean time might have +been collected at Vancouver. + +The Columbia River was very high at the time, and the water had +backed up into the slough about the foot of the Lower Cascades to +such a degree that it left me only a narrow neck of firm ground to +advance over toward the point occupied by the Indians. On this neck +of land the hostiles had taken position, as I soon learned by +frequent shots, loud shouting, and much blustering; they, by the most +exasperating yells and indecent exhibitions, daring me to the +contest. + +After getting well in hand everything connected with my little +command, I advanced with five or six men to the edge of a growth of +underbrush to make a reconnoissance. We stole along under cover of +this underbrush until we reached the open ground leading over the +causeway or narrow neck before mentioned, when the enemy opened fire +and killed a soldier near my side by a shot which, just grazing the +bridge of my nose, struck him in the neck, opening an artery and +breaking the spinal cord. He died instantly. The Indians at once +made a rush for the body, but my men in the rear, coming quickly to +the rescue, drove them back; and Captain Doll's gun being now brought +into play, many solid shot were thrown into the jungle where they lay +concealed, with the effect of considerably moderating their +impetuosity. Further skirmishing at long range took place at +intervals during the day, with little gain or loss, however, to +either side, for both parties held positions which could not be +assailed in flank, and only the extreme of rashness in either could +prompt a front attack. My left was protected by the back water +driven into the slough by the high stage of the river, and my right +rested secure on the main stream. Between us was only the narrow +neck of land, to cross which would be certain death. The position of +the Indians was almost the exact counterpart of ours. + +In the evening I sent a report of the situation back to Vancouver by +the steamboat, retaining a large Hudson's Bay bateau which I had +brought up with me. Examining this I found it would carry about +twenty men, and made up my mind that early next morning I would cross +the command to the opposite or south side of the Columbia River, and +make my way up along the mountain base until I arrived abreast the +middle blockhouse, which was still closely besieged, and then at some +favorable point recross to the north bank to its relief, endeavoring +in this manner to pass around and to the rear of the Indians, whose +position confronting me was too strong for a direct attack. This +plan was hazardous, but I believed it could be successfully carried +out if the boat could be taken with me; but should I not be able to +do this I felt that the object contemplated in sending me out would +miserably fail, and the small band cooped up at the block-house would +soon starve or fall a prey to the Indians, so I concluded to risk all +the chances the plan involved. + +On the morning of March 28 the savages were still in my front, and +after giving them some solid shot from Captain Dall's gun we slipped +down to the river-bank, and the detachment crossed by means of the +Hudson's Bay boat, making a landing on the opposite shore at a point +where the south channel of the river, after flowing around Bradford's +Island, joins the main stream. It was then about 9 o'clock, and +everything had thus far proceeded favorably, but examination of the +channel showed that it would be impossible to get the boat up the +rapids along the mainland, and that success could only be assured by +crossing the south channel just below the rapids to the island, along +the shore of which there was every probability we could pull the boat +through the rocks and swift water until the head of the rapids was +reached, from which point to the block-house there was smooth water. +Telling the men of the embarrassment in which I found myself, and +that if I could get enough of them to man the boat and pull it up the +stream by a rope to the shore we would cross to the island and make +the attempt, all volunteered to go, but as ten men seemed sufficient +I selected that number to accompany me. Before starting, however, I +deemed it prudent to find out if possible what was engaging the +attention of the Indians, who had not yet discovered that we had left +their front. I therefore climbed up the side of the abrupt mountain +which skirted the water's edge until I could see across the island. +From this point I observed the Indians running horse-races and +otherwise enjoying themselves behind the line they had held against +me the day before. The squaws decked out in gay colors, and the men +gaudily dressed in war bonnets, made the scene most attractive, but +as everything looked propitious for the dangerous enterprise in hand +I spent little time watching them. Quickly returning to the boat, I +crossed to the island with my ten men, threw ashore the rope attached +to the bow, and commenced the difficult task of pulling her up the +rapids. We got along slowly at first, but soon striking a camp of +old squaws who had been left on the island for safety, and had not +gone over to the mainland to see the races, we utilized them to our +advantage. With unmistakable threats and signs we made them not only +keep quiet, but also give us much needed assistance in pulling +vigorously on the towrope of our boat. + +I was laboring under a dreadful strain of mental anxiety during all +this time, for had the Indians discovered what we were about, they +could easily have come over to the island in their canoes, and, by +forcing us to take up our arms to repel their attack, doubtless would +have obliged the abandonment of the boat, and that essential adjunct +to the final success of my plan would have gone down the rapids. +Indeed, under such circumstances, it would have been impossible for +ten men to hold out against the two or three hundred Indians; but the +island forming an excellent screen to our movements, we were not +discovered, and when we reached the smooth water at the upper end of +the rapids we quickly crossed over and joined the rest of the men, +who in the meantime had worked their way along the south bank of the +river parallel with us. I felt very grateful to the old squaws for +the assistance they rendered. They worked well under compulsion, and +manifested no disposition to strike for higher wages. Indeed, I was +so much relieved when we had crossed over from the island and joined +the rest of the party, that I mentally thanked the squaws one and +all. I had much difficulty in keeping the men on the main shore from +cheering at our success, but hurriedly taking into the bateau all of +them it could carry, I sent the balance along the southern bank, +where the railroad is now built, until both detachments arrived at a +point opposite the block-house, when, crossing to the north bank, I +landed below the blockhouse some little distance, and returned the +boat for the balance of the men, who joined me in a few minutes. + +When the Indians attacked the people at the Cascades on the 26th, +word was sent to Colonel Wright, who had already got out from the +Dalles a few miles on his expedition to the Spokane country. He +immediately turned his column back, and soon after I had landed and +communicated with the beleaguered block-house the advance of his +command arrived under Lieutenant-Colonel Edward J. Steptoe. I +reported to Steptoe, and related what had occurred during the past +thirty-six hours, gave him a description of the festivities that were +going on at the lower Cascades, and also communicated the +intelligence that the Yakimas had been joined by the Cascade Indians +when the place was first attacked. I also told him it was my belief +that when he pushed down the main shore the latter tribe without +doubt would cross over to the island we had just left, while the +former would take to the mountains. Steptoe coincided with me in +this opinion, and informing me that Lieutenant Alexander Piper would +join my detachment with a mountain' howitzer, directed me to convey +the command to the island and gobble up all who came over to it. + +Lieutenant Piper and I landed on the island with the first boatload, +and after disembarking the howitzer we fired two or three shots to +let the Indians know we had artillery with us, then advanced down the +island with the whole of my command, which had arrived in the mean +time; all of the men were deployed as skirmishers except a small +detachment to operate the howitzer. Near the lower end of the island +we met, as I had anticipated, the entire body of Cascade Indianmen, +women, and children--whose homes were in the vicinity of the +Cascades. They were very much frightened and demoralized at the turn +events had taken, for the Yakimas at the approach of Steptoe had +abandoned them, as predicted, and fled to the mountians. The chief +and head-men said they had had nothing to do with the capture of the +Cascades, with the murder of men at the upper landing, nor with the +massacre of men, women, and children near the block-house, and put +all the blame on the Yakimas and their allies. I did not believe +this, however, and to test the truth of their statement formed them +all in line with their muskets in hand. Going up to the first man on +the right I accused him of having engaged in the massacre, but was +met by a vigorous denial. Putting my forefinger into the muzzle of +his gun, I found unmistakable signs of its having been recently +discharged. My finger was black with the stains of burnt powder, and +holding it up to the Indian, he had nothing more to say in the face +of such positive evidence of his guilt. A further examination proved +that all the guns were in the same condition. Their arms were at +once taken possession of, and leaving a small, force to look after +the women and children and the very old men, so that there could be +no possibility of escape, I arrested thirteen of the principal +miscreants, crossed the river to the lower landing, and placed them +in charge of a strong guard. + +Late in the evening the steamboat, which I had sent back to +Vancouver, returned, bringing to my assistance from Vancouver, +Captain Henry D. Wallen's company of the Fourth Infantry and a +company of volunteers hastily organized at Portland, but as the +Cascades had already been retaken, this reinforcement was too late to +participate in the affair. The volunteers from Portland, however, +were spoiling for a fight, and in the absence of other opportunity +desired to shoot the prisoners I held (who, they alleged, had killed +a man named Seymour), and proceeded to make their arrangements to do +so, only desisting on being informed that the Indians were my +prisoners, subject to the orders of Colonel Wright, and would be +protected to the last by my detachment. Not long afterward Seymour +turned up safe and sound, having fled at the beginning of the attack +on the Cascades, and hid somewhere in the thick underbrush until the +trouble was over, and then made his way back to the settlement. The +next day I turned my prisoners over to Colonel Wright, who had them +marched to the upper landing of the Cascades, where, after a trial by +a military commission, nine of them were sentenced to death and duly +hanged. I did not see them executed, but was afterward informed +that, in the absence of the usual mechanical apparatus used on such +occasions, a tree with a convenient limb under which two empty +barrels were placed, one on top of the other, furnished a rude but +certain substitute. In executing the sentence each Indian in turn +was made to stand on the top barrel, and after the noose was adjusted +the lower barrel was knocked away, and the necessary drop thus +obtained. In this way the whole nine were punished. Just before +death they all acknowledged their guilt by confessing their +participation in the massacre at the block-house, and met their doom +with the usual stoicism of their race. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +MISDIRECTED VENGEANCE--HONORABLE MENTION--CHANGE OF COMMAND--EDUCATED +OXEN--FEEDING THE INDIANS--PURCHASING A BURYING-GROUND--KNOWING RATS. + +While still encamped at the lower landing, some three or four days +after the events last recounted, Mr. Joseph Meek, an old frontiersman +and guide for emigrant trains through the mountains, came down from +the Dalles, on his way to Vancouver, and stopped at my camp to +inquire if an Indian named Spencer and his family had passed down to +Vancouver since my arrival at the Cascades. Spencer, the head of the +family, was a very influential, peaceable Chinook chief, whom Colonel +Wright had taken with him from Fort Vancouver as an interpreter and +mediator with the Spokanes and other hostile tribes, against which +his campaign was directed. He was a good, reliable Indian, and on +leaving Vancouver to join Colonel Wright, took his family along, to +remain with relatives and friends at Fort Dalles until the return of +the expedition. When Wright was compelled to retrace his steps on +account of the capture of the Cascades, this family for some reason +known only to Spencer, was started by him down the river to their +home at Vancouver. + +Meek, on seeing the family leave the Dalles, had some misgivings as +to their safe arrival at their destination, because of the excited +condition of the people about the Cascades; but Spencer seemed to +think that his own peaceable and friendly reputation, which was +widespread, would protect them; so he parted from his wife and +children with little apprehension as to their safety. In reply to +Meek's question, I stated that I had not seen Spencer's family, when +he remarked, "Well, I fear that they are gone up," a phrase used in +that country in early days to mean that they had been killed. I +questioned him closely, to elicit further information, but no more +could be obtained; for Meek, either through ignorance or the usual +taciturnity of his class, did not explain more fully, and when the +steamer that had brought the reinforcement started down the river, he +took passage for Vancouver, to learn definitely if the Indian family +had reached that point. I at once sent to the upper landing, distant +about six miles, to make inquiry in regard to the matter, and in a, +little time my messenger returned with the information that the +family had reached that place the day before, and finding that we had +driven the hostiles off, continued their journey on foot toward my +camp, from which point they expected to go by steamer down the river +to Vancouver. + +Their non-arrival aroused in me suspicions of foul play, so with all +the men I could spare, and accompanied by Lieutenant William T. +Welcker, of the Ordnance Corps--a warm and intimate friend--I went in +search of the family, deploying the men as skirmishers across the +valley, and marching them through the heavy forest where the ground +was covered with fallen timber and dense underbrush, in order that no +point might escape our attention. The search was continued between +the base of the mountain and the river without finding any sign of +Spencer's family, until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when we +discovered them between the upper and lower landing, in a small open +space about a mile from the road, all dead--strangled to death with +bits of rope. The party consisted of the mother, two youths, three +girls, and a baby. They had all been killed by white men, who had +probably met the innocent creatures somewhere near the blockhouse, +driven them from the road into the timber, where the cruel murders +were committed without provocation, and for no other purpose than the +gratification of the inordinate hatred of the Indian that has often +existed on the frontier, and which on more than one occasion has +failed to distinguish friend from foe. The bodies lay in a +semicircle, and the bits of rope with which the poor wretches had +been strangled to death were still around their necks. Each piece of +rope--the unwound strand of a heavier piece--was about two feet long, +and encircled the neck of its victim with a single knot, that must +have been drawn tight by the murderers pulling at the ends. As there +had not been quite enough rope to answer for all, the babe was +strangled by means of a red silk handkerchief, taken, doubtless, from +the neck of its mother. It was a distressing sight. A most cruel +outrage had been committed upon unarmed people--our friends and +allies--in a spirit of aimless revenge. The perpetrators were +citizens living near the middle block-house, whose wives and children +had been killed a few days before by the hostiles, but who well knew +that these unoffending creatures had had nothing to do with those +murders. + +In my experience I have been obliged to look upon many cruel scenes +in connection with Indian warfare on the Plains since that day, but +the effect of this dastardly and revolting crime has never been +effaced from my memory. Greater and more atrocious massacres have +been committed often by Indians; their savage nature modifies one's +ideas, however, as to the inhumanity of their acts, but when such +wholesale murder as this is done by whites, and the victims not only +innocent, but helpless, no defense can be made for those who +perpetrated the crime, if they claim to be civilized beings. It is +true the people at the Cascades had suffered much, and that their +wives and children had been murdered before their eyes, but to wreak +vengeance on Spencer's unoffending family, who had walked into their +settlement under the protection of a friendly alliance, was an +unparalleled outrage which nothing can justify or extenuate. With as +little delay as possible after the horrible discovery, I returned to +camp, had boxes made, and next day buried the bodies of these hapless +victims of misdirected vengeance. + +The summary punishment inflicted on the nine Indians, in their trial +and execution, had a most salutary effect on the confederation, and +was the entering wedge to its disintegration; and though Colonel +Wright's campaign continued during the summer and into the early +winter, the subjugation of the allied bands became a comparatively +easy matter after the lesson taught the renegades who were captured +at the Cascades. My detachment did not accompany Colonel Wright, but +remained for some time at the Cascades, and while still there General +Wool came up from San Francisco to take a look into the condition of +things. From his conversation with me in reference to the affair at +the Cascades, I gathered that he was greatly pleased at the service I +had performed, and I afterward found that his report of my conduct +had so favorably impressed General Scott that that distinguished +officer complimented me from the headquarters of the army in general +orders. + +General Wool, while personally supervising matters on the Columbia +River, directed a redistribution to some extent of the troops in the +district, and shortly before his return to San Francisco I was +ordered with my detachment of dragoons to take station on the Grande +Ronde Indian Reservation in Yamhill County, Oregon, about twenty-five +miles southwest of Dayton, and to relieve from duty at that point +Lieutenant William B. Hazen--late brigadier-general and chief signal +officer--who had established a camp there some time before. I +started for my new station on April 21, and marching by way of +Portland and Oregon City, arrived at Hazen's camp April 25. The camp +was located in the Coast range of mountains, on the northeast part of +the reservation, to which last had been added a section of country +that was afterward known as the Siletz reservation. The whole body +of land set aside went under the general name of the "Coast +reservation," from its skirting the Pacific Ocean for some distance +north of Yaquina Bay, and the intention was to establish within its +bounds permanent homes for such Indians as might be removed to it. +In furtherance of this idea, and to relieve northern California and +southwestern Oregon from the roaming, restless bands that kept the +people of those sections in a state of constant turmoil, many of the +different tribes, still under control but liable to take part in +warfare, were removed to the reservation, so that they might be away +from the theatre of hostilities. + +When I arrived I found that the Rogue River Indians had just been +placed upon the reservation, and subsequently the Coquille, Klamath, +Modocs, and remnants of the Chinooks were collected there also, the +home of the latter being in the Willamette Valley. The number all +told amounted to some thousands, scattered over the entire Coast +reservation, but about fifteen hundred were located at the Grande +Ronde under charge of an agent, Mr. John F. Miller, a sensible, +practical man, who left the entire police control to the military, +and attended faithfully to the duty of settling the Indians in the +work of cultivating the soil. + +As the place was to be occupied permanently, Lieutenant Hazen had +begun, before my arrival, the erection of buildings for the shelter +of his command, and I continued the work of constructing the post as +laid out by him. In those days the Government did not provide very +liberally for sheltering its soldiers; and officers and men were +frequently forced to eke out parsimonious appropriations by toilsome +work or go without shelter in most inhospitable regions. Of course +this post was no exception to the general rule, and as all hands were +occupied in its construction, and I the only officer present, I was +kept busily employed in supervising matters, both as commandant and +quartermaster, until July, when Captain D. A. Russell, of the Fourth +Infantry, was ordered to take command, and I was relieved from the +first part of my duties. + +About this time my little detachment parted from me, being ordered to +join a company of the First Dragoons, commanded by Captain Robert +Williams, as it passed up the country from California by way of +Yamhill. I regretted exceedingly to see them go, for their faithful +work and gallant service had endeared every man to me by the +strongest ties. Since I relieved Lieutenant Hood on Pit River, +nearly a twelvemonth before, they had been my constant companions, +and the zeal with which they had responded to every call I made on +them had inspired in my heart a deep affection that years have not +removed. When I relieved Hood--a dragoon officer of their own +regiment--they did not like the change, and I understood that they +somewhat contemptuously expressed this in more ways than one, in +order to try the temper of the new "Leftenant," but appreciative and +unremitting care, together with firm and just discipline, soon +quieted all symptoms of dissatisfaction and overcame all prejudice. +The detachment had been made up of details from the different +companies of the regiment in order to give Williamson a mounted +force, and as it was usual, under such circumstances, for every +company commander to shove into the detail he was called upon to +furnish the most troublesome and insubordinate individuals of his +company, I had some difficulty, when first taking command, in +controlling such a medley of recalcitrants; but by forethought for +them and their wants, and a strict watchfulness for their rights and +comfort, I was able in a short time to make them obedient and the +detachment cohesive. In the past year they had made long and +tiresome marches, forded swift mountain streams, constructed rafts of +logs or bundles of dry reeds to ferry our baggage, swum deep rivers, +marched on foot to save their worn-out and exhausted animals, climbed +mountains, fought Indians, and in all and everything had done the +best they could for the service and their commander. The disaffected +feeling they entertained when I first assumed command soon wore away, +and in its place came a confidence and respect which it gives me the +greatest pleasure to remember, for small though it was, this was my +first cavalry command. They little thought, when we were in the +mountains of California and Oregon--nor did I myself then dream--that +but a few years were to elapse before it would be my lot again to +command dragoons, this time in numbers so vast as of themselves to +compose almost an army. + +Shortly after the arrival of Captain Russell a portion of the Indians +at the Grande Ronde reservation were taken down the coast to the +Siletz reservation, and I was transferred temporarily to Fort +Haskins, on the latter reserve, and assigned to the duty of +completing it and building a blockhouse for the police control of the +Indians placed there. + +While directing this work, I undertook to make a road across the +coast mountains from King's Valley to the Siletz, to shorten the haul +between the two points by a route I had explored. I knew there were +many obstacles in the way, but the gain would be great if we could +overcome them, so I set to work with the enthusiasm of a young +path-finder. The point at which the road was to cross the range was +rough and precipitous, but the principal difficulty in making it would +be from heavy timber on the mountains that had been burned over years +and years before, until nothing was left but limbless trunks of dead +trees--firs and pines--that had fallen from time to time until the +ground was matted with huge logs from five to eight feet in diameter. +These could not be chopped with axes nor sawed by any ordinary means, +therefore we had to burn them into suitable lengths, and drag the +sections to either side of the roadway with from four to six yoke of +oxen. + +The work was both tedious and laborious, but in time perseverance +surmounted all obstacles and the road was finished, though its grades +were very steep. As soon as it was completed, I wished to +demonstrate its value practically, so I started a Government wagon +over it loaded with about fifteen hundred pounds of freight drawn by +six yoke of oxen, and escorted by a small detachment of soldiers. +When it had gone about seven miles the sergeant in charge came back +to the post and reported his inability to get any further. Going out +to the scene of difficulty I found the wagon at the base of a steep +hill, stalled. Taking up a whip myself, I directed the men to lay on +their gads, for each man had supplied himself with a flexible hickory +withe in the early stages of the trip, to start the team, but this +course did not move the wagon nor have much effect on the demoralized +oxen; but following as a last resort an example I heard of on a +former occasion, that brought into use the rough language of the +country, I induced the oxen to move with alacrity, and the wagon and +contents were speedily carried to the summit. The whole trouble was +at once revealed: the oxen had been broken and trained by a man who, +when they were in a pinch, had encouraged them by his frontier +vocabulary, and they could not realize what was expected of them +under extraordinary conditions until they heard familiar and possibly +profanely urgent phrases. I took the wagon to its destination, but +as it was not brought back, even in all the time I was stationed in +that country, I think comment on the success of my road is +unnecessary. + +I spent many happy months at Fort Haskins, remaining there until the +post was nearly completed and its garrison increased by the arrival +of Captain F. T. Dent--a brother-in-law of Captain Ulysses S. Grant +--with his company of the Fourth Infantry, in April, 1857. In the +summer of 1856, and while I was still on duty there, the Coquille +Indians on the Siletz, and down near the Yaquina Bay, became, on +account of hunger and prospective starvation, very much excited and +exasperated, getting beyond the control of their agent, and even +threatening his life, so a detachment of troops was sent out to set +things to rights, and I took command of it. I took with me most of +the company, and arrived at Yaquina Bay in time to succor the agent, +who for some days had been besieged in a log hut by the Indians and +had almost abandoned hope of rescue. + +Having brought with me over the mountains a few head of beef cattle +for the hungry Indians, without thinking of running any great +personal risk I had six beeves killed some little distance from my +camp, guarding the meat with four Soldiers, whom I was obliged to +post as sentinels around the small area on which the carcasses lay. +The Indians soon formed a circle about the sentinels, and impelled by +starvation, attempted to take the beef before it could be equally +divided. This was of course resisted, when they drew their knives +--their guns having been previously taken away from them--and some of +the inferior chiefs gave the signal to attack. The principal chief, +Tetootney John, and two other Indians joined me in the centre of the +circle, and protesting that they would die rather than that the +frenzied onslaught should succeed, harangued the Indians until the +rest of the company hastened up from camp and put an end to the +disturbance. I always felt grateful to Tetootney John for his +loyalty on this occasion, and many times afterward aided his family +with a little coffee and sugar, but necessarily surreptitiously, so +as not to heighten the prejudices that his friendly act had aroused +among his Indian comrades. + +The situation at Yaquina Bay did not seem very safe, notwithstanding +the supply of beef we brought; and the possibility that the starving +Indians might break out was ever present, so to anticipate any +further revolt, I called for more troops. The request was complied +with by sending to my assistance the greater part of my own company +("K")from Fort Yamhill. The men, inspired by the urgency of our +situation, marched more than forty miles a day, accomplishing the +whole distance in so short a period, that I doubt if the record has +ever been beaten. When this reinforcement arrived, the Indians saw +the futility of further demonstrations against their agent, who they +seemed to think was responsible for the insufficiency of food, and +managed to exist with the slender rations we could spare and such +indifferent food as they could pick up, until the Indian Department +succeeded in getting up its regular supplies. In the past the poor +things had often been pinched by hunger and neglect, and at times +their only food was rock oysters, clams and crabs. Great quantities +of these shell-fish could be gathered in the bay near at hand, but +the mountain Indians, who had heretofore lived on the flesh of +mammal, did not take kindly to mollusks, and, indeed, ate the +shell-fish only as a last resort. + +Crab catching at night on the Yaquina Bay by the coast Indians was a +very picturesque scene. It was mostly done by the squaws and +children, each equipped with a torch in one hand, and a sharp-pointed +stick in the other to take and lift the fish into baskets slung on +the back to receive them. I have seen at times hundreds of squaws +and children wading about in Yaquina Bay taking crabs in this manner, +and the reflection by the water of the light from the many torches, +with the movements of the Indians while at work, formed a weird and +diverting picture of which we were never tired. + +Not long after the arrival of the additional troops from Yamhill, it +became apparent that the number of men at Yaquina Bay would have to +be reduced, so in view of this necessity, it was deemed advisable to +build a block-house for the better protection of the agents and I +looked about for suitable ground on which to erect it. Nearly all +around the bay the land rose up from the beach very abruptly, and the +only good site that could be found was some level ground used as the +burial-place of the Yaquina Bay Indians--a small band of fish-eating +people who had lived near this point on the coast for ages. They +were a robust lot, of tall and well-shaped figures, and were called +in the Chinook tongue "salt chuck," which means fish-eaters, or +eaters of food from the salt water. Many of the young men and women +were handsome in feature below the forehead, having fine eyes, +aquiline noses and good mouths, but, in conformity with a +long-standing custom, all had flat heads, which gave them a distorted +and hideous appearance, particularly some of the women, who went to +the extreme of fashion and flattened the head to the rear in a sharp +horizontal ridge by confining it between two boards, one running back +from the forehead at an angle of about forty degrees, and the other up +perpendicularly from the back of the neck. When a head had been +shaped artistically the dusky maiden owner was marked as a belle, and +one could become reconciled to it after a time, but when carelessness +and neglect had governed in the adjustment of the boards, there +probably was nothing in the form of a human being on the face of the +earth that appeared so ugly. + +It was the mortuary ground of these Indians that occupied the only +level spot we could get for the block-house. Their dead were buried +in canoes, which rested in the crotches of forked sticks a few feet +above-ground. The graveyard was not large, containing probably from +forty to fifty canoes in a fair state of preservation. According to +the custom of all Indian tribes on the Pacific coast, when one of +their number died all his worldly effects were buried with him, so +that the canoes were filled with old clothes, blankets, pieces of +calico and the like, intended for the use of the departed in the +happy hunting grounds. + +I made known to the Indians that we would have to take this piece of +ground for the blockhouse. They demurred at first, for there is +nothing more painful to an Indian than disturbing his dead, but they +finally consented to hold a council next day on the beach, and thus +come to some definite conclusion. Next morning they all assembled, +and we talked in the Chinook language all day long, until at last +they gave in, consenting, probably, as much because they could not +help themselves, as for any other reason. It was agreed that on the +following day at 12 o'clock, when the tide was going out, I should +take my men and place the canoes in the bay, and let them float out +on the tide across the ocean to the happy hunting-grounds: + +At that day there existed in Oregon in vast numbers a species of +wood-rat, and our inspection of the graveyard showed that the canoes +were thickly infested with them. They were a light gray animal, +larger than the common gray squirrel, with beautiful bushy tails, +which made them strikingly resemble the squirrel, but in cunning and +deviltry they were much ahead of that quick-witted rodent. I have +known them to empty in one night a keg of spikes in the storehouse in +Yamhill, distributing them along the stringers of the building, with +apparently no other purpose than amusement. We anticipated great fun +watching the efforts of these rats to escape the next day when the +canoes should be launched on the ocean, and I therefore forbade any +of the command to visit the graveyard in the interim, lest the rats +should be alarmed. I well knew that they would not be disturbed by +the Indians, who held the sacred spot in awe. When the work of +taking down the canoes and carrying them to the water began, +expectation was on tiptoe, but, strange as it may seem, not a rat was +to be seen. This unexpected development was mystifying. They had +all disappeared; there was not one in any of the canoes, as +investigation proved, for disappointment instigated a most thorough +search. The Indians said the rats understood Chinook, and that as +they had no wish to accompany the dead across the ocean to the happy +hunting-grounds, they took to the woods for safety. However that may +be, I have no doubt that the preceding visits to the burial-ground, +and our long talk of the day before, with the unusual stir and +bustle, had so alarmed the rats that, impelled, by their suspicious +instincts, they fled a danger, the nature of which they could not +anticipate, but which they felt to be none the less real and +impending. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +LEARNING THE CHINOOK LANGUAGE--STRANGE INDIAN +CUSTOMS--THEIR DOCTORS--SAM PATCH--THE MURDER OF A +WOMAN--IN A TIGHT PLACE--SURPRISING THE INDIANS--CONFLICTING +REPORTS OF THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN--SECESSION QUESTION IN +CALIFORNIA--APPOINTED A CAPTAIN--TRANSFERRED TO THE EAST. + +The troubles at the Siletz and Yaquina Bay were settled without +further excitement by the arrival in due time of plenty of food, and +as the buildings, at Fort Haskins were so near completion that my +services as quartermaster were no longer needed, I was ordered to +join my own company at Fort Yamhill, where Captain Russell was still +in command. I returned to that place in May, 1857, and at a period a +little later, in consequence of the close of hostilities in southern +Oregon, the Klamaths and Modocs were sent back to their own country, +to that section in which occurred, in 1873, the disastrous war with +the latter tribe. This reduced considerably the number of Indians at +the Grande Ronde, but as those remaining were still somewhat unruly, +from the fact that many questions requiring adjustment were +constantly arising between the different bands, the agent and the +officers at the post were kept pretty well occupied. Captain Russell +assigned to me the special work of keeping up the police control, and +as I had learned at an early day to speak Chinook (the "court +language" among the coast tribes) almost as well as the Indians +themselves, I was thereby enabled to steer my way successfully on +many critical occasions. + +For some time the most disturbing and most troublesome element we had +was the Rogue River band. For three or four years they had fought +our troops obstinately, and surrendered at the bitter end in the +belief that they were merely overpowered, not conquered. They openly +boasted to the other Indians that they could whip the soldiers, and +that they did not wish to follow the white man's ways, continuing +consistently their wild habits, unmindful of all admonitions. +Indeed, they often destroyed their household utensils, tepees and +clothing, and killed their horses on the graves of the dead, in the +fulfillment of a superstitious custom, which demanded that they +should undergo, while mourning for their kindred, the deepest +privation in a property sense. Everything the loss of which would +make them poor was sacrificed on the graves of their relatives or +distinguished warriors, and as melancholy because of removal from +their old homes caused frequent deaths, there was no lack of occasion +for the sacrifices. The widows and orphans of the dead warriors were +of course the chief mourners, and exhibited their grief in many +peculiar ways. I remember one in particular which was universally +practiced by the near kinsfolk. They would crop their hair very +close, and then cover the head with a sort of hood or plaster of +black pitch, the composition being clay, pulverized charcoal, and the +resinous gum which exudes from the pine-tree. The hood, nearly an +inch in thickness, was worn during a period of mourning that lasted +through the time it would take nature, by the growth of the hair, +actually to lift from the head the heavy covering of pitch after it +had become solidified and hard as stone. It must be admitted that +they underwent considerable discomfort in memory of their relatives. +It took all the influence we could bring to bear to break up these +absurdly superstitious practices, and it looked as if no permanent +improvement could be effected, for as soon as we got them to discard +one, another would be invented. When not allowed to burn down their +tepees or houses, those poor souls who were in a dying condition +would be carried out to the neighboring hillsides just before +dissolution, and there abandoned to their sufferings, with little or +no attention, unless the placing under their heads of a small stick +of wood--with possibly some laudable object, but doubtless great +discomfort to their victim--might be considered such. + +To uproot these senseless and monstrous practices was indeed most +difficult. The most pernicious of all was one which was likely to +bring about tragic results. They believed firmly in a class of +doctors among their people who professed that they could procure the +illness of an individual at will, and that by certain incantations +they could kill or cure the sick person. Their faith in this +superstition was so steadfast that there was no doubting its +sincerity, many indulging at times in the most trying privations, +that their relatives might be saved from death at the hands of the +doctors. I often talked with them on the subject, and tried to +reason them out of the superstitious belief, defying the doctors to +kill me, or even make me ill; but my talks were unavailing, and they +always met my arguments with the remark that I was a white man, of a +race wholly different from the red man, and that that was the reason +the medicine of the doctors would not affect me. These villainous +doctors might be either men or women, and any one of them finding an +Indian ill, at once averred that his influence was the cause, +offering at the same time to cure the invalid for a fee, which +generally amounted to about all the ponies his family possessed. If +the proposition was accepted and the fee paid over, the family, in +case the man died, was to have indemnity through the death of the +doctor, who freely promised that they might take his life in such +event, relying on his chances of getting protection from the furious +relatives by fleeing to the military post till time had so assuaged +their grief that matters could be compromised or settled by a +restoration of a part of the property, when the rascally leeches +could again resume their practice. Of course the services of a +doctor were always accepted when an Indian fell ill; otherwise the +invalid's death would surely ensue, brought about by the evil +influence that was unpropitiated. Latterly it had become quite the +thing, when a patient died, for the doctor to flee to our camp--it +was so convenient and so much safer than elsewhere--and my cellar was +a favorite place of refuge from the infuriated friends of the +deceased. + +Among the most notable of these doctors was an Indian named Sam +Patch, who several times sought asylum in any cellar, and being a +most profound diplomat, managed on each occasion and with little +delay to negotiate a peaceful settlement and go forth in safety to +resume the practice of his nefarious profession. I often hoped he +would be caught before reaching the post, but he seemed to know +intuitively when the time had come to take leg-bail, for his advent +at the garrison generally preceded by but a few hours the death of +some poor dupe. + +Finally these peculiar customs brought about the punishment of a +noted doctress of the Rogue River tribe, a woman who was constantly +working in this professional way, and who had found a victim of such +prominence among the Rogue Rivers that his unlooked for death brought +down on her the wrath of all. She had made him so ill, they +believed, as to bring him to death's door notwithstanding the many +ponies that had been given her to cease the incantations, and it was +the conviction of all that she had finally caused the man's death +from some ulterior and indiscernible motive. His relatives and +friends then immediately set about requiting her with the just +penalties of a perfidious breach of contract. Their threats induced +her instant flight toward my house for the usual protection, but the +enraged friends of the dead man gave hot chase, and overtook the +witch just inside the limits of the garrison, where, on the +parade-ground, in sight of the officers' quarters, and before any one +could interfere, they killed her. There were sixteen men in pursuit +of the doctress, and sixteen gun-shot wounds were found in her body +when examined by the surgeon of the post. The killing of the woman +was a flagrant and defiant outrage committed in the teeth of the +military authority, yet done so quickly that we could not prevent it. +This necessitated severe measures, both to allay the prevailing +excitement and to preclude the recurrence of such acts. The body was +cared for, and delivered to the relatives the next day for burial, +after which Captain Russell directed me to take such steps as would +put a stop to the fanatical usages that had brought about this +murderous occurrence, for it was now seen that if timely measures were +not taken to repress them, similar tragedies would surely follow. + +Knowing all the men of the Rogue River tribe, and speaking fluently +the Chinook tongue, which they all understood, I went down to their +village the following day, after having sent word to the tribe that I +wished to have a council with them. The Indians all met me in +council, as I had desired, and I then told them that the men who had +taken part in shooting the woman would have to be delivered up for +punishment. They were very stiff with me at the interview, and with +all that talent for circumlocution and diplomacy with which the +Indian is lifted, endeavored to evade my demands and delay any +conclusion. But I was very positive, would hear of no compromise +whatever, and demanded that my terms be at once complied with. No +one was with me but a sergeant of my company, named Miller, who held +my horse, and as the chances of an agreement began to grow remote, I +became anxious for our safety. The conversation waxing hot and the +Indians gathering close in around me, I unbuttoned the flap of my +pistol holster, to be ready for any emergency. When the altercation +became most bitter I put my hand to my hip to draw my pistol, but +discovered it was gone--stolen by one of the rascals surrounding me. +Finding myself unarmed, I modified my tone and manner to correspond +with my helpless condition, thus myself assuming the diplomatic side +in the parley, in order to gain time. As soon as an opportunity +offered, and I could, without too much loss of self-respect, and +without damaging my reputation among the Indians, I moved out to +where the sergeant held my horse, mounted, and crossing the Yamhill +River close by, called back in Chinook from the farther bank that +"the sixteen men who killed the woman must be delivered up, and my +six-shooter also." This was responded to by contemptuous laughter, so +I went back to the military post somewhat crestfallen, and made my +report of the turn affairs had taken, inwardly longing for another +chance to bring the rascally Rogue Rivers to terms. + +When I had explained the situation to Captain Russell, he thought +that we could not, under any circumstances, overlook this defiant +conduct of the Indians, since, unless summarily punished, it would +lead to even more serious trouble in the future. I heartily seconded +this proposition, and gladly embracing the opportunity it offered, +suggested that if he would give me another chance, and let me have +the effective force of the garrison, consisting of about fifty men, I +would chastise the Rogue Rivers without fail, and that the next day +was all the time I required to complete arrangements. He gave me the +necessary authority, and I at once set to work to bring about a +better state of discipline on the reservation, and to put an end to +the practices of the medicine men (having also in view the recovery +of my six-shooter and self-respect), by marching to the village and +taking the rebellious Indians by force. + +In the tribe there was an excellent woman called Tighee Mary (Tighee +in Chinook means chief), who by right of inheritance was a kind of +queen of the Rogue Rivers. Fearing that the insubordinate conduct of +the Indians would precipitate further trouble, she came early the +following morning to see me and tell me of the situation Mary +informed me that she had done all in her power to bring the Indians +to reason, but without avail, and that they were determined to fight +rather than deliver up the sixteen men who had engaged in the +shooting. She also apprised me of the fact that they had taken up a +position on the Yamhill River, on the direct road between the post +and village, where, painted and armed for war, they were awaiting +attack. + +On this information I concluded it would be best to march to the +village by a circuitous route instead of directly, as at first +intended, so I had the ferry-boat belonging to the post floated about +a mile and a half down the Yamhill River and there anchored. At 11 +o'clock that night I marched my fifty men, out of the garrison, in a +direction opposite to that of the point held by the Indians, and soon +reached the river at the ferryboat. Here I ferried the party over +with little delay, and marched them along the side of the mountain, +through underbrush and fallen timber, until, just before daylight, I +found that we were immediately in rear of the village, and thence in +rear, also, of the line occupied by the refractory Indians, who were +expecting to meet me on the direct road from the post. Just at break +of day we made a sudden descent upon the village and took its +occupants completely by surprise, even capturing the chief of the +tribe, "Sam," who was dressed in all his war toggery, fully armed and +equipped, in anticipation of a fight on the road where his comrades +were in position. I at once put Sam under guard, giving orders to +kill him instantly if the Indians fired a shot; then forming my line +on the road beyond the edge of the village, in rear of the force +lying in wait for a front attack, we moved forward. When the hostile +party realized that they were completely cut off from the village, +they came out from their stronghold on the river and took up a line +in my front, distant about sixty yards with the apparent intention of +resisting to the last. + +As is usual with Indians when expecting a fight, they were nearly +naked, fantastically painted with blue clay, and hideously arrayed in +war bonnets. They seemed very belligerent, brandishing their muskets +in the air, dancing on one foot, calling us ugly names, and making +such other demonstrations of hostility, that it seemed at first that +nothing short of the total destruction of the party could bring about +the definite settlement that we were bent on. Still, as it was my +desire to bring them under subjection without loss of life, if +possible, I determined to see what result would follow when they +learned that their chief was at our mercy. So, sending Sam under +guard to the front, where he could be seen, informing them that he +would be immediately shot if they fired upon us, and aided by the +cries and lamentations of the women of the village, who deprecated +any hostile action by either party, I soon procured a parley. + +The insubordinate Indians were under command of "Joe," Sam's brother, +who at last sent me word that he wanted to see me, and we met between +our, respective lines. I talked kindly to him, but was firm in my +demand that the men who killed the woman must be given up and my +six-shooter returned. His reply was he did not think it could be done, +but he would consult his people. After the consultation, he returned +and notified me that fifteen would surrender and the six-shooter +would be restored, and further, that we could kill the sixteenth man, +since the tribe wished to get rid of him anyhow, adding that he was a +bad Indian, whose bullet no doubt had given the woman her death +wound. He said that if I assented to this arrangement, he would +require all of his people except the objectionable man to run to the +right of his line at a preconcerted signal. The bad Indian would be +ordered to stand fast on the extreme left, and we could open fire on +him as his comrades fell away to the right. I agreed to the +proposition, and gave Joe fifteen minutes to execute his part of it. +We then returned to our respective forces, and a few minutes later +the fifteen ran to the right flank as agreed upon, and we opened fire +on the one Indian left standing alone, bringing him down in his +tracks severely wounded by a shot through the shoulder. + +While all this was going on, the other bands of the reservation, +several thousand strong, had occupied the surrounding hills for the +purpose of witnessing the fight, for as the Rogue Rivers had been +bragging for some time that they could whip the soldiers, these other +Indians had come out to see it done. The result, however, +disappointed the spectators, and the Rogue Rivers naturally lost +caste. The fifteen men now came in and laid down their arms +(including my six-shooter) in front of us as agreed, but I compelled +them to take the surrendered guns up again and carry them to the +post, where they were deposited in the block-house for future +security. The prisoners were ironed with ball and chain, and made to +work at the post until their rebellious spirit was broken; and the +wounded man was correspondingly punished after he had fully +recovered. An investigation as to why this man had been selected as +the offering by which Joe and his companions expected to gain +immunity, showed that the fellow was really a most worthless +character, whose death even would have been a benefit to the tribe. +Thus it seemed that they had two purposes in view--the one to +propitiate me and get good terms, the other to rid themselves of a +vagabond member of the tribe. + +The punishment of these sixteen Indians by ball and chain ended all +trouble with the Rogue River tribe. The, disturbances arising from +the incantations of the doctors and doctresses, and the practice of +killing horses and burning all worldly property on the graves of +those who died, were completely suppressed, and we made with little +effort a great stride toward the civilization of these crude and +superstitious people, for they now began to recognize the power of +the Government. In their management afterward a course of justice +and mild force was adopted, and unvaryingly applied. They were +compelled to cultivate their land, to attend church, and to send +their children to school. When I saw them, fifteen years later, +transformed into industrious and substantial farmers, with neat +houses, fine cattle, wagons and horses, carrying their grain, eggs, +and butter to market and bringing home flour, coffee, sugar, and +calico in return, I found abundant confirmation of my early opinion +that the most effectual measures for lifting them from a state of +barbarism would be a practical supervision at the outset, coupled +with a firm control and mild discipline. + +In all that was done for these Indians Captain Russell's judgment and +sound, practical ideas were the inspiration. His true manliness, +honest and just methods, together with the warm-hearted interest he +took in all that pertained to matters of duty to his Government, +could not have produced other than the best results, in what position +soever he might have been placed. As all the lovable traits of his +character were constantly manifested, I became most deeply attached +to him, and until the day of his death in 1864, on the battle-field +of Opequan, in front of Winchester, while gallantly leading his +division under my command, my esteem and affection were sustained and +intensified by the same strong bonds that drew me to him in these +early days in Oregon. + +After the events just narrated I continued on duty at the post of +Yamhill, experiencing the usual routine of garrison life without any +incidents of much interest, down to the breaking out of the war of +the rebellion in April, 1861. The news of the firing on Fort Sumter +brought us an excitement which overshadowed all else, and though we +had no officers at the post who sympathized with the rebellion, there +were several in our regiment--the Fourth Infantry--who did, and we +were considerably exercised as to the course they might pursue, but +naturally far more so concerning the disposition that would be made +of the regiment during the conflict. + +In due time orders came for the regiment to go East, and my company +went off, leaving me, however--a second lieutenant--in command of the +post until I should be relieved by Captain James J. Archer, of the +Ninth Infantry, whose company was to take the place of the old +garrison. Captain Archer, with his company of the Ninth, arrived +shortly after, but I had been notified that he intended to go South, +and his conduct was such after reaching the post that I would not +turn over the command to him for fear he might commit some rebellious +act. Thus a more prolonged detention occurred than I had at first +anticipated. Finally the news came that he had tendered his +resignation and been granted a leave of absence for sixty days. On +July 17 he took his departure, but I continued in command till +September 1, when Captain Philip A. Owen, of the Ninth Infantry, +arrived and, taking charge, gave me my release. + +From the day we received the news of the firing on Sumter until I +started East, about the first of September, 1861, I was deeply +solicitous as to the course of events, and though I felt confident +that in the end the just cause of the Government must triumph, yet +the thoroughly crystallized organization which the Southern +Confederacy quickly exhibited disquieted me very much, for it alone +was evidence that the Southern leaders had long anticipated the +struggle and prepared for it. It was very difficult to obtain direct +intelligence of the progress of the war. Most of the time we were in +the depths of ignorance as to the true condition of affairs, and this +tended to increase our anxiety. Then, too, the accounts of the +conflicts that had taken place were greatly exaggerated by the +Eastern papers, and lost nothing in transition. The news came by the +pony express across the Plains to San Francisco, where it was still +further magnified in republishing, and gained somewhat in Southern +bias. I remember well that when the first reports reached us of, the +battle of Bull Run--that sanguinary engagement--it was stated that +each side had lost forty thousand men in killed and wounded, and none +were reported missing nor as having run away. Week by week these +losses grew less, until they finally shrunk into the hundreds, but +the vivid descriptions of the gory conflict were not toned down +during the whole summer. + +We received our mail at Yamhill only once a week, and then had to +bring it from Portland, Oregon, by express. On the day of the week +that our courier, or messenger, was expected back from Portland, I +would go out early in the morning to a commanding point above the +post, from which I could see a long distance down the road as it ran +through the valley of the Yamhill, and there I would watch with +anxiety for his coming, longing for good news; for, isolated as I had +been through years spent in the wilderness, my patriotism was +untainted by politics, nor had it been disturbed by any discussion of +the questions out of which the war grew, and I hoped for the success +of the Government above all other considerations. I believe I was +also uninfluenced by any thoughts of the promotion that might result +to me from the conflict, but, out of a sincere desire to contribute +as much as I could to the preservation of the Union, I earnestly +wished to be at the seat of war, and feared it might end before I +could get East. In no sense did I anticipate what was to happen to +me afterward, nor that I was to gain any distinction from it. I was +ready to do my duty to the best of my ability wherever I might be +called, and I was young, healthy, insensible to fatigue, and desired +opportunity, but high rank was so distant in our service that not a +dream of its attainment had flitted through my brain. + +During the period running from January to September, 1861, in +consequence of resignations and the addition of some new regiments to +the regular army, I had passed through the grade of first lieutenant +and reached that of captain in the Thirteenth United States Infantry, +of which General W. T. Sherman had recently been made the colonel. +When relieved from further duty at Yamhill by Captain Owen, I left +for the Atlantic coast to join my new regiment. A two days' ride +brought me down to Portland, whence I sailed to San Franciso, and at +that city took passage by steamer for New York via the Isthmus of +Panama, in company with a number of officers who were coming East +under circumstances like my own. + +At this time California was much agitated--on the question of +secession, and the secession element was so strong that considerable +apprehension was felt by the Union people lest the State might be +carried into the Confederacy. As a consequence great distrust +existed in all quarters, and the loyal passengers on the steamer, not +knowing what might occur during our voyage, prepared to meet +emergencies by thoroughly organizing to frustrate any attempt that +might possibly be made to carry us into some Southern port after we +should leave Aspinwall. However, our fears proved groundless; at all +events, no such attempt was made, and we reached New York in safety +in November, 1861. A day or two in New York sufficed to replenish a +most meagre wardrobe, and I then started West to join my new +regiment, stopping a day and a night at the home of my parents in +Ohio, where I had not been since I journeyed from Texas for the +Pacific coast. The headquarters of my regiment were at Jefferson +Barracks, Missouri, to which point I proceeded with no further delay +except a stay in the city of St. Louis long enough to pay my respects +to General H. W. Halleck. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +AUDITING ACCOUNTS--CHIEF QUARTERMASTER AND COMMISSARY OF THE ARMY OF +SOUTHWEST MISSOURI--PREPARING FOR THE PEA RIDGE CAMPAIGN--A +DIFFERENCE WITH GENERAL CURTIS--ORDERED TO THE FRONT--APPOINTED A +COLONEL. + +Some days after I had reached the headquarters of my regiment near +St. Louis, General Halleck sent for me, and when I reported he +informed me that there existed a great deal of confusion regarding +the accounts of some of the disbursing officers in his department, +whose management of its fiscal affairs under his predecessor, General +John C. Fremont, had been very loose; and as the chaotic condition of +things could be relieved only by auditing these accounts, he +therefore had determined to create a board of officers for the +purpose, and intended to make me president of it. The various +transactions in question covered a wide field, for the department +embraced the States of Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Arkansas, +and all of Kentucky west of the Cumberland River. + +The duty was not distasteful, and I felt that I was qualified to +undertake it, for the accounts to be audited belonged exclusively to +the Quartermaster and Subsistence departments, and by recent +experience I had become familiar with the class of papers that +pertained to those branches of the army. Indeed, it was my +familiarity with such transactions, returns, etc., that probably +caused my selection as president of the board. + +I entered upon the work forthwith, and continued at it until the 26th +of December, 1861. At that date I was relieved from the auditing +board and assigned to duty as Chief Commissary of the Army of +Southwest Missouri, commanded by General Samuel R. Curtis. This army +was then organizing at Rolla, Missouri, for the Pea Ridge campaign, +its strength throughout the campaign being in the aggregate about +fifteen thousand men. + +As soon as I received information of my selection for this position, +I went to General Halleck and requested him to assign me as Chief +Quartermaster also. He was reluctant to do so, saying that I could +not perform both duties, but I soon convinced him that I could do +both better than the one, for I reminded him that as Chief +Quartermaster I should control the transportation, and thus obviate +all possible chances of discord between the two staff departments; a +condition which I deemed essential to success, especially as it was +intended that Curtis's army should mainly subsist on the country. +This argument impressed Halleck, and becoming convinced, he promptly +issued the order making me Chief Quartermaster and Chief Commissary +of Subsistence of the Army of Southwest Missouri, and I started for +Rolla to enter upon the work assigned me. + +Having reported to General Curtis, I quickly learned that his system +of supply was very defective, and the transportation without proper +organization, some of the regiments having forty to fifty wagon each, +and others only three or four. I labored day and night to remedy +these and other defects, and with the help of Captain Michael P. +Small, of the Subsistence Department, who was an invaluable +assistant, soon brought things into shape, putting the transportation +in good working order, giving each regiment its proper quota of +wagons, and turning the surplus into the general supply trains of the +army. In accomplishing this I was several times on the verge of +personal conflict with irate regimental commanders, but Colonel G. M. +Dodge so greatly sustained me with General Curtis by strong moral +support, and by such efficient details from his regiment--the Fourth +Iowa Volunteer Infantry--that I still bear him and it great affection +and lasting gratitude. + +On January 26, 1862, General Curtis's army began its march from Rolla +to Springfield, Missouri, by way of Lebanon. The roads were deep +with mud, and so badly cut up that the supply trains in moving +labored under the most serious difficulties, and were greatly +embarrassed by swollen streams. Under these circumstances many +delays occurred, and when we arrived at Lebanon nearly all the +supplies with which we had started had been consumed, and the work of +feeding the troops off the country had to begin at that point. To +get flour, wheat had to be taken from the stacks, threshed, and sent +to the mills to be ground. Wheat being scarce in this region, corn +as a substitute had to be converted into meal by the same laborious +process. In addition, beef cattle had to be secured for the meat +ration. + +By hard work we soon accumulated a sufficient quantity of flour and +corn meal to justify the resumption of our march on Springfield; at +or near which point the enemy was believed to be awaiting us, and the +order was given to move forward, the commanding general cautioning +me, in the event of disaster, to let no salt fall into General +Price's hands. General Curtis made a hobby of this matter of salt, +believing the enemy was sadly in need of that article, and he +impressed me deeply with his conviction that our cause would be +seriously injured by a loss which would inure so greatly and +peculiarly to the enemy's benefit; but we afterward discovered, when +Price abandoned his position, that about all he left behind was salt. + +When we were within about eight miles of Springfield, General Curtis +decided to put his troops in line of battle for the advance on the +town, and directed me to stretch out my supply trains in a long line +of battle, so that in falling back, in case the troops were repulsed, +he could rally the men on the wagons. I did not like the tactics, +but of course obeyed the order. The line moved on Springfield, and +took the town without resistance, the enemy having fled southward, in +the direction of Pea Ridge, the preceding day. Of course our success +relieved my anxiety about the wagons; but fancy has often pictured +since, the stampede of six mule teams that, had we met with any +reverse, would have taken place over the prairies of southwest +Missouri. + +The army set out in pursuit of Price, but I was left at Springfield +to gather supplies from the surrounding country, by the same means +that had been used at Lebanon, and send them forward. To succeed in +this useful and necessary duty required much hard work. To procure +the grain and to run the mills in the country, replacing the +machinery where parts had been carried away, or changing the +principle and running the mills on some different plan when +necessary, and finally forward the product to the army, made a task +that taxed the energy of all engaged in it. Yet, having at command a +very skillful corps of millwrights, machinists, and millers, detailed +principally from the Fourth Iowa and Thirty-sixth Illinois volunteer +regiments, we soon got matters in shape, and were able to send such +large quantities of flour and meal to the front, that only the bacon +and small parts of the ration had to be brought forward from our +depot at Rolla. When things were well systematized, I went forward +myself to expedite the delivery of supplies, and joined the army at +Cross Hollows, just south of Pea Ridge. + +Finding everything working well at Cross Hollows, I returned to +Springfield in a few days to continue the labor of collecting +supplies. On my way back I put the mills at Cassville in good order +to grind the grain in that vicinity, and perfected there a plan for +the general supply from the neighboring district of both the men and +animals of the army, so that there should, be no chance of a failure +of the campaign from bad roads or disaster to my trains. Springfield +thus became the centre of the entire supply section. + +Just after my return to Springfield the battle of Pea Ridge was +fought. The success of the Union troops in this battle was +considerable, and while not of sufficient magnitude to affect the +general cause materially, it was decisive as to that particular +campaign, and resulted in driving all organized Confederate forces +out of the State of Missouri. After Pea Ridge was won, certain +efforts were made to deprive Curtis of the credit due him for the +victory; but, no matter what merit belonged to individual commanders, +I was always convinced that Curtis was deserving of the highest +commendation, not only for the skill displayed on the field, but for +a zeal and daring in campaign which was not often exhibited at that +early period of the war. Especially should this credit be awarded +him, when we consider the difficulties under which he labored, how he +was hampered in having to depend on a sparsely settled country for +the subsistence of his troops. In the reports of the battle that +came to Springfield, much glory was claimed for some other general +officers, but as I had control of the telegraph line from Springfield +east, I detained all despatches until General Curtis had sent in his +official report. He thus had the opportunity of communicating with +his superior in advance of some of his vain subordinates, who would +have laid claim to the credit of the battle had I not thwarted them +by this summary means. + +Not long afterward came the culmination of a little difference that +had arisen between General Curtis and me, brought about, I have since +sometimes thought, by an assistant quartermaster from Iowa, whom I +had on duty with me at Springfield. He coveted my place, and finally +succeeded in getting it. He had been an unsuccessful banker in Iowa, +and early in the war obtained an appointment as assistant +quartermaster of volunteers with the rank of captain. As chief +quartermaster of the army in Missouri, there would be opportunities +for the recuperation of his fortunes which would not offer to one in +a subordinate place; so to gain this position he doubtless intrigued +for it while under my eye, and Curtis was induced to give it to him +as soon as I was relieved. His career as my successor, as well as in +other capacities in which he was permitted to act during the war, was +to say the least not savory. The war over he turned up in Chicago as +president of a bank, which he wrecked; and he finally landed in the +penitentiary for stealing a large sum of money from the United States +Treasury at Washington while employed there as a clerk. The chances +that this man's rascality would be discovered were much less when +chief of the departments of transportation and supply of an army than +they afterward proved to be in the Treasury. I had in my possession +at all times large sums of money for the needs of the army, and among +other purposes for which these funds were to be disbursed was the +purchase of horses and mules. Certain officers and men more devoted +to gain than to the performance of duty (a few such are always to be +found in armies) quickly learned this, and determined to profit by +it. Consequently they began a regular system of stealing horses from +the people of the country and proffering them to me for purchase. It +took but a little time to discover this roguery, and when I became +satisfied of their knavery I brought it to a sudden close by seizing +the horses as captured property, branding them U. S., and refusing to +pay for them. General Curtis, misled by the misrepresentations that +had been made, and without fully knowing the circumstances, or +realizing to what a base and demoralizing state of things this course +was inevitably tending, practically ordered me to make the Payments, +and I refused. The immediate result of this disobedience was a +court-martial to try me; and knowing that my usefulness in that army +was gone, no matter what the outcome of the trial might be, I asked +General Halleck to relieve me from duty with General Curtis and order +me to St. Louis. This was promptly done, and as my connection with +the Army of Southwest Missouri was thus severed before the court +could be convened, my case never came to trial. The man referred to +as being the cause of this condition of affairs was appointed by +General Curtis to succeed me. I turned over to the former all the +funds and property for which I was responsible, also the branded +horses and mules stolen from the people of the country, requiring +receipts for everything. I heard afterward that some of the blooded +stock of southwest Missouri made its way to Iowa in an unaccountable +manner, but whether the administration of my successor was +responsible for it or not I am unable to say. + +On my arrival at St. Louis I felt somewhat forlorn and disheartened +at the turn affairs had taken. I did not know where I should be +assigned, nor what I should be required to do, but these +uncertainties were dispelled in a few days by General Halleck, who, +being much pressed by the Governors of some of the Western States to +disburse money in their sections, sent me out into the Northwest with +a sort of roving commission to purchase horses for the use of the +army. I went to Madison and Racine, Wis., at which places I bought +two hundred horses, which were shipped to St. Louis. At Chicago I +bought two hundred more, and as the prices paid at the latter point +showed that Illinois was the cheapest market--it at that time +producing a surplus over home demands--I determined to make Chicago +the centre of my operations. + +While occupied in this way at Chicago the battle of Shiloh took +place, and the desire for active service with troops became uppermost +in my thoughts, so I returned to St. Louis to see if I could not get +into the field. General Halleck having gone down to the Shiloh +battle-field, I reported to his Assistant Adjutant-General, Colonel +John C. Kelton, and told him of my anxiety to take a hand in active +field-service, adding that I did not wish to join my regiment, which +was still organizing and recruiting at Jefferson Barracks, for I felt +confident I could be more useful elsewhere. Kelton knew that the +purchasing duty was but temporary, and that on its completion, +probably at no distant date, I should have to join my company at the +barracks; so, realizing the inactivity to which that situation of +affairs would subject me, he decided to assume the responsibility of +sending me to report to General Halleck at Shiloh, and gave me an +order to that effect. + +This I consider the turning-point in my military career, and shall +always feel grateful to Colonel Kelton for his kindly act which so +greatly influenced my future. My desire to join the army at Shiloh +had now taken possession of me, and I was bent on getting there by +the first means available. Learning that a hospital-boat under +charge of Dr. Hough was preparing to start for Pittsburg Landing, I +obtained the Doctor's consent to take passage on it, and on the +evening of April 15, I left St. Louis for the scene of military +operations in northeastern Mississippi. + +At Pittsburg Landing I reported to General Halleck, who, after some +slight delay, assigned me to duty as an assistant to Colonel George +Thom, of the topographical engineers. Colonel Thom put me at the +work of getting the trains up from the landing, which involved the +repair of roads for that purpose by corduroying the marshy places. +This was rough, hard work, without much chance of reward, but it, was +near the field of active operations, and I determined to do the best +I could at it till opportunity for something better might arise. + +General Halleck did not know much about taking care of himself in the +field. His camp arrangements were wholly inadequate, and in +consequence he and all the officers about him were subjected to much +unnecessary discomfort and annoyance. Someone suggested to him to +appoint me quartermaster for his headquarters, with a view to +systematizing the establishment and remedying the defects complained +of, and I was consequently assigned to this duty. Shortly after this +assignment I had the satisfaction of knowing that General Halleck was +delighted with the improvements made at headquarters, both in camp +outfit and transportation, and in administration generally. My +popularity grew as the improvements increased, but one trifling +incident came near marring it. There was some hitch about getting +fresh beef for General Halleck's mess, and as by this time everybody +had come to look to me for anything and everything in the way of +comfort, Colonel Joe McKibben brought an order from the General for +me to get fresh beef for the headquarters mess. I was not caterer +for this mess, nor did I belong to it even, so I refused point-blank. +McKibben, disliking to report my disobedience, undertook persuasion, +and brought Colonel Thom to see me to aid in his negotiations, but I +would not give in, so McKibben in the kindness of his heart rode +several miles in order to procure the beef himself, and thus save me +from the dire results which he thought would follow should Halleck +get wind of such downright insubordination. The next day I was made +Commissary of Subsistence for the headquarters in addition to my +other duties, and as this brought me into the line of fresh beef, +General Halleck had no cause thereafter to complain of a scarcity of +that article in his mess. + +My stay at General Halleck's headquarters was exceedingly agreeable, +and my personal intercourse with officers on duty there was not only +pleasant and instructive, but offered opportunities for improvement +and advancement for which hardly any other post could have afforded +like chances. My special duties did not occupy all my time, and +whenever possible I used to go over to General Sherman's division, +which held the extreme right of our line in the advance on Corinth, +to witness the little engagements occurring there continuously during +the slow progress which the army was then making, the enemy being +forced back but a short distance each day. I knew General Sherman +very well. We came from near the same section of country in Ohio, +and his wife and her family had known me from childhood. I was +always kindly received by the General, and one day he asked me if I +would be willing to accept the colonelcy of a certain Ohio regiment +if he secured the appointment. I gladly told him yes, if General +Halleck would let me go; but I was doomed to disappointment, for in +about a week or so afterward General Sherman informed me that the +Governor of Ohio would not consent, having already decided to appoint +some one else. + +A little later Governor Blair, of Michigan, who was with the army +temporarily in the interest of the troops from his State, and who +just at this time was looking around for a colonel for the Second +Michigan Cavalry, and very anxious to get a regular officer, fixed +upon me as the man. The regiment was then somewhat run down by +losses from sickness, and considerably split into factions growing +out of jealousies engendered by local differences previous to +organization, and the Governor desired to bridge over all these +troubles by giving the regiment a commander who knew nothing about +them. I presume that some one said to the Governor about this time, +"Why don't you get Sheridan?" This, however, is only conjecture. I +really do not know how my name was proposed to him, but I have often +been told since that General Gordon Granger, whom I knew slightly +then, and who had been the former colonel of the regiment, first +suggested the appointment. At all events, on the morning of May 27, +1862, Captain Russell A. Alger--recently Governor of Michigan +--accompanied by the quartermaster of the regiment, Lieutenant Frank +Walbridge, arrived at General Halleck's headquarters and delivered to +me this telegram: + +(By Telegraph.) +"MILITARY DEPT OF MICHIGAN, +"ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, +"DETROIT, May 25, 1862. + +GENERAL ORDERS NO. 148. + +"Captain Philip H. Sheridan, U. S. Army, is hereby appointed +Colonel of the Second Regiment Michigan Cavalry, to rank from +this date. + +"Captain Sheridan will immediately assume command of the +regiment. + +"By order of the Commander-in-Chief, +"JNO. ROBERTSON, +"Adjutant-General." + + +I took the order to General Halleck, and said that I would like to +accept, but he was not willing I should do so until the consent of +the War Department could be obtained. I returned to my tent much +disappointed, for in those days, for some unaccountable reason, the +War Department did not favor the appointment of regular officers to +volunteer regiments, and I feared a disapproval at Washington. After +a further consultation with Captain Alger and Lieutenant Walbridge, I +determined to go to the General again and further present the case. +Enlarging on my desire for active service with troops, and urging the +utter lack of such opportunity where I was, I pleaded my cause until +General Halleck finally resolved to take the responsibility of +letting me go without consulting the War Department. When I had +thanked him for the kindness, he said that inasmuch as I was to leave +him, he would inform me that the regiment to which I had just been +appointed was ordered out as part of a column directed to make a raid +to the south of the enemy, then occupying Corinth, and that if I +could turn over my property, it would probably be well for me to join +my command immediately, so that I could go with the expedition. I +returned to my tent, where Alger and Walbridge were still waiting, +and told them of the success of my interview, at the same time +notifying them that I would join the regiment in season to accompany +the expedition of which Halleck had spoken. + +In the course of the afternoon I turned over all my property to my +successor, and about 8 o'clock that evening made my appearance at the +camp of the Second Michigan Cavalry, near Farmington, Mississippi. +The regiment was in a hubbub of excitement making preparations for +the raid, and I had barely time to meet the officers of my command, +and no opportunity at all to see the men, when the trumpet sounded to +horse. Dressed in a coat and trousers of a captain of infantry, but +recast as a colonel of cavalry by a pair of well-worn eagles that +General Granger had kindly given me, I hurriedly placed on my saddle +a haversack, containing some coffee, sugar, bacon, and hard bread, +which had been prepared, and mounting my horse, I reported my +regiment to the brigade commander as ready for duty. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +EXPEDITION TO BOONEVILLE--DESTROYING SUPPLIES--CONFEDERATE +STRAGGLERS--SUCCESS OF THE EXPEDITION--A RECONNOISSANCE--THE +IMPORTANCE OF BODILY SUSTENANCE--THE BATTLE OF BOONEVILLE +--RECOMMENDED FOR APPOINTMENT AS A BRIGADIER-GENERAL. + +The expedition referred to by General Halleck in his parting +conversation was composed of the Second Michigan and Second Iowa +regiments of cavalry, formed into a brigade under command of Colonel +Washington L. Elliott, of the Second Iowa. It was to start on the +night of the 27th of May at 12 o'clock, and proceed by a circuitous +route through Iuka, Miss., to Booneville, a station on the Mobile and +Ohio Railroad, about twenty-two miles below Corinth, and accomplish +all it could in the way of destroying the enemy's supplies and +cutting his railroad communications. + +The weather in that climate was already warm, guides unobtainable, +and both men and horses suffered much discomfort from the heat, and +fatigue from the many delays growing out of the fact that we were in +almost total ignorance of the roads leading to the point that we +desired to reach. In order that we might go light we carried only +sugar, coffee, and salt, depending on the country for meat and bread. +Both these articles were scarce, but I think we got all there was, +for our advent was so unexpected by the people of the region through +which we passed that, supposing us to be Confederate cavalry, they +often gave us all they had, the women and servants contributing most +freely from their, reserve stores. + +Before reaching Booneville I had the advance, but just as we arrived +on the outskirts of the town the brigade was formed with the Second +Iowa on my right, and the whole force moved forward, right in front, +preceded by skirmishers. Here we encountered the enemy, but forced +him back with little resistance. When we had gained possession of +the station, Colonel Elliott directed me to take the left wing of my +regiment, pass to the south, and destroy a bridge or culvert supposed +to be at a little distance below the town on the Mobile and Ohio +Railroad. The right wing, or other half of the regiment, was to be +held in reserve for my support if necessary. I moved rapidly in the +designated direction till I reached the railroad, and then rode down +it for a mile and a half, but found neither bridge nor culvert. I +then learned that there was no bridge of any importance except the +one at Baldwin, nine miles farther down, but as I was aware, from +information recently received, that it was defended by three +regiments and a battery, I concluded that I could best accomplish the +purpose for which I had been detached--crippling the road--by tearing +up the track, bending the rails, and burning the cross-ties. This +was begun with alacrity at four different points, officers and men +vieing with one another in the laborious work of destruction. We had +but few tools, and as the difficulties to overcome were serious, our +progress was slow, until some genius conceived the idea that the +track, rails and ties, might be lifted from its bed bodily, turned +over, and subjected to a high heat; a convenient supply of dry +fence-rails would furnish ample fuel to render the rails useless. +In this way a good deal of the track was effectively broken up, and +communication by rail from Corinth to the south entirely cut off. +While we were still busy in wrecking the road, a dash was made at my +right and rear by a squadron of Confederate cavalry. This was +handsomely met by the reserve under Captain Archibald P. Campbell, of +the Second Michigan, who, dismounting a portion of his command, +received the enemy with such a volley from his Colt's repeating +rifles that the squadron broke and fled in all directions. We were +not molested further, and resumed our work, intending to extend the +break toward Baldwin, but receiving orders from Elliott to return to +Booneville immediately, the men were recalled, and we started to +rejoin the main command. + +In returning to Booneville, I found the railroad track above where I +had struck it blocked by trains that we had thus cut off, and the +woods and fields around the town covered with several thousand +Confederate soldiers. These were mostly convalescents and +disheartened stragglers belonging to General Beauregard's army, and +from them we learned that Corinth was being evacuated. I spent some +little time in an endeavor to get these demoralized men into an open +field, with a view to some future disposition of them; but in the +midst of the undertaking I received another order from Colonel +Elliott to join him at once. The news of the evacuation had also +reached Elliott, and had disclosed a phase of the situation so +different from that under which he had viewed it when we arrived at +Booneville, that he had grown anxious to withdraw, lest we should be +suddenly pounced upon by an overwhelming force from some one of the +columns in retreat. Under such circumstances my prisoners would +prove a decided embarrassment, so I abandoned further attempts to get +them together--not even paroling them, which I thought might have +been done with but little risk. + +In the meantime the captured cars had been fired, and as their +complete destruction was assured by explosions from those containing +ammunition, they needed no further attention, so I withdrew my men +and hastened to join Elliott, taking along some Confederate officers +whom I had retained from among four or five hundred prisoners +captured when making the original dash below the town. + +The losses in my regiment, and, in fact, those of the entire command, +were insignificant. The results of the expedition were important; +the railroad being broken so thoroughly as to cut off all rolling +stock north of Booneville, and to place at the service of General +Halleck's army the cars and locomotives of which the retreating +Confederates were now so much in need. In addition, we burned +twenty-six cars containing ten thousand stand of small arms, three +pieces of artillery, a great quantity of clothing, a heavy supply of +ammunition, and the personal baggage of General Leonidas Polk. A +large number of prisoners, mostly sick and convalescent, also fell +into our hands; but as we could not carry them with us--such a hurried +departure was an immediate necessity, by reason of our critical +situation--the process of paroling them was not completed, and they +doubtless passed back to active service in the Confederacy, properly +enough unrecognized as prisoners of war by their superiors. + +In returning, the column marched back by another indirect route to +its old camp near Farmington, where we learned that the whole army +had moved into and beyond Corinth, in pursuit of Beauregard, on the +13th of May, the very day we had captured Booneville. Although we +had marched about one hundred and eighty miles in four days, we were +required to take part, of course, in the pursuit of the Confederate +army. So, resting but one night in our old camp, we were early in +the saddle again on the morning of the 2d of June. Marching south +through Corinth, we passed on the 4th of June the scene of our late +raid, viewing with much satisfaction, as we took the road toward +Blackland, the still smoldering embers of the burned trains. + +On the 4th of June I was ordered to proceed with my regiment along +the Blackland road to determine the strength of the enemy in that +direction, as it was thought possible we might capture, by a +concerted movement which General John Pope had suggested to General +Halleck, a portion of Beauregard's rear guard. Pushing the +Confederate scouts rapidly in with a running fire for a mile or more, +while we were approaching a little stream, I hoped to gobble the main +body of the enemy's pickets. I therefore directed the sabre +battalion of the regiment, followed by that portion of it armed with +revolving rifles, to dash forward in column, cut off these videttes +before they could cross the stream, and then gather them in. The +pickets fled hastily, however, and a pell-mell pursuit carried us +over the stream at their heels by a little bridge, with no thought of +halting till we gained a hill on the other side, and suddenly found +ourselves almost in the camp of a strong body of artillery and +infantry. Captain Campbell being in advance, hurriedly dismounted +his battalion for a further forward movement on foot, but it was +readily seen that the enemy was present in such heavy force as almost +to ensure our destruction, and I gave orders for a hasty withdrawal. +We withdrew without loss under cover of thick woods, aided much, +however, by the consternation of the Confederates, who had hardly +recovered from their surprise at our sudden appearance in their camp +before we had again placed the stream between them and us by +recrossing the bridge. The reconnoissance was a success in one way +--that is, in finding out that the enemy was at the point supposed by, +General Pope; but it also had a tendency to accelerate Beauregard's +retreat, for in a day or two his whole line fell back as far south as +Guntown, thus rendering abortive the plans for bagging a large +portion of his army. + +General Beauregard's evacuation of Corinth and retreat southward were +accomplished in the face of a largely superior force of Union troops, +and he reached the point where he intended to halt for reorganization +without other loss than that sustained in the destruction of the cars +and supplies at Booneville, and the capture of some stragglers and +deserters that fell into our hands while we were pressing his rear +from General Pope's flank. The number of these was quite large, and +indicated that the enemy was considerably demoralized. Under such +circumstances, an energetic and skillfully directed pursuit might not +have made certain the enemy's destruction, but it would largely have +aided in disintegrating his forces, and I never could quite +understand why it was not ordered. The desultory affairs between +rear and advance guards seemed as a general, thing to have no +particular purpose in view beyond finding out where the enemy was, +and when he was found, since no supporting colums were at hand and no +one in supreme control was present to give directions, our +skirmishing was of little avail and brought but small reward. + +A short time subsequent to these occurrences, Colonel Elliott was +made a brigadier-general, and as General Pope appointed him his +Chief-of-Staff, I, on the 11th of June, 1862, fell in command of the +brigade by seniority. For the rest of the month but little of moment +occurred, and we settled down into camp at Booneville on the 26th of +June, in a position which my brigade had been ordered to take up some +twenty miles, in advance of the main army for the purpose of covering +its front. Although but a few days had elapsed from the date of my +appointment as colonel of the Second Michigan to that of my +succeeding to the command of the brigade, I believe I can say with +propriety that I had firmly established myself in the confidence of +the officers and men of the regiment, and won their regard by +thoughtful care. I had striven unceasingly to have them well fed and +well clothed, had personally looked after the selection of their +camps, and had maintained such a discipline as to allay former +irritation. + +Men who march, scout, and fight, and suffer all the hardships that +fall to the lot of soldiers in the field, in order to do vigorous +work must have the best bodily sustenance, and every comfort that can +be provided. I knew from practical experience on the frontier that +my efforts in this direction would not only be appreciated, but +requited by personal affection and gratitude; and, further, that such +exertions would bring the best results to me. Whenever my authority +would permit I saved my command from needless sacrifices and +unnecessary toil; therefore, when hard or daring work was to be done +I expected the heartiest response, and always got it. Soldiers are +averse to seeing their comrades killed without compensating results, +and none realize more quickly than they the blundering that often +takes place on the field of battle. They want some tangible +indemnity for the loss of life, and as victory is an offset the value +of which is manifest, it not only makes them content to shed their +blood, but also furnishes evidence of capacity in those who command +them. My regiment had lost very few men since coming under my +command, but it seemed, in the eyes of all who belonged to it, that +casualties to the enemy and some slight successes for us had repaid +every sacrifice, and in consequence I had gained not only their +confidence as soldiers, but also their esteem and love as men, and to +a degree far beyond what I then realized. + +As soon as the camp of my brigade was pitched at Booneville, I began +to scout in every direction, to obtain a knowledge of the enemy's +whereabouts and learn the ground about me. My standing in drawing at +the Military Academy had never been so high as to warrant the belief +that I could ever prove myself an expert, but a few practical lessons +in that line were impressed on me there, and I had retained enough to +enable me to make rough maps that could be readily understood, and +which would be suitable to replace the erroneous skeleton outlines of +northern Mississippi, with which at this time we were scantily +furnished; so as soon as possible I compiled for the use of myself +and my regimental commanders an information map of the surrounding +country. This map exhibited such details as country roads, streams, +farmhouses, fields, woods, and swamps, and such other topographical +features as would be useful. I must confess that my crude sketch did +not evidence much artistic merit, but it was an improvement on what +we already possessed in the way of details to guide the command, and +this was what I most needed; for it was of the first importance that +in our exposed condition we should be equipped with a thorough +knowledge of the section in which we were operating, so as to be +prepared to encounter an enemy already indicating recovery from the +disorganizing effects of his recent retreat. + +In the immediate vicinity of Booneville the country was covered with +heavy forests, with here and there clearings or intervening fields +that had been devoted to the cultivation of cotton and corn. The +ground was of a low character, typical of northeastern Mississippi, +and abounded in small creeks that went almost totally dry even in +short periods of drought, but became flooded with muddy water under +the outpouring of rain peculiar to a semi-tropical climate. In such +a region there were many chances of our being surprised, especially +by an enemy who knew the country well, and whose ranks were filled +with local guides; and great precautions as well as the fullest +information were necessary to prevent disaster. I therefore +endeavored to familiarize all with our surroundings, but scarcely had +matters begun to shape themselves as I desired when our annihilation +was attempted by a large force of Confederate cavalry. + +On the morning of July 1, 1862, a cavalry command of between five and +six thousand-men, under the Confederate General James R. Chalmers, +advanced on two roads converging near Booneville. The head of the +enemy's column on the Blackland and Booneville road came in contact +with my pickets three miles and a half west of Booneville. These +pickets, under Lieutenant Leonidas S. Scranton, of the Second +Michigan Cavalry, fell back slowly, taking advantage of every tree or +other cover to fire from till they arrived at the point where the +converging roads joined. At this junction there was a strong +position in the protecting timber, and here Scranton made a firm +stand, being reinforced presently by the few men he had out as +pickets on the road to his left, a second company I had sent him from +camp, and subsequently by three companies more, all now commanded by +Captain Campbell. This force was dismounted and formed in line, and +soon developed that the enemy was present in large numbers. Up to +this time Chalmers had shown only the heads of his columns, and we +had doubts as to his purpose, but now that our resistance forced him +to deploy two regiments on the right and left of the road, it became +apparent that he meant business, and that there was no time to lose +in preparing to repel his attack. + +Full information of the situation was immediately sent me, and I +directed Campbell to hold fast, if possible, till I could support +him, but if compelled to retire he was authorized to do so slowly, +taking advantage of every means that fell in his way to prolong the +fighting. Before this I had stationed one battalion of the Second +Iowa in Booneville, but Colonel Edward Hatch, commanding that +regiment, was now directed to leave one company for the protection of +our camp a little to the north of the station, and take the balance +of the Second Iowa, with the battalion in Booneville except two sabre +companies, and form the whole in rear of Captain Campbell, to protect +his flanks and support him by a charge should the enemy break his +dismounted line. + +While these preparations were being made, the Confederates attempted +to drive Campbell from his position by a direct attack through an +open field. In this they failed, however, for our men, reserving +their fire until the enemy came within about thirty yards, then +opened on him with such a shower of bullets from our Colt's rifles +that it soon became too hot for him, and he was repulsed with +considerable loss. Foiled in this move, Chalmers hesitated to attack +again in front, but began overlapping both flanks of Campbell's line +by force of numbers, compelling Campbell to retire toward a strong +position I had selected in his rear for a line on which to make our +main resistance. As soon as the enemy saw this withdrawing he again +charged in front, but was again as gallantly repelled as in the first +assault, although the encounter was for a short time so desperate as +to have the character of a hand-to-hand conflict, several groups of +friend and foe using on each other the butts of their guns. At this +juncture the timely arrival of Colonel Hatch with the Second Iowa +gave a breathing-spell to Campbell, and made the Confederates so +chary of further direct attacks that he was enabled to retire; and at +the same time I found opportunity to make disposition of the +reinforcement to the best advantage possible, placing the Second Iowa +on the left of the new line and strengthening Campbell on its right +with all the men available. + +In view of his numbers, the enemy soon regained confidence in his +ability to overcome us, and in a little while again began his +flanking movements, his right passing around my left flank some +distance, and approaching our camp and transportation, which I had +forbidden to be moved out to the rear. Fearing that he would envelop +us and capture the camp and transportation, I determined to take the +offensive. Remembering a circuitous wood road that I had become +familiar with while making the map heretofore mentioned, I concluded +that the most effective plan would be to pass a small column around +the enemy's left, by way of this road, and strike his rear by a +mounted charge simultaneously with an advance of our main line on his +front. I knew that the attack in rear would be a most hazardous +undertaking, but in the face of such odds as the enemy had the +condition of affairs was most critical, and could be relieved, only +by a bold and radical change in our tactics; so I at once selected +four sabre companies, two from the Second Michigan and two from the +Second Iowa, and placing Captain Alger, of the former regiment, in +command of them, I informed him that I expected of them the quick and +desperate work that is usually imposed on a forlorn hope. + +To carry out the purpose now in view, I instructed Captain Alger to +follow the wood road as it led around the left of the enemy's +advancing forces, to a point where 'it joined the Blackland road, +about three miles from Booneville, and directed him, upon reaching +the Blackland road, to turn up it immediately, and charge the rear of +the enemy's line. Under no circumstances was he to deploy the +battalion, but charge in column right through whatever he came upon, +and report to me in front of Booneville, if at all possible for him +to get there. If he failed to break through the enemy's line, he was +to go ahead as far as he could, and then if any of his men were left, +and he was able to retreat, he was to do so by the same route he had +taken on his way out. To conduct him on this perilous service I sent +along a thin, sallow, tawny-haired Mississippian named Beene, whom I +had employed as a guide and scout a few days before, on account of +his intimate knowledge of the roads, from the public thoroughfares +down to the insignificant by-paths of the neighboring swamps. With +such guidance I felt sure that the column would get to the desired +point without delay, for there was no danger of its being lost or +misled by taking any of the many by-roads which traversed the dense +forests through which it would be obliged to pass. I also informed +Alger that I should take the reserve and join the main line in front +of Booneville for the purpose of making an advance of my whole force, +and that as a signal he must have his men cheer loudly when he struck +the enemy's rear, in order that my attack might be simultaneous with +his. + +I gave him one hour to go around and come back through the enemy, and +when he started I moved to the front with the balance of the reserve, +to put everything I had into the fight. This meant an inestimable +advantage to the enemy in case of our defeat, but our own safety +demanded the hazard. All along our attenuated line the fighting was +now sharp, and the enemy's firing indicated such numerical strength +that fear of disaster to Alger increased my anxiety terribly as the +time set for his cheering arrived and no sound of it was heard. + +Relying, however, on the fact that Beene's knowledge of the roads +would prevent his being led astray, and confident of Alger's +determination to accomplish the purpose for which he set out, as soon +as the hour was up I ordered my whole line forward. Fortunately, +just as this moment a locomotive and two cars loaded with grain for +my horses ran into Booneville from Corinth. I say fortunately, +because it was well known throughout the command that in the morning, +when I first discovered the large numbers of the enemy, I had called +for assistance; and my troops, now thinking that reinforcements had +arrived by rail from Rienzi, where a division of infantry was +encamped, and inspirated by this belief, advanced with renewed +confidence and wild cheering. Meantime I had the engineer of the +locomotive blow his whistle loudly, so that the enemy might also +learn that a train had come; and from the fact that in a few moments +he began to give way before our small force, I thought that this +strategem had some effect. Soon his men broke, and ran in the utmost +disorder over the country in every direction. I found later, +however, that his precipitous retreat was due to the pressure on his +left from the Second Iowa, in concert with the front attack of the +Second Michigan, and the demoralization wrought in his rear by Alger, +who had almost entirely accomplished the purpose of his expedition, +though he had failed to come through, or so near that I could hear +the signal agreed upon before leaving Booneville. + +After Alger had reached and turned up the Blackland road, the first +thing he came across was the Confederate headquarters; the officers +and orderlies about which he captured and sent back some distance to +a farm-house. Continuing on a gallop, he soon struck the rear of the +enemy's line, but was unable to get through; nor did he get near +enough for me to hear his cheering; but as he had made the distance +he was to travel in the time allotted, his attack and mine were +almost coincident, and the enemy, stampeded by the charges in front +and rear, fled toward Blackland, with little or no attempt to capture +Alger's command, which might readily have been done. Alger's +troopers soon rejoined me at Booneville, minus many hats, having +returned by their original route. They had sustained little loss +except a few men wounded and a few temporarily missing. Among these +was Alger himself, who was dragged from his saddle by the limb of a +tree that, in the excitement of the charge, he was unable to flank. +The missing had been dismounted in one way or another, and run over +by the enemy in his flight; but they all turned up later, none the +worse except for a few scratches and bruises. + +My effective strength in this fight was 827 all told, and Alger's +command comprised ninety officers and men. Chalmers's force was +composed of six regiments and two battalions, and though I have been +unable to find any returns from which to verify his actual numbers, +yet, from the statements of prisoners and from information obtained +from citizens along his line of march, it is safe to say that he had +in the action not less than five-thousand men. Our casualties were +not many--forty-one in all. His loss in killed and wounded was +considerable, his most severely wounded--forty men--falling into our +hands, having been left at farm-houses in the vicinity of the +battlefield. + +The victory in the face of such odds was most gratifying, and as it +justified my disinclination--in fact, refusal--to retire from +Booneville without fighting (for the purpose of saving my +transportation, as directed by superior authority when I applied in +the morning for reinforcements), it was to me particularly grateful. +It was also very valuable in, view of the fact that it increased the +confidence between the officers and men of my brigade and me, and +gave us for the balance of the month not only comparative rest, but +entire immunity from the dangers of a renewed effort to gobble my +isolated outpost. In addition to all this, commendation from my +immediate superiors was promptly tendered through oral and written +congratulations; and their satisfaction at the result of the battle +took definite form a few days later, in the following application for +my promotion, when, by an expedition to Ripley, Miss., most valuable +information as to the enemy's location and plans was captured: + + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, +"JULY 30, 1862.--3.05 P. M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, +"Washington, D. C. + +"Brigadiers scarce; good ones scarce. Asboth goes on the month's +leave you gave him ten months since; Granger has temporary command. +The undersigned respectfully beg that you will obtain the promotion +of Sheridan. He is worth his weight in gold. His Ripley expedition +has brought us captured letters of immense value, as well as +prisoners, showing the rebel plans and dispositions, as you will +learn from District Commander. + +"W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General. +"C. C. SULLIVAN, " " +"G. GRANGER, " " +"W. L. ELLIOTT, " " +"A. ASBOTH, " " " + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +IN CAMP NEAR RIENZI--GENERAL GRANGER--A VALUABLE CAPTURE AT RIPLEY +--RAIDING A CORNFIELD--REPULSING AN ATTACK--PRESENTED WITH THE BLACK +HORSE "RIENZI"--MEETING GENERAL GRANT--APPOINTED A BRIGADIER-GENERAL. + +After the battle of Booneville, it was decided by General Rosecrans, +on the advice of General Granger, that my position at Booneville was +too much exposed, despite the fact that late on the evening of the +fight my force had been increased by the addition of, a battery of +four guns and two companies of infantry, and by the Third Michigan +Cavalry, commanded by Colonel John K. Mizner; so I was directed to +withdraw from my post and go into camp near Rienzi, Mississippi, +where I could equally well cover the roads in front of the army, and +also be near General Asboth's division of infantry, which occupied a +line in rear of the town. This section of country, being higher and +more rolling than that in the neighborhood of Booneville, had many +advantages in the way of better camping-grounds, better grazing and +the like, but I moved with reluctance, because I feared that my +proximity to Asboth would diminish to a certain extent my +independence of command. + +General Asboth was a tall, spare, handsome man, with gray mustache +and a fierce look. He was an educated soldier, of unquestioned +courage, but the responsibilities of outpost duty bore rather heavily +on him, and he kept all hands in a state of constant worry in +anticipation of imaginary attacks. His ideas of discipline were not +very rigid either, and as by this time there had been introduced into +my brigade some better methods than those obtaining when it first +fell to my command, I feared the effect should he, have any control +over it, or meddle with its internal affairs. However, there was +nothing to do but to move to the place designated, but General +Granger, who still commanded the cavalry division to which the +brigade belonged, so arranged matters with General Rosecrans, who had +succeeded to the command of the Army of the Mississippi, that my +independence was to be undisturbed, except in case of a general +attack by the enemy. + +We went into camp near Rienzi, July 22, sending back to the general +field-hospital at Tuscumbia Springs all our sick--a considerable +number--stricken down by the malarial influences around Booneville. +In a few days the fine grazing and abundance of grain for our +exhausted horses brought about their recuperation; and the many large +open fields in the vicinity gave opportunity for drills and parades, +which were much needed. I turned my attention to those disciplinary +measures which, on account of active work in the field, had been +necessarily neglected since the brigade had arrived at Pittsburg +Landing, in April; and besides, we had been busy in collecting +information by scouting parties and otherwise, in prosecution of the +purpose for which we were covering the main army. + +I kept up an almost daily correspondence with General Granger, +concerning the information obtained by scouts and reconnoitring +parties, and he came often to Rienzi to see me in relation to this +and other matters. Previously I had not had much personal +association with Granger. While I was at Halleck's headquarters we +met on one or two occasions, and the day I joined the Second Michigan +at Farmington I saw him for a few moments, but, with such slight +exception, our intercourse had been almost exclusively official. He +had suggested my name, I was told, to Governor Blair, when the +Governor was in search of an officer of the regular army to appoint +to the colonelcy of the Second Michigan Cavalry, but his +recommendation must have been mainly based on the favorable opinions +he had heard expressed by General Halleck and by some of the officers +of his staff, rather than from any personal knowledge of my capacity. +Of course I was very grateful for this, but some of his +characteristics did not impress me favorably, and I sometimes wished +the distance between our camps greater. His most serious failing was +an uncontrollable propensity to interfere with and direct the minor +matters relating to the command, the details for which those under +him were alone responsible. Ill-judged meddling in this respect +often led to differences between us, only temporary it is true, but +most harassing to the subordinate, since I was compelled by the +circumstances of the situation not only invariably to yield my own +judgment, but many a time had to play peacemaker--smoothing down +ruffled feelings, that I knew had been excited by Granger's freaky +and spasmodic efforts to correct personally some trifling fault that +ought to have been left to a regimental or company commander to +remedy. Yet with all these small blemishes Granger had many good +qualities, and his big heart was so full of generous impulses and +good motives as to far outbalance his short-comings; and +not-withstanding the friction and occasional acerbity of our official +intercourse, we maintained friendly relations till his death. + +In pursuance of the fatal mistake made by dispersing Halleck's forces +after the fall of Corinth, General Don Carlos Buell's Army of the +Ohio had been started some time before on its march eastward toward +Chattanooga; and as this movement would be followed of course by a +manoeuvre on the part of the enemy, now at Tupelo under General +Braxton Bragg, either to meet Buell or frustrate his designs by some +counter-operation, I was expected to furnish, by scouting and all +other means available, information as to what was going on within the +Confederate lines. To do the work required, necessitated an increase +of my command, and the Seventh Kansas Cavalry was therefore added to +it, and my picket-line extended so as to cover from Jacinto +southwesterly to a point midway between Rienzi and Booneville, and +then northwesterly to the Hatchie River. Skirmishes between outposts +on this line were of frequent occurrence, with small results to +either side, but they were somewhat annoying, particularly in the +direction of Ripley, where the enemy maintained a considerable +outpost. Deciding to cripple if not capture this outpost, on the +evening of July 27, I sent out an expedition under Colonel Hatch, +which drove the enemy from the town of Ripley and took a few +prisoners, but the most valuable prize was in the shape of a package +of thirty-two private letters, the partial reading of which disclosed +to me the positive transfer from Mississippi of most of Bragg's army, +for the purpose of counteracting Buell's operations in northern +Alabama and East Tennessee. This decisive evidence was of the utmost +importance, and without taking time to read all the letters, I +forwarded them to General Granger July 28, in a despatch which +stated: "I deem it necessary to send them at once; the enemy is +moving in large force on Chattanooga." Other than this the results +of the expedition were few; and the enemy, having fled from Ripley +with but slight resistance, accompanied by almost all the +inhabitants, re-occupied the place next day after our people had +quitted it, and resumed in due time his annoying attacks on our +outposts, both sides trying to achieve something whenever occasion +offered. + +The prevalence of a severe drought had resulted in drying up many of +the streams within the enemy's lines, and, in consequence, he was +obliged to shift his camps often, and send his beef-cattle and mules +near his outposts for water. My scouts kept me well posted in regard +to the movements of both camps and herds; and a favorable opportunity +presenting itself, I sent an expedition on August 14 to gather in +some animals located on Twenty-Mile Creek, a stream always supplied +with water from a source of never-failing, springs. Our side met +with complete success in this instance, and when the expedition +returned, we were all made happy by an abundance of fresh beef, and +by some two hundred captured mules, that we thus added to our trains +at a time when draft animals were much needed. + +Rations for the men were now supplied in fair quantities, and the +only thing required to make us wholly contented was plenty of grain +for our animals. Because of the large number of troops then in West +Tennessee and about Corinth, the indifferent railroad leading down +from Columbus, Ky., was taxed to its utmost capacity to transport +supplies. The quantity of grain received at Corinth from the north +was therefore limited, and before reaching the different outposts, by +passing through intermediate depots of supply, it had dwindled to +insignificance. I had hopes, however, that this condition of things +might be ameliorated before long by gathering a good supply of corn +that was ripening in the neighborhood, and would soon, I thought, be +sufficiently hard to feed to my animals. Not far from my +headquarters there was a particularly fine field, which, with this +end in view, I had carefully protected through the milky stage, to +the evident disappointment of both Asboth's men and mine. They bore +the prohibition well while it affected only themselves, but the trial +was too great when it came to denying their horses; and men whose +discipline kept faith with my guards during the roasting-ear period +now fell from grace. Their horses were growing thin, and few could +withstand the mute appeals of their suffering pets; so at night the +corn, because of individual foraging, kept stealthily and steadily +vanishing, until the field was soon fringed with only earless stalks. +The disappearance was noticed, and the guard increased, but still the +quantity of corn continued to grow less, the more honest troopers +bemoaning the loss, and questioning the honor of those to whose +safekeeping it had been entrusted. Finally, doubtless under the +apprehension that through their irregularities the corn would all +disappear and find its way to the horses in accordance with the +stealthy enterprise of their owners, a general raid was made on the +field in broad daylight, and though the guard drove off the +marauders, I must admit that its efforts to keep them back were so +unsuccessful that my hopes for an equal distribution of the crop were +quickly blasted. One look at the field told that it had been swept +clean of its grain. Of course a great row occurred as to who was to +blame, and many arrests and trials took place, but there had been +such an interchanging of cap numbers and other insignia that it was +next to impossible to identify the guilty, and so much crimination +and acrimony grew out of the affair that it was deemed best to drop +the whole matter. + +On August 27 about half of the command was absent reconnoitring, I +having sent it south toward Tupelo, in the hope of obtaining some +definite information regarding a movement to Holly Springs of the +remainder of the Confederate army, under General Price, when about +mid-day I was suddenly aroused by excited cries and sounds of firing, +and I saw in a moment that the enemy was in my camp. He had come in +on my right flank from the direction of the Hatchie River, pell-mell +with our picket-post stationed about three miles out on the Ripley +road. The whole force of the enemy comprised about eight hundred, +but only his advance entered with my pickets, whom he had charged and +badly stampeded, without, on their part, the pretense of a fight in +behalf of those whom it was their duty to protect until proper +dispositions for defense could be made. The day was excessively hot, +one of those sultry debilitating days that had caused the suspending +of all military exercises; and as most of the men were lounging or +sleeping in their tents, we were literally caught napping. The alarm +spread instantly through the camp, and in a moment the command turned +out for action, somewhat in deshabille it is true, but none the less +effective, for every man had grabbed his rifle and cartridge-box at +the first alarm. Aided by a few shots from Captain Henry Hescock's +battery, we soon drove the intruders from our camp in about the same +disorder in which they had broken in on us. By this time Colonel +Hatch and Colonel Albert L. Lee had mounted two battalions each, and +I moved them out at a lively pace in pursuit, followed by a section +of the battery. No halt was called till we came upon the enemy's +main body, under Colonel Faulkner, drawn up in line of battle near +Newland's store. Opening on him with the two pieces of artillery, I +hurriedly formed line confronting him, and quickly and with but +little resistance drove him in confusion from the field. The sudden +turning of the tables dismayed Faulkner's men, and panic seizing +them, they threw away every loose article of arms or clothing of +which they could dismember themselves, and ran in the wildest +disorder in a mad effort to escape. As the chase went on the panic +increased, the clouds of dust from the road causing an intermingling +of friend and foe. In a little while the affair grew most ludicrous, +Faulkner's hatless and coatless men taking to the woods in such +dispersed order and so demoralized that a good many prisoners were +secured, and those of the enemy who escaped were hunted until dark. +When the recall was sounded, our men came in loaded down with plunder +in the shape of hats, haversacks, blankets, pistols, and shotguns, in +a quantity which amply repaid for the surprise of the morning, but +did not excuse the delinquent commander of our picket-guard, who a +few days later was brought to a realizing sense of his duty by a +court-martial. + +Shortly after this affair Captain Archibald P. Campbell, of the +Second Michigan Cavalry, presented me with the black horse called +Rienzi, since made historical from having been ridden by me in many +battles, conspicuously in the ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek, +which has been celebrated in the poem by T. Buchanan Read. This +horse was of Morgan stock, and then about three years old. He was +jet black, excepting three white feet, sixteen hands high, and +strongly built, with great powers of endurance. He was so active +that he could cover with ease five miles an hour at his natural +walking gait. The gelding had been ridden very seldom; in fact, +Campbell had been unaccustomed to riding till the war broke out, and, +I think, felt some disinclination to mount the fiery colt. Campbell +had an affection for him, however, that never waned, and would often +come to my headquarters to see his favorite, the colt being cared for +there by the regimental farrier, an old man named John Ashley, who +had taken him in charge when leaving Michigan, and had been his groom +ever since. Seeing that I liked the horse--I had ridden him on +several occasions--Campbell presented him to me on one of these +visits, and from that time till the close of the war I rode him +almost continuously, in every campaign and battle in which I took +part, without once finding him overcome by fatigue, though on many +occasions his strength was severely tested by long marches and short +rations. I never observed in him any vicious habit; a nervousness +and restlessness and switch of the tail, when everything about him +was in repose, being the only indication that he might be +untrustworthy. No one but a novice could be deceived by this, +however, for the intelligence evinced in every feature, and his +thoroughbred appearance, were so striking that any person accustomed +to horses could not misunderstand such a noble animal. But Campbell +thought otherwise, at least when the horse was to a certain degree +yet untrained, and could not be pursuaded to ride him; indeed, for +more than a year after he was given to me, Campbell still retained +suspicions of his viciousness, though, along with this mistrust, an +undiminished affection. Although he was several times wounded, this +horse escaped death in action; and living to a ripe old age, died in +1878, attended to the last with all the care and surrounded with +every comfort due the faithful service he had rendered. + +In moving from Corinth east toward Chattanooga, General Buell's army +was much delayed by the requirement that he should repair the Memphis +and Charleston railroad as he progressed. The work of repair obliged +him to march very slowly, and was of but little use when done, for +guerrillas and other bands of Confederates destroyed the road again +as soon as he had passed on. But worst of all, the time thus +consumed gave General Bragg the opportunity to reorganize and +increase his army to such an extent that he was able to contest the +possession of Middle Tennessee and Kentucky. Consequently, the +movement of this army through Tennessee and Kentucky toward the Ohio +River--its objective points being Louisville and Cincinnati--was now +well defined, and had already rendered abortive General Buell's +designs on Chattanooga and East Tennessee. Therefore extraordinary +efforts on the part of the Government became necessary, and the +concentration of National troops at Louisville and Cincinnati to meet +the contingency of Bragg's reaching those points was an obvious +requirement. These troops were drawn from all sections in the West +where it was thought they could be spared, and among others I was +ordered to conduct thither--to Louisville or Cincinnati, as +subsequent developments might demand--my regiment, Hescock's battery, +the Second and Fifteenth Missouri, and the Thirty-sixth and +Forty-fourth Illinois regiments of infantry, known as the "Pea Ridge +Brigade." With this column I marched back to Corinth on the 6th of +September, 1862, for the purpose of getting railroad transportation +to Columbus, Kentucky. + +At Corinth I met General Grant, who by this time had been +reestablished in favor and command somewhat, General Halleck having +departed for Washington to assume command of the army as +General-in-Chief. Before and during the activity which followed his +reinstatement, General Grant had become familiar with my services +through the transmission to Washington of information I had furnished +concerning the enemy's movements, and by reading reports of my fights +and skirmishes in front, and he was loth to let me go. Indeed, he +expressed surprise at seeing me in Corinth, and said he had not +expected me to go; he also plainly showed that he was much hurt at +the inconsiderate way in which his command was being depleted. Since +I was of the opinion that the chief field of usefulness and +opportunity was opening up in Kentucky, I did not wish him to retain +me, which he might have done, and I impressed him with my conviction, +somewhat emphatically, I fear. Our conversation ended with my wish +gratified. I afterward learned that General Granger, whom General +Grant did not fancy, had suggested that I should take to Cincinnati +the main portion of Granger's command--the Pea Ridge Brigade--as well +as the Second Michigan Cavalry, of which I was still colonel. +We started that night, going by rail over the Mobile and Ohio road to +Columbus, Ky., where we embarked on steamboats awaiting us. These +boats were five in number, and making one of them my flag-ship, +expecting that we might come upon certain batteries reported to be +located upon the Kentucky shore of the Ohio, I directed the rest to +follow my lead. Just before reaching Caseyville, the captain of a +tin-clad gunboat that was patrolling the river brought me the +information that the enemy was in strong force at Caseyville, and +expressed a fear that my fleet could not pass his batteries. +Accepting the information as correct, I concluded to capture the +place before trying to pass up the river. Pushing in to the bank as +we neared the town, I got the troops ashore and moved on Caseyville, +in the expectation of a bloody fight, but was agreeably surprised +upon reaching the outskirts of the village by an outpouring of its +inhabitants--men, women, and children--carrying the Stars and +Stripes, and making the most loyal professions. Similar +demonstrations of loyalty had been made to the panic-stricken captain +of the gunboat when he passed down the river, but he did not stay to +ascertain their character, neither by landing nor by inquiry, for he +assumed that on the Kentucky bank of the river there could be no +loyalty. The result mortified the captain intensely; and deeming his +convoy of little further use, he steamed toward Cairo in quest of +other imaginary batteries, while I re-embarked at Caseyville, and +continued up the Ohio undisturbed. About three miles below +Cincinnati I received instructions to halt, and next day I was +ordered by Major-General H. G. Wright to take my troops back to +Louisville, and there assume command of the Pea Ridge Brigade, +composed of the Second and Fifteenth Missouri, Thirty-sixth and +Forty-fourth Illinois infantry, and of such other regiments as might +be sent me in advance of the arrival of General Buell's army. +When I reached Louisville I reported to Major-General William Nelson, +who was sick, and who received me as he lay in bed. He asked me why +I did not wear the shoulder-straps of my rank. I answered that I was +the colonel of the Second Michigan cavalry, and had on my appropriate +shoulder-straps. He replied that I was a brigadier-general for the +Booneville fight, July 1, and that I should wear the shoulder-straps +of that grade. I returned to my command and put it in camp; and +as I had no reluctance to wearing the shoulder-straps of a +brigadier-general, I was not long in procuring a pair, particularly +as I was fortified next day by receiving from Washington official +information of my appointment as a brigadier-general, to date from +July 1, 1862, the day of the battle of Booneville. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +GOOD ADVICE FROM GENERAL NELSON--HIS TRAGIC DEATH--PUTTING LOUISVILLE +IN A STATE OF DEFENSE--ASSIGNED TO THE COMMAND OF THE ELEVENTH +DIVISION--CAPTURE OF CHAPLIN HEIGHTS--BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE--REPORTED +AMONG THE KILLED--A THRILLING INCIDENT--GENERAL BUELL RELIEVED BY +GENERAL ROSECRANS. + +I reported to Major-General Nelson at the Galt House in Louisville, +September 14, 1862, who greeted me in the bluff and hearty fashion of +a sailor--for he had been in the navy till the breaking out of the +war. The new responsibilities that were now to fall upon me by +virtue of increased rank caused in my mind an uneasiness which, I +think, Nelson observed at the interview, and he allayed it by giving +me much good advice, and most valuable information in regard to +affairs in Kentucky, telling me also that he intended I should retain +in my command the Pea Ridge Brigade and Hescock's battery. This +latter assurance relieved me greatly, for I feared the loss of these +troops in the general redistribution which I knew must soon take +place; and being familiar with their valuable service in Missouri, +and having brought them up from Mississippi, I hoped they would +continue with me. He directed me to take position just below the +city with the Pea Ridge Brigade, Hescock's battery, and the Second +Michigan Cavalry, informing me, at the same time, that some of the +new regiments, then arriving under a recent call of the President for +volunteers, would also be assigned to my command. Shortly after the +interview eight new regiments and an additional battery joined me, +thus making good his promise of more troops. + +A few days later came Nelson's tragic end, shocking the whole +country. Those of us in camp outside of the city were startled on +the morning of September 29 by the news that General Jefferson C. +Davis, of the Union Army, had shot General Nelson at the Galt House, +and the wildest rumors in regard to the occurrence came thick and +fast; one to the effect that Nelson was dead, another having it that +he was living and had killed Davis, and still others reflecting on +the loyalty of both, it being supposed by the general public at first +that the difficulty between the two men had grown out of some +political rather than official or personal differences. When the +news came, I rode into the city to the Galt House to learn the +particulars, reaching there about 10 o'clock in the forenoon. Here I +learned that Nelson had been shot by Davis about two hours before, at +the foot of the main stairway leading from the corridor just beyond +the office to the second floor, and that Nelson was already dead. It +was almost as difficult to get reliable particulars of the matter at +the hotel as it had been in my camp, but I gathered that the two men +had met first at an early hour near the counter of the hotel office, +and that an altercation which had begun several days before in +relation to something official was renewed by Davis, who, attempting +to speak to Nelson in regard to the subject-matter of their previous +dispute, was met by an insulting refusal to listen. It now appears +that when Nelson made this offensive remark, Davis threw a small +paper ball that he was nervously rolling between his fingers into +Nelson's face, and that this insult was returned by Nelson slapping +Davis (Killed by a Brother Soldier.