andersonville-第64章

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liable　to　make　a　forward　movement；　which　would　capture　that　place；　and
have　us　where　we　could　be　retaken　with　ease。

There　was　nothing　left　undone　to　rouse　the　apprehensions　of　the　Rebels　in
that　direction。　　The　humiliating　surrender　of　General　Stoneman　at　Macon
in　July；　showed　them　what　our；　folks　were　thinking　of；　and　awakened　their
minds　to　the　disastrous　consequences　of　such　a　movement　when　executed　by
a　bolder　and　abler　commander。　　Two　days　of　one　of　Kilpatrick's　swift；
silent　marches　would　carry　his　hard…riding　troopers　around　Hood's　right
flank；　and　into　the　streets　of　Macon；　where　a　half　hour's　work　with　the
torch　on　the　bridges　across　the　Ocmulgee　and　the　creeks　that　enter　it　at
that　point；　would　have　cut　all　of　the　Confederate　Army　of　the　Tennessee's
communications。　　Another　day　and　night　of　easy　marching　would　bring　his
guidons　fluttering　through　the　woods　about　the　Stockade　at　Andersonville；
and　give　him　a　reinforcement　of　twelve　or　fifteen　thousand　able…bodied
soldiers；　with　whom　he　could　have　held　the　whole　Valley　of　the
Chattahoochie；　and　become　the　nether　millstone；　against　which　Sherman
could　have　ground　Hood's　army　to　powder。

Such　a　thing　was　not　only　possible；　but　very　probable；　and　doubtless
would　have　occurred　had　we　remained　in　Andersonville　another　week。

Hence　the　haste　to　get　us　away；　and　hence　the　lie　about　exchange；　for；
had　it　not　been　for　this；　one…quarter　at　least　of　those　taken　on　the　cars
would　have　succeeded　in　getting　off　and　attempted　to　have　reached
Sherman's　lines。

The　removal　went　on　with　such　rapidity　that　by　the　end　of　September　only
eight　thousand