--Gen. J. B. Fry.) in the face. +But at the time, exactly what had taken place just before the +shooting was shrouded in mystery by a hundred conflicting stories, +the principal and most credited of which was that Davis had demanded +from Nelson an apology for language used in the original altercation, +and that Nelson's refusal was accompanied by a slap in the face, at +the same moment denouncing Davis as a coward. However this may be, +Nelson, after slapping Davis, moved toward the corridor, from which a +stairway led to the second floor, and just as he was about to ascend, +Davis fired with a pistol that he had obtained from some one near by +after the blow had been struck. The ball entered Nelson's breast +just above the heart, but his great strength enabled him to ascend +the stairway notwithstanding the mortal character of the wound, and +he did not fall till he reached the corridor on the second floor. He +died about half an hour later. The tragedy cast a deep gloom over +all who knew the men, for they both had many warm personal friends; +and affairs at Louisville had hardly recovered as yet from the +confused and discouraging condition which preceded the arrival of +General Buell's army. General Buell reported the killing of Nelson +to the authorities at Washington, and recommended the trial of Davis +by court-martial, but no proceedings were ever instituted against him +in either a civil or military court, so to this day it has not been +determined judicially who was the aggressor. Some months later Davis +was assigned to the command of a division in Buell's army after that +officer had been relieved from its command. + +Two Confederate armies, under General Kirby Smith and General Braxton +Bragg, had penetrated into Kentucky, the one under Smith by the way +of Cumberland Gap, the other and main army under Bragg by way of the +Sequatche Valley, Glasgow, and Mumfordsville. Glasgow was captured +by the enemy on the 17th of September, and as the expectation was +that Buell would reach the place in time to save the town, its loss +created considerable alarm in the North, for fears were now +entertained that Bragg would strike Louisville and capture the city +before Buell could arrive on the ground. It became necessary +therefore to put Louisville in a state of defense, and after the +cordon of principal works had been indicated, my troops threw up in +one night a heavy line of rifle-pits south of the city, from the +Bardstown pike to the river. The apprehended attack by Bragg never +came, however, for in the race that was then going on between him and +Buell on parallel roads, the Army of the Ohio outmarched the +Confederates, its advance arriving at Louisville September 25. + +General Buell immediately set about reorganizing the whole force, and +on September 29 issued an order designating the troops under my +command as the Eleventh Division, Army of the Ohio, and assigning +Brigadier-General J. T. Boyle to command the division, and me to +command one of its brigades. To this I could not object, of course, +for I was a brigadier-general of very recent date, and could hardly +expect more than a brigade. I had learned, however, that at least +one officer to whom a high command had been given--a corps--had not +yet been appointed a general officer by the President, and I +considered it somewhat unfair that I should be relegated to a +brigade, while men who held no commissions at all were being made +chiefs of corps and divisions; so I sought an interview with General +Buell's chief-of-staff, Colonel Fry, and, while not questioning +Buell's good intentions nor his pure motives, insisted that my rights +in the matter should be recognized. That same evening I was assigned +to the command of the Eleventh Division, and began preparing it at +once for a forward movement, which I knew must soon take place in the +resumption of offensive operations by the Army of the Ohio. + +During the interval from September 25 till October 1 there was among +the officers much criticism of General Buell's management of the +recent campaign, which had resulted in his retirement to Louisville; +and he was particularly censured by many for not offering battle to +General Bragg while the two armies were marching parallel to each +other, and so near that an engagement could have been brought on at +any one of several points--notably so at Glasgow, Kentucky, if there +had been a desire to join issue. It was asserted, and by many +conceded, that General Buell had a sufficient force to risk a fight. +He was much blamed for the loss of Mumfordsville also. The capture +of this point, with its garrison, gave Bragg an advantage in the race +toward the Ohio River, which odds would most likely have ensured the +fall of Louisville had they been used with the same energy and skill +that the Confederate commander displayed from Chattanooga to Glasgow; +but something always diverted General Bragg at the supreme moment, +and he failed to utilize the chances falling to him at this time, +for, deflecting his march to the north toward Bardstown, he left open +to Buell the direct road to Louisville by way of Elizabethtown. + +At Bardstown Bragg's army was halted while he endeavored to establish +a Confederate government in Kentucky by arranging for the +installation of a provisional governor at Lexington. Bragg had been +assured that the presence of a Confederate army in Kentucky would so +encourage the secession element that the whole State could be forced +into the rebellion and his army thereby largely increased; but he had +been considerably misled, for he now found that though much latent +sympathy existed for his cause, yet as far as giving active aid was +concerned, the enthusiasm exhibited by the secessionists of Kentucky +in the first year of the war was now replaced by apathy, or at best +by lukewarmness. So the time thus spent in political machinations +was wholly lost to Bragg; and so little reinforcement was added to +his army that it may be said that the recruits gained were not enough +to supply the deficiencies resulting from the recent toilsome marches +of the campaign. + +In the meanwhile Buell had arrived at Louisville, system had been +substituted for the chaos which had previously obtained there, and +orders were issued for an advance upon the enemy with the purpose of +attacking and the hope of destroying him within the limits of the +"blue grass" region, and, failing in that, to drive him from +Kentucky. The army moved October 1, 1862, and my division, now a +part of the Third Corps, commanded by General C. C. Gilbert, marched +directly on Bardstown, where it was thought the enemy would make a +stand, but Bragg's troops retreated toward Perryville, only resisting +sufficiently to enable the forces of General Kirby Smith to be drawn +in closer--they having begun a concentration at Frankfort--so they +could be used in a combined attack on Louisville as soon as the +Confederate commander's political projects were perfected. + +Much time was consumed by Buell's army in its march on Perryville, +but we finally neared it on the evening of October 7. During the +day, Brigadier-General Robert B. Mitchell's division of Gilbert's +corps was in the advance on the Springfield pike, but as the enemy +developed that he was in strong force on the opposite side of a small +stream called Doctor's Creek, a tributary of Chaplin River, my +division was brought up and passed to the front. It was very +difficult to obtain water in this section of Kentucky, as a drought +had prevailed for many weeks, and the troops were suffering so for +water that it became absolutely necessary that we should gain +possession of Doctor's Creek in order to relieve their distress. +Consequently General Gilbert, during the night, directed me to push +beyond Doctor's Creek early the next morning. At daylight on the 8th +I moved out Colonel Dan McCook's brigade and Barnett's battery for +the purpose, but after we had crossed the creek with some slight +skirmishing, I found that we could not hold the ground unless we +carried and occupied a range of hills, called Chaplin Heights, in +front of Chaplin River. As this would project my command in the +direction of Perryville considerably beyond the troops that were on +either flank, I brought up Laiboldt's brigade and Hescock's battery +to strengthen Colonel McCook. Putting both brigades into line we +quickly carried the Heights, much to the surprise of the enemy, I +think, for he did not hold on to the valuable ground as strongly as +he should have done. This success not only ensured us a good supply +of water, but also, later in the day, had an important bearing in the +battle of Perryville. After taking the Heights, I brought up the +rest of my division and intrenched, without much difficulty, by +throwing up a strong line of rifle-pits, although the enemy's +sharpshooters annoyed us enough to make me order Laiboldt's brigade +to drive them in on the main body. This was successfully done in a +few minutes, but in pushing them back to Chaplin River, we discovered +the Confederates forming a line of battle on the opposite bank, with +the apparent purpose of an attack in force, so I withdrew the brigade +to our intrenchments on the crest and there awaited the assault. + +While this skirmishing was going on, General Gilbert--the corps +commander--whose headquarters were located on a hill about a mile +distant to the rear, kept sending me messages by signal not to bring +on an engagement. I replied to each message that I was not bringing +on an engagement, but that the enemy evidently intended to do so, and +that I believed I should shortly be attacked. Soon after returning +to the crest and getting snugly fixed in the rifle-pits, my attention +was called to our left, the high ground we occupied affording me in +that direction an unobstructed view. I then saw General A. McD. +McCook's corps--the First-advancing toward Chaplin River by the +Mackville road, apparently unconscious that the Confederates were +present in force behind the stream. I tried by the use of signal +flags to get information of the situation to these troops, but my +efforts failed, and the leading regiments seemed to approach the +river indifferently prepared to meet the sudden attack that speedily +followed, delivered as it was from the chosen position of the enemy. +The fury of the Confederate assault soon halted this advance force, +and in a short time threw it into confusion, pushed it back a +considerable distance, and ultimately inflicted upon it such loss of +men and guns as to seriously cripple McCook's corps, and prevent for +the whole day further offensive movement on his part, though he +stoutly resisted the enemy's assaults until 4 o'clock in the +afternoon. + +Seeing McCook so fiercely attacked, in order to aid him I advanced +Hescock's battery, supported by six regiments, to a very good +position in front of a belt of timber on my extreme left, where an +enfilading fire could be opened on that portion of the enemy +attacking the right of the First Corps, and also on his batteries +across Chaplin River. But at this juncture he placed two batteries +on my right and began to mass troops behind them, and General +Gilbert, fearing that my intrenched position on the heights might be +carried, directed me to withdraw Hescock and his supports and return +them to the pits. My recall was opportune, for I had no sooner got +back to my original line than the Confederates attacked me furiously, +advancing almost to my intrenchments, notwithstanding that a large +part of the ground over which they had to move was swept by a heavy +fire of canister from both my batteries. Before they had quite +reached us, however, our telling fire made them recoil, and as they +fell back, I directed an advance of my whole division, bringing up my +reserve regiments to occupy the crest of the hills; Colonel William +P. Carlin's brigade of Mitchell's division meanwhile moving forward +on my right to cover that flank. This advance pressed the enemy to +Perryville, but he retired in such good order that we gained nothing +but some favorable ground that enabled me to establish my batteries +in positions where they could again turn their attention to the +Confederates in front of McCook, whose critical condition was shortly +after relieved, however, by a united pressure of Gilbert's corps +against the flank of McCook's assailants, compelling them to retire +behind Chaplin River. + +The battle virtually ended about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, though +more or less desultory firing continued until dark. Considering the +severity of the engagement on McCook's front, and the reverses that +had befallen him, I question if, from that part of the line, much +could have been done toward retrieving the blunders of the day, but +it did seem to me that, had the commander of the army been able to be +present on the field, he could have taken advantage of Bragg's final +repulse, and there would have remained in our hands more than the +barren field. But no attempt was made to do anything more till next +morning, and then we secured little except the enemy's killed and +most severely wounded. + +The operations of my division during the engagement pleased. General +Gilbert very much, and he informed me that he would relax a rigidly +enforced order which General Buell had issued some days before, +sufficiently to permit my trains to come to the front and supply my +almost starving troops with rations. The order in question was one +of those issued, doubtless with a good intent, to secure generally +the safety of our trains, but General Gilbert was not elastic, and on +the march he had construed the order so illiberally that it was next +to impossible to supply the men with food, and they were particularly +short in this respect on the eve of the battle. I had then +endeavored to persuade him to modify his iron-clad interpretation of +the order, but without effect, and the only wagons we could bring up +from the general parks in rear were ambulances and those containing +ammunition. So to gain access to our trains was a great boon, and at +that moment a more welcome result than would have been a complete +victory minus this concession. + +When the battle ceased General Gilbert asked me to join him at +Buell's headquarters, which were a considerable distance to the rear, +so after making some dispositions for the evening I proceeded there +as requested. I arrived just as Buell was about to sit down to his +supper, and noticing that he was lame, then learned that he had been +severely injured by a recent fall from his horse. He kindly invited +me to join him at the table, an invitation which I accepted with +alacrity, enjoying the meal with a relish known only to a very-hungry +man, for I had eaten nothing since morning. Of course the events of +the day were the chief topic of discussion--as they were during my +stay at headquarters--but the conversation indicated that what had +occurred was not fully realized, and I returned to my troops +impressed with the belief that General Buell and his staff-officers +were unconscious of the magnitude of the battle that had just been +fought. + +It had been expected by Buell that he would fight the enemy on the +9th of October, but the Confederates disposed of that proposition by +attacking us on the 8th, thus disarranging a tactical conception +which, with our superior numbers, would doubtless have proved +successful had it not been anticipated by an enterprising foe. +During the battle on the 8th the Second Corps, under General Thomas +L. Crittenden, accompanied by General George H. Thomas, lay idle the +whole day for want of orders, although it was near enough to the +field to take an active part in the fight; and, moreover, a large +part of Gilbert's corps was unengaged during the pressure on McCook. +Had these troops been put in on the enemy's left at any time after he +assaulted McCook, success would have been beyond question; but there +was no one on the ground authorized to take advantage of the +situation, and the battle of Perryville remains in history an example +of lost opportunities. This was due in some measure probably to +General Buell's accident, but is mainly attributable to the fact that +he did not clearly apprehend Bragg's aim, which was to gain time to +withdraw behind Dick's River all the troops he had in Kentucky, for +the Confederate general had no idea of risking the fate of his army +on one general battle at a place or on a day to be chosen by the +Union commander. + +Considering the number of troops actually engaged, the losses to +Buell were severe, amounting to something over five thousand in +killed, wounded, and missing. Among the killed were two brigade +commanders of much promise--General James S. Jackson and General +William R. Terrill. McCook's corps lost twelve guns, some of which +were recovered next day. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded we +never learned, but it must have equalled ours; and about four +thousand prisoners, consisting principally of sick and wounded, fell +into our hands. In the first report of the battle sent North to the +newspapers I was reported among the killed; but I was pleased to +notice, when the papers reached us a few days later, that the error +had been corrected before my obituary could be written. + +The enemy retired from our front the night of the 8th, falling back +on Harrodsburg to form a junction with Kirby Smith, and by taking +this line of retreat opened to us the road to Danville and the chance +for a direct march against his depot of supplies at Bryantsville. We +did not take advantage of this opening, however, and late in the day +--on the 9th--my division marched in pursuit, in the direction of +Harrodsburg, which was the apex of a triangle having for its base a +line from Perryville to Danville. The pursuit was slow, very slow, +consuming the evening of the 9th and all of the 10th and 11th. By +cutting across the triangle spoken of above, just south of the apex, +I struck the Harrodsburg-Danville road, near Cave Springs, joining +there Gilbert's left division, which had preceded me and marched +through Harrodsburg. Here we again rested until the intention of the +enemy could be divined, and we could learn on which side of Dick's +River he would give us battle. A reconnoissance sent toward the +Dickville crossing developed to a certainty that we should not have +another engagement, however; for it disclosed the fact that Bragg's +army had disappeared toward Camp Dick Robinson, leaving only a small +rear-guard at Danville, which in turn quickly fled in the direction +of Lancaster, after exchanging a few shots with Hescock's battery. + +While this parting salute of deadly projectiles was going on, a +little, daughter of Colonel William J. Landram, whose home was in +Danville, came running out from his house and planted a small +national flag on one of Hescock's guns. The patriotic act was so +brave and touching that it thrilled all who witnessed the scene; and +until the close of the war, when peace separated the surviving +officers and men of the battery, that little flag was protected and +cherished as a memento of the Perryville campaign. + +Pursuit of the enemy was not continued in force beyond Crab Orchard, +but some portions of the army kept at Bragg's heels until he crossed +the Cumberland River, a part of his troops retiring to Tennessee by +way of Cumberland Gap, but the major portion through Somerset. As +the retreat of Bragg transferred the theatre of operations back to +Tennessee, orders were now issued for a concentration of Buell's army +at Bowling Green, with a view to marching it to Nashville, and my +division moved to that point without noteworthy incident. I reached +Bowling Green with a force much reduced by the losses sustained in +the battle of Perryville and by sickness. I had started from +Louisville on October 1 with twelve regiments of infantry--four old +and eight new ones--and two batteries, but many poor fellows, +overcome by fatigue, and diseases induced by the heat, dust, and +drought of the season, had to be left at roadside hospitals. This +was particularly the case with the new regiments, the men of which, +much depressed by homesickness, and not yet inured to campaigning, +fell easy victims to the hardships of war. + +At Bowling Green General Buell was relieved, General W. S. Rosecrans +succeeding him. The army as a whole did not manifest much regret at +the change of commanders, for the campaign from Louisville on was +looked upon generally as a lamentable failure, yet there were many +who still had the utmost confidence in General Buell, and they +repelled with some asperity the reflections cast upon him by his +critics. These admirers held him blameless throughout for the +blunders of the campaign, but the greater number laid every error at +his door, and even went to the absurdity of challenging his loyalty +in a mild way, but they particularly charged incompetency at +Perryville, where McCook's corps was so badly crippled while nearly +30,000 Union troops were idle on the field, or within striking +distance. With these it was no use to argue that Buell's accident +stood in the way of his activity, nor that he did not know that the +action had assumed the proportions of a battle. The physical +disability was denied or contested, but even granting this, his +detractors claimed that it did not excuse his ignorance of the true +condition of the fight, and finally worsted his champions by pointing +out that Bragg's retreat by way of Harrodsburg beyond Dick's River so +jeopardized the Confederate army, that had a skillful and energetic +advance of the Union troops been made, instead of wasting precious +time in slow and unnecessary tactical manoeuvres, the enemy could +have been destroyed before he could quit the State of Kentucky. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +MOVING TO BOWLING GREEN--JAMES CARD, THE SCOUT AND GUIDE--GENERAL +SILL--COLONEL SCHAEFER--COLONEL G. W. ROBERTS--MOVEMENT ON +MURFREESBORO'--OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF STONE RIVER. + +My division had moved from Crab Orchard to Bowling Green by easy +marches, reaching this place November 1. General Rosecrans assumed +command of the department October 30, at Louisville, and joined the +army November 2. There had been much pressure brought to bear on +General Buell to induce him to take measures looking to the occupancy +of East Tennessee, and the clamor to this end from Washington still +continued; but now that Bragg was south of the Cumberland River, in a +position threatening Nashville, which was garrisoned by but a small +force, it was apparent to every one at all conversant with the +situation that a battle would have to be fought somewhere in Middle +Tennessee. So, notwithstanding the pressure from Washington, the +army was soon put in motion for Nashville, and when we arrived there +my division went into camp north of the river, on a plateau just +outside the little town of Edgefield, until the movements of the +enemy should be further developed. + +While in this camp, on the plantation of Mr. Hobson, there came to my +headquarters one morning an East Tennessean named James Card, who +offered to the Union cause his services in any capacity in which they +might be made useful. This offer, and the relation of his personal +history, were given with such sincerity of speech and manner that in +a short time I became convinced of his honesty of purpose. He was a +small, active, busy man, with a determined way about him, and his +countenance indicated great intelligence. He gave minute information +that was of inestimable value to me regarding East and Middle +Tennessee and northern Georgia, for, with a view to the army's future +movements, I was then making a study of the topography of this +region, and posting myself as to Middle Tennessee, for all knew this +would be the scene of active operations whenever the campaign was +resumed. This man, like most of the East Tennesseans whom I had met, +was intensely loyal and patriotic, and the interview led in a few +days to his employment as a scout and guide, and subsequently to the +engaging in the same capacity of two of his brothers, who were good +men; but not quite as active nor so intelligent as he was. Card had +been a colporter, having pedled books, especially religious tracts, +over all Middle and East Tennessee and Georgia, assisted by his +brothers at times, and was therefore thoroughly familiar with these +regions, their roads and inhabitants. He also preached to country +congregations occasionally, when ministers were scarce, and I have no +doubt often performed the functions of family physician in the +mountain district. Thus his opportunities were great; and the loyal +people in every section of the country being well known to him and +his brothers, the three began, at this time, a system of scouting and +investigation which bore its first-fruits in specifically locating +the different divisions of Bragg's army, with statements of their +strength and condition, and all with so much accuracy that I +thereafter felt reasonably sure that I could at all times procure +such knowledge of the enemy's operations as would well equip me for +any contingency that might arise. + +By the middle of November the enemy, having assembled his forces in +Middle Tennessee, showed considerable boldness, and it became +necessary to rearrange the Union lines; so my troops were moved to +the south side of the river, out on the Murfreesboro' pike, to Mill +Creek, distant from Nashville about seven miles. While we were in +camp on Mill Creek the army was reorganized, and General Joshua W. +Sill, at his own request, was assigned to my division, and took +command of Colonel Nicholas Greusel's brigade. My division became at +the same time the Third Division, Right Wing, Fourteenth Army Corps, +its three brigades of four regiments each being respectively +commanded by General Sill, Colonel Frederick Schaefer and Colonel Dan +McCook; but a few days later Colonel George W. Roberts's brigade, +from the garrison at Nashville, was substituted for McCook's. + +General Sill was a classmate of mine at the Military Academy, having +graduated in 1853. On graduating he was appointed to the Ordnance +Corps, and served in that department at various arsenals and ordnance +depots throughout the country till early in 1861, when he resigned to +accept a professorship of mathematics and civil engineering at the +Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. At the breaking out +of the war he immediately tendered his services to the Government, +and soon rose to the colonelcy of the Thirty-Third Ohio Volunteers, +and afterward to the rank of brigadier-general. I knew him well, and +was glad that he came to my division, though I was very loth to +relieve Colonel Greusel, of the Thirty-Sixth Illinois, who had +already indicated much military skill and bravery, and at the battle +of Perryville had handled his men with the experience of a veteran. +Sill's modesty and courage were exceeded only by a capacity that had +already been demonstrated in many practical ways, and his untimely +death, almost within a month of his joining me, abruptly closed a +career which, had it been prolonged a little more, not only would +have shed additional lustre on his name, but would have been of +marked benefit to his country. + +Colonel Schaefer, of the Second Missouri Infantry, had been absent on +sick-leave during the Kentucky campaign, but about this date he +returned to duty, and by seniority fell in command of the second +brigade. He was of German birth, having come from Baden, where, +prior to 1848, he had been a non-commissioned officer in the service +of his State. He took part as an insurgent in the so-called +revolution which occurred at Baden in that year, and, compelled to +emigrate on the suppression of the insurrection, made his way to this +country and settled in St. Louis. Here the breaking out of the war +found him, and through the personal interest which General Sigel took +in him he was commissioned a colonel of volunteers. He had had a +pretty fair education, a taste for the military profession, and was +of tall and slender build, all of which gave him a student-like +appearance. He was extremely excitable and nervous when anticipating +a crisis, but always calmed down to cool deliberation when the +critical moment came. With such a man I could not be less than well +satisfied, although the officer whom he replaced--Colonel Laiboldt +--had performed efficient service and shown much capacity in the +recent campaign. + +Colonel G. W. Roberts, of the Forty-Second Illinois Infantry, also +came to me in the reorganization. He was an ideal soldier both in +mind and body. He was young, tall, handsome, brave, and dashing, and +possessed a balance-wheel of such good judgment that in his sphere of +action no occasion could arise from which he would not reap the best +results. But he too was destined to lay, down his life within a few +days, and on the same fatal field. His brigade had been performing +garrison duty in Nashville during the siege of that city while +Buell's army was in Kentucky, but disliking the prospect of +inactivity pending the operations opening before us, Roberts had +requested and obtained a transfer to the army in the field. His +brigade relieved Colonel Dan McCook's, the latter reluctantly joining +the garrison at Nashville, every one in it disappointed and disgusted +that the circumstances existing at this time should necessitate their +relegation to the harassing and tantalizing duty of protecting our +depots and line of supply. + +I was fortunate in having such brigade commanders, and no less +favored in the regimental and battery commanders. They all were not +only patriots, but soldiers, and knowing that discipline must be one +of the most potent factors in bringing to a successful termination, +the mighty contest in which our nation was struggling for existence, +they studied and practiced its methods ceaselessly, inspiring with +the same spirit that pervaded themselves the loyal hearts of their +subordinate officers and men. All worked unremittingly in the camp +at Mill Creek in preparing for the storm, which now plainly indicated +its speedy coming. Drills, parades, scouts, foraging expeditions, +picket and guard duty, made up the course in this school of +instruction, supplemented by frequent changes in the locations of the +different brigades, so that the division could have opportunity to +learn to break camp quickly and to move out promptly on the march. +Foraging expeditions were particularly beneficial in this respect, +and when sent out, though absent sometimes for days, the men went +without tents or knapsacks, equipped with only one blanket and their +arms, ammunition, and rations, to teach them to shift for themselves +with slender means in the event of necessity. The number of +regimental and headquarters wagons was cut down to the lowest +possible figure, and everything made compact by turning into the +supply and ammunition trains of the division all surplus +transportation, and restricting the personal baggage of officers to +the fewest effects possible. + +My own staff also was somewhat reorganized and increased at Mill +Creek, and though it had been perfectly satisfactory before, yet, on +account of the changes of troops that had occurred in the command, I +found it necessary to replace valuable officers in some instances, +and secure additional ones in others. The gathering of information +about the enemy was also industriously pursued, and Card and his +brothers were used constantly on expeditions within the Confederate +lines, frequently visiting Murfreesboro', Sparta, Tullahoma, +Shelbyville, and other points. What they learned was reported to +army headquarters, often orally through me or personally communicated +by Card himself, but much was forwarded in official letters, +beginning with November 24, when I transmitted accurate information +of the concentration of Bragg's main force at Tullahoma. Indeed, +Card kept me so well posted as to every movement of the enemy, not +only with reference to the troops in my immediate front, but also +throughout his whole army, that General Rosecrans placed the most +unreserved reliance on all his statements, and many times used them +to check and correct the reports brought in by his own scouts. + +Slight skirmishes took place frequently during this period, and now +and then heavy demonstrations were made in the neighborhood of +Nolensville by reconnoitring parties from both armies, but none of +these ever grew into a battle. These affairs sprung from the desire +of each side to feel his antagonist, and had little result beyond +emphasizing the fact that behind each line of pickets lay a massed +and powerful army busily preparing for the inevitable conflict and +eager for its opening. So it wore on till the evening of December +25, 1862; then came the order to move forward. + +General Rosecrans, in the reorganization of the army, had assigned +Major-General A. McD. McCook to command the right wing, Major-General +George H. Thomas the centre, and Major-General T. L. Crittenden the +left wing. McCook's wing was made up of three divisions, +commanded in order of rank by Brigadier-General Jeff. C. Davis; +Brigadier-General R. W. Johnson, and Brigadier-General P. H. Sheridan. +Although the corps nomenclature established by General Buell was +dropped, the grand divisions into which he had organized the army at +Louisville were maintained, and, in fact, the conditions established +then remained practically unaltered, with the exception of the +interchange of some brigades, the transfer of a few general officers +from one wing or division to another, and the substitution of General +Thomas for Gilbert as a corps commander. The army was thus compact +and cohesive, undisturbed by discord and unembarrassed by jealousies +of any moment; and it may be said that under a commander who, we +believed, had the energy and skill necessary to direct us to success, +a national confidence in our invincibility made us all keen for a +test of strength with the Confederates. We had not long to wait. + +Early on the morning of December 26, 1862, in a heavy rain, the army +marched, the movement being directed on Murfreesboro', where the +enemy had made some preparation to go into winter-quarters, and to +hold which town it was hoped he would accept battle. General Thomas +moved by the Franklin and Wilson pikes, General Crittenden by the +Murfreesboro' pike, through Lavergne, and General McCook by the +Nolensville pike--Davis's division in advance. As McCook's command +neared Nolensville, I received a message from Davis informing me that +the Confederates were in considerable force, posted on a range of +hills in his front, and requesting me to support him in an attack he +was about to make. When the head of my column arrived at Nolensville +I began massing my troops on the right of the road, and by the time +this formation was nearly completed Davis advanced, but not meeting +with sufficient resistance to demand active assistance from me, he +with his own command carried the hills, capturing one piece of +artillery. This position of the Confederates was a strong one, +defending Knob's Gap, through which the Nolensville and Triune pike +passed. On the 27th Johnson's division, followed by mine, advanced +to Triune, and engaged in a severe skirmish near that place, but my +troops were not called into action, the stand made by the enemy being +only for the purpose of gaining time to draw in his outlying troops, +which done, he retired toward Murfreesboro'. I remained inactive at +Triune during the 28th, but early on the 29th moved out by the Bole +Jack road to the support of, Davis in his advance to Stewart's Creek, +and encamped at Wilkinson's crossroads, from which point to +Murfreesboro', distant about six miles, there was a good turnpike. +The enemy had sullenly resisted the progress of Crittenden and McCook +throughout the preceding three days, and as it was thought probable +that he might offer battle at Stewart's Creek, Thomas, in pursuance +of his original instructions looking to just such a contingency, had +now fallen into the centre by way of the Nolensville crossroads. + +On the morning of the 30th I had the advance of McCook's corps on the +Wilkinson pike, Roberts's brigade leading. At first only slight +skirmishing took place, but when we came within about three miles of +Murfreesboro' the resistance of the enemy's pickets grew serious, and +a little further on so strong that I had to put in two regiments to +push them back. I succeeded in driving them about half a mile, when +I was directed by McCook to form line of battle and place my +artillery in position so that I could act in concert with Davis's +division, which he wished to post on my right in the general line he +desired to take up. In obedience to these directions I deployed on +the right of, and oblique to the Wilkinson pike, with a front of four +regiments, a second line of four regiments within short supporting +distance, and a reserve of one brigade in column of regiments to the +rear of my centre. All this time the enemy kept up a heavy artillery +and musketry fire on my skirmishers, he occupying, with his +sharpshooters, beyond some open fields, a heavy belt of timber to my +front and right, where it was intended the left of Davis should +finally rest. To gain this point Davis was ordered to swing his +division into it in conjunction with a wheeling movement of my right +brigade, until our continuous line should face nearly due east. This +would give us possession of the timber referred to, and not only rid +us of the annoying fire from the skirmishers screened by it, but also +place us close in to what was now developing as Bragg's line of +battle. The movement was begun about half-past 2, and was +successfully executed, after a stubborn resistance. In this +preliminary affair the enemy had put in one battery of artillery, +which was silenced in a little while, however, by Bush's and +Hescock's guns. By sundown I had taken up my prescribed position, +facing almost east, my left (Roberts's brigade) resting on the +Wilkinson pike, the right (Sill's brigade) in the timber we had just +gained, and the reserve brigade (Schaefer's) to the rear of my +centre, on some rising ground in the edge of a strip of woods behind +Houghtaling's and Hescock's batteries. Davis's division was placed +in position on my right, his troops thrown somewhat to the rear, so +that his line formed nearly a right angle with mine, while Johnson's +division formed in a very exposed position on the right of Davis, +prolonging the general line just across the Franklin pike. + +The centre, under Thomas, had already formed to my left, the right of +Negley's division joining my left in a cedar thicket near the +Wilkinson pike, while Crittenden's corps was posted on the left of +Thomas, his left resting on Stone River, at a point about two miles +and a half from Murfreesboro'. + +The precision that had characterized every manoeuvre of the past +three days, and the exactness with which each corps and division fell +into its allotted place on the evening of the 30th, indicated that at +the outset of the campaign a well-digested plan of operations had +been prepared for us; and although the scheme of the expected battle +was not known to subordinates of my grade, yet all the movements up +to this time had been so successfully and accurately made as to give +much promise for the morrow, and when night fell there was general +anticipation of the best results to the Union army. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +ASSAULT ON OUR RIGHT FLANK--OCCUPYING A NEW POSITION--THE ENEMY +CHECKED--TERRIBLE LOSS OF OFFICERS--AMMUNITION GIVES OUT +--RECONSTRUCTING THE LINE--COLLECTING THE WOUNDED AND BURYING +THE DEAD--DEALING WITH COWARDS--RESULTS OF THE VICTORY. + +The enemy under Bragg lay between us and stone River in order of +battle, his general line conforming to the course of that stream. In +my immediate front he appeared to be established in strong force in a +dense cedar wood, just beyond an open valley, which varied from two +hundred to four hundred yards in width, the cedars extending the +entire length of the valley. From the events of the day and evening +of the 3oth, it was apparent that the two armies were in close +proximity, and orders received during the night revealed the fact +that Rosecrans intended to attack by throwing his left on the enemy's +right, with the expectation of driving it in toward Murfreesboro', so +that the right of Crittenden's corps could attack Bragg's centre in +reverse, while Thomas supported Crittenden by a simultaneous front +assault; and from the movements of the enemy at daylight next +morning, it was plainly indicated that Bragg had planned to swing his +left on our right by an exactly similar manoeuvre, get possession of +the railroad and the Nashville pike, and if possible cut us off from +our base at Nashville. The conceptions in the minds of the two +generals were almost identical; but Bragg took the initiative, +beginning his movement about an hour earlier than the time set by +Rosecrans, which gained him an immense advantage in execution in the +earlier stages of the action. + +During the evening, feeling keenly all the solicitude which +attends one in anticipation of a battle, I examined my position with +great care, inspecting its whole length several times to remedy any +defects that might exist, and to let the men see that I was alive to +their interests and advantages. After dark, I went back to the rear +of my reserve brigade, and establishing my headquarters behind the +trunk of a large fallen tree, which would shelter me somewhat from +the cold December wind, lay down beside a small camp-fire to get some +rest. + +At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 31st General Sill came back to me +to report that on his front a continuous movement of infantry and +artillery had been going on all night within the Confederate lines, +and that he was convinced that Bragg was massing on our right with +the purpose of making an attack from that direction early in the +morning. After discussing for a few minutes the probabilities of +such a course on the part of the enemy, I thought McCook should be +made acquainted with what was going on, so Sill and I went back to +see him at his headquarters, not far from the Griscom House, where we +found him sleeping on some straw in the angle of a worm-fence. I +waked him up and communicated the intelligence, and our consequent +impressions. He talked the matter over with us for some little time, +but in view of the offensive-defensive part he was to play in the +coming battle, did not seem to think that there was a necessity for +any further dispositions than had already been taken. He said that +he thought Johnson's division would be able to take care of the +right, and seemed confident that the early assault which was to be +made from Rosecrans's left would anticipate and check the designs +which we presaged. We two then returned to my little camp-fire +behind the log, and as we continued talking of what might be expected +from the indications on the right, and Sill becoming more anxious, I +directed two regiments from the reserve to report to him, that they +might be placed within very short supporting distance of his line. +He then rejoined his brigade, better satisfied, but still adhering to +the belief he had expressed when first making his report. + +Long before dawn my division breakfasted, and was assembled under +arms, the infantry in line, the cannoneers at their pieces, but while +we were thus preparing, all the recent signs of activity in the +enemy's camp were hushed, a death-like stillness prevailing in the +cedars to our front. Shortly after daylight General Hardee opened +the engagement, just as Sill had predicted, by a fierce attack on +Johnson's division, the extreme right of the Union line. Immediate +success attending this assault, Hardee extended the attack gradually +along in front of Davis, hip movement taking the form of a wheel to +the right, the pivot being nearly opposite the left of my division. +Johnson's division soon gave way, and two of Davis's brigades were +forced to fall back with it, though stubbornly resisting the +determined and sweeping onset. + +In the meantime the enemy had also attacked me, advancing across an +old cotton-field in Sill's front in heavy masses, which were +furiously opened upon by Bush's battery from Sill's line, and by +Hescock's and Houghtaling's batteries, which had an oblique fire on +the field from a commanding position in rear of my centre. The +effect of this fire on the advancing column was terrible, but it +continued on till it reached the edge of the timber where Sill's +right lay, when my infantry opened at a range of not over fifty +yards. For a short time the Confederates withstood the fire, but +then wavered, broke, and fell back toward their original line. As +they retired, Sill's brigade followed in a spirited charge, driving +them back across the open ground and behind their intrenchments. In +this charge the gallant Sill was killed; a rifle ball passing through +his upper lip and penetrating the brain. Although this was a heavy +loss, yet the enemy's discomfiture was such as to give us an hour's +time, and as Colonel Greusel, Thirty-sixth Illinois, succeeded to +Sill's command, I directed him, as he took charge, to recall the +brigade to its original position, for the turning-column on my +extreme right was now assuming the most menacing attitude, and it was +urgently necessary to prepare for it. + +When that portion of the enemy driven back by Sill recovered from its +repulse it again advanced to the attack, this time directing its +efforts chiefly upon my extreme right, and the front of Woodruff's +brigade of Davis's division, which brigade still held on in its first +position. In front of my centre the Confederates were again driven +back, but as the assault on Woodruff was in conjunction with an +advance of the column that had forced Johnson to retire, Woodruff was +compelled unfortunately to give way, and two regiments on the right +of my line went with him, till they rallied on the two reserve +regiments which, in anticipation of the enemy's initiatory attack I +had sent to Sill's rear before daylight. + +Both Johnson's and Davis's divisions were now practically gone from +our line, having retired with a loss of all formation, and they were +being closely pursued by the enemy, whose columns were following the +arc of a circle that would ultimately carry him in on my rear. In +consequence of the fact that this state of things would soon subject +me to a fire in reverse, I hastily withdrew Sill's brigade and the +reserve regiments supporting it, and ordered Roberts's brigade, which +at the close of the enemy's second repulse had changed front toward +the south and formed in column of regiments, to cover the withdrawal +by a charge on the Confederates as they came into the timber where my +right had originally rested. Roberts made the charge at the proper +time, and was successful in checking the enemy's advance, thus giving +us a breathing-spell, during which I was able to take up a new +position with Schaefer's and Sill's brigades on the commanding ground +to the rear, where Hescock's and Houghtaling's batteries had been +posted all the morning. + +The general course of this new position was at right angles with my +original line, and it took the shape of an obtuse angle, with my +three batteries at the apex. Davis, and Carlin of his division, +endeavored to rally their men here on my right, but their efforts +were practically unavailing,--though the calm and cool appearance of +Carlin, who at the time was smoking a stumpy pipe, had some effect, +and was in strong contrast to the excited manner of Davis, who seemed +overpowered by the disaster that had befallen his command. But few +could be rallied, however, as the men were badly demoralized, and +most of them fell back beyond the Wilkinson pike, where they +reorganized behind the troops of General Thomas. + +At this juncture the enemy's turning-column began advancing again in +concert with Cheatham's division, and as the extreme left of the +Confederates was directed on Griscom's house, and their right on the +Blanton house, my new position was in danger of envelopment. No hope +of stemming the tide at this point seemed probable, but to gain time +I retained my ground as long as possible, and until, under directions +from General McCook, I moved to the front from my left flank and +attached myself to the right of Negley's division, which up to this +hour had been left almost undisturbed by the enemy in the line it had +taken up the night before. Under a heavy fire we succeeded in this +manoeuvre, Schaefer's brigade marching first, then the batteries, and +Roberts's and Sill's brigades following. When my division arrived on +this new ground, I posted Roberts on Negley's right, with Hescock's +and Bush's guns, the brigade and guns occupying a low rocky ridge of +limestone, which faced them toward Murfreesboro', nearly south. The +rest of my division was aligned facing west, along the edge of a +cedar thicket, the rear rank backed up on the right flank of Roberts, +with Houghtaling's battery in the angle. This presented Sill's and +Schaefer's brigades in an almost opposite direction to the line we +had so confidently taken up the night before, and covered Negley's +rear. The enemy, in the meantime, had continued his wheeling +movement till he occupied the ground that my batteries and reserve +brigade had held in the morning, and I had now so changed my position +that the left brigade of my division approached his intrenchments in +front of Stone River, while Sill's and Schaeffer's brigades, by +facing nearly west, confronted the successful troops that had smashed +in our extreme right. + +I had hardly got straightened out in this last place when I was +attacked by Cheatham's'division, which, notwithstanding the +staggering blows it had previously received from Sill and Roberts, +now again moved forward in conjunction with the wheeling movement +under the immediate command of Hardee. One of the most sanguinary +contests of the day now took place. In fulfillment of Bragg's +original design no doubt, Cheatham's division attacked on my left, +while heavy masses under Hardee, covered by batteries posted on the +high ground formerly occupied by my guns, assaulted my right, the +whole force advancing simultaneously. At the same time the enemy +opened an artillery fire from his intrenchments in front of +Murfreesboro', and it seemed that he was present on every side. My +position was strong, however, located in the edge of a dense cedar +thicket and commanding a slight depression of open ground that lay in +my front. My men were in good spirits too, notwithstanding they had +been a good deal hustled around since daylight, with losses that had +told considerably on their numbers. Only a short distance now +separated the contending lines, and as the batteries on each side +were not much more than two hundred yards apart when the enemy made +his assault, the artillery fire was fearful in its effect on the +ranks of both contestants, the enemy's heavy masses staggering under +the torrent of shell and canister from our batteries, while our lines +were thinned by his ricochetting projectiles, that rebounded again +and again over the thinly covered limestone formation and sped on to +the rear of Negley. But all his efforts to dislodge or destroy us +were futile, and for the first time since daylight General Hardee was +seriously checked in the turning movement he had begun for the +purpose of getting possession of the Nashville pike, and though +reinforced until two-fifths of Bragg's army was now at his command, +yet he met with repulse after repulse, which created great gaps in +his lines and taught him that to overwhelm us was hopeless. + +As the enemy was recoiling from his first attack, I received a +message from Rosecrans telling me that he was making new +dispositions, and directing me to hold on where I was until they were +completed. From this I judged that the existing conditions of the +battle would probably require a sacrifice of my command, so I +informed Roberts and Schaefer that we must be prepared to meet the +demand on us by withstanding the assault of the enemy, no matter what +the outcome. Every energy was therefore bent to the simple holding +of our ground, and as ammunition was getting scarce, instructions +were given throughout the command to have it reserve its fire till +the most effective moment. In a little while came a second and a +third assault, and although they were as daring and furious as the +first, yet in each case the Confederates were repulsed, driven back +in confusion, but not without deadly loss to us, for the noble +Roberts was killed, and Colonel Harrington, of the Twenty-Seventh +Illinois, who succeeded to his brigade, was mortally wounded a few +minutes later. I had now on the death-roll three brigade commanders, +and the loss of subordinate officers and men was appalling, but their +sacrifice had accomplished the desired result; they had not fallen in +vain. Indeed, the bravery and tenacity of my division gave to +Rosecrans the time required to make new dispositions, and exacted +from our foes the highest commendations. + +A lull followed the third fierce assault, and an investigation showed +that, with the exception of a few rounds in my brigade, our +ammunition was entirely exhausted; and while it was apparent that the +enemy was reluctant to renew the conflict in my front, yet I was +satisfied I could not hold on much longer without the danger of +ultimate capture, so I prepared to withdraw as soon as the troops of +Rousseau's division, which had been ordered to take up a line on my +right, came into position. Schaefer's and Sill's brigades being +without a cartridge, I directed them to fix bayonets for a charge, +and await any attempt of the enemy to embarrass my retreat, while +Roberts's brigade, offering such resistance as its small quantity of +ammunition would permit, was pulled slowly in toward the Nashville +pike. Eighty of the horses of Houghtaling's battery having been +killed, an attempt was made to bring his guns back by hand over the +rocky ground, but it could not be done, and we had to abandon them. +Hescock also had lost most of his horses, but all his guns were +saved. Bush's battery lost two pieces, the tangled underbrush in the +dense cedars proving an obstacle to getting them away which his +almost superhuman exertions could not surmount. Thus far the bloody +duel had cost me heavily, one-third of my division being killed or +wounded. I had already three brigade commanders killed; a little +later I lost my fourth--Colonel Schaefer. + +The difficulties of withdrawing were very great, as the ground was +exceptionally rocky, and the growth of cedars almost impenetrable for +wheeled carriages. Retiring sullenly under a heavy fire, while the +general line was reformed to my right and rear, my division was at +length drawn through the cedars and debouched into an open space near +the Murfreesboro' pike, behind the right of Palmer's division. Two +regiments of Sill's brigade, however, on account of the conformation +of the ground, were obliged to fall back from the point where +Woodruff's brigade of Davis's division had rallied after the disaster +of the early morning. The division came out of the cedars with +unbroken ranks, thinned by only its killed and wounded--but few +missing. When we came into the open ground, McCook directed +Roberts's brigade--now commanded by Colonel Luther P. Bradley--to +proceed a short distance to the rear on the Nashville pike, to repel +the enemy's threatening attempt at our communications. Willingly and +cheerfully the brigade again entered the fight under these new +conditions, and although it was supplied with but three or four +cartridges to the man now, it charged gallantly and recaptured two +pieces of artillery which the Union troops had had to abandon at that +point. + +Shortly after we debouched from the cedars I was directed by +Rosecrans to send some aid to the right of General Palmer's division; +and two of Schaefer's regiments, having obtained ammunition, were +pushed up on Palmer's right, accompanied by four of Hescock's guns; +but the advance of the enemy here had already been checked by Palmer, +and only a desultory contest ensued. Rosecrans, whom I now met in +the open ground west of the railroad, behind Palmer, directed that my +command should relieve Wood's division, which was required to fall +back and take up the new line that had been marked out while I was +holding on in the cedars. His usually florid face had lost its ruddy +color, and his anxious eyes told that the disasters of the morning +were testing his powers to the very verge of endurance, but he seemed +fully to comprehend what had befallen us. His firmly set lips and, +the calmness with which his instructions were delivered inspired +confidence in all around him; and expressing approbation of what my +division had done, while deliberately directing it to a new point, he +renewed in us all the hope of final victory, though it must be +admitted that at this phase of the battle the chances lay largely +with the enemy. + +Withdrawing the two regiments and Hescock's battery, that I had +posted on the right of Palmer, I moved as directed by Rosecrans into +the position to the east of the railroad, and formed immediately to +the right of Wood, who was now being attacked all along his front, +but more particularly where his right rested near the railroad. +Under a storm of shot and shell that came in torrents my troops took +up the new ground, advancing through a clump of open timber to Wood's +assistance. Forming in line in front of the timber we poured a +telling fire into the enemy's ranks, which were then attacking across +some cleared fields; but when he discovered additional troops +confronting him, he gave up the attempt to carry Wood's position. It +was here that I lost Schaefer, who was killed instantly, making my +fourth brigade commander dead that day. The enemy in front of Wood +having been checked, our whole line east of the railroad executed +undisturbed its retrograde movement to a position about three hundred +yards to its rear. When I fell back to the edge of the clump of +timber, where when first coming on the ground I had formed to help +Wood, I was ordered by Rosecrans to prepare to make a charge should +the enemy again assault us. In anticipation of this work I massed my +troops in close column. The expected attack never came, however, but +the shot and shell of a furious cannonade told with fatal effect upon +men and officers as they lay on their faces hugging the ground. The +torments of this trying situation were almost unbearable, but it was +obvious to all that it was necessary to have at hand a compact body +of troops to repel any assault the enemy might make pending the +reconstruction of the extreme right of our line, and a silent +determination to stay seemed to take hold of each individual soldier; +nor was this grim silence interrupted throughout the cannonade, +except in one instance, when one of the regiments broke out in a +lusty cheer as a startled rabbit in search of a new hiding-place +safely ran the whole length of the line on the backs of the men. + +While my troops were still lying here, General Rosecrans, with a part +of his staff and a few orderlies, rode out on the rearranged line to +supervise its formation and encourage the men, and in prosecution of +these objects moved around the front of my column of attack, within +range of the batteries that were shelling us so viciously. As he +passed to the open ground on my left, I joined him. The enemy seeing +this mounted party, turned his guns upon it, and his accurate aim was +soon rewarded, for a solid shot carried away the head of Colonel +Garesche, the chief-of-staff, and killed or wounded two or three +orderlies. Garesche's appalling death stunned us all, and a +momentary expression of horror spread over Rosecrans's face; but at +such a time the importance of self-control was vital, and he pursued +his course with an appearance of indifference, which, however, those +immediately about him saw was assumed, for undoubtedly he felt most +deeply the death of his friend and trusted staff-officer. + +No other attacks were made on us to the east of the railroad for the +rest of the afternoon, and just before dark I was directed to +withdraw and take up a position along the west side of the Nashville +pike, on the extreme right of our new line, where Roberts's brigade +and the Seventy-third and Eighty-eighth Illinois had already been +placed by McCook. The day had cost me much anxiety and sadness, and +I was sorely disappointed at the general result, though I could not +be other than pleased at the part taken by my command. The loss of +my brigade commanders--Sill, Roberts, Schaefer, and Harrington-and a +large number of regimental and battery officers, with so many of +their men, struck deep into my heart: My thinned ranks told the +woeful tale of the fierce struggles, indescribable by words, through +which my division had passed since 7 o'clock in the morning; and +this, added to our hungry and exhausted condition, was naturally +disheartening. The men had been made veterans, however, by the +fortunes and misfortunes of the day, and as they went into their new +places still confident of final success, it was plain to see that +they felt a self-confidence inspired by the part they had already +played. + +My headquarters were now established on the Nashville pike, about +three miles and a half from Murfreesboro'; my division being aligned +to the west of the pike, bowed out and facing almost west, Cleburn's +division of the Confederates confronting it. Davis's division was +posted on my right, and Walker's brigade of Thomas's corps, which had +reported to me, took up a line that connected my left with Johnson's +division. + +Late in the evening General Rosecrans, accompanied by General McCook, +and several other officers whose names I am now unable to recall, +rode by my headquarters on their way to the rear to look for a new +line of battle--on Overall's creek it was said--that would preserve +our communications with Nashville and offer better facilities for +resistance than the one we were now holding. Considerable time had +elapsed when they returned from this exploration and proceeded to +their respective commands, without intimating to me that anything had +been determined upon by the reconnoissance, but a little later it was +rumored through the different headquarters that while the party was +looking for a new position it discovered the enemy's troops moving +toward our right and rear, the head of his columns being conducted in +the darkness by the aid of torches, and that no alternative was left +us but to hold the lines we then occupied. The torches had been seen +unquestionably, and possibly created some alarm at first in the minds +of the reconnoitring party, but it was soon ascertained that the +lights came from a battalion of the Fourth regular cavalry that was +picketing our flank and happened to be starting its bivouac fires at +the moment. The fires and the supposed movements had no weight, +therefore, in deciding the proposition to take up a line at Overall's +creek, but General Rosecrans, fortunately for the army, decided to +remain where he was. Doubtless reflections during his ride caused +him to realize that the enemy must be quite as much crippled as +himself. If it had been decided to fall back to Overall's creek, we +could have withdrawn without much difficulty very likely, but such a +retrograde movement would have left to the enemy the entire +battle-field of Stone River and ultimately compelled our retreat +to Nashville. + +In the night of December 3rd several slight demonstrations were made +on my front, but from the darkness neither party felt the effect of +the other's fire, and when daylight came again the skirmishers and +lines of battle were in about the same position they had taken up the +evening before. Soon after daybreak it became evident that the +conflict was to be renewed, and a little later the enemy resumed the +offensive by an attack along my left front, especially on Walker's +brigade. His attempt was ineffectual, however, and so easily +repulsed as to demonstrate that the desperate character of his +assaults the day before had nearly exhausted his strength. About 3 +o'clock in the afternoon he made another feeble charge on my front, +but our fire from the barricades and rifle-pits soon demoralized his +advancing lines, which fell back in some confusion, thus enabling us +to pick up about a hundred prisoners. From this time till the +evening of January 3 Bragg's left remained in our front, and +continued to show itself at intervals by weak demonstrations, which +we afterward ascertained were directly intended to cover the +desperate assault he made with Breckenridge on the left of Rosecrans, +an assault that really had in view only a defensive purpose, for +unless Bragg dislodged the troops which were now massing in front of +his right he would be obliged to withdraw General Polk's corps behind +Stone River and finally abandon Murfreesboro'. The sequel proved +this to be the case; and the ill-judged assault led by Breckenridge +ending in entire defeat, Bragg retired from Murfreesboro' the night +of January 3. + +General Rosecrans occupied Murfreesboro' on the 4th and 5th, having +gained a costly victory, which was not decisive enough in its +character to greatly affect the general course of the war, though it +somewhat strengthened and increased our hold on Middle Tennessee. +The enemy in retiring did not fall back very far--only behind Duck +River to Shelbyville and Tullahoma--and but little endeavor was made +to follow him. Indeed, we were not in condition to pursue, even if +it had been the intention at the outset of the campaign. + +As soon as possible after the Confederate retreat I went over the +battle-field to collect such of my wounded as had not been carried +off to the South and to bury my dead. In the cedars and on the +ground where I had been so fiercely assaulted when the battle opened, +on the morning of the 31st, evidences of the bloody struggle appeared +on every hand in the form of broken fire-arms, fragments of +accoutrements, and splintered trees. The dead had nearly all been +left unburied, but as there was likelihood of their mutilation by +roving swine, the bodies had mostly been collected in piles at +different points and inclosed by rail fences. The sad duties of +interment and of caring for the wounded were completed by the 5th, +and on the 6th I moved my division three miles, south of +Murfreesboro' on the Shelbyville pike, going into camp on the banks +of Stone River. Here the condition of my command was thoroughly +looked into, and an endeavor made to correct such defects as had been +disclosed by the recent battle. + +During the engagement there had been little straggling, and my list +of missing was small and legitimate; still, it was known that a very +few had shirked their duty, and an example was necessary. Among this +small number were four officers who, it was charged, had abandoned +their colors and regiments. When their guilt was clearly +established, and as soon as an opportunity occurred, I caused the +whole division to be formed in a hollow square, closed in mass, and +had the four officers marched to the centre, where, telling them that +I would not humiliate any officer or soldier by requiring him to +touch their disgraced swords, I compelled them to deliver theirs up +to my colored servant, who also cut from their coats every insignia +of rank. Then, after there had been read to the command an order +from army headquarters dismissing the four from the service, the +scene was brought to a close by drumming the cowards out of camp. It +was a mortifying spectacle, but from that day no officer in that +division ever abandoned his colors. + +My effective force in the battle of Stone River was 4,154 officers +and men. Of this number I lost 1,633 killed, wounded, and missing, +or nearly 40 per cent. In the remaining years of the war, though +often engaged in most severe contests, I never experienced in any of +my commands so high a rate of casualties. The ratio of loss in the +whole of Rosecrans's army was also high, and Bragg's losses were +almost equally great. Rosecrans carried into the action about 42,000 +officers and men. He lost 13,230, or 31 per cent. Bragg's effective +force was 37,800 officers and men; he lost 10,306, or nearly 28 per +cent. + +Though our victory was dearly bought, yet the importance of gaining +the day at any price was very great, particularly when we consider +what might have been the result had not the gallantry of the army and +the manoeuvring during the early disaster saved us from ultimate +defeat. We had started out from Nashville on an offensive campaign, +probably with no intention of going beyond Murfreesboro', in +midwinter, but still with the expectation of delivering a crushing +blow should the enemy accept our challenge to battle. He met us with +a plan of attack almost the counterpart of our own. In the execution +of his plan he had many advantages, not the least of which was his +intimate knowledge of the ground, and he came near destroying us. +Had he done so, Nashville would probably have fallen; at all events, +Kentucky would have been opened again to his incursions, and the +theatre of war very likely transferred once more to the Ohio River. +As the case now stood, however, Nashville was firmly established as a +base for future operations, Kentucky was safe from the possibility of +being again overrun, and Bragg, thrown on the defensive, was +compelled to give his thoughts to the protection of the interior of +the Confederacy and the security of Chattanooga, rather than indulge +in schemes of conquest north of the Cumberland River. While he still +held on in Middle Tennessee his grasp was so much loosened that only +slight effort would be necessary to push him back into Georgia, and +thus give to the mountain region of East Tennessee an opportunity to +prove its loyalty to the Union. + +The victory quieted the fears of the West and Northwest, destroyed +the hopes of the secession element in Kentucky, renewed the drooping +spirits of the East Tennesseans, and demoralized the disunionists in +Middle Tennessee; yet it was a negative victory so far as concerned +the result on the battle-field. Rosecrans seems to have planned the +battle with the idea that the enemy would continue passive, remain +entirely on the defensive, and that it was necessary only to push +forward our left in order to force the evacuation of Murfreesboro'; +and notwithstanding the fact that on the afternoon of December 30 +McCook received information that the right of Johnson's division. +resting near the Franklin pike, extended only to about the centre of +the Confederate army, it does not appear that attack from that +quarter was at all apprehended by the Union commanders. + +The natural line of retreat of the Confederates was not threatened by +the design of Rosecrans; and Bragg, without risk to his +communications, anticipated it by a counter-attack of like character +from his own left, and demolished his adversary's plan the moment we +were thrown on the defensive. Had Bragg followed up with the spirit +which characterized its beginning the successful attack by Hardee on +our right wing--and there seems no reason why he should not have done +so--the army of Rosecrans still might have got back to Nashville, but +it would have been depleted and demoralized to such a degree as to +unfit it for offensive operations for a long time afterward. Bragg's +intrenchments in front of Stone River were very strong, and there +seems no reason why he should not have used his plain advantage as +explained, but instead he allowed us to gain time, intrench, and +recover a confidence that at first was badly shaken. Finally, to cap +the climax of his errors, he directed Breckenridge to make the +assault from his right flank on January 2, with small chance for +anything but disaster, when the real purpose in view could have been +accomplished without the necessity of any offensive manoeuvre +whatever. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +APPOINTED A MAJOR-GENERAL--THE SECRET EXPEDITION UNDER CARD THE +SCOUT--HIS CAPTURE BY GUERRILLAS--ESCAPE--A REVENGE PARTY--WOMEN +SOLDIERS--A FIGHT WITH SABRES--TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN--A FOOLISH +ADVENTURE. + +On the 6th of January, 1863, my division settled quietly down in its +camp south of Murfreesboro'. Its exhausted condition after the +terrible experiences of the preceding week required attention. It +needed recuperation, reinforcement, and reorganization, and I set +about these matters without delay, in anticipation of active +operations early in the spring. No forward movement was made for +nearly six months, however, and throughout this period drills, +parades, reconnoissances, and foraging expeditions filled in the time +profitably. In addition to these exercises the construction of +permanent fortifications for the security of Murfreesboro' was +undertaken by General Rosecrans, and large details from my troops +were furnished daily for the work. Much attention was also given to +creating a more perfect system of guard and picket duty-a matter that +had hitherto been somewhat neglected in the army, as its constant +activity had permitted scant opportunity for the development of such +a system. It was at this time that I received my appointment as a +major-general of Volunteers. My promotion had been recommended by +General Rosecrans immediately after the battle of Stone River, but +for some reason it was delayed until April, and though a long time +elapsed between the promise and the performance, my gratification was +extreme. + +My scout, Card, was exceedingly useful while encamped near +Murfreesboro, making several trips to East Tennessee within the +enemy's lines to collect information as to the condition of the loyal +people there, and to encourage them with the hope of early +liberation. He also brought back from each trip very accurate +statements as to the strength and doings of the Confederate army, +fixing almost with certainty its numbers and the locations of its +different divisions, and enabling my engineer-officer--Major +Morhardt--to construct good maps of the country in our front. On +these dangerous excursions Card was always accompanied by one of his +brothers, the other remaining with me to be ready for duty if any +accident occurred to those who had gone out, or in case I wanted to +communicate with them. In this way we kept well posted, although the +intelligence these men brought was almost always secured at the risk +of their lives. + +Early in the spring, before the Tullahoma campaign began, I thought +it would be practicable, by sending out a small secret expedition of +but three or four men, to break the Nashville and Chattanooga +railroad between Chattanooga and the enemy's position at Tullahoma by +burning the bridges in Crow Creek valley from its head to Stevenson, +Alabama, and then the great bridge across the Tennessee River at +Bridgeport. Feeling confident that I could persuade Card to +undertake the perilous duty, I broached the contemplated project to +him, and he at once jumped at the opportunity of thus distinguishing +himself, saying that with one of his brothers and three other loyal +East Tennesseeans, whose services he knew could be enlisted, he felt +sure of carrying out the idea, so I gave him authority to choose his +own assistants. In a few days his men appeared at my headquarters, +and when supplied with money in notes of the State Bank of Tennessee, +current everywhere as gold in those days, the party, composed of +Card, the second brother, and the three East Tennesseeans, started on +their precarious enterprise, their course being directed first toward +the Cumberland Mountains, intending to strike the Nashville and +Chattanooga railroad somewhere above Anderson's station. They +expected to get back in about fifteen days, but I looked for some +knowledge of the progress of their adventure before the expiration of +that period, hoping to hear through Confederate sources prisoners and +the like-of the destruction of the bridges. I waited in patience for +such news, but none came, and as the time Card had allotted himself +passed by, I watched anxiously for his return, for, as there was +scarcely a doubt that the expedition had proved a failure, the fate +of the party became a matter of deep concern to Card's remaining +brother and to me. Finally this brother volunteered to go to his +father's house in East Tennessee to get tidings of the party, and I +consented, for the probabilities were that some of them had made +their way to that point, or at least that some information had +reached there about them. As day after day went by, the time fixed +for this brother's return came round, yet he also remained out; but +some days after the lad was due Card himself turned up accompanied by +the brother he had taken with him, soon explained his delay in +getting back, and gave me the story of his adventures while absent. + +After leaving my camp, his party had followed various byways across +the Cumberland Mountains to Crow Creek Valley, as instructed; but +when nearing the railroad above Anderson's Station, they were +captured by some guerrillas prowling about that vicinity, and being +suspected of disloyalty to the Confederacy, were carried to +Chattanooga and imprisoned as Yankee spies. Their prospects now were +decidedly discouraging, for death stared them in the face. +Fortunately, however, some delays occurred relative to the +disposition that should be made of them, and they, meanwhile, +effected their escape from their jailors by way of one of the prison +windows, from which they managed to displace a bar, and by a skiff, +in the darkness of night, crossed the Tennessee River a little below +Chattanooga. From this point the party made their way back to my +camp, traveling only at night, hiding in the woods by day, and for +food depending on loyal citizens that Card had become acquainted with +when preaching and peddling. + +Card's first inquiry after relating his story was for the youngest +brother, whom he had left with me. I told him what I had done, in my +anxiety about himself, and that more than sufficient time had elapsed +for his brother's return. His reply was: "They have caught him. The +poor fellow is dead." His surmise proved correct; for news soon came +that the poor boy had been captured at his father's house, and +hanged. The blow to Card was a severe one, and so hardened his heart +against the guerrillas in the neighborhood of his father's home--for +he knew they were guilty of his brother's murder--that it was with +difficulty I could persuade him to continue in the employment of the +Government, so determined was he to avenge his brother's death at the +first opportunity. Finally, however, I succeeded in quieting the +almost uncontrollable rage that seemed to possess him, and he +remained with me during the Tullahoma and Chickamauga campaigns; but +when we reached Knoxville the next winter, he took his departure, +informing me that he was going for the bushwhackers who had killed +his brother. A short time after he left me, I saw him at the head of +about thirty well-armed East Tennesseeans--refugees. They were +determined-looking men, seeking revenge for the wrongs and sufferings +that had been put upon them in the last two years, and no doubt +wreaked their vengeance right and left on all who had been in any way +instrumental in persecuting them. + +The feeding of our army from the base at Louisville was attended with +a great many difficulties, as the enemy's cavalry was constantly +breaking the railroad and intercepting our communications on the +Cumberland River at different points that were easily accessible to +his then superior force of troopers. The accumulation of reserve +stores was therefore not an easy task, and to get forage ahead a few +days was well-nigh impossible, unless that brought from the North was +supplemented by what we could gather from the country. Corn was +abundant in the region to the south and southwest of Murfreesboro', +so to make good our deficiences in this respect, I employed a brigade +about once a week in the duty of collecting and bringing in forage, +sending out sometimes as many as a hundred and fifty wagons to haul +the grain which my scouts had previously located. In nearly every +one of these expeditions the enemy was encountered, and the wagons +were usually loaded while the skirmishers kept up a running fire, +Often there would occur a respectable brush, with the loss on each +side of a number of killed and wounded. The officer in direct +command always reported to me personally whatever had happened during +the time he was out--the result of his reconnoissance, so to speak, +for that war the real nature of these excursions--and on one occasion +the colonel in command, Colonel Conrad, of the Fifteenth Missouri, +informed me that he got through without much difficulty; in fact, +that everything had gone all right and been eminently satisfactory, +except that in returning he had been mortified greatly by the conduct +of the two females belonging to the detachment and division train at +my headquarters. These women, he said, had given much annoyance by +getting drunk, and to some extent demoralizing his men. To say that +I was astonished at his statement would be a mild way of putting it, +and had I not known him to be a most upright man and of sound sense, +I should have doubted not only his veracity, but his sanity. +Inquiring who they were and for further details, I was informed that +there certainly were in the command two females, that in some +mysterious manner had attached themselves to the service as soldiers; +that one, an East Tennessee woman, was a teamster in the division +wagon-train and the other a private soldier in a cavalry company +temporarily attached to my headquarters for escort duty. While out +on the foraging expedition these Amazons had secured a supply of +"apple-jack" by some means, got very drunk, and on the return had +fallen into Stone River and been nearly drowned. After they had been +fished from, the water, in the process of resuscitation their sex was +disclosed, though up to this time it appeared to be known only to +each other. The story was straight and the circumstance clear, +so, convinced of Conrad's continued sanity, I directed the +provost-marshal to bring in arrest to my headquarters the two +disturbers of Conrad's peace of mind, After some little search the +East Tennessee woman was found in camp, somewhat the worse for the +experiences of the day before, but awaiting her fate content idly +smoking a cob-pipe. She was brought to me, and put in duress under +charge of the division surgeon until her companion could be secured. +To the doctor she related that the year before she had "refugeed" from +East Tennessee, and on arriving in Louisville assumed men's apparel +and sought and obtained employment as a teamster in the +quartermaster's department. Her features were very large, and so +coarse and masculine was her general appearance that she would readily +have passed as a man, and in her case the deception was no doubt +easily practiced. Next day the "she dragoon" was caught, and proved +to be a rather prepossessing young woman, and though necessarily +bronzed and hardened by exposure, I doubt if, even with these marks of +campaigning, she could have deceived as readily as did her companion. +How the two got acquainted, I never learned, and though they had +joined the army independently of each other, yet an intimacy had +sprung up between them long before the mishaps of the foraging +expedition. They both were forwarded to army headquarters, and, when +provided with clothing suited to their sex, sent back to Nashville, +and thence beyond our lines to Louisville. + +On January 9, by an order from the War Department, the Army of the +Cumberland had been divided into three corps, designated the +Fourteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-first. This order did not alter the +composition of the former grand divisions, nor change the commanders, +but the new nomenclature was a decided improvement over the clumsy +designations Right Wing, Centre, and Left Wing, which were well +calculated to lead to confusion sometimes. McCook's wing became the +Twentieth Corps, and my division continued of the same organization, +and held the same number as formerly-the Third Division, Twentieth +Corps. My first brigade was now commanded by Brigadier-General +William H. Lytle, the second by Colonel Bernard Laiboldt, and the +third by Colonel Luther P. Bradley. + +On the 4th of March I was directed to move in light marching order +toward Franklin and join General Gordon Granger, to take part in some +operations which he was projecting against General Earl Van Dorn, +then at Spring Hill. Knowing that my line of march would carry me +through a region where forage was plentiful, I took along a large +train of empty wagons, which I determined to fill with corn and send +back to Murfreesboro', believing that I could successfully cover the +train by Minty's brigade of cavalry, which had joined me for the +purpose of aiding in a reconnoissance toward Shelbyville. In +marching the column I placed a regiment of infantry at its head, then +the wagon-train, then a brigade of infantry--masking the cavalry +behind this brigade. The enemy, discovering that the train was with +us, and thinking he could capture it, came boldly out with his, +cavalry to attack. The head of his column came up to the crossroads +at Versailles, but holding him there, I passed the train and infantry +brigade beyond toward Eagleville, and when my cavalry had been thus +unmasked, Minty, followed by the balance of my division, which was +still behind, charged him with the sabre. Success was immediate and +complete, and pursuit of the routed forces continued through +Unionville, until we fell upon and drove in the Confederate outposts +at Shelbyville. Here the enemy was taken by surprise evidently, +which was most fortunate for us, otherwise the consequences might +have been disastrous. Minty captured in the charge about fifty +prisoners and a few wagons and mules, and thus enabled me to load my +train with corn, and send it back to Murfreesboro' unmolested. In +this little fight the sabre was freely used by both sides, and I do +not believe that during the whole war I again knew of so large a +percentage of wounds by that arm in proportion to the numbers +engaged. + +That night I encamped at Eagleville, and next day reported to Granger +at Franklin, arriving in the midst of much excitement prevailing on +account of the loss of Coburn's brigade, which had been captured the +day before a little distance south of that point, while marching to +form a junction with a column that had been directed on Columbia from +Murfreesboro'. Shortly after Coburn's capture General Granger had +come upon the scene, and the next day he advanced my division and +Minty's troops directly on Spring Hill, with a view to making some +reprisal; but Van Dorn had no intention of accommodating us, and +retired from Spring Hill, offering but little resistance. He +continued to fall back, till finally he got behind Duck River, where +operations against him ceased; for, in consequence of the incessant +rains of the season, the streams had become almost impassable. +Later, I returned by way of Franklin to my old camp at Murfreesboro', +passing over on this march the ground on which the Confederate +General Hood met with such disaster the following year in his attack +on Stanley's corps. + +My command had all returned from the Franklin expedition to +Murfreesboro' and gone into camp on the Salem pike by the latter part +of March, from which time till June it took part in only the little +affairs of outposts occurring every now and then on my own front. In +the meanwhile General Rosecrans had been materially reinforced by the +return of sick and wounded men; his army had become well disciplined, +and was tolerably supplied; and he was repeatedly pressed by the +authorities at Washington to undertake offensive operations. + +During the spring and early summer Rosecrans resisted, with a great +deal of spirit and on various grounds, these frequent urgings, and +out of this grew up an acrimonious correspondence and strained +feeling between him and General Halleck. Early in June, however, +stores had been accumulated and other preparations made for a move +forward, Resecrans seeming to have decided that he could safely risk +an advance, with the prospect of good results. Before finally +deciding, he called upon most of his corps and division commanders +for their opinions on certain propositions which he presented, and +most of them still opposed the projected movement, I among the +number, reasoning that while General Grant was operating against +Vicksburg, it was better to hold Bragg in Middle Tennessee than to +push him so far back into Georgia that interior means of +communication would give the Confederate Government the opportunity +of quickly joining a part of his force to that of General Johnson in +Mississippi. + +At this stage, and in fact prior to it, Rosecrans seemed to manifest +special confidence in me, often discussing his plans with me +independent of the occasions on which he formally referred them for +my views. I recollect that on two different occasions about this +time he unfolded his designs to me in this informal way, outlining +generally how he expected ultimately to force Bragg south of the +Tennessee River, and going into the details of the contemplated move +on Tullahoma. His schemes, to my mind, were not only comprehensive, +but exact, and showed conclusively, what no one doubted then, that +they were original with him. I found in them very little to +criticise unfavorably, if we were to move at all, and Rosecrans +certainly impressed me that he favored an advance at an early day, +though many of his generals were against it until the operations on +the Mississippi River should culminate in something definite. There +was much, fully apparent in the circumstances about his headquarters, +leading to the conviction that Rosecrans originated the Tullahoma +campaign, and the record of his prior performances collaterally +sustains the visible evidence then existing. In my opinion, then, +based on a clear recollection of various occurrences growing out of +our intimacy, he conceived the plan of the Tullahoma campaign and the +one succeeding it; and is therefore entitled to every credit that +attended their execution, no matter what may be claimed for others. + +On the 23d of June Bragg was covering his position north of Duck +River with a front extending from McMinnville, where his cavalry +rested, through Wartrace and Shelbyville to Columbia, his depot being +at Tullahoma. Rosecrans, thinking that Bragg would offer strong +resistance at Shelbyville--which was somewhat protected by a spur +of low mountains or hills, offshoots of the Cumberland Mountains +--decided to turn that place; consequently, he directed the mass +of the Union army on the enemy's right flank, about Manchester. + +On the 26th of June McCook's corps advanced toward Liberty Gap, my +divisions marching on the Shelbyville pike. I had proceeded but a +few miles when I encountered the enemy's pickets, who fell back to +Christiana, about nine miles from Murfreesboro'. Here I was assailed +pretty wickedly by the enemy's sharpshooters and a section of +artillery, but as I was instructed to do nothing more than cover the +road from Eagleville, over which Brannan's division was to approach +Christiana, I made little reply to this severe annoyance, wishing to +conceal the strength of my force. As soon as the head of Brannan's +column arrived I marched across-country to the left, and encamped +that night at the little town of Millersburg, in the vicinity of +Liberty Gap. I was directed to move from Millersburg, on Hoover's +Gap--a pass in the range of hills already referred to, through which +ran the turnpike from Murfreesboro' to Manchester--but heavy rains +had made the country roads almost impassable, and the last of my +division did not reach Hoover's Gap till the morning of June 27, +after its abandonment by the enemy. Continuing on to Fairfield, the +head of my column met, south of that place, a small force of +Confederate infantry and cavalry, which after a slight skirmish +Laiboldt's brigade drove back toward Wartrace. The next morning I +arrived at Manchester, where I remained quiet for the day. Early on +the 29th I marched by the Lynchburg road for Tullahoma, where the +enemy was believed to be in force, and came into position about six +miles from the town. + +By the 31st the whole army had been concentrated, in spite of many +difficulties, and though, on account of the heavy rains that had +fallen almost incessantly since we left Murfreesboro', its movements +had been slow and somewhat inaccurate, yet the precision with which +it took up a line of battle for an attack on Tullahoma showed that +forethought and study had been given to every detail. The enemy had +determined to fall back from Tullahoma at the beginning of the +campaign, however, and as we advanced, his evacuation had so far +progressed that when, on July 1. We reached the earthworks thrown. +up early in the year for the defense of the place, he had almost +wholly disappeared, carrying off all his stores and munitions of war +except some little subsistence and eleven pieces of artillery. A +strong rearguard remained to cover the retreat, and on my front the +usual encounters between advancing and retreating forces took place. +Just before reaching the intrenchments on the Lynchburg road, I came +upon an open space that was covered by a network of fallen trees and +underbrush, which had been slashed all along in front of the enemy's +earthworks. This made our progress very difficult, but I shortly +became satisfied that there were only a few of the enemy within the +works, so moving a battalion of cavalry that had joined me the day +before down the road as rapidly as the obstructions would permit, the +Confederate pickets quickly departed, and we gained possession of the +town. Three siege guns, four caissons, a few stores, and a small +number of prisoners fell into my hands. + +That same evening orders were issued to the army to push on from +Tullahoma in pursuit, for, as it was thought that we might not be +able to cross Elk River on account of its swollen condition, we could +do the enemy some damage by keeping close as possible at his heels. +I marched on the Winchester road at 3 o'clock on the 2d of July and +about 8 o'clock reached Elk River ford. The stream was for the time +truly an impassable torrent, and all hope of crossing by the +Winchester ford had to be abandoned. Deeming that further effort +should be made, however, under guidance of Card, I turned the head of +my column in the direction of Alisona, marching up the river and +nearly parallel with it till I came to Rock Creek. With a little +delay we got across Rock Creek, which was also much swollen, and +finding a short distance above its mouth a ford on Elk River that +Card said was practicable, I determined to attempt it: Some of the +enemy's cavalry were guarding this ford, but after a sharp little +skirmish my battalion of cavalry crossed and took up a strong +position on the other bank. The stream was very high and the current +very swift, the water, tumbling along over its rocky bed in an +immense volume, but still it was fordable for infantry if means could +be devised by which the men could keep their feet. A cable was +stretched across just below the ford as a lifeline for the weaker +ones, and then the men of the entire division having secured their +ammunition by placing the cartridge-boxes on their shoulders, the +column pushed cheerfully into the rushing current. The men as they +entered the water joined each other in sets of four in a close +embrace, which enabled them to retain a foothold and successfully +resist the force of the flood. When they were across I turned the +column down the left bank of Elk River, and driving the enemy from +some slight works near Estelle Springs, regained the Winchester road. + +By this time it was clear that Bragg intended to fall back behind the +Tennessee River, and our only chance of accomplishing anything of +importance was to smash up his rear-guard before it crossed the +Cumberland Mountains, and in pursuance of this idea I was directed to +attack such of his force as was holding on to Winchester. At 4 +o'clock on the morning of July 2 I moved on that town, and when we +got close to it directed my mounted troops to charge a small force of +Confederate cavalry that was picketing their front. The Confederates +resisted but little, and our men went with them in a disorderly chase +through the village to Boiling Fork, a small stream about half a mile +beyond. Here the fleeing pickets, rallying behind a stronger force, +made a stand, and I was directed by McCook to delay till I +ascertained if Davis's division, which was to support me, had made +the crossing of Elk River, and until I could open up communication +with Brannan's division, which was to come in on my left at Decherd. +As soon as I learned that Davis was across I pushed on, but the delay +had permitted the enemy to pull his rear-guard up on the mountain, +and rendered nugatory all further efforts to hurt him materially, our +only returns consisting in forcing him to relinquish a small amount +of transportation and forage at the mouth of the pass just beyond +Cowan, a station on the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga +railroad. + +At Cowan, Colonel Watkins, of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, reported to +me with twelve hundred mounted men. Having heard during the night +that the enemy had halted on the mountain near the University--an +educational establishment on the summit--I directed Watkins to make a +reconnoissance and find out the value of the information. He learned +that Wharton's brigade of cavalry was halted at the University to +cover a moderately large force of the enemy's infantry which had not +yet got down the mountain on the other side, so I pushed Watkins out +again on the 5th, supporting him by a brigade of infantry, which I +accompanied myself. We were too late, however, for when we arrived +at the top of the mountain Wharton had disappeared, and though +Watkins pursued to Bridgeport, he was able to do nothing more, and on +his return reported that the last of the enemy had crossed the +Tennessee River and burned the railroad bridge. + +Nothing further could now be done, so I instructed Watkins to rejoin +the division at Cowan, and being greatly fatigued by the hard +campaigning of the previous ten days, I concluded to go back to my +camp in a more comfortable way than on the back of my tired horse. +In his retreat the enemy had not disturbed the railway track at all, +and as we had captured a hand-car at Cowan, I thought I would have it +brought up to the station near the University to carry me down the +mountain to my camp, and, desiring company, I persuasively invited +Colonel Frank T. Sherman to ride with me. I sent for the car by a +courier, and for a long time patiently awaited its arrival, in fact, +until all the returning troops had passed us, but still it did not +come. Thinking it somewhat risky to remain at the station without +protection, Sherman and myself started our horses to Cowan by our +orderlies, and set out on foot to meet the car, trudging along down +the track in momentary expectation of falling in with our private +conveyance. We had not gone very far before night overtook us, and +we then began to realize the dangers surrounding us, for there we +were alone and helpless, tramping on in the darkness over an unknown +railroad track in the enemy's country, liable on the one hand to go +tumbling through some bridge or trestle, and on the other, to +possible capture or death at the hands of the guerrillas then +infesting these mountains. Just after dark we came to a little cabin +near the track, where we made bold to ask for water, notwithstanding +the fact that to disclose ourselves to the inmates might lead to +fatal consequences. The water was kindly given, but the owner and +his family were very much exercised lest some misfortune might befall +us near their house, so they encouraged us to move on with a frankness +inspired by fear of future trouble to themselves. + +At every turn we eagerly hoped to meet the hand-car, but it never +came, and we jolted on from tie to tie for eleven weary miles, +reaching Cowan after midnight, exhausted and sore in every muscle +from frequent falls on the rough, unballasted road-bed. Inquiry. +developed that the car had been well manned, and started to us as +ordered, and nobody could account for its non-arrival. Further +investigation next day showed, however, that when it reached the foot +of the mountain, where the railroad formed a junction, the improvised +crew, in the belief no doubt that the University was on the main line +instead of near the branch to Tracy City, followed the main stem +until it carried them clear across the range down the Crow Creek +Valley, where the party was captured. + +I had reason to remember for many a day this foolish adventure, for +my sore bones and bruised muscles, caused me physical suffering until +I left the Army of the Cumberland the next spring; but I had still +more reason to feel for my captured men, and on this account I have +never ceased to regret that I so thoughtlessly undertook to rejoin my +troops by rail, instead of sticking to my faithful horse. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +ORDERED TO OCCUPY BRIDGEPORT--A SPY--THE BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA +--GENERAL THOMAS--TREATED TO COFFEE--RESULTS OF THE BATTLE. + +The Tullahoma campaign was practically closed by the disappearance of +the enemy from the country north of the Tennessee River. Middle +Tennessee was once more in the possession of the National troops, and +Rosecrans though strongly urged from Washington to continue on, +resisted the pressure until he could repair the Nashville and +Chattanooga railroad, which was of vital importance in supplying his +army from its secondary base at Nashville. As he desired to hold +this road to where it crossed the Tennessee, it was necessary to push +a force beyond the mountains, and after a few days of rest at Cowan +my division was ordered to take station at Stevenson, Alabama, the +junction of the Memphis and Charleston road with the Nashville and +Chattanooga, with instructions to occupy Bridgeport also. + +The enemy had meanwhile concentrated most of his forces at +Chattanooga for the twofold purpose of holding this gateway of the +Cumberland Mountains, and to assume a defensive attitude which would +enable him to take advantage of such circumstances as might arise in +the development of the offensive campaign he knew we must make. The +peculiar topography of the country was much to his advantage, and +while we had a broad river and numerous spurs and ridges of the +Cumberland Mountains to cross at a long distance from our base, he +was backed up on his depots of supply, and connected by interior +lines of railway with the different armies of the Confederacy, so +that he could be speedily reinforced. + +Bridgeport was to be ultimately a sub-depot for storing subsistence +supplies, and one of the points at which our army would cross the +Tennessee, so I occupied it on July 29 with two brigades, retaining +one at Stevenson, however, to protect that railway junction from +raids by way of Caperton's ferry. By the 29th of August a +considerable quantity of supplies had been accumulated, and then +began a general movement of our troops for crossing the river. As +there were not with the army enough pontoons to complete the two +bridges required, I was expected to build one of them of trestles; +and a battalion of the First Michigan Engineers under Colonel Innis +was sent me to help construct the bridge. Early on the 31st I sent +into the neighboring woods about fifteen hundred men with axes and +teams, and by nightfall they had delivered on the riverbank fifteen +hundred logs suitable for a trestle bridge. Flooring had been +shipped to me in advance by rail, but the quantity was insufficient, +and the lack had to be supplied by utilizing planking and +weather-boarding taken from barns and houses in the surrounding +country. The next day Innis's engineers, with the assistance of the +detail that had felled the timber, cut and half-notched the logs, and +put the bridge across; spanning the main channel, which was swimming +deep, with four or five pontoons that had been sent me for this +purpose. On the 2d and 3d of September my division crossed on the +bridge in safety, though we were delayed somewhat because of its +giving way once where the pontoons joined the trestles. We were +followed by a few detachments from other commands, and by nearly +all the transportation of McCook's corps. + +After getting to the south side of the Tennessee River I was ordered +to Valley Head, where McCook's corps was to concentrate. On the 4th +of September I ascended Sand Mountain, but had got only half way +across the plateau, on top, when night came, the march having been a +most toilsome one. The next day we descended to the base, and +encamped near Trenton. On the 10th I arrived at Valley Head, and +climbing Lookout Mountain, encamped on the plateau at Indian Falls. +The following day I went down into Broomtown Valley to Alpine. +The march of McCook's corps from Valley Head to Alpine was in +pursuance of orders directing it to advance on Summerville, the +possession of which place would further threaten the enemy's +communications, it being assumed that Bragg was in full retreat +south, as he had abandoned Chattanooga on the 8th. This assumption +soon proved erroneous, however, and as we, while in Broomtown Valley, +could not communicate directly with Thomas's corps, the scattered +condition of the army began to alarm us all, and McCook abandoned the +advance to Summerville, ordering back to the summit of Lookout +Mountain such of the corps trains as had got down into Broomtown +Valley. + +But before this I had grown uneasy in regard to the disjointed +situation of our army, and, to inform myself of what was going on, +determined to send a spy into the enemy's lines. In passing Valley +Head on the 10th my scout Card, who had been on the lookout for some +one capable to undertake the task, brought me a Union man with whom +he was acquainted, who lived on Sand Mountain, and had been much +persecuted by guerrillas on account of his loyal sentiments. He knew +the country well, and as his loyalty was vouched for I asked him to +go into the enemy's camp, which I believed to be near Lafayette, and, +bring me such information as he could gather. He said such a journey +would be at the risk of his life, and that at best he could not +expect to remain in that section of country if he undertook it, but +that he would run all the chances if I would enable him to emigrate +to the West at the end c f the "job," which I could do by purchasing +the small "bunch" of stock he owned on the mountain. To this I +readily assented, and he started on the delicate undertaking. He +penetrated the enemy's lines with little difficulty, but while +prosecuting his search for information was suspected, and at once +arrested and placed under guard. From this critical situation he +escaped; however, making his way through the enemy's picket-line in +the darkness by crawling on his belly and deceiving the sentinels by +imitating the grunts of the half-wild, sand-colored hogs with which +the country abounded. He succeeded in reaching Rosecrans's +headquarters finally, and there gave the definite information that +Bragg intended to fight, and that he expected to be reinforced by +Longstreet. + +By this time it was clear that Bragg had abandoned Chattanooga with +the sole design of striking us in detail as we followed in pursuit; +and to prevent his achieving this purpose orders came at 12 o'clock, +midnight, for McCook to draw in toward Chattanooga. This could be +done only by recrossing Lookout Mountain, the enemy's army at +Lafayette now interposing between us and Thomas's corps. The +retrograde march began at once. I moved back over the mountain on +the 13th and 14th to Stevens's Mills, and on the 15th and 16th +recrossed through Stevens's Gap, in the Lookout range, and encamped +at its base in McLamore's cove. The march was made with all possible +celerity, for the situation was critical and demanded every exertion. +The ascent and descent of the mountains was extremely exhausting, the +steep grades often rendering it necessary to drag up and let down by +hand both the transportation and artillery. But at last we were in +conjunction with the main army, and my division breathed easier. + +On the 17th I remained in line of battle all day and night in front +of McLamore's cove, the enemy making slight demonstrations against me +from the direction of Lafayette. The main body of the army having +bodily moved to the left meanwhile, I followed it on the 18th, +encamping at Pond Spring. On the 19th I resumed the march to the +left and went into line of battle at Crawfish Springs to cover our +right and rear. Immediately after forming this line, I again became +isolated by the general movement to the left, and in consequence was +directed to advance and hold the ford of Chickamauga Creek at Lee and +Gordon's Mills, thus coming into close communication with the balance +of our forces. I moved into this position rapidly, being compelled, +though, first to drive back the enemy's cavalry skirmishers, who, +having crossed to the west side of the creek, annoyed the right flank +of my column a good deal while en route. + +Upon arrival at Lee and Gordon's Mills I found the ford over +Chickamauga Creek temporarily uncovered, through the hurried movement +of Wood to the assistance of Davis's division. The enemy was already +present in small force, with the evident intention of taking +permanent possession, but my troops at once actively engaged him and +recovered the ford with some slight losses. Scarcely had this been +done when I was directed to assist Crittenden. Leaving Lytle's +brigade at the ford, I proceeded with Bradley's and Laiboldt's to +help Crittenden, whose main line was formed to the east of the +Chattanooga and Lafayette road, its right trending toward a point on +Chickamauga Creek about a mile and a half north of Lee and Gordon's +Mills. By the time I had joined Crittenden with my two brigades, +Davis had been worsted in an attack Rosecrans had ordered him to make +on the left of that portion of the enemy's line which was located +along the west bank of the Chickamauga, the repulse being so severe +that one of Davis's batteries had to be abandoned. Bradley's brigade +arrived on the ground first and was hastily formed and thrown into +the fight, which up to this moment had been very doubtful, fortune +inclining first to one side, then to the other. Bradley's brigade +went in with steadiness, and charging across an open corn-field that +lay in front of the Lafayette road, recovered Davis's guns and forced +the enemy to retire. Meanwhile Laiboldt's brigade had come on the +scene, and forming it on Bradley's right, I found myself at the end +of the contest holding the ground which was Davis's original +position. It was an ugly fight and my loss was heavy, including +Bradley wounded. The temporary success was cheering, and when +Lytle's brigade joined me a little later I suggested to Crittenden +that we attack, but investigation showed that his troops, having been +engaged all day, were not in condition, so the suggestion could not +be carried out. + +The events of the day had indicated that Bragg's main object was to +turn Rosecrans's left; it was therefore still deemed necessary that +the army should continue its flank movement to the left, so orders +came to draw my troops in toward the widow Glenn's house. By +strengthening the skirmish line and shifting my brigades in +succession from right to left until the point designated was reached, +I was able to effect the withdrawal without much difficulty, calling +in my skirmish line after the main force had retired. + +My command having settled down for the night in this new line I rode +to army headquarters, to learn if possible the expectations for the +morrow and hear the result of the battle in General Thomas's front. +Nearly all the superior officers of the army were at headquarters, +and it struck me that much depression prevailed, notwithstanding the +fact that the enemy's attempts during the day to turn our left flank +and also envelop our right had been unsuccessful. It was now +positively known, through prisoners and otherwise, that Bragg had +been reinforced to such an extent as to make him materially outnumber +us, consequently there was much apprehension for the future. + +The necessity of protecting our left was most apparent, and the next +day the drifting in that direction was to be continued. This +movement in the presence of the enemy, who at all points was actively +seeking an opportunity to penetrate our line and interpose a column +between its right and left, was most dangerous. But the necessity +for shifting the army to the left was obvious, hence only the method +by which it was undertaken is open to question. The move was made by +the flank in the face of an exultant foe superior in numbers, and was +a violation of a simple and fundamental military principle. Under +such circumstances columns naturally stretch out into attenuated +lines, organizations become separated, and intervals occur, all of +which we experienced; and had the orders for the movement been +construed properly I doubt if it could have been executed without +serious danger. Necessity knows no law, however, and when all the +circumstances of this battle are fully considered it is possible that +justification may be found for the manoeuvres by which the army was +thus drifted to the left. We were in a bad strait unquestionably, +and under such conditions possibly the exception had to be applied +rather than the rule. + +At daylight on the morning of the 20th a dense fog obscured +everything; consequently both armies were passive so far as fighting +was concerned. Rosecrans took advantage of the inaction to rearrange +his right, and I was pulled back closer to the widow Glenn's house to +a strong position, where I threw together some rails and logs as +barricades, but I was disconnected from the troops on my left by a +considerable interval. Here I awaited the approach of the enemy, but +he did not disturb me, although about 9 o'clock in the forenoon he +had opened on our extreme left with musketry fire and a heavy +cannonade. Two hours later it was discovered by McCook that the +interval between the main army and me was widening, and he ordered me +to send Laiboldt's brigade to occupy a portion of the front that had +been covered by Negley's division. Before getting this brigade into +place, however, two small brigades of Davis's division occupied the +ground, and I directed Laiboldt to form in column of regiments on the +crest of a low ridge in rear of Carlin's brigade, so as to prevent +Davis's right flank from being turned. The enemy was now feeling +Davis strongly, and I was about sending for Lytle's and Bradley's +brigades when I received an order to move these rapidly to the +extreme left of the army to the assistance of General Thomas. I rode +hastily back toward their position, but in the meanwhile, they had +been notified by direct orders from McCook, and were moving out at a +double-quick toward the Lafayette road. By this time the enemy had +assaulted Davis furiously in front and flank, and driven him from his +line, and as the confused mass came back, McCook ordered Laiboldt to +charge by deploying to the front. This he did through Davis's broken +ranks, but failed to check the enemy's heavy lines, and finally +Laiboldt's brigade broke also and fell to the rear. My remaining +troops, headed by Lytle, were now passing along the rear of the +ground where this disaster took place--in column on the road--en +route to Thomas, and as the hundreds of fugitives rushed back, McCook +directed me to throw in Lytle's and Bradley's brigades. This was +hastily done, they being formed to the front under a terrible fire. +Scarcely were they aligned when the same horde of Confederates that +had overwhelmed Davis and Laiboldt poured in upon them a deadly fire +and shivered the two brigades to pieces. We succeeded in rallying +them, however, and by a counter attack regained the ridge that +Laiboldt had been driven from, where we captured the colors of the +Twenty-fourth Alabama. We could not hold the ridge, though, and my +troops were driven back with heavy loss, including General Lytle +killed, past the widow Glenn's house, and till I managed to establish +them in line of battle on a range of low hills behind the Dry Valley +road. + +During these occurrences General Rosecrans passed down the road +behind my line, and sent word that he wished to see me, but affairs +were too critical to admit of my going to him at once, and he rode on +to Chattanooga. It is to be regretted that he did not wait till I +could join him, for the delay would have permitted him to see that +matters were not in quite such bad shape as he supposed; still, there +is no disguising the fact that at this juncture his army was badly +crippled. + +Shortly after my division had rallied on the low hills already +described, I discovered that the enemy, instead of attacking me in +front, was wedging in between my division and the balance of the +army; in short, endeavoring to cut me off from Chattanooga. This +necessitated another retrograde movement, which brought me back to +the southern face of Missionary Ridge, where I was joined by Carlin's +brigade of Davis's division. Still thinking I could join General +Thomas, I rode some distance to the left of my line to look for a way +out, but found that the enemy had intervened so far as to isolate me +effectually. I then determined to march directly to Rossville, and +from there effect a junction with Thomas by the Lafayette road. I +reached Rossville about o'clock in the afternoon, bringing with me +eight guns, forty-six caissons, and a long ammunition train, the +latter having been found in a state of confusion behind the widow +Glenn's when I was being driven back behind the Dry Valley road. + +The head of my column passed through Rossville, appearing upon +Thomas's left about 6 o'clock in the evening, penetrated without any +opposition the right of the enemy's line, and captured several of his +field-hospitals. As soon as I got on the field I informed Thomas of +the presence of my command, and asked for orders. He replied that +his lines were disorganized, and that it would be futile to attack; +that all I could do was to hold on, and aid in covering his +withdrawal to Rossville. + +I accompanied him back to Rossville, and when we reached the skirt of +the little hamlet General Thomas halted and we dismounted. Going +into one of the angles of a worm fence near by I took a rail from the +top and put it through the lower rails at a proper height from the +ground to make a seat, and General Thomas and I sat down while, my +troops were moving by. The General appeared very much exhausted, +seemed to forget what he had stopped for, and said little or nothing +of the incidents of the day. This was the second occasion on which I +had met him in the midst of misfortune, for during the fight in the +cedars at Stone River, when our prospects were most disheartening, we +held a brief conversation respecting the line he was then taking up +for the purpose of helping me. At other times, in periods of +inactivity, I saw but little of him. He impressed me, now as he did +in the cedars, his quiet, unobtrusive: demeanor communicating a +gloomy rather than a hopeful view of the situation. This apparent +depression was due no doubt to the severe trial through which he had +gone in the last forty-eight hours, which, strain had exhausted him +very much both physically and mentally. His success in maintaining +his ground was undoubtedly largely influenced by the fact that +two-thirds of the National forces had been sent to his succor, but his +firm purpose to save the army was the mainstay on which all relied +after Rosecrans left the field. As the command was getting pretty +well past, I rose to go in order to put my troops into camp. This +aroused the General, when, remarking that he had a little flask of +brandy in his saddle-holster, he added that he had just stopped for +the purpose of offering me a drink, as he knew I must be very tired. +He requested one of his staff-officers to get the flask, and after +taking a sip himself, passed it to me. Refreshed by the brandy, I +mounted and rode off to supervise the encamping of my division, by no +means an easy task considering the darkness, and the confusion that +existed among the troops that had preceded us into Rossville. + +This done, I lay down at the foot of a tree, with my saddle for a +pillow, and saddle-blanket for a cover. Some soldiers near me having +built a fire, were making coffee, and I guess I must have been +looking on wistfully, for in a little while they brought me a +tin-cupful of the coffee and a small piece of hard bread, which I +relished keenly, it being the first food that had passed my lips +since the night before. I was very tired, very hungry, and much +discouraged by what had taken place since morning. I had been +obliged to fight my command under the most disadvantageous +circumstances, disconnected, without supports, without even +opportunity to form in line of battle, and at one time contending +against four divisions of the enemy. In this battle of Chickamauga, +out of an effective strength Of 4,000 bayonets, I had lost 1,517 +officers and men, including two brigade commanders. This was not +satisfactory indeed, it was most depressing--and then there was much +confusion prevailing around Rossville; and, this condition of things +doubtless increasing my gloomy reflections, it did not seem to me +that the outlook for the next day was at all auspicious, unless the +enemy was slow to improve his present advantage. Exhaustion soon +quieted all forebodings, though, and I fell into a sound sleep, from +which I was not aroused till daylight. + +On the morning of the 21st the enemy failed to advance, and his +inaction gave us the opportunity for getting the broken and +disorganized army into shape. It took a large part of the day to +accomplish this, and the chances of complete victory would have been +greatly in Bragg's favor if he could have attacked us vigorously at +this time. But he had been badly hurt in the two days' conflict, and +his inactivity on the 21st showed that he too had to go through the +process of reorganization. Indeed, his crippled condition began to +show itself the preceding evening, and I have always thought that, +had General Thomas held on and attacked the Confederate right and +rear from where I made the junction with him on the Lafayette road, +the field of Chickamauga would have been relinquished to us; but it +was fated to be otherwise. + +Rosecrans, McCook, and Crittenden passed out of the battle when they +went back to Chattanooga, and their absence was discouraging to all +aware of it. Doubtless this had much to do with Thomas's final +withdrawal, thus leaving the field to the enemy, though at an immense +cost in killed and wounded. The night of the 21st the army moved +back from Rossville, and my division, as the rearguard of the +Twentieth Corps, got within our lines at Chattanooga about 8 o'clock +the morning of the 22d. Our unmolested retirement from Rossville +lent additional force to the belief that the enemy had been badly +injured, and further impressed me with the conviction that we might +have held on. Indeed, the battle of Chickamauga was somewhat like +that of Stone River, victory resting with the side that had the grit +to defer longest its relinquishment of the field. + +The manoeuvres by which Rosecrans had carried his army over the +Cumberland Mountains, crossed the Tennessee River, and possessed +himself of Chattanooga, merit the highest commendation up to the +abandonment of this town by Bragg on the 8th of September; but I have +always fancied that that evacuation made Rosecrans over-confident, +and led him to think that he could force Bragg south as far as Rome. +After the Union army passed the river and Chattanooga fell into our +hands; we still kept pressing the enemy's communications, and the +configuration of the country necessitated more or less isolation of +the different corps. McCook's corps of three divisions had crossed +two difficult ridges--Sand and Lookout mountains--to Alpine in +Broomtown Valley with intentions against Summerville. Thomas's corps +had marched by the way of Stevens's Gap toward Lafayette, which he +expected to occupy. Crittenden had passed through Chattanooga, at +first directing his march an Ringgold. Thus the corps of the army +were not in conjunction, and between McCook and Thomas there +intervened a positive and aggressive obstacle in the shape of Bragg's +army concentrating and awaiting reinforcement at Lafayette. Under +these circumstances Bragg could have taken the different corps in +detail, and it is strange that he did not, even before receiving his +reinforcements, turn on McCook in Broomtown Valley and destroy him. + +Intelligence that Bragg would give battle began to come to us from +various sources as early as the 10th of September, and on the 11th +McCook found that he could not communicate with Thomas by the direct +road through Broomtown Valley; but we did not begin closing in toward +Chattanooga till the 13th, and even then the Twentieth Corps had +before it the certainty of many delays that must necessarily result +from the circuitous and difficult mountain roads which we would be +obliged to follow. Had the different corps, beginning with McCook's, +been drawn in toward Chattanooga between the 8th and 12th of +September, the objective point of the campaign would have remained in +our hands without the battle of Chickamauga, but, as has been seen, +this was not done. McCook was almost constantly on the march day and +night between the 13th and the 19th, ascending and descending +mountains, his men worried and wearied, so that when they appeared on +the battle-field, their fatigued condition operated greatly against +their efficiency. This delay in concentration was also the original +cause of the continuous shifting toward our left to the support of +Thomas, by which manoeuvre Rosecrans endeavored to protect his +communications with Chattanooga, and out of which grew the intervals +that offered such tempting opportunities to Bragg. In addition to +all this, much transpired on the field of battle tending to bring +about disaster. There did not seem to be any well-defined plan of +action in the fighting; and this led to much independence of judgment +in construing orders among some of the subordinate generals. It also +gave rise to much license in issuing orders: too many people were +giving important directions, affecting the whole army, without +authority from its head. In view, therefore, of all the errors that +were committed from the time Chattanooga fell into our hands after +our first crossing the Tennessee, it was fortunate that the Union +defeat was not more complete, that it left in the enemy's possession +not much more than the barren results arising from the simple holding +of the ground on which the engagement was fought. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +AT CHATTANOOGA--THE ENEMY FORTIFIES LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AND MISSIONARY +RIDGE--REORGANIZING THE ARMY--REMOVAL OF GENERAL ROSECRANS +--PUNISHMENT OF DESERTERS--GRANT AT CHATTANOOGA--THE FIGHT ON LOOKOUT +MOUNTAIN--A BRAVE COLOR-BEARER--BATTLE OF MISSIONARY RIDGE. + +By 9 o'clock on the morning of September 22 my command took up a +position within the heavy line of intrenchments at Chattanooga, the +greater part of which defenses had been thrown up since the army +commenced arriving there the day before. The enemy, having now +somewhat recovered from the shock of the recent battle, followed +carefully, and soon invested us close into our lines with a parallel +system of rifle-pits. He also began at once to erect permanent lines +of earthworks on Missionary Ridge and to establish himself strongly +on Lookout Mountain. He then sent Wheeler's cavalry north of the +Tennessee, and, aided greatly by the configuration of the ground, +held us in a state of partial siege, which serious rains might +convert into a complete investment. The occupation of Lookout +Mountain broke our direct communication with Bridgeport--our +sub-depot--and forced us to bring supplies by way of the Sequatchie +Valley and Waldron's Ridge of the Cumberland Mountains, over a road +most difficult even in the summer season, but now liable to be +rendered impassable by autumn rains. The distance to Bridgeport by +this circuitous route was sixty miles, and the numerous passes, +coves, and small valleys through which the road ran offered tempting +opportunities, for the destruction of trains, and the enemy was not +slow to take advantage of them. Indeed, the situation was not +promising, and General Rosecrans himself, in communicating with the +President the day succeeding the battle of Chickamauga, expressed +doubts of his ability to hold the gateway of the Cumberland +Mountains. + +The position taken up by my troops inside the lines of Chattanooga +was near the old iron-works, under the shadow of Lookout Mountain. +Here we were exposed to a continual fire from the enemy's batteries +for many days, but as the men were well covered by secure though +simple intrenchments, but little damage was done. My own +headquarters were established on the grounds of Mr. William +Crutchfield, a resident of the place, whose devotion to the Union +cause knew no bounds, and who rendered me--and, in fact, at one time +or another, nearly every general officer in the Army of the +Cumberland--invaluable service in the way of information about the +Confederate army. My headquarters camp frequently received shots +from the point of Lookout Mountain also, but fortunately no +casualties resulted from this plunging fire, though, I am free to +confess, at first our nerves were often upset by the whirring of +twenty-pounder shells dropped inconsiderately into our camp at +untimely hours of the night. + +In a few days rain began to fall, and the mountain roads by which our +supplies came were fast growing impracticable. Each succeeding train +of wagons took longer to make the trip from Bridgeport, and the draft +mules were dying by the hundreds. The artillery horses would soon go +too, and there was every prospect that later the troops would starve +unless something could be done. Luckily for my division, a company +of the Second Kentucky Cavalry had attached itself to my +headquarters, and, though there without authority, had been left +undisturbed in view of a coming reorganization of the army incidental +to the removal of McCook and Crittenden from the command of their +respective corps, a measure that had been determined upon immediately +after the battle of Chickamauga. Desiring to remain with me, Captain +Lowell H. Thickstun, commanding this company, was ready for any duty +I might find, for him, so I ordered him into the Sequatchie Valley +for the purpose of collecting supplies for my troops, and sent my +scout, Card along to guide him to the best locations. The company +hid itself away in a deep cove in the upper end of the valley, and by +keeping very quiet and paying for everything it took from the people, +in a few days was enabled to send me large quantities of corn for my +animals and food for the officers and men, which greatly supplemented +the scanty supplies we were getting from the sub-depot at Bridgeport. +In this way I carried men and animals through our beleaguerment in +pretty fair condition, and of the turkeys, chickens, ducks, and eggs +sent in for the messes of my officers we often had enough to divide +liberally among those at different headquarters. Wheeler's cavalry +never discovered my detached company, yet the chances of its capture +were not small, sometimes giving much uneasiness; still, I concluded +it was better to run all risks than to let the horses die of +starvation in Chattanooga. Later, after the battle of Missionary +Ridge, when I started to Knoxville, the company joined me in +excellent shape, bringing with it an abundance of food, including a +small herd of beef cattle. + +The whole time my line remained near the iron-mills the shelling from +Lookout was kept up, the screeching shots inquisitively asking in +their well-known way, "Where are you? Where are you?" but it is +strange to see how readily, soldiers can become accustomed to the +sound of dangerous missiles under circumstances of familiarity, and +this case was no exception to the rule. Few casualties occurred, and +soon contempt took the place of nervousness, and as we could not +reply in kind on account of the elevation required for our guns, the +men responded by jeers and imprecations whenever a shell fell into +their camp. + +Meantime, orders having been issued for the organization of the army, +additional troops were attached to my command, and it became the +Second Division of the Fourth Army Corps, to which Major-General +Gordon Granger was assigned as commander. This necessitated a change +of position of the division, and I moved to ground behind our works, +with my right resting on Fort Negley and my left extending well over +toward Fort Wood, my front being parallel to Missionary Ridge. My +division was now composed of twenty-five regiments, classified into +brigades and demi-brigades, the former commanded by Brigadier-General +G. D. Wagner, Colonel C. G. Harker, and Colonel F. T. Sherman; the +latter, by Colonels Laiboldt, Miller, Wood, Walworth, and Opdyke. +The demi-brigade was an awkward invention of Granger's; but at this +time it was necessitated--perhaps by the depleted condition of our +regiments, which compelled the massing of a great number of +regimental organizations into a division to give it weight and force. + +On October 16, 1863, General Grant had been assigned to the command +of the "Military Division of the Mississippi," a geographical area +which embraced the Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the +Tennessee, thus effecting a consolidation of divided commands which +might have been introduced most profitably at an earlier date. The +same order that assigned General Grant relieved General Rosecrans, +and placed General Thomas in command of the Army of the Cumberland. +At the time of the reception of the order, Rosecrans was busy with +preparations for a movement to open the direct road to Bridgeport +--having received in the interval, since we came back to Chattanooga, +considerable reinforcement by the arrival in his department of the +Eleventh and Twelfth corps, under General Hooker, from the Army of +the Potomac. With this force Rosecrans had already strengthened +certain important points on the railroad between Nashville and +Stevenson, and given orders to Hooker to concentrate at Bridgeport +such portions of his command as were available, and to hold them in +readiness to advance toward Chattanooga. + +On the 19th of October, after turning the command over to Thomas, +General Rosecrans quietly slipped away from the army. He submitted +uncomplainingly to his removal, and modestly left us without fuss or +demonstration; ever maintaining, though, that the battle of +Chickamauga was in effect a victory, as it had ensured us, he said, +the retention of Chattanooga. When his departure became known +deep and almost universal regret was expressed, for he was +enthusiastically esteemed and loved by the Army of the Cumberland, +from the day he assumed command of it until he left it, +notwithstanding the censure poured upon him after the battle of +Chickamauga. + +The new position to which my division had been moved, in consequence +of the reorganization, required little additional labor to strengthen +it, and the routine of fatigue duty and drills was continued as +before, its monotony occasionally broken by the excitement of an +expected attack, or by amusements of various kinds that were +calculated to keep the men in good spirits. Toward this result much +was contributed by Mr. James E. Murdock, the actor, who came down +from the North to recover the body of his son, killed at Chickamauga, +and was quartered with me for the greater part of the time he was +obliged to await the successful conclusion of his sad mission. He +spent days, and even weeks, going about through the division giving +recitations before the camp-fires, and in improvised chapels, which +the men had constructed from refuse lumber and canvas. Suiting his +selections to the occasion, he never failed to excite intense +interest in the breasts of all present, and when circumstances +finally separated him from us, all felt that a debt of gratitude was +due him that could never be paid. The pleasure he gave, and the +confident feeling that was now arising from expected reinforcements, +was darkened, however, by one sad incident. Three men of my division +had deserted their colors at the beginning of the siege and made +their way north. They were soon arrested, and were brought back to +stand trial for the worst offense that can be committed by a soldier, +convicted of the crime, and ordered to be shot. To make the example +effective I paraded the whole division for the execution, and on the +13th of November, in the presence of their former comrades, the +culprits were sent, in accordance with the terms of their sentence, +to render their account to the Almighty. It was the saddest +spectacle I ever witnessed, but there could be no evasion, no +mitigation of the full letter of the law; its timely enforcement was +but justice to the brave spirits who had yet to fight the rebellion +to the end. + +General Grant arrived at Chattanooga on October 23, and began at once +to carry out the plans that had been formed for opening the shorter +or river road to Bridgeport. This object was successfully +accomplished by the moving of Hooker's command to Rankin's and +Brown's ferries in concert with a force from the Army of the +Cumberland which was directed on the same points, so by the 27th of +October direct communication with our depots was established. The +four weeks which followed this cheering result were busy with the +work of refitting and preparing for offensive operations as soon as +General Sherman should reach us with his troops from West Tennessee. +During this period of activity the enemy committed the serious fault +of detaching Longstreet's corps--sending it to aid in the siege of +Knoxville in East Tennessee--an error which has no justification +whatever, unless it be based on the presumption that it was +absolutely necessary that Longstreet should ultimately rejoin Lee's +army in Virginia by way of Knoxville and Lynchburg, with a chance of +picking up Burnside en route. Thus depleted, Bragg still held +Missionary Ridge in strong force, but that part of his line which +extended across the intervening valley to the northerly point of. +Lookout Mountain was much attenuated. + +By the 18th of November General Grant had issued instructions +covering his intended operations. They contemplated that Sherman's +column, which was arriving by the north bank of the Tennessee, should +cross the river on a pontoon bridge just below the mouth of +Chickamauga Creek and carry the northern extremity of Missionary +Ridge as far as the railroad tunnel; that the Army of the Cumberland +--the centre--should co-operate with Sherman; and that Hooker with a +mixed command should continue to hold Lookout Valley and operate on +our extreme right as circumstances might warrant. Sherman crossed on +the 24th to perform his alloted part of the programme, but in the +meantime Grant becoming impressed with the idea that Bragg was +endeavoring to get away, ordered Thomas to make a strong +demonstration in his front, to determine the truth or falsity of the +information that had been received. This task fell to the Fourth +Corps, and at 12 o'clock on the 23d I was notified that Wood's +division would make a reconnoissance to an elevated point in its +front called Orchard Knob, and that I was to support it with my +division and prevent Wood's right flank from being turned by an +advance of the enemy on Moore's road or from the direction of +Rossville. For this duty I marched my division out of the works +about 2 p.m., and took up a position on Bushy Knob. Shortly after we +reached this point Wood's division passed my left flank on its +reconnoissance, and my command, moving in support of it, drove in the +enemy's picket-line. Wood's took possession of Orchard Knob easily, +and mine was halted on a low ridge to the right of the Knob, where I +was directed by General Thomas to cover my front by a strong line of +rifle-pits, and to put in position two batteries of the Fourth +regular artillery that had joined me from the Eleventh Corps. After +dark Wood began to feel uneasy about his right flank, for a gap +existed between it and my left, so I moved in closer to him, taking +up a line where I remained inactive till the 25th, but suffering some +inconvenience from the enemy's shells. + +On the 24th General Sherman made an attack for the purpose of +carrying the north end of Missionary Ridge. His success was not +complete, although at the time it was reported throughout the army to +be so. It had the effect of disconcerting Bragg, however, and caused +him to strengthen his right by withdrawing troops from his left, +which circumstance led Hooker to advance on the northerly face of +Lookout Mountain. At first, with good glasses, we could plainly see +Hooker's troops driving the Confederates up the face of the mountain. +All were soon lost to view in the dense timber, but emerged again on +the open ground, across which the Confederates retreated at a lively +pace, followed by the pursuing line, which was led by a color-bearer, +who, far in advance, was bravely waving on his comrades. The +gallantry of this man elicited much enthusiasm among us all, but as +he was a considerable distance ahead of his comrades I expected to +see his rashness punished at any moment by death or capture. He +finally got quite near the retreating Confederates, when suddenly +they made a dash at him, but he was fully alive to such a move, and +ran back, apparently uninjured, to his friends. About this time a +small squad of men reached the top of Lookout and planted the Stars +and Stripes on its very crest. Just then a cloud settled down on the +mountain, and a heavy bank of fog obscured its whole face. + +After the view was lost the sharp rattle of musketry continued some +time, but practically the fight had been already won by Hooker's men, +the enemy only holding on with a rear-guard to assure his retreat +across Chattanooga Valley to Missionary Ridge. Later we heard very +heavy cannonading, and fearing that Hooker was in trouble I sent a +staff-officer to find out whether he needed assistance, which I +thought could be given by a demonstration toward Rossville. The +officer soon returned with the report that Hooker was all right, that +the cannonading was only a part of a little rear-guard fight, two +sections of artillery making all the noise, the reverberations from +point to point in the adjacent mountains echoing and reechoing till +it seemed that at least fifty guns were engaged. + +On the morning of the 25th of November Bragg's entire army was +holding only the line of Missionary Ridge, and our troops, being now +practically connected from Sherman to Hooker, confronted it with the +Army of the Cumberland in the centre--bowed out along the front of +Wood's division and mine. Early in the day Sherman, with great +determination and persistence, made an attempt to carry the high +ground near the tunnel, first gaining and then losing advantage, but +his attack was not crowned with the success anticipated. Meanwhile +Hooker and Palmer were swinging across Chattanooga Valley, using me +as a pivot for the purpose of crossing Missionary Ridge in the +neighborhood of Rossville. In the early part of the day I had driven +in the Confederate pickets in my front, so as to prolong my line of +battle on that of Wood, the necessity of continuing to refuse my +right having been obviated by the capture of Lookout Mountain and the +advance of Palmer. + +About 2 o'clock orders came to carry the line at the foot of the +ridge, attacking at a signal of six guns. I had few changes or new +dispositions to make. Wagner's brigade, which was next to Wood's +division, was formed in double lines, and Harker's brigade took the +same formation on Wagner's right. Colonel F. T. Sherman's brigade +came on Harker's right, formed in a column of attack, with a front of +three regiments, he having nine. My whole front was covered with a +heavy line of skirmishers. These dispositions made, my right rested +a little distance south of Moore's road, my left joined Wood over +toward Orchard Knob, while my centre was opposite Thurman's house +--the headquarters of General Bragg--on Missionary Ridge. A small +stream of water ran parallel to my front, as far as which the ground +was covered by a thin patch of timber, and beyond the edge of the +timber was an open plain to the foot of Missionary Ridge, varying in +width from four to nine hundred yards. At the foot of the ridge was +the enemy's first line of rifle-pits; at a point midway up its face, +another line, incomplete; and on the crest was a third line, in which +Bragg had massed his artillery. + +The enemy saw we were making dispositions for an attack, and in plain +view of my whole division he prepared himself for resistance, +marching regiments from his left flank with flying colors; and +filling up the spaces not already occupied in his intrenchments. +Seeing the enemy thus strengthening himself, it was plain that we +would have to act quickly if we expected to accomplish much, and I +already began to doubt the feasibility of our remaining in the first +line of rifle-pits when we should have carried them. I discussed the +order with Wagner, Harker, and Sherman, and they were similarly +impressed, so while anxiously awaiting the signal I sent Captain +Ransom of my staff to Granger, who was at Fort Wood, to ascertain if +we were to carry the first line or the ridge beyond. Shortly after +Ransom started the signal guns were fired, and I told my brigade +commanders to go for the ridge. + +Placing myself in front of Harker's brigade, between the line of +battle and the skirmishers, accompanied by only an orderly so as not +to attract the enemy's fire, we moved out. Under a terrible storm of +shot and shell the line pressed forward steadily through the timber, +and as it emerged on the plain took the double-quick and with fixed +bayonets rushed at the enemy's first line. Not a shot was fired from +our line of battle, and as it gained on my skirmishers they melted +into and became one with it, and all three of my brigades went over +the rifle-pits simultaneously. They then lay down on the face of the +ridge, for a breathing-spell and for protection' from the terrible +fire, of canister and musketry pouring over us from the guns on the +crest. At the rifle-pits there had been little use for the bayonet, +for most of the Confederate troops, disconcerted by the sudden rush, +lay close in the ditch and surrendered, though some few fled up the +slope to the next line. The prisoners were directed to move out to +our rear, and as their intrenchments had now come under fire from the +crest, they went with alacrity, and without guard or escort, toward +Chattanooga. + +After a short pause to get breath the ascent of the ridge began, and +I rode, into the ditch of the intrenchments to drive out a few +skulkers who were hiding there. Just at this time I was joined by +Captain Ransom, who, having returned from Granger, told me that we +were to carry only the line at the base, and that in coming back, +when he struck the left of the division, knowing this interpretation +of the order, he in his capacity as an aide-de-camp had directed +Wagner, who was up on the face of the ridge, to return, and that in +consequence Wagner was recalling his men to the base. I could not +bear to order the recall of troops now so gallantly climbing the hill +step by step, and believing we could take it, I immediately rode to +Wagner's brigade and directed it to resume the attack. In the +meantime Harker's and F. T. Sherman's troops were approaching the +partial line of works midway of the ridge, and as I returned to the +centre of their rear, they were being led by many stands of +regimental colors. There seemed to be a rivalry as to which color +should be farthest to the front; first one would go forward a few +feet, then another would come up to it, the color-bearers vying with +one another as to who should be foremost, until finally every +standard was planted on the intermediate works. The enemy's fire +from the crest during the ascent was terrific in the noise made, but +as it was plunging, it over-shot and had little effect on those above +the second line of pits, but was very uncomfortable for those below, +so I deemed it advisable to seek another place, and Wagner's brigade +having reassembled and again pressed up the ridge, I rode up the face +to join my troops. + +As soon as the men saw me, they surged forward and went over the +works on the crest. The parapet of the intrenchment was too high for +my horse to jump, so, riding a short distance to the left, I entered +through a low place in the line. A few Confederates were found +inside, but they turned the butts of their muskets toward me in token +of surrender, for our men were now passing beyond them on both their +flanks. + +The right and right centre of my division gained the summit first, +they being partially sheltered by a depression in the face of the +ridge, the Confederates in their immediate front fleeing down the +southern face. When I crossed the rifle-pits on the top the +Confederates were still holding fast at Bragg's headquarters, and a +battery located there opened fire along the crest; making things most +uncomfortably hot. Seeing the danger to which I was exposed, for I +was mounted, Colonel Joseph Conrad, of the Fifteenth Missouri, ran up +and begged me to dismount. I accepted his excellent advice, and it +probably saved my life; but poor Conrad was punished for his +solicitude by being seriously wounded in the thigh at the moment he +was thus contributing to my safety. + +Wildly cheering, the men advanced along the ridge toward Bragg's +headquarters, and soon drove the Confederates from this last +position, capturing a number of prisoners, among them Breckenridge's +and Bates's adjutant-generals, and the battery that had made such +stout resistance on the crest-two guns which were named "Lady +Breckenridge" and "Lady Buckner" General Bragg himself having barely +time to escape before his headquarters were taken. + +My whole division had now reached the summit, and Wagner and Harker +--the latter slightly wounded--joined me as I was standing in the +battery just secured. The enemy was rapidly retiring, and though +many of his troops, with disorganized wagon-trains and several pieces +of artillery, could be distinctly seen in much confusion about half a +mile distant in the valley below, yet he was covering them with a +pretty well organized line that continued to give us a desultory +fire. Seeing this, I at once directed Wagner and Harker to take up +the pursuit along Moore's road, which led to Chickamauga Station +--Bragg's depot of supply--and as they progressed, I pushed Sherman's +brigade along the road behind them. Wagner and Harker soon overtook +the rearguard, and a slight skirmish caused it to break, permitting +nine guns and a large number of wagons which were endeavoring to get +away in the stampede to fall into our hands. + +About a mile and a half beyond Missionary Ridge, Moore's road passed +over a second ridge or high range of hills, and here the enemy had +determined to make a stand for that purpose, posting eight pieces of +artillery with such supporting force as he could rally. He was +immediately attacked by Harker and Wagner, but the position was +strong, the ridge being rugged and difficult of ascent, and after the +first onset our men recoiled. A staff-officer from Colonel Wood's +demi-brigade informing me at this juncture that that command was too +weak to carry the position in its front, I ordered the Fifteenth +Indiana and the Twenty-Sixth Ohio to advance to Wood's aid, and then +hastening to the front I found his men clinging to the face of the +ridge, contending stubbornly with the rear-guard of the enemy. +Directing Harker to put Opdyke's demi-brigade in on the right, I +informed Wagner that it was necessary to flank the enemy by carrying +the high bluff on our left where the ridge terminated, that I had +designated the Twenty-Sixth Ohio and Fifteenth Indiana for the work, +and that I wished him to join them. + +It was now dusk, but the two regiments engaged in the flanking +movement pushed on to gain the bluff. Just as they reached the crest +of the ridge the moon rose from behind, enlarged by the refraction of +the atmosphere, and as the attacking column passed along the summit +it crossed the moon's disk and disclosed to us below a most +interesting panorama, every figure nearly being thrown out in full +relief. The enemy, now outflanked on left and right, abandoned his +ground, leaving us two pieces of artillery and a number of wagons. +After this ridge was captured I found that no other troops than mine +were pursuing the enemy, so I called a halt lest I might become too +much isolated. Having previously studied the topography of the +country thoroughly, I knew that if I pressed on my line of march +would carry me back to Chickamauga station, where we would be in rear +of the Confederates that had been fighting General Sherman, and that +there was a possibility of capturing them by such action; but I did +not feel warranted in marching there alone, so I rode back to +Missionary Ridge to ask for more troops, and upon arriving there I +found Granger in command, General Thomas having gone back to +Chattanooga. + +Granger was at Braggy's late headquarters in bed. I informed him of +my situation and implored him to follow me up with the Army of the +Cumberland, but he declined, saying that he thought we had done well +enough. I still insisting, he told me finally to push on to the +crossing of Chickamauga Creek, and if I, encountered the enemy he +would order troops to my support. I returned to my division about +12 o'clock at night, got it under way, and reached the crossing, +about half a mile from the station, at 2 o'clock on the morning of +the 26th, and there found the bridge destroyed, but that the creek +was fordable. I did not encounter the enemy in any force, but feared +to go farther without assistance. This I thought I might bring up by +practicing a little deception, so I caused two regiments to simulate +an engagement by opening fire, hoping that this would alarm Granger +and oblige him to respond with troops, but my scheme failed. General +Granger afterward told me that he had heard the volleys, but +suspected their purpose, knowing that they were not occasioned by a +fight, since they were too regular in their delivery. + +I was much disappointed that my pursuit had not been supported, for I +felt that great results were in store for us should the enemy be +vigorously followed. Had the troops under Granger's command been +pushed out with mine when Missionary Ridge was gained, we could have +reached Chickamauga Station by 12 o'clock the night of the 25th; or +had they been sent even later, when I called for them, we could have +got there by daylight and worked incalculable danger to the +Confederates, for the force that had confronted Sherman did not pass +Chickamauga Station in their retreat till after daylight on the +morning of the 26th. + +My course in following so close was dictated by a thorough knowledge +of the topography of the country and a familiarity with its roads, +bypaths, and farm-houses, gained with the assistance of Mr. +Crutchfield; and sure my column was heading in the right direction, +though night had fallen I thought that an active pursuit would almost +certainly complete the destruction of Bragg's army. When General +Grant came by my bivouac at the crossing of Chickamauga Creek on the +26th, he realized what might have been accomplished had the +successful assault on Missionary Ridge been supplemented by vigorous +efforts on the part of some high officers, who were more interested +in gleaning that portion of the battle-field over which my command +had passed than in destroying a panic-stricken enemy. + +Although it cannot be said that the result of the two days' +operations was reached by the methods which General Grant had +indicated in his instructions preceding the battle, yet the general +outcome was unquestionably due to his genius, for the manoeuvring of +Sherman's and Hooker's commands created the opportunity for Thomas's +corps of the Army of the Cumberland to carry the ridge at the centre. +In directing Sherman to attack the north end of the ridge, Grant +disconcerted Bragg--who was thus made to fear the loss of his depot +of supplies at Chickamauga Station--and compelled him to resist +stoutly; and stout resistance to Sherman meant the withdrawal of the +Confederates from Lookout Mountain. While this attack was in process +of execution advantage was taken of it by Hooker in a well-planned +and well-fought battle, but to my mind an unnecessary one, for our +possession of Lookout was the inevitable result that must follow from +Sherman's threatening attitude. The assault on Missionary Ridge by +Granger's and Palmer's corps was not premeditated by Grant, he +directing only the line at its base to be carried, but when this fell +into our hands the situation demanded our getting the one at the top +also. + +I took into the action an effective force of 6,000, and lost 123 +officers and 1,181 men killed and wounded. These casualties speak +louder than words of the character of the fight, and plainly tell +where the enemy struggled most stubbornly for these figures comprise +one-third the casualties of the entire body of Union troops +--Sherman's and all included. My division captured 1,762 prisoners +and, in all, seventeen pieces of artillery. Six of these guns I +turned over with caissons complete; eleven were hauled off the field +and appropriated by an officer of high rank--General Hazen. I have +no disposition to renew the controversy which grew out of this +matter. At the time the occurrence took place I made the charge in a +plain official report, which was accepted as correct by the corps and +army commanders, from General Granger up to General Grant. General +Hazen took no notice of this report then, though well aware of its +existence. Nearly a quarter of a century later, however, he +endeavored to justify his retention of the guns by trying to show +that his brigade was the first to reach the crest of Missionary +Ridge, and that he was therefore entitled to them. This claim of +being the first to mount the ridge is made by other brigades than +Hazen's, with equal if not greater force, so the absurdity of his +deduction is apparent: + +NOTE: In a book published by General Hazen in 1885, he endeavored to +show, by a number of letters from subordinate officers of his +command, written at his solicitation from fifteen to twenty years +after the occurrence, that his brigade was the first to mount +Missionary Ridge, and that it was entitled to possess these guns. +The doubtful character of testimony dimmed by the lapse of many years +has long been conceded, and I am content to let the controversy stand +the test of history, based on the conclusions of General Grant, as he +drew them from official reports made when the circumstances were +fresh in the minds of all. + +General Grant says: "To Sheridan's prompt movement, the Army of the +Cumberland and the nation are indebted for the bulk of the capture of +prisoners, artillery, and small-arms that day. Except for his prompt +pursuit, so much in this way would not have been accomplished." + +General Thomas says: "We captured all their cannon and ammunition +before they could be removed or destroyed. After halting a few +moments to reorganize the troops, who had become somewhat scattered +in the assault of the hill, General Sheridan pushed forward in +pursuit, and drove those in his front who had escaped capture across +Chickamauga Creek." + +REPORT OF COLONEL FRANCIS T. SHERMAN, COMMANDING FIRST BRIGADE: +"When within ten yards of the crest, our men seemed to be thrown +forward as if by some powerful engine, and the old flag was planted +firmly and surely on the last line of works of the enemy, followed by +the men, taking one battery of artillery." + +REPORT OF COLONEL MICHAEL GOODING, TWENTY-SECOND INDIANA: +...."I pushed men up to the second line of works as fast as possible; +on and on, clear to the top, and over the ridge they went, to the +hollow beyond, killing and wounding numbers of the enemy as we +advanced, and leaving the rebel battery in our rear. We captured +great numbers of prisoners, and sent them to the rear without guards, +as we deemed the pursuit of the enemy of greater importance.... +"I cannot give too much praise to Captain Powers, Company "H," +Lieutenant Smith, Company "K," Lieutenant Gooding, Company "A," and +Second Lieutenant Moser, Company "G," for their assistance, and for +the gallant manner in which they encouraged their men up the side of +the mountain, and charging the enemy's works right up to the muzzles +of their guns." + +REPORT OF COLONEL JASON MARSH, SEVENTY-FOURTH ILLINOIS: +...."The first on the enemy's works, and almost simultaneously, were +Lieutenant Clement, Company "A," Captain Stegner, Company "I," +Captain Bacon, Company "G," and Captain Leffingwell, with some of +their men. The enemy was still in considerable force behind their +works; but, for some unaccountable reason, they either fled or +surrendered instantly upon the first few of our men reaching them +--not even trying to defend their battery, which was immediately +captured by Captain Stegner." + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL PORTER C. OLSON, THIRTY-SIXTH ILLINOIS: +...."In connection with other regiments of this brigade, we assisted +in capturing several pieces of artillery, a number of caissons, and a +great quantity of small-arms." + +REPORT OF COLONEL JOHN Q. LANE: +...."At the house known as Bragg's headquarters, the enemy were +driven from three guns, which fell into our hands." + +REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL G. D. WAGNER, SECOND BRIGADE: +...."I ordered the command to storm the ridge, bringing up the +Fifteenth Indiana and Ninety-seventh Ohio, which had not yet been +engaged, although suffering from the enemy's artillery. The result +is a matter of history, as we gained the ridge, capturing artillery, +prisoners, and small-arms; to what amount, however, I do not know, as +we pushed on after the enemy as soon as I had re-formed the command. +....Captain Tinney, with his usual gallantry, dashed up the line with +the first troops, and with the aid of an orderly (George Dusenbury, +Fifteenth Indiana), turned the loaded gun of the enemy on his +retreating ranks." + +REPORT OF CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F. HEGLER, FIFTEENTH INDIANA: +...."Our captures amounted to prisoners not counted, representing +many different regiments; several pieces of artillery, and some +wagons." + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ELIAS NEFF, FORTIETH INDIANA: +...."As the regiment reached the top of the ridge and swept for. +ward, the right passed through, without stopping to take possession, +the battery at General Bragg's headquarters that had fired so +venomously during the whole contest." + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL J. MOORE, FIFTY-EIGHTH INDIANA: +...."In passing to the front from Missionary Ridge, we saw several +pieces of artillery which had been abandoned by the enemy, though I +did not leave any one in charge of them." + +REPORT OF MAJOR C, M. HAMMOND, ONE HUNDREDTH ILLINOIS: +...."I immediately organized my regiment, and while so doing +discovered a number of pieces of artillery in a ravine on my left. I +sent Lieutenant Stewart, of Company A, to see if these guns which the +enemy had abandoned could not be turned upon them. He returned and +reported them to be four ten-pound Parrotts and two brass Napoleons; +also that it would require a number of men to place them in position. +I ordered him to report the same to General Wagner, and ask +permission, but before receiving a reply was ordered by you to move +forward my regiment on the left of the Fifty-Eighth Indiana +Volunteers." + +REPORT OF COLONEL CHARLES G. HARKER, THIRD BRIGADE: +...."My right and Colonel Sherman's left interlocked, so to speak, as +we approached the summit, and it was near this point that I saw the +first part of my line gain the crest. This was done by a few brave +men of my own and Colonel Sherman's command driving the enemy from +his intrenchments. The gap thus opened, our men rushed rapidly in, +and the enemy, loth to give up their position, still remained, firing +at my command toward the left, and the battery in front of the house +known as General Bragg's headquarters was still firing at the troops, +and was captured by our men while the gunners were still at their +posts.... +...."We captured and sent to division and corps headquarters 503 +prisoners and a large number of small-arms. In regard to the number +of pieces of artillery, it will probably be difficult to reconcile +the reports of my regimental commanders with the reports of other +regiments and brigades who fought so nobly with my own command, and +who alike are entitled to share the honors and glories of the day. +More anxious to follow the enemy than to appropriate trophies already +secured, we pushed to the front, while the place we occupied on +ascending the hill was soon occupied by other troops, who, I have +learned, claim the artillery as having fallen into their own hands. +It must therefore remain with the division and corps commanders, who +knew the relative position of each brigade and division, to accord to +each the trophies to which they are due. +...."From my personal observation I can claim a battery of six guns +captured by a portion of my brigade." + +REPORT OF COLONEL EMERSON OPDYKE, FIRST DEMI-BRIGADE: +...."My command captured Bragg's headquarters, house, and the six +guns which were near there; one of these I ordered turned upon the +enemy, which was done with effect." + +REPORT OF COLONEL H. C. DUNLAP, THIRD KENTUCKY: +...."The point at which the centre of my regiment reached the crest +was at the stable to the left of the house said to be Bragg's +headquarters, and immediately in front of the road which leads down +the southern slope of the ridge. One piece of the abandoned battery, +was to the left of this point, the remainder to the right, near by." + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL W. A. BULLITT, SIXTY-FIFTH OHIO: +...."The position in which my regiment found itself was immediately +in front of a battery, which belched forth a stream of canister upon +us with terrible rapidity. In addition to this, the enemy, whenever +driven from other points, rallied around this battery, and defended +it with desperation. It cost a struggle to take it; but we finally +succeeded, and the colors of the Sixty-fifth Ohio were the first +planted upon the yet smoking guns. Captain Smith, of my regiment, +was placed in charge of the captured battery, which consisted of 5 +guns, 3 caissons, and 17 horses." + +REPORT OF CAPTAIN E. P. BATES, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH OHIO: +...."Perceiving that the ridge across which my regiment extended was +commanded to the very crest by a battery in front, also by those to +right and left, I directed the men to pass up the gorges on either +side. About forty men, with Captain Parks and Lieutenant Stinger, +passed to the left, the balance to the right, and boldly charged on, +till, foremost with those of other regiments, they stood on the +strongest point of the enemy's works, masters alike of his guns and +position.... Captain Parks reports his skirmish-line to have charged +upon and captured one gun, that otherwise would have been hauled +off." + +REPORT OF COLONEL ALLEN BUCKNER, SEVENTY-NINTH ILLINOIS: +...."The right of the regiment rested on the left of the road, where +it crossed the rebel fortification, leading up the hill toward +Bragg's headquarters. We took a right oblique direction through a +peach orchard until arriving at the woods and logs on the side of the +ridge, when I ordered the men to commence firing, which they did with +good effect, and continued it all the way up until the heights were +gained. At this point the left of the regiment was near the right of +the house, and I claim that my officers and men captured two large +brass pieces, literally punching the cannoniers from their guns. +Privates John Fregan and Jasper Patterson, from Company "A," rushed +down the hill, captured one caisson, with a cannonier and six horses, +and brought them back." + +REPORT OF COLONEL J. R. MILES, TWENTY-SEVENTH ILLINOIS: +...."The regiment, without faltering, finally, at about 4.30 P.M., +gained the enemy's works in conjunction with a party of the +Thirty-sixth Illinois, who were immediately on our right. The +regiment, or a portion of it, proceeded to the left, down the ridge, +for nearly or quite a quarter of a mile capturing three or four pieces +of cannon, driving the gunners from them." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ORDERED TO RETURN TO CHATTANOOGA--MARCH TO KNOXVILLE--COLLECTING +SUBSISTENCE STORES--A CLEVER STRATAGEM--A BRIDGE OF WAGONS--LOOKING +OUT FOR THE PERSONAL COMFORT OF THE SOLDIERS-A LEAVE OF ABSENCE +--ORDERED TO WASHINGTON--PARTING WITH SHERIDAN'S DIVISION. + +The day after the battle of Missionary Ridge I was ordered in the +evening to return to Chattanooga, and from the limited supply of +stores to be had there outfit my command to march to the relief of +Knoxville, where General Burnside was still holding out against the +besieging forces of General Longstreet. When we left Murfreesboro' +in the preceding June, the men's knapsacks and extra clothing, as +well as all our camp equipage, had been left behind, and these +articles had not yet reached us, so we were poorly prepared for a +winter campaign in the mountains of East Tennessee. There was but +little clothing to be obtained in Chattanooga, and my command +received only a few overcoats and a small supply of India-rubber +ponchos. We could get no shoes, although we stood in great need of +them, for the extra pair with which each man had started out from +Murfreesboro' was now much the worse for wear. The necessity for +succoring Knoxville was urgent, however, so we speedily refitted as +thoroughly as was possible with the limited means at hand. My +division teams were in very fair condition in consequence of the +forage we had procured in the Sequatchie Valley, so I left the train +behind to bring up clothing when any should arrive in Chattanooga. + +Under these circumstances, on the 29th of November the Fourth Corps +(Granger's) took up the line of march for Knoxville, my men carrying +in their haversacks four days' rations, depending for a further +supply of food on a small steamboat loaded with subsistence stores, +which was to proceed up the Tennessee River and keep abreast of the +column. + +Not far from Philadelphia, Tennessee, the columns of General +Sherman's army, which had kept a greater distance from the river than +Granger's corps, so as to be able to subsist on the country, came in +toward our right and the whole relieving force was directed on +Marysville, about fifteen miles southwest of Knoxville. We got to +Marysville December 5, and learned the same day that Longstreet had +shortly before attempted to take Knoxville by a desperate assault, +but signally failing, had raised the siege and retired toward Bean's +Station on the Rutledge, Rogersville, and Bristol road, leading to +Virginia. From Marysville General Sherman's troops returned to +Chattanooga, while Granger's corps continued on toward Knoxville, to +take part in the pursuit of Longstreet. + +Burnside's army was deficient in subsistence, though not to the +extent that we had supposed before leaving Chattanooga. It had eaten +out the country in the immediate vicinity of Knoxville, however; +therefore my division did not cross the Holstein River, but was +required, in order to maintain itself, to proceed to the region of +the French Broad River. To this end I moved to Sevierville, and +making this village my headquarters, the division was spread out over +the French Broad country, between Big Pigeon and Little Pigeon +rivers, where we soon had all the mills in operation, grinding out +plenty of flour and meal. The whole region was rich in provender +of all kinds, and as the people with rare exceptions were +enthusiastically loyal, we in a little while got more than enough +food for ourselves, and by means of flatboats began sending the +surplus down the river to the troops at Knoxville. + +The intense loyalty of this part of Tennessee exceeded that of any +other section I was in during the war. The people could not do too +much to aid the Union cause, and brought us an abundance of +everything needful. The women were especially loyal, and as many of +their sons and husbands, who had been compelled to "refugee" on +account of their loyal sentiments, returned with us, numbers of the +women went into ecstasies of joy when this part of the Union army +appeared among them. So long as we remained in the French Broad +region, we lived on the fat of the land, but unluckily our stay was +to be of short duration, for Longstreet's activity kept the +department commander in a state of constant alarm. + +Soon after getting the mills well running, and when the shipment of +their surplus product down the river by flatboats had begun, I was +ordered to move to Knoxville, on account of demonstrations by +Longstreet from the direction of Blain's crossroads. On arriving at +Knoxville, an inspection of my command, showed that the shoes of many +of the men were entirely worn out, the poor fellows having been +obliged to protect their feet with a sort of moccasin, made from +their blankets or from such other material as they could procure. +About six hundred of the command were in this condition, plainly not +suitably shod to withstand the frequent storms of sleet and snow. +These men I left in Knoxville to await the arrival of my train, which +I now learned was en route from Chattanooga with shoes, overcoats, +and other clothing, and with the rest of the division proceeded to +Strawberry Plains, which we reached the latter part of December. + +Mid-winter was now upon us, and the weather in this mountain region +of East Tennessee was very cold, snow often falling to the depth of +several inches. The thin and scanty clothing of the men afforded +little protection, and while in bivouac their only shelter was the +ponchos with which they had been provided before leaving Chattanooga; +there was not a tent in the command. Hence great suffering resulted, +which I anxiously hoped would be relieved shortly by the arrival of +my train with supplies. In the course of time the wagons reached +Knoxville, but my troops derived little comfort from this fact, for +the train was stopped by General Foster, who had succeeded Burnside +in command of the department, its contents distributed pro rata to +the different organizations of the entire army, and I received but a +small share. This was very disappointing, not to say exasperating, +but I could not complain of unfairness, for every command in the army +was suffering to the same extent as mine, and yet it did seem that a +little forethought and exertion on the part of some of the other +superior officers, whose transportation was in tolerable condition, +might have ameliorated the situation considerably. I sent the train +back at once for more clothing, and on its return, just before +reaching Knoxville, the quartermaster in charge, Captain Philip +Smith, filled the open spaces in the wagons between the bows and load +with fodder and hay, and by this clever stratagem passed it through +the town safe and undisturbed as a forage train. On Smith's arrival +we lost no time in issuing the clothing, and when it had passed into +the hands of the individual soldiers the danger of its appropriation +for general distribution, like the preceding invoice, was very +remote. + +General Foster had decided by this time to move his troops to +Dandridge for the twofold purpose of threatening the enemy's left and +of getting into a locality where we could again gather subsistence +from the French Broad region. Accordingly we began an advance on the +15th of January, the cavalry having preceded us some time before. +The Twenty-third Corps and Wood's division of the Fourth Corps +crossed the Holstein River by a bridge that had been constructed at +Strawberry Plains. My division being higher up the stream, forded +it, the water very deep and bitter cold, being filled with slushy +ice. Marching by way of New Market, I reached Dandridge on the 17th, +and here on my arrival met General Sturgis, then commanding our +cavalry. He was on the eve of setting out to, "whip the enemy's +cavalry," as he said, and wanted me to go along and see him do it. I +declined, however, for being now the senior officer present, Foster, +Parke, and Granger having remained at Knoxville and Strawberry +Plains, their absence left me in command, and it was necessary that I +should make disposition of the infantry when it arrived. As there +were indications of a considerable force of the enemy on the +Russellville road I decided to place the troops in line of battle, so +as to be prepared for any emergency that might arise in the absence +of the senior officers, and I deemed it prudent to supervise +personally the encamping of the men. This disposition necessarily +required that some of the organizations should occupy very +disagreeable ground, but I soon got all satisfactorily posted with +the exception of General Willich, who expressed some discontent at +being placed beyond the shelter of the timber, but accepted the +situation cheerfully when its obvious necessity was pointed out to +him. + +Feeling that all was secure, I returned to my headquarters in the +village with the idea that we were safely established in ease of +attack, and that the men would now have a good rest if left +undisturbed; and plenty to eat, but hardly had I reached my own camp +when a staff-officer came post-haste from Sturgis with the +information that he was being driven back to my lines, despite the +confident invitation to me (in the morning) to go out and witness the +whipping which was to be given to the enemy's cavalry. Riding to the +front, I readily perceived that the information was correct, and I +had to send a brigade of infantry out to help Sturgis, thus relieving +him from a rather serious predicament. Indeed, the enemy was present +in pretty strong force, both cavalry and infantry, and from his +vicious attack on Sturgis it looked very much as though he intended +to bring on a general engagement. + +Under such circumstances I deemed it advisable that the responsible +commanders of the army should be present, and so informed them. My +communication brought Parke and Granger to the front without delay, +but Foster could not come, since the hardships of the winter had +reopened an old wound received during the Mexican War, and brought on +much suffering. By the time Parke and Granger arrived, however, the +enemy, who it turned out was only making a strong demonstration to +learn the object of our movement on Dandridge, seemed satisfied with +the results of his reconnoissance, and began falling back toward +Bull's Gap. Meanwhile Parke and Granger concluded that Dandridge was +an untenable point, and hence decided to withdraw a part of the army +to Strawberry Plains; and the question of supplies again coming up, +it was determined to send the Fourth Corps to the south side of the +French Broad to obtain subsistence, provided we could bridge the +river so that men could get across the deep and icy stream without +suffering. + +I agreed to undertake the construction of a bridge on condition that +each division should send to the ford twenty-five wagons with which +to make it. This being acceded to, Harker's brigade began the work +next morning at a favorable point a few miles down the river. As my +quota of wagons arrived, they were drawn into the stream one after +another by the wheel team, six men in each wagon, and as they +successively reached the other side of the channel the mules were +unhitched, the pole of each wagon run under the hind axle of the one +just in front, and the tailboards used so as to span the slight space +between them. The plan worked well as long as the material lasted, +but no other wagons than my twenty-five coming on the ground, the +work stopped when the bridge was only half constructed. Informed of +the delay and its cause, in sheer desperation I finished the bridge +by taking from my own division all the wagons needed to make up the +deficiency. + +It was late in the afternoon when the work was finished, and I began +putting over one of my brigades; but in the midst of its crossing +word came that Longstreet's army was moving to attack us, which +caused an abandonment of the foraging project, and orders quickly +followed to retire to Strawberry Plains, the retrograde movement to +begin forthwith. I sent to headquarters information of the plight I +was in--baggage and supplies on the bank and wagons in the stream +--begged to know what was to become of them if we were to hurry off at +a moment's notice, and suggested that the movement be delayed until I +could recover my transportation. Receiving in reply no assurances +that I should be relieved from my dilemma--and, in fact, nothing +satisfactory--I determined to take upon myself the responsibility of +remaining on the ground long enough to get my wagons out of the river; +so I sent out a heavy force to watch for the enemy, and with the +remainder of the command went to work to break up the bridge. Before +daylight next morning I had recovered everything without interference +by Longstreet, who, it was afterward ascertained, was preparing to +move east toward Lynchburg instead of marching to attack us; the small +demonstration against Dandridge, being made simply to deceive us as to +his ultimate object. I marched to Strawberry Plains unmolested, and +by taking the route over Bay's Mountain, a shorter one than that +followed by the main body of our troops, reached the point of +rendezvous as soon as the most of the army, for the road it followed +was not only longer, but badly cut up by trains that had recently +passed over it. + +Shortly after getting into camp, the beef contractor came in and +reported that a detachment of the enemy's cavalry had captured my +herd of beef cattle. This caused me much chagrin at first, but the +commissary of my division soon put in an appearance, and assured me +that the loss would not be very disastrous to us nor of much benefit +to the enemy, since the cattle were so poor and weak that they could +not be driven off. A reconnoissance in force verified the +Commissary's statement. From its inability to travel, the herd, +after all efforts to carry it off had proved ineffectual, had been +abandoned by its captors. + +After the troops from Chattanooga arrived in the vicinity of +Knoxville and General Sherman had returned to Chattanooga, the +operations in East Tennessee constituted a series of blunders, +lasting through the entire winter; a state of affairs doubtless due, +in the main, to the fact that the command of the troops was so +frequently changed. Constant shifting of responsibility from one to +another ensued from the date that General Sherman, after assuring +himself that Knoxville was safe, devolved the command on Burnside. +It had already been intimated to Burnside that he was to be relieved, +and in consequence he was inactive and apathetic, confining his +operations to an aimless expedition whose advance extended only as +far as Blain's crossroads, whence it was soon withdrawn. Meanwhile +General Foster had superseded Burnside, but physical disabilities +rendered him incapable of remaining in the field, and then the chief +authority devolved on Parke. By this time the transmission of power +seemed almost a disease; at any rate it was catching, so, while we +were en route to Dandridge, Parke transferred the command to Granger. +The latter next unloaded it on me, and there is no telling what the +final outcome would have been had I not entered a protest against a +further continuance of the practice, which remonstrance brought +Granger to the front at Dandridge. + +While the events just narrated were taking place, General Grant had +made a visit to Knoxville--about the last of December--and arranged +to open the railroad between there and Chattanooga, with a view to +supplying the troops in East Tennessee by rail in the future, instead +of through Cumberland Gap by a tedious line of wagon-trains. In +pursuance of his plan the railroad had already been opened to Loudon, +but here much delay occurred on account of the long time it took to +rebuild the bridge over the Tennessee. Therefore supplies were still +very scarce, and as our animals were now dying in numbers from +starvation, and the men were still on short allowance, it became +necessary that some of the troops east of Knoxville should get nearer +to their depot, and also be in a position to take part in the coming +Georgia campaign, or render assistance to General Thomas, should +General Johnston (who had succeeded in command of the Confederate +army) make any demonstration against Chattanooga. Hence my division +was ordered to take station at Loudon, Tennessee, and I must confess +that we took the road for that point with few regrets, for a general +disgust prevailed regarding our useless marches during the winter. + +At this time my faithful scout Card and his younger brother left me, +with the determination, as I have heretofore related, to avenge their +brother's death. No persuasion could induce Card to remain longer, +for knowing that my division's next operation would be toward +Atlanta, and being ignorant of the country below Dalton, he +recognized and insisted that his services would then become +practically valueless. + +At Loudon, where we arrived January 27, supplies were more plentiful, +and as our tents and extra clothing reached us there in a few days, +every one grew contented and happy. Here a number of my regiments, +whose terms of service were about to expire, went through the process +of "veteranizing," and, notwithstanding the trials and hardships of +the preceding nine months, they re-enlisted almost to a man. + +When everything was set in motion toward recuperating and refitting +my troops, I availed myself of the opportunity during a lull that +then existed to take a short leave of absence--a privilege I had not +indulged in since entering the service in 1853. This leave I spent +in the North with much benefit to my physical condition, for I was +much run down by fatiguing service, and not a little troubled by +intense pain which I at times still suffered from my experience in +the unfortunate hand-car incident on the Cumberland Mountains the +previous July. I returned from leave the latter part of March, +rejoining my division with the expectation that the campaign in that +section would begin as early as April. + +On the 12th of March, 1864, General Grant was assigned to the command +of the armies of the United States, as general-in-chief. He was +already in Washington, whither he had gone to receive his commission +as lieutenant-general. Shortly after his arrival there, he commenced +to rearrange the different commands in the army to suit the plans +which he intended to enter upon in the spring, and out of this grew a +change in my career. Many jealousies and much ill-feeling, the +outgrowth of former campaigns, existed among officers of high grade +in the Army of the Potomac in the winter of 1864, and several general +officers were to be sent elsewhere in consequence. Among these, +General Alfred Pleasonton was to be relieved from the command of the +cavalry, General Grant having expressed to the President +dissatisfaction that so little had hitherto been accomplished by that +arm of the service, and I was selected as chief of the cavalry corps +of the Army of the Potomac, receiving on the night of the 23d of +March from General Thomas at Chattanooga the following telegram: + +"MARCH 23, 1864. +"MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, Chattanooga + +"Lieutenant-General Grant directs that Major-General Sheridan +immediately repair to Washington and report to the Adjutant-General +of the Army. + +"H. W. HALLECK, +Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + +I was not informed of the purpose for which I was to proceed to +Washington, but I conjectured that it meant a severing of my +relations with the Second Division, Fourth Army Corps. I at once set +about obeying the order, and as but little preparation was necessary, +I started for Chattanooga the next day, without taking any formal +leave of the troops I had so long commanded. I could not do it; the +bond existing between them and me had grown to such depth of +attachment that I feared to trust my emotions in any formal parting +from a body of soldiers who, from our mutual devotion, had long +before lost their official designation, and by general consent within +and without the command were called "Sheridan's Division." When I +took the train at the station the whole command was collected on the +hill-sides around to see me off. They had assembled spontaneously, +officers and men, and as the cars moved out for Chattanooga they +waved me farewell with demonstrations of affection. + +A parting from such friends was indeed to be regretted. They had +never given me any trouble, nor done anything that could bring aught +but honor to themselves. I had confidence in them, and I believe +they had in me. They were ever steady, whether in victory or in +misfortune, and as I tried always to be with them, to put them into +the hottest fire if good could be gained, or save them from +unnecessary loss, as occasion required, they amply repaid all my care +and anxiety, courageously and readily meeting all demands in every +emergency that arose. + +In Kentucky, nearly two years before, my lot had been cast with about +half of the twenty-five regiments of infantry that I was just +leaving, the rest joining me after Chickamauga. It was practically a +new arm of the service to me, for although I was an infantry officer, +yet the only large command which up to that time I had controlled was +composed of cavalry, and most of my experience had been gained in +this arm of the service. I had to study hard to be able to master +all the needs of such a force, to feed and clothe it and guard all +its interests. When undertaking these responsibilities I felt that +if I met them faithfully, recompense would surely come through the +hearty response that soldiers always make to conscientious exertion +on the part of their superiors, and not only that more could be +gained in that way than from the use of any species of influence, but +that the reward would be quicker. Therefore I always tried to look +after their comfort personally; selected their camps, and provided +abundantly for their subsistence, and the road they opened for me +shows that my work was not in vain. I regretted deeply to have to +leave such soldiers, and felt that they were sorry I was going, and +even now I could not, if I would, retain other than the warmest +sentiments of esteem and the tenderest affection for the officers and +men of "Sheridan's Division," Army of the Cumberland. + +On reaching Chattanooga I learned from General Thomas the purpose for +which I had been ordered to Washington. I was to be assigned to the +command of the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The +information staggered me at first, for I knew well the great +responsibilities of such a position; moreover, I was but slightly +acquainted with military operations in Virginia, and then, too, the +higher officers of the Army of the Potomac were little known to me, +so at the moment I felt loth to undergo the trials of the new +position. Indeed, I knew not a soul in Washington except General +Grant and General Halleck, and them but slightly, and no one in +General Meade's army, from the commanding general down, except a few +officers in the lower grades, hardly any of whom I had seen since +graduating at the Military Academy. + +Thus it is not much to be wondered at that General Thomas's +communication momentarily upset me. But there was no help for it, so +after reflecting on the matter a little I concluded to make the best +of the situation. As in Virginia I should be operating in a field +with which I was wholly unfamiliar, and among so many who were +strangers, it seemed to me that it would be advisable to have, as a +chief staff-officer, one who had had service in the East, if an +available man could be found. In weighing all these considerations +in my mind, I fixed upon Captain James W. Forsyth, of the Eighteenth +Infantry, then in the regular brigade at Chattanooga--a dear friend +of mine, who had served in the Army of the Potomac, in the Peninsula +and Antietam campaigns. He at once expressed a desire to accept a +position on my staff, and having obtained by the next day the +necessary authority, he and I started for Washington, accompanied by +Lieutenant T. W. C. Moore, one of my aides, leaving behind Lieutenant +M. V. Sheridan, my other aide, to forward our horses as soon as they +should be sent down to Chattanooga from Loudon, after which he was to +join me. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AT WASHINGTON--MEETING SECRETARY STANTON--INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT +LINCOLN--MADE COMMANDER OF THE CAVALRY CORPS OF THE ARMY OF THE +POTOMAC--ITS OFFICERS--GENERAL MEADE's METHOD OF USING CAVALRY +--OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN--SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H.--A DIFFERENCE WITH +GENERAL MEADE--PREPARING TO FIGHT STUART'S CAVALRY. + +Accompanied by Captain Forsyth and Lieutenant Moore, I arrived in +Washington on the morning of April, 4, 1864, and stopped at Willard's +Hotel, where, staying temporarily, were many officers of the Army of +the Potomac en route to their commands from leave at the North. +Among all these, however, I was an entire stranger, and I cannot now +recall that I met a single individual whom I had ever before known. + +With very little delay after reaching my hotel I made my way to +General Halleck's headquarters and reported to that officer, having +learned in the meantime that General Grant was absent from the city. +General Halleck talked to me for a few minutes, outlining briefly the +nature and duties of my new command, and the general military +situation in Virginia. When he had finished all he had to say about +these matters, he took me to the office of the Secretary of War, to +present me to Mr. Stanton. During the ceremony of introduction, I +could feel that Mr. Stanton was eying me closely and searchingly, +endeavoring to form some estimate of one about whom he knew +absolutely nothing, and whose career probably had never been called +to his attention until General Grant decided to order me East, after +my name had been suggested by General Halleck in an interview the two +generals had with Mr. Lincoln. I was rather young in appearance +--looking even under than over thirty-three years--but five feet five +inches in height, and thin almost to emaciation, weighing only one +hundred and fifteen pounds. If I had ever possessed any +self-assertion in manner or speech, it certainly vanished in the +presence of the imperious Secretary, whose name at the time was the +synonym of all that was cold and formal. I never learned what Mr. +Stanton's first impressions of me were, and his guarded and rather +calculating manner gave at this time no intimation that they were +either favorable or unfavorable, but his frequent commendation in +after years indicated that I gained his goodwill before the close of +the war, if not when I first came to his notice; and a more intimate +association convinced me that the cold and cruel characteristics +popularly ascribed to him were more mythical than real. + +When the interview with the Secretary was over, I proceeded with +General Halleck to the White House to pay my respects to the +President. Mr. Lincoln received me very cordially, offering both his +hands, and saying that he hoped I would fulfill the expectations of +General Grant in the new command I was about to undertake, adding +that thus far the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac had not done all +it might have done, and wound up our short conversation by quoting +that stale interrogation so prevalent during the early years of the +war, "Who ever saw a dead cavalryman?" His manner did not impress +me, however, that in asking the question he had meant anything beyond +a jest, and I parted from the President convinced that he did not +believe all that the query implied. + +After taking leave I separated from General Halleck, and on returning +to my hotel found there an order from the War Department assigning me +to the command of the Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. The next +morning, April 5, as I took the cars for the headquarters of the Army +of the Potomac, General Grant, who had returned to Washington the +previous night from a visit to his family, came aboard the train on +his way to Culpeper Court House, and on the journey down I learned +among other things that he had wisely determined to continue +personally in the field, associating himself with General Meade's +army; where he could supervise its movements directly, and at the +same time escape the annoyances which, should he remain in +Washington, would surely arise from solicitude for the safety of the +Capital while the campaign was in progress. When we reached Brandy +Station, I left the train and reported to General Meade, who told me +that the headquarters of the Cavalry Corps were some distance back +from the Station, and indicated the general locations of the +different divisions of the corps, also giving me, in the short time I +remained with him, much information regarding their composition. + +I reached the Cavalry Corps headquarters on the evening of April 5, +1864, and the next morning issued orders assuming command. General +Pleasonton had but recently been relieved, and many of his +staff-officers were still on duty at the headquarters awaiting the +arrival of the permanent commander. I resolved to retain the most of +these officers on my staff, and although they were all unknown to me +when I decided on this course, yet I never had reason to regret it, +nor to question the selections made by my predecessor. + +The corps consisted of three cavalry divisions and twelve batteries +of horse artillery. Brigadier-General A. T. A. Torbert was in +command of the First Division, which was composed of three brigades; +Brigadier-General D. McM. Gregg, of the Second, consisting of two +brigades; and Brigadier-General J. H. Wilson was afterward assigned +to command the Third, also comprising two brigades: Captain Robinson, +a veteran soldier of the Mexican war, was chief of artillery, and as +such had a general supervision of that arm, though the batteries, +either as units or in sections, were assigned to the different +divisions in campaign. + +Each one of my division commanders was a soldier by profession. +Torbert graduated from the Military Academy in 1855, and was +commissioned in the infantry, in which arm he saw much service on the +frontier, in Florida, and on the Utah expedition. At the beginning +of hostilities in April, 1861, he was made a colonel of New Jersey +volunteers, and from that position was promoted in the fall of 1862 +to be a brigadier-general, thereafter commanding a brigade of +infantry in the Army of the Potomac till, in the redistribution of +generals, after Grant came to the East, he was assigned to the First +Cavalry Division. + +Gregg graduated in 1855 also, and was appointed to the First +Dragoons, with which regiment, up to the breaking out of the war, he +saw frontier service extending from Fort Union, New Mexico, through +to the Pacific coast, and up into Oregon and Washington Territories, +where I knew him slightly. In the fall of 1861 he became colonel of +the Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and a year later was made a +brigadier-general. He then succeeded to the command of a division of +cavalry, and continued in that position till the close of his +service, at times temporarily commanding the Cavalry Corps. He was +the only division commander I had whose experience had been almost +exclusively derived from the cavalry arm. + +Wilson graduated in 1860 in the Topographical Engineers, and was +first assigned to duty in Oregon, where he remained till July, 1861. +In the fall of that year his active service in the war began, and he +rose from one position to another, in the East and West, till, while +on General Grant's staff, he was made a brigadier-general in the fall +of 1863 in reward for services performed during the Vicksburg +campaign and for engineer duty at Chattanooga preceding the battle of +Missionary Ridge. At my request he was selected to command the Third +Division. General Grant thought highly of him, and, expecting much +from his active mental and physical ability, readily assented to +assign him in place of General Kilpatrick. The only other general +officers in the corps were Brigadier-General Wesley Merritt, +Brigadier-General George A. Custer, and Brigadier-General Henry E. +Davies, each commanding a brigade. + +In a few days after my arrival at Brandy Station I reviewed my new +command, which consisted of about twelve thousand officers and men, +with the same number of horses in passable trim. Many of the general +officers of the army were present at the review, among them Generals +Meade, Hancock, and Sedgwick. Sedgwick being an old dragoon, came to +renew his former associations with mounted troops, and to encourage +me, as he jestingly said, because of the traditional prejudices the +cavalrymen were supposed to hold against being commanded by an +infantry officer. The corps presented a fine appearance at the +review, and so far as the health and equipment of the men were +concerned the showing was good and satisfactory; but the horses were +thin and very much worn down by excessive and, it seemed to me, +unnecessary picket duty, for the cavalry picket-line almost +completely encircled the infantry and artillery camps of the army, +covering a distance, on a continuous line, of nearly sixty miles, +with hardly a mounted Confederate confronting it at any point. From +the very beginning of the war the enemy had shown more wisdom +respecting his cavalry than we. Instead of wasting its strength by a +policy of disintegration he, at an early day, had organized his +mounted force into compact masses, and plainly made it a favorite; +and, as usual, he was now husbanding the strength of his horses by +keeping them to the rear, so that in the spring he could bring them +out in good condition for the impending campaign. + +Before and at the review I took in this situation, and determined to +remedy it if possible; so in due time I sought an interview with +General Meade and informed him that, as the effectiveness of my +command rested mainly on the strength of its horses, I thought the +duty it was then performing was both burdensome and wasteful. I also +gave him my idea as to what the cavalry should do, the main purport +of which was that it ought to be kept concentrated to fight the +enemy's cavalry. Heretofore, the commander of the Cavalry Corps had +been, virtually, but an adjunct at army headquarters--a sort of chief +of cavalry--and my proposition seemed to stagger General Meade not a +little. I knew that it would be difficult to overcome the recognized +custom of using the cavalry for the protection of trains and the +establishment of cordons around the infantry corps, and so far +subordinating its operations to the movements of the main army that +in name only was it a corps at all, but still I thought it my duty to +try. + +At first General Meade would hardly listen to my proposition, for he +was filled with the prejudices that, from the beginning of the war, +had pervaded the army regarding the importance and usefulness of +cavalry, General Scott then predicting that the contest would be +settled by artillery, and thereafter refusing the services of +regiment after regiment of mounted troops. General Meade deemed +cavalry fit for little more than guard and picket duty, and wanted to +know what would protect the transportation trains and artillery +reserve, cover the front of moving infantry columns, and secure his +flanks from intrusion, if my policy were pursued. I told him that if +he would let me use the cavalry as I contemplated, he need have +little solicitude in these respects, for, with a mass of ten thousand +mounted men, it was my belief that I could make it so lively for the +enemy's cavalry that, so far as attacks from it were concerned, the +flanks and rear of the Army of the Potomac would require little or no +defense, and claimed, further, that moving columns of infantry should +take care of their own fronts. I also told him that it was my object +to defeat the enemy's cavalry in a general combat, if possible, and +by such a result establish a feeling of confidence in my own troops +that would enable us after awhile to march where we pleased, for the +purpose of breaking General Lee's communications and destroying the +resources from which his army was supplied. + +The idea as here outlined was contrary to Meade's convictions, for +though at different times since he commanded the Army of the Potomac +considerable bodies of the cavalry had been massed for some special +occasion, yet he had never agreed to the plan as a permanency, and +could not be bent to it now. He gave little encouragement, +therefore, to what I proposed, yet the conversation was immediately +beneficial in one way, for when I laid before him the true condition +of the cavalry, he promptly relieved it from much of the arduous and +harassing picket service it was performing, thus giving me about two +weeks in which to nurse the horses before the campaign opened. + +The interview also disclosed the fact that the cavalry commander +should be, according to General Meade's views, at his headquarters +practically as one of his staff, through whom he would give detailed +directions as, in his judgment, occasion required. Meade's ideas and +mine being so widely divergent, disagreements arose between us later +during the battles of the Wilderness, which lack of concord ended in +some concessions on his part after the movement toward Spottsylvania +Court House began, and although I doubt that his convictions were +ever wholly changed, yet from that date on, in the organization of +the Army of the Potomac, the cavalry corps became more of a compact +body, with the same privileges and responsibilities that attached to +the other corps--conditions that never actually existed before. + +On the 4th of May the Army of the Potomac moved against Lee, who was +occupying a defensive position on the south bank of the Rapidan. +After detailing the various detachments which I was obliged to supply +for escorts and other mounted duty, I crossed the river with an +effective force of about 10,000 troopers. In the interval succeeding +my assignment to the command of the cavalry, I had taken the pains to +study carefully the topography of the country in eastern Virginia, +and felt convinced that, under the policy Meade intended I should +follow, there would be little opportunity for mounted troops to +acquit themselves well in a region so thickly wooded, and traversed +by so many almost parallel streams; but conscious that he would be +compelled sooner or later either to change his mind or partially give +way to the pressure of events, I entered on the campaign with the +loyal determination to aid zealously in all its plans. + +General Lee's army was located in its winter quarters behind +intrenchments that lay along the Rapidan for a distance of about +twenty miles; extending from Barnett's to Morton's ford. The fords +below Morton's were watched by a few small detachments of Confederate +cavalry, the main body of which, however, was encamped below +Hamilton's crossing, where it could draw supplies from the rich +country along the Rappahannock. Only a few brigades of Lee's +infantry guarded the works along the river, the bulk of it being so +situated that it could be thrown to either flank toward which the +Union troops approached. + +General Grant adopted the plan of moving by his left flank, with the +purpose of compelling Lee to come out from behind his intrenchments +along Mine Run and fight on equal terms. Grant knew well the +character of country through which he would have to pass, but he was +confident that the difficulties of operation in the thickly wooded +region of the Wilderness would be counterbalanced by the facility +with which his position would enable him to secure a new base; and by +the fact that as he would thus cover Washington, there would be +little or no necessity for the authorities there to detach from his +force at some inopportune moment for the protection of that city. + +In the move forward two divisions of my cavalry took the advance, +Gregg crossing the Rapidan at Ely's ford and Wilson at Germania ford. +Torbert's division remained in the rear to cover the trains and +reserve artillery, holding from Rapidan Station to Culpeper, and +thence through Stevensburg to the Rappahannock River. Gregg crossed +the Rapidan before daylight, in advance of the Second Corps, and when +the latter reached Ely's ford, he pushed on to Chancellorsville; +Wilson preceded the Fifth Corps to Germania ford, and when it reached +the river he made the crossing and moved rapidly by Wilderness +Tavern, as far as Parker's Store, from which point he sent a heavy +reconnoissance toward Mine Run, the rest of his division bivouacking +in a strong position. I myself proceeded to Chancellorsville and +fixed my headquarters at that place, whereon the 5th I was joined by +Torbert's division. + +Meanwhile, General Meade had crossed the Rapidan and established his +headquarters not far from Germania ford. From that point he was in +direct communication with Wilson, whose original instructions from me +carried him only as far as Parker's Store, but it being found, during +the night of the 4th, that the enemy was apparently unacquainted with +the occurrences of the day, Meade directed Wilson to advance in the +direction of Craig's Meeting House; leaving one regiment to hold +Parker's Store. Wilson with the second brigade encountered Rosser's +brigade of cavalry just beyond the Meeting House, and drove it back +rapidly a distance of about two miles, holding it there till noon, +while his first brigade was halted on the north side of Robinson's +Run near the junction of the Catharpen and Parker's Store roads. + +Up to this time Wilson had heard nothing of the approach of the Fifth +Corps, and the situation becoming threatening, he withdrew the second +brigade to the position occupied by the first, but scarcely had he +done so when he learned that at an early hour in the forenoon the +enemy's infantry had appeared in his rear at Parker's Store and cut +off his communication with General Meade. Surprised at this, he +determined to withdraw to Todd's Tavern, but before his resolution +could be put into execution the Confederates attacked him with a +heavy force, and at the same time began pushing troops down the +Catharpen road. Wilson was now in a perplexing situation, sandwiched +between the Confederates who had cut him off in the rear at Parker's +store and those occupying the Catharpen road, but he extricated his +command by passing it around the latter force, and reached Todd's +Tavern by crossing the Po River at Corbin's bridge. General Meade +discovering that the enemy had interposed at Parker's store between +Wilson and the Fifth Corps, sent me word to go to Wilson's relief, +and this was the first intimation I received that Wilson had been +pushed out so far, but, surmising that he would retire in the +direction of Todd's Tavern I immediately despatched Gregg's division +there to his relief. Just beyond Todd's Tavern Gregg met Wilson, who +was now being followed by the enemy's cavalry. The pursuing force +was soon checked, and then driven back to Shady Grove Church, while +Wilson's troops fell in behind Gregg's line, somewhat the worse for +their morning's adventure. + +When the Army of the Potomac commenced crossing the Rapidan on the +4th, General J. E. B. Stuart, commanding the Confederate cavalry, +began concentrating his command on the right of Lee's infantry, +bringing it from Hamilton's crossing and other points where it had +been wintering. Stuart's force at this date was a little more than +eight thousand men, organized in two divisions, commanded by Generals +Wade Hampton and Fitzhugh Lee. Hampton's division was composed of +three brigades, commanded by Generals Cordon, Young, and Rosser; +Fitzhugh Lee's division comprised three brigades also, Generals W. H. +F. Lee, Lomax, and Wickham commanding them. + +Information of this concentration, and of the additional fact that +the enemy's cavalry about Hamilton's crossing was all being drawn in, +reached me on the 5th, which obviated all necessity for my moving on +that point as I intended at the onset of the campaign. The +responsibility for the safety of our trains and of the left flank of +the army still continued, however, so I made such dispositions of my +troops as to secure these objects by holding the line of the Brock +road beyond the Furnaces, and thence around to Todd's Tavern and +Piney Branch Church. On the 6th, through some false information, +General Meade became alarmed about his left flank, and sent me the +following note: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +"May 6, 1864.--1 o'clock P. M. +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, +"Commanding Cavalry Corps + +"Your despatch of 11.45 a.m., received. General Hancock has been +heavily pressed, and his left turned. The major-general commanding +thinks that you had better draw in your cavalry, so as to secure the +protection of the trains. The order requiring an escort for the +wagons to-night has been rescinded. + +"A. A. HUMPHREYS, +"Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + +On the morning of the 6th Custer's and Devin's brigades had been +severely engaged at the Furnaces before I received the above note. +They had been most successful in repulsing the enemy's attacks, +however, and I felt that the line taken up could be held; but the +despatch from General Humphreys was alarming, so I drew all the +cavalry close in toward Chancellorsville. It was found later that +Hancock's left had not been turned, and the points thus abandoned had +to be regained at a heavy cost in killed and wounded, to both the +cavalry and the infantry. + +On the 7th of May, under directions from headquarters, Army of the +Potomac, the trains were put in motion to go into park at Piney +Branch Church, in anticipation of the movement that was about to be +made for the possession of Spottsylvania Court House. I felt +confident that the order to move the trains there had been given +without a full understanding of the situation, for Piney Branch +Church was now held by the enemy, a condition which had resulted from +the order withdrawing the cavalry on account of the supposed disaster +to Hancock's left the day before; but I thought the best way to +remedy matters was to hold the trains in the vicinity of Aldrich's +till the ground on which it was intended to park them should be +regained. + +This led to the battle of Todd's Tavern, a spirited fight for the +possession of the crossroads at that point, participated in by the +enemy's cavalry and Gregg's division, and two brigades of Torbert's +division, the latter commanded by Merritt, as Torbert became very ill +on the 6th, and had to be sent to the rear. To gain the objective +point--the crossroads--I directed Gregg to assail the enemy on the +Catharpen road with Irvin Gregg's brigade and drive him over Corbin's +bridge, while Merritt attacked him with the Reserve brigade on the +Spottsylvania road in conjunction with Davies's brigade of Gregg's +division, which was to be put in on the Piney Branch Church road, and +unite with Merritt's left. Davies's and Irvin Gregg's brigades on my +right and left flanks met with some resistance, yet not enough to +deter them from, executing their orders. In front of Merritt the +enemy held on more stubbornly, however, and there ensued an +exceedingly severe and, at times, fluctuating fight. Finally the +Confederates gave way, and we pursued them almost to Spottsylvania +Court House; but deeming it prudent to recall the pursuers about +dark, I encamped Gregg's and Merritt's divisions in the open fields +to the east of Todd's Tavern. + +During the preceding three days the infantry corps of the army had +been engaged in the various conflicts known as the battles of the +Wilderness. The success of the Union troops in those battles had not +been all that was desired, and General Grant now felt that it was +necessary to throw himself on Lee's communications if possible, while +preserving his own intact by prolonging the movement to the left. +Therefore, on the evening of the 7th he determined to shift his whole +army toward Spottsylvania Court House, and initiated the movement by +a night march of the infantry to Todd's Tavern. In view of what was +contemplated, I gave orders to Gregg and Merritt to move at daylight +on the morning of the 8th, for the purpose of gaining possession of +Snell's bridge over the Po River, the former by the crossing at +Corbin's bridge and the latter by the Block House. I also directed +Wilson, who was at Alsop's house, to take possession of Spottsylvania +as early as possible on the morning of the 8th, and then move into +position at Snell's bridge conjointly with the other two divisions. +Wilson's orders remained as I had issued them, so he moved +accordingly and got possession of Spottsylvania, driving the enemy's +cavalry a mile beyond, as will be seen by the following despatch sent +me at 9 A. M. of the 8th: + +"HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, +"ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. +"SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, May 8, 1864 9 A. M. +"LIEUTENANT-COLONEL FORSYTH, CHIEF-OF-STAFF, C. C. + +"Have run the enemy's cavalry a mile from Spottsylvania Court House; +have charged them, and drove them through the village; am fighting +now with a considerable force, supposed to be Lee's division. +Everything all right. + +"J. H. WILSON, +"Brigadier-General Commanding. + + +During the night of the 7th General Meade arrived at Todd's Tavern +and modified the orders I had given Gregg and Merritt, directing +Gregg simply to hold Corbin's bridge, and Merritt to move out in +front of the infantry column marching on the Spottsylvania road. +Merritt proceeded to obey, but in advancing, our cavalry and infantry +became intermingled in the darkness, and much confusion and delay was +the consequence. I had not been duly advised of these changes in +Gregg's and Merritt's orders, and for a time I had fears for the +safety of Wilson, but, while he was preparing to move on to form his +junction with Gregg and Merritt at Snell's bridge, the advance of +Anderson (who was now commanding Longstreet's corps) appeared on the +scene and drove him from Spottsylvania. + +Had Gregg and Merritt been permitted to proceed as they were +originally instructed, it is doubtful whether the battles fought at +Spottsylvania would have occurred, for these two divisions would have +encountered the enemy at the Pa River, and so delayed his march as to +enable our infantry to reach Spottsylvania first, and thus force Lee +to take up a line behind the Po. I had directed Wilson to move from +the left by "the Gate" through Spottsylvania to Snell's bridge, while +Gregg and Merritt were to advance to the same point by Shady Grove +and the Block House. There was nothing to prevent at least a partial +success of these operations; that is to say, the concentration of the +three divisions in front of Snell's bridge, even if we could not +actually have gained it. But both that important point and the +bridge on the Block House road were utterly ignored, and Lee's +approach to Spottsylvania left entirely unobstructed, while three +divisions of cavalry remained practically ineffective by reason of +disjointed and irregular instructions. + +On the morning of the 8th, when I found that such orders had been +given, I made some strong remonstrances against the course that had +been pursued, but it was then too late to carry out the combinations +I had projected the night before, so I proceeded to join Merritt on +the Spottsylvania road. On reaching Merritt I found General Warren +making complaint that the cavalry were obstructing his infantry +column, so I drew Merritt off the road, and the leading division of +the Fifth Corps pushed up to the front. It got into line about 11 +o'clock, and advanced to take the village, but it did not go very far +before it struck Anderson's corps, and was hurled back with heavy +loss. This ended all endeavor to take Spottsylvania that day. + +A little before noon General Meade sent for me, and when I reached +his headquarters I found that his peppery temper had got the better +of his good judgment, he showing a disposition to be unjust, laying +blame here and there for the blunders that had been committed. He +was particularly severe on the cavalry, saying, among other things, +that it had impeded the march of the Fifth Corps by occupying the +Spottsylvania road. I replied that if this were true, he himself had +ordered it there without my knowledge. I also told him that he had +broken up my combinations, exposed Wilson's division to disaster, and +kept Gregg unnecessarily idle, and further, repelled his insinuations +by saying that such disjointed operations as he had been requiring of +the cavalry for the last four days would render the corps inefficient +and useless before long. Meade was very much irritated, and I was +none the less so. One word brought on another, until, finally, I +told him that I could whip Stuart if he (Meade) would only let me, +but since he insisted on giving the cavalry directions without +consulting or even notifying me, he could henceforth command the +Cavalry Corps himself--that I would not give it another order. + +The acrimonious interview ended with this remark, and after I left +him he went to General Grant's headquarters and repeated the +conversation to him, mentioning that I had said that I could whip +Stuart. At this General Grant remarked: "Did he say so? Then let him +go out and do it." This intimation was immediately acted upon by +General Meade, and a little later the following order came to me: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC +"May 8th, 1864 1 P. M. + +"GENERAL SHERIDAN, +"Commanding Cavalry Corps. + +"The major-general commanding directs you to immediately concentrate +your available mounted force, and with your ammunition trains and +such supply trains as are filled (exclusive of ambulances) proceed +against the enemy's cavalry, and when your supplies are exhausted, +proceed via New Market and Green Bay to Haxall's Landing on the James +River, there communicating with General Butler, procuring supplies +and return to this army. Your dismounted men will be left with the +train here. + +"A. A. HUMPHREYS, +"Major-General, Chief-of-staff." + + +As soon as the above order was received I issued instructions for the +concentration of the three divisions of cavalry at Aldrich's to +prepare for the contemplated expedition. Three days' rations for the +men were distributed, and half rations of grain for one day were +doled out for the horses. I sent for Gregg, Merritt, and Wilson and +communicated the order to them, saying at the same time, "We are +going out to fight Stuart's cavalry in consequence of a suggestion +from me; we will give him a fair, square fight; we are strong, and I +know we can beat him, and in view of my recent representations to +General Meade I shall expect nothing but success." I also indicated +to my division commanders the line of march I should take--moving in +one column around the right flank of Lee's army to get in its rear +--and stated at the same time that it was my intention to fight Stuart +wherever he presented himself, and if possible go through to Haxall's +Landing; but that if Stuart should successfully interpose between us +and that point we would swing back to the Army of the Potomac by +passing around the enemy's left flank by way of Gordonsville. At +first the proposition seemed to surprise the division commanders +somewhat, for hitherto even the boldest, mounted expeditions had been +confined to a hurried ride through the enemy's country, without +purpose of fighting more than enough to escape in case of +molestation, and here and there to destroy a bridge. Our move would +be a challenge to Stuart for a cavalry duel behind Lee's lines, in +his own country, but the advantages which it was reasonable to +anticipate from the plan being quickly perceived, each division +commander entered into its support unhesitatingly, and at once set +about preparing for the march next day. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE EXPEDITION STARTS--DESTROYING SUPPLIES--OPENING OF THE FIGHT AT +YELLOW TAVERN--GENERAL CUSTER'S BRILLIANT CHARGE--DEATH OF GENERAL +STUART--REMOVING TORPEDOES--EXCITEMENT IN RICHMOND--A NIGHT MARCH +--ENTERPRISING NEWSBOYS--THE EFFECTS OF STUART'S DEFEAT AND DEATH +--END OF THE FIRST EXPEDITION--ITS GREAT SUCCESS AND BENEFICIAL +RESULTS. + +The expedition which resulted in the battle of Yellow Tavern and the +death of General Stuart started from the vicinity of Aldrich's toward +Fredericksburg early on the morning of May 9, 1864, marching on the +plank-road, Merritt's division leading. When the column reached +Tabernacle Church it headed almost due east to the telegraph road, +and thence down that highway to Thornburg, and from that point +through Childsburg to Anderson's crossing of the North Anna River, it +being my desire to put my command south of that stream if possible, +where it could procure forage before it should be compelled to fight. +The corps moved at a walk, three divisions on the same road, making a +column nearly thirteen miles in length, and marched around the right +flank of the enemy unsuspected until my rear guard had passed +Massaponax Church. Although the column was very long, I preferred to +move it all on one road rather than to attempt combinations for +carrying the divisions to any given point by different routes. +Unless the separate commands in an expedition of this nature are very +prompt in movement, and each fully equal to overcoming at once any +obstacle it may meet, combinations rarely work out as expected; +besides, an engagement was at all times imminent, hence it was +specially necessary to keep the whole force well together. + +As soon as the Ny, Po, and Ta rivers were crossed, each of which +streams would have afforded an excellent defensive line to the enemy, +all anxiety as to our passing around Lee's army was removed, and our +ability to cross the North Anna placed beyond doubt. Meanwhile +General Stuart had discovered what we were about, and he set his +cavalry in motion, sending General Fitzhugh Lee to follow and attack +my rear on the Childsburg road, Stuart himself marching by way of +Davenport's bridge, on the North Anna, toward Beaver Dam Station, +near which place his whole command was directed to unite the next +day. + +My column having passed the Ta River, Stuart attacked its rear with +considerable vigor, in the hope that he could delay my whole force +long enough to permit him to get at least a part of his command in my +front; but this scheme was frustrated by Davies's brigade, which I +directed to fight as a rear-guard, holding on at one position and +then at another along the line of march just enough to deter the +enemy from a too rapid advance. Davies performed this responsible +and trying duty with tact and good judgment, following the main +column steadily as it progressed to the south, and never once +permitting Fitzhugh Lee's advance to encroach far enough to compel a +halt of my main body. About dark Merritt's division crossed the +North Anna at Anderson's ford, while Gregg and Wilson encamped on the +north side, having engaged the enemy, who still hung on my rear up to +a late hour at night. + +After Merritt's division passed the river, Custer's brigade proceeded +on to Beaver Dam Station to cut the Virginia Central railroad. +Before reaching the station he met a small force of the enemy, but +this he speedily drove off, recapturing from it about four hundred +Union prisoners, who had been taken recently in the Wilderness and +were being conducted to Richmond. Custer also destroyed the station, +two locomotives, three trains of cars, ninety wagons, from eight to +ten miles of railroad and telegraph lines, some two hundred thousand +pounds of bacon and other supplies, amounting in all to about a +million and a half of rations, and nearly all they medical stores of +General Lee's army, which had been moved from Orange Court House +either because Lee wished to have them directly in his rear or +because he contemplated falling back to the North Anna. + +On the morning of the 10th Gregg and Wilson, while crossing the North +Anna, were again attacked, but were covered by the division on the +south side of the stream; the passage was effected without much loss, +notwithstanding the approach of Stuart on the south bank from the +direction of Davenport's bridge. The possession of Beaver Dam gave +us an important point, as it opened a way toward Richmond by the +Negro-foot road. It also enabled us to obtain forage for our +well-nigh famished animals, and to prepare for fighting the enemy, +who, I felt sure, would endeavor to interpose between my column and +Richmond. + +Stuart had hardly united his troops near Beaver Dam when he realized +that concentrating there was a mistake, so he began making +dispositions for remedying his error, and while we leisurely took the +Negro-foot toad toward Richmond, he changed his tactics and hauled +off from my rear, urging his horses to the death in order to get in +between Richmond and my column. This he effected about 10 o'clock on +the morning of the 11th, concentrating at Yellow Tavern, six miles +from the city, on the Brook turnpike. His change of tactics left my +march on the 10th practically unmolested, and we quietly encamped +that night on the south bank of the South Anna, near Ground Squirrel +Bridge. Here we procured an abundance of forage, and as the distance +traveled that day had been only fifteen to eighteen miles, men and +horses were able to obtain a good rest during the night. + +At 2 o'clock in the morning, May 11, Davies's brigade of Gregg's +division marched for Ashland to cut the Fredericksburg railroad. +Arriving there before the head of the enemy's column, which had to +pass through this same place to reach Yellow Tavern, Davies drove out +a small force occupying the town, burnt a train of cars and a +locomotive, destroyed the railroad for some distance, and rejoined +the main column at Allen's Station on the Fredericksburg and Richmond +railroad. From Allen's Station the whole command moved on Yellow +Tavern, Merritt in the lead, Wilson following, and Gregg in the rear. + +The appearance of Davies's brigade at Ashland in the morning had had +the effect of further mystifying the enemy as to my intentions; and +while he held it incumbent to place himself between me and Richmond, +yet he was still so uncertain of my movements that he committed the +same fault that he did the first day, when he divided his force and +sent a part to follow me on the Childsburg road. He now divided his +command again, sending a portion to hang upon my rear, while he +proceeded with the rest to Yellow Tavern. This separation not only +materially weakened the force which might have been thrown across my +line of march, but it also enabled me to attack with almost my entire +corps, while occupying the pursuers with a small rearguard. + +By forced marches General Stuart succeeded in reaching Yellow Tavern +ahead of me on May 11; and the presence of, his troops, on the +Ashland and Richmond road becoming known to Merritt as he was +approaching the Brook turnpike, this general pressed forward at once +to the attack. Pushing his division to the front, he soon got +possession of the turnpike and drove the enemy back several hundred +yards to the east of it. This success had the effect of throwing the +head of my column to the east of the pike, and I quickly brought up +Wilson and one of Gregg's brigades to take advantage of the situation +by forming a line of battle on that side or the road. Meanwhile the +enemy, desperate but still confident, poured in a heavy fire from his +line and from a battery which enfiladed the Brook road, and made +Yellow Tavern an uncomfortably hot place. Gibbs's and Devin's +brigades, however, held fast there, while Custer, supported by +Chapman's brigade, attacked the enemy's left and battery in a mounted +charge. + +Custer's charge, with Chapman on his flank and the rest of Wilson's +division sustaining him, was brilliantly executed. Beginning at a +walk, he increased his gait to a trot, and then at full speed rushed +at the enemy. At the same moment the dismounted troops along my +whole front moved forward, and as Custer went through the battery, +capturing two of the guns with their cannoneers and breaking up the +enemy's left, Gibbs and Devin drove his centre and right from the +field. Gregg meanwhile, with equal success, charged the force in his +rear-Gordon's brigadeand the engagement ended by giving us complete +control of the road to Richmond. We captured a number of prisoners, +and the casualties on both sides were quite severe, General Stuart +himself falling mortally wounded, and General James B. Gordon, one of +his brigade commanders, being killed. + +After Custer's charge, the Confederate cavalry was badly broken up, +the main portion of it being driven in a rout toward Ashland and a +small part in the direction of Richmond, which latter force finally +rejoined Fitzhugh Lee near Mechanicsville. A reconnoitring party +being now sent up the Brook turnpike toward the city, dashed across +the South Fork of the Chickahominy, drove a small force from the +enemy's exterior intrenchments and went within them. I followed this +party, and after a little exploration found between the two lines of +works a country road that led across to the pike which runs from +Mechanicsville to Richmond. I thought we could go around within the +outer line of works by this country road across to the Mechanicsville +pike on the south side of the Chickahominy, and encamp the next night +at Fair Oaks; so I determined to make the movement after dark, being +influenced in this to some extent by reports received during the +afternoon from colored people, to the effect that General B. F. +Butler's army had reached a small stream on the south side of the +James, about four miles south of Richmond. If I could succeed in +getting through by this road, not only would I have a shorter line of +march to Haxall's landing, but there was also a possibility that I +could help Butler somewhat by joining him so near Richmond. +Therefore, after making the wounded as comfortable as possible, we +commenced the march about 11 o'clock on the night of the 11th, and +massed the command on the plateau south of the Meadow bridge near +daylight on the 12th. + +The enemy, anticipating that I would march by this route, had planted +torpedoes along it, and many of these exploded as the column passed +over them, killing several horses and wounding a few men, but beyond +this we met with no molestation. The torpedoes were loaded shells +planted on each side of the road, and so connected by wires attached +to friction-tubes in the shells, that when a horse's hoof struck a +wire the shell was exploded by the jerk on the improvised lanyard. +After the loss of several horses and the wounding of some of the men +by these torpedoes, I gave directions to have them removed, if +practicable, so about twenty-five of the prisoners were brought up +and made to get down on their knees, feel for the wires in the +darkness, follow them up and unearth the shells. The prisoners +reported the owner of one of the neighboring houses to be the +principal person who had engaged in planting these shells, and I +therefore directed that some of them be carried and placed in the +cellar of his house, arranged to explode if the enemy's column came +that way, while he and his family were brought off as prisoners and +held till after daylight. + +Meanwhile the most intense excitement prevailed in Richmond. The +Confederates, supposing that their capital was my objective point, +were straining every effort to put it in a state of defense, and had +collected between four and five thousand irregular troops, under +General Bragg, besides bringing up three brigades of infantry from +the force confronting General Butler south of the James River, the +alarm being intensified by the retreat, after the defeat at Yellow +Tavern, of Stuart's cavalry, now under General Fitzhugh Lee, by way +of Ashland to Mechanicsville, on the north side of the Chickahominy, +for falling back in that direction, left me between them and +Richmond. + +Our march during the night of the 11th was very tedious, on account +of the extreme darkness and frequent showers of rain; but at daylight +on the 12th the head of my column, under Wilson, reached the +Mechanicsville pike. Here Wilson, encountering the enemy's works and +batteries manned by General Bragg's troops, endeavored to pass. In +this he failed, and as soon as I was notified that it was +impracticable to reach Fair Oaks by passing between the works and the +Chickahominy, Custer's brigade was directed to make the crossing to +the north side of the Chickahominy, at the Meadow bridge. Custer +moved rapidly for the bridge, but found it destroyed, and that the +enemy's cavalry was posted on the north side, in front of +Mechanicsville. When this information came back, I ordered Merritt +to take his whole division and repair the bridge, instructing him +that the crossing must be made at all hazards; for, in view of an +impending attack by the enemy's infantry in Richmond, it was +necessary that I should have the bridge as a means of egress in case +of serious disaster. + +All the time that Merritt was occupied in this important duty, the +enemy gave great annoyance to the working party by sweeping the +bridge with a section of artillery and a fire from the supporting +troops, so a small force was thrown across to drive them away. +When Merritt had passed two regiments over, they attacked, but +were repulsed. The work on the bridge continued, however, +not-withstanding this discomfiture; and when it was finished, Merritt +crossed nearly all his division, dismounted, and again attacked the +enemy, this time carrying the line, of temporary breastworks, built +with logs and rails, and pursuing his broken troops toward Gaines's +Mills. + +While Merritt was engaged in this affair, the Confederates advanced +from behind their works at Richmond, and attacked Wilson and Gregg. +Wilson's troops were driven back in some confusion at first; but +Gregg, in anticipation of attack, had hidden a heavy line of +dismounted men in a bushy ravine on his front, and when the enemy +marched upon it, with much display and under the eye of the President +of the Confederacy, this concealed line opened a destructive fire +with repeating carbines; and at the same time the batteries of +horse-artillery, under Captain Robinson, joining in the contest, +belched forth shot and shell with fatal effect. The galling fire +caused the enemy to falter, and while still wavering Wilson rallied +his men, and turning some of them against the right flank of the +Confederates, broke their line, and compelled them to withdraw for +security behind the heavy works thrown up for the defense of the city +in 1862. + +By destroying the Meadow bridge and impeding my column on the +Mechanicsville, pike, the enemy thought to corner us completely, for +he still maintained the force in Gregg's rear that had pressed it the +day before; but the repulse of his infantry ended all his hopes of +doing us any serious damage on the limited ground between the +defenses of Richmond and the Chickahominy. He felt certain that on +account of the recent heavy rains we could not cross the Chickahominy +except by the Meadow bridge, and it also seemed clear to him that we +could not pass between the river and his intrenchments; therefore he +hoped to ruin us, or at least compel us to return by the same route +we had taken in coming, in which case we would run into Gordon's +brigade, but the signal repulse of Bragg's infantry dispelled these +illusions. + +Even had it not been our good fortune to defeat him, we could have +crossed the Chickahominy if necessary at several points that were +discovered by scouting parties which, while the engagement was going +on, I had sent out to look up fords. This means of getting out from +the circumscribed plateau I did not wish to use, however, unless +there was no alternative, for I wished to demonstrate to the Cavalry +Corps the impossibility of the enemy's destroying or capturing so +large a body of mounted troops. + +The chances of seriously injuring, us were more favorable to the +enemy this time than ever they were afterward, for with the troops +from Richmond, comprising three brigades of veterans and about five +thousand irregulars on my front and right flank, with Gordon's +cavalry in the rear, and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry on my left flank, +holding the Chickahominy and Meadow bridge, I was apparently hemmed +in on every side, but relying on the celerity with which mounted +troops could be moved, I felt perfectly confident that the seemingly +perilous situation could be relieved under circumstances even worse +than those then surrounding us. Therefore, instead of endeavoring to +get away without a fight, I concluded that there would be little +difficulty in withdrawing, even should I be beaten, and none whatever +if I defeated the enemy. + +In accordance with this view I accepted battle; and the complete +repulse of the enemy's infantry, which assailed us from his +intrenchments, and of Gordon's cavalry, which pressed Gregg on the +Brook road, ended the contest in our favor. The rest of the day we +remained on the battle-field undisturbed, and our time was spent in +collecting the wounded, burying the dead, grazing the horses, and +reading the Richmond journals, two small newsboys with commendable +enterprise having come within our lines from the Confederate capital +to sell their papers. They were sharp youngsters, and having come +well supplied, they did a thrifty business. When their stock in +trade was all disposed of they wished to return, but they were so +intelligent and observant that I thought their mission involved other +purposes than the mere sale of newspapers, so they were held till we +crossed the Chickahominy and then turned loose. + +After Merritt had crossed the Chickahominy and reached +Mechanicsville, I sent him orders to push on to Gaines's Mills. Near +the latter place he fell in with the enemy's cavalry again, and +sending me word, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon I crossed the +Chickahominy with Wilson and Gregg, but when we overtook Merritt he +had already brushed the Confederates away, and my whole command went +into camp between Walnut Grove and Gaines's Mills. + +The main purposes of the expedition had now been executed. They were +"to break up General Lee's railroad communications, destroy such +depots of supplies as could be found in his rear, and to defeat +General Stuart's cavalry." Many miles of the Virginia Central and of +the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroads were broken up, and +several of the bridges on each burnt. At Beaver Dam, Ashland, and +other places, about two millions of rations had been captured and +destroyed. The most important of all, however, was the defeat of +Stuart. Since the beginning of the war this general had +distinguished himself by his management of the Confederate mounted +force. Under him the cavalry of Lee's army had been nurtured, and +had acquired such prestige that it thought itself well-nigh +invincible; indeed, in the early years of the war it had proved to be +so. This was now dispelled by the successful march we had made in +Lee's rear; and the discomfiture of Stuart at Yellow Tavern had +inflicted a blow from which entire recovery was impossible. + +In its effect on the Confederate cause the defeat of Stuart was most +disheartening, but his death was even a greater calamity, as is +evidenced by the words of a Confederate writer (Cooke), who says: +"Stuart could be ill spared at this critical moment, and General Lee +was plunged into the deepest melancholy at the intelligence of his +death. When it reached him he retired from those around him, and +remained for some time communing with his own heart and memory. When +one of his staff entered and spoke of Stuart, General Lee said: 'I +can scarcely think of him without weeping.'" + +From the camp near Gaines's Mills I resumed the march to Haxall's +Landing, the point on the James River contemplated in my instructions +where I was to obtain supplies from General Butler. We got to the +James on the 14th with all our wounded and a large number of +prisoners, and camped between Haxall's and Shirley. The prisoners, +as well as the captured guns, were turned over to General Butler's +provost-marshal, and our wounded were quickly and kindly cared for by +his surgeons. Ample supplies, also, in the way of forage and +rations, were furnished us by General Butler, and the work of +refitting for our return to the Army of the Potomac was vigorously +pushed. By the 17th all was ready, and having learned by scouting +parties sent in the direction of Richmond and as far as Newmarket +that the enemy's cavalry was returning to Lee's army I started that +evening on my return march, crossing the Chickahominy at Jones's +bridge, and bivouacking on the 19th near Baltimore crossroads. + +My uncertainty of what had happened to the Army of the Potomac in our +absence, and as to where I should find it, made our getting back a +problem somewhat difficult of solution, particularly as I knew that +reinforcements for Lee had come up from the south to Richmond, and +that most likely some of these troops were being held at different +points on the route to intercept my column. Therefore I determined +to pass the Pamunkey River at the White House, and sent to Fort +Monroe for a pontoon-bridge on which to make the crossing. While +waiting for the pontoons I ordered Custer to proceed with his brigade +to Hanover Station, to destroy the railroad bridge over the South +Anna, a little beyond that place; at the same time I sent Gregg and +Wilson to Cold Harbor, to demonstrate in the direction of Richmond as +far as Mechanicsville, so as to cover Custer's movements. Merritt, +with the remaining brigades of his division, holding fast at +Baltimore crossroads to await events. + +After Gregg and Custer had gone, it was discovered that the railroad +bridge over the Pamunkey, near the White House, had been destroyed +but partially--the cross-ties and stringers being burned in places +only--and that it was practicable to repair it sufficiently to carry +us over. In view of this information General Merritt's two brigades +were at once put on the duty of reconstructing the bridge. By +sending mounted parties through the surrounding country, each man of +which would bring in a board or a plank, Merritt soon accumulated +enough lumber for the flooring, and in one day the bridge was made +practicable. On the 22d Gregg, Wilson, and Custer returned. The +latter had gone on his expedition as far as Hanover Station, +destroyed some commissary stores there, and burned two trestle +bridges over Hanover Creek. This done, he deemed it prudent to +retire to Hanovertown. The next morning he again marched to Hanover +Station, and there ascertained that a strong force of the enemy, +consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, was posted at the +South Anna bridges. These troops had gone there from Richmond en +route to reinforce Lee. In the face of this impediment Custer's +mission could not be executed fully, so he returned to Baltimore +crossroads. + +The whole command was drawn in by noon of the 22d, and that day it +crossed the Pamunkey by Merritt's reconstructed bridge, marching to +Ayletts, on the Mattapony River, the same night. Here I learned from +citizens, and from prisoners taken during the day by scouting parties +sent toward Hanover Court House, that Lee had been, forced from his +position near Spottsylvania Court House and compelled to retire to +the line of the North Anna. I then determined to rejoin the Army of +the Potomac at the earliest moment, which I did by making for +Chesterfield Station, where I reported to General Meade on the 24th +of May. + +Our return to Chesterfield ended the first independent expedition the +Cavalry Corps had undertaken since coming under my command, and our +success was commended highly by Generals Grant and Meade, both +realizing that our operations in the rear of Lee had disconcerted and +alarmed that general so much as to aid materially in forcing his +retrograde march, and both acknowledged that, by drawing off the +enemy's cavalry during the past fortnight, we had enabled them to +move the Army of the Potomac and its enormous trains without +molestation in the manoeuvres that had carried it to the North Anna. +Then, too, great quantities of provisions and munitions of war had +been destroyed--stores that the enemy had accumulated at sub-depots +from strained resources and by difficult means; the railroads that +connected Lee with Richmond broken, the most successful cavalry +leader of the South killed, and in addition to all this there had +been inflicted on the Confederate mounted troops the most thorough +defeat that had yet befallen them in Virginia. + +When the expedition set out the Confederate authorities in Richmond +were impressed, and indeed convinced, that my designs contemplated +the capture of that city, and notwithstanding the loss they sustained +in the defeat and death of Stuart, and their repulse the succeeding +day, they drew much comfort from the fact that I had not entered +their capital. Some Confederate writers have continued to hold this +theory and conviction since the war. In this view they were and are +in error. When Stuart was defeated the main purpose of my +instructions had been carried out, and my thoughts then turned to +joining General Butler to get supplies. I believed that I could do +this by cutting across to the Mechanicsville pike and Fair Oaks on +the south side of the Chickahominy, but the failure of Wilson's +column to get possession of the outwork which commanded the pike +necessitated my crossing at Meadow bridge, and then moving by +Mechanicsville and Gaines's Mills instead of by the shorter route. +Moreover, my information regarding General Butler's position was +incorrect, so that even had I been successful in getting to Fair Oaks +by the direct road I should still have gained nothing thereby, for I +should still have been obliged to continue down the James River to +Haxall's. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +GENERAL WILSON'S ADVANCE TOWARD HANOVER COURT HOUSE--CROSSING THE +PAMUNKEY--ENGAGEMENT OF HAWE'S SHOP--FIGHT AT MATADEQUIN CREEK +--CAPTURE OF COLD HARBOR--THE FIGHT TO RETAIN THE PLACE--MOVEMENTS +OF GENERAL WILSON. + +When I rejoined the Army of the Potomac, near Chesterfield Station, +the heavy battles around Spottsylvania had been fought, and the +complicated manoeuvres by which the whole Union force was swung +across the North Anna were in process of execution. In conjunction +with these manoeuvres Wilson's division was sent to the right flank +of the army, where he made a reconnoissance south of the North Anna +as far as Little River, crossing the former stream near Jericho +Mills. Wilson was to operate from day to day on that flank as it +swung to the south, covering to New Castle ferry each advance of the +infantry and the fords left behind on the march. From the 26th to +the 30th these duties kept Wilson constantly occupied, and also +necessitated a considerable dispersion of his force, but by the 31st +he was enabled to get all his division together again, and crossing +to the south side of the Pamunkey at New Castle ferry, he advanced +toward Hanover Court House. Near Dr Pride's house he encountered a +division of the enemy's cavalry under General W. H. F. Lee, and drove +it back across Mechamp's Creek, thus opening communication with the +right of our infantry resting near Phillips's Mills. Just as this +had been done, a little before dark, Wilson received an order from +General Meade directing him to push on toward Richmond until he +encountered the Confederates in such strength that he could no longer +successfully contend against them, and in compliance with this order +occupied Hanover Court House that same day. Resuming his march at +daylight on June 1, he went ahead on the Ashland road while sending +Chapman's brigade up the south bank of the South Anna to destroy the +bridges on that stream. Chapman having succeeded in this work, +Wilson re-united his whole command and endeavored to hold Ashland, +but finding the Confederate cavalry and infantry there in strong +force, he was obliged to withdraw to Dr. Price's house. Here he +learned that the army had gone to the left toward Cold Harbor, so on +the 2d of June he moved to Hawe's Shop. + +While Wilson was operating thus on the right, I had to cover with +Gregg's and Torbert's divisions the crossing of the army over the +Pamunkey River at and near Hanovertown. Torbert having recovered +from the illness which overtook him in the Wilderness, had now +returned to duty. The march to turn the enemy's right began on the +26th. Torbert and Gregg in advance, to secure the crossings of the +Pamunkey and demonstrate in such manner as to deceive the enemy as +much as possible in the movement, the two cavalry divisions being +supported by General D. A. Russell's division of the Sixth Corps. + +To attain this end in the presence of an ever-watchful foe who had +just recently been reinforced in considerable numbers from Richmond +and further south--almost enough to make up the losses he had +sustained in the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania--required the most +vigorous and zealous work on the part of those to whom had been +allotted the task of carrying out the initial manoeuvres. Torbert +started for Taylor's ford on the Pamunkey with directions to +demonstrate heavily at that point till after dark, as if the crossing +was to be made there, and having thus impressed the enemy, he was to +leave a small guard, withdraw quietly, and march to Hanovertown ford, +where the real crossing was to be effected. Meanwhile Gregg marched +to Littlepage's crossing of the Pamunkey, with instructions to make +feints in the same manner as Torbert until after dark, when he was to +retire discreetly, leaving a small force to keep up the +demonstration, and then march rapidly to Hanovertown crossing, taking +with him the pontoon-bridge. + +At the proper hour Russell took up the march and followed the +cavalry. The troops were in motion all night, undergoing the usual +delays incident to night marches, and, early on the morning of the +27th the crossing was made, Custer's brigade of Torbert's division +driving from the ford about one hundred of the enemy's cavalry, and +capturing between thirty and forty prisoners. The remainder of +Torbert's division followed this brigade and advanced to Hanovertown, +where General Gordon's brigade of Confederate cavalry was met. +Torbert attacked this force with Devin's brigade, while he sent +Custer to Hawe's Shop, from which point a road leading to the right +was taken that brought him in rear of the enemy's cavalry; when the +Confederates discovered this manoeuvre, they retired in the direction +of Hanover Court House. Pursuit continued as far as a little stream +called Crump's Creek, and here Torbert was halted, Gregg moving up on +his line meanwhile, and Russell encamping near the crossing of the +river. This completed our task of gaining a foothold south of the +Pamunkey, and on the 28th the main army crossed unharassed and took +up a position behind my line, extending south from the river, with +the Sixth Corps on the right across the Hanover Court House road at +Crump's Creek, the Second Corps on the left of the Sixth, and the +Fifth Corps about two miles in front of Hanovertown, its left +extending to the Tolopotomy. + +There was now much uncertainty in General Grant's mind as to the +enemy's whereabouts, and there were received daily the most +conflicting statements as to the nature of Lee's movements. It +became necessary, therefore, to find out by an actual demonstration +what Lee was doing, and I was required to reconnoitre in the +direction of Mechanicsville. For this purpose I moved Gregg's +division out toward this town by way of Hawe's Shop, and when it had +gone about three-fourths of a mile beyond the Shop the enemy's +cavalry was discovered dismounted and disposed behind a temporary +breastwork of rails and logs. + +This was the first occasion on which, since the battle of Yellow +Tavern, the Confederate troopers had confronted us in large numbers, +their mounted operations, like ours, having been dependent more or +less on the conditions that grew out of the movements in which Lee's +infantry had been engaged since the 14th of May. + +On that date General Lee had foreshadowed his intention of using his +cavalry in connection with the manoeuvres of his infantry by issuing +an order himself, now that Stuart was dead, directing that the "three +divisions of cavalry serving with the army [Lee's] will constitute +separate commands, and will report directly to and receive orders +from the headquarters of the army." The order indicates that since +Stuart's death the Confederate cavalry had been re-organized into +three divisions, that were commanded respectively by General Wade +Hampton, General Fitzhugh Lee, and General W. H. F. Lee, the +additional division organization undoubtedly growing out of the fact, +that General M. C. Butler's brigade of about four thousand men had +joined recently from South Carolina. + +When this force developed in Gregg's front, he attacked the moment +his troops could be dismounted; and the contest became one of +exceeding stubborness, for he found confronting him Hampton's and +Fitzhugh Lee's divisions, supported by what we then supposed to be a +brigade of infantry, but which, it has since been ascertained, was +Butler's brigade of mounted troops; part of them armed with +long-range rifles. The contest between the opposing forces was of +the severest character and continued till late in the evening. The +varying phases of the fight prompted me to reinforce Gregg as much as +possible, so I directed Custer's brigade to report to him, sending, +meanwhile, for the other two brigades of Torbert, but these were not +available at the time--on account of delays which occurred in +relieving them from the line at Crump's Creek--and did not get up +till the fight was over. As soon as Custer joined him, Gregg +vigorously assaulted the Confederate position along his whole front; +and notwithstanding the long-range rifles of the South Carolinians, +who were engaging in their first severe combat it appears, and fought +most desperately, he penetrated their barricades at several points. + +The most determined and obstinate efforts for success were now made +on both sides, as the position at Hawe's Shop had become of very +great importance on account of the designs of both Lee and Grant. +Lee wished to hold this ground while he manoeuvred his army to the +line of the Tolopotomy, where he could cover the roads to Richmond, +while Grant, though first sending me out merely to discover by a +strong reconnoissance the movements of the enemy, saw the value of +the place to cover his new base at the White House, and also to give +us possession of a direct road to Cold Harbor. Hawe's Shop remained +in our possession finally, for late in the evening Custer's brigade +was dismounted and formed in close column in rear of Gregg, and while +it assaulted through an opening near the centre of his line, the +other two brigades advanced and carried the temporary works. The +enemy's dead and many of his wounded fell into our hands; also a +considerable number of prisoners, from whom we learned that +Longstreet's and Ewell's corps were but four miles to the rear. + +The battle was a decidedly severe one, the loss on each side being +heavy in proportion to the number of troops engaged. This fight took +place almost immediately in front of our infantry, which, during the +latter part of the contest, was busily occupied in throwing up +intrenchments. Late in the afternoon I reported to General Meade the +presence of the enemy's infantry, and likewise that Hampton's and +Fitzhugh Lee's divisions were in my front also, and asked, at the +same time; that some of our infantry, which was near at hand, be sent +to my assistance. I could not convince Meade that anything but the +enemy's horse was fighting us, however, and he declined to push out +the foot-troops, who were much wearied by night marches. It has been +ascertained since that Meade's conclusions were correct in so far as +they related to the enemy's infantry; but the five cavalry brigades +far outnumbered my three, and it is to be regretted that so much was +risked in holding a point that commanded the roads to Cold Harbor and +Meadow bridge, when there was at hand a preponderating number of +Union troops which might have been put into action. However, Gregg's +division and Custer's brigade were equal to the situation, all +unaided as they were till dark, when Torbert and Merritt came on the +ground. The contest not only gave us the crossroads, but also +removed our uncertainty regarding Lee's movements, clearly +demonstrating that his army was retiring by its right flank, so that +it might continue to interpose between Grant and the James River; as +well as cover the direct route to Richmond. + +General Lee reported this battle to his Government as a Confederate +victory, but his despatch was sent early in the day, long before the +fight ended, and evidently he could not have known the final result +when he made the announcement, for the fight lasted until dark. +After dark, our own and the Confederate dead having been buried, I +withdrew, and moving to the rear of our infantry, marched all night +and till I reached the vicinity of Old Church, where I had been +instructed to keep a vigilant watch on the enemy with Gregg's and +Torbert's divisions. As soon as I had taken position at Old Church +my pickets were pushed out in the direction of Cold Harbor, and the +fact that the enemy was holding that point in some force was clearly +ascertained. But our occupation of Cold Harbor was of the utmost +importance; indeed, it was absolutely necessary that we should +possess it, to secure our communications with the White House, as +well as to cover the extension of our line to the left toward the +James River. Roads from Bethesda Church, Old Church, and the White +House centred at Cold Harbor, and from there many roads diverged also +toward different crossings of the Chickahominy, which were +indispensable to us. + +The enemy too realized the importance of the place, for as soon as he +found himself compelled to take up the line of the Tolopotomy he +threw a body of troops into Cold Harbor by forced marches, and +followed it up by pushing a part of this force out on the Old Church +road as far as Matadequin Creek, where he established a line of +battle, arranging the front of it parallel to the road along the +south bank of the Pamunkey; this for the purpose of endangering our +trains as they moved back and forth between the army and the White +House. + +Meanwhile I had occupied Old Church and pushed pickets down toward +Cold Harbor. The outposts struck each other just north of Matadequin +Creek, and a spirited fight immediately took place. At first our +pickets were sorely pressed, but Torbert, who was already preparing +to make a reconnoissance, lost no time in reinforcing them on the +north side of the creek with Devin's brigade. The fight then became +general, both sides, dismounted, stubbornly contesting the ground. +Of the Confederates, General Butler's South Carolinians bore the +brunt of the fight, and, strongly posted as they were on the south +bank of the creek, held their ground with the same obstinacy they had +previously shown at Hawe's Shop. Finally, however, Torbert threw +Merritt's and Custer's brigades into the action, and the enemy +retired, we pursuing to within a mile and a half of Cold Harbor and +capturing a number of prisoners. Gregg's division took no part in +the actual fighting, but remained near Old Church observing the roads +on Torberts flanks, one leading toward Bethesda Church on his right, +the other to his left in the direction of the White House. This +latter road Gregg was particularly instructed to keep open, so as to +communicate with General W. F. Smith, who was then debarking his +corps at the White House, and on the morning of the 31st this +general's advance was covered by a brigade which Gregg had sent him +for the purpose. + +Torbert having pursued toward Cold Harbor the troops he fought at +Matadequin Creek, had taken up a position about a mile and a half +from that place, on the Old Church road. The morning of the 31st I +visited him to arrange for his further advance, intending thus to +anticipate an expected attack from Fitzhugh Lee, who was being +reinforced by infantry. I met Torbert at Custer's headquarters, and +found that the two had already been talking over a scheme to capture +Cold Harbor, and when their plan was laid before me it appeared so +plainly feasible that I fully endorsed it, at once giving directions +for its immediate execution, and ordering Gregg to come forward to +Torbert's support with such troops as he could spare from the duty +with which he had been charged. + +Torbert moved out promptly, Merritt's brigade first, followed by +Custer's, on the direct road to Cold Harbor, while Devin's brigade +was detached, and marched by a left-hand road that would bring him in +on the right and rear of the enemy's line, which was posted in front +of the crossroads. Devin was unable to carry his part of the +programme farther than to reach the front of the Confederate right, +and as Merritt came into position to the right of the Old Church road +Torbert was obliged to place a part of Custer's brigade on Merritt's +left so as to connect with Devin. The whole division was now in +line, confronted by Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, supported by Clingman's +brigade from Hoke's division of infantry; and from the Confederate +breastworks, hastily constructed out of logs, rails, and earth, a +heavy fire was already being poured upon us that it seemed impossible +to withstand. None of Gregg's division had yet arrived, and so +stubborn was the enemy's resistance that I began to doubt our ability +to carry the place before reinforcements came up, but just then +Merritt reported that he could turn the enemy's left, and being +directed to execute his proposition, he carried it to a most +successful issue with the First and Second regular cavalry. Just as +these two regiments passed around the enemy's left and attacked his +rear, the remainder of the division assailed him in front. This +manoeuvre of Merritt's stampeded the Confederates, and the defenses +falling into our hands easily, we pushed ahead on the Bottom's bridge +road three-fourths of a mile beyond Cold Harbor. + +Cold Harbor was now mine, but I was about nine miles away from our +nearest infantry, and had been able to bring up only Davies's brigade +of cavalry, which arrived after the fight. My isolated position +therefore made me a little uneasy. I felt convinced that the enemy +would attempt to regain the place, for it was of as much importance +to him as to us, and the presence of his infantry disclosed that he +fully appreciated this. My uneasiness increased as the day grew +late, for I had learned from prisoners that the balance of Hoke's +division was en route to Cold Harbor, and Kershaw near at hand, +interposing between the Union left near Bethesda Church and my +position. In view of this state of affairs, I notified General Meade +that I had taken Cold Harbor, but could not with safety to my command +hold it, and forthwith gave directions to withdraw during the night. +The last of my troops had scarcely pulled out, however, when I +received a despatch from Meade directing me to hold Cold Harbor at +every hazard. General Grant had expected that a severe battle would +have to be fought before we could obtain possession of the place; and +its capture by our cavalry not being anticipated, no preparation had +been made for its permanent occupancy. No time was to be lost, +therefore, if the advantages which possession of Cold Harbor gave us +were to be improved, so at the same hour that Meade ordered me to +hold the place at all hazards the Sixth Corps was started on a forced +march, by Grant's directions, to aid in that object, and on arrival +to relieve my cavalry. + +The moment Meade's order was received, I directed a reoccupation of +Cold Harbor, and although a large portion of Torbert's command was +already well on its way back to the line we held on the morning of +the 31st, this force speedily retraced its steps, and re-entered the +place before daylight; both our departure and return having been +effected without the enemy being aware of our movements. We now +found that the temporary breastworks of rails and logs which the +Confederates had built were of incalculable benefit to us in +furnishing material with which to establish a line of defense, they +being made available by simply reversing them at some points, or at +others wholly reconstructing them to suit the circumstances of the +ground: The troops, without reserves, were then placed behind our +cover dismounted, boxes of ammunition distributed along the line, and +the order passed along that the place must be held. All this was +done in the darkness, and while we were working away at our cover the +enemy could be distinctly heard from our skirmish-line giving +commands and making preparations to attack. + +Just after daylight on the 1st of June the Confederate infantry under +General Kershaw endeavored to drive us out, advancing against my +right from the Bethesda Church road. In his assault he was permitted +to come close up to our works, and when within short range such afire +was opened on him from our horse-artillery and repeating carbines +that he recoiled in confusion after the first onset; still, he seemed +determined to get the place, and after reorganizing, again attacked; +but the lesson of the first repulse was not without effect, and his +feeble effort proved wholly fruitless. After his second failure we +were left undisturbed, and at 9 A.M. I sent the following despatch to +army headquarters: + +"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, +"ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. +"Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864--9 A.M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL HUMPHREYS, +"Chief-of-Staff. + +"GENERAL: In obedience to your instructions I am holding Cold Harbor. +I have captured this morning more prisoners; they belong to three +different infantry brigades. The enemy assaulted the right of my +lines this morning, but were handsomely repulsed. I have been very +apprehensive, but General Wright is now coming up. I built slight +works for my men; the enemy came up to them, and were driven back. +General Wright has just arrived. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding." + + +About 10 o'clock in the morning the Sixth Corps relieved Torbert and +Davies, having marched all night, and these two generals moving out +toward the Chickahominy covered the left of the infantry line till +Hancock's corps took their place in the afternoon. By this time +Gregg had joined me with his two brigades, and both Torbert and Gregg +were now marched to Prospect Church, from which point I moved them to +a position on the north side of the Chickahominy at Bottom's bridge. +Here the enemy's cavalry confronted us, occupying the south bank of +the stream, with artillery in position at the fords prepared to +dispute our passage; but it was not intended that we should cross; so +Gregg and Torbert lay quiet in camp at Bottom's bridge and at Old +Church without noteworthy event until the 6th of June. + +As before related, Wilson's division struck the enemy's infantry as +well as W. H. F. Lee's cavalry near Ashland on the 1st of June, and +although Chapman destroyed the bridges over the South Anna, which was +his part of the programme, Wilson found it necessary to return to +Price's Store. From this point he continued to cover the right of +the Army of the Potomac, on the 2d of June driving the rear-guard of +the enemy from Hawe's Shop, the scene of the battle of May 28. The +same day he crossed Tolopotomy Creek, and passed around the enemy's +left flank so far that Lee thought his left was turned by a strong +force, and under cover of darkness withdrew from a menacing position +which he was holding in front of the Ninth Corps. This successful +manoeuvre completed, Wilson returned to Hawe's Shop, and on the 4th +went into camp at New Castle ferry, in anticipation of certain +operations of the Cavalry Corps, which were to take place while the +Army of the Potomac was crossing to the south side of the James. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE MOVEMENT TO THE JAMES--THE SECOND EXPEDITION--BATTLE OF +TREVILLIAN STATION--DEFEAT OF GENERAL WADE HAMPTON--MALLORY'S +CROSSROADS--SUFFERING OF THE WOUNDED--SECURING THE TRAINS--GENERAL +GREGG'S STUBBORN FIGHT. + +By the 6th of June General Grant again determined to continue the +movement of the army by its left flank to the south bank of the James +River, his unsuccessful attack on the enemy's works near Cold Harbor +having demonstrated that Lee's position north of the Chickahominy +could not be carried by assault with results that would compensate +for the enormous loss of life which must follow; therefore a further +attempt to fight a decisive battle north of Richmond was abandoned. +In carrying the army to the James River the hazardous manoeuvres +would be hampered by many obstacles, such as the thick timber, +underbrush, and troublesome swamps to be met in crossing the +Chickahominy. Besides, Lee held an interior line, from which all the +direct roads to Richmond could be covered with his infantry, leaving +his cavalry free to confront our advance on the south bank of the +Chickahominy as far down as Jones's bridge, and thence around to +Charles City Court House. In view of these difficulties it became +necessary to draw off the bulk of the enemy's cavalry while the +movement to the James was in process of execution, and General Meade +determined to do this by requiring me to proceed with two divisions +as far as Charlottesville to destroy the railroad bridge over the +Rivanna River near that town, the railroad itself from the Rivanna to +Gordonsville, and, if practicable, from Gordonsville back toward +Hanover Junction also. + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +"June 5, 1864. 3.30 P. M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Commanding Cavalry Corps. + +"I am directed by the major-general commanding to furnish the +following instructions for your guidance in the execution of the duty +referred to in the order for movements and changes of position +to-night, a copy of which order accompanies this communication. + +"With two divisions of your corps you will move on the morning of the +7th instant to Charlottesville and destroy the railroad bridge over +the Rivanna near that town; you will then thoroughly destroy the +railroad from that point to Gordonsville, and from Gordonsville +toward Hanover Junction, and to the latter point, if practicable. +The chief engineer, Major Duane, will furnish you a canvas +pontoon-train of eight boats. The chief quartermaster will supply you +with such tools, implements, and materials as you may require for the +destruction of the road. Upon the completion of this duty you will +rejoin this army. + +"A. HUMPHREYS, +"Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + +After Meade's instructions reached me they were somewhat modified by +General Grant, who on the same evening had received information that +General Hunter, commanding the troops in West Virginia, had reached +Staunton and engaged with advantage the Confederate commander, +General Jones, near that place. General Grant informed me orally +that he had directed Hunter to advance as far as Charlottesville, +that he expected me to unite with him there, and that the two +commands, after destroying the James River canal and the Virginia +Central road, were to join the Army of the Potomac in the manner +contemplated in my instructions from General Meade; and that in view +of what was anticipated, it would be well to break up as much of the +railroad as possible on my way westward. A copy of his letter to +Hunter comprised my written instructions. A junction with this +general was not contemplated when the expedition was first conceived, +but became an important though not the paramount object after the +reception of the later information. The diversion of the enemy's +cavalry from the south side of the Chickahominy was its main purpose, +for in the presence of such a force as Lee's contracted lines would +now permit him to concentrate behind the Chickahominy, the +difficulties of crossing that stream would be largely increased if he +also had at hand a strong body of horse, to gain the time necessary +for him to oppose the movement at the different crossings with masses +of his infantry. + +The order calling for two divisions for the expedition, I decided to +take Gregg's and Torbert's, leaving Wilson's behind to continue with +the infantry in its march to the James and to receive instructions +directly from, the headquarters of the army. All my dismounted men +had been sent to the White House some days before, and they were +directed to report to Wilson as they could be provided with mounts. + + + +"COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1964. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER, Commanding Dept West Virginia. + +"General Sheridan leaves here to-morrow morning with instructions to +proceed to Charlottesville, Va., and to commence there the +destruction of the Virginia Central railroad, destroying this way as +much as possible. The complete destruction of this road and of the +canal on James River is of great importance to us. According to the +instructions I sent to General Halleck for your guidance, you will +proceed to Lynchburg and commence there. It would be of great value +to us to get possession of Lynchburg for a single day. But that +point is of so much importance to the enemy, that in attempting to +get it such resistance may be met as to defeat your getting into the +road or canal at all. I see, in looking over the letter to General +Halleck on the subject of your instructions, that it rather indicates +that your route should be from Staunton via Charlottesville. If you +have so understood it, you will be doing just what I want. The +direction I would now give is, that if this letter reaches you in the +valley between Staunton and Lynchburg, you immediately turn east by +the most practicable road until you strike the Lynchburg branch of +the Virginia Central road. From there move eastward along the line +of the road, destroying it completely and thoroughly, until you join +General Sheridan. After the work laid out for General Sheridan and +yourself is thoroughly done, proceed to join the Army of the Potomac +by the route laid out in General Sheridan's instructions. If any +portion of your force, especially your cavalry, is needed back in +your department, you are authorized to send it back. If on receipt +of this you should be near to Lynchburg and deem it practicable to +reach that point, you will exercise your judgment about going there. +If you should be on the railroad between Charlottesville and +Lynchburg, it may be practicable to detach a cavalry force to destroy +the canal. Lose no opportunity to destroy the canal. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + +Owing to the hard service of the preceding month we had lost many +horses, so the number of dismounted men was large; and my strength +had also been much reduced by killed and wounded during the same +period of activity. The effective mounted force of my two divisions +was therefore much diminished, they mustering only about six thousand +officers and men when concentrated on June 6 at New Castle ferry. +Here they were provided with three days' rations, intended to last +five days, and with two days' grain for the horses. The rations and +forty rounds of ammunition per man were to be carried on the persons +of the troopers, the grain on the pommel of the saddle, and the +reserve ammunition in wagons. One medical wagon and eight ambulances +were also furnished, and one wagon was authorized for each division +and brigade headquarters; enough canvas-covered boats for a small +pontoon-bridge were also provided. + +My instructions permitting latitude in the route I should take, I +decided to march along the north bank of the North Anna River, cross +that stream at Carpenter's ford, strike the Virginia Central railroad +at Trevillian Station, destroy it toward Louisa Court House, march +past Gordonsville, strike the railroad again at Cobham's Station, and +destroy it thence to Charlottesville as we proceeded west. The +success of the last part of this programme would of course depend on +the location of General Hunter when I should arrive in the region +where it would be practicable for us to communicate with each other. + +From my camp at New Castle ferry we crossed the Pamunkey, marched +between Aylett's and Dunkirk on the Mattapony River, and on the 8th +of June encamped at Polecat Station. The next day we resumed the +march along the North Anna--our advance guard skirmishing with a few +mounted men of the enemy, who proved to be irregulars--and bivouacked +on Northeast Creek, near Young's Mills. This day I learned from some +of these irregulars whom we made prisoners that Breckenridge's +division of infantry, en route to the Shenandoah Valley by way of +Gordonsville, was passing slowly up the railroad parallel to me, and +that the enemy's cavalry had left its position on the south side of +the Chickahominy, and was marching on the old Richmond and +Gordonsville road toward Gordonsville, under command of General Wade +Hampton, the information being confirmed by a scouting party sent out +to cut the telegraph wires along the railroad in the night. +Breckenridge had been ordered back to the valley by General Lee as +soon as he heard of Hunter's victory near Staunton, but now that my +expedition had been discovered, the movement of Breckenridge's troops +on the railroad was being timed to correspond with the marches of my +command till Hampton could get more nearly parallel with me. + +On the 10th we resumed the march, passing by Twyman's store, crossing +the North Anna at Carpenter's ford and encamping on the road leading +along the south fork of the North Anna to Trevillian Station. During +the evening and night of the 10th the boldness of the enemy's +scouting parties, with which we had been coming into collision more +or less every day, perceptibly increased, thus indicating the +presence of a large force, and evidencing that his shorter line of +march had enabled him to bring to my front a strong body of cavalry, +although it started from Lee's army nearly two days later than I did +from Grant's. The arrival of this body also permitted Breckenridge +to pass on to Gordonsville, and from there to interpose between +General Hunter and me at either Charlottesville or Waynesboro' as +circumstances might determine. + +On the night of the Loth General Hampton's division camped about +three miles northwest of Trevillian, at a place called Green Spring +Valley and Fitzhugh Lee's division not far from Louisa Court House, +some six miles east of Trevillian. Learning that I was at +Carpenter's ford, Hampton marched his division by way of Trevillian +Station toward Clayton's store, on the road from Trevillian to +Carpenter's ford, intending to attack me at Clayton's. Fitzhugh +Lee's division was to join Hampton at Clayton's store from Louisa +Court House; but on the morning of the 11th the two generals were +separated by several miles. + +At daylight of the 11th my march, to Trevillian Station was resumed +on the direct road to that point, and engaging the enemy's pickets +and advanced parties soon after setting out, we began to drive them +in. Torbert had the lead with Merritt's and Devin's brigades, and as +he pressed back the pickets he came upon the enemy posted behind a +line of barricades in dense timber about three miles from Trevillian. +Meanwhile Custer's brigade had been sent from where we bivouacked, by +a wood road found on our left, to destroy Trevillian Station. In +following this road Custer got to the rear of Hampton's division, +having passed between its right flank and Fitzhugh Lee's division, +which was at the time marching on the road leading from Louisa Court +House to Clayton's store to unite with Hampton. + +Custer, the moment he found himself in Hampton's rear, charged the +led horses, wagons, and caissons found there, getting hold of a vast +number of each, and also of the station itself. The stampede and +havoc wrought by Custer in Hampton's rear compelled him to turn +Rosser's brigade in that direction, and while it attacked Custer on +one side, Fitzhugh Lee's division, which had followed Custer toward +Trevillian, attacked him on the other. There then ensued a desperate +struggle for the possession of the captured property, resulting +finally in its being retaken by the enemy. Indeed, the great number +of horses and vehicles could not be kept on the limited space within +Custer's line, which now formed almost a complete circle; and while +he was endeavoring to remove them to a secure place they, together +with Custer's headquarters wagon and four of his caissons, fell into +the hands of their original owners. + +As soon as the firing told that Custer had struck the enemy's rear, I +directed Torbert to press the line in front of Merritt and Devin, +aided by one brigade of Gregg's division on their left, Gregg's other +brigade in the meantime attacking Fitzhugh Lee on the Louisa Court +House road. The effect of this was to force Hampton back, and his +division was so hard pushed that a portion of it was driven pell-mell +into Custer's lines, leaving there about five hundred prisoners. The +rest of Hampton's men did not rally till they got some distance west +of Trevillian, while, in the meantime, Gregg had driven Fitzhugh Lee +toward Louisa Court House so far that many miles now intervened +between the two Confederate divisions, precluding their union until +about noon the next day, when Fitzhugh Lee effected the junction +after a circuitous march in the night. The defeat of Hampton at the +point where he had determined to resist my further advance, and his +retreat westward, gave me undisturbed possession of the station; and +after destroying the railroad to some extent toward Gordonsville, I +went into camp. + +From prisoners taken during the day, I gathered that General Hunter, +instead of coming toward Charlottesville, as I had reason to expect, +both from the instructions given me and the directions sent him by +General Grant, was in the neighborhood of Lexington--apparently +moving on Lynchburg--and that Breckenridge was at Gordonsville and +Charlottesville. I also heard, from the same source, that Ewell's +corps was on its way to Lynchburg, but this intelligence proved +afterward to be incorrect, for these troops, commanded by General +Early, did not leave Richmond till two days later. + +There was no doubt as to the information about Hunter's general +location, however. He was marching toward Lynchburg, away from +instead of toward me, thus making the junction of our commands beyond +all reasonable probability. So in view of this, I made up my mind to +abandon that part of the scheme, and to return by leisurely marches, +which would keep Hampton's cavalry away from Lee while Grant was +crossing the James River. I was still further influenced to this +course by the burden which was thrown on me in the large number of +wounded--there being about five hundred cases of my own--and the five +hundred prisoners that I would probably be forced to abandon, should +I proceed farther. Besides, the recent battle had reduced my supply +of ammunition to a very small amount--not more than enough for one +more respectable engagement; and as the chances were that I would +have to fight a great deal before I could reach Hunter, now that the +enemy's cavalry and Breckenridge's infantry were between us, the +risks of the undertaking seemed too great to warrant it. + +The morning of June 12 Gregg's division commenced destroying the +railroad to Louisa Court House, and continued the work during the +day, breaking it pretty effectually. While Gregg was thus occupied, +I directed Torbert to make a reconnoissance up the Gordonsville road, +to secure a by-road leading over Mallory's ford, on the North Anna, +to the Catharpen road, as I purposed following that route to +Spottsylvania Court House on my return, and thence via Bowling Green +and Dunkirk to the White House. About a mile beyond Trevillian the +Gordonsville road fork--the left fork leading to Charlottesville--and +about a mile beyond the fork Hampton had taken up and strongly +intrenched a line across both roads, being reinforced by Fitzhugh +Lee, who, as before related, had joined him about noon by a +roundabout march. Torbert soon hotly engaged this line, and by the +impetuosity of his first attack, gained some advantage; but the +appearance of Fitzhugh Lee's troops on the right, and Hampton's +strong resistance in front, rendered futile all efforts to carry the +position; and, although I brought up one of Gregg's brigades to +Torbert's assistance, yet the by-road I coveted was still held by the +enemy when night closed in. + +This engagement, like that off the day before around Trevillian, was +mostly fought dismounted by both sides, as had also been the earlier +fights of the cavalry during the summer in the Wilderness, at Todd's +Tavern, Hawe's Shop, and Matadequin Creek. Indeed, they could hardly +have been fought otherwise than on foot, as there was little chance +for mounted fighting in eastern Virginia, the dense woods, the +armament of both parties, and the practice of barricading making it +impracticable to use the sabre with anything like a large force; and +so with the exception of Yellow Tavern the dismounted method +prevailed in almost every engagement. + +The losses at Mallory's Crossroads were very heavy on both sides. +The character of the fighting, together with the day's results, +demonstrated that it was impossible to make the passage of the North +Anna at Mallory's ford without venturing another battle the next day. +This would consume the little ammunition left, and though we might +gain the road, yet the possibility of having no ammunition whatever +to get back with was too great a hazard, so I gave orders to withdraw +during the night of the 12th. We retired along the same road by +which we had come, taking with us the prisoners, and all of our +wounded who could be moved. Those who could not be transported, some +ninety in number, and all the Confederate wounded in my hands, were +left at Trevillian in hospitals, under charge of one of our surgeons, +with plenty of medical and other stores. + +We recrossed the North Anna at Carpenter's ford the following +morning, and halting there, unsaddled and turned the horses out to +graze, for they were nearly famished, having had neither food nor +water during the preceding forty-eight hours. Late in the afternoon +we saddled up and proceeded to Twyman's Store, while General +Hampton's main body moved down the south bank of the North Anna, with +the purpose of intervening between me and the Army of the Potomac, in +the hope of preventing my return to it; but his movements took no +definite shape beyond watching me, however, till several days later, +near St. Mary's Church, when I was crossing the peninsula to the +James River. + +On the 14th the march was continued, and we reached the Catharpen +road, upon which it was originally intended to move if we had been +able to cross at Mallory's ford, and this conducted me to Shady Grove +Church. The next day we passed over the battle-field of +Spottsylvania Court House. The marks of the recent conflicts about +there were visible on every hand, and in the neighboring houses were +found many Union and Confederate wounded, who had been too severely +hurt to be removed from the field-hospitals at the time of the +battles. Such of our wounded as were able to travel were brought +away. + +On the 16th I marched from Edge Hill on the Ta River through Bowling +Green to Dr. Butler's, on the north side of the Mattapony. When I +arrived here I was unable to ascertain the position of the Army of +the Potomac, and was uncertain whether or not the base at the White +House had been discontinued. I had heard nothing from the army for +nine days except rumors through Southern sources, and under these +circumstances did not like to venture between the Mattapony and +Pamunkey rivers, embarrassed as I was with some four hundred wounded, +five hundred prisoners, and about two thousand negroes that had +joined my column in the hope of obtaining their freedom. I therefore +determined to push down the north bank of the Mattapony far enough to +enable me to send these impediments directly to West Point, where I +anticipated finding some of our gunboats and transports, that could +carry all to the North. Following this plan, we proceeded through +Walkerton to King and Queen Court House, and bivouacked in its +vicinity the night of the 18th. Next day I learned that the depot at +the White House had not yet been broken up entirely, and that +supplies were in store for me there; so after sending the wounded, +prisoners, and negroes to West Point under an escort of two +regiments, I turned back to Dunkirk, on the Mattapony, and crossed to +the south side at a place where the stream was narrow enough to +bridge with my pontoon-boats. + +In returning from Trevillian, as the most of our wounded were hauled +in old buggies, carts, and such other vehicles as could be made +available in the absence of a sufficient number of ambulances, the +suffering was intense, the heat of the season and dusty roads adding +much to the discomfort. Each day we halted many times to dress the +wounds of the injured and to refresh them as much as possible, but +our means for mitigating their distress were limited. The fortitude +and cheerfulness of the poor fellows under such conditions were +remarkable, for no word of complaint was heard. The Confederate +prisoners and colored people being on foot, our marches were +necessarily made short, and with frequent halts also, but they too +suffered considerably from the heat and dust, though at times the +prisoners were relieved by being mounted on the horses of some of our +regiments, the owners meantime marching on foot. Where all the +colored people came from and what started them was inexplicable, but +they began joining us just before we reached Trevillian--men, women, +and children with bundles of all sorts containing their few worldly +goods, and the number increased from day to day until they arrived at +West Point. Probably not one of the poor things had the remotest +idea, when he set out, as to where he would finally land, but to a +man they followed the Yankees in full faith that they would lead to +freedom, no matter what road they took. + +On the morning of the 20th, at an early hour, we resumed our march, +and as the column proceeded sounds of artillery were heard in the +direction of the White House, which fact caused us to quicken the +pace. We had not gone far when despatches from General Abercrombie, +commanding some fragmentary organizations at the White House, +notified me that the place was about to be attacked. I had +previously sent an advance party with orders to move swiftly toward +the cannonading and report to me by couriers the actual condition of +affairs. From this party I soon learned that there was no occasion +to push our jaded animals, since the crisis, if there had been one, +was over and the enemy repulsed, so the increased gait was reduced to +a leisurely march that took us late in the afternoon to the north +bank of the Pamunkey, opposite Abercrombie's camp. When I got to the +river the enemy was holding the bluffs surrounding the White House +farm, having made no effort to penetrate General Abercrombie's line +or do him other hurt than to throw a few shells among the teamsters +there congregated. + +Next day Gregg's division crossed the Pamunkey dismounted, and +Torbert's crossed mounted. As soon as the troops were over, Gregg, +supported by Merritt's brigade, moved out on the road to Tunstall's +Station to attack Hampton, posted an the west side of Black Creek, +Custer's brigade meanwhile moving, mounted, on the road to +Cumberland, and Devin's in like manner on the one to Baltimore +crossroads. This offer of battle was not accepted, however, and +Hampton withdrew from my front, retiring behind the Chickahominy, +where his communications with Lee would be more secure. + +While at the White House I received orders to break up that depot +wholly, and also instructions to move the trains which the Army of +the Potomac had left there across the peninsula to the pontoon-bridge +at Deep Bottom on the James River. These trains amounted to hundreds +of wagons and other vehicles, and knowing full well the dangers which +would attend the difficult problem of getting them over to +Petersburg, I decided to start them with as little delay as +circumstances would permit, and the morning of the 22d sent Torbert's +division ahead to secure Jones's bridge on the Chickahominy, so that +the wagons could be crossed at that point. The trains followed +Torbert, while Gregg's division marched by a road parallel to the one +on which the wagons were moving, and on their right flank, as they +needed to be covered and protected in that direction only. + +The enemy made no effort to attack us while we were moving the trains +that day, and the wagons were all safely parked for the night on the +south side of the Chickahominy, guarded by General Getty, who had +relieved Abercrombie from command of the infantry fragments before we +started off from the White House. + +To secure the crossing at Jones's bridge, Torbert had pushed Devin's +brigade out on the Long Bridge road, on the side of the Chickahominy +where, on the morning of the 23d, he was attacked by Chambliss's +brigade of W. H. F. Lee's division. Devin was driven in some little +distance, but being reinforced by Getty with six companies of colored +troops, he quickly turned the tables on Chambliss and re-established +his picket-posts. From this affair I learned that Chambliss's brigade +was the advance of the Confederate cavalry corps, while Hampton +discovered from it that we were already in possession of the Jones's +bridge crossing of the Chickahominy; and as he was too late to +challenge our passage of the stream at this point he contented +himself with taking up a position that night so as to cover the roads +leading from Long Bridge to Westover, with the purpose of preventing +the trains from following the river road to the pontoon-bridge at +Deep Bottom. + +My instructions required me to cross the trains over the James River +on this pontoon-bridge if practicable, and to reach it I should be +obliged to march through Charles City Court House, and then by +Harrison's Landing and Malvern Hill, the latter point being held by +the enemy. In fact, he held all the ground between Long Bridge on +the Chickahominy and the pontoon-bridge except the Tete de pont at +the crossing. Notwithstanding this I concluded to make the attempt, +for all the delays of ferrying the command and trains would be +avoided if we got through to the bridge; and with this object in view +I moved Torbert's division out on the Charles City road to conduct +the wagons. Just beyond Charles City Court House Torbert encountered +Lomax's brigade, which he drove across Herring Creek on the road to +Westover Church; and reporting the affair to me, I surmised, from the +presence of this force in my front, that Hampton would endeavor to +penetrate to the long column of wagons, so I ordered them to go into +park near Wilcox's landing, and instructed Gregg, whose division had +been marching in the morning along the road leading from Jones's +bridge to St. Mary's Church for the purpose of covering the exposed +flank of the train, to hold fast near the church without fail till +all the transportation had passed Charles City Court House. + +Meanwhile, General Hampton, who had conjectured that I would try to +get the train across the James by the pontoon-bridge at Deep Bottom, +began concentrating all his troops except Lomax's brigade, which was +to confront the head of my column on the river road, in the vicinity +of Nance's Shop. This was discovered by Gregg at an early hour, and +divining this purpose he had prepared to meet it by constructing +hasty cover for his men before receiving my instructions. About 4 +o'clock in the afternoon Hampton got his force in hand, and with +Fitzhugh Lee's division assailed the whole front of Gregg's line, and +his left flank with Chambliss's and Geary's brigades. For two hours +he continued to attack, but made little impression on Gregg--gain at +one point being counterbalanced by failure at another. Because of +the evident strength of Hampton, Gregg had placed all his troops in +line of battle from the first, and on discovery of the enemy's +superior numbers sent message after message to me concerning the +situation, but the messengers never arrived, being either killed or +captured, and I remained in total ignorance till dark of the strait +his division was in. + +Toward night it became clear to Gregg that he could maintain the +unequal contest no longer, and he then decided to retreat, but not +until convinced that the time won had enabled all the trains to pass +Charles City Court House in safety. When he had got all his led +horses fairly on the way, and such of the wounded as could be +transported, he retired by his right flank-in some confusion, it is +true, but stubbornly resisting to Hopewell Church, where Hampton +ceased to press him. + +Gregg's losses were heavy, and he was forced to abandon his dead and +most seriously wounded, but the creditable stand made ensured the +safety of the train, the last wagon of which was now parked at +Wilcox's Landing. His steady, unflinching determination to gain time +for the wagons to get beyond the point of danger was characteristic +of the man, and this was the third occasion on which he had exhibited +a high order of capacity and sound judgment since coming under my +command. The firmness and coolness with which he always met the +responsibilities of a dangerous place were particularly strong points +in Gregg's make-up, and he possessed so much professional though +unpretentious ability, that it is to be regretted he felt obliged a +few months later to quit the service before the close of the war. + +Gregg's fight fully satisfied me that we could not get the trains up +to the pontoon-bridge, for of course Hampton would now throw all his +cavalry in my front, on the river road, where it could be backed up +by Lee's infantry. Meanwhile, General Meade had become assured of +the same thing, and as he was now growing anxious about the fate of +Wilson's division--which, during my absence, had been sent out to +break the enemy's communications south of Petersburg, by destroying +the Southside and Danville railroads--he sent ferryboats to cross me +over the James. During the night of the 24th, and next morning, the +immense train--which ought never to have been left for the cavalry to +escort, after a fatiguing expedition of three weeks--was moved back +through Charles City Court House to Douthard's landing, and there +ferried over the river, followed by my troops in like manner. When +General Hampton discovered this, he moved to Drury's Bluff, and +there, on the morning of the 27th, crossed the James by the +Confederate pontoon-bridge. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +GENERAL WILSON'S RAID--DESTROYING RAILROADS--HIS DISCOMFITURE +--RESULTS OF HIS RAID--REMOUNTS--MOVEMENT TO THE NORTH SIDE OF THE +JAMES--DECEIVING LEE--MY ISOLATED POSITION--ESTIMATE OF HANCOCK +--SUCCESS OF THE CAVALRY--THEIR CONSTANT DUTIES. + +While I was absent on the expedition to Trevillian, the movement of +the Army of the Potomac across the James River was effected, and +Wilson, whom I had left behind for the purpose, was engaged in the +duty of covering its front and rear. Late on the night of June 12 +he, with Chapman's brigade, crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, +in advance of the Fifth Corps, and by 7 o'clock next morning had +driven the enemy's pickets up to White Oak bridge, where he waited +for our infantry. When that came up, he pushed on as far as Riddle's +Shop, but late that evening the Confederate infantry forced him to +withdraw to St. Mary's Church; for early in the morning General Lee +had discovered the movement of our army, and promptly threw this +column of infantry south of the Chickahominy to White Oak Swamp, with +the design of covering Richmond. From St. Mary's Church Wilson +guarded all the roads toward White Oak Swamp and Riddle's Shop, +McIntosh's brigade joining him on the 14th, by way of Long Bridge, as +the rear of the Army of the Potomac passed the Chickahominy. In the +performance of this duty Wilson did not have to fight any engagement +of magnitude, for the bulk of the enemy's cavalry had followed me to +Trevillian. During the 15th and 16th Wilson drew his troops in +toward the James River, and next day crossed it on the pontoon-bridge +and camped on the Blackwater, near Mt. Sinai Church. Here he +remained till the 22d of June--the same day I reached the White House +with Gregg and Torbert--when, under orders from General Meade, he set +out to cut the enemy's communications to the south and southwest of +Petersburg. + +His instructions implied that the breaking up of the Petersburg and +Lynchburg, and Richmond and Danville railroads at Burkeville was the +most important part of his mission, and that when the work of +destruction began, it should be continued till he was driven off by +the enemy. Wilson's force consisted of about 5,500 men, General A. +V. Kautz, with the cavalry of the Army of the James, having joined +him for the expedition. In moving out Wilson crossed the Weldon road +near Ream's Station, first destroying it effectually at that point. +About fourteen miles west of Petersburg he struck the Southside +railroad, and broke it up clear to Burkeville, a distance of thirty +miles. Having destroyed everything at Burkeville Junction, he moved +along the Danville road to Staunton River, completely wrecking about +thirty miles of that line also. At Staunton River he found the +railroad bridge strongly guarded, and seeing that he could not burn +it, he began his return march that night, and reached Nottoway River, +some thirty miles south of Petersburg, at noon of the next day--the +28th. + +In this expedition Wilson was closely followed from the start by +Barringer's brigade of W. H. F. Lee's cavalry, but the operations +were not interfered with materially, his success being signal till he +reached the vicinity of Stony Creek depot on his return. At this +point General Hampton, with his own and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, got +between Wilson and the Army of the Potomac, there being behind them +at Ream's Station, at the same time, two brigades of infantry under +General Mahone. A severe battle ensued, resulting in Wilson's +defeat, with the loss of twelve guns and all his wagons. In +consequence of this discomfiture he was obliged to fall back across +the Nottoway River with his own division, and rejoined the army by +way of Peter's bridge on that stream, while Kautz's division, unable +to unite with Wilson after the two commands had become separated in +the fight, made a circuit of the enemy's left, and reached the lines +of our army in the night of the 28th. + +Neither the presence of Hampton's cavalry at Stony Creek depot, nor +the possession of Ream's Station by the Confederate infantry, seems +to have been anticipated by Wilson, for in the report of the +expedition he states: + +"Foreseeing the probability of having to return northward, I wrote to +General Meade the evening before starting that I anticipated no +serious difficulty in executing his orders; but unless General +Sheridan was required to keep Hampton's cavalry engaged, and our +infantry to prevent Lee from making detachments, we should probably +experience great difficulty in rejoining the army. In reply to this +note, General Humphreys, chief-of-staff, informed me it was intended +the Army of the Potomac should cover the Weldon road the next day, +the Southside road the day after, and that Hampton having followed +Sheridan toward Gordonsville, I need not fear any trouble from him." + +I doubt that General Meade's letter of instructions and Wilson's note +of the same evening, warrant what General Wilson here says. It is +true that the Weldon railroad near Ream's Station was not covered by +our infantry, as General Humphreys informed him it would be, but +Wilson is in error when he intimates that he was assured that I would +look after Hampton. I do not think General Meade's instructions are +susceptible of this interpretation. I received no orders requiring +me to detain Hampton. On the contrary, when I arrived at the White +House my instructions required me to break up the depot there, and +then bring the train across the Peninsula as soon as practicable, nor +were these instructions ever modified. I began the duty imposed on +me on the morning of the 23d, totally in the dark as to what was +expected of Wilson, though it seems, from some correspondence between +Generals Grant and Meade, which I never saw till after the war, that +Grant thought Wilson could rely on Hampton's absence from his field +of operations throughout the expedition. + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +"June 21, 1864. 9:20 A. M. + +"BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILSON, +"Commanding Third Division Cavalry Corps. + +"The major-general commanding directs that you move your command at +2 A. M. to-morrow, the 22d instant, in execution of the duty assigned +you of destroying certain railroads. Despatches received from the +White House state that Hampton's cavalry was before that place +yesterday evening, and that General Sheridan had also reached there, +hence it is desirable that you should march at the earliest moment. +In passing Petersburg you will endeavor to avoid the observation of +the enemy, and then move by the shortest routes to the intersection +of the Petersburg and Lynchburg, and the Richmond and Danville +railroads, and destroy both these roads to the greatest extent +possible, continuing their destruction until driven from it by such +attacks of the enemy as you can no longer resist. The destruction of +those roads to such an extent that they cannot be used by the enemy +in connection with Richmond during the remainder of the campaign is +an important part of the plan of campaign. The latest information +from Major-General Hunter represents him to be a few miles west of +Lynchburg. He may endeavor to form a junction with this army; you +will communicate with him if practicable, and have delivered to him +verbally the contents of the following copy of a communication from +Lieutenant-General Grant to the major-general commanding this army. +Lieutenant Brooks, who will accompany your expedition part of the +way, should be informed where General Hunter will probably be found. + +"The success of your expedition will depend upon the secrecy with +which it is commenced, and the celerity with which its movements are +conducted; your command will, therefore, have with it the lightest +supplies and smallest number of wheels consistent with the thorough +execution of the duty, the supplies of the section of country you +will operate in being taken into account. Upon the completion of the +work assigned you, you will rejoin this army. + +"The chief quartermaster was directed yesterday to supply you with +the implements and material for the destruction of railroads obtained +for General Sheridan. + +"[Signed] "A. A. HUMPHREYS, +"Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + + +"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY FORCES, +Mount Sinai Church, June 21, 1864--6 P.M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL HUMPHREYS," +"Chief-of-Staff. +"The instructions of the major-general commanding, of this date, are +received. I shall march in obedience thereto at 2 A. M. to-morrow. +Before starting I would like to know if our infantry forces cover the +Weldon road. + +"I propose striking the Southside road first at Sutherland Station, +or some point in that vicinity, tearing up the track sufficiently to +delay railroad communication ten or twelve hours. At this place I +shall detach a force to strike the Richmond and Danville road, by a +rapid march, at the nearest point, tearing up the track at every +practicable point between there and Burkeville. + +"From Sutherlands I shall move the main body of my command by the +Great road (breaking the railroad at every convenient point) directly +to Burkeville, which, if we succeed in capturing, will afford us the +opportunity of prosecuting our work with great advantage. As soon as +I have made dispositions for communicating with Hunter and done all +the damage possible, I shall move with all possible rapidity for +Danville and Grenboro'. + +"Circumstances must, however, is a great degree control our movements +after leaving Burkeville. + +"If Sheridan will look after Hampton, I apprehend no difficulty, and +hope to be able to do the enemy great damage. The ammunition issued +to my command is very defective. The implements for destroying roads +have not yet arrived, but I learn from General Ingalls that they will +certainly be here early to-morrow. + +"[Signed] J. H. WILSON, +"Brigadier-General Commanding." + + +The moment I received orders from General Meade to go to the relief +of Wilson, I hastened with Torbert and Gregg by way of Prince George +Court House and Lee's Mills to Ream's Station. Here I found the +Sixth Corps, which Meade had pushed out on his left flank immediately +on hearing of Wilson's mishap, but I was too late to render any +material assistance, Wilson having already disappeared, followed by +the enemy. However, I at once sent out parties to gather +information, and soon learned that Wilson had got safe across the +Nottoway at Peter's bridge and was making for the army by way of +Blunt's bridge, on the Blackwater. + +The benefits derived from this expedition, in the destruction of the +Southside and Danville railroads, were considered by General Grant as +equivalent for the losses sustained in Wilson's defeat, for the +wrecking of the railroads and cars was most complete, occasioning at +this, time serious embarrassment to the Confederate Government; but I +doubt if all this compensated for the artillery and prisoners that +fell into the hands of the enemy in the swamps of Hatcher's Run and +Rowanty Creek. Wilson's retreat from the perilous situation at +Ream's station was a most creditable performance--in the face of two +brigades of infantry and three divisions of cavalry--and in the +conduct of the whole expedition the only criticism that can hold +against him is that he placed too much reliance on meeting our +infantry at Ream's station, seeing that uncontrollable circumstances +might, and did, prevent its being there. He ought to have marched on +the 28th by Jarrett's Station to Peter's bridge, on the Nottoway, and +Blunts bridge on the Blackwater, to the rear of the Army of the +Potomac. + +When the safety of Wilson's command was assured, I was ordered back +to Light House Point, where I had gone into camp after crossing the +James River to rest and recruit my command, now very much reduced in +numbers by reason of casualties to both horses and men. It had been +marching and fighting for fifty consecutive days, and the fatiguing +service had told so fearfully on my animals that the number of +dismounted men in the corps was very large. With the exception of +about four hundred horses that I received at the White House, no +animals were furnished to supply the deficiencies which had arisen +from the wearing marches of the past two months until I got to this +camp at Light House Point; here my needs were so obvious that they +could no longer be neglected. + +I remained at Light House Point from the 2d to the 26th of July, +recuperating the cavalry, the intensely warm weather necessitating +almost an entire suspension of hostilities on the part of the Army of +the Potomac. Meanwhile fifteen hundred horses were sent me here, and +these, with the four hundred already mentioned, were all that my +troops received while I held the personal command of the Cavalry +Corps, from April 6 to August 1, 1864. This was not near enough to +mount the whole command, so I disposed the men who could not be +supplied in a dismounted camp. + +By the 26th of July our strength was pretty well restored, and as +General Grant was now contemplating offensive operations for the +purpose of keeping Lee's army occupied around Richmond, and also of +carrying Petersburg by assault if possible, I was directed to move to +the north side of the James River in conjunction with General +Hancock's corps, and, if opportunity offered, to make a second +expedition against the Virginia Central railroad, and again destroy +the bridges on the North Anna, the Little and the South Anna rivers. + +I started out on the afternoon of the 26th and crossed the Appomattox +at Broadway landing. At Deep Bottom I was joined by Kautz's small +division from the Army of the James, and here massed the whole +command, to allow Hancock's corps to take the lead, it crossing to +the north bank of the James River by the bridge below the mouth of +Bailey's Creek. I moved late in the afternoon, so as not to come +within the enemy's view before dark, and after night-fall Hancock's +corps passed me and began crossing the pontoon-bridge about 2 o'clock +in the morning. + +By daylight Hancock was across, the cavalry following. Soon a +portion of his corps attacked the enemy's works on the east side of +Bailey's Creek, and, aided by the cavalry moving on its right, +captured four pieces of artillery. This opened the way for Hancock +to push out his whole corps, and as he advanced by a wheel, with his +left as a pivot, the cavalry joined in the movement, pressing forward +on the New Market and Central or Charles City roads. + +We did not go far before we found the enemy's infantry posted across +these two roads behind a strong line of intrenchments on the west +bank of Bailey's Creek. His videttes in front of Ruffin's house on +the New Market road were soon driven in on their main line, and the +high ground before the house was immediately occupied by Torbert and +Gregg, supported by Kautz's division. By the time the cavalry line +was formed the Confederate General Kershaw, with his own division of +infantry and those of Wilcox and Heath, advanced to attack us. +Directing the most of his troops against the cavalry, which was still +mounted, Kershaw drove it back some distance over the high ground. +When it reached the eastern face of the ridge, however, it was +quickly dismounted, and the men directed to lie down in line of +battle about fifteen yards from the crest, and here the onset of the +enemy was awaited. When Kershaw's men reached the crest such a +severe fire was opened on them, and at such close quarters, that they +could not withstand it, and gave way in disorder. They were followed +across the plain by the cavalry, and lost about two hundred and fifty +prisoners and two battle-flags. The counter attack against the +infantry by Torbert and Gregg re-established our line and gave us the +victory of Darbytown, but it also demonstrated the fact that General +Lee had anticipated the movement around his left flank by +transferring to the north side of the James a large portion of his +infantry and W. H. F. Lee's division of cavalry. + +This development rendered useless any further effort on Hancock's +part or mine to carry out the plan of the expedition, for General +Grant did not intend Hancock to assault the enemy's works unless +there should be found in them but a very thin line of infantry which +could be surprised. In such event, Hancock was to operate so that +the cavalry might turn the Confederates on the Central or Charles +City road, but the continually increasing force of the enemy showed +this to be impracticable. The long front presented by Hancock's +corps and the cavalry deceived General Lee, and he undoubtedly +thought that nearly all of Grant's army had been moved to the north +side of the James River; and to meet the danger he transferred the +most of his own strength to the same side to confront his adversary, +thinning the lines around Petersburg to reinforce those opposing us +on the Central and New Market roads. This was what Grant hoped Lee +would do in case the operations of Hancock and myself became +impracticable, for Grant had an alternative plan for carrying +Petersburg by assault in conjunction with the explosion of a mine +that had been driven under the enemy's works from the front of +Burnside's corps. + +Now that there was no longer a chance for the cavalry to turn the +enemy's left, our attention was directed to keeping up the deception +of Lee, and on the afternoon of the 28th Hancock's corps withdrew to +a line nearer the head of the bridge, the cavalry drawing back to a +position on his right. From now on, all sorts of devices and +stratagems were practiced--anything that would tend to make the +Confederates believe we were being reinforced, while Hancock was +preparing for a rapid return to Petersburg at the proper time. In +order to delude the enemy still more after night-fall of the 28th I +sent one of my divisions to the south side of the James, first +covering the bridgeway with refuse hay to keep the tramp of the horses +from being heard. After daylight the next morning, I marched this +division back again on foot, in full view of the enemy, to create the +impression of a continuous movement large bodies of infantry to the +north side, while the same time Kautz was made to skirmish with the +enemy on our extreme right. These various artifices had the effect +intended, for by the evening of the 29th Lee had transferred all his +infantry to the north bank of the James, except three divisions, and +all his cavalry save one. + +The morning of the 30th had been fixed upon to explode the mine and +assault the enemy's works, so after dark on the evening of the 29th +Hancock hastily but quietly withdrew his corps to the south side to +take part in the engagement which was to succeed the explosion, and I +was directed to follow Hancock. This left me on the north side of +the river confronting two-thirds of Lee's army in a perilous +position, where I could easily be driven into Curl's Neck and my +whole command annihilated. The situation, therefore, was not a +pleasant one to contemplate, but it could not be avoided. Luckily +the enemy did not see fit to attack, and my anxiety was greatly +relieved by getting the whole command safely across the bridge +shortly after daylight, having drawn in the different brigades +successively from my right. By 10 o'clock on the morning of the 30th +my leading division was well over toward the left of our army in +front of Petersburg, marching with the purpose to get around the +enemy's right flank during the operations that were to succeed the +mine explosion, but when I reached General Meade's headquarters I +found that lamentable failure had attended the assault made when the +enemy's works were blown up in the morning. Blunder after blunder +had rendered the assault abortive, and all the opportunities opened +by our expedition to the north side were irretrievably lost, so +General Meade at once arrested the movement of the cavalry. + +In the expedition to Deep Bottom I was under the command of +Major-General Hancock, who, by seniority, was to control my corps as +well as his own until the way was opened for me to get out on the +Virginia Central railroad. If this opportunity was gained, I was to +cut loose and damage Lee's communications with the Shenandoah Valley +in such manner as best suited the conditions, but my return was not to +be jeopardized nor long delayed. This necessitated that Hancock's +line should extend to Bottom's bridge on the Chickahominy. The +enemy's early discovery of the movement and his concentration of +troops on the north side prevented Hancock from accomplishing the +programme laid out for him. Its impracticability was demonstrated +early on the 27th, and Hancock's soldierly instincts told him this the +moment he unexpectedly discovered Kershaw blocking the New Market and +Charles City roads. To Hancock the temptation to assault Kershaw's +position was strong indeed, but if he carried it there would still +remain the dubious problem of holding the line necessary for my safe +return, so with rare judgment he desisted zealously turning to the +alternative proposition--the assault on Petersburg--for more +significant results. This was the only occasion during the war in +which I was associated with Hancock in campaign. Up till then we had +seldom met, and that was the first opportunity I had to observe his +quick apprehension, his physical courage, and the soldierly +personality which had long before established his high reputation. + +On the 1st of August, two days after the mine explosion, I was. +relieved from the personal command of the Cavalry Corps, and ordered +to the Shenandoah Valley, where at a later date Torbert's and +Wilson's divisions joined me. Practically, after I went to the +valley, my command of the Cavalry Corps became supervisory merely. +During the period of my immediate control of the corps, I tried to +carry into effect, as far as possible, the views I had advanced +before and during the opening of the Wilderness campaign, i.e., "that +our cavalry ought to fight the enemy's cavalry, and our infantry the +enemy's infantry"; for there was great danger of breaking the spirit +of the corps if it was to be pitted against the enemy's compact +masses of foot-troops posted behind intrenchments, and unless there +was some adequate tactical or strategical advantage to be gained, +such a use of it would not be justified. Immediately succeeding the +battles of the Wilderness, opportunity offered to put this plan into +execution to some extent, and from that time forward--from the battle +of Yellow Tavern--our success was almost continuous, resulting +finally, before the close of the war, in the nearly total +annihilation of the enemy's cavalry. + +The constant activity of the corps from May 5 till August 1 gave +little opportunity for the various division and brigade commanders to +record its work in detail; so there exists but meagre accounts of the +numerous skirmishes and graver conflicts in which, in addition to the +fights mentioned in this narrative, it engaged. A detailed history +of its performances is not within the province of a work of this +nature; but in review, it can be said, without trespassing on the +reader's time, that the Cavalry Corps led the advance of the Army of +the Potomac into the Wilderness in the memorable campaign of 1864; +that on the expedition by way of Richmond to Haxall's it marked out +the army's line of march to the North Anna; that it again led the +advance to the Tolopotomy, and also to Cold Harbor, holding that +important strategic point at great hazard; and that by the Trevillian +expedition it drew away the enemy's cavalry from the south side of +the Chickahominy, and thereby assisted General Grant materially in +successfully marching to the James River and Petersburg. +Subsequently, Wilson made his march to Staunton bridge, destroying +railroads and supplies of inestimable value, and though this was +neutralized by his disaster near Ream's Station, the temporary +set-back there to one division was soon redeemed by victory over +the Confederate infantry at the battle of Darbytown. + +In the campaign we were almost always on the march, night and day, +often unable to care properly for our wounded, and obliged to bury +our dead where they fell; and innumerable combats attest the part the +cavalry played in Grant's march from the Rapidan to Petersburg. In +nearly all of these our casualties were heavy, particularly so when, +as was often the case, we had to engage the Confederate infantry; but +the enemy returned such a full equivalent in dead and wounded in +every instance, that finally his mounted power, which from the +beginning of the war had been nurtured with a wise appreciation of +its value, was utterly broken. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +GENERAL HUNTER'S SUCCESSFUL MARCH AND SUBSEQUENT RETREAT--GENERAL +JUBAL A. EARLY THREATENS WASHINGTON--CHAMBERSBURG, PA., BURNED +--SELECTED TO OPERATE AGAINST GENERAL EARLY--THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY +--THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. + +When the attempt to take Petersburg in conjunction with the mine +explosion resulted in such a dismal failure, all the operations +contemplated in connection with that project came to a standstill, +and there was every prospect that the intensely hot and sultry +weather would prevent further activity in the Army of the Potomac +till a more propitious season. Just now, however, the conditions +existing in the Shenandoah Valley and along the upper Potomac +demanded the special attention of General Grant, for, notwithstanding +the successful march that Major-General David Hunter had made toward +Lynchburg early in the summer, what he had first gained was +subsequently lost by strategical mistakes, that culminated in +disaster during the retreat he was obliged to make from the vicinity +of Lynchburg to the Kanawha Valley. This route of march uncovered +the lower portion of the Valley of the Shenandoah, and with the +exception of a small force of Union troops under General Franz Sigel +posted aft Martinsburg for the purpose of covering the Baltimore and +Ohio railroad, there was nothing at hand to defend the lower valley. + +The different bodies of Confederates which compelled Hunter's retreat +were under command of General Jubal A. Early, who had been sent to +Lynchburg with Ewell's corps after the defeat of the Confederate +General W. C. Jones near Staunton on the 5th of June, to take command +of the Valley District. When Early had forced Hunter into the +Kanawha region far enough to feel assured that Lynchburg could not +again be threatened from that direction, he united to his own corps +General John C. Breckenridge's infantry division and the cavalry of +Generals J. H. Vaughn, John McCausland. B. T. Johnson, and J. D. +Imboden, which heretofore had been operating in southwest and western +Virginia under General Robert Ransom, Jr., and with the column thus +formed, was ready to turn his attention to the lower Shenandoah +Valley. At Early's suggestion General Lee authorized him to move +north at an opportune moment, cross the upper Potomac into Maryland +and threaten Washington. Indeed, General Lee had foreshadowed such a +course when Early started toward Lynchburg for the purpose of +relieving the pressure in front of Petersburg, but was in some doubt +as to the practicability of the movement later, till persuaded to it +by the representations of Early after that general had driven Hunter +beyond the mountains and found little or nothing opposing except the +small force of Sigel, which he thought he could readily overcome by +celerity of movement. + +By rapid marching Early reached Winchester on the 2d of July, and on +the 4th occupied Martinsburg, driving General Sigel out of that place +the same day that Hunter's troops, after their fatiguing retreat +through the mountains, reached Charlestown, West Virginia. Early was +thus enabled to cross the Potomac without difficulty, when, moving +around Harper's Ferry, through the gaps of the South Mountain, he +found his path unobstructed till he reached the Monocacy, where +Ricketts's division of the Sixth Corps, and some raw troops that had +been collected by General Lew Wallace, met and held the Confederates +till the other reinforcements that had been ordered to the capital +from Petersburg could be brought up. Wallace contested the line of +the Monocacy with obstinacy, but had to retire finally toward +Baltimore. The road was then open to Washington, and Early marched +to the outskirts and began against the capital the demonstrations +which were designed to divert the Army of the Potomac from its main +purpose in front of Petersburg. + +Early's audacity in thus threatening Washington had caused some +concern to the officials in the city, but as the movement was looked +upon by General Grant as a mere foray which could have no decisive +issue, the Administration was not much disturbed till the +Confederates came in close proximity. Then was repeated the alarm +and consternation of two years before, fears for the safety of the +capital being magnified by the confusion and discord existing among +the different generals in Washington and Baltimore; and the imaginary +dangers vanished only with the appearance of General Wright, who, +with the Sixth Corps and one division of the Nineteenth Corps, pushed +out to attack Early as soon as he could get his arriving troops in +hand, but under circumstances that precluded celerity of movement; +and as a consequence the Confederates escaped with little injury, +retiring across the Potomac to Leesburg, unharassed save by some +Union cavalry that had been sent out into Loudoun County by Hunter, +who in the meantime had arrived at Harper's Ferry by the Baltimore +and Ohio railroad. From Leesburg Early retired through Winchester +toward Strasburg, but when the head of his column reached this place +he found that he was being followed by General Crook with the +combined troops of Hunter and Sigel only, Wright having returned to +Washington under orders to rejoin Meade at Petersburg. This +reduction of the pursuing force tempting Early to resume the +offensive, he attacked Crook at Kernstown, and succeeded in +administering such a check as to necessitate this general's retreat +to Martinsburg, and finally to Harper's Ferry. Crook's withdrawal +restored to Early the line of the upper Potomac, so, recrossing this +stream, he advanced again into Maryland, and sending McCausland on to +Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, laid that town in ashes, leaving three +thousand non-combatants without shelter or food. + +When Early fell back from the vicinity of Washington toward +Strasburg, General Grant believed that he would rejoin Lee, but later +manoeuvres of the enemy indicated that Early had given up this idea, +if he ever, entertained it, and intended to remain in the valley, +since it would furnish Lee and himself with subsistence, and also +afford renewed opportunities for threatening Washington. Indeed, the +possession of the Valley of the Shenandoah at this time was of vast +importance to Lee's army, and on every hand there were indications +that the Confederate Government wished to hold it at least until +after the crops could be gathered in to their depots at Lynchburg and +Richmond. Its retention, besides being of great advantage in the +matter of supplies, would also be a menace to the North difficult for +General Grant to explain, and thereby add an element of considerable +benefit to the Confederate cause; so when Early's troops again +appeared at Martinsburg it was necessary for General Grant to +confront them with a force strong enough to put an end to incursions +north of the Potomac, which hitherto had always led to National +discomfiture at some critical juncture, by turning our army in +eastern Virginia from its chief purpose--the destruction of Lee and +the capture of the Confederate capital. + +This second irruption of Early, and his ruthless destruction of +Chambersburg led to many recommendations on the part of General Grant +looking to a speedy elimination of the confusion then existing among +the Union forces along the upper Potomac, but for a time the +authorities at Washington would approve none of his propositions. +The President and Secretary Stanton seemed unwilling to adopt his +suggestions, and one measure which he deemed very important--the +consolidation into a single command of the four geographical +districts into which, to relieve political pressure no doubt, the +territory had been divided--met with serious opposition. Despite +Grant's representations, he could not prevail on the Administration +to approve this measure, but finally the manoeuvres of Early and the +raid to Chambersburg compelled a partial compliance, though Grant had +somewhat circumvented the difficulty already by deciding to appoint a +commander for the forces in the field that were to operate against +Early. + +On the 31st of July General Grant selected me as this commander, and +in obedience to his telegraphic summons I repaired to his +headquarters at City Point. In the interview that followed, he +detailed to me the situation of affairs on the upper Potomac, telling +me that I was to command in the field the troops that were to operate +against Early, but that General Hunter, who was at the head of the +geographical department, would be continued in his position for the +reason that the Administration was reluctant to reconstruct or +consolidate the different districts. After informing me that one +division of the Cavalry Corps would be sent to my new command, he +went on to say that he wanted me to push the enemy as soon as this +division arrived, and if Early retired up the Shenandoah Valley I was +to pursue, but if he crossed the Potomac I was to put myself south of +him and try to compass his destruction. The interview having ended, +I returned to Hancock Station to prepare for my departure, and on the +evening of August 1 I was relieved from immediate duty with the Army +of the Potomac, but not from command of the cavalry as a corps +organization. + +I arrived at Washington on the 4th of August, and the next day +received instructions from General Halleck to report to General Grant +at Monocacy Junction, whither he had gone direct from City Point, in +consequence of a characteristic despatch from the President +indicating his disgust with the confusion, disorder, and helplessness +prevailing along the upper Potomac, and intimating that Grant's +presence there was necessary. + +In company with the Secretary of War I called on the President before +leaving Washington, and during a short conversation Mr. Lincoln +candidly told me that Mr. Stanton had objected to my assignment to +General Hunter's command, because he thought me too young, and that +he himself had concurred with the Secretary; but now, since General +Grant had "ploughed round" the difficulties of the situation by +picking me out to command the "boys in the field," he felt satisfied +with what had been done, and "hoped for the best." Mr. Stanton +remained silent during these remarks, never once indicating whether +he, too, had become reconciled to my selection or not; and although, +after we left the White House, he conversed with me freely in regard +to the campaign I was expected to make, seeking to impress on me the +necessity for success from the political as well as from the military +point of view, yet he utterly ignored the fact that he had taken any +part in disapproving the recommendation of the general-in-chief. + +August 6, I reported to General Grant at the Monocacy, and he there +turned over to me the following instructions, which he had previously +prepared for General Hunter in the expectation that general would +continue to command the department: + +"HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, +"Monocacy Bridge, Md., Aug. 5, 1864. + +"GENERAL: Concentrate all your available force without delay in the +vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards and +garrisons for public property as may be necessary. + +"Use in this concentration the railroad, if by so doing time can be +saved. From Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the enemy has moved +north of the Potomac in large force, push north, following and +attacking him wherever found; following him, if driven south of the +Potomac, as long as it is safe to do so. If it is ascertained that +the enemy has but a small force north of the Potomac, then push south +the main force, detaching, under a competent commander, a sufficient +force to look after the raiders and drive them to their homes. In +detaching such a force, the brigade of cavalry now en route from +Washington via Rockville may be taken into account. + +"There are now on the way to join you three other brigades of the +best of cavalry, numbering at least five thousand men and horses. +These will be instructed, in the absence of further orders, to join +you by the south side of the Potomac. One brigade will probably +start to-morrow. + +"In pushing up the Shenandoah Valley, as it is expected you will have +to go first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left to +invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and stock +wanted for the use of your command. Such as cannot be consumed, +destroy. It is not desirable that the buildings should be destroyed +--they should, rather, be protected; but the people should be informed +that so long as an army can subsist among them recurrences of these +raids must be expected, and we are determined to stop them at all +hazards. + +"Bear in mind, the object is to drive the enemy south; and to do this +you want to keep him always in sight. Be guided in your course by +the course he takes. + +"Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving regular +vouchers for such as may be taken from loyal citizens in the country +through which you march. + +"Very respectfully, +"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General." + +"Major-General D. HUNTER, +"Commanding Department of West Virginia." + + +When I had read the letter addressed to Hunter, General Grant said I +would be expected to report directly to him, as Hunter had asked that +day to be wholly relieved, not from any chagrin at my assignment to +the control of the active forces of his command, but because he +thought that his fitness for the position he was filling was +distrusted by General Halleck, and he had no wish to cause +embarrassment by remaining where he could but remove me one degree +from the headquarters of the army. The next day Hunter's unselfish +request was complied with, and an order was issued by the President, +consolidating the Middle Department, the Department of Washington, +the Department of the Susquehanna, and the Department of West +Virginia. + +Under this order these four geographical districts constituted the +Middle Military Division, and I was temporarily assigned to command +it. Hunter's men had been bivouacking for some days past in the +vicinity of Monocacy Junction and Frederick, but before General +Grant's instructions were written out, Hunter had conformed to them +by directing the concentration at Halltown, about four miles in front +of Harper's Ferry, of all his force available for field service. +Therefore the different bodies of troops, with the exception of +Averell's cavalry, which had followed McCausland toward Moorefield +after the burning of Chambersburg, were all in motion toward Halltown +on August 6. + +Affairs at Monocacy kept me but an hour or two, and these disposed +of, I continued on to Harper's Ferry by the special train which had +brought me from Washington, that point being intended as my +headquarters while making preparations to advance. The enemy was +occupying Martinsburg, Williamsport, and Shepherdstown at the time; +sending occasional raiding parties into Maryland as far as +Hagerstown. The concentration of my troops at Halltown being an +indication to Early that we intended to renew the offensive, however, +he immediately began counter preparations by drawing in all his +detached columns from the north side of the Potomac, abandoning a +contemplated raid into Maryland, which his success against Crook at +Kernstown had prompted him to project, and otherwise disposing +himself for defense. + +At Harper's Ferry I made my headquarters in the second story of a +small and very dilapidated hotel, and as soon as settled sent for +Lieutenant John R. Meigs, the chief engineer officer of the command, +to study with him the maps of my geographical division. It always +came rather easy to me to learn the geography of a new section, and +its important topographical features as well; therefore I found that, +with the aid of Meigs, who was most intelligent in his profession, +the region in which I was to operate would soon be well fixed in my +mind. Meigs was familiar with every important road and stream, and +with all points worthy of note west of the Blue Ridge, and was +particularly well equipped with knowledge regarding the Shenandoah +Valley, even down to the farmhouses. He imparted with great +readiness what he knew of this, clearly pointing out its +configuration and indicating the strongest points for Confederate +defense, at the same time illustrating scientifically and forcibly +the peculiar disadvantages under which the Union army had hitherto +labored. + +The section that received my closest attention has its northern limit +along the Potomac between McCoy's ferry at the eastern base of the +North Mountain, and Harper's Ferry at the western base of the Blue +Ridge. The southern limit is south of Staunton, on the divide which +separates the waters flowing into the Potomac from those that run to +the James. The western boundary is the eastern slope of the +Alleghany Mountains, the eastern, the Blue Ridge; these two distinct +mountain ranges trending about southwest inclose a stretch of quite +open, undulating country varying in width from the northern to the +southern extremity, and dotted at frequent intervals with patches of +heavy woods: At Martinsburg the valley is about sixty miles broad, +and on an east and west line drawn through Winchester about +forty-five, while at Strasburg it narrows down to about twenty-five. +Just southeast of Strasburg, which is nearly midway between the +eastern and western walls of the valley, rises an abrupt range of +mountains called Massanutten, consisting of several ridges which +extend southward between the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah +River until, losing their identity, they merge into lower but broken +ground between New Market and Harrisonburg. The Massanutten ranges, +with their spurs and hills, divide the Shenandoah Valley into two +valleys, the one next the Blue Ridge being called the Luray, while +that next the North Mountain retains the name of Shenandoah. + +A broad macadamized road, leading south from Williamsport, Maryland, +to Lexington, Virginia, was built at an early day to connect the +interior of the latter State with the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and +along this road are situated the principal towns and villages of the +Shenandoah Valley, with lateral lines of communication extending to +the mountain ranges on the east and west. The roads running toward +the Blue Ridge are nearly all macadamized, and the principal ones +lead to the railroad system of eastern Virginia through Snicker's, +Ashby's Manassas, Chester, Thornton's Swift Run, Brown's and +Rock-fish gaps, tending to an ultimate centre at Richmond. These gaps +are low and easy, offering little obstruction to the march of an army +coming from eastern Virginia, and thus the Union troops operating west +of the Blue Ridge were always subjected to the perils of a flank +attack; for the Confederates could readily be brought by rail to +Gordonsville and Charlottesville, from which points they could move +with such celerity through the Blue Ridge that, on more than one +occasion, the Shenandoah Valley had been the theatre of Confederate +success, due greatly to the advantage of possessing these interior +lines. + +Nature had been very kind to the valley, making it rich and +productive to an exceptional degree, and though for three years +contending armies had been marching up and down it, the fertile soil +still yielded ample subsistence for Early's men, with a large surplus +for the army of Lee. The ground had long been well cleared of +timber, and the rolling surface presented so few obstacles to the +movement of armies that they could march over the country in any +direction almost as well as on the roads, the creeks and rivers being +everywhere fordable, with little or no difficulty beyond that of +leveling the approaches. + +I had opposing me an army largely composed of troops that had +operated in this region hitherto under "Stonewall" Jackson with +marked success, inflicting defeat on the Union forces almost every +time the two armies had come in contact. These men were now commanded +by a veteran officer of the Confederacy-General Jubal A. Early--whose +past services had so signalized his ability that General Lee +specially selected him to take charge of the Valley District, and, +notwithstanding the misfortunes that befell him later, clung to him +till the end, of the war. The Confederate army at this date was +about twenty thousand strong, and consisted of Early's own corps, +with Generals Rodes, Ramseur, and Gordon commanding its divisions; +the infantry of Breckenridge from southwestern Virginia; three +battalions of artillery; and the cavalry brigades of Vaughn, Johnson, +McCausland, and Imboden. This cavalry was a short time afterward +organized into a division under the command of General Lomax. + +After discovering that my troops were massing in front of Harper's +Ferry, Early lost not a moment in concentrating his in the vicinity +of Martinsburg, in positions from which he could continue to obstruct +the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and yet be enabled to retire up the +valley under conditions of safety when I should begin an offensive +campaign. + +When I took command of the Army of the Shenandoah its infantry force +comprised the Sixth Corps, one division of the Nineteenth Corps, and +two divisions from West Virginia. The Sixth Corps was commanded +by Major-General Horatio G. Wright; its three divisions by +Brigadier-Generals David A. Russell, Geo. W. Getty, and James B. +Ricketts. The single division of the Nineteenth Corps had for its +immediate chief Brigadier-General William Dwight, the corps being +commanded by Brigadier-General Wm. H. Emory. The troops from West +Virginia were under Brigadier-General George Crook, with Colonels +Joseph Thoburn and Isaac H. Duval as division commanders, and though +in all not more than one fair-sized division, they had been +designated, on account of the department they belonged to, the Army of +West Virginia. General Torbert's division, then arriving from the +Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac, represented the mounted arm +of the service, and in the expectation that Averell would soon join me +with his troopers, I assigned General Torbert as chief of cavalry, and +General Wesley Merritt succeeded to the command of Torbert's division. + +General Wright, the commander of the Sixth Corps, was an officer of +high standing in the Corps of Engineers, and had seen much active +service during the preceding three years. He commanded the +Department of the Ohio throughout the very trying period of the +summer and fall of 1862, and while in that position he, with +other prominent officers, recommended my appointment as a +brigadier-general. In 1863 he rendered valuable service at the battle +of Gettysburg, following which he was assigned to the Sixth Corps, and +commanded it at the capture of the Confederate works at Rappahannock +Station and in the operations at Mine Run. He ranked me as a +major-general of volunteers by nearly a year in date of commission, +but my assignment by the President to the command of the army in the +valley met with Wright's approbation, and, so far as I have ever +known, he never questioned the propriety of the President's action. +The Sixth Corps division commanders, Getty, Russell, and Ricketts, +were all educated soldiers, whose records, beginning with the Mexican +War, had already been illustrated in the war of the rebellion by +distinguished service in the Army of the Potomac. + +General Emory was a veteran, having graduated at the Military Academy +in 1831, the year I was born. In early life he had seen much service +in the Artillery, the Topographical Engineers, and the Cavalry, and +in the war of the rebellion had exhibited the most soldierly +characteristics at Port Hudson and on the Red River campaign. At +this time he had but one division of the Nineteenth Corps present, +which division was well commanded by General Dwight, a volunteer +officer who had risen to the grade of brigadier-general through +constant hard work. Crook was a classmate of mine--at least, we +entered the Military Academy the same year, though he graduated a +year ahead of me. We had known each other as boys before we entered +the army, and later as men, and I placed implicit faith in his +experience and qualifications as a general. + +The transfer of Torbert to the position of chief of cavalry left +Merritt, as I have already said, in command of the First Cavalry +Division. He had been tried in the place before, and from the day he +was selected as one of a number of young men to be appointed general +officers, with the object of giving life to the Cavalry Corps, he +filled the measure of expectation. Custer was one of these young men +too, and though as yet commanding a brigade under Merritt, his +gallant fight at Trevillian Station, as well as a dozen others during +the summer, indicated that he would be equal to the work that was to +fall to him when in a few weeks he should succeed Wilson. But to go +on down the scale of rank, describing the officers who commanded in +the Army of the Shenandoah, would carry me beyond all limit, so I +refrain from the digression with regret that I cannot pay to each his +well-earned tribute. + +The force that I could take with me into the field at this time +numbered about 26,000 men. Within the limits of the geographical +division there was a much greater number of troops than this. +Baltimore, Washington, Harper's Ferry, Hagerstown, Frederick, +Cumberland, and a score of other points; besides the strong +detachments that it took to keep the Baltimore and Ohio railroad open +through the mountains of West Virginia, and escorts for my trains, +absorbed so many men that the column which could be made available +for field operations was small when compared with the showing on +paper. Indeed, it was much less than it ought to have been, but for +me, in the face of the opposition made by different interests +involved, to detach troops from any of the points to which they had +been distributed before I took charge was next to impossible. + +In a few days after my arrival preparations were completed, and I was +ready to make the first move for the possession of the Shenandoah +Valley. For the next five weeks the operations on my part consisted +almost wholly of offensive and defensive manoeuvring for certain +advantages, the enemy confining himself meanwhile to measures +intended to counteract my designs. Upon the advent of Torbert, Early +immediately grew suspicious, and fell back twelve miles south of +Martinsburg, to Bunker Hill and vicinity, where his right flank would +be less exposed, but from which position he could continue to +maintain the break in the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and push +reconnoitring parties through Smithfield to Charlestown. These +reconnoitring parties exhibited considerable boldness at times, but +since they had no purpose in view save to discover whether or not we +were moving, I did not contest any ground with them except about our +outposts. Indeed, I desired that Early might remain at some point +well to the north till I was fully prepared to throw my army on his +right and rear and force a battle, and hence I abstained from +disturbing him by premature activity, for I thought that if I could +beat him at Winchester, or north of it, there would be far greater +chances of weighty results. I therefore determined to bring my +troops, if it were at all possible to do so, into such a position +near that town as to oblige Early to fight. The sequel proved, +however, that he was accurately informed of all my movements. To +anticipate them, therefore, he began his retreat up the valley the +day that I moved out from Halltown, and consequently was able to +place himself south of Winchester before I could get there. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +MOVING ON GENERAL EARLY--GENERAL GRANT'S LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS +--DESTROYING THE RESOURCES OF THE VALLEY--REASON FOR THE DESTRUCTION +--WITHDRAWAL TO HALLTOWN--ALARM IN THE NORTH OVER THE RETROGRADE +MOVEMENT--RENEWING THE ADVANCE UP THE VALLEY--GENERAL ANDERSON'S +ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO PETERSBURG--STRENGTH OF THE ARMIES. + +For a clear understanding of the operations which preceded the +victories that resulted in almost annihilating General Early's army +in the Shenandoah Valley, it is necessary to describe in considerable +detail the events that took place prior to the 19th of September. My +army marched from Harper's Ferry on the 10th of August, 1864, General +Torbert with Merritt's division of cavalry moving in advance through +Berryville, going into position near White Post. The Sixth Corps, +under General Wright, moved by way of Charlestown and Summit Point to +Clifton; General Emory, with Dwight's division of the Nineteenth +Corps, marched along the Berryville pike through Berryville to the +left of the position of the Sixth Corps at Clifton; General Crook's +command, moving on the Kabletown road, passed through Kabletown to +the vicinity of Berryville, and went into position on the left of +Dwight's division, while Colonel Lowell, with a detached force of two +small regiments of cavalry, marched to Summit Point; so that on the +night of August 10 my infantry occupied a line stretching from +Clifton to Berryville, with Merritt's cavalry at White Post and +Lowell's at Summit Point. The enemy, as stated before, moved at the +same time from Bunker Hill and vicinity, and stretched his line from +where the Winchester and Potomac railroad crosses Opequon Creek to +the point at which the Berryville and Winchester pike crosses the +same stream, thus occupying the west bank to cover Winchester. + +On the morning of the 11th the Sixth Corps was ordered to move across +the country toward the junction of the Berryville-Winchester pike and +the Opequon, and to take the crossing and hold it, Dwight's division +being directed to move through Berryville on the White Post road for +a mile, then file to the right by heads of regiments at deploying +distances, and carry the crossing of Opequon Creek at a ford about +three-fourths of a mile from the left of the Sixth Corps, while Crook +was instructed to move out on the White Post road, a mile and a half +beyond Berryville, then head to the right and secure the ford about a +mile to the left of Dwight; Torbert's orders were to push Merritt's +division up the Millwood pike toward Winchester, attack any force he +might run against, and ascertain the movements of the Confederate +army; and lastly, Lowell received instructions to close in from +Summit Point on the right of the Sixth Corps. + +My object in securing the fords was to further my march on Winchester +from the southeast, since, from all the information gathered during +the 10th, I still thought Early could be brought to a stand at that +point; but in this I was mistaken, as Torbert's reconnoissance +proved, for on the morning of the 11th, when Merritt had driven the +Confederate cavalry, then covering the Millwood pike west of the +Opequon, off toward Kernstown, he found that their infantry and +artillery were retreating south, up the Valley pike. + +As soon as this information was obtained Torbert moved quickly +through the toll-gate on the Front Royal and Winchester road to +Newtown, to strike the enemy's flank and harass him in his retreat, +Lowell following up through Winchester, on the Valley pike; Crook was +turned to the left and ordered to Stony Point, while Emory and +Wright, marching to the left also, were directed to take post on the +night of the 11th between the Millwood and Front Royal roads, within +supporting distance of Crook. Merritt meeting some of the enemy's +cavalry at the tollgate, drove it in the direction of Newtown till it +got inside the line of Gordon's division of infantry, which had been +thrown out and posted behind barricades to cover the flank of the +main force in its retreat. A portion of Merritt's cavalry attacked +this infantry and drove in its skirmish-line, and though not able to +dislodge Gordon, Merritt held the ground gained till night-fall, when +the Confederate infantry moved off under cover of darkness to Hupp's +Hill, between Strasburg and Cedar Creek. + +The next morning Crook marched from Stony Point to Cedar Creek, Emory +followed with Dwight, and the cavalry moved to the same point by way +of Newtown and the Valley pike, the Sixth Corps following the +cavalry. That night Crook was in position at Cedar Creek, on the +left of the Valley pike, Emory on the right of the pike, the Sixth +Corps on the right of Emory, and the cavalry on the flanks. In the +afternoon a heavy skirmish-line had been thrown forward to the +heights on the south side of Cedar Creek, and a brisk affair with the +enemy's pickets took place, the Confederates occupying with their +main force the heights north of Strasburg. On the morning of the +13th my cavalry went out to reconnoitre toward Strasburg, on the +middle road, about two and a half miles west of the Valley pike, and +discovered that Early's infantry was at Fisher's Hill, where he had +thrown up behind Tumbling Run earthworks extending clear across the +narrow valley between the Massanutten and North mountains. On the +left of these works he had Vaughan's, McCausland's, and Johnson's +brigades of cavalry under General Lomax, who at this time relieved +General Ramseur from the command of the Confederate mounted forces. + +Within the past day or two I had received information that a column +of the enemy was moving up from Culpeper Court House and approaching +Front Royal through Chester Gap, and although the intelligence was +unconfirmed, it caused me much solicitude; for there was strong +probability that such a movement would be made, and any considerable +force advancing through Front Royal toward Winchester could fall upon +my rear and destroy my communication with Harper's Ferry, or, moving +along the base of Massanutten Mountain, could attack my flank in +conjunction with the force at Fisher's Hill without a possibility of +my preventing it. + +Neither Wilson's cavalry nor Grower's infantry had yet joined me, and +the necessities, already explained, which obliged me to hold with +string garrisons Winchester and other points heretofore mentioned. +had so depleted my line of battle strength that I knew the enemy +would outnumber me when Anderson's corps should arrive in the valley. +I deemed it advisable, therefore, to act with extreme caution, so, +with the exception of a cavalry reconnoissance on the 13th, I +remained on the defensive, quietly awaiting developments. In the +evening of that day the enemy's skirmishers withdrew to Tumbling Run, +his main force remaining inactive behind the intrenchments at +Fisher's Hill waiting for the arrival of Anderson. + +The rumors in regard to the force advancing from Culpeper kept +increasing every hour, so on the morning of the 14th I concluded to +send a brigade of cavalry to Front Royal to ascertain definitely what +was up. At the same time I crossed the Sixth Corps to the south side +of Cedar Creek, and occupied the heights near Strasburg. That day I +received from the hands of Colonel Chipman, of the Adjutant-General's +Department, the following despatch, to deliver which he had ridden in +great haste from Washington through Snicker's Gap, escorted by a +regiment of cavalry: + +"CITY POINT, August 12, 1864--9 A. M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK + +"Inform General Sheridan that it is now certain two (2) divisions of +infantry have gone to Early, and some cavalry and twenty (20) pieces +of artillery. This movement commenced last Saturday night. He must +be cautious, and act now on the defensive until movements here force +them to detach to send this way. Early's force, with this increase, +cannot exceed forty thousand men, but this is too much for General +Sheridan to attack. Send General Sheridan the remaining brigade of +the Nineteenth Corps. + +"I have ordered to Washington all the one-hundred-day men. Their +time will soon be out, but for the present they will do to serve in +the defenses. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + +The despatch explained the movement from Culpeper, and on the morning +of the 15th Merritt's two remaining brigades were sent to Front Royal +to oppose Anderson, and the Sixth Corps withdrawn to the north side +of Cedar Creek, where it would be in a position enabling me either to +confront Anderson or to act defensively, as desired by General Grant. + +To meet the requirements of his instructions I examined the map of +the valley for a defensive line--a position where a smaller number of +troops could hold a larger number--for this information led me to +suppose that Early's force would greatly exceed mine when Anderson's +two divisions of infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry had joined him. +I could see but one such position, and that was at Halltown, in front +of Harper's Ferry. Subsequent experience convinced me that there was +no other really defensive line in the Shenandoah Valley, for at +almost any other point the open country and its peculiar topography +invites rather than forbids flanking operations. + +This retrograde movement would also enable me to strengthen my +command by Grower's division of the Nineteenth Corps and Wilson's +cavalry, both of which divisions were marching from Washington by way +of Snicker's Gap. + +After fully considering the matter, I determined to move back to +Halltown, carrying out, as I retired, my instructions to destroy all +the forage and subsistence the country afforded. So Emory was +ordered to retire to Winchester on the night of the 15th, and Wright +and Crook to follow through Winchester to Clifton the next night. + +For the cavalry, in this move to the rear, I gave the following +instructions: + +"....In pushing up the Shenandoah Valley, as it is expected you will +have to go first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left +to invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and +stock wanted for the use of your command. Such as cannot be +consumed, destroy. It is not desirable that buildings should be +destroyed--they should, rather, be protected; but the people should +be informed that so long as an army can subsist among them, +recurrences of these raids must be expected, and we are determined to +stop them at all hazards...." [Grant's letter of instructions.] + + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, +"Cedar Creek, Va., August 16, 1864. + +"GENERAL: In compliance with instructions of the Lieutenant-General +commanding, you will make the necessary arrangements and give the +necessary orders for the destruction of the wheat and hay south of a +line from Millwood to Winchester and Petticoat Gap. You will seize +all mules, horses, and cattle that may be useful to our army. Loyal +citizens can bring in their claims against the Government for this +necessary destruction. No houses will be burned, and officers in +charge of this delicate but necessary duty must inform the people +that the object is to make this valley untenable for the raiding +parties of the rebel army. + +"Very respectfully, + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding. + +"BRIGADIER-GENERAL A. T. A. TORBERT, +"Chief of Cavalry, Middle Military Division." + + +During his visit to General Hunter at the Monocacy, General Grant had +not only decided to retain in the Shenandoah Valley a large force +sufficient to defeat Early's army or drive it back to Lee, but he had +furthermore determined to make that sections by the destruction of +its supplies, untenable for continued occupancy by the Confederates. +This would cut off one of Lee's main-stays in the way of subsistence, +and at the same time diminish the number of recruits and conscripts +he received; the valley district while under his control not only +supplying Lee with an abundance of food, but also furnishing him many +men for his regular and irregular forces. Grant's instructions to +destroy the valley began with the letter of August 5 to Hunter, which +was turned over to me, and this was followed at intervals by more +specific directions, all showing the earnestness of his purpose. + + +"CITY POINT, Va., Aug. 16--3:30 P. M., 1864. +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Winchester, Va.: + +"If you can possibly spare a division of cavalry, send them through +Loudoun County to destroy and carry off the crops, animals, negroes, +and all men under fifty years of age capable of bearing arms. In +this way you will get many of Mosby's men. All male citizens under +fifty can fairly be held as prisoners of war, not as citizen +prisoners. If not already soldiers, they will be made so the moment +the rebel army gets hold of them. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"CITY POINT, Aug. 21, 1864. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Charlestown, Va.: + +"In stripping Loudoun County of supplies, etc., impress from all +loyal persons so that they may receive pay for what is taken from +them. I am informed by the Assistant Secretary of War that Loudoun +County has a large population of Quakers, who are all favorably +disposed to the Union. These people may be exempted from arrest. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES +"CITY POINT, Va., Aug. 26,2:30 P. M. 1864. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Halltown, Va.: + +"Telegraphed you that I had good reason for believing that Fitz Lee +had been ordered back here. I now think it likely that all troops +will be ordered back from the valley except what they believe to be +the minimum number to detain you. My reason for supposing this is +based upon the fact that yielding up the Weldon road seems to be a +blow to the enemy he cannot stand. I think I do not overstate the +loss of the enemy in the last two weeks at 10,000 killed and wounded. +We have lost heavily, mostly in captured when the enemy gained +temporary advantages. Watch closely, and if you find this theory +correct, push with all vigor. Give the enemy no rest, and if it is +possible to follow to the Virginia Central road, follow that far. Do +all the damage to railroads and crops you can. Carry off stock of +all descriptions and negroes, so as to prevent further planting. If +the war is to last another year we want the Shenandoah Valley to +remain a barren waste. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"CITY POINT, Va., Sept. 4,--10 A. M.--1864. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Charlestown, Va.: + +"In cleaning out the arms-bearing community of Loudoun County and the +subsistence for armies, exercise your own judgment as to who should +be exempt from arrest, and as to who should receive pay for their +stock, grain, etc. It is our interest that that county should not be +capable of subsisting a hostile army, and at the same time we want to +inflict as little hardship upon Union men as possible. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + + +"CITY POINT, Va., Nov. 9, 1864. +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Cedar Creek, Va.: + +"Do you not think it advisable to notify all citizens living east of +the Blue Ridge to move out north of the Potomac all their stock, +grain, and provisions of every description? There is no doubt about +the necessity of clearing out that country so that it will not +support Mosby's gang. And the question is whether it is not better +that the people should save what they can. So long as the war lasts +they must be prevented from raising another crop, both there and as +high up the valley as we can control. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + + +He had rightly concluded that it was time to bring the war home to a +people engaged in raising crops from a prolific soil to feed the +country's enemies, and devoting to the Confederacy its best youth. I +endorsed the programme in all its parts, for the stores of meat and +grain that the valley provided, and the men it furnished for Lee's +depleted regiments, were the strongest auxiliaries he possessed in +the whole insurgent section. In war a territory like this is a +factor of great importance, and whichever adversary controls it +permanently reaps all the advantages of its prosperity. Hence, as I +have said, I endorsed Grant's programme, for I do not hold war to +mean simply that lines of men shall engage each other in battle, and +material interests be ignored. This is but a duel, in which one +combatant seeks the other's life; war means much more, and is far +worse than this. Those who rest at home in peace and plenty see but +little of the horrors attending such a duel, and even grow +indifferent to them as the struggle goes on, contenting themselves +with encouraging all who are able-bodied to enlist in the cause, to +fill up the shattered ranks as death thins them. It is another +matter, however, when deprivation and suffering are brought to their +own doors. Then the case appears much graver, for the loss of +property weighs heavy with the most of mankind; heavier often, than +the sacrifices made on the field of battle. Death is popularly +considered the maximum of punishment in war, but it is not; reduction +to poverty brings prayers for peace more surely and more quickly than +does the destruction of human life, as the selfishness of man has +demonstrated in more than one great conflict. + +In the afternoon of the 16th I started back to Winchester, whence I +could better supervise our regressive march. As I was passing +through Newtown, I heard cannonading from the direction of Front +Royal, and on reaching Winchester, Merritt's couriers brought me word +that he had been attacked at the crossing of the Shenandoah by +Kershaw's division of Anderson's corps and two brigades of Fitzhugh +Lee's cavalry, but that the attack had been handsomely repulsed, with +a capture of two battle-flags and three hundred prisoners. This was +an absolute confirmation of the despatch from Grant; and I was now +more than satisfied with the wisdom of my withdrawal. + +At daylight of the 17th Emory moved from Winchester to Berryville, +and the same morning Crook and Wright reached Winchester, having +started from Cedar Creek the day before. From Winchester, Crook and +Wright resumed their march toward Clifton, Wright, who had the rear +guard, getting that day as far as the Berryville crossing of the +Opequon, where he was ordered to remain, while Crook went ahead till +he reached the vicinity of Berryville. On the afternoon of the 17th +Lowell with his two regiments of troopers came into Winchester, where +he was joined by Wilson's mounted division, which had come by a rapid +march from Snicker's ferry. In the mean time Merritt, after his +handsome engagement with Kershaw near Front Royal, had been ordered +back to the neighborhood of White Post, so that my cavalry outposts +now extended from this last point around to the west of Winchester. + +During all these operations the enemy had a signal-station on Three +Top Mountain, almost overhanging Strasburg, from which every movement +made by our troops could be plainly seen; therefore, early on the +morning of the 17th he became aware of the fact that we were retiring +down the valley, and at once made after us, and about sundown drove +Torbert out of Winchester, he having been left there-with Wilson and +Lowell, and the Jersey brigade of the Sixth Corps, to develop the +character of the enemy's pursuit. After a severe skirmish Wilson and +Lowell fell back to Summit Point, and the Jersey brigade joined its +corps at the crossing of the Opequon. This affair demonstrated that +Early's whole army had followed us from Fisher's Hill, in concert +with Anderson and Fitzhugh Lee from Front Royal, and the two columns +joined near Winchester the morning of the 18th. + +That day I moved the Sixth Corps by way of Clifton to Flowing Spring, +two and a half miles west of Charlestown, on the Smithfield pike; and +Emory, with Dwight's and Grower's divisions (Grower's having joined +that morning from Washington), to a position about the same distance +south of Charlestown, on the Berryville pike. Following these +movements, Merritt fell back to Berryville, covering the Berryville +pike crossing of the Opequon, and Wilson was stationed at Summit +Point, whence he held a line along the Opequon as far north as the +bridge at Smithfield. Crook continued to hold on near Clifton until +the next day, and was then moved into place on the left of Emory. + +This line was practically maintained till the 21st, when the enemy, +throwing a heavy force across the Opequon by the bridge at +Smithfield, drove in my cavalry pickets to Summit Point, and followed +up with a rapid advance against the position of the Sixth Corps near +Flowing Spring. A sharp and obstinate skirmish with a heavy +picket-line of the Sixth Corps grew out of this manoeuvre, and +resulted very much in our favor, but the quick withdrawal of the +Confederates left no opportunity for a general engagement. It seems +that General Early thought I had taken position near Summit Point, and +that by moving rapidly around through Smithfield he could fall upon my +rear in concert with an attack in front by Anderson, but the warm +reception given him disclosed his error, for he soon discovered that +my line lay in front of Charlestown instead of where he supposed. + +In the manoeuvre Merritt had been attacked in front of Berryville and +Wilson at Summit Point, the former by cavalry and the latter by +Anderson's infantry. The exposed positions of Merritt and Wilson +necessitated their withdrawal if I was to continue to act on the +defensive; so, after the army had moved back to Halltown the +preceding night, without loss or inconvenience, I called them in and +posted them on the right of the infantry. + +My retrograde move from Strasburg to Halltown caused considerable +alarm in the North, as the public was ignorant of the reasons for it; +and in the excited state of mind then prevailing, it was generally +expected that the reinforced Confederate army would again cross the +Potomac, ravage Maryland and Pennsylvania, and possibly capture +Washington. Mutterings of dissatisfaction reached me from many +sources, and loud calls were made for my removal, but I felt +confident that my course would be justified when the true situation +was understood, for I knew that I was complying with my instructions. +Therefore I paid small heed to the adverse criticisms pouring down +from the North almost every day, being fully convinced that the best +course was to bide my time, and wait till I could get the enemy into +a position from which he could not escape without such serious +misfortune as to have some bearing on the general result of the war. +Indeed, at this time I was hoping that my adversary would renew the +boldness he had exhibited the early part of the month, and strike for +the north side of the Potomac, and wrote to General Grant on the 20th +of August that I had purposely left everything in that direction open +to the enemy. + +On the 22d the Confederates moved to Charlestown and pushed well up +to my position at Halltown. Here for the next three days they +skirmished with my videttes and infantry pickets, Emory and Cook +receiving the main attention; but finding that they could make no +impression, and judging it to be an auspicious time to intensify the +scare in the North, on the 25th of August Early despatched Fitzhugh +Lee's cavalry to Williamsport, and moved all the rest of his army but +Anderson's infantry and McCausland's cavalry to Kerneysville. This +same day there was sharp picket firing along the whole front of my +infantry line, arising, as afterward ascertained, from a heavy +demonstration by Anderson. During this firing I sent Torbert, with +Merritt's and Wilson's divisions, to Kerrteysville, whence he was to +proceed toward Leetown and learn what had become of Fitz. Lee. + +About a mile from Leetown Torbert met a small force of Confederate +cavalry, and soon after encountering it, stumbled on Breckenridge's +corps of infantry on the march, apparently heading for Shepherdstown. +The surprise was mutual, for Torbert expected to meet only the +enemy's cavalry, while the Confederate infantry column was +anticipating an unobstructed march to the Potomac. Torbert attacked +with such vigor as at first to double up the head of Breckenridge's +corps and throw it into confusion, but when the Confederates realized +that they were confronted only by cavalry, Early brought up the whole +of the four infantry divisions engaged in his manoeuvre, and in a +sharp attack pushed Torbert rapidly back. + +All the advantages which Torbert had gained by surprising the enemy +were nullified by this counter-attack, and he was obliged to withdraw +Wilson's division toward my right, to the neighborhood of Duffield's +Station, Merritt drawing back to the same point by way of the +Shepherdstown ford. Custer's brigade becoming isolated after the +fight while assisting the rear guard, was also obliged to retire, +which it did to Shepherdstown and there halted, picketing the river +to Antietam ford. + +When Torbert reported to me the nature of his encounter, and that a +part of Early's infantry was marching to the north, while Fitzhugh +Lee's cavalry had gone toward Martinsburg, I thought that the +Confederate general meditated crossing his cavalry into Maryland, so +I sent Wilson by way of Harper's Ferry to watch his movements from +Boonesboro', and at the same time directed Averell, who had reported +from West Virginia some days before, to take post at Williamsport and +hold the crossing there until he was driven away. I also thought it +possible that Early might cross the Potomac with his whole army, but +the doubts of a movement like this outweighed the probabilities +favoring it. Nevertheless, to meet such a contingency I arranged to +throw my army on his rear should the occasion arise, and deeming my +position at Halltown the most advantageous in which to await +developments, my infantry was retained there. + +If General Early had ever intended to cross the Potomac, Torbert's +discovery of his manoeuvre put an end to his scheme of invasion, for +he well knew that and success he might derive from such a course +would depend on his moving with celerity, and keeping me in ignorance +of his march till it should be well under way; so he settled all the +present uncertainties by retiring with all his troops about +Kerneysville to his old position at Bunker Hill behind the Opequon, +and on the night of the 26th silently withdrew Anderson and +McCausland from my front at Halltown to Stephenson's depot. + +By the 27th all of Early's infantry was in position at Brucetown and +Bunker Hill, his cavalry holding the outposts of Leetown and +Smithfield, and on that day Merritt's division attacked the enemy's +horse at Leetown, and pressed it back through Smithfield to the west +side of the Opequon. This reconnoissance determined definitely that +Early had abandoned the projected movement into Maryland, if he ever +seriously contemplated it; and I marched my infantry out from +Halltown to the front of Charlestown, with the intention of occupying +a line between Clifton and Berryville the moment matters should so +shape themselves that I could do so with advantage. The night of the +28th Wilson joined me near Charlestown from his points of observation +in Maryland, and the next day Averell crossed the Potomac at +Williamsport and advanced to Martinsburg. + +Merritt's possession of Smithfield bridge made Early somewhat uneasy, +since it afforded opportunity for interposing a column between his +right and left flanks, so he concluded to retake the crossing, and, +to this end, on the 29th advanced two divisions of infantry. A +severe fight followed, and Merritt was forced to retire, being driven +through the village toward Charlestown with considerable loss. As +Merritt was nearing my infantry line, I ordered. Ricketts's division +of the Sixth Corps to his relief, and this in a few minutes turned +the tide, the Smithfield crossing of the Opequon being regained, and +afterward held by Lowell's brigade, supported by Ricketts. The next +morning I moved Torbert, with Wilson and Merritt, to Berryville, and +succeeding their occupation of that point there occurred along my +whole line a lull, which lasted until the 3d of September, being +undisturbed except by a combat near Bunker Hill between Averell's +cavalry and a part of McCausland's, supported by Rodes's division of +infantry, in which affair the Confederates were defeated with the +loss of about fifty prisoners and considerable property in the shape +of wagons and beef-cattle. + +Meanwhile Torbert's movement to Berryville had alarmed Early, and as +a counter move on the 2d of September he marched with the bulk of his +army to Summit Point, but while reconnoitring in that region on the +3d he learned of the havoc that Averell was creating in his rear, and +this compelled him to recross to the west side of the Opequon and +mass his troops in the vicinity of Stephenson's depot, whence he +could extend down to Bunker Hill, continue to threaten the Baltimore +and Ohio railroad, and at the same time cover Winchester. + +The same day I was moving my infantry to take up the Clifton-Berryville +line, and that afternoon Wright went into position at Clifton, Crook +occupied Berryville, and Emory's corps came in between them, forming +almost a continuous line. Torbert had moved to White Post meanwhile, +with directions to reconnoitre as far south as the Front Royal Pike. + +My infantry had just got fairly into this position about an hour +before sunset, when along Crook's front a combat took place that at +the time caused me to believe it was Early's purpose to throw a +column between Crook and Torbert, with the intention of isolating the +latter; but the fight really arose from the attempt of General +Anderson to return to Petersburg with Kershaw's division in response +to loud calls from General Lee. Anderson started south on the 3d of +September, and possibly this explains Early's reconnoissance that day +to Summit Point as a covering movement, but his rapid withdrawal left +him in ignorance of my advance, and Anderson marched on heedlessly +toward Berryville, expecting to cross the Blue Ridge through Ashby's +Gap. At Berryville however, he blundered into Crook's lines about +sunset, and a bitter little fight ensued, in which the Confederates +got so much the worst of it that they withdrew toward Winchester. +When General Early received word of this encounter he hurried to +Anderson's assistance with three divisions, but soon perceiving what +was hitherto unknown to him, that my whole army was on a new line, he +decided, after some slight skirmishing, that Anderson must remain at +Winchester until a favorable opportunity offered for him to rejoin +Lee by another route. + +Succeeding the discomfiture of Anderson, some minor operations took +place on the part of, Averell on the right and McIntosh's brigade of +Wilson's division on the left, but from that time until the 19th of +September no engagement of much importance occurred. The line from +Clifton to Berryville was occupied by the Sixth Corps and Grower's +and Dwight's divisions of the Nineteenth, Crook being transferred to +Summit Point, whence I could use him to protect my right flank and my +communication with Harper's Ferry, while the cavalry threatened the +enemy's right flank and line of retreat up the valley. + +The difference of strength between the two armies at this date was +considerably in my favor, but the conditions attending my situation +in a hostile region necessitated so much detached service to protect +trains, and to secure Maryland and Pennsylvania from raids, that my +excess in numbers was almost canceled by these incidental demands +that could not be avoided, and although I knew that I was strong, +yet, in consequence of the injunctions of General Grant, I deemed it +necessary to be very cautious; and the fact that the Presidential +election was impending made me doubly so, the authorities at +Washington having impressed upon me that the defeat of my army might +be followed by the overthrow of the party in power, which event, it +was believed, would at least retard the progress of the war, if, +indeed, it did not lead to the complete abandonment of all coercive +measures. Under circumstances such as these I could not afford to +risk a disaster, to say nothing of the intense disinclination every +soldier has for such results; so, notwithstanding my superior +strength, I determined to take all the time necessary to equip myself +with the fullest information, and then seize an opportunity under +such conditions that I could not well fail of success. + + + + + + + + +PERSONAL MEMOIRES OF P. H. SHERIDAN, VOLUME 2. + +By Philip Henry Sheridan + + + +CHAPTER I. + +ORGANIZING SCOUTS--MISS REBECCA WRIGHT--IMPORTANT INFORMATION--DECIDE +TO MOVE ON NEWTOWN--MEETING GENERAL GRANT--ORGANIZATION OF THE UNION +ARMY--OPENING OF THE BATTLE OF THE OPEQUON--DEATH OF GENERAL RUSSELL +--A TURNING MOVEMENT--A SUCCESSFUL CAVALRY CHARGE--VICTORY--THREE +LOYAL GIRLS--APPOINTED A BRIGADIER-GENERAL IN THE REGULAR ARMY +--REMARKS ON THE BATTLE. + +While occupying the ground between Clifton and Berryville, referred +to in the last chapter of the preceding volume, I felt the need of an +efficient body of scouts to collect information regarding the enemy, +for the defective intelligence-establishment with which I started out +from Harper's Ferry early in August had not proved satisfactory. I +therefore began to organize my scouts on a system which I hoped would +give better results than bad the method hitherto pursued in the +department, which was to employ on this service doubtful citizens and +Confederate deserters. If these should turn out untrustworthy, the +mischief they might do us gave me grave apprehension, and I finally +concluded that those of our own soldiers who should volunteer for the +delicate and hazardous duty would be the most valuable material, and +decided that they should have a battalion organization and be +commanded by an officer, Major H. K. Young, of the First Rhode Island +Infantry. These men were disguised in Confederate uniforms whenever +necessary, were paid from the Secret-Service Fund in proportion to +the value of the intelligence they furnished, which often stood us in +good stead in checking the forays of Gilmore, Mosby, and other +irregulars. Beneficial results came from the plan in many other ways +too, and particularly so when in a few days two of my scouts put me +in the way of getting news conveyed from Winchester. They had +learned that just outside of my lines, near Millwood, there was +living an old colored man, who had a permit from the Confederate +commander to go into Winchester and return three times a week, for +the purpose of selling vegetables to the inhabitants. The scouts had +sounded this man, and, finding him both loyal and shrewd, suggested +that he might be made useful to us within the enemy's lines; and the +proposal struck me as feasible, provided there could be found in +Winchester some reliable person who would be willing to co-operate +and correspond with me. I asked General Crook, who was acquainted +with many of the Union people of Winchester, if he knew of such a +person, and he recommended a Miss Rebecca Wright, a young lady whom +he had met there before the battle of Kernstown, who, he said, was a +member of the Society of Friends and the teacher of a small private +school. He knew she was faithful and loyal to the Government, and +thought she might be willing to render us assistance, but he could +not be certain of this, for on account of her well known loyalty she +was under constant surveillance. I hesitated at first, but finally +deciding to try it, despatched the two scouts to the old negro's +cabin, and they brought him to my headquarters late that night. I +was soon convinced of the negro's fidelity, and asking him if he was +acquainted with Miss Rebecca Wright, of Winchester, he replied that +he knew her well. There upon I told him what I wished to do, and +after a little persuasion he agreed to carry a letter to her on his +next marketing trip. My message was prepared by writing it on tissue +paper, which was then compressed into a small pellet, and protected +by wrapping it in tin-foil so that it could be safely carried in the +man's mouth. The probability, of his being searched when he came to +the Confederate picketline was not remote, and in such event he was +to swallow the pellet. The letter appealed to Miss Wright's loyalty +and patriotism, and requested her to furnish me with information +regarding the strength and condition of Early's army. The night +before the negro started one of the scouts placed the odd-looking +communication in his hands, with renewed injunctions as to secrecy +and promptitude. Early the next morning it was delivered to Miss +Wright, with an intimation that a letter of importance was enclosed +in the tin-foil, the negro telling her at the same time that she +might expect him to call for a message in reply before his return +home. At first Miss Wright began to open the pellet nervously, but +when told to be careful, and to preserve the foil as a wrapping for +her answer, she proceeded slowly and carefully, and when the note +appeared intact the messenger retired, remarking again that in the +evening he would come for an answer. + +On reading my communication Miss Wright was much startled by the +perils it involved, and hesitatingly consulted her mother, but her +devoted loyalty soon silenced every other consideration, and the +brave girl resolved to comply with my request, notwithstanding it +might jeopardize her life. The evening before a convalescent +Confederate officer had visited her mother's house, and in +conversation about the war had disclosed the fact that Kershaw's +division of infantry and Cutshaw's battalion of artillery had started +to rejoin General Lee. At the time Miss Wright heard this she +attached little if any importance to it, but now she perceived the +value of the intelligence, and, as her first venture, determined to +send it to me at once, which she did with a promise that in the +future she would with great pleasure continue to transmit information +by the negro messenger. + + + +"SEPTEMBER 15, 1864. + +"I learn from Major-General Crook that you are a loyal lady, and +still love the old flag. Can you inform me of the position of +Early's forces, the number of divisions in his army, and the strength +of any or all of them, and his probable or reported intentions? Have +any more troops arrived from Richmond, or are any more coming, or +reported to be coming? + +"You can trust the bearer." + +"I am, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General Commanding." + + + +"SEPTEMBER 16, 1864. + +"I have no communication whatever with the rebels, but will tell you +what I know. The division of General Kershaw, and Cutshaw's +artillery, twelve guns and men, General Anderson commanding, have +been sent away, and no more are expected, as they cannot be spared +from Richmond. I do not know how the troops are situated, but the +force is much smaller than represented. I will take pleasure +hereafter in learning all I can of their strength and position, and +the bearer may call again. + +"Very respectfully yours," +............ + + + +Miss Wright's answer proved of more value to me than she anticipated, +for it not only quieted the conflicting reports concerning Anderson's +corps, but was most important in showing positively that Kershaw was +gone, and this circumstance led, three days later, to the battle of +the Opequon, or Winchester as it has been unofficially called. Word +to the effect that some of Early's troops were under orders to return +to Petersburg, and would start back at the first favorable +opportunity, had been communicated to me already from many sources, +but we had not been able to ascertain the date for their departure. +Now that they had actually started, I decided to wait before offering +battle until Kershaw had gone so far as to preclude his return, +feeling confident that my prudence would be justified by the improved +chances of victory; and then, besides, Mr. Stanton kept reminding me +that positive success was necessary to counteract the political +dissatisfaction existing in some of the Northern States. This course +was advised and approved by General Grant, but even with his powerful +backing it was difficult to resist the persistent pressure of those +whose judgment, warped by their interests in the Baltimore and Ohio +railroad, was often confused and misled by stories of scouts (sent +out from Washington), averring that Kershaw and Fitzhugh Lee had +returned to Petersburg, Breckenridge to southwestern Virginia, and at +one time even maintaining that Early's whole army was east of the +Blue Ridge, and its commander himself at Gordonsville. + +During the inactivity prevailing in my army for the ten days +preceding Miss Wright's communication the infantry was quiet, with +the exception of Getty's division, which made a reconnoissance to the +Opequon, and developed a heavy force of the enemy at Edwards's +Corners. The cavalry, however, was employed a good deal in this +interval skirmishing heavily at times to maintain a space about six +miles in width between the hostile lines, for I wished to control +this ground so that when I was released from the instructions of +August 12, I could move my men into position for attack without the +knowledge of Early. The most noteworthy of these mounted encounters +was that of McIntosh's brigade, which captured the Eighth South +Carolina at Abraham's Creek September 13. + +It was the evening of the 16th of September that I received from Miss +Wright the positive information that Kershaw was in march toward +Front Royal on his way by Chester Gap to Richmond. Concluding that +this was my opportunity, I at once resolved to throw my whole force +into Newtown the next day, but a despatch from General Grant +directing me to meet him at Charlestown, whither he was coming to +consult with me, caused me to defer action until after I should see +him. In our resulting interview at Charlestown, I went over the +situation very thoroughly, and pointed out with so much confidence +the chances of a complete victory should I throw my army across the +Valley pike near Newtown that he fell in with the plan at once, +authorized me to resume the offensive, and to attack Early as soon as +I deemed it most propitious to do so; and although before leaving +City Point he had outlined certain operations for my army, yet he +neither discussed nor disclosed his plans, my knowledge of the +situation striking him as being so much more accurate than his own. + + +[Extract from "Grant's Memoirs," page 328.] + +"....Before starting I had drawn up a plan of campaign for Sheridan, +which I had brought with me; but seeing that he was so clear and so +positive in his views, and so confident of success, I said nothing +about this, and did not take it out of my pocket...." + + +The interview over, I returned to my army to arrange for its movement +toward Newtown, but while busy with these preparations, a report came +to me from General Averell which showed that Early was moving with +two divisions of infantry toward Martinsburg. This considerably +altered the state of affairs, and I now decided to change my plan and +attack at once the two divisions remaining about Winchester and +Stephenson's depot, and later, the two sent to Martinsburg; the +disjointed state of the enemy giving me an opportunity to take him in +detail, unless the Martinsburg column should be returned by forced +marches. + +While General Early was in the telegraph office at Martinsburg on the +morning of the 18th, he learned of Grant's visit to me; and +anticipating activity by reason of this circumstance, he promptly +proceeded to withdraw so as to get the two divisions within +supporting distance of Ramseur's, which lay across the Berryville +pike about two miles east of Winchester, between Abraham's Creek and +Red Bud Run, so by the night of the 18th Wharton's division, under +Breckenridge, was at Stephenson's depot, Rodes near there, and +Gordon's at Bunker Hill. At daylight of the 19th these positions of +the Confederate infantry still obtained, with the cavalry of Lomax, +Jackson, and Johnson on the right of Ramseur, while to the left and +rear of the enemy's general line was Fitzhugh Lee, covering from +Stephenson's depot west across the Valley pike to Applepie Ridge. + +My army moved at 3 o'clock that morning. The plan was for Torbert to +advance with Merritt's division of cavalry from Summit Point, carry +the crossings of the Opequon at Stevens's and Lock's fords, and form +a junction near Stephenson's depot, with Averell, who was to move +south from Darksville by the Valley pike. Meanwhile, Wilson was to +strike up the Berryville pike, carry the Berryville crossing of the +Opequon, charge through the gorge or canyon on the road west of the +stream, and occupy the open ground at the head of this defile. +Wilson's attack was to be supported by the Sixth and Nineteenth +corps, which were ordered to the Berryville crossing, and as the +cavalry gained the open ground beyond the gorge, the two infantry +corps, under command of General Wright, were expected to press on +after and occupy Wilson's ground, who was then to shift to the south +bank of Abraham's Creek and cover my left; Crook's two divisions, +having to march from Summit Point, were to follow the Sixth and +Nineteenth corps to the Opcquon, and should they arrive before the +action began, they were to be held in reserve till the proper moment +came, and then, as a turning-column, be thrown over toward the Valley +pike, south of Winchester. + +McIntosh's brigade of Wilson's division drove the enemy's pickets +away from the Berryville crossing at dawn, and Wilson following +rapidly through the gorge with the rest of the division, debouched +from its western extremity with such suddenness as to capture a +small earthwork in front of General Ramseur's main line; and +not-withstanding the Confederate infantry, on recovering from its +astonishment, tried hard to dislodge them, Wilson's troopers +obstinately held the work till the Sixth Corps came up. I followed +Wilson to select the ground on which to form the infantry. The Sixth +Corps began to arrive about 8 o'clock, and taking up the line Wilson +had been holding, just beyond the head of the narrow ravine, the +cavalry was transferred to the south side of Abraham's Creek. + +The Confederate line lay along some elevated ground about two miles +east of Winchester, and extended from Abraham's Creek north across +the Berryville pike, the left being hidden in the heavy timber on Red +Bud Run. Between this line and mine, especially on my right, clumps +of woods and patches of underbrush occurred here and there, but the +undulating ground consisted mainly of open fields, many of which were +covered with standing corn that had already ripened. + +Much time was lost in getting all of the Sixth and Nineteenth corps +through the narrow defile, Grover's division being greatly delayed +there by a train of ammunition wagons, and it was not until late in +the forenoon that the troops intended for the attack could be got +into line ready to advance. General Early was not slow to avail +himself of the advantages thus offered him, and my chances of +striking him in detail were growing less every moment, for Gordon and +Rodes were hurrying their divisions from Stephenson's depot +--across-country on a line that would place Gordon in the woods south +of Red Bud Run, and bring Rodes into the interval between Gordon and +Ramseur. + +When the two corps had all got through the canyon they were formed +with Getty's division of the Sixth to the left of the Berryville +pike, Rickett's division to the right of the pike, and Russell's +division in reserve in rear of the other two. Grover's division of +the Nineteenth Corps came next on the right of Rickett's, with Dwight +to its rear in reserve, while Crook was to begin massing near the +Opequon crossing about the time Wright and Emory were ready to +attack. + +Just before noon the line of Getty, Ricketts, and Grover moved +forward, and as we advanced, the Confederates, covered by some heavy +woods on their right, slight underbrush and corn-fields along their +Centre, and a large body of timber on their left along the Red Bud, +opened fire from their whole front. We gained considerable ground at +first, especially on our left but the desperate resistance which the +right met with demonstrated that the time we had unavoidably lost in +the morning had been of incalculable value to Early, for it was +evident that he had been enabled already to so far concentrate his +troops as to have the different divisions of his army in a connected +line of battle, in good shape to resist. + +Getty and Ricketts made some progress toward Winchester in connection +with Wilson's cavalry, which was beyond the Senseny road on Getty's +left, and as they were pressing back Ramseur's infantry and Lomax's +cavalry Grover attacked from the right with decided effect. Grover +in a few minutes broke up Evans's brigade of Gordon's division, but +his pursuit of Evans destroyed the continuity of my general line, and +increased an interval that had already been made by the deflection of +Ricketts to the left, in obedience to instructions that had been +given him to guide his division on the Berryville pike. As the line +pressed forward, Ricketts observed this widening interval and +endeavored to fill it with the small brigade of Colonel Keifer, but +at this juncture both Gordon and Rodes struck the weak spot where the +right of the Sixth Corps and the left of the Nineteenth should have +been in conjunction, and succeeded in checking my advance by driving +back a part of Ricketts's division, and the most of Grover's. As +these troops were retiring I ordered Russell's reserve division to be +put into action, and just as the flank of the enemy's troops in +pursuit of Grover was presented, Upton's brigade, led in person by +both Russell and Upton, struck it in a charge so vigorous as to drive +the Confederates back in turn to their original ground. + +The success of Russell enabled me to re-establish the right of my +line some little distance in advance of the position from which it +started in the morning, and behind Russell's division (now commanded +by Upton) the broken regiments of Ricketts's division were rallied. +Dwight's division was then brought up on the right, and Grover's men +formed behind it. + +The charge of Russell was most opportune, but it cost many men in +killed and wounded. Among the former was the courageous Russell +himself; killed by a piece of shell that passed through his heart, +although he had previously been struck by a bullet in the left +breast, which wound, from its nature, must have proved mortal, yet of +which he had not spoken. Russell's death oppressed us all with +sadness, and me particularly. In the early days of my army life he +was my captain and friend, and I was deeply indebted to him, not only +for sound advice and good example, but for the inestimable service he +had just performed, and sealed with his life, so it may be inferred +how keenly I felt his loss. + +As my lines were being rearranged, it was suggested to me to put +Crook into the battle, but so strongly had I set my heart on using +him to take possession of the Valley pike and cut off the enemy, that +I resisted this advice, hoping that the necessity for putting him in +would be obviated by the attack near Stephenson's depot that +Torbert's cavalry was to make, and from which I was momentarily +expecting to hear. No news of Torbert's progress came, however, so, +yielding at last, I directed Crook to take post on the right of the +Nineteenth Corps and, when the action was renewed, to push his +command forward as a turning-column in conjunction with Emory. After +some delay in the annoying defile, Crook got his men up, and posting +Colonel Thoburn's division on the prolongation of the Nineteenth +Corps, he formed Colonel Duval's division to the right of Thoburn. +Here I joined Crook, informing him that I had just got word that +Torbert was driving the enemy in confusion along the Martinsburg pike +toward Winchester; at the same time I directed him to attack the +moment all of Duval's men were in line. Wright was instructed to +advance in concert with Crook, by swinging Emory and the right of the +Sixth Corps to the left together in a half-wheel. Then leaving +Crook, I rode along the Sixth and Nineteenth corps, the open ground +over which they were passing affording a rare opportunity to witness +the precision with which the attack was taken up from right to left. +Crook's success began the moment he started to turn the enemy's left; +and assured by the fact that Torbert had stampeded the Confederate +cavalry and thrown Breckenridge's infantry into such disorder that it +could do little to prevent the envelopment of Gordon's left, Crook +pressed forward without even a halt. + +Both Emory and Wright took up the fight as ordered, and as they did +so I sent word to Wilson, in the hope that he could partly perform +the work originally laid out for Crook, to push along the Senseny +road and, if possible, gain the valley pike south of Winchester. I +then returned toward my right flank, and as I reached the Nineteenth +Corps the enemy was contesting the ground in its front with great +obstinacy; but Emory's dogged persistence was at length rewarded with +success, just as Crook's command emerged from the morass of Red Bud +Run, and swept around Gordon, toward the right of Breckenridge, who, +with two of Wharton's brigades, was holding a line at right angles +with the Valley pike for the protection of the Confederate rear. +Early had ordered these two brigades back from Stephenson's depot in +the morning, purposing to protect with them his right flank and line +of retreat, but while they were en route to this end, he was obliged +to recall them to his left to meet Crook's attack. + +To confront Torbert, Patton's brigade of infantry and some of +Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry had been left back by Breckenridge, but, with +Averell on the west side of the Valley pike and Merritt on the east, +Torbert began to drive this opposing force toward Winchester the +moment he struck it near Stephenson's depot, keeping it on the go +till it reached the position held by Breckenridge, where it +endeavored to make a stand. + +The ground which Breckenridge was holding was open, and offered an +opportunity such as seldom had been presented during the war for a +mounted attack, and Torbert was not slow to take advantage of it. +The instant Merritt's division could be formed for the charge, it +went at Breckenridge's infantry and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry with such +momentum as to break the Confederate left, just as Averell was +passing around it. Merritt's brigades, led by Custer, Lowell, and +Devin, met from the start with pronounced success, and with sabre or +pistol in hand literally rode down a battery of five guns and took +about 1,200 prisoners. Almost simultaneously with this cavalry +charge, Crook struck Breckenridge's right and Gordon's left, forcing +these divisions to give way, and as they retired, Wright, in a +vigorous attack, quickly broke Rodes up and pressed Ramseur so hard +that the whole Confederate army fell back, contracting its lines +within some breastworks which had been thrown up at a former period +of the war, immediately in front of Winchester. + +Here Early tried hard to stem the tide, but soon Torbert's cavalry +began passing around his left flank, and as Crook, Emory, and Wright +attacked in front, panic took possession of the enemy, his troops, +now fugitives and stragglers, seeking escape into and through +Winchester. + +When this second break occurred, the Sixth and Nineteenth corps were +moved over toward the Millwood pike to help Wilson on the left, but +the day was so far spent that they could render him no assistance, +and Ramseur's division, which had maintained some organization, was +in such tolerable shape as to check him. Meanwhile Torbert passed +around to the west of Winchester to join Wilson, but was unable to do +so till after dark. Crook's command pursued the enemy through the +town to Mill Greek, I going along. + +Just after entering the town, Crook and I met, in the main street, +three young girls, who gave us the most hearty reception. One of +these young women was a Miss Griffith, the other two Miss Jennie and +Miss Susie Meredith. During the day they had been watching the +battle from the roof of the Meredith residence, with tears and +lamentations, they said, in the morning when misfortune appeared to +have overtaken the Union troops, but with unbounded exultation when, +later, the tide set in against the Confederates. Our presence was, +to them, an assurance of victory, and their delight being +irrepressible, they indulged in the most unguarded manifestations and +expressions. When cautioned by Crook, who knew them well, and +reminded that the valley had hitherto been a race-course--one day in +the possession of friends, and the next of enemies--and warned of the +dangers they were incurring by such demonstrations, they assured him +that they had no further fears of that kind now, adding that Early's +army was so demoralized by the defeat it had just sustained that it +would never be in condition to enter Winchester again. As soon as we +had succeeded in calming the excited girls a little I expressed a +desire to find some place where I could write a telegram to General +Grant informing him of the result of the battle, and General Crook +conducted me to the home of Miss Wright, where I met for the first +time the woman who had contributed so much to our success, and on a +desk in her school-room wrote the despatch announcing that we had +sent Early's army whirling up the valley. + +My losses in the battle of the Opequon were heavy, amounting to about +4,500 killed, wounded, and missing. Among the killed was General +Russell, commanding a division, and the wounded included Generals +Upton, McIntosh and Chapman, and Colonels Duval and Sharpe. The +Confederate loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners about equaled +mine, General Rodes being of the killed, while Generals Fitzhugh Lee +and York were severely wounded. + +We captured five pieces of artillery and nine battle-flags. The +restoration of the lower valley--from the Potomac to Strasburg--to +the control of the Union forces caused great rejoicing in the North, +and relieved the Administration from further solicitude for the +safety of the Maryland and Pennsylvania borders. The President's +appreciation of the victory was expressed in a despatch so like Mr. +Lincoln that I give a facsimile of it to the reader: + +[In the handwriting of President Lincoln] +"EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT +"WASHINGTON, Sep. 20, 1864 + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN +"WINCHESTER, VA. + +"Have just heard of your great victory. God bless you all, officers +and men. Strongly inclined to come up and see you. + +"A. LINCOLN." + + +This he supplemented by promoting me to the grade of +brigadier-general in the regular army, and assigning me to the +permanent command of the Middle Military Department, and following that +came warm congratulations from Mr. Stanton and from Generals Grant, +Sherman, and Meade. + +The battle was not fought out on the plan in accordance with which +marching orders were issued to my troops, for I then hoped to take +Early in detail, and with Crook's force cut off his retreat. I +adhered to this purpose during the early part of the contest, but was +obliged to abandon the idea because of unavoidable delays by which I +was prevented from getting the Sixth and Nineteenth corps through the +narrow defile and into position early enough to destroy Ramseur while +still isolated. So much delay had not been anticipated, and this +loss of time was taken advantage of by the enemy to recall the troops +diverted to Bunker Hill and Martinsburg on the 17th, thus enabling +him to bring them all to the support of Ramseur before I could strike +with effect. My idea was to attack Ramseur and Wharton, +successively, at a very early hour and before they could get succor, +but I was not in condition to do it till nearly noon, by which time +Gordon and Rodes had been enabled to get upon the ground at a point +from which, as I advanced, they enfiladed my right flank, and gave it +such a repulse that to re-form this part of my line I was obliged to +recall the left from some of the ground it had gained. It was during +this reorganization of my lines that I changed my plan as to Crook, +and moved him from my left to my right. This I did with great +reluctance, for I hoped to destroy Early's army entirely if Crook +continued on his original line of march toward the Valley pike, south +of Winchester; and although the ultimate results did, in a measure +vindicate the change, yet I have always thought that by adhering to +the original plan we might have captured the bulk of Early's army. + + + + +CHAPTER 11. + +PURSUING EARLY--A SECRET MARCH--FISHER'S HILL--A GREAT SUCCESS +--REMOVAL OF AVERELL--THE RETREAT--CAPTURING AN OLD COMRADE +--THE MURDER OF LIEUTENANT MEIGS. + +The night of the 19th of September I gave orders for following Early +up the valley next morning--the pursuit to begin at daybreak--and in +obedience to these directions Torbert moved Averell out on the Back +road leading to Cedar Creek, and Merritt up the Valley pike toward +Strasburg, while Wilson was directed on Front Royal by way of +Stevensburg. Merritt's division was followed by the infantry, +Emory's and Wright's columns marching abreast in the open country to +the right and left of the pike, and Crook's immediately behind them. +The enemy having kept up his retreat at night, presented no +opposition whatever until the cavalry discovered him posted at +Fisher's Hill, on the first defensive line where he could hope to +make any serious resistance. No effort was made to dislodge him, and +later in the day, after Wright and Emory came up, Torbert shifted +Merritt over toward the Back road till he rejoined Averell. As +Merritt moved to the right, the Sixth and Nineteenth corps crossed +Cedar Creek and took up the ground the cavalry was vacating, Wright +posting his own corps to the west of the Valley pike overlooking +Strasburg, and Emory's on his left so as to extend almost to the road +leading from Strasburg to Front Royal. Crook, as he came up the same +evening, went into position in some heavy timber on the north bank of +Cedar Creek. + +A reconnoissance made pending these movements convinced me that the +enemy's position at Fisher's Hill was so strong that a direct assault +would entail unnecessary destruction of life, and, besides, be of +doubtful result. At the point where Early's troops were in position, +between the Massanutten range and Little North Mountain, the valley +is only about three and a half miles wide. All along the precipitous +bluff which overhangs Tumbling Run on the south side, a heavy line of +earthworks had been constructed when Early retreated to this point in +August, and these were now being strengthened so as to make them +almost impregnable; in fact, so secure did Early consider himself +that, for convenience, his ammunition chests were taken from the +caissons and placed behind the breastworks. Wharton, now in command +of Breckenridge's division--its late commander having gone to +southwest Virginia--held the right of this line, with Gordon next +him; Pegram, commanding Ramseur's old division, joined Gordon. +Ramseur with Rodes's division, was on Pegram's left, while Lomax's +cavalry, now serving as foot-troops, extended the line to the Back +road. Fitzhugh Lee being wounded, his cavalry, under General +Wickham, was sent to Milford to prevent Fisher's Hill from being +turned through the Luray Valley. + +In consequence of the enemy's being so well protected from a direct +assault, I resolved on the night of the 20th to use again a +turning-column against his left, as had been done on the 19th at the +Opequon. To this end I resolved to move Crook, unperceived if possible, +over to the eastern face of Little North Mountain, whence he could +strike the left and rear of the Confederate line, and as he broke it +up, I could support him by a left half-wheel of my whole line of +battle. The execution of this plan would require perfect secrecy, +however, for the enemy from his signal-station on Three Top could +plainly see every movement of our troops in daylight. Hence, to escape +such observation, I marched Crook during the night of the 20th into +some heavy timber north of Cedar Creek, where he lay concealed all day +the 21st. This same day Wright and Emory were moved up closer to the +Confederate works, and the Sixth Corps, after a severe fight, in which +Ricketts's and Getty were engaged, took up some high ground on the +right of the Manassas Gap railroad in plain view of the Confederate +works, and confronting a commanding point where much of Early's +artillery was massed. Soon after General Wright had established this +line I rode with him along it to the westward, and finding that the +enemy was still holding an elevated position further to our right, on +the north side of Tumbling Run, I directed this also to be occupied. +Wright soon carried the point, which gave us an unobstructed view of +the enemy's works and offered good ground for our artillery. It also +enabled me to move the whole of the Sixth Corps to the front till its +line was within about seven hundred yards of the enemy's works; the +Nineteenth Corps, on the morning of the 22d, covering the ground +vacated by the Sixth by moving to the front and extending to the right, +but still keeping its reserves on the railroad. + +In the darkness of the night of the gist, Crook was brought across +Cedar Creek and hidden in a clump of timber behind Hupp's Hill till +daylight of the 22d, when, under cover of the intervening woods and +ravines, he was marched beyond the right of the Sixth Corps and again +concealed not far from the Back road. After Crook had got into this +last position, Ricketts's division was pushed out until it confronted +the left of the enemy's infantry, the rest of the Sixth Corps +extending from Ricketts's left to the Manassas Gap railroad, while +the Nineteenth Corps filled in the space between the left of the +Sixth and the North Fork of the Shenandoah. + +When Ricketts moved out on this new line, in conjunction with +Averell's cavalry on his right, the enemy surmising, from information +secured from his signal-station, no doubt, that my attack was to be +made from Ricketts's front, prepared for it there, but no such +intention ever existed. Ricketts was pushed forward only that he +might readily join Crook's turning-column as it swung into the +enemy's rear. To ensure success, all that I needed now was enough +daylight to complete my arrangements, the secrecy of movement imposed +by the situation consuming many valuable hours. + +While Ricketts was occupying the enemy's attention, Crook, again +moving unobserved into the dense timber on the eastern face of Little +North Mountain, conducted his command south in two parallel columns +until he gained the rear of the enemy's works, when, marching his +divisions by the left flank, he led them in an easterly direction +down the mountain-side. As he emerged from the timber near the base +of the mountain, the Confederates discovered him, of course, and +opened with their batteries, but it was too late--they having few +troops at hand to confront the turning-column. Loudly cheering, +Crook's men quickly crossed the broken stretch in rear of the enemy's +left, producing confusion and consternation at every step. + +About a mile from the mountain's base Crook's left was joined by +Ricketts, who in proper time had begun to swing his division into the +action, and the two commands moved along in rear of the works so +rapidly that, with but slight resistance, the Confederates abandoned +the guns massed near the centre. The swinging movement of Ricketts +was taken up successively from right to left throughout my line, and +in a few minutes the enemy was thoroughly routed, the action, though +brief, being none the less decisive. Lomax's dismounted cavalry gave +way first, but was shortly followed by all the Confederate infantry +in an indescribable panic, precipitated doubtless by fears of being +caught and captured in the pocket formed by Tumbling Run and the +North Fork of the Shenandoah River. The stampede was complete, the +enemy leaving the field without semblance of organization, abandoning +nearly all his artillery and such other property as was in the works, +and the rout extending through the fields and over the roads toward +Woodstock, Wright and Emory in hot pursuit. + +Midway between Fisher's Hill and Woodstock there is some high ground, +where at night-fall a small squad endeavored to stay us with two +pieces of artillery, but this attempt at resistance proved fruitless, +and, notwithstanding the darkness, the guns were soon captured. The +chase was then taken up by Devin's brigade as soon as it could be +passed to the front, and continued till after daylight the next +morning, but the delays incident to a night pursuit made it +impossible for Devin to do more than pick up stragglers. + +Our success was very great, yet I had anticipated results still more +pregnant. Indeed, I had high hopes of capturing almost the whole of +Early's army before it reached New Market, and with this object in +view, during the manoeuvres of the 21st I had sent Torbert up the +Luray Valley with Wilson's division and two of Merritt's brigades, in +the expectation that he would drive Wickham out of the Luray Pass by +Early's right, and by crossing the Massanutten Mountain near New +Market, gain his rear. Torbert started in good season, and after +some slight skirmishing at Gooney Run, got as far as Milford, but +failed to dislodge Wickham. In fact, he made little or no attempt to +force Wickham from his position, and with only a feeble effort +withdrew. I heard nothing at all from Torbert during the 22d, and +supposing that everything was progressing favorably, I was astonished +and chagrined on the morning of the 23d, at Woodstock, to receive the +intelligence that he had fallen back to Front Royal and Buckton ford. +My disappointment was extreme, but there was now no help for the +situation save to renew and emphasize Torbert's orders, and this was +done at once, notwithstanding that I thought, the delay, had so much +diminished the chances of his getting in the rear of Early as to make +such a result a very remote possibility, unless, indeed, far greater +zeal was displayed than had been in the first attempt to penetrate +the Luray Valley. + +The battle of Fisher's Hill was, in a measure, a part of the battle +of the Opequon; that is to say, it was an incident of the pursuit +resulting from that action. In many ways, however, it was much more +satisfactory, and particularly so because the plan arranged on the +evening of the 20th was carried out to the very letter by Generals +Wright, Crook, and Emory, not only in all their preliminary +manoeuvres, but also during the fight itself. The only drawback was +with the cavalry, and to this day I have been unable to account +satisfactorily for Torbert's failure. No doubt, Wickham's position +near Milford was a strong one, but Torbert ought to have made a +fight. Had he been defeated in this, his withdrawal then to await +the result at Fisher's Hill would have been justified, but it does +not appear that he made any serious effort of all to dislodge the +Confederate cavalry: his impotent attempt not only chagrined me very +much, but occasioned much unfavorable comment throughout the army. + +We reached Woodstock early on the morning of the 23d, and halted +there some little time to let the troops recover their organization, +which had been broken in the night march they had just made. When +the commands had closed up we pushed on toward Edinburg, in the hope +of making more captures at Narrow Passage Creek; but the +Confederates, too fleet for us, got away; so General Wright halted +the infantry not far from Edinburg, till rations could be brought the +men. Meanwhile I, having remained at Woodstock, sent Dedin's brigade +to press the enemy under every favorable opportunity, and if possible +prevent him from halting long enough to reorganize. Notwithstanding +Devin's efforts the Confederates managed to assemble a considerable +force to resist him, and being too weak for the rearguard, he awaited +the arrival of Averell, who, I had informed him, would be hurried to +the front with all possible despatch, for I thought that Averell must +be close at hand. It turned out, however, that he was not near by at +all, and, moreover, that without good reason he had refrained from +taking any part whatever in pursuing the enemy in the flight from +Fisher's Hill; and in fact had gone into camp and left to the +infantry the work of pursuit. + +It was nearly noon when Averell came up, and a great deal of precious +time had been lost. We had some hot words, but hoping that he would +retrieve the mistake of the night before, I directed him to proceed +to the front at once, and in conjunction with Devin close with the +enemy. He reached Devin's command about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, +just as this officer was pushing the Confederates so energetically +that they were abandoning Mount Jackson, yet Averell utterly failed +to accomplish anything. Indeed, his indifferent attack was not at +all worthy the excellent soldiers he commanded, and when I learned +that it was his intention to withdraw from the enemy's front, and +this, too, on the indefinite report of a signal-officer that a +"brigade or division" of Confederates was turning his right flank, +and that he had not seriously attempted to verify the information, I +sent him this order: + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, +"Woodstock, Va., Sept. 23, 1864 + +"BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL AVERELL + +"Your report and report of signal-officer received. I do not want +you to let the enemy bluff you or your command, and I want you to +distinctly understand this note. I do not advise rashness, but I do +desire resolution and actual fighting, with necessary casualties, +before you retire. There must now be no backing or filling by you +without a superior force of the enemy actually engaging you. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding." + + +Some little time after this note went to Averell, word was brought me +that he had already carried out the programme indicated when +forwarding the report of the expected turning of his right, and that +he had actually withdrawn and gone into camp near Hawkinsburg. I +then decided to relieve him from the command of his division, which I +did, ordering him to Wheeling, Colonel William H. Powell being +assigned to succeed him. + +The removal of Averell was but the culmination of a series of events +extending back to the time I assumed command of the Middle Military +Division. At the outset, General Grant, fearing discord on account +of Averell's ranking Torbert, authorized me to relieve the former +officer, but I hoped that if any trouble of this sort arose, it could +be allayed, or at least repressed, during the campaign against Early, +since the different commands would often have to act separately. +After that, the dispersion of my army by the return of the Sixth +Corps and Torbert's cavalry to the Army of the Potomac would take +place, I thought, and this would restore matters to their normal +condition; but Averell's dissatisfaction began to show itself +immediately after his arrival at Martinsburg, on the 14th of August, +and, except when he was conducting some independent expedition, had +been manifested on all occasions since. I therefore thought that the +interest of the service would be subserved by removing one whose +growing indifference might render the best-laid plans inoperative. + + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION. +"HARRISONBURG, VA., SEPT. 25, 1864 11:30 P. M. +"LIEUT-GENERAL GRANT, Comd'g, City Point, Va. + +"I have relieved Averell from his command. Instead of following the +enemy when he was broken at Fisher's Hill (so there was not a cavalry +organization left), he went into camp and let me pursue the enemy for +a distance of fifteen miles, with infantry, during the night. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + + +The failure of Averell to press the enemy the evening of the 23d gave +Early time to collect his scattered forces and take up a position on +the east side of the North Fork of the Shenandoah, his left resting +on the west side of that stream at Rude's Hill, a commanding point +about two miles south of Mt. Jackson. Along this line he had +constructed some slight works during the night, and at daylight on +the 24th, I moved the Sixth and Nineteenth corps through Mt. Jackson +to attack him, sending Powell's division to pass around his left +flank, toward Timberville, and Devin's brigade across the North Fork, +to move along the base of Peaked Ridge and attack his right. The +country was entirely open, and none of these manoeuvres could be +executed without being observed, so as soon as my advance began, the +enemy rapidly retreated in line of battle up the valley through New +Market, closely followed by Wright and Emory, their artillery on the +pike and their columns on its right and left. Both sides moved with +celerity, the Confederates stimulated by the desire to escape, and +our men animated by the prospect of wholly destroying Early's army. +The stern-chase continued for about thirteen miles, our infantry +often coming within range, yet whenever we began to deploy, the +Confederates increased the distance between us by resorting to a +double quick, evading battle with admirable tact. While all this was +going on, the open country permitted us a rare and brilliant sight, +the bright sun gleaming from the arms and trappings of the thousands +of pursuers and pursued. + +Near New Market, as a last effort to hold the enemy, I pushed Devin's +cavalry--comprising about five hundred men--with two guns right up on +Early's lines, in the hope that the tempting opportunity given him to +capture the guns would stay his retreat long enough to let my +infantry deploy within range, but he refused the bait, and after +momentarily checking Devin he continued on with little loss and in +pretty good order. + +All hope of Torbert's appearing in rear of the Confederates vanished +as they passed beyond New Market. Some six miles south of this place +Early left the Valley Pike and took the road to Keezletown, a move +due in a measure to Powell's march by way of Timberville toward +Lacy's Springs, but mainly caused by the fact that the Keezletown +road ran immediately along the base of Peaked Mountain--a rugged +ridge affording protection to Early's right flank--and led in a +direction facilitating his junction with Kershaw, who had been +ordered back to him from Culpeper the day after the battle of the +Opequon. The chase was kept up on the Keezeltown road till darkness +overtook us, when my weary troops were permitted to go into camp; and +as soon as the enemy discovered by our fires that the pursuit had +stopped, he also bivouacked some five miles farther south toward Port +Republic. + +The next morning Early was joined by Lomax's cavalry from +Harrisonburg, Wickham's and Payne's brigades of cavalry also uniting +with him from the Luray Valley. His whole army then fell back to the +mouth of Brown's Gap to await Kershaw's division and Cutshaw's +artillery, now on their return. + +By the morning of the 25th the main body of the enemy had disappeared +entirely from my front, and the capture of some small, squads of +Confederates in the neighboring hills furnished us the only incidents +of the day. Among the prisoners was a tall and fine looking officer, +much worn with hunger and fatigue. The moment I saw him I recognized +him as a former comrade, George W. Carr, with whom I had served in +Washington Territory. He was in those days a lieutenant in the Ninth +Infantry, and was one of the officers who superintended the execution +of the nine Indians at the Cascades of the Columbia in 1856. Carr +was very much emaciated, and greatly discouraged by the turn events +had recently taken. For old acquaintance sake I gave him plenty to +eat, and kept him in comfort at my headquarters until the next batch +of prisoners was sent to the rear, when he went with them. He had +resigned from the regular army at the commencement of hostilities, +and, full of high anticipation, cast his lot with the Confederacy, +but when he fell into our hands, his bright dreams having been +dispelled by the harsh realities of war, he appeared to think that +for him there was no future. + +Picking up prisoners here and there, my troops resumed their march +directly south on the Valley pike, and when the Sixth and Nineteenth +corps reached Harrisonburg, they went into camp, Powell in the +meanwhile pushing on to Mt. Crawford, and Crook taking up a position +in our rear at the junction of the Keezletown road and the Valley +pike. Late in the afternoon Torbert's cavalry came in from New +Market arriving at that place many hours later than it had been +expected. + +The succeeding day I sent Merritt to Port Republic to occupy the +enemy's attention, while Torbert, with Wilson's division and the +regular brigade, was ordered to Staunton, whence he was to proceed to +Waynesboro' and blow up the railroad bridge. Having done this, +Torbert, as he returned, was to drive off whatever cattle he could +find, destroy all forage and breadstuffs, and burn the mills. He +took possession of Waynesboro' in due time, but had succeeded in only +partially demolishing the railroad bridge when, attacked by Pegram's +division of infantry and Wickham's cavalry, he was compelled to fall +back to Staunton. From the latter place he retired to Bridgewater, +and Spring Hill, on the way, however, fully executing his +instructions regarding the destruction of supplies. + +While Torbert was on this expedition, Merritt had occupied Port +Republic, but he happened to get there the very day that Kershaw's +division was marching from Swift Run Gap to join Early. By accident +Kershaw ran into Merritt shortly after the latter had gained the +village. Kershaw's four infantry brigades attacked at once, and +Merrit, forced out of Port Republic, fell back toward Cross Keys; and +in anticipation that the Confederates could be coaxed to that point, +I ordered the infantry there, but Torbert's attack at Wavnesboro' had +alarmed Early, and in consequence he drew all his forces in toward +Rock-fish Gap. This enabled me to re-establish Merritt at Port +Republic, send the Sixth and Nineteenth corps to the neighborhood of +Mt. Crawford to await the return of Torbert, and to post Crook at +Harrisonburg; these dispositions practically obtained till the 6th of +October, I holding a line across the valley from Port Republic along +North River by Mt. Crawford to the Back road near the mouth of Briery +Branch Gap. + +It was during this period, about dusk on the evening of October 3, +that between Harrisonburg and Dayton my engineer officer, Lieutenant +John R. Meigs, was murdered within my lines. He had gone out with +two topographical assistants to plot the country, and late in the +evening, while riding along the public road on his return to camp, he +overtook three men dressed in our uniform. From their dress, and +also because the party was immediately behind our lines and within a +mile and a half of my headquarters, Meigs and his assistants +naturally thought that they were joining friends, and wholly +unsuspicious of anything to the contrary, rode on with the three men +some little distance; but their perfidy was abruptly discovered by +their suddenly turning upon Meigs with a call for his surrender. It +has been claimed that, refusing to submit, he fired on the +treacherous party, but the statement is not true, for one of the +topographers escaped--the other was captured--and reported a few +minutes later at my headquarters that Meigs was killed without +resistance of any kind whatever, and without even the chance to give +himself up. This man was so cool, and related all the circumstances +of the occurrence with such exactness, as to prove the truthfulness +of his statement. The fact that the murder had been committed inside +our lines was evidence that the perpetrators of the crime, having +their homes in the vicinity, had been clandestinely visiting them, +and been secretly harbored by some of the neighboring residents. +Determining to teach a lesson to these abettors of the foul deed--a +lesson they would never forget--I ordered all the houses within an +area of five miles to be burned. General Custer, who had succeeded +to the command of the Third Cavalry division (General Wilson having +been detailed as chief of cavalry to Sherman's army), was charged +with this duty, and the next morning proceeded to put the order into +execution. The prescribed area included the little village of +Dayton, but when a few houses in the immediate neighborhood of the +scene of the murder had been burned, Custer was directed to cease his +desolating work, but to fetch away all the able-bodied males as +prisoners. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +REASONS FOR NOT PURSUING EARLY THROUGH THE BLUE RIDGE--GENERAL +TORBERT DETAILED TO GIVE GENERAL ROSSER A "DRUBBING"--GENERAL ROSSER +ROUTED--TELEGRAPHED TO MEET STANTON--LONGSTREET'S MESSAGE--RETURN TO +WINCHESTER--THE RIDE TO CEDAR CREEK--THE RETREATING ARMY--RALLYING +THE TROOPS--REFORMING THE LINE--COMMENCING THE ATTACK--DEFEAT OF THE +CONFEDERATES--APPOINTED A MAJOR-GENERAL IN THE REGULAR ARMY--RESULTS +OF THE BATTLE. + +While we lay in camp at Harrisonburg it became necessary to decide +whether or not I would advance to Brown's Gap, and, after driving the +enemy from there, follow him through the Blue Ridge into eastern +Virginia. Indeed, this question began to cause me solicitude as soon +as I knew Early had escaped me at New Market, for I felt certain that +I should be urged to pursue the Confederates toward Charlottesville +and Gordonsville, and be expected to operate on that line against +Richmond. For many reasons I was much opposed to such a plan, but +mainly because its execution would involve the opening of the Orange +and Alexandria railroad. To protect this road against the raids of +the numerous guerrilla bands that infested the region through which +it passed, and to keep it in operation, would require a large force +of infantry, and would also greatly reduce my cavalry; besides, I +should be obliged to leave a force in the valley strong enough to +give security to the line of the upper Potomac and the Baltimore and +Ohio railroad, and this alone would probably take the whole of +Crook's command, leaving me a wholly inadequate number of fighting +men to prosecute a campaign against the city of Richmond. Then, too, +I was in doubt whether the besiegers could hold the entire army at +Petersburg; and in case they could not, a number of troops sufficient +to crush me might be detached by Lee, moved rapidly by rail, and, +after overwhelming me, be quickly returned to confront General Meade. +I was satisfied, moreover, that my transportation could not supply me +further than Harrisonburg, and if in penetrating the Blue Ridge I met +with protracted resistance, a lack of supplies might compel me to +abandon the attempt at a most inopportune time. + +I therefore advised that the Valley campaign be terminated north of +Staunton, and I be permitted to return, carrying out on the way my +original instructions for desolating the Shenandoah country so as to +make it untenable for permanent occupation by the Confederates. I +proposed to detach the bulk of my army when this work of destruction +was completed, and send it by way of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad +through Washington to the Petersburg line, believing that I could +move it more rapidly by that route than by any other. I was +confident that if a movement of this character could be made with +celerity it would culminate in the capture of Richmond and possibly +of General Lee's army, and I was in hopes that General Grant would +take the same view of the matter; but just at this time he was so +pressed by the Government and by public-opinion at the North, that he +advocated the wholly different conception of driving Early into +eastern Virginia, and adhered to this plan with some tenacity. +Considerable correspondence regarding the subject took place between +us, throughout which I stoutly maintained that we should not risk, by +what I held to be a false move, all that my army had gained. I being +on the ground, General Grant left to me the final decision of the +question, and I solved the first step by determining to withdraw down +the valley at least as far as Strasburg, which movement was begun on +the 6th of October. + +The cavalry as it retired was stretched across the country from the +Blue Ridge to the eastern slope of the Alleghanies, with orders to +drive off all stock and destroy all supplies as it moved northward. +The infantry preceded the cavalry, passing down the Valley pike, and +as we marched along the many columns of smoke from burning stacks, +and mills filled with grain, indicated that the adjacent country was +fast losing the features which hitherto had made it a great magazine +of stores for the Confederate armies. + +During the 6th and 7th of October, the enemy's horse followed us up, +though at a respectful distance. This cavalry was now under command +of General T. W. Rosser, who on October 5 had joined Early with an +additional brigade from Richmond. As we proceeded the Confederates +gained confidence, probably on account of the reputation with which +its new commander had been heralded, and on the third day's march had +the temerity to annoy my rear guard considerably. Tired of these +annoyances, I concluded to open the enemy's eyes in earnest, so that +night I told Torbert I expected him either to give Rosser a drubbing +next morning or get whipped himself, and that the infantry would be +halted until the affair was over; I also informed him that I proposed +to ride out to Round Top Mountain to see the fight. When I decided +to have Rosser chastised, Merritt was encamped at the foot of Round +Top, an elevation just north of Tom's Brook, and Custer some six +miles farther north and west, near Tumbling Run. In the night Custer +was ordered to retrace his steps before daylight by the Back road, +which is parallel to and about three miles from the Valley pike, and +attack the enemy at Tom's Brook crossing, while Merritt's +instructions were to assail him on the Valley pike in concert with +Custer. About 7 in the morning, Custer's division encountered Rosser +himself with three brigades, and while the stirring sounds of the +resulting artillery duel were reverberating through the valley +Merritt moved briskly to the front and fell upon Generals Lomax and +Johnson on the Valley pike. Merritt, by extending his right, quickly +established connection with Custer, and the two divisions moved +forward together under Torbert's direction, with a determination to +inflict on the enemy the sharp and summary punishment his rashness +had invited. + +The engagement soon became general across the valley, both sides +fighting mainly mounted. For about two hours the contending lines +struggled with each other along Tom's Brook, the charges and counter +charges at many points being plainly visible from the summit of Round +Top, where I had my headquarters for the time. + +The open country permitting a sabre fight, both sides seemed bent on +using that arm. In the centre the Confederates maintained their +position with much stubbornness, and for a time seemed to have +recovered their former spirit, but at last they began to give way on +both flanks, and as these receded, Merritt and Custer went at the +wavering ranks in a charge along the whole front. The result was a +general smash-up of the entire Confederate line, the retreat quickly +degenerating into a rout the like of which was never before seen. +For twenty-six miles this wild stampede kept up, with our troopers +close at the enemy's heels; and the ludicrous incidents of the chase +never ceased to be amusing topics around the camp-fires of Merritt +and Custer. In the fight and pursuit Torbert took eleven pieces of +artillery, with their caissons, all the wagons and ambulances the +enemy had on the ground, and three hundred prisoners. Some of +Rosser's troopers fled to the mountains by way of Columbia Furnace, +and some up the Valley pike and into the Massamitten Range, +apparently not discovering that the chase had been discontinued till +south of Mount Jackson they rallied on Early's infantry. + +After this catastrophe, Early reported to General Lee that his +cavalry was so badly demoralized that it should be dismounted; and +the citizens of the valley, intensely disgusted with the boasting and +swaggering that had characterized the arrival of the "Laurel Brigade" +in that section, baptized the action (known to us as Tom's Brook) the +"Woodstock Races," and never tired of poking fun at General Rosser +about his precipitate and inglorious flight. (When Rosser arrived +from Richmond with his brigade he was proclaimed as the savior of the +Valley, and his men came all bedecked with laurel branches.) + +On the 10th my army, resuming its retrograde movement, crossed to the +north side of Cedar Creek. The work of repairing the Manassas Gap +branch of the Orange and Alexandria railroad had been begun some days +before, out from Washington, and, anticipating that it would be in +readiness to transport troops by the time they could reach Piedmont, +I directed the Sixth Corps to continue its march toward Front Royal, +expecting to return to the Army of the Potomac by that line. By the +12th, however, my views regarding the reconstruction of this railroad +began to prevail, and the work on it was discontinued. The Sixth +Corps, therefore, abandoned that route, and moved toward Ashby's Gap +with the purpose of marching direct to Washington, but on the 13th I +recalled it to Cedar Creek, in consequence of the arrival of the +enemy's infantry at Fisher's Hill, and the receipt, the night before, +of the following despatch, which again opened the question of an +advance on Gordonsville and Charlottesville: + + +(Cipher.) +"WASHINGTON, October 12, 1864, 12 M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN: + +"Lieutenant-General Grant wishes a position taken far enough south to +serve as a base for further operations upon Gordonsville and +Charlottesville. It must be strongly fortified and provisioned. +Some point in the vicinity of Manassas Gap would seem best suited for +all purposes. Colonel Alexander, of the Engineers, will be sent to +consult with you as soon as you connect with General Augur. + +"H. W. HALLECK, Major-General." + + +As it was well known in Washington that the views expressed in the +above despatch were counter to my convictions, I was the next day +required by the following telegram from Secretary Stanton to repair +to that city: + + +"WASHINGTON, October 13, 1864. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN +(through General Augur) + +"If you can come here, a consultation on several points is extremely +desirable. I propose to visit General Grant, and would like to see +you first. + +"EDWIN M. STANTON, +"Secretary of War." + + +I got all ready to comply with the terms of Secretary Stanton's +despatch, but in the meantime the enemy appeared in my front in +force, with infantry and cavalry, and attacked Colonel Thoburn, who +had been pushed out toward Strasburg from Crook's command, and also +Custer's division of cavalry on the Back road. As afterward +appeared, this attack was made in the belief that all of my troops +but Crook's had gone to Petersburg. From this demonstration there +ensued near Hupp's Hill a bitter skirmish between Kershaw and +Thoburn, and the latter was finally compelled to withdraw to the +north bank of Cedar Creek. Custer gained better results, however, on +the Back road, with his usual dash driving the enemy's cavalry away +from his front, Merritt's division then joining him and remaining on +the right. + +The day's events pointing to a probability that the enemy intended to +resume the offensive, to anticipate such a contingency I ordered the +Sixth Corps to return from its march toward Ashby's Gap. It reached +me by noon of the 14th, and went into position to the right and rear +of the Nineteenth Corps, which held a line along the north bank of +Cedar Creek, west of the Valley pike. Crook was posted on the left +of the Nineteenth Corps and east of the Valley pike, with Thoburn's +division advanced to a round hill, which commanded the junction of +Cedar Creek and the Shenandoah River, while Torbert retained both +Merritt and Custer on the right of the Sixth Corps, and at the +same time covered with Powell the roads toward Front Royal. My +head-quarters were at the Belle Grove House, which was to the west of +the pike and in rear of the Nineteenth Corps. It was my intention to +attack the enemy as soon as the Sixth Corps reached me, but General +Early having learned from his demonstration that I had not detached as +largely as his previous information had led him to believe, on the +night of the 13th withdrew to Fisher's Hill; so, concluding that he +could not do us serious hurt from there, I changed my mind as to +attacking, deciding to defer such action till I could get to +Washington, and come to some definite understanding about my future +operations. + +To carry out this idea, on the evening of the 15th I ordered all of +the cavalry under General Torbert to accompany me to Front Royal, +again intending to push it thence through Chester Gap to the Virginia +Central railroad at Charlottesville, to destroy the bridge over the +Rivanna River, while I passed through Manassas Gap to Rectortown, and +thence by rail to Washington. On my arrival with the cavalry near +Front Royal on the 16th, I halted at the house of Mrs. Richards, on +the north bank of the river, and there received the following +despatch and inclosure from General Wright, who had been left in +command at Cedar Creek: + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY Division, +"October 16, 1864. + +"GENERAL: + +"I enclose you despatch which explains itself. If the enemy should +be strongly reenforced in cavalry, he might, by turning our right, +give us a great deal of trouble. I shall hold on here until the +enemy's movements are developed, and shall only fear an attack on my +right, which I shall make every preparation for guarding against and +resisting. + +"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +"H. G. WRIGHT, Major-General Commanding. +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Commanding Middle Military Division." + + +[INCLOSURE.] "To LIEUTENANT-GENERAL EARLY: + +"Be ready to move as soon as my forces join you, and we will crush +Sheridan. + +"LONGSTREET, Lieutenant-General." + + +The message from Longstreet had been taken down as it was being +flagged from the Confederate signal-station on Three Top Mountain, +and afterward translated by our signal officers, who knew the +Confederate signal code. I first thought it a ruse, and hardly worth +attention, but on reflection deemed it best to be on the safe side, +so I abandoned the cavalry raid toward Charlottesville, in order to +give General Wright the entire strength of the army, for it did not +seem wise to reduce his numbers while reinforcement for the enemy +might be near, and especially when such pregnant messages were +reaching Early from one of the ablest of the Confederate generals. +Therefore I sent the following note to General Wright: + +"HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, +"Front Royal, October 16, 1864. + +"GENERAL: The cavalry is all ordered back to you; make your position +strong. If Longstreet's despatch is true, he is under the impression +that we have largely detached. I will go over to Augur, and may get +additional news. Close in Colonel Powell, who will be at this point. +If the enemy should make an advance, I know you will defeat him. +Look well to your ground and be well prepared. Get up everything +that can be spared. I will bring up all I can, and will be up on +Tuesday, if not sooner. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL H. G. WRIGHT, +"Commanding Sixth Army Corps." + + +At 5 o'clock on the evening of the 16th I telegraphed General Halleck +from Rectortown, giving him the information which had come to me from +Wright, asking if anything corroborative of it had been received from +General Grant, and also saying that I would like to see Halleck; the +telegram ending with the question: "Is it best for me to go to see +you?" Next morning I sent back to Wright all the cavalry except one +regiment, which escorted me through Manassas Gap to the terminus of +the railroad from Washington. I had with me Lieutenant-Colonel James +W. Forsyth, chief-of-staff, and three of my aides, Major George A. +Forsyth, Captain Joseph O'Keefe, and Captain Michael V. Sheridan. I +rode my black horse, Rienzi, and the others their own respective +mounts. + +Before leaving Cedar Creek I had fixed the route of my return to be +by rail from Washington to Martinsburg, and thence by horseback to +Winchester and Cedar Creek, and had ordered three hundred cavalry to +Martinsburg to escort me from that point to the front. At Rectortown +I met General Augur, who had brought a force out from Washington to +reconstruct and protect the line of railroad, and through him +received the following reply from General Halleck: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"WASHINGTON, D.C., October 16 1864 + +"To MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, +"Rectortown, Va. + +General Grant says that Longstreet brought with him no troops from +Richmond, but I have very little confidence in the information +collected at his headquarters. If you can leave your command with +safety, come to Washington, as I wish to give you the views of the +authorities here. + +"H. W. HALLECK, Major-General, Chief-of-Staff." + + +In consequence of the Longstreet despatch, I felt a concern about my +absence which I could hardly repress, but after duly considering what +Halleck said, and believing that Longstreet could not unite with +Early before I got back, and that even if he did Wright would be able +to cope with them both, I and my staff, with our horses, took the +cars for Washington, where we arrived on the morning of the 17th at +about 8 o'clock. I proceeded at an early hour to the War Department, +and as soon as I met Secretary Stanton, asked him for a special train +to be ready at 12 o'clock to take me to Martinsburg, saying that in +view of existing conditions I must get back to my army as quickly as +possible. He at once gave the order for the train, and then the +Secretary, Halleck, and I proceeded to hold a consultation in regard +to my operating east of the Blue Ridge. The upshot was that my views +against such a plan were practically agreed to, and two engineer +officers were designated to return with me for the purpose of +reporting on a defensive line in the valley that could be held while +the bulk of my troops were being detached to Petersburg. Colonel +Alexander and Colonel Thom both of the Engineer Corps, reported to +accompany me, and at 12 o'clock we took the train. + +We arrived about dark at Martinsburg, and there found the escort of +three hundred men which I had ordered before leaving Cedar Creek. We +spent that night at Martinsburg, and early next morning mounted and +started up the Valley pike for Winchester, leaving Captain Sheridan +behind to conduct to the army the Commissioners whom the State of New +York had sent down to receive the vote of her troops in the coming +Presidential election. Colonel Alexander was a man of enormous +weight, and Colonel Thom correspondingly light, and as both were +unaccustomed to riding we had to go slowly, losing so much time, in +fact, that we did not reach Winchester till between 3 and 4 o'clock +in the afternoon, though the distance is but twenty-eight miles. As +soon as we arrived at Colonel Edwards's headquarters in the town, +where I intended stopping for the night, I sent a courier to the +front to bring me a report of the condition of affairs, and then took +Colonel Alexander out on the heights about Winchester, in order that +he might overlook the country, and make up his mind as to the utility +of fortifying there. By the time we had completed our survey it was +dark, and just as we reached Colonel Edwards's house on our return a +courier came in from Cedar Creek bringing word that everything was +all right, that the enemy was quiet at Fisher's Hill, and that a +brigade of Grover's division was to make a reconnoissance in the +morning, the 19th, so about 10 o'clock I went to bed greatly +relieved, and expecting to rejoin my headquarters at my leisure next +day. + +Toward 6 o'clock the morning of the 19th, the officer on picket duty +at Winchester came to my room, I being yet in bed, and reported +artillery firing from the direction of Cedar Creek. I asked him if +the firing was continuous or only desultory, to which he replied that +it was not a sustained fire, but rather irregular and fitful. I +remarked: "It's all right; Grover has gone out this morning to make a +reconnoissance, and he is merely feeling the enemy." I tried to go to +sleep again, but grew so restless that I could not, and soon got up +and dressed myself. A little later the picket officer came back and +reported that the firing, which could be distinctly heard from his +line on the heights outside of Winchester, was still going on. I +asked him if it sounded like a battle, and as he again said that it +did not, I still inferred that the cannonading was caused by Grover's +division banging away at the enemy simply to find out what he was up +to. However, I went down-stairs and requested that breakfast be +hurried up, and at the same time ordered the horses to be saddled and +in readiness, for I concluded to go to the front before any further +examinations were made in regard to the defensive line. + +We mounted our horses between half-past 8 and 9, and as we were +proceeding up the street which leads directly through Winchester, +from the Logan residence, where Edwards was quartered, to the Valley +pike, I noticed that there were many women at the windows and doors +of the houses, who kept shaking their skirts at us and who were +otherwise markedly insolent in their demeanor, but supposing this +conduct to be instigated by their well-known and perhaps natural +prejudices, I ascribed to it no unusual significance. On reaching +the edge of the town I halted a moment, and there heard quite +distinctly the sound of artillery firing in an unceasing roar. +Concluding from this that a battle was in progress, I now felt +confident that the women along the street had received intelligence +from the battle, field by the "grape-vine telegraph," and were in +raptures over some good news, while I as yet was utterly ignorant of +the actual situation. Moving on, I put my head down toward the +pommel of my saddle and listened intently, trying to locate and +interpret the sound, continuing in this position till we had crossed +Mill Creek, about half a mile from Winchester. The result of my +efforts in the interval was the conviction that the travel of the +sound was increasing too rapidly to be accounted for by my own rate +of motion, and that therefore my army must be falling back. + +At Mill Creek my escort fell in behind, and we were going ahead at a +regular pace, when, just as we made the crest of the rise beyond the +stream, there burst upon our view the appalling spectacle of a +panic-stricken army-hundreds of slightly wounded men, throngs of others +unhurt but utterly demoralized, and baggage-wagons by the score, all +pressing to the rear in hopeless confusion, telling only too plainly +that a disaster had occurred at the front. On accosting some of the +fugitives, they assured me that the army was broken up, in full +retreat, and that all was lost; all this with a manner true to that +peculiar indifference that takes possession of panic-stricken men. I +was greatly disturbed by the sight, but at once sent word to Colonel +Edwards commanding the brigade in Winchester, to stretch his troops +across the valley, near Mill Creek, and stop all fugitives, directing +also that the transportation be, passed through and parked on the north +side of the town. + +As I continued at a walk a few hundred yards farther, thinking all +the time of Longstreet's telegram to Early, "Be ready when I join +you, and we will crush Sheridan," I was fixing in my mind what I +should do. My first thought was too stop the army in the suburbs of +Winchester as it came back, form a new line, and fight there; but as +the situation was more maturely considered a better conception +prevailed. I was sure the troops had confidence in me, for +heretofore we had been successful; and as at other times they had +seen me present at the slightest sign of trouble or distress, I felt +that I ought to try now to restore their broken ranks, or, failing in +that, to share their fate because of what they had done hitherto. + +About this time Colonel Wood, my chief commissary, arrived from the +front and gave me fuller intelligence, reporting that everything was +gone, my headquarters captured, and the troops dispersed. When I +heard this I took two of my aides-de-camp, Major. George A. Forsyth +and Captain Joseph O'Keefe, and with twenty men from the escort +started for the front, at the same time directing Colonel James W. +Forsyth and Colonels Alexander and Thom to remain behind and do what +they could to stop the runaways. + +For a short distance I traveled on the road, but soon found it so +blocked with wagons and wounded men that my progress was impeded, and +I was forced to take to the adjoining fields to make haste. When +most of the wagons and wounded were past I returned to the road, +which was thickly lined with unhurt men, who, having got far enough +to the rear to be out of danger, had halted, without any +organization, and begun cooking coffee, but when they saw me they +abandoned their coffee, threw up their hats, shouldered their +muskets, and as I passed along turned to follow with enthusiasm and +cheers. To acknowledge this exhibition of feeling I took off my hat, +and with Forsyth and O'Keefe rode some distance in advance of my +escort, while every mounted officer who saw me galloped out on either +side of the pike to tell the men at a distance that I had come back. +In this way the news was spread to the stragglers off the road, when +they, too, turned their faces to the front and marched toward the +enemy, changing in a moment from the depths of depression, to the +extreme of enthusiasm. I already knew that even in the ordinary +condition of mind enthusiasm is a potent element with soldiers, but +what I saw that day convinced me that if it can be excited from a +state of despondency its power is almost irresistible. I said +nothing except to remark as I rode among those on the road: "If I had +been, with you this morning this disaster would not have happened. +We must face the other way; we will go back and recover our camp." + +My first halt was made just north of Newtown, where I met a chaplain +digging his heels into the sides of his jaded horse, and making for +the rear with all possible speed. I drew up for an instant, and +inquired of him how matters were going at the front. He replied, +"Everything is lost; but all will be right when you get there"; yet +notwithstanding this expression of confidence in me, the parson at +once resumed his breathless pace to the rear. At Newtown I was +obliged to make a circuit to the left, to get round the village. I +could not pass through it, the streets were so crowded, but meeting +on this detour Major McKinley, of Crook's staff, he spread the news +of my return through the motley throng there. + +When nearing the Valley pike, just south of Newtown I saw about +three-fourths of a mile west of the pike a body of troops, which +proved to be Ricketts's and Wheaton's divisions of the Sixth Corps, +and then learned that the Nineteenth Corps had halted a little to the +right and rear of these; but I did not stop, desiring to get to the +extreme front. Continuing on parallel with the pike, about midway +between Newtown and Middletown I crossed to the west of it, and a +little later came up in rear of Getty's division of the Sixth Corps. +When I arrived, this division and the cavalry were the only troops in +the presence of and resisting the enemy; they were apparently acting +as a rear-guard at a point about three miles north of the line we +held at Cedar Creek when the battle began. General Torbert was the +first officer to meet me, saying as he rode up, "My God! I am glad +you've come." Getty's division, when I found it, was about a mile +north of Middletown, posted on the reverse slope of some slightly +rising ground, holding a barricade made with fence-rails, and +skirmishing slightly with the enemy's pickets. Jumping my horse over +the line of rails, I rode to the crest of the elevation, and there +taking off my hat, the men rose up from behind their barricade with +cheers of recognition. An officer of the Vermont brigade, Colonel A. +S. Tracy, rode out to the front, and joining me, informed me that +General Louis A. Grant was in command there, the regular division +commander, General Getty, having taken charge of the Sixth Corps in +place of Ricketts, wounded early in the action, while temporarily +commanding the corps. I then turned back to the rear of Getty's +division, and as I came behind it, a line of regimental flags rose up +out of the ground, as it seemed, to welcome me. They were mostly the +colors of Crook's troops, who had been stampeded and scattered in the +surprise of the morning. The color-bearers, having withstood the +panic, had formed behind the troops of Getty. The line with the +colors was largely composed of officers, among whom I recognized +Colonel R. B. Hayes, since president of the United States, one of the +brigade commanders. At the close of this incident I crossed the +little narrow valley, or depression, in rear of Getty's line, and +dismounting on the opposite crest, established that point as my +headquarters. In a few minutes some of my staff joined me, and the +first directions I gave were to have the Nineteenth Corps and the two +divisions of Wright's corps brought to the front, so they could be +formed on Getty's division, prolonged to the right; for I had already +decided to attack the enemy from that line as soon as I could get +matters in shape to take the offensive. Crook met me at this time, +and strongly favored my idea of attacking, but said, however, that +most of his troops were gone. General Wright came up a little later, +when I saw that he was wounded, a ball having grazed the point of his +chin so as to draw the blood plentifully. + +Wright gave me a hurried account of the day's events, and when told +that we would fight the enemy on the line which Getty and the cavalry +were holding, and that he must go himself and send all his staff to +bring up the troops, he zealously fell in with the scheme; and it was +then that the Nineteenth Corps and two divisions of the Sixth were +ordered to the front from where they had been halted to the right and +rear of Getty. + +After this conversation I rode to the east of the Valley pike and to +the left of Getty's division, to a point from which I could obtain a +good view of the front, in the mean time sending Major Forsyth to +communicate with Colonel Lowell (who occupied a position close in +toward the suburbs of Middletown and directly in front of Getty's +left) to learn whether he could hold on there. Lowell replied that +he could. I then ordered Custer's division back to the right flank, +and returning to the place where my headquarters had been established +I met near them Ricketts's division under General Keifer and General +Frank Wheaton's division, both marching to the front. When the men +of these divisions saw me they began cheering and took up the double +quick to the front, while I turned back toward Getty's line to point +out where these returning troops should be placed. Having done this, +I ordered General Wright to resume command of the Sixth Corps, and +Getty, who was temporarily in charge of it, to take command of his +own division. A little later the Nineteenth Corps came up and was +posted between the right of the Sixth Corps and Middle Marsh Brook. + +All this had consumed a great deal of time, and I concluded to visit +again the point to the east of the Valley pike, from where I had +first observed the enemy, to see what he was doing. Arrived there, I +could plainly see him getting ready for attack, and Major Forsyth now +suggested that it would be well to ride along the line of battle +before the enemy assailed us, for although the troops had learned of +my return, but few of them had seen me. Following his suggestion I +started in behind the men, but when a few paces had been taken I +crossed to the front and, hat in hand, passed along the entire length +of the infantry line; and it is from this circumstance that many of +the officers and men who then received me with such heartiness have +since supposed that that was my first appearance on the field. But +at least two hours had elapsed since I reached the ground, for it was +after mid-day, when this incident of riding down the front took +place, and I arrived not later, certainly, than half-past 10 o'clock. + +After re-arranging the line and preparing to attack I returned again +to observe the Confederates, who shortly began to advance on us. The +attacking columns did not cover my entire front, and it appeared that +their onset would be mainly directed against the Nineteenth Corps, +so, fearing that they might be too strong for Emory on account of his +depleted condition (many of his men not having had time to get up +from the rear), and Getty's division being free from assault I +transferred a part of it from the extreme left to the support of the +Nineteenth Corps. The assault was quickly repulsed by Emory, +however, and as the enemy fell back Getty's troops were returned to +their original place. This repulse of the Confederates made me feel +pretty safe from further offensive operations on their part, and I +now decided to suspend the fighting till my thin ranks were further +strengthened by the men who were continually coming up from the rear, +and particularly till Crook's troops could be assembled on the +extreme left. + +In consequence of the despatch already mentioned, "Be ready when I +join you, and we will crush Sheridan," since learned to have been +fictitious, I had been supposing all day that Longstreet's troops +were present, but as no definite intelligence on this point had been +gathered, I concluded, in the lull that now occurred, to ascertain +something positive regarding Longstreet; and Merritt having been +transferred to our left in the morning, I directed him to attack an +exposed battery then at the edge of Middletown, and capture some +prisoners. Merritt soon did this work effectually, concealing his +intention till his troops got close in to the enemy, and then by a +quick dash gobbling up a number of Confederates. When the prisoners +were brought in, I learned from them that the only troops of +Longstreet's in the fight were of Kershaw's division, which had +rejoined Early at Brown's Gap in the latter part of September, and +that the rest of Longstreet's corps was not on the field. The +receipt of this information entirely cleared the way for me to take +the offensive, but on the heels of it came information that +Longstreet was marching by the Front Royal pike to strike my rear at +Winchester, driving Powell's cavalry in as he advanced. This renewed +my uneasiness, and caused me to delay the general attack till after +assurances came from Powell denying utterly the reports as to +Longstreet, and confirming the statements of the prisoners. + +Between half-past and 4 o'clock, I was ready to assail, and decided +to do so by advancing my infantry line in a swinging movement, so as +to gain the Valley pike with my right between Middletown and the +Belle Grove House; and when the order was passed along, the men +pushed steadily forward with enthusiasm and confidence. General +Early's troops extended some little distance beyond our right, and +when my flank neared the overlapping enemy, he turned on it, with the +effect of causing a momentary confusion, but General McMillan quickly +realizing the danger, broke the Confederates at the reentering angle +by a counter charge with his brigade, doing his work so well that the +enemy's flanking troops were cut off from their main body and left to +shift for themselves. Custer, who was just then moving in from the +west side of Middle Marsh Brook, followed McMillan's timely blow with +a charge of cavalry, but before starting out on it, and while his men +were forming, riding at full speed himself, to throw his arms around +my neck. By the time he had disengaged himself from this embrace, +the troops broken by McMillan had gained some little distance to +their rear, but Custer's troopers sweeping across the Middletown +meadows and down toward Cedar Creek, took many of them prisoners +before they could reach the stream--so I forgave his delay. + +My whole line as far as the eye could see was now driving everything +before it, from behind trees, stone walls, and all such sheltering +obstacles, so I rode toward the left to ascertain how matters were +getting on there. As I passed along behind the advancing troops, +first General Grover, and then Colonel Mackenzie, rode up to welcome +me. Both were severely wounded, and I told them to leave the field, +but they implored permission to remain till success was certain. +When I reached the Valley pike Crook had reorganized his men, and as +I desired that they should take part in the fight, for they were the +very same troops that had turned Early's flank at Winchester and at +Fisher's Hill, I ordered them to be pushed forward; and the alacrity +and celerity with which they moved on Middletown demonstrated that +their ill-fortune of the morning had not sprung from lack of valor. + +Meanwhile Lowell's brigade of cavalry, which, it will be remembered, +had been holding on, dismounted, just north of Middletown ever since +the time I arrived from Winchester, fell to the rear for the purpose +of getting their led horses. A momentary panic was created in the +nearest brigade of infantry by this withdrawal of Lowell, but as soon +as his men were mounted they charged the enemy clear up to the stone +walls in the edge of Middletown; at sight of this the infantry +brigade renewed its attack, and the enemy's right gave way. The +accomplished Lowell received his death-wound in this courageous +charge. + +All our troops were now moving on the retreating Confederates, and as +I rode to the front Colonel Gibbs, who succeeded Lowell, made ready +for another mounted charge, but I checked him from pressing the +enemy's right, in the hope that the swinging attack from my right +would throw most of the Confederates to the east of the Valley pike, +and hence off their line of retreat through Strasburg to Fisher's +Hill. The eagerness of the men soon frustrated this anticipation, +however, the left insisting on keeping pace with the centre and +right, and all pushing ahead till we regained our old camps at Cedar +Creek. Beyond Cedar Creek, at Strasburg, the pike makes a sharp turn +to the west toward Fisher's Hill, and here Merritt uniting with +Custer, they together fell on the flank of the retreating columns, +taking many prisoners, wagons, and guns, among the prisoners being +Major-General Ramseur, who, mortally wounded, died the next day. + +When the news of the victory was received, General Grant directed a +salute of one hundred shotted guns to be fired into Petersburg, and +the President at once thanked the army in an autograph letter. A few +weeks after, he promoted me, and I received notice of this in a +special letter from the Secretary of War, saying: + +"--that for the personal gallantry, military skill, and just confidence +in the courage and patriotism of your troops, displayed by you on the +19th day of October at Cedar Run, whereby, under the blessing of +Providence, your routed army was reorganized, a great National +disaster averted, and a brilliant victory achieved over the rebels +for the third time in pitched battle within thirty days, Philip H. +Sheridan is appointed a major-general in the United States Army." + +The direct result of the battle was the recapture of all the +artillery, transportation, and camp equipage we had lost, and in +addition twenty-four pieces of the enemy's artillery, twelve hundred +prisoners, and a number of battle-flags. But more still flowed from +this victory, succeeding as it did the disaster of the morning, for +the reoccupation of our old camps at once re-established a morale +which for some hours had been greatly endangered by ill-fortune. + +It was not till after the battle that I learned fully what had taken +place before my arrival, and then found that the enemy, having +gathered all the strength he could through the return of +convalescents and other absentees, had moved quietly from Fisher's +Hill, in the night of the 18th and early on the morning of the 19th, +to surprise my army, which, it should be remembered, was posted on +the north bank of Cedar Creek, Crook holding on the left of the +Valley pike, with Thoburn's division advanced toward the creek on +Duval's (under Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes) and Kitching's +provisional divisions to the north and rear of Thoburn. The +Nineteenth Corps was on the right of Crook, extending in a +semi-circular line from the pike nearly to Meadow Brook, while the +Sixth Corps lay to the west of the brook in readiness to be used as a +movable column. Merritt's division was to the right and rear of the +Sixth Corps, and about a mile and a half west of Merrit was Custer +covering the fords of Cedar Creek as far west as the Middle road. + +General Early's plan was for one column under General Gordon, +consisting of three divisions of infantry (Gordon's, Ramseur's, and +Pegram's), and Payne's brigade of cavalry to cross the Shenandoah +River directly east of the Confederate works at Fisher's Hill, march +around the northerly face of the Massanutten Mountain, and again +cross the Shenandoah at Bowman's and McInturff's fords. Payne's task +was to capture me at the Belle Grove House. General Early himself, +with Kershaw's and Wharton's divisions, was to move through +Strasburg, Kershaw, accompanied by Early, to cross Cedar Creek at +Roberts's ford and connect with Gordon, while Wharton was to continue +on the Valley pike to Hupp's Hill and join the left of Kershaw, when +the crossing of the Valley pike over Cedar Creek became free. + +Lomax's cavalry, then in the Luray Valley, was ordered to join the +right of Gordon on the field of battle, while Rosser was to carry the +crossing of Cedar Creek on the Back road and attack Custer. Early's +conceptions were carried through in the darkness with little accident +or delay, Kershaw opening the fight by a furious attack on Thoburn's +division, while at dawn and in a dense fog Gordon struck Crook's +extreme left, surprising his pickets, and bursting into his camp with +such suddenness as to stampede Crook's men. Gordon directing his +march on my headquarters (the Belle Grove House), successfully turned +our position as he gained the Valley pike, and General Wright was +thus forced to order the withdrawal of the Nineteenth Corps from its +post at the Cedar Creek crossing, and this enabled Wharton to get +over the stream there unmolested and join Kershaw early in the +action. + +After Crook's troops had been driven from their camps, General Wright +endeavored to form a line with the Sixth Corps to hold the Valley +pike to the left of the Nineteenth, but failing in this he ordered +the withdrawal of the latter corps, Ricketts, temporarily commanding +the Sixth Corps, checking Gordon till Emory had retired. As already +stated, Wharton was thus permitted to cross Cedar Creek on the pike, +and now that Early had a continuous line, he pressed his advantage so +vigorously that the whole Union army was soon driven from its camps +in more or less disorder; and though much disjointed resistance was +displayed, it may be said that no systematic stand was made until +Getty's division, aided by Torbert's cavalry, which Wright had +ordered to the left early in the action, took up the ground where, on +arriving from Winchester, I found them. + +When I left my command on the 16th, little did I anticipate that +anything like this would happen. Indeed, I felt satisfied that Early +was, of himself, too weak to take the offensive, and although I +doubted the Longstreet despatch, yet I was confident that, even +should it prove true, I could get back before the junction could be +made, and at the worst I felt certain that my army was equal to +confronting the forces of Longstreet and Early combined. Still, the +surprise of the morning might have befallen me as well as the general +on whom it did descend, and though it is possible that this could +have been precluded had Powell's cavalry been closed in, as suggested +in my despatch from Front Royal, yet the enemy's desperation might +have prompted some other clever and ingenious scheme for relieving +his fallen fortunes in the Shenandoah Valley. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +GENERAL EARLY REORGANIZES HIS FORCES--MOSBY THE GUERRILLA--GENERAL +MERRITT SENT TO OPERATE AGAINST MOSBY--ROSSER AGAIN ACTIVE--GENERAL +CUSTER SURPRISED--COLONEL YOUNG SENT TO CAPTURE GILMORE THE +GUERRILLA--COLONEL YOUNG'S SUCCESS--CAPTURE OF GENERAL KELLY AND +GENERAL CROOK--SPIES--WAS WILKES BOOTH A SPY?--DRIVING THE +CONFEDERATES OUT OF THE VALLEY--THE BATTLE OF WAYNESBORO'--MARCHING +TO JOIN THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. + +Early's broken army practically made no halt in its retreat after the +battle of Cedar-Creek until it reached New Market, though at Fisher's +Hill was left a small rear-guard of cavalry, which hastily decamped, +however, when charged by Gibbs's brigade on the morning of the 20th. +Between the date of his signal defeat and the 11th of November, the +enemy's scattered forces had sufficiently reorganized to permit his +again making a reconnoissance in the valley as far north as Cedar +Creek, my army having meanwhile withdrawn to Kernstown, where it had +been finally decided that a defensive line should be held to enable +me to detach troops to General Grant, and where, by reconstructing +the Winchester and Potomac railroad from Stephenson's depot to +Harper's Ferry, my command might be more readily, supplied. Early's +reconnoissance north of Cedar Creek ended in a rapid withdrawal of +his infantry after feeling my front, and with the usual ill-fortune +to his cavalry; Merritt and Custer driving Rosser and Lomax with ease +across Cedar Creek on the Middle and Back roads, while Powell's +cavalry struck McCausland near Stony Point, and after capturing two +pieces of artillery and about three hundred officers and men chased +him into the Luray Valley. + +Early got back to New Market on the 14th of November, and, from lack +of subsistence, being unable to continue demonstrations to prevent my +reinforcement of General Grant, began himself to detach to General +Lee by returning Kershaw's division to Petersburg, as was definitely +ascertained by Torbert in a reconnoissance to Mount Jackson. At this +time General Grant wished me to send him the Sixth Corps, and it was +got ready for the purpose, but when I informed him that Torbert's +reconnoissance had developed the fact that Early still retained four +divisions of infantry and one of cavalry, it was decided, on my +suggestion, to let the Sixth Corps remain till the season should be a +little further advanced, when the inclemency of the weather would +preclude infantry campaigning. These conditions came about early in +December, and by the middle of the month the whole of the Sixth Corps +was at Petersburg; simultaneously with its transfer to that line +Early sending his Second Corps to Lee. + +During the entire campaign I had been annoyed by guerrilla bands +under such partisan chiefs as Mosby, White, Gilmore, McNeil, and +others, and this had considerably depleted my line-of-battle +strength, necessitating as it did large, escorts for my +supply-trains. The most redoubtable of these leaders was Mosby, whose +force was made up from the country around Upperville, east of the Blue +Ridge, to which section he always fled for a hiding-place when he +scented danger. I had not directed any special operations against +these partisans while the campaign was active, but as Mosby's men had +lately killed, within my lines, my chief quartermaster, Colonel Tolles, +and Medical Inspector Ohlenchlager, I concluded to devote particular +attention to these "irregulars" during the lull that now occurred; so +on the 28th of November, I directed General Merritt to march to the +Loudoun Valley and operate against Mosby, taking care to clear the +country of forage and subsistence, so as to prevent the guerrillas from +being harbored there in the future their destruction or capture being +well-nigh impossible, on account of their intimate knowledge of the +mountain region. Merritt carried out his instructions with his usual +sagacity and thoroughness, sweeping widely over each side of his +general line of march with flankers, who burned the grain and brought +in large herds of cattle, hogs and sheep, which were issued to the +troops. + +While Merritt was engaged in this service the Baltimore and Ohio +railroad once more received the attention of the enemy; Rosser, with +two brigades of cavalry, crossing the Great North Mountain, capturing +the post of New Creek, with about five hundred prisoners and seven +guns, destroying all the supplies of the garrison, and breaking up +the railroad track. This slight success of the Confederates in West +Virginia, and the intelligence that they were contemplating further +raids in that section, led me to send, Crook there with one division, +his other troops going to City Point; and, I hoped that all the +threatened places would thus be sufficiently protected, but +negligence at Beverly resulted in the capture of that station by +Rosser on the 11th of January. + +In the meanwhile, Early established himself with Wharton's division +at Staunton in winter quarters, posting his cavalry in that +neighborhood also, except a detachment at New Market, and another +small one at the signal-station on Three Top Mountain. The winter was +a most severe one, snow falling frequently to the depth of several +inches, and the mercury often sinking below zero. The rigor of the +season was very much against the success of any mounted operations, +but General Grant being very desirous to have the railroads broken up +about Gordonsville and Charlottesville, on the 19th of December I +started the cavalry out for that purpose, Torbert, with Merritt and +Powell, marching through Chester Gap, while Custer moved toward +Staunton to make a demonstration in Torbert's favor, hoping to hold +the enemy's troops in the valley. Unfortunately, Custer did not +accomplish all that was expected of him, and being surprised by +Rosser and Payne near Lacy's Springs before reveille, had to abandon +his bivouac and retreat down the valley, with the loss of a number of +prisoners, a few horses, and a good many horse equipments, for, +because of the suddenness of Rosser's attack, many of the men had no +time to saddle up. As soon as Custer's retreat was assured, +Wharton's division of infantry was sent to Charlottesville to check +Torbert, but this had already been done by Lomax, with the assistance +of infantry sent up from Richmond. Indeed, from the very beginning +of the movement the Confederates had been closely observing the +columns of Torbert and Custer, and in consequence of the knowledge +thus derived, Early had marched Lomax to Gordonsville in anticipation +of an attack there, at the same time sending Rosser down the valley +to meet Custer. Torbert in the performance of his task captured two +pieces of artillery from Johnson's and McCausland's brigades, at +Liberty Mills on the Rapidan River, but in the main the purpose of +the raid utterly failed, so by the 27th of December he returned, +many, of his men badly frost-bitten from the extreme cold which had +prevailed. + +This expedition practically closed all operations for the season, and +the cavalry was put into winter cantonment near Winchester. The +distribution of my infantry to Petersburg and West Virginia left with +me in the beginning of the new year, as already stated, but the one +small division of the Nineteenth Corps. On account of this +diminution of force, it became necessary for me to keep thoroughly +posted in regard to the enemy, and I now realized more than I had +done hitherto how efficient my scouts had become since under the +control of Colonel Young; for not only did they bring me almost every +day intelligence from within Early's lines, but they also operated +efficiently against the guerrillas infesting West Virginia. + +Harry Gilmore, of Maryland, was the most noted of these since the +death of McNeil, and as the scouts had reported him in Harrisonburg +the latter part of January, I directed two of the most trustworthy to +be sent to watch his movements and ascertain his purposes. In a few +days these spies returned with the intelligence that Gilmore was on +his way to Moorefield, the centre of a very disloyal section in West +Virginia, about ninety miles southwest of Winchester, where, under +the guise of a camp-meeting, a gathering was to take place, at which +he expected to enlist a number of men, be joined by a party of about +twenty recruits coming from Maryland, and then begin depredations +along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. Believing that Gilmore might +be captured, I directed Young to undertake the task, and as a +preliminary step he sent to Moorefield two of his men who early in +the war had "refugeed" from that section and enlisted in one of the +Union regiments from West Virginia. In about a week these men came +back and reported that Gilmore was living at a house between three +and four miles from Moorefield, and gave full particulars as to his +coming and going, the number of men he had about there and where they +rendezvoused. + +With this knowledge at hand I directed Young to take twenty of his +best men and leave that night for Moorefield, dressed in Confederate +uniforms, telling him that I would have about three hundred cavalry +follow in his wake when he had got about fifteen miles start, and +instructing him to pass his party off as a body of recruits for +Gilmore coming from Maryland and pursued by the Yankee cavalry. I +knew this would allay suspicion and provide him help on the road; +and, indeed, as Colonel Whittaker, who alone knew the secret, +followed after the fleeing "Marylanders," he found that their advent +had caused so little remark that the trail would have been lost had +he not already known their destination. Young met with a hearty, +welcome wherever he halted on the way, and as he passed through the +town of Moorefield learned with satisfaction that Gilmore still made +his headquarters at the house where the report of the two scouts had +located him a few days before. Reaching the designated place about +12 o'clock on the night of the 5th of February, Young, under the +representation that he had come directly from Maryland and was being +pursued by the Union cavalry, gained immediate access to Gilmore's +room. He found the bold guerrilla snugly tucked in bed, with two +pistols lying on a chair near by. He was sleeping so soundly that to +arouse him Young had to give him a violent shake. As he awoke and +asked who was disturbing his slumbers, Young, pointing at him a +cocked six-shooter, ordered him to dress without delay, and in answer +to his inquiry, informed him that he was a prisoner to one of +Sheridan's staff. Meanwhile Gilmore's men had learned of his +trouble, but the early appearance of Colonel Whittaker caused them to +disperse; thus the last link between Maryland and the Confederacy was +carried a prisoner to Winchester, whence he was sent to Fort Warren. + +The capture of Gilmore caused the disbandment of the party he had +organized at the "camp-meeting," most of the men he had recruited +returning to their homes discouraged, though some few joined the +bands of Woodson and young Jesse McNeil, which, led by the latter, +dashed into Cumberland, Maryland, at 3 O'clock on the morning of the +21st of February and made a reprisal by carrying off General Crook +and General Kelly, and doing their work so silently and quickly that +they escaped without being noticed, and were some distance on their +way before the colored watchman at the hotel where Crook was +quartered could compose himself enough to give the alarm. A troop of +cavalry gave hot chase from Cumberland, striving to intercept the +party at Moorefield and other points, but all efforts were fruitless, +the prisoners soon being beyond reach. + +Although I had adopted the general rule of employing only soldiers as +scouts, there was an occasional exception to it. I cannot say that +these exceptions proved wholly that an ironclad observance of the +rule would have been best, but I am sure of it in one instance. A +man named Lomas, who claimed to be a Marylander, offered me his +services as a spy, and coming highly recommended from Mr. Stanton, +who had made use of him in that capacity, I employed him. He made +many pretensions, often appearing over anxious to impart information +seemingly intended to impress me with his importance, and yet was +more than ordinarily intelligent, but in spite of that my confidence +in him was by no means unlimited. I often found what he reported to +me as taking place within the Confederate lines corroborated by +Young's men, but generally there were discrepancies in his tales, +which led me to suspect that he was employed by the enemy as well as +by me. I felt, however, that with good watching he could do me +little harm, and if my suspicions were incorrect he might be very +useful, so I held on to him. + +Early in February Lomas was very solicitous for me to employ a man +who, he said, had been with Mosby, but on account of some quarrel in +the irregular camp had abandoned that leader. Thinking that with two +of them I might destroy the railroad bridges east of Lynchburg, I +concluded, after the Mosby man had been brought to my headquarters by +Lomas about 12 o'clock one night, to give him employment, at the same +time informing Colonel Young that I suspected their fidelity, +however, and that he must test it by shadowing their every movement. +When Lomas's companion entered my room he was completely disguised, +but on discarding the various contrivances by which his identity was +concealed he proved to be a rather slender, dark-complexioned, +handsome young man, of easy address and captivating manners. He gave +his name as Renfrew, answered all my questions satisfactorily, and +went into details about Mosby and his men which showed an intimacy +with them at some time. I explained to the two men the work I had +laid out for them, and stated the sum of money I would give to have +it done, but stipulated that in case of failure there would be no +compensation whatever beyond the few dollars necessary for their +expenses. They readily assented, and it was arranged that they +should start the following night. Meanwhile Young had selected his +men to shadow them, and in two days reported my spies as being +concealed at Strasburg, where they remained, without making the +slightest effort to continue on their mission, and were busy, no +doubt, communicating with the enemy, though I was not able to fasten +this on them. On the 16th of February they returned to Winchester, +and reported their failure, telling so many lies about their +hazardous adventure as to remove all remaining doubt as to their +double-dealing. Unquestionably they were spies from the enemy, and +hence liable to the usual penalties of such service; but it struck me +that through them, I might deceive Early as to the time of opening +the spring campaign, I having already received from General Grant an +intimation of what was expected of me. I therefore retained the men +without even a suggestion of my knowledge of their true character, +Young meanwhile keeping close watch over all their doings. + +Toward the last of February General Early had at Staunton two +brigades of infantry under Wharton. All the rest of the infantry +except Echol's brigade, which was in southwestern Virginia, had been +sent to Petersburg during the winter, and Fitz. Lee's two brigades of +cavalry also. Rosser's men were mostly at their homes, where, on +account of a lack of subsistence and forage in the valley, they had +been permitted to go, subject to call. Lomax's cavalry was at +Millboro, west of Staunton, where supplies were obtainable. It was +my aim to get well on the road before Early could collect these +scattered forces, and as many of the officers had been in the habit +of amusing themselves fox-hunting during the latter part of the +winter, I decided to use the hunt as an expedient for stealing a +march on the enemy, and had it given out officially that a grand +fox-chase would take place on the 29th of February. Knowing that +Lomas, and Renfrew would spread the announcement South, they were +permitted to see several red foxes that had been secured, as well as a +large pack of hounds which Colonel Young had collected for the sport, +and were then started on a second expedition to burn the bridges. Of +course, they were shadowed as usual, and two days later, after they had +communicated with friends from their hiding-place, in Newtown, they +were arrested. On the way north to Fort Warren they escaped from their +guards when passing through Baltimore, and I never heard of them again, +though I learned that, after the assassination of, Mr. Lincoln, +Secretary Stanton strongly suspected his friend Lomas of being +associated with the conspirators, and it then occurred to me that the +good-looking Renfrew may have been Wilkes Booth, for he certainly bore +a strong resemblance to Booth's pictures. + +On the 27th of February my cavalry entered upon the campaign which +cleared the Shenandoah Valley of every remnant of organized +Confederates. General Torbert being absent on leave at this time, I +did not recall him, but appointed General Merritt Chief of Cavalry. +for Torbert had disappointed me on two important occasions--in the +Luray Valley during the battle of Fisher's Hill, and on the recent +Gordonsville expedition--and I mistrusted his ability to conduct any +operations requiring much self-reliance. The column was composed of +Custer's and Devin's divisions of cavalry, and two sections of +artillery, comprising in all about 10,000 officers and men. On +wheels we had, to accompany this column, eight ambulances, sixteen +ammunition wagons, a pontoon train for eight canvas boats, and a +small supply-train, with fifteen days' rations of coffee, sugar, and +salt, it being intended to depend on the country for the meat and +bread ration, the men carrying in their haversacks nearly enough to +subsist them till out of the exhausted valley. + +Grant's orders were for me to destroy the Virginia Central railroad +and the James River canal, capture Lynchburg if practicable, and then +join General Sherman in North Carolina wherever he might be found, or +return to Winchester, but as to joining Sherman I was to be governed +by the state of affairs after the projected capture of Lynchburg. +The weather was cold, the valley and surrounding mountains being +still covered with snow; but this was fast disappearing, however, +under the heavy rain that was coming down as the column moved along +up the Valley pike at a steady gait that took us to Woodstock the +first day. The second day we crossed the North Fork of the +Shenandoah on our pontoon-bridge, and by night-fall reached Lacy's +Springs, having seen nothing of the enemy as yet but a few partisans +who hung on our flanks in the afternoon. + +March 1 we encountered General Rosser at Mt. Crawford, he having been +able to call together only some five or six hundred of his troops, +our unsuspected march becoming known to Early only the day before. +Rosser attempted to delay us here, trying to burn the bridges over +the Middle Fork of the Shenandoah, but two regiments from Colonel +Capehart's brigade swam the stream and drove Rosser to Kline's Mills, +taking thirty prisoners and twenty ambulances and wagons. + +Meanwhile General Early was busy at Staunton, but not knowing my +objective point, he had ordered the return of Echol's brigade from +southwestern Virginia for the protection of Lynchburg, directed +Lomax's cavalry to concentrate at Pond Gap for the purpose of +harassing me if I moved toward Lynchburg, and at the same time +marched Wharton's two brigades of infantry, Nelson's artillery, and +Rosser's cavalry to Waynesboro', whither he went also to remain till +the object of my movement was ascertained. + +I entered Staunton the morning of March 2, and finding that Early had +gone to Waynesboro' with his infantry and Rosser, the question at +once arose whether I should continue my march to Lynchburg direct, +leaving my adversary in my rear, or turn east and open the way +through Rockfish Gap to the Virginia Central railroad and James River +canal. I felt confident of the success of the latter plan, for I +knew that Early numbered there not more than two thousand men; so, +influenced by this, and somewhat also by the fact that Early had left +word in Staunton that he would fight at Waynesboro', I directed +Merritt to move toward that place with Custer, to be closely followed +by Devin, who was to detach one brigade to destroy supplies at +Swoope's depot. The by-roads were miry beyond description, rain +having fallen almost incessantly since we left Winchester, but +notwithstanding the down-pour the column pushed on, men and horses +growing almost unrecognizable from the mud covering them from head to +foot. + +General Early was true to the promise made his friends in Staunton, +for when Custer neared Waynesboro' he found, occupying a line of +breastworks on a ridge west of the town, two brigades of infantry, +with eleven pieces of artillery and Rosser's cavalry. Custer, when +developing the position of the Confederates, discovered that their +left was somewhat exposed instead of resting on South River; he +therefore made his dispositions for attack, sending around that flank +the dismounted regiments from Pennington's brigade, while he himself, +with two brigades, partly mounted and partly dismounted, assaulted +along the whole line of breastworks. Pennington's flanking movement +stampeded the enemy in short order, thus enabling Custer to carry the +front with little resistance, and as he did so the Eighth New York +and First Connecticut, in a charge in column, broke through the +opening made by Custer, and continued on through the town of +Waynesboro', never stopping till they crossed South River. There, +finding themselves immediately in the enemy's rear, they promptly +formed as foragers and held the east bank of the stream till all the +Confederates surrendered except Rosser, who succeeded in making his +way back to the valley, and Generals Early, Wharton, Long, and +Lilley, who, with fifteen or twenty men, escaped across the Blue +Ridge. I followed up the victory immediately by despatching Capehart +through Rock-fish Gap, with orders to encamp on the east side of the +Blue Ridge. By reason of this move all the enemy's stores and +transportation fell into our hands, while we captured on the field +seventeen battle flags, sixteen hundred officers and men, and eleven +pieces of artillery. This decisive victory closed hostilities in the +Shenandoah Valley. The prisoners and artillery were sent back to +Winchester next morning, under a guard of 1,500 men, commanded by +Colonel J. H. Thompson, of the First New Hampshire. + +The night of March 2 Custer camped at Brookfield, Devin remaining at +Waynesboro'. The former started for Charlottesville the next morning +early, followed by Devin with but two brigades, Gibbs having been +left behind to blow up the iron railroad bridge across South River. +Because of the incessant rains and spring thaws the roads were very +soft, and the columns cut them up terribly, the mud being thrown by +the sets of fours across the road in ridges as much as two feet high, +making it most difficult to get our wagons along, and distressingly +wearing on the animals toward the middle and rear of the columns. +Consequently I concluded to rest at Charlottesville for a couple of +days and recuperate a little, intending at the same time to destroy, +with small parties, the railroad from that point toward Lynchburg. +Custer reached Charlottesville the 3d, in the afternoon, and was met +at the outskirts by a deputation of its citizens, headed by the +mayor, who surrendered the town with medieval ceremony, formally +handing over the keys of the public buildings and of the University +of Virginia. But this little scene did not delay Custer long enough +to prevent his capturing, just beyond the village, a small body of +cavalry and three pieces of artillery. Gibbs's brigade, which was +bringing up my mud-impeded train, did not arrive until the 5th of +March. In the mean time Young's scouts had brought word that the +garrison of Lynchburg was being increased and the fortifications +strengthened, so that its capture would be improbable. I decided, +however, to move toward the place as far as Amherst Court House, +which is sixteen miles short of the town, so Devin, under Merritt's +supervision, marched along the James River, destroying the canal, +while Custer pushed ahead on the railroad and broke it up. The two +columns were to join at New Market, whence I intended to cross the +James River at some point east of Lynchburg, if practicable, so as to +make my way to Appomattox Court House, and destroy the Southside +railroad as far east as Farmville. Owing to its swollen condition +the river was unfordable but knowing that there was a covered bridge +at Duguidsville, I hoped to secure it by a dash, and cross there, but +the enemy, anticipating this, had filled the bridge with inflammable +material, and just as our troops got within striking distance it +burst into flames. The bridge at Hardwicksville also having been +burned by the enemy, there was now no means of crossing except by +pontoons. But, unfortunately, I had only eight of these, and they +could not be made to span the swollen river. + +Being thus unable to cross until the river should fall, and knowing +that it was impracticable to join General Sherman, and useless to +adhere to my alternative instructions to return to Winchester, I now +decided to destroy still more thoroughly the James River canal and +the Virginia Central railroad and then join General Grant in front of +Petersburg. I was master of the whole country north of the James as +far down as Goochland; hence the destruction of these arteries of +supply could be easily compassed, and feeling that the war was +nearing its end, I desired my cavalry to be in at the death. + +On March 9 the main column started eastward down the James River, +destroying locks, dams, and boats, having been preceded by Colonel +Fitzhugh's brigade of Devin's division in a forced march to Goochland +and Beaver Dam Creek, with orders to destroy everything below +Columbia. I made Columbia on the 10th, and from there sent a +communication to General Grant reporting what had occurred, informing +him of my condition and intention, asking him to send forage and +rations to meet me at the White House, and also a pontoon-bridge to +carry me over the Pamunkey, for in view of the fact that hitherto it +had been impracticable to hold Lee in the trenches around Petersburg, +I regarded as too hazardous a march down the south bank of the +Pamunkey, where the enemy, by sending troops out from Richmond, might +fall upon my flank and rear. It was of the utmost importance that +General Grant should receive these despatches without chance of +failure, in order that I might, depend absolutely on securing +supplies at the White House; therefore I sent the message in +duplicate, one copy overland direct to City Point by two scouts, +Campbell and Rowan, and the other by Fannin and Moore, who were to go +down the James River in a small boat to Richmond, join the troops in +the trenches in front of Petersburg, and, deserting to the Union +lines, deliver their tidings into General Grant's hands. Each set of +messengers got through, but the copy confided to Campbell and Rowan +was first at Grant's headquarters. + +I halted for one day at Columbia to let my trains catch up, for it +was still raining and the mud greatly delayed the teams, fatiguing +and wearying the mules so much that I believe we should have been +forced to abandon most of the wagons except for the invaluable help +given by some two thousand negroes who had attached themselves to the +column: they literally lifted the wagons out of the mud. From +Columbia Merritt, with Devin's division, marched to Louisa Court +House and destroyed the Virginia Central to Frederick's Hall. +Meanwhile Custer was performing similar work from Frederick's Hall to +Beaver Dam Station, and also pursued for a time General Early, who, +it was learned from despatches captured in the telegraph office at +Frederick's Hall, was in the neighborhood with a couple of hundred +men. Custer captured some of these men and two of Early's +staff-officers, but the commander of the Valley District, accompanied +by a single orderly, escaped across the South Anna and next day made +his way to Richmond, the last man of the Confederate army that had so +long contended with us in the Shenandoah Valley. + +At Frederick's Hall, Young's scouts brought me word from Richmond +that General Longstreet was assembling a force there to prevent my +junction with Grant, and that Pickett's division, which had been sent +toward Lynchburg to oppose my march, and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry, were +moving east on the Southside railroad, with the object of +circumventing me. Reasoning that Longstreet could interpose +effectually only by getting to the White House ahead of me, I pushed +one column under Custer across the South Anna, by way of Ground +Squirrel bridge, to Ashland, where it united with Merritt, who had +meanwhile marched through Hanover Junction. Our appearance at +Ashland drew the Confederates out in that direction, as was hoped, +so, leaving Colonel Pennington's brigade there to amuse them, the +united command retraced its route to Mount Carmel church to cross the +North Anna. After dark Pennington came away, and all the troops +reached the church by midnight of the 15th. + +Resuming the march at an early hour next morning, we took the road by +way of King William Court House to the White House, where, arriving +on the 18th, we found, greatly to our relief, the supplies which I +had requested to be sent there. In the meanwhile the enemy had +marched to Hanover Court House, but being unable either to cross the +Pamunkey there or forestall me at the White House on the south side +of the river, he withdrew to Richmond without further effort to +impede my column. + +The hardships of this march far exceeded those of any previous +campaigns by the cavalry. Almost incessant rains had drenched us for +sixteen days and nights, and the swollen streams and well-nigh +bottomless roads east of Staunton presented grave difficulties on +every hand, but surmounting them all, we destroyed the enemy's means +of subsistence, in quantities beyond computation, and permanently +crippled the Virginia Central railroad, as well as the James River +canal, and as each day brought us nearer the Army of the Potomac, all +were filled with the comforting reflection that our work in the +Shenandoah Valley had been thoroughly done, and every one was buoyed +up by the cheering thought that we should soon take part in the final +struggle of the war. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +TRANSFERRED TO PETERSBURG--GENERAL RAWLINS CORDIAL WELCOME--GENERAL +GRANT's ORDERS AND PLANS--A TRIP WITH MR. LINCOLN AND GENERAL GRANT +--MEETING GENERAL SHERMAN--OPPOSED TO JOINING THE ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE +--OPENING OF THE APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGN--GENERAL GRANT AND GENERAL RAWLINS. + +The transfer of my command from the Shenandoah Valley to the field of +operations in front of Petersburg was not anticipated by General +Grant; indeed, the despatch brought from Columbia by my scouts, +asking that supplies be sent me at the White House, was the first +word that reached him concerning the move. In view of my message the +general-in-chief decided to wait my arrival before beginning spring +operations with the investing troops south of the James River, for he +felt the importance of having my cavalry at hand in a campaign which +he was convinced would wind up the war. We remained a few days at +the White House resting and refitting the cavalry, a large amount of +shoeing being necessary; but nothing like enough horses were at hand +to replace those that had died or been disabled on the mud march from +Staunton to the Pamunkey River, so a good many of the men were still +without mounts, and all such were sent by boat to the dismounted camp +near City Point. When all was ready the column set out for Hancock +Station, a point on the military railroad in front of Petersburg, and +arriving there on the 27th of March, was in orders reunited with its +comrades of the Second Division, who had been serving with the Army +of the Potomac since we parted from them the previous August. +General Crook, who had been exchanged within a few days, was now in +command of this Second Division. The reunited corps was to enter +upon the campaign as a separate army, I reporting directly to General +Grant; the intention being thus to reward me for foregoing, of my own +choice, my position as a department commander by joining the armies +at Petersburg. + +Taking the road across the Peninsula, I started from the White House +with Merritt's column on the 25th of March and encamped that night at +Harrison's Landing. Very early next morning, in conformity with a +request from General Grant, I left by boat for City Point, Merritt +meanwhile conducting the column across the James River to the point +of rendezvous, The trip to City Point did not take long, and on +arrival at army headquarters the first person I met was General John +A. Rawlins, General Grant's chief-of-staff. Rawlins was a man of +strong likes and dislikes, and positive always both in speech and +action, exhibiting marked feelings when greeting any one, and on this +occasion met me with much warmth. His demonstrations of welcome +over, we held a few minutes' conversation about the coming campaign, +he taking strong ground against a part of the plan of operations +adopted, namely, that which contemplated my joining General Sherman's +army. His language was unequivocal and vehement, and when he was +through talking, he conducted me to General Grant's quarters, but he +himself did not enter. + +General Grant was never impulsive, and always met his officers in an +unceremonious way, with a quiet "How are you" soon putting one at his +ease, since the pleasant tone in which he spoke gave assurance of +welcome, although his manner was otherwise impassive. When the +ordinary greeting was over, he usually waited for his visitor to open +the conversation, so on this occasion I began by giving him the +details of my march from Winchester, my reasons for not joining +Sherman, as contemplated in my instructions, and the motives which +had influenced me to march to the White House. The other provision +of my orders on setting out from Winchester--the alternative return +to that place--was not touched upon, for the wisdom of having ignored +that was fully apparent. Commenting on this recital of my doings, +the General referred only to the tortuous course of my march from +Waynesboro' down, our sore trials, and the valuable services of the +scouts who had brought him tidings of me, closing with the remark +that it was, rare a department commander voluntarily deprived himself +of independence, and added that I should not suffer for it. Then +turning to the business for which he had called me to City Point, he +outlined what he expected me to do; saying that I was to cut loose +from the Army of the Potomac by passing its left flank to the +southward along the line of the Danville railroad, and after crossing +the Roanoke River, join General Sherman. While speaking, he handed +me a copy of a general letter of instructions that had been drawn up +for the army on the 24th. The letter contained these words +concerning the movements of my command: + +"The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now under +General Davies, will move at the same time (29th inst.) by the Weldon +road and the Jerusalem plank-road, turning west from the latter +before crossing the Nottoway, and west with the whole column before +reaching Stony Creek. General Sheridan will then move independently +under other instructions which will be given him. All dismounted +cavalry belonging to the Army of the Potomac, and the dismounted +cavalry from the Middle Military Division not required for guarding +property belonging to their arm of the service, will report to +Brigadier-General Benham to be added to the defenses of City Point." + +When I had gone over the entire letter I showed plainly that I was +dissatisfied with it, for, coupled with what the General had outlined +orally, which I supposed was the "other instructions," I believed it +foreshadowed my junction with General Sherman. Rawlins thought so +too, as his vigorous language had left no room to doubt, so I +immediately began to offer my objections to the programme. These +were, that it would be bad policy to send me down to the Carolinas +with a part of the Army of the Potomac, to come back to crush Lee +after the destruction of General Johnston's army; such a course would +give rise to the charge that his own forces around Petersburg were +not equal to the task, and would seriously affect public opinion in +the North; that in fact my cavalry belonged to the Army of the +Potomac, which army was able unaided to destroy Lee, and I could not +but oppose any dispersion of its strength. + +All this was said in a somewhat emphatic manner, and when I had +finished he quietly told me that the portion of my instructions from +which I so strongly dissented was intended as a "blind" to cover any +check the army in its general move, to the left might meet with, and +prevent that element in the North which held that the war could be +ended only through negotiation, from charging defeat. The fact that +my cavalry was not to ultimately join Sherman was a great relief to +me, and after expressing the utmost confidence in the plans unfolded +for closing the war by directing every effort to the annihilation of +Lee's army, I left him to go to General Ingalls's quarters. On the +way I again met Rawlins, who, when I told him that General Grant had +intimated his intention to modify the written plan of operations so +far as regarded the cavalry, manifested the greatest satisfaction, +and I judged from this that the new view of the matter had not +previously been communicated to the chief-of-staff, though he must +have been acquainted of course with the programme made out on the +24th of March. + +Toward noon General Grant sent for me to accompany him up the river. +When I joined the General he informed me that the President was on +board the boat--the steamer Mary Martin. For some days Mr. Lincoln +had been at City Point, established on the steamer River Queen, +having come down from Washington to be nearer his generals, no doubt, +and also to be conveniently situated for the reception of tidings +from the front when operations began, for he could not endure the +delays in getting news to Washington. This trip up the James had +been projected by General Meade, but on account of demands at the +front he could not go, so the President, General Grant, and I +composed the party. We steamed up to where my cavalry was crossing +on the pontoon-bridge below the mouth of the Dutch Gap canal, and for +a little while watched the column as it was passing over the river, +the bright sunshine presaging good weather, but only to delude, as +was proved by the torrents of rain brought by the succeeding days of +March. On the trip the President was not very cheerful. In fact, he +was dejected, giving no indication of his usual means of diversion, +by which (his quaint stories) I had often heard he could find relief +from his cares. He spoke to me of the impending operations and asked +many questions, laying stress upon the one, "What would be the result +when the army moved out to the left, if the enemy should come down +and capture City Point?" the question being prompted, doubtless, by +the bold assault on our lines and capture of Fort Steadman two days +before by General Gordon. I answered that I did not think it at all +probable that General Lee would undertake such a desperate measure to +relieve the strait he was in; that General Hartranft's successful +check to Gordon had ended, I thought, attacks of such a character; +and in any event General Grant would give Lee all he could attend to +on the left. Mr. Lincoln said nothing about my proposed route of +march, and I doubt if he knew of my instructions, or was in +possession at most of more than a very general outline of the plan of +campaign. It was late when the Mary Martin returned to City Point, +and I spent the night there with General Ingalls. + +The morning of the 27th I went out to Hancock Station to look after +my troops and prepare for moving two days later. In the afternoon I +received a telegram from General Grant, saying: "General Sherman will +be here this evening to spend a few hours. I should like to have you +come down." Sherman's coming was a surprise--at least to me it was +--this despatch being my first intimation of his expected arrival. +Well knowing the zeal and emphasis with which General Sherman would +present his views, there again came into my mind many misgivings with +reference to the movement of the cavalry, and I made haste to start +for Grant's headquarters. I got off a little after 7 o'clock, taking +the rickety military railroad, the rails of which were laid on the +natural surface of the ground, with grading only here and there at +points of absolute necessity, and had not gone far when the +locomotive jumped the track. This delayed my arrival at City Point +till near midnight, but on repairing to the little cabin that +sheltered the general-in-chief, I found him and Sherman still up +talking over the problem whose solution was near at hand. As already +stated, thoughts as to the tenor of my instructions became uppermost +the moment I received the telegram in the afternoon, and they +continued to engross and disturb me all the way down the railroad, +for I feared that the telegram foreshadowed, under the propositions +Sherman would present, a more specific compliance with the written +instructions than General Grant had orally assured me would be +exacted. + +My entrance into the shanty suspended the conversation for a moment +only, and then General Sherman, without prelude, rehearsed his plans +for moving his army, pointing out with every detail how he would come +up through the Carolinas to join the troops besieging Petersburg and +Richmond, and intimating that my cavalry, after striking the +Southside and Danville railroads, could join him with ease. I made +no comments on the projects for moving, his own troops, but as soon +as opportunity offered, dissented emphatically from the proposition +to have me join the Army of the Tennessee, repeating in substance +what I had previously expressed to General Grant. + +My uneasiness made me somewhat too earnest, I fear, but General Grant +soon mollified me, and smoothed matters over by practically repeating +what he had told me in regard to this point at the close of our +interview the day before, so I pursued the subject no further. In a +little while the conference ended, and I again sought lodging at the +hospitable quarters of Ingalls. + +Very early the next morning, while I was still in bed, General +Sherman came to me and renewed the subject of my joining him, but +when he saw that I was unalterably opposed to it the conversation +turned into other channels, and after we had chatted awhile he +withdrew, and later in the day went up the river with the President, +General Grant, and Admiral Porter, I returning to my command at +Hancock Station, where my presence was needed to put my troops in +march next day. + +During the entire winter General Grant's lines fronting Petersburg +had extended south of the Appomattox River, practically from that +stream around to where the Vaughn road crosses Hatcher's Run, and +this was nearly the situation Wilien the cavalry concentrated at +Hancock Station, General Weitzel holding the line north of the +Appomattox, fronting Richmond and Bermuda Hundred. + +The instructions of the 24th of March contemplated that the campaign +should begin with the movement of Warren's corps (the Fifth) at +3 o'clock on the morning of the 29th, and Humphreys's (the Second) at +6; the rest of the infantry holding on in the trenches. The cavalry +was to move in conjunction with Warren and Humphreys, and make its +way out beyond our left as these corps opened the road. + +The night of the 28th I received the following additional +instructions, the general tenor of which again disturbed me, for +although I had been assured that I was not to join General Sherman, +it will be seen that the supplemental directions distinctly present +that alternative, and I therefore feared that during the trip up the +James River on the morning of the 28th General Grant had returned to +his original views: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"City Point, Va., March 28, 1865. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN: + +"The Fifth Army Corps will move by the Vaughn road at 3 A.M. +tomorrow morning. The Second moves at about 9 A.M., having but about +three miles to march to reach the point designated for it to take on +the right of the Fifth Corps, after the latter reaches Dinwiddie +Court House. + +"Move your cavalry at as early an hour as you can, and without being +confined to any particular road or roads. You may go out by the +nearest roads in rear of the Fifth Corps, pass by its left, and +passing near to or through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the +enemy as soon as you can. It is not the intention to attack the +enemy in his intrenched position, but to force him out if possible. +Should he come out and attack us, or get himself where he can be +attacked, move in with your entire force in your own way, and with +the full reliance that the army will engage or follow the enemy, as +circumstances will dictate. I shall be on the field, and will +probably be able to communicate with you; should I not do so, and you +find that the enemy keeps within his main intrenched line, you may +cut loose and push for the Danville road. If you find it practicable +I would like you to cross the Southside road, between Petersburg and +Burkeville, and destroy it to some extent. I would not advise much +detention, however, until you reach the Danville road, which I would +like you to strike as near to the Appomattox as possible; make your +destruction of that road as complete as possible; you can then pass +on to the Southside road, west of Burkeville, and destroy that in +like manner. + +"After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads, +which are now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may +return to this army, selecting your road farther south, or you may go +on into North Carolina and join General Sherman. Should you select +the latter course, get the information to me as early as possible, so +that I may send orders to meet you at Goldsboro'. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General." + + +These instructions did not alter my line of march for the morrow, and +I trusted matters would so come about as not to require compliance +with those portions relative to the railroads and to joining Sherman; +so early on the 29th I moved my cavalry out toward Ream's Station on +the Weldon road, Devin commanding the First Division, with Colonels +Gibbs, Stagg, and Fitzhugh in charge of the brigades; the Third +Division under Custer, Colonels Wells, Capehart and Pennington being +the brigade commanders. These two divisions united were commanded by +Merritt, as they had been since leaving Winchester. Crook headed the +Second Division, his brigades being under General Davies and Colonels +John I. Gregg and Smith. + +Our general direction was westward, over such routes as could be +found, provided they did not embarrass the march of the infantry. +The roads, from the winter's frosts and rains, were in a frightful +state, and when it was sought to avoid a spot which the head of the +column had proved almost bottomless, the bogs and quicksands of the +adjoining fields demonstrated that to make a detour was to go from +bad to worse. In the face of these discouragements we floundered on, +however, crossing on the way a series of small streams swollen to +their banks. Crook and Devin reached the county-seat of Dinwiddie +about 5 o'clock in the evening, having encountered only a small +picket, that at once gave way to our advance. Merritt left Custer at +Malon's crossing of Rowanty Creek to care for the trains containing +our subsistence and the reserve ammunition, these being stuck in the +mire at, intervals all the way back to the Jerusalem plank-road; and +to make any headway at all with the trains, Custer's men often had to +unload the wagons and lift them out of the boggy places. + +Crook and Devin camped near Dinwiddie Court House in such manner as +to cover the Vaughn, Flatfoot, Boydton, and Five Forks roads; for, as +these all intersected at Dinwiddie, they offered a chance for the +enemy's approach toward the rear of the Fifth Corps, as Warren +extended to the left across the Boydton road. Any of these routes +leading to the south or west might also be the one on which, in +conformity with one part of my instructions, I was expected to get +out toward the Danville and Southside railroads, and the Five Forks +road would lead directly to General Lee's right flank, in case +opportunity was found to comply with the other part. The place was, +therefore, of great strategic value, and getting it without cost +repaid us for floundering through the mud. + +Dinwiddie Court House, though a most important point in the campaign, +was far from attractive in feature, being made up of a half-dozen +unsightly houses, a ramshackle tavern propped up on two sides with +pine poles, and the weatherbeaten building that gave official name to +the cross-roads. We had no tents--there were none in the command--so +I took possession of the tavern for shelter for myself and staff, and +just as we had finished looking over its primitive interior a rain +storm set in. + +The wagon containing my mess equipment was back somewhere on the +road, hopelessly stuck in the mud, and hence we had nothing to eat +except some coffee which two young women living at the tavern kindly +made for us; a small quantity of the berry being furnished from the +haversacks of my escort. By the time we got the coffee, rain was +falling in sheets, and the evening bade fair to be a most dismal one; +but songs and choruses set up by some of my staff--the two young +women playing accompaniments on a battered piano--relieved the +situation and enlivened us a little. However, the dreary night +brought me one great comfort; for General Grant, who that day had +moved out to Gravelly Run, sent me instructions to abandon all idea +of the contemplated raid, and directed me to act in concert with the +infantry under his immediate command, to turn, if possible, the right +flank of Lee's army. The despatch made my mind easy with respect to +the objectionable feature of my original instructions, and of course +relieved me also from the anxiety growing out of the letter received +at Hancock Station the night of the 28th; so, notwithstanding the +suspicions excited by some of my staff concerning the Virginia +feather-bed that had been assigned me, I turned in at a late hour and +slept most soundly. + +The night of the 29th the left of General Grant's infantry--Warren's +corps--rested on the Boydton road, not far from its intersection with +the Quaker road. Humphreys's corps was next to Warren; then came +Ord, next Wright, and then Parke, with his right resting on the +Appomattox. The moving of Warren and Humphreys to the left during +the day was early discovered by General Lee. He met it by extending +the right of his infantry on the White Oak road, while drawing in the +cavalry of W. H. F. Lee and Rosser along the south bank of Stony +Creek to cover a crossroads called Five Forks, to anticipate me +there; for assuming that my command was moving in conjunction with +the infantry, with the ultimate purpose of striking the Southside +railroad, Lee made no effort to hold Dinwiddie, which he might have +done with his cavalry, and in this he made a fatal mistake. The +cavalry of Fitz. Lee was ordered at this same time from Sunderland +depot to Five Forks, and its chief placed in command of all the +mounted troops of General Lee's army. + +At daylight on the 30th I proceeded to make dispositions under the +new conditions imposed by my modified instructions, and directed +Merritt to push Devin out as far as the White Oak road to make a +reconnoissance to Five Forks, Crook being instructed to send Davies's +brigade to support Devin. Crook was to hold, with Gregg's brigade, +the Stony Creek crossing of the Boydton plank road, retaining Smith's +near Dinwiddie, for use in any direction required. On the 29th W. H. +F. Lee conformed the march of his cavalry with that of ours, but my +holding Stony Creek in this way forced him to make a detour west of +Chamberlin's Run, in order to get in communication with his friends +at Five Forks. + +The rain that had been falling all night gave no sign of stopping, +but kept pouring down all day long, and the swamps and quicksands +mired the horses, whether they marched in the roads or across the +adjacent fields. Undismayed, nevertheless, each column set out for +its appointed duty, but shortly after the troops began to move I +received from General Grant this despatch, which put a new phase on +matters: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"GRAVELLY RUN, March 30, 1865. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN: + +"The heavy rain of to-day will make it impossible for us to do much +until it dries up a little, or we get roads around our rear repaired. +You may, therefore, leave what cavalry you deem necessary to protect +the left, and hold such positions as you deem necessary for that +purpose, and send the remainder back to Humphrey's Station where they +can get hay and grain. Fifty wagons loaded with forage will be sent +to you in the morning. Send an officer back to direct the wagons +back to where you want them. Report to me the cavalry you will leave +back, and the position you will occupy. Could not your cavalry go +back by the way of Stony Creek depot and destroy or capture the store +of supplies there? + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General." + + +When I had read and pondered this, I determined to ride over to +General Grant's headquarters on Gravelly Run, and get a clear idea of +what it was proposed to do, for it seemed to me that a suspension of +operations would be a serious mistake. Mounting a powerful gray +pacing horse called Breckenridge (from its capture from one of +Breckenridge's staff-officers at Missionary Ridge), and that I knew +would carry me through the mud, I set out accompanied by my Assistant +Adjutant-General, Colonel Frederick C. Newhall, and an escort of +about ten or fifteen men. At first we rode north up the Boydton +plank-road, and coming upon our infantry pickets from a direction +where the enemy was expected to appear, they began to fire upon us, +but seeing from our actions that we were friends, they ceased, and +permitted us to pass the outposts. We then struggled on in a +northeasterly direction across-country, till we struck the Vaughn +road. This carried us to army headquarters, which were established +south of Gravelly Run in an old cornfield. I rode to within a few +yards of the front of General Grant's tent, my horse plunging at +every step almost to his knees in the mud, and dismounted near a +camp-fire, apparently a general one, for all the staff-officers were +standing around it on boards and rails placed here and there to keep +them from sinking into the mire. + +Going directly to General Grant's tent, I found him and Rawlins +talking over the question of suspending operations till the weather +should improve. No orders about the matter had been issued yet, +except the despatch to me, and Rawlins, being strongly opposed to the +proposition, was frankly expostulating with General Grant, who, after +greeting me, remarked, in his quiet way: "Well, Rawlins, I think you +had better take command." Seeing that there was a difference up +between Rawlins and his chief, I made the excuse of being wet and +cold, and went outside to the fire. Here General Ingalls met me and +took me to his tent, where I was much more comfortable than when +standing outside, and where a few minutes later we were joined by +General Grant. Ingalls then retired, and General Grant began talking +of our fearful plight, resulting from the rains and mud, and saying +that because of this it seemed necessary to suspend operations. I at +once begged him not to do so, telling him that my cavalry was already +on the move in spite of the difficulties, and that although a +suspension of operations would not be fatal, yet it would give rise +to the very charge of disaster to which he had referred at City +Point, and, moreover, that we would surely be ridiculed, just as +General Burnside's army was after the mud march of 1863. His better +judgment was against suspending operations, but the proposition had +been suggested by all sorts of complaints as to the impossibility of +moving the trains and the like, so it needed little argument to +convince him, and without further discussion he said, in that manner +which with him meant a firmness of purpose that could not be changed +by further complainings, "We will go on." I then told him that I +believed I could break in the enemy's right if he would let me have +the Sixth Corps; but saying that the condition of the roads would +prevent the movement of infantry, he replied that I would have to +seize Five Forks with the cavalry alone. + +On my way back to Dinwiddie I stopped at the headquarters of General +Warren, but the General being asleep, I went to the tent of one of +his staff-officers. Colonel William T. Gentry, an old personal +friend with whom I had served in Oregon. In a few minutes Warren +came in and we had a short conversation, he speaking rather +despondently of the outlook, being influenced no doubt by the +depressing weather. + +From Warren's headquarters I returned, by the Boydton road to +Dinwiddie Court House, fording Gravelly Run with ease. When I got as +far as the Dabney road I sent Colonel Newhall out on it toward Five +Forks, with orders for Merritt to develop the enemy's position and +strength, and then rode on to Dinwiddie to endeavor to get all my +other troops up. Merritt was halted at the intersection of the Five +Forks and Gravelly Church roads when Newhall delivered the orders, +and in compliance moving out Gibbs's brigade promptly, sharp +skirmishing was brought on, Gibbs driving the Confederates to Five +Forks, where he found them behind a line of breastworks running along +the White Oak road. The reconnoissance demonstrating the intention +of the enemy to hold this point, Gibbs was withdrawn. + +That evening, at 7 o'clock, I reported the position of the +Confederate cavalry, and stated that it had been reinforced by +Pickett's division of infantry. On receipt of this despatch, General +Grant offered me the Fifth Corps, but I declined to take it, and +again asked for the Sixth, saying that with it I believed I could +turn the enemy (Pickett's) left, or break through his lines. The +morning of the 31st General Grant replied the the Sixth Corps could +not be taken from its position in the line, and offered me the +Second; but in the mean time circumstances had changed, and no corps +was ordered. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +BATTLE OF DINWIDDIE COURT HOUSE--PICKETT REPULSED--REINFORCED BY THE +FIFTH CORPS--BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS--TURNING THE CONFEDERATE LEFT--AN +UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS--RELIEVING GENERAL WARREN--THE WARREN COURT OF +INQUIRY--GENERAL SHERMAN'S OPINION. + +The night of March 30 Merritt, with Devin's division and Davies's +brigade, was camped on the Five Forks road about two miles in front +of Dinwiddie, near J. Boisseau's. Crook, with Smith and Gregg's +brigades, continued to cover Stony Creek, and Custer was still back +at Rowanty Creek, trying to get the trains up. This force had been +counted while crossing the creek on the 29th, the three divisions +numbering 9,000 enlisted men, Crook having 3,300, and Custer and +Devin 5,700. + +During the 30th, the enemy had been concentrating his cavalry, and by +evening General W. H. F. Lee and General Rosser had joined Fitzhugh +Lee near Five Forks. To this force was added, about dark, five +brigades of infantry--three from Pickett's division, and two from +Johnson's--all under command of Pickett. The infantry came by the +White Oak road from the right of General Lee's intrenchments, and +their arrival became positively known to me about dark, the +confirmatory intelligence being brought in then by some of Young's +scouts who had been inside the Confederate lines. + +On the 31st, the rain having ceased, directions were given at an +early hour to both Merritt and Crook to make reconnoissances +preparatory to securing Five Forks, and about 9 o'clock Merritt +started for the crossroads, Davies's brigade supporting him. His +march was necessarily slow because of the mud, and the enemy's +pickets resisted with obstinacy also, but the coveted crossroads fell +to Merritt without much trouble, as the bulk of the enemy was just +then bent on other things. At the same hour that Merritt started, +Crook moved Smith's brigade out northwest from Dinwiddie to +Fitzgerald's crossing of Chamberlain's Creek, to cover Merritt's +left, supporting Smith by placing Gregg to his right and rear. The +occupation of this ford was timely, for Pickett, now in command of +both the cavalry and infantry, was already marching to get in +Merritt's rear by crossing Chamberlain's Creek. + +To hold on to Fitzgerald's ford Smith had to make a sharp fight, but +Mumford's cavalry attacking Devin, the enemy's infantry succeeded in +getting over Chamberlain's Creek at a point higher up than +Fitzgerald's ford, and assailing Davies, forced him back in a +northeasterly direction toward the Dinwiddie and Five Forks road in +company with Devin. The retreat of Davies permitted Pickett to pass +between Crook and Merritt, which he promptly did, effectually +separating them and cutting off both Davies and Devin from the road +to Dinwiddie, so that to get to that point they had to retreat across +the country to B. Boisseau's and then down the Boydton road. + +Gibbs's brigade had been in reserve near the intersection of the Five +Forks and Dabney roads, and directing Merritt to hold on there, I +ordered Gregg's brigade to be mounted and brought to Merritt's aid, +for if Pickett continued in pursuit north of the Five Forks road he +would expose his right and rear, and I determined to attack him, in +such case, from Gibbs's position. Gregg arrived in good season, and +as soon as his men were dismounted on Gibbs's left, Merritt assailed +fiercely, compelling Pickett to halt and face a new foe, thus +interrupting an advance that would finally have carried Pickett into +the rear of Warren's corps. + +It was now about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and we were in a critical +situation, but having ordered Merritt to bring Devin and Davies to +Dinwiddie by the Boydton road, staff-officers were sent to hurry +Custer to the same point, for with its several diverging roads the +Court House was of vital importance, and I determined to stay there +at all hazards. At the same time orders were sent to Smith's +brigade, which, by the advance of Pickett past its right flank and +the pressure of W. H. F. Lee on its front, had been compelled to give +up Fitzgerald's crossing, to fall back toward Dinwiddie but to +contest every inch of ground so as to gain time. + +When halted by the attack of Gregg and Gibbs, Pickett, desisting from +his pursuit of Devin, as already stated, turned his undivided +attention to this unexpected force, and with his preponderating +infantry pressed it back on the Five Forks road toward Dinwiddle, +though our men, fighting dismounted behind barricades at different +points, displayed such obstinacy as to make Pickett's progress slow, +and thus give me time to look out a line for defending the Court +House. I selected a place about three-fourths of a mile northwest of +the crossroads, and Custer coming up quickly with Capehart's brigade, +took position on the left of the road to Five Forks in some open +ground along the crest of a gentle ridge. Custer got Capehart into +place just in time to lend a hand to Smith, who, severely pressed, +came back on us here from his retreat along Chamberlain's "bed"--the +vernacular for a woody swamp such as that through which Smith +retired. A little later the brigades of Gregg and Gibbs, falling to +the rear slowly and steadily, took up in the woods a line which +covered the Boydton Road some distance to the right of Capehart, the +intervening gap to be filled with Pennington's brigade. By this time +our horse-artillery, which for two days had been stuck in the mud, +was all up, and every gun was posted in this line. + +It was now near sunset, and the enemy's cavalry thinking the day was +theirs, made a dash at Smith, but just as the assailants appeared in +the open fields, Capehart's men opened so suddenly on their left +flank as to cause it to recoil in astonishment, which permitted Smith +to connect his brigade with Custer unmolested. We were now in good +shape behind the familiar barricades, and having a continuous line, +excepting only the gap to be filled with Pennington, that covered +Dinwiddie and the Boydton Road. My left rested in the woods about +half a mile west of the Court House, and the barricades extended from +this flank in a semicircle through the open fields in a northeasterly +direction, to a piece-of thick timber on the right, near the Boydton +Road. + +A little before the sun went down the Confederate infantry was formed +for the attack, and, fortunately for us, Pennington's brigade came up +and filled the space to which it was assigned between Capehart and +Gibbs, just as Pickett moved out across the cleared fields in front +of Custer, in deep lines that plainly told how greatly we were +outnumbered. + +Accompanied by Generals Merritt and Custer and my staff, I now rode +along the barricades to encourage the men. Our enthusiastic +reception showed that they were determined to stay. The cavalcade +drew the enemy's fire, which emptied several of the saddles--among +others Mr. Theodore Wilson, correspondent of the New York Herald, +being wounded. In reply our horse-artillery opened on the advancing +Confederates, but the men behind the barricades lay still till +Pickett's troops were within short range. Then they opened, Custer's +repeating rifles pouring out such a shower of lead that nothing could +stand up against it. The repulse was very quick, and as the gray +lines retired to the woods from which but a few minutes before they +had so confidently advanced, all danger of their taking Dinwiddie or +marching to the left and rear of our infantry line was over, +at least for the night. The enemy being thus checked, I sent a +staff-officer--Captain Sheridan--to General Grant to report what had +taken place during the afternoon, and to say that I proposed to stay at +Dinwiddie, but if ultimately compelled to abandon the place, I would do +so by retiring on the Vaughn road toward Hatcher's Run, for I then +thought the attack might be renewed next morning. Devin and Davies +joined me about dark, and my troops being now well in hand, I sent a +second staff-officer--Colonel John Kellogg--to explain my situation +more fully, and to assure General Grant that I would hold on at +Dinwiddie till forced to let go. + +By following me to Dinwiddie the enemy's infantry had completely +isolated itself, and hence there was now offered the Union troops a +rare opportunity. Lee was outside of his works, just as we desired, +and the general-in-chief realized this the moment he received the +first report of my situation; General Meade appreciated it too from +the information he got from Captain Sheridan, en route to army +headquarters with the first tidings, and sent this telegram to +General Grant: + +"HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, +"March 31, 1865. 9:45 p.m. + +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT: + +"Would it not be well for Warren to go down with his whole corps and +smash up the force in front of Sheridan? Humphreys can hold the line +to the Boydton plank-road, and the refusal along with it. Bartlett's +brigade is now on the road from G. Boisseau's, running north, where +it crosses Gravelly Run, he having gone down the White Oak road. +Warren could go at once that way, and take the force threatening +Sheridan in rear at Dinwiddie, and move on the enemy's rear with the +other two. + +"G. G. MEADE, Major-General." + + +An hour later General Grant replied in these words: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"DABNEY'S MILLS, March 311, 1865. 10:15 P. M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, +"Commanding Army of the Potomac. + +Let Warren move in the way you propose, and urge him not to stop for +anything. Let Griffin (Griffin had been ordered by Warren to the +Boydton road to protect his rear) go on as he was first directed. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." + + +These two despatches were the initiatory steps in sending the Fifth +Corps, under Major-General G. K. Warren, to report to me, and when I +received word of its coming and also that Genera Mackenzie's cavalry +from the Army of the James was likewise to be added to my command, +and that discretionary authority was given me to use all my forces +against Pickett, I resolved to destroy him, if it was within the +bounds of possibility, before he could rejoin Lee. + +In a despatch, dated 10:05 p.m., telling me of the coming of Warren +and Mackenzie, General Grant also said that the Fifth Corps should +reach me by 12 o'clock that night, but at that hour not only had none +of the corps arrived, but no report from it, so believing that if it +came all the way down to Dinwiddie the next morning, our opportunity +would be gone, I concluded that it would be best to order Warren to +move in on the enemy's rear while the cavalry attacked in front, and, +therefore, at 3 o'clock in the morning of April 1 sent this despatch +to General Warren: + +"CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS, DINWIDDIE C. H., +"April 1, 1865--3. A.M. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL WARREN, +"Commanding Fifth Army Corps. + +"I am holding in front of Dinwiddie Court House, on the road leading +to Five Forks, for three-quarters of a mile with General Custer's +division. The enemy are in his immediate front, lying so as to cover +the road just this side of A. Adams's house, which leads across +Chamberlain's bed, or run. I understand you have a division at J.[G] +Boisseau's; if so, you are in rear of the enemy's line and almost on +his flank. I will hold on here. Possibly they may attack Custer at +daylight; if so, attack instantly and in full force. Attack at +daylight anyhow, and I will make an effort to get the road this side +of Adams's house, and if I do, you can capture the whole of them. +Any force moving down the road I am holding, or on the White Oak +road, will be in the enemy's rear, and in all probability get any +force that may escape you by a flank movement. Do not fear my +leaving here. If the enemy remains, I shall fight at daylight. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + + +With daylight came a slight fog, but it lifted almost immediately, +and Merritt moved Custer and Devin forward. As these divisions +advanced the enemy's infantry fell back on the Five Forks road, Devin +pressing him along the road, while Custer extended on the left over +toward Chamberlain's Run, Crook being held in watch along Stony +Creek, meanwhile, to be utilized as circumstances might require when +Warren attacked. + +The order of General Meade to Warren the night of March 31--a copy +being sent me also--was positive in its directions, but as midnight +came without a sign of or word from the Fifth Corps, notwithstanding +that was the hour fixed for its arrival, I nevertheless assumed that +there were good reasons for its non-appearance, but never once +doubted that measures would be taken to comply with my despatch Of +3 A. M. and therefore hoped that, as Pickett was falling back slowly +toward Five Forks, Griffin's and Crawford's divisions would come in +on the Confederate left and rear by the Crump road near J.[G] +Boisseau's house. + +But they did not reach there till after the enemy had got by. As a +matter of fact, when Pickett was passing the all-important point +Warren's men were just breaking from the bivouac in which their chief +had placed them the night before, and the head of Griffin's division +did not get to Boisseau's till after my cavalry, which meanwhile had +been joined by Ayres's division of the Fifth Corps by way of the +Boydton and Dabney roads. By reason of the delay in moving Griffin +and Crawford, the enemy having escaped, I massed the Fifth Corps at +J.[G] Boisseau's so that the men could be rested, and directed it to +remain there; General Warren himself had not then come up. General +Mackenzie, who had reported just after daybreak, was ordered at first +to stay at Dinwiddie Court House, but later was brought along the +Five Forks road to Dr. Smith's, and Crook's division was directed to +continue watching the crossings of Stony Creek and Chamberlain's Run. + +That we had accomplished nothing but to oblige our foe to retreat was +to me bitterly disappointing, but still feeling sure that he would +not give up the Five Forks crossroads without a fight, I pressed him +back there with Merritt's cavalry, Custer advancing on the Scott +road, while Devin drove the rearguard along that leading from J.[G] +Boisseau's to Five Forks. + +By 2 o'clock in the afternoon Merritt had forced the enemy inside his +intrenchments, which began with a short return about three-quarters +of a mile east of the Forks and ran along the south side of the White +Oak road to a point about a mile west of the Forks. From the left of +the return over toward Hatcher's Run was posted Mumford's cavalry, +dismounted. In the return itself was Wallace's brigade, and next on +its right came Ransom's, then Stewart's, then Terry's, then Corse's. +On the right of Corse was W. H. F. Lee's division of cavalry. Ten +pieces of artillery also were in this line, three on the right of the +works, three near the centre at the crossroads, and four on the left, +in the return. Rosser's cavalry was guarding the Confederate trains +north of Hatcher's Run beyond the crossing of the Ford road. + +I felt certain the enemy would fight at Five Forks--he had to--so, +while we were getting up to his intrenchments, I decided on my plan +of battle. This was to attack his whole front with Merritt's two +cavalry divisions, make a feint of turning his right flank, and with +the Fifth Corps assail his left. As the Fifth Corps moved into +action, its right flank was to be covered by Mackenzie's cavalry, +thus entirely cutting off Pickett's troops from communication with +Lee's right flank, which rested near the Butler house at the junction +of the Claiborne and White Oaks roads. In execution of this plan, +Merritt worked his men close in toward the intrenchments, and while +he was thus engaged, I ordered Warren to bring up the Fifth Corps, +sending the order by my engineer officer, Captain Gillespie, who had +reconnoitred the ground in the neighborhood of Gravelly Run Church, +where the infantry was to form for attack. + +Gillespie delivered the order about 1 o'clock, and when the corps was +put in motion, General Warren joined me at the front. Before he +came, I had received, through Colonel Babcock, authority from General +Grant to relieve him, but I did not wish to do it, particularly on +the eve of battle; so, saying nothing at all about the message +brought me, I entered at once on the plan for defeating Pickett, +telling Warren how the enemy was posted, explaining with considerable +detail, and concluding by stating that I wished his troops to be +formed on the Gravelly Church road, near its junction with the White +Oak road, with two divisions to the front, aligned obliquely to the +White Oak road, and one in reserve, opposite the centre of these two. + +General Warren seemed to understand me clearly, and then left to join +his command, while I turned my attention to the cavalry, instructing +Merritt to begin by making demonstrations as though to turn the +enemy's right, and to assault the front of the works with his +dismounted cavalry as soon as Warren became engaged. Afterward I +rode around to Gravelly Run Church, and found the head of Warren's +column just appearing, while he was sitting under a tree making a +rough sketch of the ground. I was disappointed that more of the +corps was not already up, and as the precious minutes went by without +any apparent effort to hurry the troops on to the field, this +disappointment grew into disgust. At last I expressed to Warren my +fears that the cavalry might expend all their ammunition before the +attack could be made, that the sun would go down before the battle +could be begun, or that troops from Lee's right, which, be it +remembered, was less than three miles away from my right, might, by +striking my rear, or even by threatening it, prevent the attack on +Pickett. + +Warren did not seem to me to be at all solicitous; his manner +exhibited decided apathy, and he remarked with indifference that +"Bobby Lee was always getting people into trouble." With unconcern +such as this, it is no wonder that fully three hours' time was +consumed in marching his corps from J.[G] Boisseau's to Gravelly Run +Church, though the distance was but two miles. However, when my +patience was almost worn out, Warren reported his troops ready, +Ayres's division being formed on the west side of the Gravelly Church +road, Crawford's on the east side, and Griffin in reserve behind the +right of Crawford, a little different from my instructions. The +corps had no artillery present, its batteries, on account of the mud, +being still north of Gravelly Run. Meanwhile Merritt had been busy +working his men close up to the intrenchments from the angle of the +return west, along the White Oak road. + +About 4 o'clock Warren began the attack. He was to assault the left +flank of the Confederate infantry at a point where I knew Pickett's +intrenchments were refused, almost at right angles with the White Oak +road. I did not know exactly how far toward Hatcher's Run this part +of the works extended, for here the videttes of Mumford's cavalry +were covering, but I did know where the refusal began. This return, +then, was the point I wished to assail, believing that if the assault +was made with spirit, the line could be turned. I therefore intended +that Ayres and Crawford should attack the refused trenches squarely, +and when these two divisions and Merritt's cavalry became hotly +engaged, Griffin's division was to pass around the left of the +Confederate line; and I personally instructed Griffin how I wished +him to go in, telling him also that as he advanced, his right flank +would be taken care of by Mackenzie, who was to be pushed over toward +the Ford road and Hatcher's Run. + +The front of the corps was oblique to the White Oak road; and on +getting there, it was to swing round to the left till perpendicular +to the road, keeping closed to the left. Ayres did his part well, +and to the letter, bringing his division square up to the front of +the return near the angle; but Crawford did not wheel to the left, as +was intended. On the contrary, on receiving fire from Mumford's +cavalry, Crawford swerved to the right and moved north from the +return, thus isolating his division from Ayres; and Griffin, +uncertain of the enemy's position, naturally followed Crawford. + +The deflection of this division on a line of march which finally +brought it out on the Ford road near C. Young's house, frustrated the +purpose I had in mind when ordering the attack, and caused a gap +between Ayres and Crawford, of which the enemy quickly took +advantage, and succeeded in throwing a part of Ayres's division into +confusion. At this juncture I sent word to General Warren to have +Crawford recalled; for the direction he was following was not only a +mistaken one, but, in case the assault at the return failed, he ran +great risk of capture. Warren could not be found, so I then sent for +Griffin--first by Colonel Newhall, and then by Colonel Sherman--to +come to the aid of Ayres, who was now contending alone with that part +of the enemy's infantry at the return. By this time Griffin had +observed and appreciated Crawford's mistake, however, and when the +staff-officers reached him, was already faced to the left; so, +marching across Crawford's rear, he quickly joined Ayres, who +meanwhile had rallied his troops and carried the return. + +When Ayres's division went over the flank of the enemy's works, +Devin's division of cavalry, which had been assaulting the front, +went over in company with it; and hardly halting to reform, the +intermingling infantry and dismounted cavalry swept down inside the +intrenchments, pushing to and beyond Five Forks, capturing thousands +of prisoners. The only stand the enemy tried to make was when he +attempted to form near the Ford road. Griffin pressed him so hard +there, however, that he had to give way in short order, and many of +his men, with three pieces of artillery, fell into the hands of +Crawford while on his circuitous march. + +The right of Custer's division gained a foothold on the enemy's works +simultaneously with Devin's, but on the extreme left Custer had a +very severe combat with W. H. F. Lee's cavalry, as well as with +Corse's and Terry's infantry. Attacking Terry and Corse with +Pennington's brigade dismounted, he assailed Lee's cavalry with his +other two brigades mounted, but Lee held on so obstinately that +Custer gained but little ground till our troops, advancing behind the +works, drove Corse and Terry out. Then Lee made no further stand +except at the west side of the Gillian field, where, assisted by +Corse's brigade, he endeavored to cover the retreat, but just before +dark Custer, in concert with some Fifth Corps regiments under Colonel +Richardson, drove ihe last of the enemy westward on the White Oak +road. + +Our success was unqualified; we had overthrown Pickett, taken six +guns, thirteen battle-flags, and nearly six thousand prisoners. When +the battle was practically over, I turned to consider my position +with reference to the main Confederate army. My troops, though +victorious, were isolated from the Army of the Potomac, for on the +31st of March the extreme left of that army had been thrown back +nearly to the Boydton plank-road, and hence there was nothing to +prevent the enemy's issuing from his trenches at the intersection of +the White Oak and Claiborne roads and marching directly on my rear. +I surmised that he might do this that night or early next morning. +It was therefore necessary to protect myself in this critical +situation, and General Warren having sorely disappointed me, both in +the moving of his corps and in its management during the battle, I +felt that he was not the man to rely upon under such circumstances, +and deeming that it was to the best interest of the service as well +as but just to myself, I relieved him, ordering him to report to +General Grant. + +I then put Griffin in command of the Fifth Corps, and directed him to +withdraw from the pursuit as quickly as he could after following the +enemy a short distance, and form in line of battle near Gravelly Run +Church, at right angles with the White Oak road, with Ayres and +Crawford facing toward the enemy at the junction of the White Oak and +Claiborne roads, leaving Bartlett, now commanding Griffin's division, +near the Ford road. Mackenzie also was left on the Ford road at the +crossing of Hatcher's Run, Merritt going into camp on the Widow +Gillian's plantation. As I had been obliged to keep Crook's division +along Stony Creek throughout the day, it had taken no active part in +the battle. + +Years after the war, in 1879, a Court of Inquiry was given General +Warren in relation to his conduct on the day of the battle. He +assumed that the delay in not granting his request for an inquiry, +which was first made at the close of the war, was due to opposition +on my part. In this he was in error; I never opposed the ordering of +the Court, but when it was finally decided to convene it I naturally +asked to be represented by counsel, for the authorization of the +Inquiry was so peculiarly phrased that it made me practically a +respondent. + + +"NEW YORK CITY, May 3, 1880 + +"MAJOR-GENERAL W. S. HANCOCK, U. S. A. +"President Court of Inquiry, Governor's Island. + +"Sir: Since my arrival in this city, under a subpoena to appear and +testify before the Court of which you are president, I have been +indirectly and unofficially informed that the Court some time ago +forwarded an invitation to me (which has not been received) to appear +personally or by counsel, in order to aid it in obtaining a knowledge +as to the facts concerning the movements terminating in the battle of +'Five Forks,' with reference to the direct subjects of its inquiry. +Any invitation of this character I should always and do consider it +incumbent on me to accede to, and do everything in my power in +furtherance of the specific purposes for which courts of inquiry are +by law instituted. + +"The order convening the Court (a copy of which was not received by +me at my division headquarters until two days after the time +appointed for the Court to assemble) contemplates an inquiry based on +the application of Lieutenant Colonel G. K. Warren, Corps of +Engineers, as to his conduct while major-general commanding the Fifth +Army Corps, under my command, in reference to accusations or +imputations assumed in the order to have been made against him, and I +understand through the daily press that my official report of the +battle of Five Forks has been submitted by him as a basis of inquiry. + +"If it is proposed to inquire, either directly or indirectly, as to +any action of mine so far as the commanding general Fifth Army Corps +was concerned, or my motives for such action, I desire to be +specifically informed wherein such action or transaction is alleged +to contain an accusation or imputation to become a subject of +inquiry, so that, knowing what issues are raised, I may intelligently +aid the Court in arriving at the facts. + +"It is a long time since the battle of Five Forks was fought, and +during the time that has elapsed the official reports of that battle +have been received and acknowledged by the Government; but now, when +the memory of events has in many instances grown dim, and three of +the principal actors on that field are dead--Generals Griffin, +Custer, and Devin, whose testimony would have been valuable--an +investigation is ordered which might perhaps do injustice unless the +facts pertinent to the issues are fully developed. + +"My duties are such that it will not be convenient for me to be +present continuously during the sessions of the Court. In order, +however, that everything may be laid before it in my power pertinent +to such specific issues as are legally raised, I beg leave to +introduce Major Asa Bird Gardner as my counsel. + +"Very respectfully, + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieut.-General." + + +Briefly stated, in my report of the battle of Five Forks there were +four imputations concerning General Warren. The first implied that +Warren failed to reach me on the 1st of April, when I had reason to +expect him; the second, that the tactical handling of his corps was +unskillful; the third, that he did not exert himself to get his corps +up to Gravelly Run Church; and the fourth, that when portions of his +line gave way he did not exert himself to restore confidence to his +troops. The Court found against him on the first and second counts, +and for him on the third and fourth. This finding was unsatisfactory +to General Warren, for he hoped to obtain such an unequivocal +recognition of his services as to cast discredit on my motives for +relieving him. These were prompted by the conditions alone--by the +conduct of General Warren as described, and my consequent lack of +confidence in him. + +It will be remembered that in my conversation with General Grant on +the 30th, relative to the suspension of operations because of the +mud, I asked him to let me have the Sixth Corps to help me in +breaking in on the enemy's right, but that it could not be sent me; +it will be recalled also that the Fifth Corps was afterward tendered +and declined. From these facts it has been alleged that I was +prejudiced against General Warren, but this is not true. As we had +never been thrown much together I knew but little of him. I had no +personal objection to him, and certainly could have none to his +corps. I was expected to do an extremely dangerous piece of work, +and knowing the Sixth Corps well--my cavalry having campaigned with +it so successfully in the Shenandoah Valley, I naturally preferred +it, and declined the Fifth for no other reason. But the Sixth could +not be given, and the turn of events finally brought me the Fifth +after my cavalry, under the most trying difficulties, had drawn the +enemy from his works, and into such a position as to permit the +realization of General Grant's hope to break up with my force Lee's +right flank. Pickett's isolation offered an opportunity which we +could not afford to neglect, and the destruction of his command would +fill the measure of General Grant's expectations as well as meet my +own desires. The occasion was not an ordinary one, and as I thought +that Warren had not risen to its demand in the battle, I deemed it +injudicious and unsafe under the critical conditions existing to +retain him longer. That I was justified in this is plain to all who +are disposed to be fair-minded, so with the following extract from +General Sherman's review of the proceedings of the Warren Court, and +with which I am convinced the judgment of history will accord, I +leave the subject: + +"....It would be an unsafe and dangerous rule to hold the commander +of an army in battle to a technical adherence to any rule of conduct +for managing his command. He is responsible for results, and holds +the lives and reputations of every officer and soldier under his +orders as subordinate to the great end--victory. The most important +events are usually compressed into an hour, a minute, and he cannot +stop to analyze his reasons. He must act on the impulse, the +conviction, of the instant, and should be sustained in his +conclusions, if not manifestly unjust. The power to command men, and +give vehement impulse to their joint action, is something which +cannot be defined by words, but it is plain and manifest in battles, +and whoever commands an army in chief must choose his subordinates by +reason of qualities which can alone be tested in actual conflict. + +"No one has questioned the patriotism, integrity, and great +intelligence of General Warren. These are attested by a long record +of most excellent service, but in the clash of arms at and near Five +Forks, March 31 and April 1, 1865, his personal activity fell short +of the standard fixed by General Sheridan, on whom alone rested the +great responsibility for that and succeeding days. + +"My conclusion is that General Sheridan was perfectly justified in +his action in this case, and he must be fully and entirely sustained +if the United States expects great victories by her arms in the +future." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +RESULT OF THE BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS--RETREAT OF LEE--AN INTERCEPTED +DESPATCH--AT AMELIA COURT HOUSE--BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--THE +CONFEDERATES' STUBBORN RESISTANCE--A COMPLETE VICTORY--IMPORTANCE OF +THE BATTLE. + +When the news of the battle at Five Forks reached General Grant, he +realized that the decisive character of our victory would necessitate +the immediate abandonment of Richmond and Petersburg by the enemy; +and fearing that Lee would escape without further injury, he issued +orders, the propriety of which must be settled by history, to assault +next morning the whole intrenched line. But Lee could not retreat at +once. He had not anticipated dissster at Five Forks, and hence was +unprepared to withdraw on the moment; and the necessity of getting +off his trains and munitions of war, as well as being obliged to +cover the flight of the Confederate Government, compelled him to hold +on to Richmond and Petersburg till the afternoon of the 2d, though +before that Parke, Ord, and Wright had carried his outer +intrenchments at several points, thus materially shortening the line +of investment. + +The night of the 1st of April, General Humphreys's corps--the Second +--had extended its left toward the White Oak road, and early next +morning, under instructions from General Grant, Miles's division of +that corps reported to me, and supporting him with Ayres's and +Crawford's divisions of the Fifth Corps, I then directed him to +advance toward Petersburg and attack the enemy's works at the +intersection of the Claiborne and White Oak roads. + +Such of the enemy as were still in the works Miles easily forced +across Hatcher's Run, in the direction of Sutherland's depot, but the +Confederates promptly took up a position north of the little stream, +and Miles being anxious to attack, I gave him leave, but just at this +time General Humphreys came up with a request to me from General +Meade to return Miles. On this request I relinquished command of the +division, when, supported by the Fifth Corps it could have broken in +the enemy's right at a vital point; and I have always since regretted +that I did so, for the message Humphreys conveyed was without +authority from General Grant, by whom Miles had been sent to me, but +thinking good feeling a desideratum just then, and wishing to avoid +wrangles, I faced the Fifth Corps about and marched it down to Five +Forks, and out the Ford road to the crossing of Hatcher's Run. After +we had gone, General Grant, intending this quarter of the field to be +under my control, ordered Humphreys with his other two divisions to +move to the right, in toward Petersburg. This left Miles entirely +unsupported, and his gallant attack made soon after was unsuccessful +at first, but about 3 o'clock in the afternoon he carried the point +which covered the retreat from Petersburg and Richmond. + +Merritt had been sent westward, meanwhile, in the direction of Ford's +Station, to break the enemy's horse which had been collecting to the +north of Hatcher's Run. Meeting, with but little opposition, Merritt +drove this cavalry force in a northerly direction toward Scott's +Corners, while the Fifth Corps was pushed toward Sutherland's depot, +in the hope of coming in on the rear of the force that was +confronting Miles when I left him. Crawford and Merritt engaged the +enemy lightly just before night, but his main column, retreating +along the river road south of the Appomattox, had got across Namozine +Creek, and the darkness prevented our doing more than to pick up some +stragglers. The next morning the pursuit was resumed, the cavalry +again in advance, the Fifth Corps keeping up with it all the while, +and as we pressed our adversaries hundreds and hundreds of prisoners, +armed and unarmed, fell into our hands, together with many wagons and +five pieces of artillery. At Deep Creek the rearguard turned on us, +and a severe skirmish took place. Merritt, finding the enemy very +strong, was directed to await the arrival of Crook and for the rear +division of the Fifth Corps; but by the time they reached the creek, +darkness had again come to protect the Confederates, and we had to be +content with meagre results at that point. + +From the beginning it was apparent that Lee, in his retreat, was +making for Amelia Court House, where his columns north and south of +the Appomattox River could join, and where, no doubt, he expected to +meet supplies, so Crook was ordered to march early on April 4 to +strike the Danville railroad, between Jettersville and Burkeville, +and then move south along the railroad toward Jettersville, Merritt +to move toward Amelia Court House, and the Fifth Corps to +Jettersville itself. + +The Fifth Corps got to Jettersville about 5 in the afternoon, and I +immediately intrenched it across the Burkeville road with the +determination to stay there till the main army could come up, for I +hoped we could force Lee to surrender at Amelia Court House, since a +firm hold on Jettersville would cut him off from his line of retreat +toward Burkeville. + +Accompanied only by my escort--the First United States Cavalry, about +two hundred strong--I reached Jettersville some little time before +the Fifth Corps, and having nothing else at hand I at once deployed +this handful of men to cover the crossroads till the arrival of the +corps. Just as the troopers were deploying, a man on a mule, heading +for Burkeville, rode into my pickets. He was arrested, of course, +and being searched there was found in his boots this telegram in +duplicate, signed by Lee's Commissary General. + +"The army is at Amelia Court House, short of provisions. Send +300,000 rations quickly to Burkeville Junction." One copy was +addressed to the supply department at Danville, and the other to that +at Lynchburg. I surmised that the telegraph lines north of +Burkeville had been broken by Crook after the despatches were +written, which would account for their being transmitted by +messenger. There was thus revealed not only the important fact that +Lee was concentrating at Amelia Court House, but also a trustworthy +basis for estimating his troops, so I sent word to Crook to strike up +the railroad toward me, and to Merritt--who, as I have said, had +followed on the heels of the enemy--to leave Mackenzie there and +himself close in on Jettersville. Staff-officers were also +despatched to hurry up Griffin with the Fifth Corps, and his tired men +redoubled their strides. + +My troops too were hard up for rations, for in the pursuit we could +not wait for our trains, so I concluded to secure if possible these +provisions intended for Lee. To this end I directed Young to send +four of his best scouts to Burkeville Junction. There they were to +separate, two taking the railroad toward Lynchburg and two toward +Danville, and as soon as a telegraph station was reached the telegram +was to be transmitted as it had been written and the provisions thus +hurried forward. + +Although the Fifth Corps arrived at Jettersville the evening of April +4, as did also Crook's and Merritt's cavalry, yet none of the army of +the Potomac came up till about 3 o'clock the afternoon of the 5th, +the Second Corps, followed by the Sixth, joining us then. General +Meade arrived at Jettersville an hour earlier, but being ill, +requested me to put his troops in position. The Fifth Corps being +already intrenched across the Amelia Court House road facing north, I +placed the Sixth on its right and the Second on its left as they +reached the ground. + +As the enemy had been feeling us ever since morning--to learn what he +was up to I directed Crook to send Davies's brigade on a +reconnoissance to Paine's crossroads. Davies soon found out that Lee +was trying to escape by that flank, for at the crossroads he found +the Confederate trains and artillery moving rapidly westward. Having +driven away the escort, Davies succeeded in burning nearly two +hundred wagons, and brought off five pieces of artillery. Among +these wagons were some belonging to General, Lee's and to General +Fitzhugh Lee's headquarters. This work through, Davies withdrew and +rejoined Crook, who, with Smith and Gregg, was established near Flat +Creek. + +It being plain that Lee would attempt to escape as soon as his trains +were out of the way, I was most anxious to attack him when the Second +Corps began to arrive, for I felt certain that unless we did so he +would succeed in passing by our left flank, and would thus again make +our pursuit a stern-chase; but General Meade, whose plan of attack +was to advance his right flank on Amelia Court House, objected to +assailing before all his troops were up. + +I then sent despatches to General Grant, explaining what Davies had +done, and telling him that the Second Corps was arriving, and that I +wished he himself was present. I assured him of my confidence in our +capturing Lee if we properly exerted ourselves, and informed him, +finally, that I would put all my cavalry, except Mackenzie, on my +left, and that, with such a disposition of my forces, I could see no +escape for Lee. I also inclosed him this letter, which had just been +captured: + +"AMELIA C. H., April 5, 1865. + +"DEAR MAMMA: + +"Our army is ruined, I fear. We are all safe as yet. Shyron left us +sick. John Taylor is well--saw him yesterday. We are in line of +battle this morning. General Robert Lee is in the field near us. My +trust is still in the justice of our cause, and that of God. General +Hill is killed. I saw Murray a few minutes since. Bernard, Terry +said, was taken prisoner, but may yet get out. I send this by a +negro I see passing up the railroad to Mechlenburg. Love to all. + +"Your devoted son, + +"Wm. B. TAYLOR, Colonel." + + +General Grant, who on the 5th was accompanying General Ord's column +toward Burkeville Junction, did not receive this intelligence till +nearly nightfall, when within about ten miles of the Junction. He +set out for Jettersville immediately, but did not reach us till near +midnight, too late of course to do anything that night. Taking me +with him, we went over to see Meade, whom he then directed to advance +early in the morning on Amelia Court House. In this interview Grant +also stated that the orders Meade had already issued would permit +Lee's escape, and therefore must be changed, for it was not the aim +only to follow the enemy, but to get ahead of him, remarking during +the conversation that, "he had no doubt Lee was moving right then." +On this same occasion Meade expressed a desire to have in the +proposed attack all the troops of the Army of the Potomac under his +own command, and asked for the return of the Fifth Corps. I made no +objections, and it was ordered to report, to him. + +When, on the morning of the 6th, Meade advanced toward Amelia Court +House, he found, as predicted, that Lee was gone. It turned out that +the retreat began the evening of the 5th and continued all night. +Satisfied that this would be the case, I did not permit the cavalry +to participate in Meade's useless advance, but shifted it out toward +the left to the road running from Deatonsville to Rice's station, +Crook leading and Merritt close up. Before long the enemy's trains +were discovered on this road, but Crook could make but little +impression on them, they were so strongly guarded; so, leaving +Stagg's brigade and Miller's battery about three miles southwest of +Deatonsville--where the road forks, with a branch leading north +toward the Appomattox--to harass the retreating column and find a +vulnerable point, I again shifted the rest of the cavalry toward the +left, across-country, but still keeping parallel to the enemy's line +of march. + +Just after crossing Sailor's Greek, a favorable opportunity offering, +both Merritt and Crook attacked vigorously, gained the Rice's Station +road, destroyed several hundred wagons, made many prisoners, and +captured sixteen pieces of artillery. This was important, but more +valuable still was the fact that we were astride the enemy's line of +retreat, and had cut off from joining Longstreet, waiting at Rice's +Station, a corps of Confederate infantry under General Ewell, +composed of Anderson's, Kershaw's, and Custis Lee's divisions. +Stagg's brigade and Miller's battery, which, as I have said, had been +left at the forks of the Deatonsville road, had meanwhile broken in +between the rear of Ewell's column and the head of Gordon's, forcing +Gordon to abandon his march for Rice's Station, and to take the +right-hand road at the forks, on which he was pursued by General +Humphreys. + +The complete isolation of Ewell from Longstreet in his front and +Gordon in his rear led to the battle of Sailor's Creek, one of the +severest conflicts of the war, for the enemy fought with desperation +to escape capture, and we, bent on his destruction, were no less +eager and determined. The capture of Ewell, with six of his generals +and most of his troops, crowned our success, but the fight was so +overshadowed by the stirring events of the surrender three days +later, that the battle has never been accorded the prominence it +deserves. + +The small creek from which the field takes its name flows in a +northwesterly direction across the road leading from Deatonsville to +Rice's Station. By shifting to the left, Merritt gained the Rice's +Station road west of the creek, making havoc of the wagon-trains, +while Crook struck them further on and planted himself square across +the road. This blocked Ewell, who, advancing Anderson to some high +ground west of the creek, posted him behind barricades, with the +intention of making a hard fight there, while the main body should +escape through the woods in a westerly direction to roads that led to +Farmville. This was prevented, however, by Crook forming his +division, two brigades dismounted and one mounted, and at once +assaulting all along Anderson's front and overlapping his right, +while Merritt fiercely attacked to the right of Crook. The enemy +being thus held, enabled the Sixth Corps--which in the meantime I had +sent for--to come upon the ground, and Ewell, still contending with +the cavalry, found himself suddenly beset by this new danger from his +rear. To, meet it, he placed Kershaw to the right and Custis Lee to +the left of the Rice's Station road, facing them north toward and +some little distance from Sailor's Creek, supporting Kershaw with +Commander Tucker's Marine brigade. Ewell's skirmishers held the line +of Sailor's Creek, which runs through a gentle valley, the north +slope of which was cleared ground. + +By General Grant's directions the Sixth Corps had been following my +route of march since the discovery, about 9 o'clock in the morning, +that Lee had decamped from Amelia Court House. Grant had promptly +informed me of this in a note, saying, "The Sixth Corps will go in +with a vim any place you may dictate," so when I sent word to Wright +of the enemy's isolation, and asked him to hurry on with all speed, +his gallant corps came as fast as legs could carry them, he sending +to me successively Major McClellan and Colonel Franklin, of his +staff, to report his approach. + +I was well advised as to the position of the enemy through +information brought me by an intelligent young soldier, William A. +Richardson, Company "A," Second Ohio, who, in one of the cavalry +charges on Anderson, had cleared the barricades and made his way back +to my front through Ewell's line. Richardson had told me just how +the main body of the enemy was posted, so as Seymour's division +arrived I directed General Wright to put it on the right of the road, +while Wheaton's men, coming up all hot and out of breath, promptly +formed on Seymour's left. Both divisions thus aligned faced +southwest toward Sailor's Creek, and the artillery of the corps being +massed to the left and front of the Hibbon house, without waiting for +Getty's division--for I feared that if we delayed longer the enemy +might effect his escape toward Farmville--the general attack was +begun. Seymour and Wheaton, moving forward together, assailed the +enemy's front and left, and Stagg's brigade, too, which in the mean +time had been placed between Wheaton's left and Devin's right, went +at him along with them, Merritt and Crook resuming the fight from +their positions in front of Anderson. The enemy, seeing little +chance of escape, fought like a tiger at bay, but both Seymour and +Wheaton pressed him vigorously, gaining ground at all points except +just to the right of the road, where Seymour's left was checked. +Here the Confederates burst back on us in a counter-charge, surging +down almost to the creek, but the artillery, supported by Getty, who +in the mean time had come on the ground, opened on them so terribly +that this audacious and furious onset was completely broken, though +the gallant fellows fell back to their original line doggedly, and +not until after they had almost gained the creek. Ewell was now +hemmed in on every side, and all those under his immediate command +were captured. Merritt and Crook had also broken up Anderson by this +time, but he himself, and about two thousand disorganized men escaped +by making their way through the woods toward the Appomattox River +before they could be entirely enveloped. Night had fallen when the +fight was entirely over, but Devin was pushed on in pursuit for about +two miles, part of the Sixth Corps following to clinch a victory +which not only led to the annihilation of one corps of Lee's +retreating army, but obliged Longstreet to move up to Farmville, so +as to take a road north of the Appomattox River toward Lynchburg +instead of continuing toward Danville. + +At the close of the battle I sent one of my staff--Colonel Redwood +Price--to General Grant to report what had been done; that we had +taken six generals and from nine to ten thousand prisoners. On his +way Price stopped at the headquarters of General Meade, where he +learned that not the slightest intelligence of the occurrence on my +line had been received, for I not being under Meade's command, he had +paid no attention to my movements. Price gave the story of the +battle, and General Meade, realizing its importance, sent directions +immediately to General Wright to make his report of the engagement to +the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, assuming that Wright was +operating independently of me in the face of Grant's despatch Of +2 o'clock, which said that Wright was following the cavalry and would +"go in with a vim" wherever I dictated. Wright could not do else +than comply with Meade's orders in the case, and I, being then in +ignorance of Meade's reasons for the assumption, could say nothing. +But General Grant plainly intending, and even directing, that the +corps should be under my command, remedied this phase of the matter, +when informed of what had taken place, by requiring Wright to send a +report of the battle through me. What he then did, and what his +intentions and orders were, are further confirmed by a reference to +the episode in his "Memoirs," where he gives his reasons for ordering +the Sixth Corps to abandon the move on Amelia Court House and pass to +the left of the army. On the same page he also says, referring to +the 6th of April: "The Sixth Corps now remained with the cavalry +under Sheridan's direct command until after the surrender." He +unquestionably intended all of this, but his purpose was partly +frustrated by General Meade's action next morning in assuming +direction of the movements of the corps; and before General Grant +became aware of the actual conditions the surrender was at hand. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +LINCOLN'S LACONIC DESPATCH--CAPTURING LEE'S SUPPLIES--DELIGHTED +ENGINEERS--THE CONFEDERATES' LAST EFFORT--A FLAG OF TRUCE--GENERAL +GEARY'S "LAST DITCH" ABSURDITY--MEETING OF GRANT AND LEE--THE +SURRENDER--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL GRANT. + +The first report of the battle of Sailor's Creek that General Grant +received was, as already stated, an oral message carried by Colonel +Price, of my staff. Near midnight I sent a despatch giving the names +of the generals captured. These were Ewell, Kershaw, Barton, Corse, +Dubose, and Custis Lee. In the same despatch I wrote: "If the thing +is pressed, I think that Lee will surrender." When Mr. Lincoln, at +City Point, received this word from General Grant, who was +transmitting every item of news to the President, he telegraphed +Grant the laconic message: "Let the thing be pressed." The morning of +the 7th we moved out at a very early hour, Crook's division marching +toward Farmville in direct pursuit, while Merritt and Mackenzie were +ordered to Prince Edward's Court House to anticipate any effort Lee +might make to escape through that place toward Danville since it had +been discovered that Longstreet had slipped away already from the +front of General Ord's troops at Rice's Station. Crook overtook the +main body of the Confederates at Farmville, and promptly attacked +their trains on the north side of the Appomattox with Gregg's +brigade, which was fiercely turned upon and forced to re-cross the +river with the loss of a number of prisoner's, among them Gregg +himself. When Crook sent word of this fight, it was clear that Lee +had abandoned all effort to escape to the southwest by way of +Danville. Lynchburg was undoubtedly his objective point now; so, +resolving to throw my cavalry again across his path, and hold him +till the infantry could overtake him, I directed everything on +Appomattox depot, recalling Crook the night of the 7th to Prospect +Station, while Merritt camped at Buffalo Creek, and Mackenzie made a +reconnoissance along the Lynchburg railroad. + +At break of day, April 8, Merritt and Mackenzie united with Crook at +Prospect Station, and the cavalry all moved then toward Appomattox +depot. Hardly had it started when one of the scouts--Sergeant White +--informed me that there were four trains of cars at the depot loaded +with supplies for Lee's army; these had been sent from Lynchburg, in +compliance with the telegram of Lee's commissary-general, which +message, it will be remembered, was captured and transmitted to +Lynchburg by two of Young's scouts on the 4th. Sergeant White, who +had been on the lookout for the trains ever since sending the +despatch, found them several miles west of Appomattox depot feeling +their way along, in ignorance of Lee's exact position. As he had the +original despatch with him, and took pains to dwell upon the pitiable +condition of Lee's army, he had little difficulty in persuading the +men in charge of the trains to bring them east of Appomattox Station, +but fearing that the true state of affairs would be learned before +long, and the trains be returned to Lynchburg, he was painfully +anxious to have them cut off by breaking the track west of the +station. + +The intelligence as to the trains was immediately despatched to +Crook, and I pushed on to join him with Merritt's command. Custer +having the advance, moved rapidly, and on nearing the station +detailed two regiments to make a detour southward to strike the +railroad some distance beyond and break the track. These regiments +set off at a gallop, and in short order broke up the railroad enough +to prevent the escape of the trains, Custer meanwhile taking +possession of the station, but none too soon, for almost at the +moment he did so the advance-guard of Lee's army appeared, bent on +securing the trains. Without halting to look after the cars further, +Custer attacked this advance-guard and had a spirited fight, in which +he drove the Confederates away from the station, captured twenty-five +pieces of artillery, a hospital train, and a large park of wagons, +which, in the hope that they would reach Lynchburg next day, were +being pushed ahead of Lee's main body. + +Devin coming up a little before dusk, was put in on the right of +Custer, and one of Crook's brigades was sent to our left and the +other two held in reserve. I then forced the enemy back on the +Appomattox road to the vicinity of the Court House, and that the +Confederates might have no rest, gave orders to continue the +skirmishing throughout the night. Meanwhile the captured trains had +been taken charge of by locomotive engineers, soldiers of the +command, who were delighted evidently to get back at their old +calling. They amused themselves by running the trains to and fro, +creating much confusion, and keeping up such an unearthly screeching +with the whistles that I was on the point of ordering the cars +burned. They finally wearied of their fun, however, and ran the +trains off to the east toward General Ord's column. + +The night of the 8th I made my headquarters at a little frame house +just south of the station. I did not sleep at all, nor did anybody +else, the entire command being up all night long; indeed, there had +been little rest in the cavalry for the past eight days. The +necessity of getting Ord's column up was so obvious now that +staff-officer after staff-officer was sent to him and to General Grant +requesting that the infantry be pushed on, for if it could get to the +front, all knew that the rebellion would be ended on the morrow. +Merritt, Crook, Custer, and Devin were present at frequent intervals +during the night, and everybody was overjoyed at the prospect that +our weary work was about to end so happily. Before sun-up General +Ord arrived, and informed me of the approach of his column, it having +been marching the whole night. As he ranked me, of course I could +give him no orders, so after a hasty consultation as to where his +troops should be placed we separated, I riding to the front to +overlook my line near Appomattox Court House, while he went back to +urge along his weary troops. + +The night before General Lee had held a council with his principal +generals, when it was arranged that in the morning General Gordon +should undertake to break through my cavalry, and when I neared my +troops this movement was beginning, a heavy line of infantry bearing +down on us from the direction of the village. In front of Crook and +Mackenzie firing had already begun, so riding to a slight elevation +where a good view of the Confederates could be had, I there came to +the conclusion that it would be unwise to offer more resistance than +that necessary to give Ord time to form, so I directed Merritt to +fall back, and in retiring to shift Devin and Custer to the right so +as to make room for Ord, now in the woods to my rear. Crook, who +with his own and Mackenzie's divisions was on my extreme left +covering some by-roads, was ordered to hold his ground as long as +practicable without sacrificing his men, and, if forced to retire, to +contest with obstinacy the enemy's advance. + +As already stated, I could not direct General Ord's course, he being +my senior, but hastily galloping back to where he was, at the edge of +the timber, I explained to him what was taking place at the front. +Merritt's withdrawal inspired the Confederates, who forthwith began +to press Crook, their line of battle advancing with confidence till +it reached the crest whence I had reconnoitred them. From this +ground they could see Ord's men emerging from the woods, and the +hopelessness of a further attack being plain, the gray lines +instinctively halted, and then began to retire toward a ridge +immediately fronting Appomattox Court House, while Ord, joined on his +right by the Fifth Corps, advanced on them over the ground that +Merritt had abandoned. + +I now directed my steps toward Merritt, who, having mounted his +troopers, had moved them off to the right, and by the time I reached +his headquarters flag he was ready for work, so a move on the enemy's +left was ordered, and every guidon was bent to the front. As the +cavalry marched along parallel with the Confederate line, and in +toward its left, a heavy fire of artillery opened on us, but this +could not check us at such a time, and we soon reached some high +ground about half a mile from the Court House, and from here I could +see in the low valley beyond the village the bivouac undoubtedly of +Lee's army. The troops did not seem to be disposed in battle order, +but on the other side of the bivouac was a line of battle--a heavy +rear-guard--confronting, presumably, General Meade. + +I decided to attack at once, and formations were ordered at a trot +for a charge by Custer's and Devin's divisions down the slope leading +to the camps. Custer was soon ready, but Devin's division being in +rear its formation took longer, since he had to shift further to the +right; Devin's preparations were, therefore, but partially completed +when an aide-decamp galloped up to with the word from Custer, "Lee +has surrendered; do not charge; the white flag is up." The enemy +perceiving that Custer was forming for attack, had sent the flag out +to his front and stopped the charge just in time. I at once sent +word of the truce to General Ord, and hearing nothing more from +Custer himself, I supposed that he had gone down to the Court House +to join a mounted group of Confederates that I could see near there, +so I, too, went toward them, galloping down a narrow ridge, staff and +orderlies following; but we had not got half way to the Court House +when, from a skirt of timber to our right, not more than three +hundred yards distant, a musketry fire was opened on us. This halted +us, when, waving my hat, I called out to the firing party that we +were under a truce, and they were violating it. This did not stop +them, however, so we hastily took shelter in a ravine so situated as +to throw a ridge between us and the danger. + +We traveled in safety down this depression to its mouth, and thence +by a gentle ascent approached the Court House. I was in advance, +followed by a sergeant carrying my battleflag. When I got within +about a hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's line, which was +immediately in front of the Court House, some of the Confederates +leveled their pieces at us, and I again halted. Their officers kept +their men from firing, however, but meanwhile a single-handed contest +had begun behind me, for on looking back I heard a Confederate +soldier demanding my battle-flag from the color-bearer, thinking, no +doubt, that we were coming in as prisoners. The sergeant had drawn +his sabre and was about to cut the man down, but at a word from me he +desisted and carried the flag back to my staff, his assailant quickly +realizing that the boot was on the other leg. + +These incidents determined me to remain where I was till the return +of a staff-officer whom I had sent over to demand an explanation from +the group of Confederates for which I had been heading. He came back +in a few minutes with apologies for what had occurred, and informed +me that General Gordon and General Wilcox were the superior officers +in the group. As they wished me to join them I rode up with my +staff, but we had hardly met when in front of Merritt firing began. +At the sound I turned to General Gordon, who seemed embarrassed by +the occurrence, and remarked: "General, your men fired on me as I was +coming over here, and undoubtedly they are treating Merritt and +Custer the same way. We might as well let them fight it out." He +replied, "There must be some mistake." I then asked, "Why not send a +staff-officer and have your people cease firing; they are violating +the flag." He answered, "I have no staff-officer to send." Whereupon +I said that I would let him have one of mine, and calling for +Lieutenant Vanderbilt Allen, I directed him to carry General Gordon's +orders to General Geary, commanding a small brigade of South Carolina +cavalry, to discontinue firing. Allen dashed off with the message +and soon delivered it, but was made a prisoner, Geary saying, "I do +not care for white flags: South Carolinians never surrender...." By +this time Merritt's patience being exhausted, he ordered an attack, +and this in short order put an end to General Geary's "last ditch" +absurdity, and extricated Allen from his predicament. + +When quiet was restored Gordon remarked: "General Lee asks for a +suspension of hostilities pending the negotiations which he is having +with General Grant." I rejoined: "I have been constantly informed of +the progress of the negotiations, and think it singular that while +such discussions are going on, General Lee should have continued his +march and attempted to break through my lines this morning. I will +entertain no terms except that General Lee shall surrender to General +Grant on his arrival here. If these terms are not accepted we will +renew hostilities." Gordon replied: "General Lee's army is +exhausted. There is no doubt of his surrender to General Grant." + +It was then that General Ord joined us, and after shaking hands all +around, I related the situation to him, and Gordon went away agreeing +to meet us again in half an hour. When the time was up he came back +accompanied by General Longstreet, who brought with him a despatch, +the duplicate of one that had been sent General Grant through General +Meade's lines back on the road over which Lee had been retreating. + +General Longstreet renewed the assurances that already had been given +by Gordon, and I sent Colonel Newhall with the despatch to find +General Grant and bring him to the front. When Newhall started, +everything on our side of the Appomattox Court House was quiet, for +inevitable surrender was at hand, but Longstreet feared that Meade, +in ignorance of the new conditions on my front might attack the +Confederate rearguard. To prevent this I offered to send Colonel J. +W. Forsyth through the enemy's lines to let Meade know of my +agreement, for he too was suspicious that by a renewed correspondence +Lee was endeavoring to gain time for escape. My offer being +accepted, Forsyth set out accompanied by Colonel Fairfax, of +Longstreet's staff, and had no difficulty in accomplishing his +mission. + +About five or six miles from Appomattox, on the road toward Prospect +Station near its intersection with the Walker's Church road, my +adjutant-general, Colonel Newhall, met General Grant, he having +started from north of the Appomattox River for my front the morning +of April 9, in consequence of the following despatches which had been +sent him the night before, after we had captured Appomattox Station +and established a line intercepting Lee: + +"CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS, April 8, 1865--9:20 P. M. + +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, +"Commanding Armies of the U. S. + +"General: I marched early this morning from Buffalo Creek and +Prospect Station on Appomattox Station, where my scouts had reported +trains of cars with supplies for Lee's army. A short time before +dark General Custer, who had the advance, made a dash at the station, +capturing four trains of supplies with locomotives. One of the +trains was burned and the others were run back toward Farmville for +security. Custer then pushed on toward Appomattox Court House, +driving the enemy--who kept up a heavy fire of artillery--charging +them repeatedly and capturing, as far as reported, twenty-five pieces +of artillery and a number of prisoners and wagons. The First Cavalry +Division supported him on the right. A reconnoissance sent across +the Appomattox reports the enemy moving on the Cumberland road to +Appomattox Station, where they expect to get supplies. Custer is +still pushing on. If General Gibbon and the Fifth Corps can get up +to-night, we will perhaps finish the job in the morning. I do not +think Lee means to surrender until compelled to do so. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + + + +"HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, April 8, 1865--9:40 p.m. + +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. +"Commanding Armies U. S. + +"GENERAL: Since writing the accompanying despatch, General Custer +reports that his command has captured in all thirty-five pieces of +artillery, one thousand prisoners--including one general officer--and +from one hundred and fifty to two hundred wagons. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General." + + +In attempting to conduct the lieutenant-general and staff back by a +short route, Newhall lost his bearings for a time, inclining in +toward the enemy's lines too far, but regained the proper direction +without serious loss of time. General Grant arrived about 1 o'clock +in the afternoon, Ord and I, dismounted, meeting him at the edge of +the town, or crossroads, for it was little more. He remaining +mounted, spoke first to me, saying simply, + +"How are you, Sheridan?" I assured him with thanks that I was +"first-rate," when, pointing toward the village, he asked, "Is +General Lee up there?" and I replied: "There is his army down in that +valley, and he himself is over in that house (designating McLean's +house) waiting to surrender to you." The General then said, "Come, +let us go over," this last remark being addressed to both Ord and me. +We two then mounted and joined him, while our staff-officers +followed, intermingling with those of the general-in-chief as the +cavalcade took its way to McLean's house near by, and where General +Lee had arrived some time before, in consequence of a message from +General Grant consenting to the interview asked for by Lee through +Meade's front that morning--the consent having been carried by +Colonel Babcock. + +When I entered McLean's house General Lee was standing, as was also +his military secretary, Colonel Marshall, his only staff-officer +present. General Lee was dressed in a new uniform and wore a +handsome sword. His tall, commanding form thus set off contrasted +strongly with the short figure of General Grant, clothed as he was in +a soiled suit, without sword or other insignia of his position except +a pair of dingy shoulder-straps. After being presented, Ord and I, +and nearly all of General Grant's staff, withdrew to await the +agreement as to terms, and in a little while Colonel Babcock came to +the door and said, "The surrender had been made; you can come in +again." + +When we re-entered General Grant was writing; and General Lee, having +in his hand two despatches, which I that morning requested might be +returned, as I had no copies of them, addressed me with the remark: +"I am sorry. It is probable that my cavalry at that point of the +line did not fully understand the agreement." These despatches had +been sent in the forenoon, after the fighting had been stopped, +notifying General Lee that some of his cavalry in front of Crook was +violating the suspension of hostilities by withdrawing. About +3 o'clock in the afternoon the terms of surrender were written out +and accepted, and General Lee left the house, as he departed +cordially shaking hands with General Grant. A moment later he +mounted his chunky gray horse, and lifting his hat as he passed out +of the yard, rode off toward his army, his arrival there being +announced to us by cheering, which, as it progressed, varying in +loudness, told he was riding through the bivouac of the Army of +Northern Virginia. + +The surrender of General Lee practically ended the war of the +rebellion. For four years his army had been the main-stay of the +Confederacy; and the marked ability with which he directed its +operations is evidenced both by his frequent successes and the length +of time he kept up the contest. Indeed, it may be said that till +General Grant was matched against him, he never met an opponent he +did not vanquish, for while it is true that defeat was inflicted on +the Confederates at Antietam and Gettysburg, yet the fruits of these +victories were not gathered, for after each of these battles Lee was +left unmolested till he had a chance to recuperate. + +The assignment of General Grant to the command of the Union armies in +the winter of 1863-64 gave presage of success from the start, for his +eminent abilities had already been proved, and besides, he was a +tower of strength to the Government, because he had the confidence of +the people. They knew that henceforth systematic direction would be +given to our armies in every section of the vast territory over which +active operations were being prosecuted, and further, that this +coherence, this harmony of plan, was the one thing needed to end the +war, for in the three preceding years there had been illustrated most +lamentable effects of the absence of system. From the moment he set +our armies in motion simultaneously, in the spring of 1864, it could +be seen that we should be victorious ultimately, for though on +different lines we were checked now and then, yet we were harassing +the Confederacy at so many vital points that plainly it must yield to +our blows. Against Lee's army, the forefront of the Confederacy, +Grant pitted himself; and it may be said that the Confederate +commander was now, for the first time, overmatched, for against all +his devices--the products of a mind fertile in defense--General Grant +brought to bear not only the wealth of expedient which had hitherto +distinguished him, but also an imperturbable tenacity, particularly +in the Wilderness and on the march to the James, without which the +almost insurmountable obstacles of that campaign could not have been +overcome. During it and in the siege of Petersburg he met with many +disappointments--on several occasions the shortcomings of generals, +when at the point of success, leading to wretched failures. But so +far as he was concerned, the only apparent effect of these +discomfitures was to make him all the more determined to discharge +successfully the stupendous trust committed to his care, and to bring +into play the manifold resources of his well ordered military mind. +He guided every subordinate then, and in the last days of the +rebellion, with a fund of common sense and superiority of intellect, +which have left an impress so distinct as to exhibit his great +personality. When his military history is analyzed after the lapse +of years, it will show, even more clearly than now, that during these +as well as in his previous campaigns he was the steadfast Centre +about and on which everything else turned. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +ORDERED TO GREENSBORO', N. C.--MARCH TO THE DAN RIVER--ASSIGNED TO +THE COMMAND WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI--LEAVING WASHINGTON--FLIGHT OF +GENERAL EARLY--MAXIMILIAN--MAKING DEMONSTRATIONS ON THE UPPER RIO +GRANDE--CONFEDERATES JOIN MAXIMILIAN--THE FRENCH INVASION OF MEXICO +AND ITS RELATIONS TO THE REBELLION--ASSISTING THE LIBERALS +--RESTORATION OF THE REPUBLIC. + +The surrender at Appomattox put a stop to all military operations on +the part of General Grant's forces, and the morning of April 10 my +cavalry began its march to Petersburg, the men anticipating that they +would soon be mustered out and returned to their homes. At Nottoway +Court House I heard of the assassination of the President. The first +news came to us the night after the dastardly deed, the telegraph +operator having taken it from the wires while in transmission to +General Meade. The despatch ran that Mr. Lincoln had been, shot at +10 o'clock that morning at Willard's Hotel, but as I could conceive +of nothing to take the President there I set the story down as a +canard, and went to bed without giving it further thought. Next +morning, however, an official telegram confirmed the fact of the +assassination, though eliminating the distorted circumstances that +had been communicated the night before. + +When we reached Petersburg my column was halted, and instructions +given me to march the cavalry and the Sixth Corps to Greensboro', +North Carolina, for the purpose of aiding General Sherman (the +surrender of General Johnston having not yet been effected), so I +made the necessary preparations and moved on the 24th of April, +arriving at South Boston, on the Dan River, the 28th, the Sixth Corps +having reached Danville meanwhile. At South Boston I received a +despatch from General Halleck, who immediately after Lee's surrender +had been assigned to command at Richmond, informing me that General +Johnston had been brought to terms. The necessity for going farther +south being thus obviated we retraced our steps to Petersburg, from +which place I proceeded by steamer to Washington, leaving, the +cavalry to be marched thither by easy stages. + +The day after my arrival in Washington an important order was sent +me, accompanied by the following letter of instructions, transferring +me to a new field of operations: + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES. +"Washington, D. C., May 17, 1865. + +"GENERAL: Under the orders relieving you from the command of the +Middle Military Division and assigning you to command west of the +Mississippi, you will proceed without delay to the West to arrange +all preliminaries for your new field of duties. + +"Your duty is to restore Texas, and that part of Louisiana held by +the enemy, to the Union in the shortest practicable time, in a way +most effectual for securing permanent peace. + +"To do this, you will be given all the troops that can be spared +by Major-General Canby, probably twenty-five thousand men of +all arms; the troops with Major-General J. J. Reynolds, in +Arkansas, say twelve thousand, Reynolds to command; the Fourth +Army Corps, now at Nashville, Tennessee, awaiting orders; and +the Twenty-Fifth Army Corps, now at City Point, Virginia, ready +to embark. + +"I do not wish to trammel you with instructions; I will state, +however, that if Smith holds out, without even an ostensible +government to receive orders from or to report to, he and his men are +not entitled to the considerations due to an acknowledged +belligerent. Theirs are the conditions of outlaws, making war +against the only Government having an existence over the territory +where war is now being waged. + +"You may notify the rebel commander west of the Mississippi--holding +intercourse with him in person, or through such officers of the rank +of major-general as you may select--that he will be allowed to +surrender all his forces on the same terms as were accorded to Lee +and Johnston. If he accedes, proceed to garrison the Red River as +high up as Shreveport, the seaboard at Galveston, Malagorda Bay, +Corpus Christi, and mouth of the Rio Grande. + +"Place a strong force on the Rio Grande, holding it at least to a +point opposite Camargo, and above that if supplies can be procured. + +"In case of an active campaign (a hostile one) I think a heavy force +should be put on the Rio Grande as a first preliminary. Troops for +this might be started at once. The Twenty-Fifth Corps is now +available, and to it should be added a force of white troops, say +those now under Major-General Steele. + +"To be clear on this last point, I think the Rio Grande should be +strongly held, whether the forces in Texas surrender or not, and that +no time should be lost in getting troops there. If war is to be +made, they will be in the right place; if Kirby Smith surrenders, +they will be on the line which is to be strongly garrisoned. + +"Should any force be necessary other than those designated, they can +be had by calling for them on Army Headquarters. + +"U. S. GRANT, +"Lieutenant-General. + +"To MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN, +"United States Army." + + +On receipt of these instructions I called at once on General Grant, +to see if they were to be considered so pressing as to preclude my +remaining in Washington till after the Grand Review, which was fixed +for the 23d and 24th of May, for naturally I had a strong desire to +head my command on that great occasion. But the General told me that +it was absolutely necessary to go at once to force the surrender of +the Confederates under Kirby Smith. He also told me that the States +lately in rebellion would be embraced in two or three military +departments, the commanders of which would control civil affairs +until Congress took action about restoring them to the Union, since +that course would not only be economical and simple, but would give +the Southern people confidence, and encourage them to go to work, +instead of distracting them with politics. + +At this same interview he informed me that there was an additional +motive in sending me to the new command, a motive not explained by +the instructions themselves, and went on to say that, as a matter of +fact, he looked upon the invasion of Mexico by Maximilian as a part +of the rebellion itself, because of the encouragement that invasion +had received from the Confederacy, and that our success in putting +down secession would never be complete till the French and Austrian +invaders were compelled to quit the territory of our sister republic. +With regard to this matter, though, he said it would be necessary for +me to act with great circumspection, since the Secretary of State, +Mr. Seward, was much opposed to the use of our troops along the +border in any active way that would be likely to involve us in a war +with European powers. + +Under the circumstances, my disappointment at not being permitted to +participate in the review had to be submitted to, and I left +Washington without an opportunity of seeing again in a body the men +who, while under my command, had gone through so many trials and +unremittingly pursued and, assailed the enemy, from the beginning of +the campaign of 1864 till the white flag came into their hands at +Appomattox Court House. + +I went first to St. Louis, and there took the steamboat for New +Orleans, and when near the mouth of the Red River received word from +General Canby that Kirby Smith had surrendered under terms similar to +those accorded Lee and Johnston. But the surrender was not carried +out in good faith, particularly by the Texas troops, though this I +did not learn till some little time afterward when I was informed +that they had marched off to the interior of the State in several +organized bodies, carrying with them their camp equipage, arms, +ammunition, and even some artillery, with the ultimate purpose of +going to Mexico. In consequence of this, and also because of the +desire of the Government to make a strong showing of force in Texas, +I decided to traverse the State with two columns of cavalry, +directing one to San Antonio under Merritt, the other to Houston +under Custer. Both commands were to start from the Red River +--Shreveport and Alexandria--being the respective initial points--and +in organizing the columns, to the mounted force already on the Red +River were added several regiments of cavalry from the east bank of +the Mississippi, and in a singular way one of these fell upon the +trail of my old antagonist, General Early. While crossing the river +somewhere below Vicksburg some of the men noticed a suspicious +looking party being ferried over in a rowboat, behind which two +horses were swimming in tow. Chase was given, and the horses, being +abandoned by the party, fell into the hands of our troopers, who, +however, failed to capture or identify the people in the boat. As +subsequently ascertained, the men were companions of Early, who was +already across the Mississippi, hidden in the woods, on his way with +two or three of these followers to join the Confederates in Texas, +not having heard of Kirby Smith's surrender. A week or two later I +received a letter from Early describing the affair, and the capture +of the horses, for which he claimed pay, on the ground that they were +private property, because he had taken them in battle. The letter +also said that any further pursuit of Early would be useless, as he +"expected to be on the deep blue sea" by the time his communication +reached me. The unfortunate man was fleeing from imaginary dangers, +however, for striking his trail was purely accidental, and no effort +whatever was being made to arrest him personally. Had this been +especially desired it might have been accomplished very readily just +after Lee's surrender, for it was an open secret that Early was then +not far away, pretty badly disabled with rheumatism. + +By the time the two columns were ready to set out for San Antonio and +Houston, General Frank Herron,--with one division of the Thirteenth +Corps, occupied Galveston, and another division under General Fred +Steele had gone to Brazos Santiago, to hold Brownsville and the line +of the Rio Grande, the object being to prevent, as far as possible, +the escaping Confederates from joining Maximilian. With this purpose +in view, and not forgetting Grant's conviction that the French +invasion of Mexico was linked with the rebellion, I asked for an +increase of force to send troops into Texas in fact, to concentrate +at available points in the State an army strong enough to move +against the invaders of Mexico if occasion demanded. The Fourth and +Twenty-fifth army corps being ordered to report to me, accordingly, I +sent the Fourth Corps to Victoria and San Antonio, and the bulk of +the Twenty-fifth to Brownsville. Then came the feeding and caring +for all these troops--a difficult matter--for those at Victoria and +San Antonio had to be provisioned overland from Indianola across the +"hog-wallow prairie," while the supplies for the forces at +Brownsville and along the Rio Grande must come by way of Brazos +Santiago, from which point I was obliged to construct, with the labor +of the men, a railroad to Clarksville, a distance of about eighteen +miles. + +The latter part of June I repaired to Brownsville myself to impress +the Imperialists, as much as possible, with the idea that we intended +hostilities, and took along my chief of scouts--Major Young--and four +of his most trusty men, whom I had had sent from Washington. From +Brownsville I despatched all these men to important points in +northern Mexico, to glean information regarding the movements of the +Imperial forces, and also to gather intelligence about the +ex-Confederates who had crossed the Rio Grande. On information +furnished by these scouts, I caused General Steele to make +demonstrations all along the lower Rio Grande, and at the same time +demanded the return of certain munitions of war that had been turned +over by ex-Confederates to the Imperial General (Mejia) commanding at +Matamoras. These demands, backed up as they were by such a +formidable show of force created much agitation and demoralization +among the Imperial troops, and measures looking to the abandonment of +northern Mexico were forthwith adopted by those in authority--a +policy that would have resulted in the speedy evacuation of the +entire country by Maximilian, had not our Government weakened; +contenting itself with a few pieces of the contraband artillery +varnished over with the Imperial apologies. A golden opportunity was +lost, for we had ample excuse for crossing the boundary, but Mr. +Seward being, as I have already stated, unalterably opposed to any +act likely to involve us in war, insisted on his course of +negotiation with Napoleon. + +As the summer wore away, Maximilian, under Mr. Seward's policy, +gained in strength till finally all the accessible sections of Mexico +were in his possession, and the Republic under President Juarez +almost succumbed. Growing impatient at this, in the latter part of +September I decided to try again what virtue there might be in a +hostile demonstration, and selected the upper Rio Grande for the +scene of my attempt. Merritt's cavalry and the Fourth Corps still +being at San Antonio, I went to that place and reviewed these troops, +and having prepared them with some ostentation for a campaign, of +course it was bruited about that we were going to invade Mexico. +Then, escorted by a regiment of horse I proceeded hastily to Fort +Duncan, on the Rio Grande just opposite the Mexican town of Piedras +Negras. Here I opened communication with President Juarez, through +one of his staff, taking care not to do this in the dark, and the +news, spreading like wildfire, the greatest significance was ascribed +to my action, it being reported most positively and with many +specific details that I was only awaiting the arrival of the troops, +then under marching orders at San Antonio, to cross the Rio Grande in +behalf of the Liberal cause. + +Ample corroboration of the reports then circulated was found in my +inquiries regarding the quantity of forage we could depend upon +getting in Mexico, our arrangements for its purchase, and my sending +a pontoon train to Brownsville, together with which was cited the +renewed activity of the troops along the lower Rio Grande. These +reports and demonstrations resulted in alarming the Imperialists so +much that they withdrew the French and Austrian soldiers from +Matamoras, and practically abandoned the whole of northern Mexico as +far down as Monterey, with the exception of Matamoras, where General +Mejia continued to hang on with a garrison of renegade Mexicans. + +The abandonment of so much territory in northern Mexico encouraged +General Escobedo and other Liberal leaders to such a degree that they +collected a considerable army of their followers at Comargo, Mier, +and other points. At the same time that unknown quantity, Cortinas, +suspended his free-booting for the nonce, and stoutly harassing +Matamoras, succeeded in keeping its Imperial garrison within the +fortifications. Thus countenanced and stimulated, and largely +supplied with arms and ammunition, which we left at convenient places +on our side of the river to fall into their hands, the Liberals, +under General Escobedo--a man of much force of character--were +enabled in northern Mexico to place the affairs of the Republic on a +substantial basis. + +But in the midst of what bade fair to cause a final withdrawal of the +foreigners, we were again checked by our Government, as a result of +representations of the French Minister at Washington. In October, he +wrote to Mr. Seward that the United States troops on the Rio Grande +were acting "in exact opposition to the repeated assurances Your +Excellency has given me concerning the desire of the Cabinet at +Washington to preserve the most strict neutrality in the events now +taking place in Mexico," and followed this statement with an emphatic +protest against our course. Without any investigation whatever by +our State Department, this letter of the French Minister was +transmitted to me, accompanied by directions to preserve a strict +neutrality; so, of course, we were again debarred from anything like +active sympathy. + +After this, it required the patience of Job to abide the slow and +poky methods of our State Department, and, in truth, it was often +very difficult to restrain officers and men from crossing the Rio +Grande with hostile purpose. Within the knowledge of my troops, +there had gone on formerly the transfer of organized bodies of +ex-Confederates to Mexico, in aid of the Imperialists, and at this +period it was known that there was in preparation an immigration +scheme having in view the colonizing, at Cordova and one or two other +places, of all the discontented elements of the defunct Confederacy +--Generals Price, Magruder, Maury, and other high personages being +promoters of the enterprise, which Maximilian took to readily. He +saw in it the possibilities of a staunch support to his throne, and +therefore not only sanctioned the project, but encouraged it with +large grants of land, inspirited the promoters with titles of +nobility, and, in addition, instituted a system of peonage, expecting +that the silver hook thus baited would be largely swallowed by the +Southern people. + +The announcement of the scheme was followed by the appointment of +commissioners in each of the Southern States to send out emigrants; +but before any were deluded into starting, I made to General Grant a +report of what was going on, with the recommendation that measures be +taken, through our State Department, looking to the suppression of +the colony; but, as usual, nothing could be effected through that +channel; so, as an alternative, I published, in April, 1866, by +authority of General Grant, an order prohibiting the embarkation from +ports in Louisiana and Texas, for ports in Mexico, of any person +without a permit from my headquarters. This dampened the ardor of +everybody in the Gulf States who had planned to go to Mexico; and +although the projectors of the Cordova Colonization Scheme--the name +by which it was known--secured a few innocents from other districts, +yet this set-back led ultimately to failure. + +Among the Liberal leaders along the Rio Grande during this period +there sprang up many factional differences from various causes, some +personal, others political, and some, I regret to say, from downright +moral obliquity--as, for example, those between Cortinas and Canales +--who, though generally hostile to the Imperialists, were freebooters +enough to take a shy at each other frequently, and now and then even +to join forces against Escobedo, unless we prevented them by coaxing +or threats. A general who could unite these several factions was +therefore greatly needed, and on my return to New Orleans I so +telegraphed General Grant, and he, thinking General Caravajal (then +in Washington seeking aid for the Republic) would answer the purpose, +persuaded him to report to me in New Orleans. Caravajal promptly +appeared, but he did not impress me very favorably. He was old and +cranky, yet, as he seemed anxious to do his best, I sent him over to +Brownsville, with credentials, authorizing him to cross into Mexico, +and followed him myself by the next boat. When I arrived in +Brownsville, matters in Matamoras had already reached a crisis. +General Mejia, feeling keenly the moral support we were giving the +Liberals, and hard pressed by the harassing attacks of Cortinas and +Canales, had abandoned the place, and Caravajal, because of +his credentials from our side, was in command, much to the +dissatisfaction of both those chiefs whose differences it was +intended he should reconcile. + +The day after I got to Brownsville I visited Matamoras, and had a +long interview with Caravajal. The outcome of this meeting was, on +my part, a stronger conviction than ever that he was unsuitable, and +I feared that either Canales or Cortinas would get possession of the +city. Caravajal made too many professions of what he would do--in +short, bragged too much--but as there was no help for the situation, +I made the best of it by trying to smooth down the ruffled feathers +of Canales and Cortinas. In my interview with Caravajal I +recommended Major Young as a confidential man, whom he could rely +upon as a "go-between" for communicating with our people at +Brownsville, and whom he could trust to keep him informed of the +affairs of his own country as well. + +A day or two afterward I recrossed the Gulf to New Orleans, and then, +being called from my headquarters to the interior of Texas, a +fortnight passed before I heard anything from Brownsville. In the +meanwhile Major Young had come to New Orleans, and organized there a +band of men to act as a body-guard for Caravajal, the old wretch +having induced him to accept the proposition by representing that it +had my concurrence. I at once condemned the whole business, but +Young, having been furnished with seven thousand dollars to recruit +the men and buy their arms, had already secured both, and was so +deeply involved in the transaction, he said, that he could not +withdraw without dishonor, and with tears in his eyes he besought me +to help him. He told me he had entered upon the adventure in the +firm belief that I would countenance it; that the men and their +equipment were on his hands; that he must make good his word at all +hazards; and that while I need not approve, yet I must go far enough +to consent to the departure of the men, and to loan him the money +necessary to provision his party and hire a schooner to carry them to +Brazos. It was hard in deed to resist the appeals of this man, who +had served me so long and so well, and the result of his pleading was +that I gave him permission to sail, and also loaned him the sum asked +for; but I have never ceased to regret my consent, for misfortune +fell upon the enterprise almost from its inception. + +By the time the party got across the Gulf and over to Brownsville, +Caravajal had been deposed by Canales, and the latter would not +accept their services. This left Young with about fifty men to whom +he was accountable, and as he had no money to procure them +subsistence, they were in a bad fix. The only thing left to do was +to tender their services to General Escobedo, and with this in view +the party set out to reach the General's camp, marching up the Rio +Grande on the American side, intending to cross near Ringgold Bar +racks. In advance of them, however, had spread far and wide the +tidings of who they were, what they proposed to do, and where they +were going, and before they could cross into Mexico they were +attacked by a party of ex-Confederates and renegade Mexican +rancheros. Being on American soil, Young forbade his men to return +the fire, and bent all his efforts to getting them over the river; +but in this attempt they were broken up, and became completely +demoralized. A number of the men were drowned while swimming the +river, Young himself was shot and killed, a few were captured, and +those who escaped--about twenty in all--finally joined Escobedo, but +in such a plight as to be of little use. With this distressing +affair came to an end pretty much all open participation of American +sympathizers with the Liberal cause, but the moral support afforded +by the presence of our forces continued, and this was frequently +supplemented with material aid in the shape of munitions of war, +which we liberally supplied, though constrained to do so by the most +secret methods. + +The term of office of Juarez as President of the Mexican Republic +expired in December, 1865, but to meet existing exigencies he had +continued himself in office by proclamation, a course rendered +necessary by the fact that no elections could be held on account of +the Imperial occupation of most of the country. The official who, by +the Mexican Constitution, is designated for the succession in such an +emergency, is the President of the Supreme Court, and the person then +eligible under this provision was General Ortega, but in the interest +of the Imperialists he had absented himself from Mexico, hence the +patriotic course of Juarez in continuing himself at the head of +affairs was a necessity of the situation. This action of the +President gave the Imperialists little concern at first, but with the +revival of the Liberal cause they availed themselves of every means +to divide its supporters, and Ortega, who had been lying low in the +United States, now came forward to claim the Presidency. Though +ridiculously late for such a step, his first act was to issue a +manifesto protesting against the assumption of the executive +authority by Juarez. The protest had little effect, however, and his +next proceeding was to come to New Orleans, get into correspondence +with other disaffected Mexicans, and thus perfect his plans. When he +thought his intrigue ripe enough for action, he sailed for Brazos, +intending to cross the Rio Grande and assert his claims with arms. +While he was scheming in New Orleans, however, I had learned what he +was up to, and in advance of his departure had sent instructions to +have him arrested on American soil. Colonel Sedgwick, commanding at +Brownsville, was now temporary master of Matamoras also, by reason of +having stationed some American troops there for the protection of +neutral merchants, so when Ortega appeared at Brazos, Sedgwick +quietly arrested him and held him till the city of Matamoras was +turned over to General Escobedo, the authorized representative of +Juarez; then Escobedo took charge, of Ortega, and with ease prevented +his further machinations. + +During the winter and spring of 1866 we continued covertly supplying +arms and ammunition to the Liberals--sending as many as 30,000 +muskets from Baton Rouge Arsenal alone--and by mid-summer Juarez, +having organized a pretty good sized army, was in possession of the +whole line of the Rio Grande, and, in fact, of nearly the whole of +Mexico down to San Louis Potosi. Then thick and fast came rumors +pointing to the tottering condition of Maximilian's Empire-first, +that Orizaba and Vera Cruz were being fortified; then, that the +French were to be withdrawn; and later came the intelligence that the +Empress Carlotta had gone home to beg assistance from Napoleon, the +author of all of her husband's troubles. But the situation forced +Napoleon to turn a deaf ear to Carlotta's prayers. The brokenhearted +woman besought him on her knees, but his fear of losing an army made +all pleadings vain. In fact, as I ascertained by the following +cablegram which came into my hands, Napoleon's instructions for the +French evacuation were in Mexico at the very time of this pathetic +scene between him and Carlotta. The despatch was in cipher when I +received it, but was translated by the telegraph operator at my +headquarters, who long before had mastered the key of the French +cipher: + +"PARIS, January 10, 1867. FRENCH CONSUL, New Orleans, La. + +"To GENERAL CASTELNAU, at Mexico. + +"Received your despatch of the 9th December. Do not compel the +Emperor to abdicate, but do not delay the departure of the troops; +bring back all those who will not remain there. Most of the fleet +has left. + +"NAPOLEON." + + +This meant the immediate withdrawal of the French. The rest of the +story--which has necessarily been but in outline--is soon told. +Maximilian, though deserted, determined to hold out to the last, and +with the aid of disloyal Mexicans stuck to his cause till the spring. +When taken prisoner at Queretaro, he was tried and executed under +circumstances that are well known. From promptings of humanity +Secretary Seward tried hard to save the Imperial prisoner, but +without success. The Secretary's plea for mercy was sent through me +at New Orleans, and to make speed I hired a steamer to proceed with +it across the Gulf to Tampico. The document was carried by Sergeant +White, one of my scouts, who crossed the country from Tampico, and +delivered it to Escobedo at Queretaro; but Mr. Seward's +representations were without avail--refused probably because little +mercy had been shown certain Liberal leaders unfortunate enough to +fall into Maximilian's hands during the prosperous days of his +Empire. + +At the close of our war there was little hope for the Republic of +Mexico. Indeed, till our troops were concentrated on the Rio Grande +there was none. Our appearance in such force along the border +permitted the Liberal leaders, refugees from their homes, to +establish rendezvous whence they could promulgate their plans in +safety, while the countenance thus given the cause, when hope was +well-nigh gone, incited the Mexican people to renewed resistance. +Beginning again with very scant means, for they had lost about all, +the Liberals saw their cause, under the influence of such significant +and powerful backing, progress and steadily grow so strong that +within two years Imperialism had received its death-blow. I doubt +very much whether such, results could have been achieved without the +presence of an American army on the Rio Grande, which, be it +remembered, was sent there because, in General Grant's words, the +French invasion of Mexico was so closely related to the rebellion as +to be essentially a part of it. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A. J. HAMILTON APPOINTED PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR OF TEXAS--ASSEMBLES A +CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION--THE TEXANS DISSATISFIED--LAWLESSNESS +--OPPRESSIVE LEGISLATION--EX-CONFEDERATES CONTROLLING LOUISIANA--A +CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION--THE MEETING SUPPRESSED--A BLOODY RIOT--MY +REPORTS OF THE MASSACRE--PORTIONS SUPPRESSED BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON +--SUSTAINED BY A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE--THE RECONSTRUCTION LAWS. + +Although in 1865-66 much of my attention was directed to +international matters along the Rio Grande, the civil affairs of +Texas and Louisiana required a certain amount of military supervision +also in the absence of regularly established civil authority. At the +time of Kirby Smith's surrender the National Government had +formulated no plan with regard to these or the other States lately in +rebellion, though a provisional Government had been set up in +Louisiana as early as 1864. In consequence of this lack of system, +Governor Pendleton Murray, of Texas, who was elected under +Confederate rule, continued to discharge the duties of Governor till +President Johnson, on June 17, in harmony with his amnesty +proclamation of May 29, 1865, appointed A. J. Hamilton provisional +Governor. Hamilton was empowered by the President to call a +Constitutional convention, the delegates to which were to be elected, +under certain prescribed qualifications, for the purpose of +organizing the political affairs of the State, the Governor to be +guided by instructions similar to those given the provisional +Governor of North Carolina (W. W. Holden), when appointed in May. + +The convening of this body gave rise to much dissatisfaction among +the people of Texas. They had assumed that affairs were to go on as +of old, and that the reintegration of the State was to take place +under the administration of Governor Murray, who, meanwhile, had +taken it upon himself, together with the Legislature, to authorize +the election of delegates to a State Convention, without restriction +as to who should be entitled to vote. Thus encouraged, the element +but lately in armed rebellion was now fully bent on restoring the +State to the Union without any intervention whatever of the Federal +Government; but the advent of Hamilton put an end to such illusions, +since his proclamation promptly disfranchised the element in +question, whose consequent disappointment and chagrin were so great +as to render this factor of the community almost uncontrollable. The +provisional Governor at once rescinded the edict of Governor Murray, +prohibited the assembling of his convention, and shortly after +called, one himself, the delegates to which were to b chosen by +voters who could take the amnesty-oath. The proclamation convening +this assemblage also announced the policy that would be pursued in +governing the State until its affairs were satisfactorily +reorganized, defined in brief the course to be followed by the +Judiciary, and provided for the appointment, by the Governor, of +county officials to succeed those known to be disloyal. As this +action of Hamilton's disfranchised all who could not take the amnesty +oath, and of course deprived them of the offices, it met at once with +pronounced and serious opposition, and he quickly realized that he +had on his hands an arduous task to protect the colored people, +particularly as in the transition state of society just after the +close of the war there prevailed much lawlessness, which vented +itself chiefly on the freedmen. It was greatly feared that political +rights were to be given those so recently in servitude, and as it was +generally believed that such enfranchisement would precipitate a race +war unless the freedmen were overawed and kept in a state of +subjection, acts of intimidation were soon reported from all parts of +the State. + +Hamilton, an able, determined, and fearless man, tried hard to curb +this terrorism, but public opinion being strong against him, he could +accomplish little without military aid. As department commander, I +was required, whenever called upon, to assist his government, and as +these requisitions for help became necessarily very frequent, the +result was that shortly after he assumed his duties, detachments of +troops were stationed in nearly every county of the State. By such +disposition of my forces fairly good order was maintained under the +administration of Hamilton, and all went well till the inauguration +of J. W. Throckmorton, who, elected Governor in pursuance of an +authorization granted by the convention which Hamilton had called +together, assumed the duties of the office August 9, 1866. + +One of Governor Throckmorton's first acts was to ask the withdrawal +or non-interference of the military. This was not all granted, but +under his ingenious persuasion President Johnson, on the 13th of +August, 1866, directed that the new State officials be entrusted with +the unhampered control of civil affairs, and this was more than +enough to revive the bulldozing methods that had characterized the +beginning of Hamilton's administration. Oppressive legislation in +the shape of certain apprentice and vagrant laws quickly followed, +developing a policy of gross injustice toward the colored people on +the part of the courts, and a reign of lawlessness and disorder +ensued which, throughout the remote districts of the State at least, +continued till Congress, by what are known as the Reconstruction +Acts, took into its own hands the rehabilitation of the seceded +States. + +In the State of Louisiana a provisional government, chosen by the +loyal element, had been put in operation, as already mentioned, as +early as 1864. This was effected under encouragement given by +President Lincoln, through the medium of a Constitutional convention, +which met at New Orleans in April, 1864, and adjourned in July. The +constitution then agreed upon was submitted to the people, and in +September, 1864, was ratified by a vote of the few loyal residents of +the State. + +The government provided under this constitution being looked upon as +provisional merely, was never recognized by Congress, and in 1865 the +returned Confederates, restored to citizenship by the President's +amnesty proclamation, soon got control of almost all the State. The +Legislature was in their hands, as well as most of the State and +municipal offices; so, when the President, on the 20th of August, +1866, by proclamation, extended his previous instructions regarding +civil affairs in Texas so as to have them apply to all the seceded +States, there at once began in Louisiana a system of discriminative +legislation directed against the freedmen, that led to flagrant +wrongs in the enforcement of labor contracts, and in the remote +parishes to numbers of outrages and murders. + +To remedy this deplorable condition of things, it was proposed, by +those who had established the government of 1864, to remodel the +constitution of the State; and they sought to do this by reassembling +the convention, that body before its adjournment having provided for +reconvening under certain conditions, in obedience to the call of its +president. Therefore, early in the summer of 1866, many members of +this convention met in conference at New Orleans, and decided that a +necessity existed for reconvening the delegates, and a proclamation +was issued accordingly by B. K. Howell, President-pro-tempore. + +Mayor John T. Monroe and the other officials of New Orleans looked +upon this proposed action as revolutionary, and by the time the +convention assembled (July 30), such bitterness of feeling prevailed +that efforts were made by the mayor and city police to suppress the +meeting. A bloody riot followed, resulting, in the killing and +wounding of about a hundred and sixty persons. + +I happened to be absent from the city at the time, returning from +Texas, where I had been called by affairs on the Rio Grande. On my +way up from the mouth of the Mississippi I was met on the night of +July 30 by one of my staff, who reported what had occurred, giving +the details of the massacre--no milder term is fitting--and informing +me that, to prevent further slaughter, General Baird, the senior +military officer present, had assumed control of the municipal +government. On reaching the city I made an investigation, and that +night sent the following report of the affair: + +"HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE GULF, +"NEW ORLEANS, LA., Aug. 1, 1866. + +"GENERAL U. S. GRANT: + +"You are doubtless aware of the serious riot which occurred in this +city on the 30th. A political body, styling themselves the +Convention of 1864, met on the 30th, for, as it is alleged, the +purpose of remodeling the present constitution of the State. The +leaders were political agitators and revolutionary men, and the +action of the convention was liable to produce breaches of the public +peace. I had made up my mind to arrest the head men, if the +proceedings of the convention were calculated to disturb the +tranquility of the Department; but I had no cause for action until +they committed the overt act. In the meantime official duty called +me to Texas, and the mayor of the city, during my absence suppressed +the convention by the use of the police force, and in so doing +attacked the members of the convention, and a party of two hundred +negroes, with fire-arms, clubs, and knives, in a manner so +unnecessary and atrocious as to compel me to say that it was murder. +About forty whites and blacks were thus killed, and about one hundred +and sixty wounded. Everything is now quiet, but I deem it best to +maintain a military supremacy in the city for a few days, until the +affair is fully investigated. I believe the sentiment of the general +community is great regret at this unnecessary cruelty, and that the +police could have made any arrest they saw fit without sacrificing +lives. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding." + + +On receiving the telegram, General Grant immediately submitted it +to the President. Much clamor being made at the North for the +publication of the despatch, Mr. Johnson pretended to give it to the +newspapers. It appeared in the issues of August 4, but with this +paragraph omitted, viz.: + +"I had made up my mind to arrest the head men, if the proceedings of +the convention were calculated to disturb the tranquility of the +Department, but I had no cause for action until they committed the +overt act. In the mean time official duty called me to Texas, and +the mayor of the city, during my absence, suppressed the convention +by the use of the police force, and in so doing attacked the members +of the convention, and a party of two hundred negroes, with +fire-arms, clubs, and knives, in a manner so unnecessary and atrocious +as to compel me to say it was murder." + +Against this garbling of my report--done by the President's own order +--I strongly demurred; and this emphatic protest marks the beginning of +Mr. Johnson's well-known personal hostility toward me. In the mean +time I received (on August 3) the following despatch from General Grant +approving my course: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"WAR DEPT., WASHINGTON, D. C., "August 3, 1866--5 p.m. + +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Commanding Mil. Div. of the Gulf, +"New Orleans, La. + +"Continue to enforce martial law, so far as may be necessary to +preserve the peace; and do not allow any of the civil authorities to +act, if you deem such action dangerous to the public safety. Lose no +time in investigating and reporting the causes that led to the riot, +and the facts which occurred. + +"U. S. GRANT, +"Lieutenant-General." + + +In obedience to the President's directions, My report of August 1 was +followed by another, more in detail, which I give in full, since it +tells the whole story of the riot: + +"HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE GULF, +"NEW ORLEANS, LA., August 6, 1866. + +"His EXCELLENCY ANDREW JOHNSON, +"President United States. + +"I have the honor to make the following reply to your despatch of +August 4. A very large number of colored people marched in +procession on Friday night, July twenty-seven (27), and were +addressed from the steps of the City Hall by Dr. Dostie, ex-Governor +Hahn, and others. The speech of Dostie was intemperate in language +and sentiment. The speeches of the others, so far as I can learn, +were characterized by moderation. I have not given you the words of +Dostie's speech, as the version published was denied; but from what I +have learned of the man, I believe they were intemperate. + +"The convention assembled at twelve (12) M. on the thirtieth (30), +the timid members absenting themselves because the tone of the +general public was ominous of trouble. I think there were about +twenty-six (26) members present. In front of the Mechanics +Institute, where the meeting was held, there were assembled some +colored men, women, and children, perhaps eighteen (18) or twenty +(20), and in the Institute a number of colored men, probably one +hundred and fifty (150). Among those outside and inside there might +have been a pistol in the possession of every tenth (10) man. + +"About one (1) p. m. a procession of say from sixty (60) to one +hundred and thirty (130) colored men marched up Burgundy Street and +across Canal Street toward the convention, carrying an American flag. +These men had about one pistol to every ten men, and canes and clubs +in addition. While crossing Canal Street a row occurred. There were +many spectators on the street, and their manner and tone toward the +procession unfriendly. A shot was fired, by whom I am not able to +state, but believe it to have been by a policeman, or some colored +man in the procession. This led to other shots and a rush after the +procession. On arrival at the front of the Institute there was some +throwing of brickbats by both sides. The police, who had been held +well in hand, were vigorously marched to the scene of disorder. The +procession entered the Institute with the flag, about six (6) or +eight (8) remaining outside. A row occurred between a policeman and +one of these colored men, and a shot was again fired by one of the +parties, which led to an indiscriminate fire on the building through +the windows by the policemen. This had been going on for a short +time, when a white flag was displayed from the windows of the +Institute, whereupon the firing ceased, and the police rushed into +the building. + +"From the testimony of wounded men, and others who were inside the +building, the policemen opened an indiscriminate fire upon the +audience until they had emptied their revolvers, when they retired, +and those inside barricaded the doors. The door was broken in, and +the firing again commenced, when many of the colored and white people +either escaped throughout the door or were passed out by the +policemen inside; but as they came out the policemen who formed the +circle nearest the building fired upon them, and they were again +fired upon by the citizens that formed the outer circle. Many of +those wounded and taken prisoners, and others who were prisoners and +not wounded, were fired upon by their captors and by citizens. The +wounded were stabbed while lying on the ground, and their heads +beaten with brickbats. In the yard of the building, whither some of +the colored men had escaped and partially secreted themselves, they +were fired upon and killed or wounded by policemen. Some were killed +and wounded several squares from the scene. Members of the +convention were wounded by the police while in their hands as +prisoners, some of them mortally. + +"The immediate cause of this terrible affair was the assemblage of +this Convention; the remote cause was the bitter and antagonistic +feeling which has been growing in this community since the advent of +the present Mayor, who, in the organization of his police force, +selected many desperate men, and some of them known murderers. +People of clear views were overawed by want of confidence in the +Mayor, and fear of the thugs, many of which he had selected for his +police force. I have frequently been spoken to by prominent citizens +on this subject, and have heard them express fear, and want of +confidence in Mayor Monroe. Ever since the intimation of this last +convention movement I must condemn the course of several of the city +papers for supporting, by their articles, the bitter feeling of bad +men. As to the merciless manner in which the convention was broken +up, I feel obliged to confess strong repugnance. + +"It is useless to disguise the hostility that exists on the part of a +great many here toward Northern men, and this unfortunate affair has +so precipitated matters that there is now a test of what shall be the +status of Northern men--whether they can live here without being in +constant dread or not, whether they can be protected in life and +property, and have justice in the courts. If this matter is +permitted to pass over without a thorough and determined prosecution +of those engaged in it, we may look out for frequent scenes of the +same kind, not only here, but in other places. No steps have as yet +been taken by the civil authorities to arrest citizens who were +engaged in this massacre, or policemen who perpetrated such +cruelties. The members of the convention have been indicted by the +grand jury, and many of them arrested and held to bail. As to +whether the civil authorities can mete out ample justice to the +guilty parties on both sides, I must say it is my opinion, +unequivocally, that they cannot. Judge Abell, whose course I have +closely watched for nearly a year, I now consider one of the most +dangerous men that we have here to the peace and quiet of the city. +The leading men of the convention--King, Cutler, Hahn, and others +--have been political agitators, and are bad men. I regret to say that +the course of Governor Wells has been vacillating, and that during the +late trouble he has shown very little of the man. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General Commanding." + + +Subsequently a military commission investigated the subject of the +riot, taking a great deal of testimony. The commission substantially +confirmed the conclusions given in my despatches, and still later +there was an investigation by a select committee of the House of +Representatives, of which the Honorables Samuel Shellabarger, of +Ohio, H. L. Elliot, of Massachusetts, and B. M. Boyer, of +Pennsylvania, were the members. The majority report of the committee +also corroborated, in all essentials, my reports of the distressing +occurrence. The committee likewise called attention to a violent +speech made by Mr. Johnson at St. Louis in September, 1866, charging +the origin of the riot to Congress, and went on to say of the speech +that "it was an unwarranted and unjust expression of hostile feeling, +without pretext or foundation in fact." A list of the killed and +wounded was embraced in the committee's report, and among other +conclusions reached were the following: "That the meeting of July 30 +was a meeting of quiet citizens, who came together without arms and +with intent peaceably to discuss questions of public concern.... +There has been no occasion during our National history when a riot +has occurred so destitute of justifiable cause, resulting in a +massacre so inhuman and fiend-like, as that which took place at New +Orleans on the 30th of July last. This riotous attack upon the +convention, with its terrible results of massacre and murder, was not +an accident. It was the determined purpose of the mayor of the city +of New Orleans to break up this convention by armed force." + +The statement is also made, that, "He [the President] knew that +'rebels' and 'thugs' and disloyal men had controlled the election of +Mayor Monroe, and that such men composed chiefly his police force." + +The committee held that no legal government existed in Louisiana, and +recommended the temporary establishment of a provisional government +therein; the report concluding that "in the meantime the safety of +all Union men within the State demands that such government be formed +for their protection, for the well being of the nation and the +permanent peace of the Republic." + +The New Orleans riot agitated the whole country, and the official and +other reports served to intensify and concentrate the opposition to +President Johnson's policy of reconstruction, a policy resting +exclusively on and inspired solely by the executive authority--for it +was made plain, by his language and his acts, that he was seeking to +rehabilitate the seceded States under conditions differing not a whit +from those existing before the rebellion; that is to say, without the +slightest constitutional provision regarding the status of the +emancipated slaves, and with no assurances of protection for men who +had remained loyal in the war. + +In December, 1866, Congress took hold of the subject with such vigor +as to promise relief from all these perplexing disorders, and, after +much investigation and a great deal of debate, there resulted the +so-called "Reconstruction Laws," which, for a clear understanding of +the powers conferred on the military commanders, I deem best to append +in full: + +AN ACT to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel +States. + +WHEREAS, no legal State governments or adequate protection for life +or property now exist in the rebel States of Virginia, North +Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, +Florida, Texas, and Arkansas; and whereas, it is necessary that peace +and good order should be enforced in said States until loyal and +republican State governments can be legally established; therefore, + +BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the +United States of America in Congress assembled, That said rebel +States shall be divided into military districts and made subject to +the military authority of the United States as hereinafter +prescribed; and for that purpose Virginia shall constitute the first +district; North Carolina and South Carolina, the second district; +Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, the third district; Mississippi and +Arkansas, the fourth district; and Louisiana and Texas, the fifth +district. + +SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the +President to assign to the command of each of said districts an +officer of the army not below the rank of brigadier-general, and to +detail a sufficient military force to enable such officer to perform +his duties and enforce his authority within the district to which he +is assigned. + +SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of each +officer assigned as aforesaid to protect all persons in their rights +of person and property, to suppress insurrection, disorder, and +violence, and to punish, or cause to be punished, all disturbers of +the public peace and criminals, and to this end he may allow local +civil tribunals to take jurisdiction of and to try offenders, or, +when in his judgment it may be necessary for the trial of offenders, +he shall have power to organize military commissions or tribunals for +that purpose, and all interference, under cover of State authority, +with the exercise of military authority under this act, shall be null +and void. + +SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That all persons put under +military arrest by virtue of this act shall be tried without +unnecessary delay, and no cruel or unjust punishment shall be +inflicted; and no sentence of any military commission or tribunal +hereby authorized affecting the life or liberty of any person, shall +be executed until it is approved by the officer in command of the +district; and the laws and regulations for the government of the army +shall not be affected by this act except in so far as they conflict +with its provisions: Provided, That no sentence of death, under the +provisions of this act, shall be carried into effect without the +approval of the President. + +SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That when the people of any one of +said rebel States shall have formed a constitution of government in +conformity with the Constitution of the United States in all +respects, framed by a convention of delegates elected by the male +citizens of said State twenty-one years old and upward, of whatever +race, color, or previous condition, who have been resident in said +State for one year previous to the day of such election, except such +as may be disfranchised for participation in the rebellion, or for +felony at common law; and when such constitution shall provide that +the elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all such persons as have +the qualifications herein stated for electors of delegates; and when +such constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the persons +voting on the question of ratification who are qualified as electors +for delegates, and when such constitution shall have been submitted +to Congress for examination and approval, and Congress shall have +approved the same; and when said State, by a vote of its legislature +elected under said constitution, shall have adopted the amendment to +the Constitution of the United States proposed by the Thirty-ninth +Congress, and known as article fourteen; and when said article shall +have become a part of the Constitution of the United States, said +State shall be declared entitled to representation in Congress, and +senators and representatives shall be admitted therefrom on their +taking the oath prescribed by law; and then and thereafter the +preceding sections of this act shall be inoperative in said State: +Provided, That no person excluded from the privilege of holding +office by said proposed amendment to the Constitution of the United +States shall be eligible to election as a member of the convention to +frame a constitution for any of said rebel States, nor shall any such +person vote for members of such convention. + +SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That until the people of said +rebel States shall be by law admitted to representation in the +Congress of the United States, any civil government which may exist +therein shall be deemed provisional only, and in all respects subject +to the paramount authority of the United States at any time to +abolish, modify, control, or supersede the same; and in all elections +to any office under such provisional governments all persons shall be +entitled to vote, and none others, who are entitled to vote under the +fifth section of this act; and no person shall be eligible to any +office under any such provisional governments who would be +disqualified from holding office under the provisions of the third +article of said constitutional amendment. + +SCHUYLER COLFAX, +Speaker of the House of Representatives. + +LAFAYETTE S. FOSTER, +President of the Senate pro tempore. + + +AN ACT supplementary to an act entitled "An act to provide for the +more efficient government of the rebel States," passed March second, +eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, and to facilitate restoration. + +Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the +United States of America in Congress assembled, That before the first +day of September, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, the commanding +general in each district defined by an act entitled "An act to +provide for the more efficient government of the rebel States," +passed March second, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, shall cause a +registration to be made of the male citizens of the United States, +twenty-one years of age and upwards, resident in each county or +parish in the State or States included in his district, which +registration shall include only those persons who are qualified to +vote for delegates by the act aforesaid, and who shall have taken and +subscribed the following oath or affirmation: "I,------, do +solemnly swear (or affirm), in the presence of the Almighty God, that +I am a citizen of the State of ---------; that I have resided in said +State for----- months next preceding this day, and now reside in the +county of -------, or the parish of --------, in said State, (as the +case may be); that I am twenty-one years old; that I have not been +disfranchised for participation in any rebellion or civil war against +the United States, nor for felony committed against the laws of any +State or of the United States; that I have never been a member of any +State Legislature, nor held any executive or judicial office in any +State, and afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against +the United States, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; +that I have never taken an oath as a member of Congress of the United +States, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any +State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any +State, to support the constitution of the United States, and +afterwards engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United +States or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof; that I will +faithfully support the Constitution and obey the laws of the United +States, and will, to the best of my ability, encourage others so to +do: so help me God."; which oath or affirmation may be administered +by any registering officer. + +SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That after the completion of the +registration hereby provided for in any State, at such time and +places therein as the commanding general shall appoint and direct, of +which at least thirty days' public notice shall be given, an election +shall be held of delegates to a convention for the purpose of +establishing a constitution and civil government for such State loyal +to the Union, said convention in each State, except Virginia, to +consist of the same number of members as the most numerous branch of +the State Legislature of such State in the year eighteen hundred and +sixty, to be apportioned among the several districts, counties, or +parishes of such State by the commanding general, giving each +representation in the ratio of voters registered as aforesaid as +nearly as may be. The convention in Virginia shall consist of the +same number of members as represented the territory now constituting +Virginia in the most numerous branch of the Legislature of said State +in the year eighteen hundred and sixty, to be apportioned as +aforesaid. + +SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That at said election the +registered voters of each State shall vote for or against a +convention to form a constitution therefor under this act. Those +voting in favor of such a convention shall have written or printed on +the ballots by which they vote for delegates, as aforesaid, the words +"For a convention," and those voting against such a convention shall +have written or printed on such ballot the words "Against a +convention." The persons appointed to superintend said election, and +to make return of the votes given thereat, as herein provided, shall +count and make return of the votes given for and against a +convention; and the commanding general to whom the same shall have +been returned shall ascertain and declare the total vote in each +State for and against a convention. If a majority of the votes given +on that question shall be for a convention, then such convention +shall be held as hereinafter provided; but if a majority of said +votes shall, be against a convention, then no such convention shall +be held under this act: Provided, That such convention shall not be +held unless a majority of all such registered voters shall have voted +on the question of holding such convention. + +SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the commanding general of +each district shall appoint as many boards of registration as may be +necessary, consisting of three loyal officers or persons, to make and +complete the registration, superintend the election, and make return +to him of the votes, list of voters, and of the persons elected as +delegates by a plurality of the votes cast at said election; and upon +receiving said returns he shall open the same, ascertain the persons +elected as delegates, according to the returns of the officers who +conducted said election, and make proclamation thereof; and if a +majority of the votes given on that question shall be for a +convention, the commanding general, within sixty days from the date +of election, shall notify the delegates to assemble in convention, at +a time and place to be mentioned in the notification, and said +convention, when organized, shall proceed to frame a constitution and +civil government according to the provisions of this act, and the act +to which it is supplementary; and when the same shall have been so +framed, said constitution shall be submitted by the convention for +ratification to the persons registered under the provisions of this +act at an election to be conducted by the officers or persons +appointed or to be appointed by the commanding general, as +hereinbefore provided, and to be held after the expiration of thirty +days from the date of notice thereof, to be given by said convention; +and the returns thereof shall be made to the commanding general of +the district. + +SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That if, according to said +returns, the constitution shall be ratified by a majority of the +votes of the registered electors qualified as herein specified, cast +at said election, at least one-half of all the registered voters +voting upon the question of such ratification, the president of the +convention shall transmit a copy of the same, duly certified, to the +President of the United States, who shall forthwith transmit the same +to Congress, if then in session, and if not in session, then +immediately upon its next assembling; and if it shall moreover appear +to Congress that the election was one at which all the registered and +qualified electors in the State had an opportunity to vote freely, +and without restraint, fear, or the influence of fraud, and if the +Congress shall be satisfied that such constitution meets the approval +of a majority of all the qualified electors in the State, and if the +said constitution shall be declared by Congress to be in conformity +with the provisions of the act to which this is supplementary, and +the other provisions of said act shall have been complied with, and +the said constitution shall be approved by Congress, the State shall +be declared entitled to representation, and senators and +representatives shall be admitted therefrom as therein provided. + +SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That all elections in the States +mentioned in the said "Act to provide for the more efficient +government of the rebel States" shall, during the operation of said +act, be by ballot; and all officers making the said registration of +voters and conducting said elections, shall, before entering upon the +discharge of their duties, take and subscribe the oath prescribed by +the act approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, +entitled "An act to prescribe an oath of office": Provided, That if +any person shall knowingly and falsely take and subscribe any oath in +this act prescribed, such person so offending and being thereof duly +convicted, shall be subject to the pains, penalties, and disabilities +which by law are provided for the punishment of the crime of wilful +and corrupt perjury. + +SEC. 7. And be if further enacted, That all expenses incurred by the +several commanding generals, or by virtue of any orders issued, or +appointments made, by them, under or by virtue of this act, shall be +paid out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. + +SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That the convention for each State +shall prescribe the fees, salary, and compensation to be paid to all +delegates and other officers and agents herein authorized or +necessary to carry into effect the purposes of this act not herein +otherwise provided for, and shall provide for the levy and collection +of such taxes on the property in such State as may be necessary to +pay the same. + +SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That the word "article," in the +sixth section of the act to which this is supplementary, shall be +construed to mean, "section." + +SCHUYLER COLFAX, +Speaker of the House of Representatives. + +B. F. WADE, +President of the Senate pro tempore. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +PASSAGE OF THE RECONSTRUCTION ACT OVER THE PRESIDENT'S VETO--PLACED +IN COMMAND OF THE FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT--REMOVING OFFICERS--MY +REASONS FOR SUCH ACTION--AFFAIRS IN LOUISIANA AND TEXAS--REMOVAL OF +GOVERNOR WELLS--REVISION OF THE JURY LISTS--RELIEVED FROM THE COMMAND +OF THE FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT. + +The first of the Reconstruction laws was passed March 2, 1867, and +though vetoed by the President, such was the unanimity of loyal +sentiment and the urgency demanding the measure, that the bill became +a law over the veto the day the President returned it to Congress. +March the 11th this law was published in General Orders No. 10, from +the Headquarters of the Army, the same order assigning certain +officers to take charge of the five military districts into which the +States lately in rebellion were subdivided, I being announced as the +commander of the Fifth Military District, which embraced Louisiana +and Texas, a territory that had formed the main portion of my command +since the close of the war. + +Between the date of the Act and that of my assignment, the Louisiana +Legislature, then in special session, had rejected a proposed repeal +of an Act it had previously passed providing for an election of +certain municipal officers in New Orleans. This election was set for +March 11, but the mayor and the chief of police, together with +General Mower, commanding the troops in the city, having expressed to +me personally their fears that the public peace would be disturbed by +the election, I, in this emergency, though not yet assigned to the +district, assuming the authority which the Act conferred on district +commanders, declared that the election should not take place; that no +polls should be opened on the day fixed; and that the whole matter +would stand postponed till the district commander should be +appointed, or special instructions be had. This, my first official +act under the Reconstruction laws, was rendered necessary by the +course of a body of obstructionists, who had already begun to give +unequivocal indications of their intention to ignore the laws of +Congress. + +A copy of the order embodying the Reconstruction law, together with +my assignment, having reached me a few days after, I regularly +assumed control of the Fifth Military District on March 19, by an +order wherein I declared the State and municipal governments of the +district to be provisional only, and, under the provisions of the +sixth section of the Act, subject to be controlled, modified, +superseded, or abolished. I also announced that no removals from +office would be made unless the incumbents failed to carry out the +provisions of the law or impeded reorganization, or unless willful +delays should necessitate a change, and added: "Pending the +reorganization, it is, desirable and intended to create as little +disturbance in the machinery of the various branches of the +provisional governments as possible, consistent with the law of +Congress and its successful execution, but this condition is +dependent upon the disposition shown by the people, and upon the +length of time required for reorganization." + +Under these limitations Louisiana and Texas retained their former +designations as military districts, the officers in command +exercising their military powers as heretofore. In addition, these +officers were to carry out in their respective commands all +provisions of the law except those specially requiring the action of +the district commander, and in cases of removals from and appointment +to office. + +In the course of legislation the first Reconstruction act, as I have +heretofore noted, had been vetoed. On the very day of the veto, +however, despite the President's adverse action, it passed each House +of Congress by such an overwhelming majority as not only to give it +the effect of law, but to prove clearly that the plan of +reconstruction presented was, beyond question, the policy endorsed by +the people of the country. It was, therefore, my determination to +see to the law's zealous execution in my district, though I felt +certain that the President would endeavor to embarrass me by every +means in his power, not only on account of his pronounced personal +hostility, but also because of his determination not to execute but +to obstruct the measures enacted by Congress. + +Having come to this conclusion, I laid down, as a rule for my +guidance, the principle of non-interference with the provisional +State governments, and though many appeals were made to have me +rescind rulings of the courts, or interpose to forestall some +presupposed action to be taken by them, my invariable reply was that +I would not take cognizance of such matters, except in cases of +absolute necessity. The same policy was announced also in reference +to municipal affairs throughout the district, so long as the action +of the local officers did not conflict with the law. + +In a very short time, however, I was obliged to interfere in +municipal matters in New Orleans, for it had become clearly apparent +that several of the officials were, both by acts of omission and +commission, ignoring the law, so on the 27th of March I removed from +office the Mayor, John T. Monroe; the Judge of the First District +Court, E. Abell; and the Attorney-General of the State, Andrew S. +Herron; at the same time appointing to the respective offices thus +vacated Edward Heath, W. W. Howe, and B. L. Lynch. The officials +thus removed had taken upon themselves from the start to pronounce +the Reconstruction acts unconstitutional, and to advise such a course +of obstruction that I found it necessary at an early dav to replace +them by men in sympathy with the law, in order to make plain my +determination to have its provisions enforced. The President at once +made inquiry, through General Grant, for the cause of the removal, +and I replied: + +"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, +"New Orleans, La., April 19, 1867. + +"GENERAL: On the 27th day of March last I removed from office Judge +E. Abell, of the Criminal Court of New Orleans; Andrew S. Herron, +Attorney-General of the State of Louisiana; and John T. Monroe, Mayor +of the City of New Orleans. These removals were made under the +powers granted me in what is usually termed the 'military bill,' +passed March 2, 1867, by the Congress of the United States. + +"I did not deem it necessary to give any reason for the removal of +these men, especially after the investigations made by the military +board on the massacre Of July 30, 1866, and the report of the +congressional committee on the same massacre; but as some inquiry has +been made for the cause of removal, I would respectfully state as +follows: + +"The court over which judge Abell presided is the only criminal court +in the city of New Orleans, and for a period of at least nine months +previous to the riot Of July 30 he had been educating a large portion +of the community to the perpetration of this outrage, by almost +promising no prosecution in his court against the offenders, in case +such an event occurred. The records of his court will show that he +fulfilled his promise, as not one of the guilty has been prosecuted. + +"In reference to Andrew J. Herron, Attorney-General of the State of +Louisiana, I considered it his duty to indict these men before this +criminal court. This he failed to do, but went so far as to attempt +to impose on the good sense of the whole nation by indicting the +victims of the riot instead of the rioters; in other words, making +the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent. He was therefore, in my +belief, an able coadjutor with judge Abell in bringing on the +massacre of July 30. + +"Mayor Monroe controlled the element engaged in this riot, and when +backed by an attorney-general who would not prosecute the guilty, and +a judge who advised the grand jury to find the innocent guilty and +let the murderers go free, felt secure in engaging his police force +in the riot and massacre. + +"With these three men exercising a large influence over the worst +elements of the population of this city, giving to those elements an +immunity for riot and bloodshed, the general-in-chief will see how +insecurely I felt in letting them occupy their respective positions +in the troubles which might occur in registration and voting in the +reorganization of this State. + +"I am, General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General U. S. A. + + +"GENERAL U. S. GRANT, +"Commanding Armies of the United States, +"Washington, D. C." + + +To General Grant my reasons were satisfactory, but not so to the +President, who took no steps, however, to rescind my action, for he +knew that the removals were commended by well-nigh the entire +community in the city, for it will be understood that Mr. Johnson +was, through his friends and adherents in Louisiana and Texas, kept +constantly advised of every step taken by me. Many of these persons +were active and open opponents of mine, while others were spies, +doing their work so secretly and quickly that sometimes Mr. Johnson +knew of my official acts before I could report them to General Grant. + +The supplemental Reconstruction act which defined the method of +reconstruction became a law despite the President's veto on March 23. +This was a curative act, authorizing elections and prescribing +methods of registration. When it reached me officially I began +measures for carrying out its provisions, and on the 28th of March +issued an order to the effect that no elections for the State, +parish, or municipal officers would be held in Louisiana until the +provisions of the laws of Congress entitled "An act to provide for +the more efficient government of the rebel States," and of the act +supplemental thereto, should have been complied with. I also +announced that until elections were held in accordance with these +acts, the law of the Legislature of the State providing for the +holding over of those persons whose terms of office otherwise would +have expired, would govern in all cases excepting only those special +ones in which I myself might take action. There was one parish, +Livingston, which this order did no reach in time to prevent the +election previously ordered there, and which therefore took place, +but by a supplemental order this election was declare null and void. + +In April. I began the work of administering the Supplemental Law, +which, under certain condition of eligibility, required a +registration of the voter of the State, for the purpose of electing +delegate to a Constitutional convention. It therefore became +necessary to appoint Boards of Registration throughout the election +districts, and on April 10 the boards for the Parish of Orleans were +given out, those for the other parishes being appointed ten days +later. Before announcing these boards, I had asked to be advised +definitely as to what persons were disfranchised by the law, and was +directed by General Grant to act upon my own interpretation of it, +pending an opinion expected shortly from the Attorney-General--Mr. +Henry Stanbery--so, for the guidance of the boards, I gave the +following instructions: + +"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT. +"New Orleans, La., April 10, 1867. + +"Special Orders, No. 15. + +"....In obedience to the directions contained in the first section of +the Law of Congress entitled "An Act supplemental to an Act entitled +'An Act to provide for the more efficient government of the rebel +States'" the registration of the legal voters, according to that law +in the Parish of Orleans, will be commenced on the 15th instant, and +must be completed by the 15th of May. + +"The four municipal districts of the City of New Orleans and the +Parish of Orleans, right bank (Algiers), will each constitute a +Registration district. Election precincts will remain as at present +constituted. + +"....Each member of the Board of Registers, before commencing his +duties, will file in the office of the Assistant-Inspector-General at +these headquarters, the oath required in the sixth section of the Act +referred to, and be governed in the execution of his duty by the +provisions of the first section of that Act, faithfully administering +the oath therein prescribed to each person registered. + +"Boards of Registers will immediately select suitable offices within +their respective districts, having reference to convenience and +facility of registration, and will enter upon their duties on the day +designated. Each Board will be entitled to two clerks. Office-hours +for registration will be from 8 o'clock till 12 A. M., and from 4 +till 7 P. M. + +"When elections are ordered, the Board of Registers for each district +will designate the number of polls and the places where they shall be +opened in the election precincts within its district, appoint the +commissioners and other officers necessary for properly conducting +the elections, and will superintend the same. + +"They will also receive from the commissioners of elections of the +different precincts the result of the vote, consolidate the same, and +forward it to the commanding general. + +"Registers and all officers connected with elections will be held to +a rigid accountability and will be subject to trial by military +commission for fraud, or unlawful or improper conduct in the +performance of their duties. Their rate of compensation and manner +of payment will be in accordance with the provisions of sections six +and seven of the supplemental act. + +"....Every male citizen of the United States, twenty-one years old +and upward, of whatever race, color, or previous condition, who has +been resident in the State of Louisiana for one year and Parish of +Orleans for three months previous to the date at which he presents +himself for registration, and who has not been disfranchised by act +of Congress or for felony at common law, shall, after having taken +and subscribed the oath prescribed in the first section of the act +herein referred to, be entitled to be, and shall be, registered as a +legal voter in the Parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana. + +"Pending the decision of the Attorney-General of the United States on +the question as to who are disfranchised by law, registers will give +the most rigid interpretation to the law, and exclude from +registration every person about whose right to vote there may be a +doubt. Any person so excluded who may, under the decision of the +Attorney-General, be entitled to vote, shall be permitted to register +after that decision is received, due notice of which will be given. + +"By command of Major-General P. H. SHERIDAN, + +"GEO. L. HARTSUFF, +"Assistant Adjutant-General." + + +The parish Boards of Registration were composed of three members +each. Ability to take what was known as the "ironclad oath" was the +qualification exacted of the members, and they were prohibited from +becoming candidates for office. In the execution of their duties +they were to be governed by the provisions of the supplemental act. +It was also made one of their functions to designate the number and +location of the polling-places in the several districts, to appoint +commissioners for receiving the votes and in general to attend to +such other matters as were necessary, in order properly to conduct +the voting, and afterward to receive from the commissioners the +result of the vote and forward it to my headquarters. These +registers, and all other officers having to do with elections, were +to be held to a rigid accountability, and be subject to trial by +military commission for fraud or unlawful or improper conduct in the +performance of their duties; and in order to be certain that the +Registration Boards performed their work faithfully and +intelligently, officers of the army were appointed as supervisors. +To this end the parishes were grouped together conveniently in +temporary districts, each officer having from three to five parishes +to supervise. The programme thus mapped out for carrying out the law +in Louisiana was likewise adhered to in Texas, and indeed was +followed as a model in some of the other military districts. + +Although Military Commissions were fully authorized by the +Reconstruction acts, yet I did not favor their use in governing the +district, and probably would never have convened one had these acts +been observed in good faith. I much preferred that the civil courts, +and the State and municipal authorities already in existence, should +perform their functions without military control or interference, but +occasionally, because the civil authorities neglected their duty, I +was obliged to resort to this means to ensure the punishment Of +offenders. At this time the condition of the negroes in Texas and +Louisiana was lamentable, though, in fact, not worse than that of the +few white loyalists who had been true to the Union during the war. +These last were singled out as special objects of attack, and were, +therefore, obliged at all times to be on the alert for the protection +of their lives and property. This was the natural outcome of Mr. +Johnson's defiance of Congress, coupled with the sudden conversion to +his cause of persons in the North--who but a short time before had +been his bitterest enemies; for all this had aroused among the +disaffected element new hopes of power and place, hopes of being at +once put in political control again, with a resumption of their +functions in State and National matters without any preliminary +authorization by Congress. In fact, it was not only hoped, but +expected, that things were presently to go on just as if there had +been no war. + +In the State of Texas there were in 1865 about 200,000 of the colored +race-roughly, a third of the entire population--while in Louisiana +there were not less than 350,000, or more than one-half of all the +people in the State. Until the enactment of the Reconstruction laws +these negroes were without rights, and though they had been liberated +by the war, Mr. Johnson's policy now proposed that they should have +no political status at all, and consequently be at the mercy of a +people who, recently their masters, now seemed to look upon them as +the authors of all the misfortunes that had come upon the land. +Under these circumstances the blacks naturally turned for protection +to those who had been the means of their liberation, and it would +have been little less than inhuman to deny them sympathy. Their +freedom had been given them, and it was the plain duty of those in +authority to make it secure, and screen them from the bitter +political resentment that beset them, and to see that they had a fair +chance in the battle of life. Therefore, when outrages and murders +grew frequent, and the aid of the military power was an absolute +necessity for the protection of life, I employed it unhesitatingly +--the guilty parties being brought to trial before military +commissions--and for a time, at least, there occurred a halt in the +march of terrorism inaugurated by the people whom Mr. Johnson had +deluded. + +The first, Military Commission was convened to try the case of John +W. Walker, charged with shooting a negro in the parish of St. John. +The proper civil authorities had made no effort to arrest Walker, and +even connived at his escape, so I had him taken into custody in New +Orleans, and ordered him tried, the commission finding him guilty, +and sentencing him to confinement in the penitentiary for six months. +This shooting was the third occurrence of the kind that had taken +place in St. John's parish, a negro being wounded in each case, and +it was plain that the intention was to institute there a practice of +intimidation which should be effective to subject the freedmen to the +will of their late masters, whether in making labor contracts, or in +case these newly enfranchised negroes should evince a disposition to +avail themselves of the privilege to vote. + +The trial and conviction of Walker, and of one or two others for +similar outrages, soon put a stop to every kind of "bull-dozing" in +the country parishes; but about this time I discovered that many +members of the police force in New Orleans were covertly intimidating +the freedmen there, and preventing their appearance at the +registration offices, using milder methods than had obtained in the +country, it is true, but none the less effective. + +Early in 1866 the Legislature had passed an act which created for the +police of New Orleans a residence qualification, the object of which +was to discharge and exclude from the force ex-Union soldiers. This +of course would make room for the appointment of ex-Confederates, and +Mayor Monroe had not been slow in enforcing the provisions of the +law. It was, in fact, a result of this enactment that the police was +so reorganized as to become the willing and efficient tool which it +proved to be in the riot of 1866; and having still the same +personnel, it was now in shape to prevent registration by threats, +unwarranted arrests, and by various other influences, all operating +to keep the timid blacks away from the registration places. + +That the police were taking a hand in this practice of repression, I +first discovered by the conduct of the assistant to the chief of the +body, and at once removed the offender, but finding this ineffectual +I annulled that part of the State law fixing the five years' +residence restriction, and restored the two years' qualification, +thus enabling Mayor Heath, who by my appointment had succeeded +Monroe, to organize the force anew, and take about one-half of its +members from ex-Union soldiers who when discharged had settled in New +Orleans. This action put an end to intimidation in the parish of +Orleans; and now were put in operation in all sections the processes +provided by the supplemental Reconstruction law for the summoning of +a convention to form a Constitution preparatory to the readmission of +the State, and I was full of hope that there would now be much less +difficulty in administering the trust imposed by Congress. + +During the two years previous great damage had been done the +agricultural interests of Louisiana by the overflow of the +Mississippi, the levees being so badly broken as to require extensive +repairs, and the Legislature of 1866 had appropriated for the purpose +$4,000,000, to be raised by an issue of bonds. This money was to be +disbursed by a Board of Levee Commissioners then in existence, but +the term of service of these commissioners, and the law creating the +board, would expire in the spring of 1867. In order to overcome this +difficulty the Legislature passed a bill continuing the commissioners +in office but as the act was passed inside of ten days before the +adjournment of the Legislature, Governor Wells pocketed the bill, and +it failed to become a law. The Governor then appointed a board of +his own, without any warrant of law whatever. The old commissioners +refused to recognize this new board, and of course a conflict of +authority ensued, which, it was clear, would lead to vicious results +if allowed to continue; so, as the people of the State had no +confidence in either of the boards, I decided to end the contention +summarily by appointing an entirely new commission, which would +disburse the money honestly, and further the real purpose for which +it had been appropriated. When I took this course the legislative +board acquiesced, but Governor Wells immediately requested the +President to revoke my order, which, however, was not done, but +meanwhile the Secretary of War directed me to suspend all proceedings +in the matter, and make a report of the facts. I complied in the +following telegram: + +"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, +"NEW ORLEANS, La., June 3, 1867. + +"SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of +this date in reference to the Levee Commissioners in this State. + +"The following were my reasons for abolishing the two former boards, +although I intended that my order should be sufficiently explanatory: + +"Previous to the adjournment of the Legislature last winter it passed +an act continuing the old Levee board in office, so that the four +millions of dollars ($4,000,000) in bonds appropriated by the +Legislature might be disbursed by a board of rebellious antecedents. + +"After its adjournment the Governor of the State appointed a board of +his own, in violation of this act, and made the acknowledgment to me +in person that his object was to disburse the money in the interest +of his own party by securing for it the vote of the employees at the +time of election. + +"The board continued in office by the Legislature refused to turn +over to the Governor's board, and each side appealed to me to sustain +it, which I would not do. The question must then have gone to the +courts, which, according to the Governor's judgment when he was +appealing to me to be sustained, would require one year for decision. +Meantime the State was overflowed, the Levee boards tied up by +political chicanery, and nothing done to relieve the poor people, now +fed by the charity of the Government and charitable associations of +the North. + +"To obviate this trouble, and to secure to the overflowed districts +of the State the immediate relief which the honest disbursement of +the four millions ($4,000,000) would give, my order dissolving both +boards was issued. + +"I say now, unequivocally, that Governor Wells is a political +trickster and a dishonest man. I have seen him myself, when I first +came to this command, turn out all the Union men who had supported +the Government, and put in their stead rebel soldiers who had not yet +doffed their gray uniform. I have seen him again, during the July +riot of 1866, skulk away where I could not find him to give him a +guard, instead of coming out as a manly representative of the State +and joining those who were preserving the peace. I have watched him +since, and his conduct has been as sinuous as the mark left in the +dust by the movement of a snake. + +"I say again that he is dishonest, and that dishonesty is more than +must be expected of me. + +"P. H. SHERIDAN, +"Major-General, U. S. A. + +"Hon. E. M. STANTON, +"Secretary of War, Washington, D. C." + + +The same day that I sent my report to the Secretary of War I removed +from office Governor Wells himself, being determined to bear no +longer with the many obstructions he had placed in the way of +reorganizing the civil affairs of the State. I was also satisfied +that he was unfit to retain the place, since he was availing himself +of every opportunity to work political ends beneficial to himself. +In this instance Wells protested to me against his removal, and also +appealed to the President for an opinion of the Attorney-General as +to my power in the case; and doubtless he would have succeeded in +retaining his office, but for the fact that the President had been +informed by General James B. Steadman and others placed to watch me +that Wells was wholly unworthy. + + +"NEW ORLEANS, June 19, 1867. +"ANDREW JOHNSON, President United States, +"Washington City: + +"Lewis D. Campbell leaves New Orleans for home this evening. Want +of respect for Governor Wells personally, alone represses the +expression of indignation felt by all honest and sensible men at the +unwarranted usurpation of General Sheridan in removing the civil +officers of Louisiana. It is believed here that you will reinstate +Wells. He is a bad man, and has no influence. + +"I believe Sheridan made the removals to embarrass you, believing the +feeling at the North would sustain him. My conviction is that on +account of the bad character of Wells and Monroe, you ought not to +reinstate any who have been removed, because you cannot reinstate any +without reinstating all, but you ought to prohibit the exercise of +this power in the future. + +"Respectfully yours, + +"JAMES B. STEADMAN." + + +I appointed Mr. Thomas J. Durant as Wells's successor, but he +declining, I then appointed Mr. Benjamin F. Flanders, who, after I +had sent a staff-officer to forcibly eject Wells in case of +necessity, took possession of the Governor's office. Wells having +vacated, Governor Flanders began immediately the exercise of his +duties in sympathy with the views of Congress, and I then notified +General Grant that I thought he need have no further apprehension +about the condition of affairs in Louisiana, as my appointee was a +man of such integrity and ability that I already felt relieved of +half my labor. I also stated in the same despatch that nothing would +answer in Louisiana but a bold and firm course, and that in taking +such a one I felt that I was strongly supported; a statement that was +then correct, for up to this period the better classes were disposed +to accept the Congressional plan of reconstruction. + +During the controversy over the Levee Commissioners, and the +correspondence regarding the removal of Governor Wells, registration +had gone on under the rules laid down for the boards. The date set +for closing the books was the 30th of June, but in the parish of +Orleans the time was extended till the 15th of July. This the +President considered too short a period, and therefore directed the +registry lists not to be closed before the 1st of August, unless +there was some good reason to the contrary. This was plainly +designed to keep the books open in order that under the +Attorney-General's interpretation of the Reconstruction laws, published +June 20, many persons who had been excluded by the registration boards +could yet be registered, so I decided to close the registration, unless +required by the President unconditionally, and in specific orders, to +extend the time. My motives were manifold, but the main reasons were +that as two and a half months had been given already, the number of +persons who, under the law, were qualified for registry was about +exhausted; and because of the expense I did not feel warranted in +keeping up the boards longer, as I said, "to suit new issues coming in +at the eleventh hour," which would but open a "broad macadamized road +for perjury and fraud." + +When I thus stated what I intended to do, the opinion of the +Attorney-General had not yet been received. When it did reach me it +was merely in the form of a circular signed by Adjutant-General +Townsend, and had no force of law. It was not even sent as an order, +nor was it accompanied by any instructions, or by anything except the +statement that it was transmitted to the 11 respective military +commanders for their information, in order that there might be +uniformity in the execution of the Reconstruction acts. To adopt +Mr. Stanbery's interpretation of the law and reopen registration +accordingly, would defeat the purpose of Congress, as well as add to +my perplexities. Such a course would also require that the officers +appointed by me for the performance of specified duties, under laws +which I was empowered to interpret and enforce, should receive their +guidance and instructions from an unauthorized source, so on +communicating with General Grant as to how I should act, he directed +me to enforce my own construction of the military bill until ordered +to do otherwise. + +Therefore the registration continued as I had originally directed, +and nothing having been definitely settled at Washington in relation +to my extending the time, on the 10th of July I ordered all the +registration boards to select, immediately, suitable persons to act +as commissioners of election, and at the same time specified the +number of each set of commissioners, designated the polling-places, +gave notice that two days would be allowed for voting, and followed +this with an order discontinuing registration the 31st of July, and +then another appointing the 27th and 28th of September as the time +for the election of delegates to the State convention. + +In accomplishing the registration there had been little opposition +from the mass of the people, but the press of New Orleans, and the +office-holders and office-seekers in the State generally, antagonized +the work bitterly and violently, particularly after the promulgation +of the opinion of the Attorney-General. These agitators condemned +everybody and everything connected with the Congressional plan of +reconstruction; and the pernicious influence thus exerted was +manifested in various ways, but most notably in the selection of +persons to compose the jury lists in the country parishes it also +tempted certain municipal officers in New Orleans to perform illegal +acts that would seriously have affected the credit of the city had +matters not been promptly corrected by the summary removal from +office of the comptroller and the treasurer, who had already issued a +quarter of a million dollars in illegal certificates. On learning of +this unwarranted and unlawful proceeding, Mayor Heath demanded an +investigation by the Common Council, but this body, taking its cue +from the evident intention of the President to render abortive the +Reconstruction acts, refused the mayor's demand. Then he tried to +have the treasurer and comptroller restrained by injunction, but the +city attorney, under the same inspiration as the council, declined to +sue out a writ, and the attorney being supported in this course by +nearly all the other officials, the mayor was left helpless in his +endeavors to preserve the city's credit. Under such circumstances he +took the only step left him--recourse to the military commander; and +after looking into the matter carefully I decided, in the early part +of August, to give the mayor officials who would not refuse to make +an investigation of the illegal issue of certificates, and to this +end I removed the treasurer, surveyor, comptroller, city attorney, +and twenty-two of the aldermen; these officials, and all of their +assistants, having reduced the financial credit of New Orleans to a +disordered condition, and also having made efforts--and being then +engaged in such--to hamper the execution of the Reconstruction laws. + +This action settled matters in the city, but subsequently I had to +remove some officials in the parishes--among them a justice of the +peace and a sheriff in the parish of Rapides; the justice for +refusing to permit negro witnesses to testify in a certain murder +case, and for allowing the murderer, who had foully killed a colored +man, to walk out of his court on bail in the insignificant sum of +five hundred dollars; and the sheriff, for conniving at the escape +from jail of another alleged murderer. Finding, however, even after +these removals, that in the country districts murderers and other +criminals went unpunished, provided the offenses were against negroes +merely (since the jurors were selected exclusively from the whites, +and often embraced those excluded from the exercise of the election +franchise) I, having full authority under the Reconstruction laws, +directed such a revision of the jury lists as would reject from them +every man not eligible for registration as a voter. This order was +issued August 24, and on its promulgation the President relieved me +from duty and assigned General Hancock as my successor. + + +"HEADQUARTERS FIFTH MILITARY DISTRICT, +"NEW ORLEANS, LA., August 24, 1867. + +"SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 125. + +"The registration of voters of the State of Louisiana, according to +the law of Congress, being complete, it is hereby ordered that no +person who is not registered in accordance with said law shall be +considered as, a duly qualified voter of the State of Louisiana. All +persons duly registered as above, and no others, are consequently +eligible, under the laws of the State of Louisiana, to serve as +jurors in any of the courts of the State. + +"The necessary revision of the jury lists will immediately be made by +the proper officers. + +"All the laws of the State respecting exemptions, etc., from jury +duty will remain in force. + +"By command of Major-General P. H. SHERIDAN. + +"GEO. L. HARTNUFF, Asst. Adj't-General." + + +Pending the arrival of General Hancock, I turned over the command of +the district September 1 to General Charles Griffin; but he dying of +yellow fever, General J. A. Mower succeeded him, and retained command +till November 29, on which date General Hancock assumed control. +Immediately after Hancock took charge, he revoked my order of August +24 providing for a revision of the jury lists; and, in short, +President Johnson's policy now became supreme, till Hancock himself +was relieved in March, 1868. + +My official connection with the reconstruction of Louisiana and Texas +practically closed with this order concerning the jury lists. In my +judgment this had become a necessity, for the disaffected element, +sustained as it was by the open sympathy of the President, had grown +so determined in its opposition to the execution of the +Reconstruction acts that I resolved to remove from place and power +all obstacles; for the summer's experience had convinced me that in +no other way could the law be faithfully administered. + +The President had long been dissatisfied with my course; indeed, he +had harbored personal enmity against me ever since he perceived that +he could not bend me to an acceptance of the false position in which +he had tried to place me by garbling my report of the riot of 1866. +When Mr. Johnson decided to remove me, General Grant protested in +these terms, but to no purpose: + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, +"WASHINGTON, D. C., August 17, 1867 + +"SIR: I am in receipt of your order of this date directing the +assignment of General G. H. Thomas to the command of the Fifth +Military District, General Sheridan to the Department of the +Missouri, and General Hancock to the Department of the Cumberland; +also your note of this date (enclosing these instructions), saying: +'Before you issue instructions to carry into effect the enclosed +order, I would be pleased to hear any suggestions you may deem +necessary respecting the assignments to which the order refers.' + +"I am pleased to avail myself of this invitation to urge--earnestly +urge--urge in the name of a patriotic people, who have sacrificed +hundreds of thousands of loyal lives and thousands of millions of +treasure to preserve the integrity and union of this country--that +this order be not insisted on. It is unmistakably the expressed wish +of the country that General Sheridan should not be removed from his +present command. + +"This is a republic where the will of the people is the law of the +land. I beg that their voice may be heard. + +"General Sheridan has performed his civil duties faithfully and +intelligently. His removal will only be regarded as an effort to +defeat the laws of Congress. It will be interpreted by the +unreconstructed element in the South--those who did all they could to +break up this Government by arms, and now wish to be the only element +consulted as to the method of restoring order--as a triumph. It will +embolden them to renewed opposition to the will of the loyal masses, +believing that they have the Executive with them. + +"The services of General Thomas in battling for the Union entitle him +to some consideration. He has repeatedly entered his protest against +being assigned to either of the five military districts, and +especially to being assigned to relieve General Sheridan. + +"There are military reasons, pecuniary reasons, and above all, +patriotic reasons, why this should not be insisted upon. + +"I beg to refer to a letter marked 'private,' which I wrote to the +President when first consulted on the subject of the change in the +War Department. It bears upon the subject of this removal, and I had +hoped would have prevented it. + +"I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, + +"U. S. GRANT, +"General U. S. A., Secretary of War ad interim. + +"His Excellency A. JOHNSON, +"President of the United States." + + +I was ordered to command the Department of the Missouri (General +Hancock, as already noted, finally becoming my successor in the Fifth +Military District), and left New Orleans on the 5th of September. I +was not loath to go. The kind of duty I had been performing in +Louisiana and Texas was very trying under the most favorable +circumstances, but all the more so in my case, since I had to contend +against the obstructions which the President placed in the way from +persistent opposition to the acts of Congress as well as from +antipathy to me--which obstructions he interposed with all the +boldness and aggressiveness of his peculiar nature. + +On more than one occasion while I was exercising this command, +impurity of motive was imputed to me, but it has never been +truthfully shown (nor can it ever be) that political or corrupt +influences of any kind controlled me in any instance. I simply tried +to carry out, without fear or favor, the Reconstruction acts as they +came to me. They were intended to disfranchise certain persons, and +to enfranchise certain others, and, till decided otherwise, were the +laws of the land; and it was my duty to execute them faithfully, +without regard, on the one hand, for those upon whom it was thought +they bore so heavily, nor, on the other, for this or that political +party, and certainly without deference to those persons sent to +Louisiana to influence my conduct of affairs. + +Some of these missionaries were high officials, both military and +civil, and I recall among others a visit made me in 1866 by a +distinguished friend of the President, Mr. Thomas A. Hendricks. The +purpose of his coming was to convey to me assurances of the very high +esteem in which I was held by the President, and to explain +personally Mr. Johnson's plan of reconstruction, its flawless +constitutionality, and so on. But being on the ground, I had before +me the exhibition of its practical working, saw the oppression and +excesses growing out of it, and in the face of these experiences even +Mr. Hendricks's persuasive eloquence was powerless to convince me of +its beneficence. Later General Lovell H. Rousseau came down on a +like mission, but was no more successful than Mr. Hendricks. + +During the whole period that I commanded in Louisiana and Texas my +position was a most unenviable one. The service was unusual, and the +nature of it scarcely to be understood by those not entirely familiar +with the conditions existing immediately after the war. In +administering the affairs of those States, I never acted except by +authority, and always from conscientious motives. I tried to guard +the rights of everybody in accordance with the law. In this I was +supported by General Grant and opposed by President Johnson. The +former had at heart, above every other consideration, the good of his +country, and always sustained me with approval and kind suggestions. +The course pursued by the President was exactly the opposite, and +seems to prove that in the whole matter of reconstruction he was +governed less by patriotic motives than by personal ambitions. Add +to this his natural obstinacy of character and personal enmity toward +me, and no surprise should be occasioned when I say that I heartily +welcomed the order that lifted from me my unsought burden. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +AT FORT LEAVENWORTH--THE TREATY OF MEDICINE LODGE--GOING TO FORT +DODGE--DISCONTENTED INDIANS--INDIAN OUTRAGES--A DELEGATION OF CHIEFS +--TERRIBLE INDIAN RAID--DEATH OF COMSTOCK--VAST HERDS OF BUFFALO +--PREPARING FOR A WINTER CAMPAIGN--MEETING "BUFFALO BILL" +--HE UNDERTAKES A DANGEROUS TASK--FORSYTH'S GALLANT FIGHT--RESCUED. + +The headquarters of the military department to which I was assigned +when relieved from duty at New Orleans was at Fort Leavenworth, +Kansas, and on the 5th of September I started for that post. In due +time I reached St. Louis, and stopped there a day to accept an +ovation tendered in approval of the course I had pursued in the Fifth +Military District--a public demonstration apparently of the most +sincere and hearty character. + +From St. Louis to Leavenworth took but one night, and the next day I +technically complied with my orders far enough to permit General +Hancock to leave the department, so that he might go immediately to +New Orleans if he so desired, but on account of the yellow fever +epidemic then prevailing, he did not reach the city till late in +November. + +My new command was one of the four military departments that composed +the geographical division then commanded by Lieutenant-General +Sherman. This division had been formed in 1866, with a view to +controlling the Indians west of the Missouri River, they having +become very restless and troublesome because of the building of the +Pacific railroads through their hunting-grounds, and the +encroachments of pioneers, who began settling in middle and western +Kansas and eastern Colorado immediately after the war. + +My department embraced the States of Missouri and Kansas, the Indian +Territory, and New Mexico. Part of this section of country--western +Kansas particularly--had been frequently disturbed and harassed +during two or three years past, the savages every now and then +massacring an isolated family, boldly attacking the surveying and +construction parties of the Kansas-Pacific railroad, sweeping down on +emigrant trains, plundering and burning stage-stations and the like +along the Smoky Hill route to Denver and the Arkansas route to New +Mexico. + +However, when I relieved Hancock, the department was comparatively +quiet. Though some military operations had been conducted against +the hostile tribes in the early part of the previous summer, all +active work was now suspended in the attempt to conclude a permanent +peace with the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas, and Comanches, in +compliance with the act of Congress creating what was known as the +Indian Peace Commission of 1867. + +Under these circumstances there was little necessity for my remaining +at Leavenworth, and as I was much run down in health from the +Louisiana climate, in which I had been obliged to live continuously +for three summers (one of which brought epidemic cholera, and another +a scourge of yellow fever), I took a leave of absence for a few +months, leaving Colonel A. J. Smith, of the Seventh Cavalry, +temporarily in charge of my command. + +On this account I did not actually go on duty in the department of +the Missouri till March, 1868. On getting back I learned that the +negotiations of the Peace Commissioners held at Medicine Lodge, about +seventy miles south of Fort Larned had resulted in a treaty with the +Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas, and Comanches, by which agreement it +was supposed all troubles had been settled. The compact, as +concluded, contained numerous provisions, the most important to us +being one which practically relinquished the country between the +Arkansas and Platte rivers for white settlement; another permitted +the peaceable construction of the Pacific railroads through the same +region; and a third requiring the tribes signing the treaty to retire +to reservations allotted them in the Indian Territory. Although the +chiefs and head-men were well-nigh unanimous in ratifying these +concessions, it was discovered in the spring of 1868 that many of the +young men were bitterly opposed to what had been done, and claimed +that most of the signatures had been obtained by misrepresentation +and through proffers of certain annuities, and promises of arms and +ammunition to be issued in the spring of 1868. This grumbling was +very general in extent, and during the winter found outlet in +occasional marauding, so, fearing a renewal of the pillaging and +plundering at an early day, to prepare myself for the work evidently +ahead the first thing I did on assuming permanent command was to make +a trip to Fort Larned and Fort Dodge, near which places the bulk of +the Indians had congregated on Pawnee and Walnut creeks. I wanted to +get near enough to the camps to find out for myself the actual state +of feeling among the savages, and also to familiarize myself with the +characteristics of the Plains Indians, for my previous experience had +been mainly with mountain tribes on the Pacific coast. Fort Larned I +found too near the camps for my purpose, its proximity too readily +inviting unnecessary "talks," so I remained here but a day or two, +and then went on to Dodge, which, though considerably farther away +from the camps, was yet close enough to enable us to obtain easily +information of all that was going on. + +It took but a few days at Dodge to discover that great discontent +existed about the Medicine Lodge concessions, to see that the young +men were chafing and turbulent, and that it would require much tact +and good management on the part of the Indian Bureau to persuade the +four tribes to go quietly to their reservations, under an agreement +which, when entered into, many of them protested had not been fully +understood. + +A few hours after my arrival a delegation of prominent chiefs called +on me and proposed a council, where they might discuss their +grievances, and thus bring to the notice of the Government the +alleged wrongs done them; but this I refused, because Congress had +delegated to the Peace Commission the whole matter of treating with +them, and a council might lead only to additional complications. My +refusal left them without hope of securing better terms, or of even +delaying matters longer; so henceforth they were more than ever +reckless and defiant. Denunciations of the treaty became outspoken, +and as the young braves grew more and more insolent every day, it +amounted to conviction that, unless by some means the irritation was +allayed, hostilities would surely be upon us when the buffalo +returned to their summer feeding-grounds between the Arkansas and the +Platte. + +The principal sufferers in this event would be the settlers in middle +and western Kansas, who, entirely ignorant of the dangers hanging +over them, were laboring to build up homes in a new country. Hence +the maintenance of peace was much to be desired, if it could be +secured without too great concessions, and although I would not meet +the different tribes in a formal council, yet, to ward off from +settlers as much as possible the horrors of savage warfare, I showed, +by resorting to persuasive methods, my willingness to temporize a +good deal. An abundant supply of rations is usually effective to +keep matters quiet in such cases, so I fed them pretty freely, and +also endeavored to control them through certain men who, I found, +because of former associations, had their confidence. These men, +employed as scouts, or interpreters, were Mr. William Comstock, Mr. +Abner S. Grover, and Mr. Richard Parr. They had lived on the Plains +for many years with different tribes of Indians, had trapped and +hunted with them, and knew all the principal chiefs and headmen. +Through such influences, I thought I saw good chances of preserving +peace, and of inducing the discontented to go quietly to their +reservations in the Indian Territory as soon as General Hazen, the +representative of the Peace Commissioners, was ready to conduct them +there from Fort Larned. + +Before returning to Leavenworth I put my mediators (as I may call +them) under charge of an officer of the army, Lieutenant F. W. +Beecher, a very intelligent man, and directed him to send them out to +visit among the different tribes, in order to explain what was +intended by the treaty of Medicine Lodge, and to make every effort +possible to avert hostilities. Under these instructions Comstock and +Grover made it their business to go about among the Cheyennes--the +most warlike tribe of all--then camping about the headwaters of +Pawnee and Walnut creeks, and also to the north and west of Fort +Wallace, while Parr spent his time principally with the Kiowas and +Comanches. + +From the different posts--Wallace, Dodge, and Larned Lieutenant +Beecher kept up communication with all three scouts, and through him +I heard from them at least once a week. Every now and then some +trouble along the railroad or stage routes would be satisfactorily +adjusted and quiet restored, and matters seemed to be going on very +well, the warm weather bringing the grass and buffalo in plenty, and +still no outbreak, nor any act of downright hostility. So I began to +hope that we should succeed in averting trouble till the favorite war +season of the Indians was over, but the early days of August rudely +ended our fancied tranquility. + +In July the encampments about Fort Dodge began to break up, each band +or tribe moving off to some new location north of the Arkansas, +instead of toward its proper reservation to the south of that river. +Then I learned presently that a party of Cheyennes had made a raid on +the Kaws--a band of friendly Indians living near Council Grove--and +stolen their horses, and also robbed the houses of several white +people near Council Grove. This raid was the beginning of the Indian +war of 1868. Immediately following it, the Comanches and Kiowas came +to Fort Larned to receive their annuities, expecting to get also the +arms and ammunition promised them at Medicine Lodge, but the raid to +Council Grove having been reported to the Indian Department, the +issue of arms was suspended till reparation was made. This action of +the Department greatly incensed the savages, and the agent's offer of +the annuities without guns and pistols was insolently refused, the +Indians sulking back to their camps, the young men giving themselves +up to war-dances, and to powwows with "medicine-men," till all hope +of control was gone. + +Brevet Brigadier-General Alfred Sully, an officer of long experience +in Indian matters, who at this time was in command of the District of +the Arkansas, which embraced Forts Larned and Dodge, having notified +me of these occurrences at Larned, and expressed the opinion that the +Indians were bent on mischief, I directed him there immediately to +act against them. After he reached Larned, the chances for peace +appeared more favorable. The Indians came to see him, and protested +that it was only a few bad young men who had been depredating, and +that all would be well and the young men held in check if the agent +would but issue the arms and ammunition. Believing their promises, +Sully thought that the delivery of the arms would solve all the +difficulties, so on his advice the agent turned them over along with +the annuities, the Indians this time condescendingly accepting. + +This issue of arms and ammunition was a fatal mistake; Indian +diplomacy had overreached Sully's experience, and even while the +delivery was in progress a party of warriors had already begun a raid +of murder and rapine, which for acts of devilish cruelty perhaps has +no parallel in savage warfare. The party consisted of about two +hundred Cheyennes and a few Arapahoes, with twenty Sioux who had been +visiting their friends, the Cheyennes. As near as could be +ascertained, they organized and left their camps along Pawnee Creek +about the 3d of August. Traveling northeast, they skirted around +Fort Harker, and made their first appearance among the settlers in +the Saline Valley, about thirty miles north of that post. Professing +friendship and asking food at the farm-houses, they saw the +unsuspecting occupants comply by giving all they could spare from +their scanty stores. Knowing the Indian's inordinate fondness for +coffee, particularly when well sweetened, they even served him this +luxury freely. With this the demons began their devilish work. +Pretending to be indignant because it was served them in tin cups, +they threw the hot contents into the women's faces, and then, first +making prisoners of the men, they, one after another, ravished the +women till the victims became insensible. For some inexplicable +reason the two farmers were neither killed nor carried off, so after +the red fiends had gone, the unfortunate women were brought in to +Fort Harker, their arrival being the first intimation to the military +that hostilities had actually begun. + +Leaving the Saline, this war-party crossed over to the valley of the +Solomon, a more thickly settled region, and where the people were in +better circumstances, their farms having been started two or three +years before. Unaware of the hostile character of the raiders, the +people here received them in the friendliest way, providing food, and +even giving them ammunition, little dreaming of what was impending. +These kindnesses were requited with murder and pillage, and worse, +for all the women who fell into their hands were subjected to horrors +indescribable by words. Here also the first murders were committed, +thirteen men and two women being killed. Then, after burning five +houses and stealing all the horses they could find, they turned back +toward the Saline, carrying away as prisoners two little girls named +Bell, who have never been heard of since. + +It was probably the intention to finish, as they marched back to the +south, the devilish work begun on the Saline, but before they reached +that valley on the return, the victims left there originally had fled +to Fort Harker, as already explained, and Captain Benteen was now +nearing the little settlement with a troop of cavalry, which he had +hurriedly marched from Fort Zarah. The savages were attacking the +house of a Mr. Schermerhorn, where a few of the settlers had +collected for defense, when Benteen approached. Hearing the firing, +the troopers rode toward the sound at a gallop, but when they +appeared in view, coming over the hills, the Indians fled in all +directions, escaping punishment through their usual tactics of +scattering over the Plains, so as to leave no distinctive trail. + +When this frightful raid was taking place, Lieutenant Beecher, with +his three scouts--Comstock, Grover, and Parr--was on Walnut Creek. +Indefinite rumors about troubles on the Saline and Solomon reaching +him, he immediately sent Comstock and Grover over to the headwaters +of the Solomon, to the camp of a band of Cheyennes, whose chief was +called "Turkey Leg," to see if any of the raiders belonged there; to +learn the facts, and make explanations, if it was found that the +white people had been at fault. For years this chief had been a +special friend of Comstock and Grover. They had trapped, hunted, and +lived with his band, and from this intimacy they felt confident of +being able to get "Turkey Leg" to quiet his people, if any of them +were engaged in the raid; and, at all events, they expected, through +him and his band, to influence the rest of the Cheyennes. From the +moment they arrived in the Indian village, however, the two scouts +met with a very cold reception. Neither friendly pipe nor food was +offered them, and before they could recover from their chilling +reception, they were peremptorily ordered out of the village, with +the intimation that when the Cheyennes were on the war-path the +presence of whites was intolerable. The scouts were prompt to leave, +of course, and for a few miles were accompanied by an escort of seven +young men, who said they were sent with them to protect the two from +harm. As the party rode along over the prairie, such a depth +of attachment was professed for Comstock and Grover that, +notwithstanding all the experience of their past lives, they were +thoroughly deceived, and in the midst of a friendly conversation some +of the young warriors fell suddenly to the rear and treacherously +fired on them. + +At the volley Comstock fell from his horse instantly killed. Grover, +badly wounded in the shoulder, also fell to the ground near Comstock +Seeing his comrade was dead, Grover made use of his friend's body to +protect himself, lying close behind it. Then took place a remarkable +contest, Grover, alone and severely wounded, obstinately fighting the +seven Indians, and holding them at bay for the rest of the day. +Being an expert shot, and having a long-range repeating rifle, he +"stood off" the savages till dark. Then cautiously crawling away on +his belly to a deep ravine, he lay close, suffering terribly from his +wound, till the following night, when, setting out for Fort Wallace, +he arrived there the succeeding day, almost crazed from pain and +exhaustion. + +Simultaneously with the fiendish atrocities committed on the Saline +and Solomon rivers and the attack on Comstock and Grover, the +pillaging and murdering began on the Smoky Hill stage-route, along +the upper Arkansas River and on the headwaters of the Cimarron. That +along the Smoky Hill and north of it was the exclusive work of, the +Cheyennes, a part of the Arapahoes, and the few Sioux allies +heretofore mentioned, while the raiding on the Arkansas and Cimarron +was done principally by the Kiowas under their chief, Satanta, aided +by some of the Comanches. The young men of these tribes set out on +their bloody work just after the annuities and guns were issued at +Larned, and as soon as they were well on the road the rest of the +Comanches and Kiowas escaped from the post and fled south of the +Arkansas. They were at once pursued by General Sully with a small +force, but by the time he reached the Cimarron the war-party had +finished its raid on the upper Arkansas, and so many Indians combined +against Sully that he was compelled to withdraw to Fort Dodge, which +he reached not without considerable difficulty, and after three +severe fights. + +These, and many minor raids which followed, made it plain that a +general outbreak was upon us. The only remedy, therefore, was to +subjugate the savages immediately engaged in the forays by forcing +the several tribes to settle down on the reservations set apart by +the treaty of Medicine Lodge. The principal mischief-makers were the +Cheyennes. Next in deviltry were the Kiowas, and then the Arapahoes +and Comanches. Some few of these last two tribes continued friendly, +or at least took no active part in the raiding, but nearly all the +young men of both were the constant allies of the Cheyennes and +Kiowas. All four tribes together could put on the war-path a +formidable force of about 6,000 warriors. The subjugation of this +number of savages would be no easy task, so to give the matter my +undivided attention I transferred my headquarters from Leavenworth to +Fort Hays, a military post near which the prosperous town of Hays +City now stands. + +Fort Hays was just beyond the line of the most advanced settlements, +and was then the terminus of the Kansas-Pacific railroad. For this +reason it could be made a depot of supplies, and was a good point +from which to supervise matters in the section of country to be +operated in, which district is a part of the Great American Plains, +extending south from the Platte River in Nebraska to the Red River in +the Indian Territory, and westward from the line of frontier +settlements to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, a vast region +embracing an area of about 150,000 square miles. With the exception +of a half-dozen military posts and a few stations on the two overland +emigrant routes--the Smoky Hill to Denver, and the Arkansas to New +Mexico--this country was an unsettled waste known only to the Indians +and a few trappers. There were neither roads nor well-marked trails, +and the only timber to be found--which generally grew only along the +streams--was so scraggy and worthless as hardly to deserve the name. +Nor was water by any means plentiful, even though the section is +traversed by important streams, the Republican, the Smoky Hill, the +Arkansas, the Cimarron, and the Canadian all flowing eastwardly, as +do also their tributaries in the main. These feeders are sometimes +long and crooked, but as a general thing the volume of water is +insignificant except after rain-falls. Then, because of unimpeded +drainage, the little streams fill up rapidly with torrents of water, +which quickly flows off or sinks into the sand, leaving only an +occasional pool without visible inlet or outlet. + +At the period of which I write, in 1868, the Plains were covered with +vast herds of buffalo--the number has been estimated at 3,000,000 +head--and with such means of subsistence as this everywhere at hand, +the 6,000 hostiles were wholly unhampered by any problem of +food-supply. The savages were rich too according to Indian standards, +many a lodge owning from twenty to a hundred ponies; and +consciousness of wealth and power, aided by former temporizing, had +made them not only confident but defiant. Realizing that their +thorough subjugation would be a difficult task, I made up my mind to +confine operations during the grazing and hunting season to +protecting the people of the new settlements and on the overland +routes, and then, when winter came, to fall upon the savages +relentlessly, for in that season their ponies would be thin, and weak +from lack of food, and in the cold and snow, without strong ponies to +transport their villages and plunder, their movements would be so +much impeded that the troops could overtake them. + +At the outbreak of hostilities I had in all, east of New Mexico, a +force of regulars numbering about 2,600 men--1,200 mounted and 1,400 +foot troops. The cavalry was composed of the Seventh and Tenth +regiments; the infantry, of the Third and Fifth regiments and four +companies of the Thirty-Eighth. With these few troops all the posts +along the Smoky Hill and Arkansas had to be garrisoned, emigrant +trains escorted, and the settlements and routes of travel and the +construction parties on the Kansas-Pacific railway protected. Then, +too, this same force had to furnish for the field small movable +columns, that were always on the go, so it will be rightly inferred +that every available man was kept busy from the middle of August till +November; especially as during this period the hostiles attacked over +forty widely dispersed places, in nearly all cases stealing horses, +burning houses, and killing settlers. It was of course impossible to +foresee where these descents would be made, but as soon as an attack +was heard of assistance was always promptly rendered, and every now +and then we succeeded in killing a few savages. As a general thing, +though, the raiders escaped before relief arrived, and when they had +a few miles the start, all efforts to catch them were futile. I +therefore discouraged long pursuits, and, in fact, did not approve of +making any at all unless the chances of obtaining paying results were +very evident, otherwise the troops would be worn out by the time the +hard work of the winter was demanded from them. + +To get ready for a winter campaign of six months gave us much to do. +The thing most needed was more men, so I asked for additional +cavalry, and all that could be spareds--even troops of the Fifth +Cavalry--was sent tome. Believing this reinforcement insufficient, +to supplement it I applied for a regiment of Kansas volunteers, which +request being granted, the organization of the regiment was +immediately begun at Topeka. It was necessary also to provide a +large amount of transportation and accumulate quantities of stores, +since the campaign probably would not end till spring. Another +important matter was to secure competent guides for the different +columns of troops, for, as I have said, the section of country to be +operated in was comparatively unknown. + +In those days the railroad town of Hays City was filled with so +called "Indian scouts," whose common boast was of having slain scores +of redskins, but the real scout--that is, a 'guide and trailer +knowing the habits of the Indians--was very scarce, and it was hard +to find anybody familiar with the country south of the Arkansas, +where the campaign was to be made. Still, about Hays City and the +various military posts there was some good material to select from, +and we managed to employ several men, who, from their experience on +the Plains in various capacities, or from natural instinct and +aptitude, soon became excellent guides and courageous and valuable +scouts, some of them, indeed, gaining much distinction. Mr. William +F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill"), whose renown has since become world-wide, +was one of the men thus selected. He received his sobriquet from his +marked success in killing buffaloes for a contractor, to supply fresh +meat to the construction parties, on the Kansas-Pacific railway. He +had given up this business, however, and was now in the employ of the +quartermaster's department of the army, and was first brought to my +notice by distinguishing himself in bringing me an important despatch +from Fort Larned to Fort Hays, a distance of sixty-five miles, +through a section infested with Indians. The despatch informed me +that the Indians near Larned were preparing to decamp, and this +intelligence required that certain orders should be carried to Fort +Dodge, ninety-five miles south of Hays. This too being a +particularly dangerous route--several couriers having been killed on +it--it was impossible to get one of the various "Petes," "Jacks," or +"Jims" hanging around Hays City to take my communication. Cody +learning of the strait I was in, manfully came to the rescue, and +proposed to make the trip to Dodge, though he had just finished his +long and perilous ride from Larned. I gratefully accepted his offer, +and after four or five hours' rest he mounted a fresh horse and +hastened on his journey, halting but once to rest on the way, and +then only for an hour, the stop being made at Coon Creek, where he +got another mount from a troop of cavalry. At Dodge he took six +hours' sleep, and then continued on to his own post--Fort Larned +--with more despatches. After resting twelve hours at Larned, he was +again in the saddle with tidings for me at Fort Hays, General Hazen +sending him, this time, with word that the villages had fled to the +south of the Arkansas. Thus, in all, Cody rode about 350 miles in less +than sixty hours, and such an exhibition of endurance and courage was +more than enough to convince me that his services would be extremely +valuable in the campaign, so I retained him at Fort Hays till the +battalion of the Fifth Cavalry arrived, and then made him chief of +scouts for that regiment. + +The information brought me by Cody on his second trip from Larned +indicated where the villages would be found in the winter, and I +decided to move on them about the 1st of November. Only the women +and children and the decrepit old men were with the villages, however +enough, presumably, to look after the plunder most of the warriors +remaining north of the Arkansas to continue their marauding. Many +severe fights occurred between our troops and these marauders, and in +these affairs, before November 1 over a hundred Indians were killed, +yet from the ease with which the escaping savages would disappear +only to fall upon remote settlements with pillage and murder, the +results were by no means satisfactory. One of the most noteworthy of +these preliminary affairs was the gallant fight made on the +Republican River the 17th of September by my Aide, Colonel George A. +Forsyth, and party, against about seven hundred Cheyennes and Sioux. +Forsyth, with Lieutenant Beecher, and Doctor J. H. Mooers as surgeon, +was in charge of a company of citizen scouts, mostly expert +rifle-shots, but embracing also a few Indian fighters, among these +Grover and Parr. The company was organized the latter part of August +for immediate work in defense of the settlements, and also for future +use in the Indian Territory when the campaign should open there. About +the time the company had reached its complement--it was limited to +forty-seven men and three officers--a small band of hostiles began +depredations near Sheridan City, one of the towns that grew up +over-night on the Kansas-Pacific railway. Forsyth pursued this party, +but failing to overtake it, made his way into Fort Wallace for rations, +intending to return from there to Fort Hays. Before he started back, +however, another band of Indians appeared near the post and stole some +horses from the stage company. This unexpected raid made Forsyth hot +to go for the marauders, and he telegraphed me for permission, which I +as promptly gave him. He left the post on the 10th of September, the +command consisting of himself, Lieutenant Beecher, Acting Assistant +Surgeon Mooers, and the full strength, forty-seven men, with a few pack +mules carrying about ten days' rations. + +He headed north toward the Republican River. For the first two days +the trail was indistinct and hard to follow. During the next three +it continued to grow much larger, indicating plainly that the number +of Indians ahead was rapidly increasing. Of course this sign meant a +fight as soon as a large enough force was mustered, but as this was +what Forsyth was after, he pushed ahead with confidence and alacrity. +The night of the 16th of September he encamped on the Arickaree +branch of the Republican, not far from the forks of the river, with +the expectation of resuming the march as usual next day, for the +indications were that the main body of the savages must be still a +long way off, though in the preceding twenty-four hours an occasional +Indian had been seen. + +But the enemy was much nearer than was thought, for at daybreak on +the morning of the 17th he made known his immediate presence by a +sudden dash at Forsyth's horses, a few of which were stampeded and +captured before the scouts could reach them. This dash was made by a +small party only to get the horses, so those engaged in it were soon +driven off, but a few minutes later hundreds of savages--it was +afterward learned that seven hundred warriors took part in the fight +--hitherto invisible, showed themselves on the hills overlooking the +camp and so menacingly as to convince Forsyth that his defense must +be one of desperation. The only place at hand that gave any hope of +successful resistance was a small island in the Arickaree, the +channel on one side being about a foot deep while on the other it was +completely dry; so to this position a hurried retreat was made. All +the men and the remaining animals reached the island in safety, but +on account of the heavy fire poured in from the neighboring hills the +packs containing the rations and medicines had to be abandoned. + +On seeing Forsyth's hasty move, the Indians, thinking they had him, +prepared to overwhelm the scouts by swooping down on one side of the +island with about five hundred mounted warriors, while about two +hundred, covered by the tall grass in the river-bottom attacked the +other side, dismounted. But the brave little band sadly disappointed +them. When the charge came it was met with such a deadly fire that a +large number of the fiends were killed, some of them even after +gaining the bank of the island. This check had the effect of making +the savages more wary, but they were still bold enough to make two +more assaults before mid-day. Each of these ending like the first, +the Indians thereafter contented themselves with shooting +all the horses, which had been tied up to some scraggy little +cottonwood-trees, and then proceeded to lay siege to the party. + +The first man struck was Forsyth himself. He was hit three times in +all--twice in one leg, both serious wounds, and once on the head, a +slight abrasion of the scalp. A moment later Beecher was killed and +Doctor Mooers mortally wounded: and in addition to these misfortunes +the scouts kept getting hit, till several were killed, and the whole +number of casualties had reached twenty-one in a company of +forty-seven. Yet with all this, and despite the seeming hopelessness +of the situation, the survivors kept up their pluck undiminished, and +during a lull succeeding the third repulse dug into the loose soil till +the entire party was pretty well protected by rifle-pits. Thus covered +they stood off the Indians for the next three days, although of course +their condition became deplorable from lack of food, while those who +were hurt suffered indescribable agony, since no means were at hand for +dressing their wounds. + +By the third day the Indians, seeming to despair of destroying the +beleaguered party before succor might arrive, began to draw off, and +on the fourth wholly disappeared. The men were by this time nearly +famished for food. Even now there was nothing to be had except +horse-meat from the carcasses of the animals killed the first day, +and this, though decidedly unpalatable, not to say disgusting, had to +be put up with, and so on such unwholesome stuff they managed to live +for four days longer, at the end of which time they were rescued by a +column of troops under Colonel Bankhead, which had hastened from Fort +Wallace in response to calls for help, carried there by two brave +fellows--Stilwell and Truedell--who, volunteering to go for relief, +had slipped through the Indians, and struck out for that post in the +night after the first day's fight. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII, + +FITTING OUT THE WINTER EXPEDITION--ACCOMPANYING THE MAIN FORCE--THE +OTHER COLUMNS--STRUCK BY A BLIZZARD--CUSTER'S FIGHT ON THE WASHITA +--DEFEAT AND DEATH OF BLACK KETTLE--MASSACRE OF ELLIOTT'S PARTY +--RELIEF OF COLONEL CRAWFORD. + +The end of October saw completed the most of my arrangements for the +winter campaign, though the difficulties and hardships to be +encountered had led several experienced officers of the army, and +some frontiersmen like Mr. James Bridger, the famous scout and, guide +of earlier days, to discourage the project. Bridger even went so far +as to come out from St. Louis to dissuade me, but I reasoned that as +the soldier was much better fed and clothed than the Indian, I had +one great advantage, and that, in short, a successful campaign could +be made if the operations of the different columns were energetically +conducted. To see to this I decided to go in person with the main +column, which was to push down into the western part of the Indian +Territory, having for its initial objective the villages which, at +the beginning of hostilities, had fled toward the head-waters of the +Red River, and those also that had gone to the same remote region +after decamping from the neighborhood of Larned at the time that +General Hazen sent Buffalo Bill to me with the news. + +The column which was expected to do the main work was to be composed +of the Nineteenth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, commanded by Colonel +Crawford; eleven troops of the Seventh United States Cavalry, under +General Custer, and a battalion of five companies of infantry under +Brevet Major John H. Page. To facilitate matters, General Sully, the +district commander, was ordered to rendezvous these troops and +establish a supply depot about a hundred miles south of Fort Dodge, +as from such a point operations could be more readily conducted. He +selected for the depot a most suitable place at the confluence of +Beaver and Wolf creeks, and on his arrival there with Custer's and +Page's commands, named the place Camp Supply. + +In conjunction with the main column, two others also were to +penetrate the Indian Territory. One of these, which was to march +east from New Mexico by way of Fort Bascom was to be composed of six +troops of the Third Cavalry and two companies of infantry, the whole +under Colonel A. W. Evans. The other, consisting of seven troops of +the Fifth Cavalry, and commanded by Brevet Brigadier-General Eugene +A. Carr, was to march southeast from Fort Lyon; the intention being +that Evans and Carr should destroy or drive in toward old Fort Cobb +any straggling bands that might be prowling through the country west +of my own line of march; Carr, as he advanced, to be joined by Brevet +Brigadier-General W. H. Penrose, with five troops of cavalry already +in the field southeast of Lyon. The Fort Bascom column, after +establishing a depot of supplies at Monument Creek, was to work down +the main Canadian, and remain out as long as it could feed itself +from New Mexico; Carr, having united with Penrose on the North +Canadian, was to operate toward the Antelope Hills and headwaters of +the Red River; while I, with the main column was to move southward to +strike the Indians along the Washita, or still farther south on +branches of the Red River. + +It was no small nor easy task to outfit all these troops by the time +cold weather set in, and provide for them during the winter, but by +the 1st of November I had enough supplies accumulated at Forts Dodge +and Lyon for my own and Carr's columns, and in addition directed +subsistence and forage for three months to be sent to Fort Gibson for +final delivery at Fort Arbuckle, as I expected to feed the command +from this place when we arrived in the neighborhood of old Fort Cobb, +but through some mismanagement few of these stores got further than +Gibson before winter came on. + +November 1, all being ready, Colonel Grawford was furnished with +competent guides, and, after sending two troops to Fort Dodge to act +as my escort, with the rest of his regiment he started from Topeka +November 5, under orders to march straight for the rendezvous at the +junction of Beaver and Wolf creeks. He was expected to reach his +destination about the 20th, and there unite with the Seventh Cavalry +and the battalion of infantry, which in the mean time were on the +march from Dodge. A few days later Carr and Evans began their march +also, and everything being now in motion, I decided to go to Camp +Supply to give the campaign my personal attention, determined to +prove that operations could be successfully conducted in spite of +winter, and bent on showing the Indians that they were not secure +from punishment because of inclement weather--an ally on which they +had hitherto relied with much assurance. + +We started from Fort Hays on the 15th of November, and the first +night out a blizzard struck us and carried away our tents; and as the +gale was so violent that they could not be put up again, the rain and +snow drenched us to the skin. Shivering from wet and cold, I took +refuge under a wagon, and there spent such a miserable night that, +when at last morning came, the gloomy predictions of old man Bridger +and others rose up before me with greatly increased force. As we +took the road the sleet and snow were still falling, but we labored +on to Dodge that day in spite of the fact that many of the mules +played out on the way. We stayed only one night at Dodge, and then +on the 17th, escorted by a troop of cavalry and Forsyth's scouts, now +under the command of Lieutenant Lewis Pepoon, crossed the Arkansas +and camped the night of the 18th at Bluff Creek, where the two troops +of the Nineteenth Kansas, previously detailed as my escort, were +awaiting our coming. As we were approaching this camp some +suspicious looking objects were seen moving off at a long distance to +the east of us, but as the scouts confidently pronounced them +buffalo, we were unaware of their true character till next morning, +when we became satisfied that what we had seen were Indians, for +immediately after crossing Beaver Creek we struck a trail, leading to +the northeast, of a war party that evidently came up from the +head-waters of the Washita River. + +The evening of November 21st arrived at the Camp Supply depot, having +traveled all day in another snowstorm that did not end till +twenty-four hours later. General Sully, with Custer's regiment and the +infantry battalion, had reached the place several days before, but the +Kansas regiment had not yet put in an appearance. All hands were hard +at work trying to shelter the stores and troops, but from the trail +seen that morning, believing that an opportunity offered to strike an +effective blow, I directed Custer to call in his working parties and +prepare to move immediately, without waiting for Crawford's regiment, +unaccountably absent. Custer was ready to start by the 23d, and he was +then instructed to march north to where the trail had been seen near +Beaver Creek and follow it on the back track, for, being convinced that +the war party had come from the Washita, I felt certain that this plan +would lead directly to the villages. + +The difficulties attending a winter campaign were exhibited now with +their full force, as the march had to be conducted through a +snow-storm that hid surrounding objects, and so covered the country as +to alter the appearance of the prominent features, making the task of +the guides doubly troublesome; but in spite of these obstacles fifteen +miles had been traversed when Custer encamped for the night. The next +day the storm had ceased, and the weather was clear and cold. The +heavy fall of snow had of course obliterated the trail in the bottoms, +and everywhere on the level; but, thanks to the wind, that had swept +comparatively bare the rough places and high ground, the general +direction could be traced without much trouble. The day's march, which +was through a country abounding with buffalo, was unattended by any +special incident at first, but during the afternoon, after getting the +column across the Canadian River--an operation which, on account of the +wagons, consumed considerable time--Custer's scouts (friendly Osages) +brought back word that, some miles ahead, they had struck fresh signs, +a trail coming into the old one from the north, which, in their +opinion, indicated that the war party was returning to the villages. + +On the receipt of this news, Custer, leaving a guard with the wagons, +hastily assembled the rest of his men' and pushing on rapidly, +overtook the scouts and a detailed party from his regiment which had +accompanied them, all halted on the new trail awaiting his arrival. +A personal examination satisfied Custer that the surmises of his +scouts were correct; and also that the fresh trail in the deep snow +could at night be followed with ease. After a short halt for supper +and rest the pursuit was resumed, the Osage scouts in advance, and +although the hostile Indians were presumed to be yet some distance +off, every precaution was taken to prevent detection and to enable +our troops to strike them unawares. The fresh trail, which it was +afterward ascertained had been made by raiders from Black Kettle's +village of Cheyennes, and by some Arapahoes, led into the valley of +the Washita, and growing fresher as the night wore on, finally +brought the Osages upon a campfire, still smoldering, which, it was +concluded, had been built by the Indian boys acting as herders of the +ponies during the previous day. It was evident, then, that the +village could be but a few miles off; hence the pursuit was continued +with redoubled caution until, a few hours before dawn of the 27th, as +the leading scouts peered over a rise on the line of march, they +discovered a large body of animals in the valley below. + +As soon as they reported this discovery, Custer determined to +acquaint himself with the situation by making a reconnoissance in +person, accompanied by his principal officers. So, sending back word +to halt the cavalry, he directed the officers to ride forward with +him; then dismounting, the entire party crept cautiously to a high +point which overlooked the valley, and from where, by the bright moon +then shining, they saw just how the village was situated. Its +position was such as to admit of easy approach from all sides. So, +to preclude an escape of the Indians, Custer decided to attack at +daybreak, and from four different directions. + +The plan having been fully explained to the officers, the remaining +hours of the night were employed in making the necessary +dispositions. Two of the detachments left promptly, since they had +to make a circuitous march of several miles to Teach the points +designated for their attack; the third started a little later; and +then the fourth and last, under Custer himself, also moved into +position. As the first light grew visible in the east, each column +moved closer in to the village, and then, all dispositions having +been made according to the prearranged plan, from their appointed +places the entire force to the opening notes of "Garry Owen," played +by the regimental band as the signal for the attack--dashed at a +gallop into the village. The sleeping and unsuspecting savages were +completely surprised by the onset; yet after the first confusion, +during which the impulse to escape principally actuated them, they +seized their weapons, and from behind logs and trees, or plunging +into the stream and using its steep bank as a breastwork, they poured +upon their assailants a heavy fire, and kept on fighting with every +exhibition of desperation. In such a combat mounted men were +useless, so Custer directed his troopers to fight on, foot, and the +Indians were successively driven from one point of vantage to +another, until, finally, by 9 o'clock the entire camp was in his +possession and the victory complete. Black Kettle and over one +hundred of his warriors were killed, and about fifty women and +children captured; but most of the noncombatants, as well as a few +warriors and boys, escaped in the confusion of the fight. Making +their way down the river, these fugitives alarmed the rest of the +Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and also the Kiowas and Comanches, whose +villages were in close proximity--the nearest not more than two miles +off. + +Then of course all the warriors of these tribes rallied to attack +Custer, who meantime was engaged burning Black Kettle's camp and +collecting his herds of ponies. But these new foes were rather wary +and circumspect, though they already had partial revenge in an +unlooked for way by cutting off Major Elliott and fifteen men, who +had gone off in pursuit of a batch of young warriors when the fight +was going on at the village. In fact, the Indians had killed +Elliott's whole party, though neither the fate of the poor fellows, +nor how they happened to be caught, was known till long afterward. +It was then ascertained that the detachment pursued a course due +south, nearly at right angles to the Washita River, and after +galloping a couple of miles over the hills, crossing a small branch +of the Washita on the way, they captured some of the fugitives. In +bringing the prisoners back, Elliott was in turn attacked on the open +prairie by a large number of savages from farther down the Washita, +who by this time were swarming to the aid of Black Kettle's village. +The little band fought its way gallantly to within rifle-range of the +small creek referred to, but could get no farther, for the Indians +had taken up a position in the bed of the stream, and from under +cover of its banks Elliott and all his remaining men were quickly +killed. No relief was sent them, for Custer, not having seen Elliott +set out, knew nothing of the direction taken, and, besides, was busy +burning the villages and securing the ponies, and deeply concerned, +too, with defending himself from the new dangers menacing him. +Elliott and his brave little party were thus left to meet their fate +alone. + +While Custer was burning the lodges and plunder and securing the +ponies, the Indians from the villages down the Washita were gathering +constantly around him till by mid-day they had collected in +thousands, and then came a new problem as to what should be done. If +he attacked the other villages, there was great danger of his being +overwhelmed, and should he start back to Camp Supply by daylight, he +would run the risk of losing his prisoners and the ponies, so, +thinking the matter over, he decided to shoot all the ponies, and +keep skirmishing with the savages till nightfall, and then, under +cover of the darkness, return to Camp Supply; a programme that was +carried out successfully, but Custer's course received some severe +criticism because no effort was made to discover what had become of +Elliott. + +Custer had, in all, two officers and nineteen men killed, and two +officers and eleven men wounded. The blow struck was a most +effective one, and, fortunately, fell on one of the most villainous of +the hostile bands that, without any provocation whatever, had +perpetrated the massacres on the Saline and Solomon, committing +atrocities too repulsive for recital, and whose hands were still red +from their bloody work on the recent raid. Black Kettle, the chief, +was an old man, and did not himself go with the raiders to the Saline +and Solomon, and on this account his fate was regretted by some. But +it was old age only that kept him back, for before the demons set out +from Walnut Creek he had freely encouraged them by "making medicine," +and by other devilish incantations that are gone through with at war +and scalp dances. + +When the horrible work was over he undertook to shield himself by +professions of friendship, but being put to the test by my offering +to feed and care for all of his band who would come in to Fort Dodge +and remain there peaceably, he defiantly refused. The consequence of +this refusal was a merited punishment, only too long delayed. + +I received the first news of Custer's fight on the Washita on the +morning of November 29. It was brought to me by one of his white +scouts, "California Joe," a noted character, who had been +experiencing the ups and downs of pioneer life ever since crossing +the Plains in 1849. Joe was an invaluable guide and Indian fighter +whenever the clause of the statute prohibiting liquors in the Indian +country happened to be in full force. At the time in question the +restriction was by no means a dead letter, and Joe came through in +thirty-six hours, though obliged to keep in hiding during daylight of +the 28th. The tidings brought were joyfully received by everybody at +Camp Supply, and they were particularly agreeable tome, for, besides +being greatly worried about the safety of the command in the extreme +cold and deep snows, I knew that the immediate effect a victory would +be to demoralize the rest of the hostiles, which of course would +greatly facilitate and expedite our ultimate success. Toward evening +the day after Joe arrived the head of Custer's column made its +appearance on the distant hills, the friendly Osage scouts and the +Indian prisoners in advance. As they drew near, the scouts began a +wild and picturesque performance in celebration of the victory, +yelling, firing their guns, throwing themselves on the necks and +sides of their horses to exhibit their skill in riding, and going +through all sorts of barbaric evolutions and gyrations, which were +continued till night, when the rejoicings were ended with the hideous +scalp dance. + +The disappearance of Major Elliott and his party was the only damper +upon our pleasure, and the only drawback to the very successful +expedition. There was no definite information as to the detachment, +--and Custer was able to report nothing more than that he had not +seen Elliott since just before the fight began. His theory was, +however, that Elliott and his men had strayed off on account of +having no guide, and would ultimately come in all right to Camp +Supply or make their way back to Fort Dodge; a very unsatisfactory +view of the matter, but as no one knew the direction Elliott had +taken, it was useless to speculate on other suppositions, and +altogether too late to make any search for him. I was now anxious to +follow up Custer's stroke by an immediate move to the south with the +entire column, but the Kansas regiment had not yet arrived. At first +its nonappearance did not worry me much, for I attributed the delay +to the bad weather, and supposed Colonel Crawford had wisely laid up +during the worst storms. Further, waiting, however, would give the +Indians a chance to recover from the recent dispiriting defeat, so I +sent out scouting parties to look Crawford up and hurry him along. +After a great deal of searching, a small detachment of the regiment +was found about fifty miles below us on the North Canadian, seeking +our camp. This detachment was in a pretty bad plight, and when +brought in, the officer in charge reported that the regiment, by not +following the advice of the guide sent to conduct it to Camp Supply, +had lost its way. Instead of relying on the guides, Crawford had +undertaken to strike through the canyons of the Cimarron by what +appeared to him a more direct route, and in the deep gorges, filled +as they were with snow, he had been floundering about for days +without being able to extricate his command. Then, too, the men were +out of rations, though they had been able to obtain enough buffalo +meat to keep from starving. As for the horses, since they could get +no grass, about seven hundred of them had already perished from +starvation and exposure. Provisions and guides were immediately sent +out to the regiment, but before the relief could reach Crawford his +remaining horses were pretty much all gone, though the men were +brought in without loss of life. Thus, the regiment being dismounted +by this misfortune at the threshold of the campaign, an important +factor of my cavalry was lost to me, though as foot-troops the Kansas +volunteers continued to render very valuable services till mustered +out the next spring. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A WINTER EXPEDITION--HERDS OF BUFFALO--WOLVES--BLIZZARDS--A TERRIBLE +NIGHT--FINDING THE BODIES OF ELLIOTT'S PARTY--THE ABANDONED INDIAN +CAMPS--PUSHING DOWN THE WASHITA--THE CAPTURED CHIEFS--EVANS'S +SUCCESSFUL FIGHT--ESTABLISHING FORT SILL--"CALIFORNIA JOE"--DUPLICITY +OF THE CHEYENNES--ORDERED TO REPAIR TO WASHINGTON. + +A few days were necessarily lost setting up and refitting the Kansas +regiment after its rude experience in the Cimarron canyons. This +through with, the expedition, supplied with thirty days' rations, +moved out to the south on the 7th of December, under my personal +command. We headed for the Witchita Mountains, toward which rough +region all the villages along the Washita River had fled after +Custer's fight with Black Kettle. My line of march was by way of +Custer's battle-field, and thence down the Washita, and if the +Indians could not sooner be brought to terms, I intended to follow +them into the Witchita Mountains from near old Fort Cobb. The snow +was still deep everywhere, and when we started the thermometer was +below zero, but the sky being clear and the day very bright, the +command was in excellent spirits. The column was made up of ten +companies of the Kansas regiment, dismounted; eleven companies of the +Seventh Cavalry, Pepoon's scouts, and the Osage scouts. In addition +to Pepoon's men and the Osages, there was also "California Joe," and +one or two other frontiersmen besides, to act as guides and +interpreters. Of all these the principal one, the one who best knew +the country, was Ben Clark, a young man who had lived with the +Cheyennes during much of his boyhood, and who not only had a pretty +good knowledge of the country, but also spoke fluently the Cheyenne +and Arapahoe dialects, and was an adept in the sign language. + +The first day we made only about ten miles, which carried us to the +south bank of Wolf Creek. A considerable part of the day was devoted +to straightening out matters in the command, and allowing time for +equalizing the wagon loads, which as a general thing, on a first +day's march, are unfairly distributed. And then there was an +abundance of fire-wood at Wolf Creek; indeed, here and on Hackberry +Creek--where I intended to make my next camp--was the only timber +north of the Canadian River; and to select the halting places near a +plentiful supply of wood was almost indispensable, for as the men +were provided with only shelter-tents, good fires were needed in +order to keep warm. + +The second day, after marching for hours through vast herds of +buffalo, we made Hackberry Creek; but not, however, without several +stampedes in the wagon-train, the buffalo frightening the mules so +that it became necessary to throw out flankers to shoot the leading +bulls and thus turn off the herds. In the wake of every drove +invariably followed a band of wolves. This animal is a great coward +usually, but hunger had made these so ravenous that they would come +boldly up to the column, and as quick as a buffalo was killed, or +even disabled, they would fall upon the carcass and eagerly devour +it. Antelope also were very numerous, and as they were quite tame +--being seldom chased--and naturally very inquisitive, it was not an +unfrequent thing to see one of the graceful little creatures run in +among the men and be made a prisoner. Such abundance of game +relieved the monotony of the march to Hackberry Creek, but still, +both men and animals were considerably exhausted by their long tramp, +for we made over thirty miles that day. + +We camped in excellent shape on the creek and it was well we did, for +a "Norther," or "blizzard," as storms on the Plains are now termed +struck us in the night. During the continuance of these blizzards, +which is usually about three days, the cold wind sweeps over the +Plains with great force, and, in the latitude of the Indian +Territory, is weighted with great quantities of sleet and snow, +through which it is often impossible to travel; indeed, these +"Northers" have many times proved fatal to the unprotected +frontiersman. With our numbers the chance of any one's being lost, +and perishing alone (one of the most common dangers in a blizzard), +was avoided; but under any circumstances such a storm could but +occasion intense suffering to all exposed to it, hence it would have +been well to remain in camp till the gale was over, but the time +could not be spared. We therefore resumed the march at an early hour +next morning, with the expectation of making the south bank of the +main Canathan and there passing the night, as Clark assured me that +timber was plentiful on that side of the river. The storm greatly +impeded us, however, many of the mules growing discouraged, and some +giving out entirely, so we could not get to Clark's "good camp," for +with ten hours of utmost effort only about half a day's distance +could be covered, when at last, finding the struggle useless, we were +forced to halt for the night in a bleak bottom on the north bank of +the river. But no one could sleep, for the wind swept over us with +unobstructed fury, and the only fuel to be had was a few green +bushes. As night fell a decided change of temperature added much to +our misery, the mercury, which had risen when the "Norther" began, +again falling to zero. It can be easily imagined that under such +circumstances the condition of the men was one of extreme discomfort; +in truth, they had to tramp up and down the camp all night long to +keep from freezing. Anything was a relief to this state of things, +so at the first streak of day we quit the dreadful place and took up +the march. + +A seemingly good point for crossing the Canadian was found a couple +of miles down the stream, where we hoped to get our train over on the +ice, but an experiment proving that it was not strong enough, a ford +had to be made, which was done by marching some of the cavalry +through the river, which was about half a mile wide, to break up the +large floes when they had been cut loose with axes. After much hard +work a passage-way was thus opened, and by noon the command was +crossed to the south bank, and after thawing out and drying our +clothes before big fires, we headed for a point on the Washita, where +Clark said there was plenty of wood, and good water too, to make us +comfortable till the blizzard had blown over. + +We reached the valley of the Washita a little before dark, and camped +some five or six miles above the scene of Custer's fight, where I +concluded to remain at least a day, to rest the command and give it a +chance to refit. In the mean time I visited the battle-field in +company with Custer and several other officers, to see if there was a +possibility of discovering any traces of Elliotts party. On arriving +at the site of the village, and learning from Custer what +dispositions had been made in approaching for the attack, the +squadron of the escort was deployed and pushed across the river at +the point where Elliott had crossed. Moving directly to the south, +we had not gone far before we struck his trail, and soon the whole +story was made plain by our finding, on an open level space about two +miles from the destroyed village, the dead and frozen bodies of the +entire party. The poor fellows were all lying within a circle not +more than fifteen or twenty paces in diameter, and the little piles +of empty cartridge shells near each body showed plainly that every +man had made a brave fight. None were scalped, but most of them were +otherwise horribly mutilated, which fiendish work is usually done by +the squaws. All had been stripped of their clothing, but their +comrades in the escort were able to identify the bodies, which being +done, we gave them decent burial. Their fate was one that has +overtaken many of our gallant army in their efforts to protect the +frontiersmen's homes and families from savages who give no quarter, +though they have often received it, and where the possibility of +defeat in action carries with it the certainty of death and often of +preceding torture. + +From the meadow where Elliott was found we rode to the Washita, and +then down the river through the sites of the abandoned villages, that +had been strung along almost continuously for about twelve miles in +the timber skirting the stream. On every hand appeared ample +evidence that the Indians had intended to spend the winter here, for +the ground was littered with jerked meat, bales of buffalo robes, +cooking utensils, and all sorts of plunder usually accumulated in a +permanent Indian camp. There were, also, lying dead near the +villages hundreds of ponies, that had been shot to keep them from +falling into our hands, the scant grazing and extreme cold having +made them too weak to be driven along in the flight. The wholesale +slaughter of these ponies was a most cheering indication that our +campaign would be ultimately successful, and we all prayed for at +least a couple of months more of cold weather and plenty of snow. + +At the Kiowa village we found the body of a white woman--a Mrs. +Blynn--and also that of her child. These captives had been taken by +the Kiowas near Fort Lyon the previous summer, and kept close +prisoners until the stampede began, the poor woman being reserved to +gratify the brutal lust of the chief, Satanta; then, however, Indian +vengeance demanded the murder of the poor creatures, and after +braining the little child against a tree, the mother was shot through +the forehead, the weapon, which no doubt brought her welcome release, +having been fired so close that the powder had horribly disfigured +her face. The two bodies were wrapped in blankets and taken to camp, +and afterward carried along in our march, till finally they were +decently interred at Fort Arbuckle.. + +At an early hour on December 12 the command pulled out from its cosy +camp and pushed down the valley of the Washita, following immediately +on the Indian trail which led in the direction of Fort Cobb, but +before going far it was found that the many deep ravines and canyons +on this trail would delay our train very much, so we moved out of the +valley and took the level prairie on the divide. Here the traveling +was good, and a rapid gait was kept up till mid-day, when, another +storm of sleet and snow coming on, it became extremely difficult for +the guides to make out the proper course; and fearing that we might +get lost or caught on the open plain without wood or water--as we had +been on the Canadian--I turned the command back to the valley, +resolved to try no more shortcuts involving the risk of a disaster to +the expedition. But to get back was no slight task, for a dense fog +just now enveloped us, obscuring all landmarks. However, we were +headed right when the fog set in, and we had the good luck to reach +the valley before night-fall, though there was a great deal of +floundering about, and also much disputing among the guides as to +where the river would be found Fortunately we struck the stream right +at a large grove of timber, and established ourselves, admirably. By +dark the ground was covered with twelve or fifteen inches of fresh +snow, and as usual the temperature rose very sensibly while the storm +was on, but after night-fall the snow ceased and the skies cleared +up. Daylight having brought zero weather again, our start on the +morning of the 17th was painful work, many of the men freezing their +fingers while handling the horse equipments, harness, and tents. +However, we got off in fairly good season, and kept to the trail +along the Washita notwithstanding the frequent digging and bridging +necessary to get the wagons over ravines. + +Continuing on this line for three days, we at length came to a point +on the Washita where all signs indicated that we were nearing some of +the villages. Wishing to strike them as soon as possible, we made a +very early start next morning, the 17th. A march of four or five +miles brought us to a difficult ravine, and while we were making +preparations to get over, word was brought that several Indians had +appeared in our front bearing a white flag and making signs that they +had a communication to deliver. We signaled back that they would be +received, when one of the party came forward alone and delivered a +letter, which proved to be from General Hazen, at Fort Cobb. The +letter showed that Hazen was carrying on negotiations with the +Indians, and stated that all the tribes between Fort Cobb and my +column were friendly, but the intimation was given that the +Cheyennes and Arapahoes were still hostile, having moved off +southward toward the Red River. It was added that Satanta and Lone +Wolf--the chiefs of the Kiowas--would give information of the +whereabouts of the hostiles; and such a communication coming direct +from the representative of the Indian Department, practically took +the Kiowas--the village at hand was of that tribe--under its +protection, and also the Comanches, who were nearer in to Cobb. Of +course, under such circumstances I was compelled to give up the +intended attack, though I afterward regretted that I had paid any +heed to the message, because Satanta and Lone Wolf proved, by +trickery and double dealing, that they had deceived Hazen into +writing the letter. + +When I informed the Klowas that I would respect Hazen's letter +provided they all came into Fort Cobb and gave themselves up, the two +chiefs promised submission, and, as an evidence of good faith, +proposed to accompany the column to Fort Cobb with a large body of +warriors, while their villages moved to the same point by easy +stages, along the opposite bank of the river--claiming this to be +necessary from the poor condition of the ponies. I had some +misgivings as to the sincerity of Satanta and Lone Wolf, but as I +wanted to get the Kiowas where their surrender would be complete, so +that the Cheyennes and Arapahoes could then be pursued, I agreed to +the proposition, and the column moved on. All went well that day, +but the next it was noticed that the warriors were diminishing, and +an investigation showed that a number of them had gone off on various +pretexts--the main one being to help along the women and children +with the villages. With this I suspected that they were playing me +false, and my suspicions grew into certainty when Satanta himself +tried to make his escape by slipping beyond the flank of the column +and putting spurs to his pony. Fortunately, several officers saw +him, and quickly giving chase, overhauled him within a few hundred +yards. I then arrested both him and Lone Wolf and held them as +hostages--a measure that had the effect of bringing back many of the +warriors already beyond our reach. + +When we arrived at Fort Cobb we found some of the Comanches already +there, and soon after the rest of them, excepting one band, came in +to the post. The Kiowas, however, were not on hand, and there were +no signs to indicate their coming. At the end of two days it was +plain enough that they were acting in bad faith, and would continue +to unless strong pressure was brought to bear. Indeed, they had +already started for the Witchita Mountains, so I put on the screws at +once by issuing an order to hang Satanta and Lone Wolf, if their +people did not surrender at Fort Cobb within forty-eight hours. The +two chiefs promised prompt compliance, but begged for more time, +seeking to explain the non-arrival of the women and children through +the weak condition of the ponies; but I was tired of their duplicity, +and insisted on my ultimatum. + +The order for the execution brought quick fruit. Runners were sent +out with messages, by the two prisoners, appealing to their people to +save the lives of their chiefs, and the result was that the whole +tribe came in to the post within the specified time. The two +manacled wretches thus saved their necks; but it is to be regretted +that the execution did not come off; for some years afterward their +devilish propensities led them into Texas, where both engaged in the +most horrible butcheries. + +The Kiowas were now in our hands, and all the Comanches too, except +one small band, which, after the Custer fight, had fled toward the +headwaters of the Red River. This party was made up of a lot of very +bad Indians--outlaws from the main tribe--and we did not hope to +subdue them except by a fight, and of this they got their fill; for +Evans, moving from Monument Creek toward the western base of the +Witchita Mountains on Christmas Day, had the good fortune to strike +their village. In the snow and cold his approach was wholly +unexpected, and he was thus enabled to deal the band a blow that +practically annihilated it. Twenty-five warriors were killed +outright, most of the women and children captured, and all the +property was destroyed. Only a few of the party escaped, and some of +these made their way in to Fort Cobb, to join the rest of their tribe +in confinement; while others, later in the season, surrendered at +Fort Bascom. + +This sudden appearance of Evans in the Red River region also alarmed +the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, and their thoughts now began to turn to +submission. Food was growing scarce with them, too, as there was but +little game to be found either in the Witchita Mountains or on the +edge of the Staked Plains, and the march of Carr's column from +Antelope Hills precluded their returning to where the buffalo ranged. +Then, too, many of their ponies were dead or dying, most of their +tepees and robes had been abandoned, and the women and children, +having been kept constantly on the move in the winter's storms, were +complaining bitterly of their sufferings. + +In view of this state of things they intimated, through their +Comanche-Apache friends at Fort Cobb, that they would like to make +terms. On receiving their messages I entered into negotiations with +Little Robe, chief of the Cheyennes, and Yellow Bear, chief of the +Arapahoes, and despatched envoys to have both tribes understand +clearly that they must recognize their subjugation by surrendering at +once, and permanently settling on their reservations in the spring. +Of course the usual delays of Indian diplomacy ensued, and it was +some weeks before I heard the result. + +Then one of my messengers returned with word that Little Robe and +Yellow Bear were on their way to see me. They arrived a few days +later, and, promptly acceding to the terms, promised to bring their +people in, but as many of them would have to come on foot on account +of the condition of the ponies, more time was solicited. Convinced +of the sincerity of their professions I gave them a reasonable +extension, and eventually Yellow Bear made good his word, but Little +Robe, in spite of earnest and repeated efforts, was unable to deliver +his people till further operations were begun against them. + +While these negotiations were in progess I came to the conclusion +that a permanent military post ought to be established well down on +the Kiowa and Comanche reservation, in order to keep an eye on these +tribes in the future, Fort Cobb, being an unsuitable location, +because too far to the north to protect the Texas frontier, and too +far away from where it was intended to permanently place the Indians. +With this purpose in view I had the country thoroughly explored, and +afterward a place was fixed upon not far from the base of the +Witchita Mountains, and near the confluence of Medicine Bluff and +Cash creeks, where building stone and timber could be obtained in +plenty, and to this point I decided to move. The place was named +Camp Sill-now Fort Sill--in honor of my classmate, General Sill, +killed at Stone River; and to make sure of the surrendered Indians, I +required them all, Kiowas, Comanches, and Comanche-Apaches, to +accompany us to the new post, so they could be kept under military +control till they were settled. + +During the march to the new camp the weather was not so cold as that +experienced in coming down from Camp Supply; still, rains were +frequent, and each was invariably followed by a depression of +temperature and high winds, very destructive to our animals, much +weakened by lack of food. The men fared pretty well, however, for on +the rough march along the Washita, and during our stay at Fort Cobb, +they had learned to protect themselves materially from the cold. For +this they had contrived many devices, the favorite means being +dugouts--that is, pits dug in the ground, and roofed over, with +shelter-tents, and having at one end a fire-place and chimney +ingeniously constructed with sod. In these they lived very snugly +--four men in each--and would often amuse themselves by poking their +heads out and barking at the occupants of adjacent huts in imitation +of the prairie-dog, whose comfortable nests had probably suggested +the idea of dugouts. The men were much better off, in fact, than +many of the officers, for the high winds frequently made havoc with +our wall-tents. The horses and mules suffered most of all. They +could not be sheltered, and having neither grain nor grass, the poor +beasts were in no condition to stand the chilling blasts. Still, by +cutting down cottonwood-trees, and letting the animals browse on the +small soft branches, we managed to keep them up till, finally even +this wretched food beginning to grow scarce, I had all except a few +of the strongest sent to Fort Arbuckle, near which place we had been +able, fortunately, to purchase some fields of corn from the +half-civilized Chickasaws and Choctaws. + +Through mismanagement, as previously noted, the greater part of the +supplies which I had ordered hauled to Arbuckle the preceding fall +had not got farther on the way than Fort Gibson, which post was about +four hundred miles off, and the road abominable, particularly east of +Arbuckle, where it ran through a low region called "boggy bottom." +All along this route were abandoned wagons, left sticking in the mud, +and hence the transportation was growing so short that I began to +fear trouble in getting subsistence up for the men. Still, it would +not do to withdraw, so I made a trip to Arbuckle chiefly for the +purpose of reorganizing the transportation, but also with a view to +opening a new route to that post, the road to lie on high ground, so +as to avoid the creeks and mud that had been giving us so much +trouble. If such a road could be made, I hoped to get up enough +rations and grain from the cornfields purchased to send out a +formidable expedition against the Cheyennes, so I set out for +Arbuckle accompanied by my quartermaster, Colonel A. J. McGonigle. +"California Joe" also went along to guide us through the scrub-oaks +covering the ridge, but even the most thorough exploration failed to +discover any route more practicable than that already in use; indeed, +the high ground was, if anything, worse than the bottom land, our +horses in the springy places and quicksands often miring to their +knees. The ground was so soft and wet, in fact, that we had to make +most of the way on foot, so by the time we reached Arbuckle I was +glad to abandon the new road project. + +Finding near Arbuckle more fields of corn than those already +purchased, I had them bought also, and ordered more of the horses +back there to be fed. I next directed every available mule to be put +to hauling rations, having discovered that the full capacity of the +transportation had not yet been brought into play in forwarding +stores from Gibson, and with this regulation of the supply question I +was ready to return immediately to Camp Sill. But my departure was +delayed by California Joe, who, notwithstanding the prohibitory laws +of the Territory, in some unaccountable way had got gloriously tipsy, +which caused a loss of time that disgusted me greatly; but as we +could not well do without Joe, I put off starting till the next day, +by which time it was thought he would sober up. But I might just as +well have gone at first, for at the end of the twenty-four hours the +incorrigible old rascal was still dead drunk. How he had managed to +get the grog to keep up his spree was a mystery which we could not +solve, though we had had him closely watched, so I cut the matter +short by packing him into my ambulance and carrying him off to Camp +Sill. + +By the time I got back to Sill, the Arapahoes were all in at the +post, or near at hand. The promised surrender of the Cheyennes was +still uncertain of fulfillment, however, and although Little Robe and +his family had remained with us in evidence of good faith, the +messages he sent to his followers brought no assurance of the tribe's +coming in--the runners invariably returning with requests for more +time, and bringing the same old excuse of inability to move because +the ponies were so badly off. But more time was just what I was +determined not to grant, for I felt sure that if a surrender was not +forced before the spring grass came, the ponies would regain their +strength, and then it would be doubtful if the Cheyennes came in at +all. + +To put an end to these delays, Custer proposed to go out and see the +Cheyennes himself, taking with him for escort only such number of men +as could be fairly well mounted from the few horses not sent back to +Arbuckle. At first I was inclined to disapprove Custer's +proposition, but he urged it so strongly that I finally consented, +though with some misgivings, for I feared that so small a party might +tempt the Cheyennes to forget their pacific professions and seek to +avenge the destruction of Black Kettle's band. However, after +obtaining my approval, Custer, with characteristic energy, made his +preparations, and started with three or four officers and forty +picked men, taking along as negotiators Yellow Bear and Little Robe, +who were also to conduct him to the head-waters of the Red River, +where it was supposed the Cheyennes would be found. His progress was +reported by couriers every few days, and by the time he got to the +Witchita foot-hills he had grown so sanguine that he sent California +Joe back to me with word that he was certain of success. Such +hopeful anticipation relieved me greatly, of course, but just about +the time I expected to hear that his mission had been achieved I was +astonished by the party's return. Inquiring as to the trouble, I +learned that out toward the Staked Plains every sign of the Cheyennes +had disappeared. Surprised and disappointed at this, and discouraged +by the loneliness of his situation--for in the whole region not a +trace of animal life was visible, Custer gave up the search, and none +too soon, I am inclined to believe, to save his small party from +perishing. + +This failure put a stop to all expeditions till the latter part of +February, by which time I had managed to lay in enough rations to +feed the command for about thirty days; and the horses back at +Arbuckle having picked up sufficiently for field service they were +ordered to Sill, and this time I decided to send Custer out with his +own and the Kansas regiment, with directions to insist on the +immediate surrender of the Cheyennes, or give them a sound thrashing. +He was ordered to get everything ready by March 1, and then move to +the mouth of Salt Creek, on the North Fork of the Red River, at which +place I proposed to establish a new depot for feeding the command. +Trains could reach this point from Camp Supply more readily than from +Arbuckle, and wishing to arrange this part of the programme in +person, I decided to return at once to Supply, and afterward rejoin +Custer at Salt Creek, on what, I felt sure, was to be the final +expedition of the campaign. I made the three hundred and sixty miles +from Sill to Supply in seven days, but much to my surprise there +found a despatch from General Grant directing me to repair +immediately to Washington. These orders precluded, of course, my +rejoining the command; but at the appointed time it set out on the +march, and within three weeks brought the campaign to a successful +close. + +In this last expedition, for the first few days Custer's route was by +the same trail he had taken in January--that is to say, along the +southern base of the Witchita Mountains--but this time there was more +to encourage him than before, for, on getting a couple of marches +beyond old Camp Radziminski, on all sides were fresh evidences of +Indians, and every effort was bent to strike them. + +From day to day the signs grew hotter, and toward the latter part of +March the game was found. The Indians being in a very forlorn +condition, Custer might have destroyed most of the tribe, and +certainly all their villages, but in order to save two white women +whom, it was discovered, they held as captives, he contented himself +with the renewal of the Cheyennes' agreement to come in to Camp +Supply. In due time the entire tribe fulfilled its promise except +one small band under "Tall Bull," but this party received a good +drubbing from General Carr on the Republican early in May. After +this fight all the Indians of the southern Plains settled down on +their reservations, and I doubt whether the peace would ever again +have been broken had they not in after years been driven to +hostilities by most unjust treatment. + +It was the 2d of March that I received at Camp Supply Grant's +despatch directing me to report immediately in Washington. It had +been my intention, as I have said, to join Custer on the North Fork +of the Red River, but this new order required me to recast my plans, +so, after arranging to keep the expedition supplied till the end of +the campaign, I started for Washington, accompanied by three of my +staff--Colonels McGonigle and Crosby, and Surgeon Asch, and Mr. Deb. +Randolph Keim, a representative of the press, who went through the +whole campaign, and in 1870 published a graphic history of it. The +day we left Supply we, had another dose of sleet and snow, but +nevertheless we made good time, and by night-fall reached Bluff +Creek. In twenty-four hours more we made Fort Dodge, and on the 6th +of March arrived at Fort Hays. Just south of the Smoky Hill River, a +little before we got to the post, a courier heading for Fort Dodge +passed us at a rapid gait. Suspecting that he had despatches for me, +I directed my outrider to overtake him and find out. The courier +soon turned back, and riding up to my ambulance handed me a telegram +notifying me that General Grant, on the day of his inauguration, +March 4, 1869, had appointed me Lieutenant-General of the Army. When +I reported in Washington, the President desired me to return to New +Orleans and resume command of the Fifth Military District, but this +was not at all to my liking, so I begged off, and was assigned to +take charge of the Division of the Missouri, succeeding General +Sherman, who had just been ordered to assume command of the Army. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +INSPECTING MILITARY POSTS IN UTAH AND MONTANA--DESIRE TO WITNESS THE +FRANCO-GERMAN WAR--ON A SAND-BAR IN THE MISSOURI--A BEAR HUNT--AN +INDIAN SCARE--MYRIADS OF MOSQUITOES--PERMISSION GIVEN TO VISIT +EUROPE--CALLING ON PRESIDENT GRANT--SAILING FOR LIVERPOOL--ARRIVAL IN +BERLIN. + +After I had for a year been commanding the Division of the Missouri, +which embraced the entire Rocky Mountain region, I found it necessary +to make an inspection of the military posts in northern Utah and +Montana, in order by personal observation to inform myself of their +location and needs, and at the same time become acquainted with the +salient geographical and topographical features of that section of my +division. Therefore in May, 1870, I started west by the +Union-Pacific railroad, and on arriving at Corinne' Station, the next +beyond Ogden, took passage by stage-coach for Helena, the capital of +Montana Territory. Helena is nearly five hundred miles north of +Corinne, and under ordinary conditions the journey was, in those +days, a most tiresome one. As the stage kept jogging on day and +night, there was little chance for sleep, and there being with me a +sufficient number of staff-officers to justify the proceeding, we +chartered the "outfit," stipulating that we were to stop over one +night on the road to get some rest. This rendered the journey more +tolerable, and we arrived at Helena without extraordinary fatigue. + +Before I left Chicago the newspapers were filled with rumors of +impending war between Germany and France. I was anxious to observe +the conflict, if it was to occur, but reports made one day concerning +the beginning of hostilities would be contradicted the next, and it +was not till I reached Helena that the despatches lost their doubtful +character, and later became of so positive a nature as to make it +certain that the two nations would fight. I therefore decided to cut +short my tour of inspection, so that I could go abroad to witness the +war, if the President would approve. This resolution limited my stay +in Helena to a couple of days, which were devoted to arranging for an +exploration of what are now known as the Upper and the Lower Geyser +Basins of the Yellowstone Park. While journeying between Corinne and +Helena I had gained some vague knowledge of these geysers from an old +mountaineer named Atkinson, but his information was very indefinite, +mostly second-hand; and there was such general uncertainty as to the +character of this wonderland that I authorized an escort of soldiers +to go that season from Fort Ellis with a small party, to make such +superficial explorations as to justify my sending an engineer officer +with a well-equipped expedition there next summer to scientifically +examine and report upon the strange country. When the arrangements +for this preliminary expedition were completed I started for Fort +Benton, the head of navigation on the Missouri River, on the way +passing through Fort Shaw, on Sun River. I expected to take at +Benton a steamboat to Fort Stevenson, a military post which had been +established about eighty miles south of Fort Buford, near a +settlement of friendly Mandan and Arickaree Indians, to protect them +from the hostile Sioux. From there I was to make my way overland, +first to Fort Totten near Devil's lake in Dakota, and thence by way +of Fort Abercrombie to Saint Cloud, Minnesota, the terminus of the +railroad. + +Luckily I met with no delay in getting a boat at Benton, and though +the water was extremely low, we steamed down the channel of the +Missouri with but slight detention till we got within fifty miles of +Fort Buford. Here we struck on a sandbar with such force of steam +and current as to land us almost out of the water from stem to +midships. This bad luck was tantalizing, for to land on a bar when +your boat is under full headway down-stream in the Missouri River is +no trifling matter, especially if you want to make time, for the +rapid and turbid stream quickly depositing sand under the hull, makes +it commonly a task of several days to get your boat off again. As +from our mishap the loss of much time was inevitable, I sent a +messenger to Fort Buford for a small escort, and for horses to take +my party in to the post. Colonel Morrow, the commandant, came +himself to meet us, bringing a strong party of soldiers and some +friendly Indian scouts, because, he said, there were then in the +region around Buford so many treacherous band of Sioux as to make +things exceedingly unsafe. + +Desiring to reach the post without spending more than one night on +the way, we abandoned our steamer that evening, and set off at an +early hour the next morning. We made camp at the end of the day's +march within ten miles of Buford, and arrived at the post without +having had any incident of moment, unless we may dignify as one a +battle with three grizzly bears, discovered by our friendly Indians +the morning of our second day's journey. While eating our breakfast +--a rather slim one, by the way--spread on a piece of canvas, the +Indians, whose bivouac was some distance off, began shouting +excitedly, "Bear! bear!" and started us all up in time to see, out on +the plain some hundreds of yards away, an enormous grizzly and two +almost full-grown cubs. Chances like this for a bear hunt seldom +offered, so there was hurried mounting--the horses being already +saddled--and a quick advance made on the game from many directions, +Lieutenant Townsend, of the escort, and five or six of the Indians +going with me. Alarmed by the commotion, bruin and her cubs turned +about, and with an awkward yet rapid gait headed for a deep ravine, +in which there was brushwood shelter. + +My party rode directly across the prairie and struck the trail not +far behind the game. Then for a mile or more the chase was kept up, +but with such poor shooting because of the "buck fever" which had +seized most of us, that we failed to bring down any of the grizzlies, +though the cubs grew so tired that the mother was often obliged to +halt for their defense, meanwhile urging them on before her. When +the ravine was gained she hid the cubs away in the thick brushwood, +and then coming out where we could plainly see her, stood on the +defense just within the edge of the thicket, beyond the range of our +rifles though, unless we went down into the canyon, which we would +have to do on foot, since the precipitous wall precluded going on +horseback. For an adventure like this I confess I had little +inclination, and on holding a council of war, I found that the +Indians had still less, but Lieutenant Townsend, who was a fine shot, +and had refrained from firing hitherto in the hope that I might bag +the game, relieved the embarrassing situation and saved the credit of +the party by going down alone to attack the enemy. Meanwhile I +magnanimously held his horse, and the Sioux braves did a deal of +shouting, which they seemed to think of great assistance. + +Townsend, having descended to the bottom of the ravine, approached +within range, when the old bear struck out, dashing into and out of +the bushes so rapidly, however, that he could not get fair aim at +her, but the startled cubs running into full view, he killed one at +the first shot and at the second wounded the other. This terribly +enraged the mother, and she now came boldly out to fight, exposing +herself in the open ground so much as to permit a shot, that brought +her down too, with a broken shoulder. Then the Indians and I, +growing very brave, scrambled down to--take part in the fight. It +was left for me to despatch the wounded cub and mother, and having +recovered possession of my nerves, I did the work effectively, and we +carried off with us the skins of the three animals as trophies of the +hunt and evidence of our prowess. + +As good luck would have it, when we reached Buford we found a +steamboat there unloading stores, and learned that it would be ready +to start down the river the next day. Embarking on her, we got to +Stevenson in a few hours, and finding at the post camp equipage that +had been made ready for our use in crossing overland to Fort Totten, +we set out the following forenoon, taking with us a small escort of +infantry, transported in two light wagons, a couple of Mandans and +the post interpreter going along as mounted guides. + +To reach water we had to march the first day to a small lake forty +miles off, and the oppressive heat, together with the long distance +traveled, used up one of the teams so much that, when about to start +out the second morning, we found the animals unable to go on with any +prospect of finishing the trip, so I ordered them to be rested +forty-eight hours longer, and then taken back to Stevenson. This +diminished the escort by one-half, yet by keeping the Indians and +interpreter on the lookout, and seeing that our ambulance was kept +closed up on the wagon carrying the rest of the detachment, we could, +I thought, stand off any ordinary party of hostile Indians. + +About noon I observed that the scouts in advance had left the trail +and begun to reconnoitre a low ridge to their right, the sequel of +which was that in a few minutes they returned to the wagons on a dead +run and reported Sioux just ahead. Looking in the direction +indicated, I could dimly see five or six horsemen riding in a circle, +as Indians do when giving warning to their camp, but as our halt +disclosed that we were aware of their proximity, they darted back +again behind the crest of the ridge. Anticipating from this move an +immediate attack, we hastily prepared for it by unhooking the mules +from the wagon and ambulance, so that we could use the vehicles as a +barricade. This done, I told the interpreter to take the Mandan +scouts and go over toward the ridge and reconnoitre again. As the +scouts neared the crest two of them dismounted, and, crawling slowly +on their bellies to the summit, took a hasty look and returned at +once to their horses, coming back with word that in the valley beyond +was a camp of at least a hundred Sioux lodges, and that the Indians +were hurriedly getting ready to attack us. The news was anything but +cheering, for with a village of that size the warriors would number +two or three hundred, and could assail us from every side. + +Still, nothing could be done, but stand and take what was to come, +for there was no chance of escape--it being supreme folly to +undertake in wagons a race with Indians to Fort Stevenson, sixty +miles away. To make the best of the situation, we unloaded the +baggage, distributing and adjusting the trunks, rolls of bedding, +crackerboxes, and everything else that would stop a bullet, in such +manner as to form a square barricade, two sides of which were the +wagons, with the mules haltered to the wheels. Every man then +supplied himself with all the ammunition he could carry, and the +Mandan scouts setting up the depressing wail of the Indian +death-song, we all awaited the attack with the courage of despair. + +But no attack came; and time slipping by, and we still unmolested, +the interpreter and scouts were sent out to make another +reconnoissance. Going through just such precautions as before in +approaching the ridge, their slow progress kept us in painful +suspense; but when they got to the crest the strain on our nerves was +relieved by seeing them first stand up boldly at full height, and +then descend beyond. Quickly returning, they brought welcome word +that the whole thing was a mistake, and no Sioux were there at all. +What had been taken for a hundred Indian lodges turned out to be the +camp of a Government train on its way to Fort Stevenson, and the +officer in charge seeing the scouts before they discovered him, and +believing them to be Sioux, had sent out to bring his herds in. It +would be hard to exaggerate the relief that this discovery gave us, +and we all breathed much easier. The scare was a bad one, and I have +no hesitation in saying that, had we been mounted, it is more than +likely that, instead of showing fight, we would have taken up a +lively pace for Fort Stevenson. + +After reciprocal explanations with the officer in charge of the +train, the march was resumed, and at the close of that day we camped +near a small lake about twenty miles from Fort Totten. From Totten +we journeyed on to Fort Abercrombie. The country between the two +posts is low and flat, and I verily believe was then the favorite +abiding-place of the mosquito, no matter where he most loves to dwell +now; for myriads of the pests rose up out of the tall rank grass +--more than I ever saw before or since--and viciously attacked both +men and animals. We ourselves were somewhat protected by gloves and +head-nets, provided us before leaving Totten, but notwithstanding these +our sufferings were well-nigh intolerable; the annoyance that the poor +mules experienced must, therefore, have been extreme; indeed, they were +so terribly stung that the blood fairly trickled down their sides. +Unluckily, we had to camp for one night in this region; but we partly +evaded the ravenous things by banking up our tent walls with earth, and +then, before turning in, sweeping and smoking out such as had got +inside. Yet with all this there seemed hundreds left to sing and sting +throughout the night. The mules being without protection, we tried +hard to save them from the vicious insects by creating a dense smoke +from a circle of smothered fires, within which chain the grateful +brutes gladly stood; but this relief was only partial, so the moment +there was light enough to enable us to hook up we pulled out for +Abercrombie in hot haste. + +From Abercrombie we drove on to Saint Cloud, the terminus of the +railroad, where, considerably the worse for our hurried trip and +truly wretched experience with the mosquitoes, we boarded the welcome +cars. Two days later we arrived in Chicago, and having meanwhile +received word from General Sherman that there would be no objection +to my going to Europe, I began making arrangements to leave, securing +passage by the steamship Scotia. + +President Grant invited me to come to see him at Long Branch before I +should sail, and during my brief visit there he asked which army I +wished to accompany, the German or the French. I told him the +German, for the reason that I thought more could be seen with the +successful side, and that the indications pointed to the defeat of +the French. My choice evidently pleased him greatly, as he had the +utmost contempt for Louis Napoleon, and had always denounced him as a +usurper and a charlatan. Before we separated, the President gave me +the following letter to the representatives of our Government abroad, +and with it I not only had no trouble in obtaining permission to go +with the Germans, but was specially favored by being invited to +accompany the headquarters of the King of Prussia: + +"LONG BRANCH, N. J., July 25, 1870. + +"Lieutenant-General P. H. Sheridan, of the United State Army, is +authorized to visit Europe, to return at his own pleasure, unless +otherwise ordered. He is commended to the good offices of all +representatives of this Government whom he may meet abroad. + +"To citizens and representatives of other Governments I introduce +General Sheridan as one of the most skillful, brave and deserving +soldiers developed by the great struggle through which the United +States Government has just passed. Attention paid him will be duly +appreciated by the country he has served so faithfully and +efficiently. + +"U. S. GRANT." + + +Word of my intended trip was cabled to Europe in the ordinary press +despatches, and our Minister to France, Mr. Elihu B. Washburn, being +an intimate friend of mine, and thinking that I might wish to attach +myself to the French army, did me the favor to take preliminary steps +for securing the necessary authority. He went so far as to broach +the subject to the French Minister of War, but in view of the +informality of the request, and an unmistakable unwillingness to +grant it being manifested, Mr. Washburn pursued the matter no +further. I did not learn of this kindly interest in my behalf till +after the capitulation of Paris, when Mr. Washburn told me what he +had done of his own motion. Of course I thanked him gratefully, but +even had he succeeded in getting the permission he sought I should +not have accompanied the French army. + +I sailed from New York July 27, one of my aides-de-camp, General +James W. Forsyth, going with me. We reached Liverpool August 6, and +the next day visited the American Legation in London, where we saw +all the officials except our Minister, Mr. Motley, who, being absent, +was represented by Mr. Moran, the Secretary of the Legation. We left +London August 9 for Brussels, where we were kindly cared for by the +American Minister, Mr. Russell Jones who the same evening saw us off +for Germany. Because of the war we secured transportation only as +far as Vera, and here we received information that the Prussian +Minister of War had telegraphed to the Military Inspector of +Railroads to take charge of us on our arrival a Cologne, and send us +down to the headquarter of the Prussian army, but the Inspector, for +some unexplained reason, instead of doing this, sent us on to Berlin. +Here our Minister, Mr. George Bancroft, met us with a telegram from +the German Chancellor, Count Bismarck, saying we were expected to +come direct to the King's headquarters and we learned also that a +despatch had been sent to the Prussian Minister at Brussels directing +him to forward us from Cologne to the army, instead of allowing us to +go on to Berlin, but that we had reached and quit Brussels without +the Minister's knowledge. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +LEAVING FOR THE SEAT OF WAR--MEETING WITH PRINCE BISMARCK--HIS +INTEREST IN PUBLIC OPINION IN AMERICA--HIS INCLINATIONS IN EARLY +LIFE--PRESENTED TO THE KING--THE BATTLE OF GRAVELOTTE--THE GERMAN +PLAN--ITS FINAL SUCCESS--SENDING NEWS OF THE VICTORY--MISTAKEN FOR A +FRENCHMAN. + +Shortly after we arrived in Berlin the Queen sent a messenger +offering us an opportunity to pay our respects, and fixed an hour for +the visit, which was to take place the next day; but as the tenor of +the despatch Mr. Bancroft had received from Count Bismarck indicated +that some important event which it was desired I should witness was +about to happen at the theatre of war, our Minister got us excused +from our visit of ceremony, and we started for the headquarters of +the German army that evening--our stay in the Prussian capital having +been somewhat less than a day. + +Our train was a very long one, of over eighty cars, and though drawn +by three locomotives, its progress to Cologne was very slow and the +journey most tedious. From Cologne we continued on by rail up the +valley of the Rhine to Bingebruck, near Bingen, and thence across +through Saarbrucken to Remilly, where we left the railway and rode in +a hay-wagon to Pont-a-Mousson, arriving there August 17, late in the +afternoon. This little city had been ceded to France at the Peace of +Westphalia, and although originally German, the people had become, in +the lapse of so many years, intensely French in sentiment. The town +was so full of officers and men belonging to the German army that it +was difficult to get lodgings, but after some delay we found quite +comfortable quarters at one of the small hotels, and presently, after +we had succeeded in getting a slender meal, I sent my card to Count +von Bismarck, the Chancellor of the North German Confederation, who +soon responded by appointing an hour--about 9 o'clock the same +evening--for an interview. + +When the Count received me he was clothed in the undress uniform of +the Cuirassier regiment, of which he was the colonel. During the +interview which ensued, he exhibited at times deep anxiety regarding +the conflict now imminent, for it was the night before the battle of +Gravelotte, but his conversation was mostly devoted to the state of +public sentiment in America, about which he seemed much concerned, +inquiring repeatedly as to which side--France or Prussia--was charged +with bringing on the war. Expressing a desire to witness the battle +which was expected to occur the next day, and remarking that I had +not had sufficient time to provide the necessary transportation, he +told me to be ready at 4 o'clock in the morning, and he would take me +out in his own carriage and present me to the King--adding that he +would ask one of his own staff-officers, who he knew had one or two +extra horses, to lend me one. As I did not know just what my status +would be, and having explained to the President before leaving +America that I wished to accompany the German army unofficially, I +hardly knew whether to appear in uniform or not, so I spoke of this +matter too, and the Count, after some reflection, thought it best for +me to wear my undress uniform, minus the sword, however, because I +was a non combatant. + +At 4 o'clock the next morning, the 18th, I repaired to the +Chancellor's quarters. The carriage was at the door, also the +saddle-horse, but as no spare mount could be procured for General +Forsyth, he had to seek other means to reach the battle-field. The +carriage was an open one with two double seats, and in front a single +one for a messenger; it had also a hand-brake attached. + + +Count Bismarck and I occupied the rear seat, and Count +Bismarck-Bohlen--the nephew and aide-decamp to the Chancellor--and +Doctor Busch were seated facing us. The conveyance was strong, +serviceable, and comfortable, but not specially prepossessing, and +hitched to it were four stout horses--logy, ungainly animals, whose +clumsy harness indicated that the whole equipment was meant for heavy +work. Two postilions in uniform, in high military saddles on the nigh +horse of each span, completed the establishment. + +All being ready, we took one of the roads from Pont-a-Mousson to +Rezonville, which is on the direct road from Metz to Chalons, and +near the central point of the field where, on the 16th of August, the +battle of Mars-la-Tour had been fought. It was by this road that the +Pomeranians, numbering about 30,000 men, had been ordered to march to +Gravelotte, and after proceeding a short distance we overtook the +column. As this contingent came from Count Bismarck's own section of +Germany, there greeted us as we passed along, first in the dim light +of the morning, and later in the glow of the rising sun, continuous +and most enthusiastic cheering for the German Chancellor. + +On the way Count Bismarck again recurred to the state of public +opinion in America with reference to the war. He also talked much +about our form of government, and said that in early life his +tendencies were all toward republicanism, but that family influence +had overcome his preferences, and intimated that, after adopting a +political career, he found that Germany was not sufficiently advanced +for republicanism. He said, further, that he had been reluctant to +enter upon this public career, that he had always longed to be a +soldier, but that here again family opposition had turned him from +the field of his choice into the sphere of diplomacy. + +Not far from Mars-la-Tour we alighted, and in a little while an +aide-de-camp was introduced, who informed me that he was there to +conduct and present me to his Majesty, the King of Prussia. As we were +walking along together, I inquired whether at the meeting I should +remove my cap, and he said no; that in an out-of-door presentation it +was not etiquette to uncover if in uniform. We were soon in presence +of the King, where--under the shade of a clump of second-growth +poplar-trees, with which nearly all the farms in the north of France +are here and there dotted--the presentation was made in the simplest +and most agreeable manner. + +His Majesty, taking my hand in both of his, gave me a thorough +welcome, expressing, like Count Bismarck, though through an +interpreter, much interest as to the sentiment in my own country +about the war. At this time William the First of Prussia was +seventy-three years of age, and, dressed in the uniform of the +Guards, he seemed to be the very ideal soldier, and graced with most +gentle and courteous manners. The conversation, which was brief, as +neither of us spoke the other's native tongue, concluded by his +Majesty's requesting me in the most cordial way to accompany his +headquarters during the campaign. Thanking him for his kindness, I +rejoined Count Bismarck's party, and our horses having arrived +meantime, we mounted and moved off to the position selected for the +King to witness the opening of the battle. + +This place was on some high ground overlooking the villages of +Rezonville and Gravelotte, about the centre of the battlefield of +Mars-la-Tour, and from it most of the country to the east toward Metz +could also be seen. The point chosen was an excellent one for the +purpose, though in one respect disagreeable, since the dead bodies of +many of the poor fellows killed there two days before were yet +unburied. In a little while the King's escort began to remove these +dead, however, bearing them away on stretchers improvised with their +rifles, and the spot thus cleared was much more acceptable. Then, +when such unexploded shells as were lying around loose had been +cautiously carried away, the King, his brother, Prince Frederick +Charles Alexander, the chief-of-staff, General von Moltke, the +Minister of War, General von Roon, and Count von Bismarck assembled +on the highest point, and I being asked to join the group, was there +presented to General von Moltke. He spoke our language fluently, and +Bismarck having left the party for a time to go to a neighboring +house to see his son, who had been wounded at Mars-la-Tour, and about +whom he was naturally very anxious, General von Moltke entertained me +by explaining the positions of the different corps, the nature and +object of their movements then taking place, and so on. + +Before us, and covering Metz, lay the French army, posted on the +crest of a ridge extending north, and about its centre curving +slightly westward toward the German forces. The left of the French +position was but a short distance from the Moselle, and this part of +the line was separated from the Germans by a ravine, the slopes, +fairly well wooded, rising quite sharply; farther north, near the +centre, this depression disappeared, merged in the general swell of +the ground, and thence on toward the right the ground over which an +approach to the French line must be made was essentially a natural +open glacis, that could be thoroughly swept by the fire of the +defenders. + +The line extended some seven or eight miles. To attack this +position, formidable everywhere, except perhaps on the right flank, +the Germans were bringing up the combined forces of the First and +Second armies, troops that within the past fortnight had already +successfully met the French in three pitched battles. On the right +was the First Army, under command of General Von Steinmetz, the +victors, August 6, of Spicheren, near Saar, and, eight days later, of +Colombey, to the east of Metz; while the centre and left were +composed of the several corps of the Second Army, commanded by Prince +Frederick Charles of Prussia, a part of whose troops had just been +engaged in the sanguinary battle of Mars-la-Tour, by which Bazaine +was cut off from the Verdun road, and forced back toward Metz. + +At first the German plan was simply to threaten with their right, +while the corps of the Second Army advanced toward the north, to +prevent the French, of whose intentions there was much doubt, from +escaping toward Chalons; then, as the purposes of the French might +be, developed, these corps were to change direction toward the enemy +successively, and seek to turn his right flank. But the location of +this vital turning-point was very uncertain, and until it was +ascertained and carried, late in the afternoon, the action raged with +more or less intensity along the entire line. + +But as it is not my purpose to describe in detail the battle of +Gravelotte, nor any other, I will speak of some of its incidents +merely. About noon, after many preliminary skirmishes, the action +was begun according to the plan I have already outlined, the Germans +advancing their left while holding on strongly with their right, and +it was this wing (the First Army) that came under my observation from +the place where the King's headquarters were located. From here we +could see, as I have said, the village of Gravelotte. Before it lay +the German troops, concealed to some extent, especially to the left, +by clumps of timber here and there. Immediately in front of us, +however, the ground was open, and the day being clear and sunny, with +a fresh breeze blowing (else the smoke from a battle between four +hundred thousand men would have obstructed the view altogether), the +spectacle presented Was of unsurpassed magnificence and sublimity. +The German artillery opened the battle, and while the air was filled +with shot and shell from hundreds of guns along their entire line, +the German centre and left, in rather open order, moved out to the +attack, and as they went forward the reserves, in close column, took +up positions within supporting distances, yet far enough back to be +out of range. + +The French artillery and mitrailleuses responded vigorously to the +Krupps, and with deadly effect, but as far as we could see the German +left continued its advance, and staff-officers came up frequently to +report that all was going on well at points hidden from our view +These reports were always made to the King first, and whenever +anybody arrived with tidings of the fight we clustered around to hear +the news, General Von Moltke unfolding a map meanwhile, and +explaining the situation. This done, the chief of the staff, while +awaiting the next report, would either return to a seat that had been +made for him with some knapsacks, or would occupy the time walking +about, kicking clods of dirt or small stones here and there, his +hands clasped behind his back, his face pale and thoughtful. He was +then nearly seventy years old, but because of his emaciated figure, +the deep wrinkles in his face, and the crow's-feet about his eyes, he +looked even older, his appearance being suggestive of the practice of +church asceticisms rather than of his well-known ardent devotion to +the military profession. + +By the middle of the afternoon the steady progress of the German left +and centre had driven the French from their more advanced positions +from behind stone walls and hedges, through valleys and hamlets, in +the direction of Metz, but as yet the German right had accomplished +little except to get possession of the village of Gravelotte, +forcing the French across the deep ravine I have mentioned, which +runs north and south a little distance east of ihe town. + +But it was now time for the German right to move in earnest to carry +the Rozerieulles ridge, on which crest the French had evidently +decided to make an obstinate fight to cover their withdrawal to Metz. +As the Germans moved to the attack here, the French fire became heavy +and destructive, so much so, indeed, as to cause General Von +Steinmetz to order some cavalry belonging to the right wing to make a +charge. Crossing the ravine before described, this body of horse +swept up the slope beyond, the front ranks urged forward by the +momentum from behind. The French were posted along a sunken road, +behind stone walls and houses, and as the German cavalry neared these +obstructions it received a dreadful fire without the least chance of +returning it, though still pushed on till the front ranks were +crowded into the deep cut of the road. Here the slaughter was +terrible, for the horsemen could make no further headway; and because +of the blockade behind, of dead and wounded men and animals, an +orderly retreat was impossible, and disaster inevitable. + +About the time the charge was ordered, the phase of the battle was +such that the King concluded to move his headquarters into the +village of Gravelotte; and just after getting there, we first learned +fully of the disastrous result of the charge which had been entered +upon with such spirit; and so much indignation was expressed against +Steinmetz, who, it was claimed, had made an unnecessary sacrifice of +his cavalry, that I thought he would be relieved on the spot; though +this was not done. + +Followed by a large staff, General Steinmetz appeared in the village +presently, and approached the King. When near, he bowed with great +respect, and I then saw that he was a very old man though his +soldierly figure, bronzed face, and shortcropped hair gave some +evidence of vigor still. When the King spoke to him I was not close +enough to learn what was said; but his Majesty's manner was +expressive of kindly feeling, and the fact that in a few moments the +veteran general returned to the command of his troops, indicated +that, for the present at least, his fault had been overlooked. + +The King then moved out of the village, and just a little to the east +and north of it the headquarters were located on high, open ground, +whence we could observe the right of the German infantry advancing up +the eastern face of the ravine. The advance, though slow and +irregular, resulted in gradually gaining ground, the French resisting +stoutly with a stubborn musketry fire all along the slopes. Their +artillery was silent, however; and from this fact the German +artillery officers grew jubilant, confidently asserting that their +Krupp guns had dismounted the French batteries and knocked their +mitrailleuses to pieces. I did not indulge in this confidence, +however; for, with the excellent field-glass I had, I could +distinctly see long columns of French troops moving to their right, +for the apparent purpose of making a vigorous fight on that flank; +and I thought it more than likely that their artillery would be heard +from before the Germans could gain the coveted ridge. + +The Germans labored up the glacis slowly at the most exposed places; +now crawling on their bellies, now creeping on hands and knees, but, +in the main, moving with erect and steady bearing. As they +approached within short range, they suddenly found that the French +artillery and mitrallleuses had by no means been silenced--about two +hundred pieces opening on them with fearful effect, while at the same +time the whole crest blazed with a deadly fire from the Chassepot +rifles. Resistance like this was so unexpected by the Germans that +it dismayed them; and first wavering a moment, then becoming +panic-stricken, they broke and fled, infantry, cavalry, and artillery +coming down the slope without any pretence of formation, the French +hotly following and pouring in a heavy and constant fire as the +fugitives fled back across the ravine toward Gravelotte. With this +the battle on the right had now assumed a most serious aspect, and +the indications were that the French would attack the heights of +Gravelotte; but the Pomeranian corps coming on the field at this +crisis, was led into action by Von Moltke, himself, and shortly after +the day was decided in favor of the Germans. + +When the French guns opened fire, it was discovered that the King's +position was within easy range, many of the shells falling near +enough to make the place extremely uncomfortable; so it was suggested +that he go to a less exposed point. At first he refused to listen to +this wise counsel, but yielded finally--leaving the ground with +reluctance, however--and went back toward Rezonville. I waited for +Count Bismarck, who did not go immediately with the King, but +remained at Gravelotte, looking after some of the escort who had been +wounded. When he had arranged for their care, we set out to rejoin +the King, and before going far, overtook his Majesty, who had stopped +on the Chalons road, and was surrounded by a throng of fugitives, +whom he was berating in German so energetic as to remind me forcibly +of the "Dutch" swearing that I used to hear in my boyhood in Ohio. +The dressing down finished to his satisfaction, the King resumed his +course toward Re'zonville, halting, however, to rebuke in the same +emphatic style every group of runaways he overtook. + +Passing through Rezonville, we halted just beyond the village; there +a fire was built, and the King, his brother, Prince Frederick +Charles, and Von Roon were provided with rather uncomfortable seats +about it, made by resting the ends of a short ladder on a couple of +boxes. With much anxiety and not a little depression of spirits news +from the battle-field was now awaited, but the suspense did not last +long, for presently came the cheering intelligence that the French +were retiring, being forced back by the Pomeranian corps, and some of +the lately broken right wing organizations, that had been rallied on +the heights of Gravelotte. The lost ground being thus regained, and +the French having been beaten on their right, it was not long before +word came that Bazaine's army was falling back to Metz, leaving the +entire battle-field in possession of the Germans. + +During the excitement of the day I had not much felt the want of +either food or water, but now that all was over I was nearly +exhausted, having had neither since early morning. Indeed, all of +the party were in like straits; the immense armies had not only eaten +up nearly everything in the country, but had drunk all the wells dry, +too, and there seemed no relief for us till, luckily, a squad of +soldiers came along the road with a small cask of wine in a cart. +One of the staff-officers instantly appropriated the keg, and +proceeded to share his prize most generously. Never had I tasted +anything so refreshing and delicious, but as the wine was the +ordinary sour stuff drunk by the peasantry of northern France, my +appreciation must be ascribed to my famished condition rather than to +any virtues of the beverage itself. + +After I had thus quenched my thirst the King's, brother called me +aside, and drawing from his coat-tail pocket a piece of stale black +bread, divided it with me, and while munching on this the Prince +began talking of his son--General Prince Frederick Charles, popularly +called the Red Prince--who was in command of the Second Army in this +battle--the German left wing. In recounting his son's professional +career the old man's face was aglow with enthusiasm, and not without +good cause, for in the war between Prussia and Austria in 1866, as +well as in the present campaign, the Red Prince had displayed the +highest order of military genius. + +The headquarters now became the scene of much bustle, despatches +announcing the victory being sent in all directions. The first one +transmitted was to the Queen, the King directing Count Bismarck to +prepare it for his signature; then followed others of a more official +character, and while these matters were being attended to I thought I +would ride into the village to find, if possible, some water for my +horse. Just as I entered the chief street, however, I was suddenly +halted by a squad of soldiers, who, taking me for a French officer +(my coat and forage cap resembling those of the French), leveled +their pieces at me. They were greatly excited, so much so, indeed, +that I thought my hour had come, for they could not understand +English, and I could not speak German, and dare not utter +explanations in French. Fortunately a few disconnected German words +came to me in the emergency. With these I managed to delay my +execution, and one of the party ventured to come up to examine the +"suspect" more closely. The first thing he did was to take off my +cap, and looking it over carefully, his eyes rested on the three +stars above the visor, and, pointing to them, he emphatically +pronounced me French. Then of course they all became excited again, +more so than before, even, for they thought I was trying to practice +a ruse, and I question whether I should have lived to recount the +adventure had not an officer belonging to the King's headquarters +been passing by just then, when, hearing the threatenings and +imprecations, he rode up to learn the cause of the hubbub, and +immediately recognized and released me. When he told my wrathy +captors who I was, they were much mortified of course, and made the +most profuse apologies, promising that no such mistake should occur +again, and so on; but not feeling wholly reassured, for my uniform +was still liable to mislead, I was careful to return to headquarters +in company with my deliverer. There I related what had occurred, and +after a good laugh all round, the King provided me with a pass which +he said would preclude any such mishap in the future, and would also +permit me to go wherever I pleased--a favor rarely bestowed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SEARCHING FOR QUARTERS--HUNTING UP PROVISIONS--A SLENDER BREAKFAST +--GOING OVER THE BATTLEFIELD--THE GERMAN ARTILLERY--A GROUP OF WOUNDED +--DINING WITH THE KING--ON THE MARCH--THE BAVARIANS--KIRSCHWASSER +--URGING ON THE TROOPS. + +While I was absent, as related in the preceding chapter, it had been +decided that the King's quarters should be established for the night +in the village of Rezonville; and as it would be very difficult, at +such a late hour, to billet the whole party regularly, Count Bismarck +and I went off to look for shelter for ourselves. Remembering that I +had seen, when seeking to water my horse, a partly burned barn with +some fresh-looking hay in it, I suggested that we lodge there. He +too thought it would answer our purpose, but on reaching it we found +the unburned part of the barn filled with wounded, and this +necessitating a further search we continued on through the village in +quest of some house not yet converted into a hospital. Such, +however, seemed impossible to come upon, so at last the Count fixed +on one whose upper floor, we learned, was unoccupied, though the +lower one was covered with wounded. + +Mounting a creaky ladder--there was no stairway--to the upper story, +we found a good-sized room with three large beds, one of which the +Chancellor assigned to the Duke of Mecklenburg and aide, and another +to Count Bismarck-Bohlen and me, reserving the remaining one for +himself. Each bed, as is common in Germany and northern France, was +provided with a feather tick, but the night being warm, these spreads +were thrown off, and discovering that they would make a comfortable +shakedown on the floor, I slept there leaving Bismarck-Bohlen +unembarrassed by companionship--at least of a human kind. + +At daylight I awoke, and seeing that Count Bismarck was already +dressed and about to go down the ladder, I felt obliged to follow his +example, so I too turned out, and shortly descended to the +ground-floor, the only delays of the toilet being those incident to +dressing, for there were no conveniences for morning ablutions. Just +outside the door I met the Count, who, proudly exhibiting a couple of +eggs he had bought from the woman of the house, invited me to +breakfast with him, provided we could beg some coffee from the king's +escort. Putting the eggs under my charge, with many injunctions as +to their safe-keeping, he went off to forage for the coffee, and +presently returned, having been moderately successful. One egg +apiece was hardly enough, however, to appease the craving of two +strong men ravenous from long fasting. Indeed, it seemed only to +whet the appetite, and we both set out on an eager expedition for +more food. Before going far I had the good luck to meet a sutler's +wagon, and though its stock was about all sold, there were still left +four large bologna sausages, which I promptly purchased--paying a +round sum for them too--and hastening back found the Count already +returned, though without bringing anything at all to eat; but he had +secured a couple of bottles of brandy, and with a little of this--it +was excellent, too--and the sausages, the slim ration of eggs and +coffee was amply reinforced. + +Breakfast over, the Chancellor invited me to accompany him in a ride +to the battle-field, and I gladly accepted, as I very much desired to +pass over the ground in front of Gravelotte, particularly so to see +whether the Krupp guns had really done the execution that was claimed +for them by the German artillery officers. Going directly through +the village of Gravelotte, following the causeway over which the +German cavalry had passed to make its courageous but futile charge, +we soon reached the ground where the fighting had been the most +severe. Here the field was literally covered with evidences of the +terrible strife, the dead and wounded strewn thick on every side. + +In the sunken road the carnage had been awful; men and horses having +been slaughtered there by hundreds, helpless before the murderous +fire delivered from behind a high stone wall impracticable to mounted +troops. The sight was sickening to an extreme, and we were not slow +to direct our course elsewhere, going up the glacis toward the French +line, the open ground over which we crossed being covered with +thousands of helmets, that had been thrown off by the Germans during +the fight and were still dotting the field, though details of +soldiers from the organizations which had been engaged here were +about to begin to gather up their abandoned headgear. + +When we got inside the French works, I was astonished to observe how +little harm had been done the defenses by the German artillery, for +although I had not that serene faith in the effectiveness of their +guns held by German artillerists generally, yet I thought their +terrific cannonade must have left marked results. All I could +perceive, however, was a disabled gun, a broken mitrailleuse, and two +badly damaged caissons. + +Everything else, except a little ammunition in the trenches, had been +carried away, and it was plain to see, from the good shape in which +the French left wing had retired to Metz, that its retreat had been +predetermined by the disasters to the right wing. + +By this hour the German cavalry having been thrown out to the front +well over toward Metz, we, following it to get a look at the city, +rode to a neighboring summit, supposing it would be a safe point of +observation; but we shortly realized the contrary, for scarcely had +we reached the crest when some of the French pickets, lying concealed +about six hundred yards off, opened fire, making it so very hot for +us that, hugging the necks of our horses, we incontinently fled. +Observing what had taken place, a troop of German cavalry charged the +French outpost and drove it far enough away to make safe our return, +and we resumed possession of the point, but only to discover that the +country to the east was so broken and hilly that no satisfactory view +of Metz could be had. + +Returning to Gravelotte, we next visited that part of the battlefield +to the northeast of the village, and before long Count Bismarck +discovered in a remote place about twenty men dreadfully wounded. +These poor fellows had had no attention whatever, having been +overlooked by the hospital corps, and their condition was most +pitiful. Yet there was one very handsome man in the group--a captain +of artillery--who, though shot through the right breast, was +talkative and cheerful, and felt sure of getting well. Pointing, +however, to a comrade lying near, also shot in the breast, he +significantly shook his head; it was easy to see on this man's face +the signs--of fast approaching death. + +An orderly was at once despatched for a surgeon, Bismarck and I doing +what we could meanwhile to alleviate the intense sufferings of the +maimed men, bringing them water and administering a little brandy, +for the Count still had with him some of the morning's supply. When +the surgeons came, we transferred the wounded to their care, and +making our way to Rezonville, there took the Count's carriage to +rejoin the King's headquarters, which in the mean time had been moved +to Pont-a-Mousson. Our route led through the village of Gorze, and +here we found the streets so obstructed with wagons that I feared it +would take us the rest of the day to get through, for the teamsters +would not pay the slightest heed to the cries of our postilions. The +Count was equal to the emergency, however, for, taking a pistol from +behind his cushion, and bidding me keep my seat, he jumped out and +quickly began to clear the street effectively, ordering wagons to the +right and left. Marching in front of the carriage and making way for +us till we were well through the blockade, he then resumed his seat, +remarking, "This is not a very dignified business for the Chancellor +of the German Confederation, but it's the only way to get through." + +At Pont-a-Mousson I was rejoined by my aide, General Forsyth, and for +the next two days our attention was almost wholly devoted to securing +means of transportation. This was most difficult to obtain, but as I +did not wish to impose on the kindness of the Chancellor longer, we +persevered till, finally, with the help of Count Bismarck-Bohlen, we +managed to get tolerably well equipped with a saddle-horse apiece, +and a two-horse carriage. Here also, on the afternoon of August 21, +I had the pleasure of dining with the King. The dinner was a simple +one, consisting of soup, a joint, and two or three vegetables; the +wines vin ordinaire and Burgundy. There were a good many persons of +high rank present, none of whom spoke English, however, except +Bismarck, who sat next the King and acted as interpreter when his +Majesty conversed with me. Little was said of the events taking +place around us, but the King made many inquiries concerning the war +of the rebellion, particularly with reference to Grant's campaign at +Vicksburg; suggested, perhaps, by the fact that there, and in the +recent movements of the German army, had been applied many similar +principles of military science. + +The French army under Marshal Bazaine having retired into the +fortifications of Metz, that stronghold was speedily invested by +Prince Frederick Charles. Meantime the Third Army, under the Crown +Prince of Prussia--which, after having fought and won the battle of +Worth, had been observing the army of Marshal MacMahon during and +after the battle of Gravelotte--was moving toward Paris by way of +Nancy, in conjunction with an army called the Fourth, which had been +organized from the troops previously engaged around Metz, and on the +22d was directed toward Bar-le-Duc under the command of the Crown +Prince of Saxony. In consequence of these operations the King +decided to move to Commercy, which place we reached by carriage, +traveling on a broad macadamized road lined on both sides with +poplar-trees, and our course leading through a most beautiful country +thickly dotted with prosperous-looking villages. + +On reaching Commercy, Forsyth and I found that quarters had been +already selected for us, and our names written on the door with chalk +the quartermaster charged with the billeting of the officers at +headquarters having started out in advance to perform this duty and +make all needful preparations for the King before he arrived, which +course was usually pursued thereafter, whenever the royal +headquarters took up a new location. + +Forsyth and I were lodged with the notary of the village, who over +and over again referred to his good fortune in not having to +entertain any of the Germans. He treated us most hospitably, and +next morning, on departing, we offered compensation by tendering a +sum--about what our bill would have been at a good hotel--to be used +for the "benefit of the wounded or the Church." Under this +stipulation the notary accepted, and we followed that plan of paying +for food and lodging afterward, whenever quartered in private houses. + +The next day I set out in advance of the headquarters, and reached +Bar-le-Duc about noon, passing on the way the Bavarian contingent of +the Crown Prince's army. These Bavarians were trim-looking soldiers, +dressed in neat uniforms of light blue; they looked healthy and +strong, but seemed of shorter stature than the North Germans I had +seen in the armies of Prince Frederick Charles and General von +Steinmetz. When, later in the day the King arrived, a guard for him +was detailed from this Bavarian contingent; a stroke of policy no +doubt, for the South Germans were so prejudiced against their +brothers of the North that no opportunity to smooth them down was +permitted to go unimproved. + +Bar-le-Duc, which had then a population of about 15,000, is one of +the prettiest towns I saw in France, its quaint and ancient buildings +and beautiful boulevards charming the eye as well as exciting deep +interest. The King and his immediate suite were quartered on one of +the best boulevards in a large building--the Bank of France--the +balcony of which offered a fine opportunity to observe a part of the +army of the Crown Prince the next day on its march toward Vitry. +This was the first time his Majesty had had a chance to see any of +these troops--as hitherto he had accompanied either the army of +Prince Frederick Charles, or that of General Steinmetz--and the +cheers with which he was greeted by the Bavarians left no room for +doubting their loyalty to the Confederation, notwithstanding ancient +jealousies. + +While the troops were passing, Count Bismarck had the kindness to +point out to me the different organizations, giving scraps of their +history, and also speaking concerning the qualifications of the +different generals commanding them. When the review was over we went +to the Count's house, and there, for the first time in my life, I +tasted kirschwasser, a very strong liquor distilled from cherries. +Not knowing anything about the stuff, I had to depend on Bismarck's +recommendation, and he proclaiming it fine, I took quite a generous +drink, which nearly strangled me and brought on a violent fit of +coughing. The Chancellor said, however, that this was in no way due +to the liquor, but to my own inexperience, and I was bound to believe +the distinguished statesman, for he proved his words by swallowing a +goodly dose with an undisturbed and even beaming countenance, +demonstrating his assertion so forcibly that I forthwith set out with +Bismarck-Bohlen to lay in a supply for myself. + +I spent the night in a handsome house, the property of an +exceptionally kind and polite gentleman bearing the indisputably +German name of Lager, but who was nevertheless French from head to +foot, if intense hatred of the Prussians be a sign of Gallic +nationality. At daybreak on the 26th word came for us to be ready to +move by the Chalons road at 7 o'clock, but before we got off, the +order was suspended till 2 in the afternoon. In the interval General +von Moltke arrived and held a long conference with the King, and when +we did pull out we traveled the remainder of the afternoon in company +with a part of the Crown Prince's army, which after this conference +inaugurated the series of movements from Bar-le-Duc northward, that +finally compelled the surrender at Sedan. This sudden change of +direction I did not at first understand, but soon learned that it was +because of the movements of Marshal MacMahon, who, having united the +French army beaten at Worth with three fresh corps at Chalons, was +marching to relieve Metz in obedience to orders from the Minister of +War at Paris. + +As we passed along the column, we noticed that the Crown Prince's +troops were doing their best, the officers urging the men to their +utmost exertions, persuading weary laggards and driving up +stragglers. As a general thing, however, they marched in good shape, +notwithstanding the rapid gait and the trying heat, for at the outset +of the campaign the Prince had divested them of all impedimenta +except essentials, and they were therefore in excellent trim for a +forced march. + +The King traveled further than usual that day--to Clermont--so we did +not get shelter till late, and even then not without some confusion, +for the quartermaster having set out toward Chalons before the change +of programme was ordered, was not at hand to provide for us. I had +extreme good luck, though, in being quartered with a certain +apothecary, who, having lived for a time in the United States, +claimed it as a privilege even to lodge me, and certainly made me his +debtor for the most generous hospitality. It was not so with some of +the others, however; and Count Bismarck was particularly unfortunate, +being billeted in a very small and uncomfortable house, where, +visiting him to learn more fully what was going on, I found him, +wrapped in a shabby old dressing-gown, hard at work. He was +established in a very small room, whose only furnishings consisted of +a table--at which he was writing--a couple of rough chairs, and the +universal feather-bed, this time made on the floor in one corner of +the room. On my remarking upon the limited character of his +quarters, the Count replied, with great good-humor, that they were +all right, and that he should get along well enough. Even the tramp +of his clerks in the attic, and the clanking of his orderlies' sabres +below, did not disturb him much; he said, in fact, that he would have +no grievance at all were it not for a guard of Bavarian soldiers +stationed about the house for his safety, he presumed the sentinels +from which insisted on protecting and saluting the Chancellor of the +North German Confederation in and out of season, a proceeding that +led to embarrassment sometimes, as he was much troubled with a severe +dysentery. Notwithstanding his trials, however, and in the midst of +the correspondence on which he was so intently engaged, he graciously +took time to explain that the sudden movement northward from +Bar-le-Duc was, as I have previously recounted, the result of +information that Marshal MacMahon was endeavoring to relieve Metz by +marching along the Belgian frontier; "a blundering manoeuvre," remarked +the Chancellor, "which cannot be accounted for, unless it has been +brought about by the political situation of the French." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AFTER MacMAHON--THE BATTLE AT BEAUMONT--THE FRENCH SURPRISED--THE +MARCHING OF THE GERMAN SOLDIERS--THE BATTLE OF SEDAN--GALLANT CAVALRY +CHARGES--DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH--THE SURRENDER OF NAPOLEON--BISMARCK +AND THE KING--DECORATING THE SOLDIERS. + +All night long the forced march of the army went on through Clermont, +and when I turned out, just after daylight, the columns were still +pressing forward, the men looking tired and much bedraggled, as +indeed they had reason to be, for from recent rains the roads were +very sloppy. Notwithstanding this, however, the troops were pushed +ahead with all possible vigor to intercept MacMahon and force a +battle before he could withdraw from his faulty movement, for which +it has since been ascertained he was not at all responsible. Indeed, +those at the royal headquarters seemed to think of nothing else than +to strike MacMahon, for, feeling pretty confident that Metz could not +be relieved, they manifested not the slightest anxiety on that score. + +By 8 o'clock, the skies having cleared, the headquarters set out for +Grand Pre', which place we reached early in the afternoon, and that +evening I again had the pleasure of dining with the King. The +conversation at table was almost wholly devoted to the situation, of +course, everybody expressing surprise at the manoeuvre of the French +at this time, their march along the Belgian frontier being credited +entirely to Napoleon. Up to bed-time there was still much +uncertainty as to the exact positions of the French, but next morning +intelligence being received which denoted the probability of a +battle, we drove about ten miles, to Buzancy, and there mounting our +horses, rode to the front. + +The French were posted not far from Buzancy in a strong position, +their right resting near Stonne and the left extending over into the +woods beyond Beaumont. About 10 o'clock the Crown Prince of Saxony +advanced against this line, and while a part of his army turned the +French right, compelling it to fall back rapidly, the German centre +and right attacked with great vigor and much skill, surprising one of +the divisions of General De Failly's corps while the men were in the +act of cooking their breakfast. + +The French fled precipitately, leaving behind their tents and other +camp equipage, and on inspecting the ground which they had abandoned +so hastily, I noticed on all sides ample evidence that not even the +most ordinary precautions had been taken to secure the division from +surprise, The artillery horses had not been harnessed, and many of +them had been shot down at the picket-rope where they had been +haltered the night before, while numbers of men were lying dead with +loaves of bread or other food instead of their muskets in their +hands. + +Some three thousand prisoners and nearly all the artillery and +mitrailleuses of the division--were captured, while the fugitives +were pursued till they found shelter behind--Douay's corps and the +rest of De Failly's beyond Beaumont. The same afternoon there were +several other severe combats along the Meuse, but I had no chance of +witnessing any of them, and just before night-fall I started back to +Buzancy, to which place the King's headquarters had been brought +during the day. + +The morning of the 31st the King moved to Vendresse. First sending +our carriage back to Grand Pre' for our trunks, Forsyth and I mounted +our horses and rode to the battle-field accompanied by an English +nobleman, the Duke of Manchester. The part of the field we traversed +was still thickly strewn with the dead of both armies, though all the +wounded had been collected in the hospitals. In the village of +Beaumont, we stopped to take a look at several thousand French +prisoners, whose worn clothing and evident dejection told that they +had been doing a deal of severe marching under great discouragements. + +The King reached the village shortly after, and we all continued on +to Chemery, just beyond where his Majesty alighted from his carriage +to observe his son's troops file past as they came in from the +direction of Stonne. This delay caused us to be as late as 9 o'clock +before we got shelter that night, but as it afforded me the best +opportunity I had yet had for seeing the German soldiers on the +march, I did not begrudge the time. They moved in a somewhat open +and irregular column of fours, the intervals between files being +especially intended to give room for a peculiar swinging gait, with +which the men seemed to urge themselves over the ground with ease and +rapidity. There was little or no straggling, and being strong, lusty +young fellows, and lightly equipped--they carried only needle-guns, +ammunition, a very small knapsack, a water-bottle, and a haversack +--they strode by with an elastic step, covering at least three miles an +hour. + +It having been definitely ascertained that the demoralized French +were retiring to Sedan, on the evening of August 31 the German army +began the work of hemming them in there, so disposing the different +corps as to cover the ground from Donchery around by Raucourt to +Carignan. The next morning this line was to be drawn in closer on +Sedan; and the Crown Prince of Saxony was therefore ordered to take +up a position to the north of Bazeilles, beyond the right bank of the +Meuse, while the Crown Prince of Prussia was to cross his right wing +over the Meuse at Remilly, to move on Bazeilles, his centre meantime +marching against a number of little hamlets still held by the French +between there and Donchery. At this last-mentioned place strong +reserves were to be held, and from it the Eleventh Corps, followed by +the Fifth and a division of cavalry, was to march on St. Menges. + +Forsyth and I started early next morning, September 1, and in a thick +fog-which, however, subsequently gave place to bright sunshine--we +drove to the village of Chevenges, where, mounting our horses, we +rode in a northeasterly direction to the heights of Frenois and +Wadelincourt, bordering the river Meuse on the left bank, where from +the crest we had a good view of the town of Sedan with its circling +fortifications, which, though extensive, were not so formidable as +those around Metz. The King and his staff were already established +on these heights, and at a point so well chosen that his Majesty +could observe the movements of both armies immediately east and south +of Sedan, and also to the northwest toward Floing and the Belgian +frontier. + +The battle was begun to the east and northeast of Sedan as early as +half-past 4 o'clock by the German right wing--the fighting being +desultory--and near the same hour the Bavarians attacked Bazeilles. +This village, some two miles southeast of Sedan, being of importance, +was defended with great obstinacy, the French contesting from street +to street and house to house the attack of the Bavarians till near +10 o'clock, when, almost every building being knocked to pieces, they +were compelled to relinquish the place. The possession of this +village gave the Germans to the east of Sedan a continuous line, +extending from the Meuse northward through La Moncelle and Daigny to +Givonne, and almost to the Belgian frontier. + +While the German centre and right were thus engaged, the left had +moved in accordance with the prescribed plan. Indeed, some of these +troops had crossed the Meuse the night before, and now, at a little +after 6 o'clock, their advance could be seen just north of the +village of Floing. Thus far these columns, under the immediate eye +of the Crown Prince of Prussia, had met with no opposition to their +march, and as soon as they got to the high ground above the village +they began extending to the east, to connect with the Army of the +Meuse. This juncture was effected at Illy without difficulty, and +the French army was now completely encompassed. + +After a severe fight, the Crown Prince drove the French through +Floing, and as the ground between this village and Sedan is an +undulating open plain, everywhere visible, there was then offered a +rare opportunity for seeing the final conflict preceding the +surrender. Presently up out of the little valley where Floing is +located came the Germans, deploying just on the rim of the plateau a +very heavy skirmish-line, supported by a line of battle at close +distance. When these skirmishers appeared, the French infantry had +withdrawn within its intrenched lines, but a strong body of their +cavalry, already formed in a depression to the right of the Floing +road, now rode at the Germans in gallant style, going clear through +the dispersed skirmishers to the main line of battle. Here the +slaughter of the French was awful, for in addition to the deadly +volleys from the solid battalions of their enemies, the skirmishers, +who had rallied in knots at advantageous places, were now delivering +a severe and effective fire. The gallant horsemen, therefore, had to +retire precipitately, but re-forming in the depression, they again +undertook the hopeless task of breaking the German infantry, making +in all four successive charges. Their ardor and pluck were of no +avail, however, for the Germans, growing stronger every minute by the +accession of troops from Floing, met the fourth attack in such large +force that, even before coming in contact with their adversaries, the +French broke and retreated to the protection of the intrenchments, +where, from the beginning of the combat, had been lying plenty of +idle infantry, some of which at least, it seemed plain to me, ought +to have been thrown into the fight. This action was the last one of +consequence around Sedan, for, though with the contraction of the +German lines their batteries kept cannonading more or less, and the +rattle of musketry continued to be heard here and there, yet the hard +fighting of the day practically ended on the plateau of Floing. + +By 3 o'clock, the French being in a desperate and hopeless situation, +the King ordered the firing to be stopped, and at once despatched one +of his staff--Colonel von Bronsart--with a demand for a surrender. +Just as this officer was starting off, I remarked to Bismarck that +Napoleon himself would likely be one of the prizes, but the Count, +incredulous, replied, "Oh no; the old fox is too cunning to be caught +in such a trap; he has doubtless slipped off to Paris"--a belief +which I found to prevail pretty generally about headquarters. + +In the lull that succeeded, the King invited many of those about him +to luncheon, a caterer having provided from some source or other a +substantial meal of good bread, chops and peas, with a bountiful +supply of red and sherry wines. Among those present were Prince +Carl, Bismarck, Von Moltke, Von Roon, the Duke of Weimar, the Duke of +Coburg, the Grand-Duke of Mecklenburg, Count Hatzfeldt, Colonel +Walker, of the English army, General Forsyth, and I. The King was +agreeable and gracious at all times, but on this occasion he was +particularly so, being naturally in a happy frame of mind because +this day the war had reached a crisis which presaged for the near +future the complete vanquishment of the French. + +Between 4 and 5 o'clock Colonel von Bronsart returned from his +mission to Sedan, bringing word to the King that the commanding +officer there General Wimpffen, wished to know, in order that the +further effusion of blood might be spared, upon what terms he might +surrender. The Colonel brought the intelligence also that the French +Emperor was in the town. Soon after Von Bronsart's arrival a French +officer approached from Sedan, preceded by a white flag and two +German officers. Coming up the road till within a few hundred yards +of us, they halted; then one of the Germans rode forward to say that +the French officer was Napoleon's adjutant, bearing an autograph +letter from the Emperor to the King of Prussia. At this the King, +followed by Bismarck, Von Moltke, and Von Roon, walked out to the +front a little distance and halted, his Majesty still in advance, the +rest of us meanwhile forming in a line some twenty paces to the rear +of the group. The envoy then approached, at first on horseback, but +when within about a hundred yards he dismounted, and uncovering, came +the remaining distance on foot, bearing high up in his right hand the +despatch from Napoleon. The bearer proved to be General Reille, and +as he handed the Emperor's letter to the King, his Majesty saluted +him with the utmost formality and precision. Napoleon's letter was +the since famous one, running so characteristically, thus: "Not +having been able to die in the midst of my troops, there is nothing +left me but to place my sword in your Majesty's hands." The reading +finished, the King returned to his former post, and after a +conference with Bismarck, Von Moltke, and Von Roon, dictated an +answer accepting Napoleon's surrender, and requesting him to +designate an officer with power to treat for the capitulation of the +army, himself naming Von Moltke to represent the Germans. The King +then started for Vendresse, to pass the night. It was after +7 o'clock now, and hence too late to arrange anything more where we +were, so further negotiations were deferred till later in the +evening; and I, wishing to be conveniently near Bismarck, resolved to +take up quarters in Donchery. On our way thither we were met by the +Count's nephew, who assuring us that it would be impossible to find +shelter there in the village, as all the houses were filled with +wounded, Forsyth and I decided to continue on to Chevenge. On the +other hand, Bismarck-Bohlen bore with him one great comfort--some +excellent brandy. Offering the flask to his uncle, he said: "You've +had a hard day of it; won't you refresh yourself?" The Chancellor, +without wasting time to answer, raised the bottle to his lips, +exclaiming: "Here's to the unification of Germany!" which sentiment +the gurgling of an astonishingly long drink seemed to emphasize. The +Count then handed the bottle back to his nephew, who, shaking it, +ejaculated, "Why, we can't pledge you in return--there is nothing +left!" to which came the waggish response, "I beg pardon; it was so +dark I couldn't see"; nevertheless there was a little remaining, as I +myself can aver. + +Having left our carriage at Chevenge, Forsyth and I stopped there to +get it, but a long search proving fruitless, we took lodging in the +village at the house of the cure, resolved to continue the hunt in +the morning. But then we had no better success, so concluding that +our vehicle had been pressed into the hospital service, we at an +early hour on the 2d of September resumed the search, continuing on +down the road in the direction of Sedan. Near the gate of the city +we came on the German picket-line, and one of the Officers, +recognizing our uniforms--he having served in the war of the +rebellion--stepped forward and addressed me in good English. We +naturally fell into conversation, and in the midst of it there came +out through the gate an open carriage, or landau, containing two men, +one of whom, in the uniform of a general and smoking a cigarette, we +recognized, when the conveyance drew near, as the Emperor Louis +Napoleon. The landau went on toward Donchery at a leisurely pace, +and we, inferring that there was something more important at hand +just then than the recovery of our trap, followed at a respectful +distance. Not quite a mile from Donchery is a cluster of three or +four cottages, and at the first of these the landau stopped to await, +as we afterward ascertained, Count Bismarck, with whom the diplomatic +negotiations were to be settled. Some minutes elapsed before he +came, Napoleon remaining seated in his carriage meantime, still +smoking, and accepting with nonchalance the staring of a group of +German soldiers near by, who were gazing on their fallen foe with +curious and eager interest. + +Presently a clattering of hoofs was heard, and looking toward the +sound, I perceived the Chancellor cantering down the road. When +abreast of the carriage he dismounted, and walking up to it, saluted +the Emperor in a quick, brusque way that seemed to startle him. +After a word or two, the party moved perhaps a hundred yards further +on, where they stopped opposite the weaver's cottage so famous from +that day. This little house is on the east side of the Donchery +road, near its junction with that to Frenois, and stands about twenty +paces back from the highway. In front is a stone wall covered with +creeping vines, and from a gate in this wall runs to the front door a +path, at this time bordered on both sides with potato vines. + +The Emperor having alighted at the gate, he and Bismarck walked +together along the narrow path and entered the cottage. Reappearing +in about a quarter of an hour, they came out and seated themselves in +the open air, the weaver having brought a couple of chairs. Here +they engaged in an animated conversation, if much gesticulation is +any indication. The talk lasted fully an hour, Bismarck seeming to +do most of it, but at last he arose, saluted the Emperor, and strode +down the path toward his horse. Seeing me standing near the gate, he +joined me for a moment, and asked if I had noticed how the Emperor +started when they first met, and I telling him that I had, he added, +"Well, it must have been due to my manners, not my words, for these +we're, 'I salute your Majesty just as I would my King.'" Then the +Chancellor continued to chat a few minutes longer, assuring me that +nothing further was to be done there, and that we had better go to +the Chateau Bellevue, where, he said, the formal surrender was to +take place. With this he rode off toward Vendresse to communicate +with his sovereign, and Forsyth and I made ready to go to the Chateau +Bellevue. + +Before we set out, however, a number of officers of the King's suite +arrived at the weaver's cottage, and from them I gathered that there +were differences at the royal headquarters as to whether peace should +be made then at Sedan, or the war continued till the French capital +was taken. I further heard that the military advisers of the King +strongly advocated an immediate move on Paris, while the Chancellor +thought it best to make peace now, holding Alsace and Lorraine, and +compelling the payment of an enormous levy of money; and these rumors +were most likely correct, for I had often heard Bismarck say that +France being the richest country in Europe, nothing could keep her +quiet but effectually to empty her pockets; and besides this, he +impressed me as holding that it would be better policy to preserve +the Empire. + +On our way to the chateau we fell in with a number of artillery +officers bringing up their guns hurriedly to post them closer in to +the beleaguered town on a specially advantageous ridge. Inquiring +the cause of this move, we learned that General Wimpffen had not yet +agreed to the terms of surrender; that it was thought he would not, +and that they wanted to be prepared for any such contingency. And +they were preparing with a vengeance too, for I counted seventy-two +Krupp guns in one continuous line trained on the Chateau Bellevue and +Sedan. + +Napoleon went directly from the weaver's to the Chateau Bellevue, and +about 10 o'clock the King of Prussia arrived from Frenois, +accompanied by a few of his own suite and the Crown Prince with +several members of his staff; and Von Moltke and Wimpffen having +settled their points of difference before the two monarchs met, +within the next half-hour the articles of capitulation were formally +signed. + +On the completion of the surrender--the occasion being justly +considered a great one--the Crown Prince proceeded to distribute +among the officers congregated in the chateau grounds 'the order of +the Iron Cross'--a generous supply of these decorations being carried +in a basket by one of his orderlies, following him about as he walked +along. Meantime the King, leaving Napoleon in the chateau to +ruminate on the fickleness of fortune, drove off to see his own +victorious soldiers, who greeted him with huzzas that rent the air, +and must have added to the pangs of the captive Emperor. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +RIDING OVER THE BATTLEFIELD--DESTRUCTION OF BAZEILLES--MISTAKES OF +THE FRENCH--MARSHAL BAZAINE ON TO PARIS--A WEEK IN MEAUX--RHEIMS--ON +THE PICKETLINE-UNDER FIRE--A SURRENDER--AT VERSAILLES--GENERAL +BURNSIDE AND Mr. FORBES IN PARIS. + +The Crown Prince having got to the bottom of his medal basket-that is +to say, having finished his liberal distribution of decorations to +his officers--Forsyth and I rode off by way of Wadelincourt to +Bazeilles to see what had taken place on that part of the field, and +the sight that met our eyes as we entered the village was truly +dreadful to look upon. Most of the houses had been knocked down or +burned the day before, but such as had been left standing were now in +flames, the torch having been applied because, as it was claimed, +Frenchmen concealed in them had fired on the wounded. The streets +were still encumbered with both German and French dead, and it was +evident that of those killed in the houses the bodies had not been +removed, for the air was loaded with odors of burning flesh. From +Bazeille we rode on toward the north about two miles, along where the +fight had been largely an artillery duel, to learn what we could of +the effectiveness of the Krupp gun. Counting all the French dead we +came across killed by artillery, they figured up about three hundred +--a ridiculously small number; in fact, not much more than one dead +man for each Krupp gun on that part of the line. Although the number +of dead was in utter disproportion to the terrific six-hour +cannonade, yet small as it was the torn and mangled bodies made such +a horrible sight that we turned back toward Bazeilles without having +gone further than Givonne. + +At Bazeilles we met the King, accompanied by Bismarck and several of +the staff. They too had been riding over the field, the King making +this a practice, to see that the wounded were not neglected. As I +drew up by the party, Bismarck accosted me with, "Well, General, +aren't you hungry? This is just the place to whet one's appetite +--these burning Frenchmen--Ugh!" and shrugging his shoulders in evident +disgust, he turned away to join his Majesty in further explorations, +Forsyth and I continuing on to Chevenges. Here we got the first +inkling of what had become of our carriage since leaving it two days +before: it had been pressed into service to carry wounded officers from +the field during the battle, but afterward released, and was now safe +at the house in Vendresse where we had been quartered the night of the +31st, so, on hearing this, we settled to go there again to lodge, but +our good friend, the cure', insisting that we should stay with him, we +remained in Chevenges till next morning. + +On September 3 the King removed from Vendresse to Rethel, where he +remained two days; in the mean while the Germans, 240,000 strong, +beginning their direct march to Paris. The French had little with +which to oppose this enormous force, not more, perhaps, than 50,000 +regular troops; the rest of their splendid army had been lost or +captured in battle, or was cooped up in the fortifications of Metz, +Strasburg, and other places, in consequence of blunders without +parallel in history, for which Napoleon and the Regency in Paris must +be held accountable. The first of these gross faults was the fight +at Worth, where MacMahon, before his army was mobilized, accepted +battle with the Crown Prince, pitting 50,000 men against 175,000; the +next was Bazaine's fixing upon Metz as his base, and stupidly putting +himself in position to be driven back to it, when there was no +possible obstacle to his joining forces with MacMahon at Chalons; +while the third and greatest blunder of all was MacMahon's move to +relieve Metz, trying to slip 140,000 men along the Belgian frontier. +Indeed, it is exasperating and sickening to think of all this; to +think that Bazaine carried into Metz--a place that should have been +held, if at all, with not over 25,000 men--an army of 180,000, +because it contained, the excuse was, "an accumulation of stores." +With all the resources of rich France to draw upon, I cannot conceive +that this excuse was sincere; on the contrary, I think that the +movement of Bazaine must have been inspired by Napoleon with a view +to the maintenance of his dynasty rather than for the good of France. + +As previously stated, Bismarck did not approve of the German army's +moving on Paris after the battle of Sedan. Indeed, I think he +foresaw and dreaded the establishment of a Republic, his idea being +that if peace was made then, the Empire could be continued in the +person of the Prince Imperial who--, coming to the throne under +German influences, would be pliable in his hands. These views found +frequent expression in private, and in public too; I myself +particularly remember the Chancellor's speaking thus most unguardedly +at a dinner in Rheims. But he could not prevent the march to Paris; +it was impossible to stop the Germans, flushed with success. "On to +Paris" was written by the soldiers on every door, and every +fence-board along the route to the capital, and the thought of a +triumphant march down the Champs Elysees was uppermost with every +German, from the highest to the lowest grade. + +The 5th of September we set out for Rheims. There it was said the +Germans would meet with strong resistance, for the French intended to +die to the last man before giving up that city. But this proved all +fudge, as is usual with these "last ditch" promises, the garrison +decamping immediately at the approach of a few Uhlans. So far as I +could learn, but a single casualty happened; this occurred to an +Uhlan, wounded by a shot which it was reported was fired from a house +after the town was taken; so, to punish this breach of faith, a levy +of several hundred bottles of champagne was made, and the wine +divided about headquarters, being the only seizure made in the city, +I believe, for though Rheims, the centre of the champagne district, +had its cellars well stocked, yet most of them being owned by German +firms, they received every protection. + +The land about Rheims is of a white, chalky character, and very poor, +but having been terraced and enriched with fertilizers, it produces +the champagne grape in such abundance that the region, once +considered valueless, and named by the peasantry the "land of the +louse," now supports a dense population. We remained in Rheims eight +days, and through the politeness of the American Consul--Mr. Adolph +Gill--had the pleasure of seeing all the famous wine cellars, and +inspecting the processes followed in champagne making, from the step +of pressing the juice from the grape to that which shows the wine +ready for the market. Mr. Gill also took us to see everything else +of special interest about the city, and there being much to look at +--fine old churches, ancient fortifications, a Roman gateway, etc. +--the days slipped by very quickly, though the incessant rains +somewhat interfered with our enjoyment. + +For three or four days all sorts of rumors were rife as to what was +doing in Paris, but nothing definite was learned till about the 9th; +then Count Bismarck informed me that the Regency had been overthrown +on the 4th, and that the Empress Eugenie had escaped to Belgium. The +King of Prussia offered her an asylum with the Emperor at +Wilhelmshohe, "where she ought to go," said the Chancellor, "for her +proper place is with her husband," but he feared she would not. On +the same occasion he also told me that Jules Favre--the head of the +Provisional Government--had sent him the suggestion that, the Empire +being gone, peace should be made and the Germans withdrawn, but that +he (Bismarck) was now compelled to recognize the impossibility of +doing this till Paris was taken, for although immediately after the +surrender of Sedan he desired peace, the past few days had made it +plain that the troops would not be satisfied with anything short of +Paris, no matter what form of Government the French should ultimately +adopt. + +The German army having met with no resistance whatever in its march +on Paris, its advance approached the capital rapidly, and by the 14th +of September the royal headquarters moved by a fine macadamized road +to the Chateau Thierry, and on the 5th reached Meaux, about +twenty-eight miles from Paris, where we remained four days awaiting the +reconstruction of some railroad and canal bridges. The town of Meaux +has a busy population of about 10,000 souls, in peaceable times +principally occupied in manufacturing flour for the Paris market, +having a fine waterpower for the many mills. These were kept going day +and night to supply the German army; and it was strange to see with +what zeal Frenchmen toiled to fill the stomachs of their inveterate +enemies, and with what alacrity the mayor and other officials filled +requisitions for wine, cheese, suits of livery, riding-whips, and even +squab pigeons. + +During our stay at Meaux the British Minister Lord Lyons, endeavored +to bring about a cessation of hostilities, to this end sending his +secretary out from Paris with a letter to Count Bismarck, offering to +serve as mediator. The Chancellor would not agree to this, however, +for he conjectured that the action of the British Minister had been +inspired by Jules Favre, who, he thought, was trying to draw the +Germans into negotiations through the medium of a third party only +for purposes of delay. So the next morning Lord Lyons's secretary, +Mr. Edward Malet, returned to Paris empty-handed, except that he bore +a communication positively declining mediation; which message, +however, led no doubt to an interview between Bismarck and Favre a +couple of days later. + +The forenoon of September 19 the King removed to the Chateau +Ferrieres--a castle belonging to the Rothschild family, where +Napoleon had spent many happy days in the time of his prosperity. +His Majesty took up his quarters here at the suggestion of the owner, +we were told, so that by the presence of the King the magnificent +chateau and its treasures of art would be unquestionably protected +from all acts of vandalism. + +All of the people at headquarters except the King's immediate suite +were assigned quarters at Lagny; and while Forsyth and I, accompanied +by Sir Henry Havelock, of the British army, were driving thither, we +passed on the road the representative of the National Defense +Government, Jules Favre, in a carriage heading toward Meaux. +Preceded by a flag of truce and accompanied by a single, companion, +he was searching for Count Bismarck, in conformity, doubtless, with +the message the Chancellor had sent to Paris on the 17th by the +British secretary. A half-mile further on we met Bismarck. He too +was traveling toward Meaux, not in the best of humor either, it +appeared, for having missed finding the French envoy at the +rendezvous where they had agreed to meet, he stopped long enough to +say that the "air was full of lies, and that there were many persons +with the army bent on business that did not concern them." + +The armies of the two Crown Princes were now at the outskirts of +Paris. They had come from Sedan mainly by two routes--the Crown +Prince of Saxony marching by the northern line, through Laon and +Soissons, and the Crown Prince of Prussia by the southern line, +keeping his right wing on the north bank of the Marne, while his left +and centre approached the French capital by roads between that river +and the Seine. + +The march of these armies had been unobstructed by any resistance +worth mentioning, and as the routes of both columns lay through a +region teeming with everything necessary for their support, and rich +even in luxuries, it struck me that such campaigning was more a vast +picnic than like actual war. The country supplied at all points +bread, meat, and wine in abundance, and the neat villages, never more +than a mile or two apart, always furnished shelter; hence the +enormous trains required to feed and provide camp equipage for an +army operating in a sparsely settled country were dispensed with; in +truth, about the only impedimenta of the Germans was their wagons +carrying ammunition, pontoon-boats, and the field-telegraph. + +On the morning of the 20th I started out accompanied by Forsyth and +Sir Henry Havelock, and took the road through Boissy St. George, +Boissy St. Martins and Noisy Le Grand to Brie. Almost every foot of +the way was strewn with fragments of glass from wine bottles, emptied +and then broken by the troops. There was, indeed, so much of this +that I refrain from making any estimate of the number of bottles, +lest I be thought to exaggerate, but the road was literally paved +with glass, and the amount of wine consumed (none was wasted) must +have been enormous, far more, even, than I had seen evidence of at +any time before. There were two almost continuous lines of broken +bottles along the roadsides all the way down from Sedan; but that +exhibit was small compared with what we saw about Brie. + +At Brie we were taken charge of by the German commandant of the +place. He entertained us most hospitably for an hour or so, and +then, accompanied by a lieutenant, who was to be our guide, I set out +ahead of my companions to gain a point on the picket-line where I +expected to get a good look at the French, for their rifle-pits were +but a few hundred yards off across the Marne, their main line being +just behind the rifle-pits. As the lieutenant and I rode through the +village, some soldiers warned us that the adventure would be +dangerous, but that we could probably get to the desired place unhurt +if we avoided the French fire by forcing our horses to a run in +crossing some open streets where we would be exposed. On getting to +the first street my guide galloped ahead to show the way, and as the +French were not on the lookout for anything of the kind at these +dangerous points, only a few stray shots were drawn by the +lieutenant, but when I followed, they were fully up to what was going +on, and let fly a volley every time they saw me in the open. +Fortunately, however, in their excitement they overshot, but when I +drew rein alongside of my guide under protection of the bluff where +the German picket was posted, my hair was all on end, and I was about +as badly scared as ever I had been in my life. As soon as I could +recover myself I thought of Havelock and Forsyth, with the hope that +they would not follow; nor did they, for having witnessed my +experience, they wisely concluded that, after all, they did not care +so much to see the French rifle-pits. + +When I had climbed to the top of the bluff I was much disappointed, +for I could see but little--only the advanced rifle-pits across the +river, and Fort Nogent beyond them, not enough, certainly, to repay a +non-combatant for taking the risk of being killed. The next question +was to return, and deciding to take no more such chances as those we +had run in coming out, I said we would wait till dark, but this +proved unnecessary, for to my utter astonishment my guide informed me +that there was a perfectly safe route by which we might go back. I +asked why we had not taken it in coming, and he replied that he had +thought it "too long and circuitous." To this I could say nothing, +but I concluded that that was not quite the correct reason; the truth +is that early that morning the young fellow had been helping to empty +some of the many wine bottles I saw around Brie, and consequently had +a little more "Dutch courage"--was a little more rash--than would +have been the case under other conditions. + +I rode back to Brie by the "long and circuitous" route, and inquiring +there for my companions, found Havelock waiting to conduct me to the +village of Villiers, whither, he said, Forsyth had been called to +make some explanation about his passport, which did not appear to be +in satisfactory shape. Accordingly we started for Villiers, and +Havelock, being well mounted on an English "hunter," and wishing to +give me an exhibition of the animal's training and power, led the way +across ditches and fences, but my horse, never having followed "the +hounds," was unsafe to experiment with, so, after trying a low fence +or two, I decided to leave my friend alone in his diversion, and a +few moments later, seeing both horse and rider go down before a ditch +and high stone wall, I was convinced that my resolution was a +discreet one. After this mishap, which luckily resulted in no harm, +I hoped Sir Henry would give up the amusement, but by failure +becoming only the more determined, in a second effort he cleared the +wall handsomely and rode across-country to the villages. Following +the road till it passed under a railway bridge, I there thought I saw +a chance to gain Villiers by a short-cut, and changing my course +accordingly, I struck into a large vineyard to the left, and +proceeding a few hundred yards through the vines, came suddenly upon +a German picket-post. The guard immediately leveled their rifles at +me, when, remembering my Rezonville experience of being taken for a +French officer because of my uniform, I hastily flung myself from the +saddle in token of surrender. The action being rightly interpreted, +the men held their fire, and as my next thought was the King's pass I +reached under my coat-skirt for the document, but this motion being +taken as a grab for my pistol, the whole lot of them--some ten in +number--again aimed at me, and with such loud demands for surrender +that I threw up my hands and ran into their ranks. The officer of +the guard then coming up, examined my credentials, and seeing that +they were signed by the King of Prussia, released me and directed the +recovery of my horse, which was soon caught, and I was then conducted +to the quarters of the commandant, where I found Forsyth with his +pass properly vised, entirely ignorant of my troubles, and +contentedly regaling himself on cheese and beer. Havelock having got +to the village ahead of me, thanks to his cross-country ride, was +there too, sipping beer with Forsyth; nor was I slow to follow their +example, for the ride of the day, though rather barren in other +results, at any rate had given me a ravenous appetite. + +Late that evening, the 20th, we resumed our old quarters at Lagny, +and early next day I made a visit to the royal headquarters at +Ferrires, where I observed great rejoicing going on, the occasion for +it being an important victory gained near Mendon, a French corps of +about 30,000 men under General Ducrot having been beaten by the Fifth +Prussian and Second Bavarian corps. Ducrot had been stubbornly +holding ground near Mendon for two or three days, much to the +embarrassment of the Germans too, since he kept them from closing a +gap in their line to the southwest of Paris; but in the recent fight +he had been driven from the field with such heavy loss as to render +impossible his maintaining the gap longer. The Crown Prince of +Prussia was thus enabled to extend his left, without danger, as far +as Bougival, north of Versailles, and eventually met the right of the +Crown Prince of Saxony, already at Denil, north of St. Denis. The +unbroken circle of investment around Paris being well-nigh assured, +news of its complete accomplishment was momentarily expected; +therefore everybody was jubilant on account of the breaking up of +Ducrot, but more particularly because word had been received the same +morning that a correspondence had begun between Bazaine and Prince +Frederick Charles, looking to the capitulation of Metz, for the +surrender of that place would permit the Second Army to join in the +siege of Paris. + +Learning all this, and seeing that the investment was about +completed, I decided to take up my quarters at Versailles, and +started for that place on the 22d, halting at Noisy le Grand to take +luncheon with some artillery officers, whose acquaintance we had made +the day of the surrender at Sedan. During the meal I noticed two +American flags flying on a couple of houses near by. Inquiring the +significance of this, I was told that the flags had been put up to +protect the buildings--the owners, two American citizens, having in a +bad fright abandoned their property, and, instead of remaining +outside, gone into Paris,--"very foolishly," said our hospitable +friends, "for here they could have obtained food in plenty, and been +perfectly secure from molestation." + +We arrived at Versailles about 7 o'clock that evening and settled +ourselves in the Hotel Reservoir, happy to find there two or three +American families, with whom, of course, we quickly made +acquaintance. This American circle was enlarged a few days later by +the arrival of General Wm. B. Hazen, of our army, General Ambrose E. +Burnside, and Mr. Paul Forbes. Burnside and Forbes were hot to see, +from the French side, something of the war, and being almost beside +themselves to get into Paris, a permit was granted them by Count +Bismarck, and they set out by way of Sevres, Forsyth and I +accompanying them as far as the Palace of St. Cloud, which we, +proposed to see, though there were strict orders against its being +visited generally. After much trouble we managed, through the "open +sesame" of the King's pass, to gain access to the palace; but to our +great disappointment we found that all the pictures had been cut from +the frames and carried off to Paris, except one portrait, that of +Queen Victoria, against whom the French were much incensed. All +other works of art had been removed, too--a most fortunate +circumstance, for the palace being directly on the German line, was +raked by the guns from the fortress of Mont Valerien, and in a few +days burned to the ground. + +In less than a week Burnside and Forbes returned from Paris. They +told us their experience had been interesting, but were very reticent +as to particulars, and though we tried hard to find out what they had +seen or done, we could get nothing from them beyond the general +statement that they had had a good time, and that General Trochu had +been considerate enough to postpone a sortie, in order to let them +return; but this we did not quite swallow. After a day or two they +went into Paris again, and I then began to suspect that they were +essaying the role of mediators, and that Count Bismarck was feeding +their vanity with permits, and receiving his equivalent by learning +the state of affairs within the beleaguered city. + +From about the 1st of October on, the Germans were engaged in making +their enveloping lines impenetrable, bringing up their reserves, +siege guns, and the like, the French meanwhile continuing to drill +and discipline the National Guard and relieving the monotony +occasionally by a more or less spirited, but invariably abortive, +sortie. The most notable of these was that made by General Vinoy +against the heights of Clamart, the result being a disastrous repulse +by the besiegers. After this, matters settled down to an almost +uninterrupted quietude, only a skirmish here and there; and it being +plain that the Germans did not intend to assault the capital, but +would accomplish its capture by starvation, I concluded to find out +from Count Bismarck about when the end was expected, with the purpose +of spending the interim in a little tour through some portions of +Europe undisturbed by war, returning in season for the capitulation. +Count Bismarck having kindly advised me as to the possible date. + +Forsyth and I, on the 14th of October, left Versailles, going first +direct to the Chateau Ferrieres to pay our respects to the King, +which we did, and again took luncheon with him. From the chateau we +drove to Meaux, and there spent the night; resuming our journey next +morning, we passed through Epernay, Rheims, and Rethel to Sedan, +where we tarried a day, and finally, on October 18, reached Brussels. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +BRUSSELS--DECIDING TO VISIT EASTERN EUROPE--AUSTRIA--DOWN THE DANUBE +--IN CONSTANTINOPLE--THE LADIES OF THE HAREM--THE SULTAN--TURKISH +SOLDIERS--A BANQUET--A VISIT IN ATHENS--KING GEORGE OF GREECE--VICTOR +EMMANUEL--"BEDEVILED WITH CARES OF STATE"--DEER SHOOTING--A MILITARY +DINNER--RETURN TO VERSAILLES--GERMANS ENTERING PARIS--CRITICISM ON +THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR--CONCLUSION. + +On reaching Brussels, one of the first things to do was to pay my +respects to the King of Belgium, which I did, accompanied by our +Minister, Mr. Russell Jones. Later I dined with the King and Queen, +meeting at the dinner many notable people, among them the Count and +Countess of Flanders. A day or two in Brussels sufficed to mature +our plans for spending the time up to the approximate date of our +return to Paris; and deciding to visit eastern Europe, we made Vienna +our first objective, going there by way of Dresden. + +At Vienna our Minister, Mr. John Jay, took charge of us--Forsyth was +still with me--and the few days' sojourn was full of interest. The +Emperor being absent from the capital, we missed seeing him; but the +Prime Minister, Count von Beust, was very polite to us, and at his +house we had the pleasure of meeting at dinner Count Andrassy, the +Prime Minister of Hungary. + +From Vienna we went to Buda-Pesth, the Hungarian capital; and thence, +in a I small, crowded, and uncomfortable steamboat, down the Danube +to Rustchuck, whence we visited Bucharest--all who travel in eastern +Europe do so--and then directing our course southward, we went first +to Varna, and from that city by steamer through the Black Sea to +Constantinople. + +We reached the Turkish capital at the time of Ramadan, the period of +the year (about a month) during which the Mohammedans are commanded +by the Koran to keep a rigorous fast every day from sunrise till +sunset. All the followers of the Prophet were therefore busy with +their devotions--holding a revival, as it were; hence there was no +chance whatever to be presented to the Sultan, Abdul Aziz, it being +forbidden during the penitential season for him to receive +unbelievers, or in fact any one except the officials of his +household. However, the Grand Vizier brought me many messages of +welcome, and arranged that I should be permitted to see and salute +his Serene Highness on the Esplanade as he rode by on horseback to +the mosque. + +So, the second day after arrival, the Grand Vizier drove me in a +barouche to the Esplanade, where we took station about midway of its +length an hour or so before the Sultan was to appear. Shortly after +we reached the Esplanade, carriages occupied by the women of the +Sultan's harem began to appear, coming out from the palace grounds +and driving up and down the roadway. Only a few of the women were +closely veiled, a majority of them wearing an apology for veiling, +merely a strip of white lace covering the forehead down to the +eyebrows. Some were yellow, and some white-types of the Mongolian +and Caucasian races. Now and then a pretty face was seen, rarely a +beautiful one. Many were plump, even to corpulence, and these were +the closest veiled, being considered the greatest beauties I presume, +since with the Turk obesity is the chief element of comeliness. As +the carriages passed along in review, every now and then an occupant, +unable or unwilling to repress her natural promptings, would indulge +in a mild flirtation, making overtures by casting demure +side-glances, throwing us coquettish kisses, or waving strings of amber +beads with significant gestures, seeming to say: "Why don't you +follow?" But this we could not do if we would, for the Esplanade +throughout its entire length was lined with soldiers, put there +especially to guard the harem first, and later, the Sultan on his +pilgrimage to the mosque. + +But as it was now time for His Serene Highness to make his appearance +the carriages containing his wives drove off into the palace grounds, +which were inclosed by a high wall, leaving the Esplanade wholly +unencumbered except by the soldiers. Down between the two ranks, +which were formed facing each other, came the Sultan on a white +steed--a beautiful Arabian--and having at his side his son, a boy +about ten or twelve years old, who was riding a pony, a diminutive +copy of his father's mount, the two attended by a numerous +body-guard, dressed in gorgeous Oriental uniforms. As the procession +passed our carriage, I, as pre-arranged, stood up and took off my +hat, His Serene Highness promptly acknowledging the salute by raising +his hand to the forehead. This was all I saw of him, yet I received +every kindness at his hands, being permitted to see many of his +troops, to inspect all the ordnance, equipment, and other military +establishments about Constantinople, and to meet numbers of the high +functionaries of the Empire. + +Among other compliments tendered through his direction, and which I +gladly accepted, was a review of all the troops then in Stamboul +--about 6,000--comprising infantry, cavalry, and artillery. + +They were as fine looking a body of soldiers as I ever saw--well +armed and well clothed, the men all large and of sturdy appearance. + +After the review we attended a grand military dinner given by the +Grand Vizier. At the hour set for this banquet we presented +ourselves at the palace of the Grand Vizier, and being ushered into a +large drawing-room, found already assembled there the guests invited +to meet us. Some few spoke French, and with these we managed to +exchange an occasional remark; but as the greater number stood about +in silence, the affair, thus far, was undeniably a little stiff. +Just before the dinner was announced, all the Turkish officers went +into an adjoining room, and turning their faces to the east, +prostrated themselves to the floor in prayer. Then we were all +conducted to a large salon, where each being provided with a silver +ewer and basin, a little ball of highly perfumed soap and a napkin, +set out on small tables, each guest washed his hands. Adjacent to +this salon was the dining-room, or, rather, the banqueting room, a +very large and artistically frescoed hall, in the centre of which +stood a crescent-shaped table, lighted with beautiful silver +candelabra, and tastefully decorated with flowers and fruits. The +viands were all excellent; cooked, evidently, by a French chef, and +full justice was done the dishes, especially by the Turks, who, of +course, had been fasting all day. + +At the close of the banquet, which consisted of not less than fifteen +courses, we withdrew to a smoking-room, where the coffee was served +and cigarettes and chibouks offered us--the latter a pipe having a +long flexible stem with an amber mouthpiece. I chose the chibouk, +and as the stem of mine was studded with precious stones of enormous +value, I thought I should enjoy it the more; but the tobacco being +highly flavored with some sort of herbs, my smoke fell far short of +my anticipations. The coffee was delicious, however, and I found +this to be the case wherever I went in Constantinople, whether in +making calls or at dinner, the custom of offering coffee and tobacco +on these occasions being universal. + +The temptations to linger at Constantinople were many indeed, not the +least being the delightful climate; and as time pressed, we set out +with much regret on the return journey, stopping a few days at +Athens, whence we made several short excursions into the interior. +King George and Queen Olga made our stay in Athens one of extreme +interest and exceeding pleasure. Throwing aside all ceremony, they +breakfasted and dined us informally, gave us a fine ball, and in +addition to these hospitalities showed us much personal attention, +his Majesty even calling upon me, and the Queen sending her children +to see us at our hotel. + +Of course we visited all that remained of the city's ancient +civilization--the Acropolis, temples, baths, towers, and the like; +nor did we omit to view the spot where St. Paul once instructed the +Athenians in lessons of Christianity. We traveled some little +through the country districts outside of Athens, and I noticed that +the peasantry, in point of picturesqueness of dress and color of +complexion, were not unlike the gypsies we see at times in America. +They had also much of the same shrewdness, and, as far as I could +learn, were generally wholly uneducated, ignorant, indeed, except as +to one subject--politics--which I was told came to them intuitively, +they taking to it, and a scramble for office, as naturally as a duck +to water. In fact, this common faculty for politics seems a +connecting link between the ancient and modern Greek. + +Leaving Athens with the pleasantest recollections, we sailed for +Messina, Sicily, and from there went to Naples, where we found many +old friends; among them Mr. Buchanan Reed, the artist and poet, and +Miss Brewster, as well as a score or more of others of our +countrymen, then or since distinguished, in art and letters at home +and abroad. We remained some days in Naples, and during the time +went to Pompeii to witness a special excavation among the ruins of +the buried city, which search was instituted on account of our visit. +A number of ancient household articles were dug up, and one, a terra +cotta lamp bearing upon its crown in bas-relief the legend of "Leda +and the Swan," was presented to me as a souvenir of the occasion, +though it is usual for the Government to place in its museums +everything of such value that is unearthed. + +From Naples to Rome by rail was our next journey. In the Eternal +City we saw picture-galleries, churches, and ruins in plenty, but all +these have been so well described by hundreds of other travelers that +I shall not linger even to name them. While at Rome we also +witnessed an overflow of the Tiber, that caused great suffering and +destroyed much property. The next stage of our tour took us to +Venice, then to Florence--the capital of Italy--for although the +troops of the King of Italy had taken possession of Rome the +preceding September, the Government itself had not yet removed +thither. + +At Florence, our Minister, Mr. Marsh, though suffering with a lame +foot, took me in charge, and in due course of time I was presented to +King Victor-Emmanuel. His Majesty received me informally at his +palace in a small, stuffy room--his office, no doubt--and an untidy +one it was too. He wore a loose blouse and very baggy trousers; a +comfortable suit, certainly, but not at all conducing to an ideal +kingliness of appearance. + +His Majesty's hobby was hunting, and no sooner had I made my bow than +he began a conversation on that subject, thrusting his hands nearly +up to the elbows into the pockets of his trousers. He desired to +learn about the large game of America, particularly the buffalo, and +when I spoke of the herds of thousands and thousands I had seen on +the plains of western Kansas, he interrupted me to bemoan the fate +which kept him from visiting America to hunt, even going so far as to +say that "he didn't wish to be King of Italy, anyhow, but would much +prefer to pass his days hunting than be bedeviled with the cares of +state." On one of his estates, near Pisa, he had several large herds +of deer, many wild boars, and a great deal of other game. Of this +preserve he was very proud, and before we separated invited me to go +down there to shoot deer, adding that he would be there himself if he +could, but feared that a trip which he had to take to Milan would +interfere, though he wished me to go in any event. + +I gladly accepted the invitation, and in two or three days was +notified when I would be expected at the estate. At the designated +time I was escorted to Pisa by an aide-de-camp, and from there we +drove the few miles to the King's chateau, where we fortified +ourselves for the work in hand by an elaborate and toothsome +breakfast of about ten courses. Then in a carriage we set out for +the King's stand in the hunting-grounds, accompanied by a crowd of +mounted game-keepers, who with great difficulty controlled the pack +of sixty or seventy hounds, the dogs and keepers together almost +driving me to distraction with their yelping and yelling. On +reaching the stand, I was posted within about twenty' yards of a +long, high picket-fence, facing the fence and covered by two trees +very close together. It was from behind these that the King usually +shot, and as I was provided with a double-barreled shot-gun, I +thought I could do well, especially since close in rear of me stood +two game-keepers to load and hand me a second gun when the first was +emptied. + +Meantime the huntsmen and the hounds had made a circuit of the park +to drive up the game. The yelps of the hounds drawing near, I +cautiously looked in the direction of the sound, and the next moment +saw a herd of deer close in to the fence, and coming down at full +speed. Without a miss, I shot the four leading ones as they tried +to run the gauntlet, for in passing between the stand and the fence, +the innocent creatures were not more than ten to fifteen paces from +me. At the fourth I stopped, but the gamekeepers insisted on more +butchery, saying, "No one but the King ever did the like" (I guess no +one else had ever had the chance), so, thus urged, I continued firing +till I had slaughtered eleven with eleven shots--an easy task with a +shot-gun and buckshot cartridges. + +The "hunt" being ended--for with this I had had enough, and no one +else was permitted to do any shooting--the aide-decamp directed the +game to be sent to me in Florence, and we started for the chateau. +On the way back I saw a wild boar the first and only one I ever saw +--my attention being drawn to him by cries from some of the +game-keepers. There was much commotion, the men pointing out the game +and shouting excitedly, "See the wild boar!" otherwise I should not +have known what was up, but now, looking in the indicated direction, I +saw scudding over the plain what appeared to me to be nothing but a +halfgrown black pig, or shoat. He was not in much of a hurry either, +and gave no evidence of ferocity, yet it is said that this +insignificant looking animal is dangerous when hunted with the spear +--the customary way. After an early dinner at the chateau we returned +to Florence, and my venison next day arriving, it was distributed among +my American friends in the city. + +Shortly after the hunt the King returned from Milan, and then honored +me with a military dinner, his Majesty and all the guests, numbering +eighty, appearing in full uniform. The banqueting hall was lighted +with hundreds of wax candles, there was a profusion of beautiful +flowers, and to me the scene altogether was one of unusual +magnificence. The table service was entirely of gold--the celebrated +set of the house of Savoy--and behind the chair of each guest stood a +servant in powdered wig and gorgeous livery of red plush. I sat at +the right of the King, who--his hands resting on his sword, the hilt +of which glittered with jewels--sat through the hour and a half at +table without once tasting food or drink, for it was his rule to eat +but two meals in twenty-four hours--breakfast at noon, and dinner at +midnight. The King remained silent most of the time, but when he did +speak, no matter on what subject, he inevitably drifted back to +hunting. He never once referred to the Franco-Prussian war, nor to +the political situation in his own country, then passing through a +crisis. In taking leave of his Majesty I thanked him with deep +gratitude for honoring me so highly, and his response was that if +ever he came to America to hunt buffalo, he should demand my +assistance. + +From Florence I went to Milan and Geneva, then to Nice, Marseilles, +and Bordeaux. Assembled at Bordeaux was a convention which had been +called together by the government of the National Defense for the +purpose of confirming or rejecting the terms of an armistice of +twenty-one days, arranged between Jules Favre and Count Bismarck in +negotiations begun at Versailles the latter part of January. The +convention was a large body, chosen from all parts of France, and was +unquestionably the most noisy, unruly and unreasonable set of beings +that I ever saw in a legislative assembly. The frequent efforts of +Thiers, Jules Favre, and other leading men to restrain the more +impetuous were of little avail. When at the sittings a delegate +arose to speak on some question, he was often violently pulled to his +seat and then surrounded by a mob of his colleagues, who would throw +off their coats and gesticulate wildly, as though about to fight. + +But the bitter pill of defeat had to be swallowed in some way, so the +convention delegated M. Thiers to represent the executive power of +the country, with authority to construct a ministry three +commissioners were appointed by the Executive, to enter into further +negotiations with Count Bismarck at Versailles and arrange a peace, +the terms of which, however, were to be submitted to the convention +for final action. Though there had been so much discussion, it took +but a few days to draw up and sign a treaty at Versailles, the +principal negotiators being Thiers and Jules Favre for France, and +Bismarck on the part of the Germans. The terms agreed upon provided +for the occupation of Paris till ratification should be had by the +convention at Bordeaux; learning of which stipulation from our +Minister, Mr. Washburn, I hurried off to Paris to see the conquerors +make their triumphal entry. + +In the city the excitement was at fever heat, of course; the entire +population protesting with one voice that they would never, never +look upon the hated Germans marching through their beloved city. No! +when the day arrived they would hide themselves in their houses, or +shut their eyes to such a hateful sight. But by the 1st of March a +change had come over the fickle Parisians, for at an early hour the +sidewalks were jammed with people, and the windows and doors of the +houses filled with men, women, and children eager to get a look at +the conquerors. Only a few came in the morning, however--an +advance-guard of perhaps a thousand cavalry and infantry. The main +column marched from the Arc-de-Triomphe toward the middle of the +afternoon. In its composition it represented United Germany--Saxons, +Bavarians, and the Royal Guard of Prussia--and, to the strains of +martial music, moving down the Champ Elysees to the Place de la +Concorde, was distributed thence over certain sections of the city +agreed upon beforehand. Nothing that could be called a disturbance +took place during the march; and though there was a hiss now and then +and murmurings of discontent, yet the most noteworthy mutterings were +directed against the defunct Empire. Indeed, I found everywhere that +the national misfortunes were laid at Napoleon's door--he, by this +time, having become a scapegoat for every blunder of the war. + +The Emperor William (he had been proclaimed German Emperor at +Versailles the 18th of January) did not accompany his troops into +Paris, though he reviewed them at Long Champs before they started. +After the occupation of the city he still remained at Versailles, and +as soon as circumstances would permit, I repaired to the Imperial +headquarters to pay my respects to his Majesty under his new title +and dignities, and to say good-bye. + +Besides the Emperor, the only persons I me at Versailles were General +von Moltke and Bismarck. His Majesty was in a very agreeable frame +of mind, and as bluff and hearty as usual. His increased rank and +power had effected no noticeable change of any kind in him, and by +his genial and cordial ways he made me think that my presence with +the German army had contributed to his pleasure. Whether this was +really so or not, I shall always believe it true, for his kind words +and sincere manner could leave no other conclusion. + +General von Moltke was, as usual, quiet and reserved, betraying not +the slightest consciousness of his great ability, nor the least +indication of pride on account of his mighty work. I say this +advisedly, for it is an undoubted fact that it was his marvelous +mind that perfected the military system by which 800,000 men were +mobilized with unparalleled celerity and moved with such certainty of +combination that, in a campaign of seven months, the military power +of France was destroyed and her vast resources sorely crippled. + +I said good-bye to Count Bismarck, also, for at that busy time the +chances of seeing him again were very remote. The great Chancellor +manifested more joy over the success of the Germans than did anyone +else at the Imperial headquarters. Along with his towering strength +of mind and body, his character partook of much of the enthusiasm and +impulsiveness commonly restricted to younger men, and now in his +frank, free way be plainly showed his light-heartedness and +gratification at success. That which for years his genius had been +planning and striving for--permanent unification of the German +States, had been accomplished by the war. It had welded them +together in a compact Empire which no power in Europe could disrupt, +and as such a union was the aim of Bismarck's life, he surely had a +right to feel jubilant. + +Thanks to the courtesies extended me, I had been able to observe the +principal battles, and study many of the minor details of a war +between two of the greatest military nations of the world, and to +examine critically the methods followed abroad for subsisting, +equipping, and manoeuvring vast bodies of men during a stupendous, +campaign. Of course I found a great deal to interest and instruct +me, yet nowadays war is pretty much the same everywhere, and this one +offered no marked exception to my previous experiences. The methods +pursued on the march were the same as we would employ, with one most +important exception. Owing to the density of population throughout +France it was always practicable for the Germans to quarter their +troops in villages, requiring the inhabitants to subsist both +officers and men. Hence there was no necessity for camp and garrison +equipage, nor enormous provision trains, and the armies were +unencumbered by these impedimenta, indispensable when operating in a +poor and sparsely settled country. As I have said before, the only +trains were those for ammunition, pontoon-boats, and the field +telegraph, and all these were managed by special corps. If +transportation was needed for other purposes, it was obtained by +requisition from the invaded country, just as food and forage were +secured. Great celerity of combination was therefore possible, the +columns moving in compact order, and as all the roads were broad and +macadamized, there was little or nothing to delay or obstruct the +march of the Germans, except when their enemy offered resistance, but +even this was generally slight and not very frequent, for the French +were discouraged by disaster from the very outset of the campaign. + +The earlier advantages gained by the Germans may be ascribed to the +strikingly prompt mobilization of their armies, one of the most +noticeable features of their perfect military system, devised by +almost autocratic power; their later successes were greatly aided by +the blunders of the French, whose stupendous errors materially +shortened the war, though even if prolonged it could, in my opinion, +have had ultimately no other termination. + +As I have previously stated, the first of these blunders was the +acceptance of battle by MacMahon at Worth; the second in attaching +too much importance to the fortified position of Metz, resulting in +three battles Colombey, Mars-la-Tour, and Gravelotte--all of which +were lost; and the third, the absurd movement of MacMahon along the +Belgian frontier to relieve Metz, the responsibility for which, I am +glad to say, does not belong to him. + +With the hemming in of Bazaine at Metz and the capture of MacMahon's +army at Sedan the crisis of the war was passed, and the Germans +practically the victors. The taking of Paris was but a sentiment +--the money levy could have been made and the Rhine provinces held +without molesting that city, and only the political influences +consequent upon the changes in the French Government caused peace to +be deferred. + +I did not have much opportunity to observe the German cavalry, either +on the march or in battle. The only time I saw any of it engaged was +in the unfortunate charge at Gravelotte. That proved its mettle good +and discipline fair, but answered no other purpose. Such of it as +was not attached to the infantry was organized in divisions, and +operated in accordance with the old idea of covering the front and +flanks of the army, a duty which it thoroughly performed. But thus +directed it was in no sense an independent corps, and hence cannot +be, said to have accomplished anything in the campaign, or have had a +weight or influence at all proportionate to its strength. The method +of its employment seemed to me a mistake, for, being numerically +superior to the French cavalry, had it been massed and manoeuvred +independently of the infantry, it could easily have broken up the +French communications, and done much other work of weighty influence +in the prosecution of the war. + +The infantry was as fine as I ever saw, the men young and hardy in +appearance, and marching always with an elastic stride. The infantry +regiment, however, I thought too large--too many men for a colonel to +command unless he has the staff of a general--but this objection may +be counterbalanced by the advantages resulting from associating +together thus intimately the men from the same district, or county as +we would call it; the celerity of mobilization, and, in truth, the +very foundation of the German system, being based on this local or +territorial scheme of recruiting. + +There was no delay when the call sounded for the march; all turned +out promptly, and while on the road there was very little straggling, +only the sick falling out. But on such fine, smooth roads, and with +success animating the men from the day they struck the first blow, it +could hardly be expected that the columns would not keep well closed +up. Then, too, it must be borne in mind that, as already stated, +'campaigning' in France--that is, the marching, camping, and +subsisting of an army--is an easy matter, very unlike anything we, +had during the war of the rebellion. To repeat: the country is rich, +beautiful, and densely populated, subsistence abundant, and the +roads--all macadamized highways; thus the conditions; are altogether +different from those existing with us. I think that under the same +circumstances our troops would have done as well as the Germans, +marched as admirably, made combinations as quickly and accurately, +and fought with as much success. I can but leave to conjecture how. +the Germans would have got along on bottomless roads--often none at +all--through the swamps and quicksands of northern Virginia, from, +the Wilderness to Petersburg, and from Chattanooga to Atlanta and the +sea. + +Following the operations of the German armies from the battle of +Gravelotte to the siege of Paris, I may, in conclusion, say that I +saw no new military principles developed, whether of strategy or +grand tactics, the movements of the different armies and corps being +dictated and governed by the same general laws that have so long +obtained, simplicity of combination and manoeuvre, and the +concentration of a numerically superior force at the vital point. + +After my brief trip to Versailles, I remained in Paris till the +latter part of March. In company with Mr. Washburn, I visited the +fortifications for the defense of the city, and found them to be +exceptionally heavy; so strong, indeed, that it would have been very +hard to carry the place by a general assault. The Germans, knowing +the character of the works, had refrained from the sacrifice of life +that such an attempt must entail, though they well knew that many of +the forts were manned by unseasoned soldiers. With only a combat +here and there, to tighten their lines or repulse a sortie, they +wisely preferred to wait till starvation should do the work with +little loss and absolute certainty. + +The Germans were withdrawn from Paris on the 3d of March, and no +sooner were they gone than factional quarrels, which had been going +on at intervals ever since the flight of the Empress and the fall of +her regency on the 4th of September, were renewed with revolutionary +methods that eventually brought about the Commune. Having witnessed +one or two of these outbreaks, and concluding that while such +turbulence reigned in the city it would be of little profit for me to +tarry there, I decided to devote the rest of the time I could be away +from home to travel in England, Ireland, and Scotland. My journeys +through those countries were full of pleasure and instruction, but as +nothing I saw or did was markedly different from what has been so +often described by others, I will save the reader this part of my +experience. I returned to America in the fall, having been absent a +little more than a year, and although I saw much abroad of absorbing +interest, both professional and general, yet I came back to my native +land with even a greater love for her, and with increased admiration +for her institutions. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoirs of Three Civil War Generals, +Complete, by U. S. Grant, W. T. Sherman, P. H. 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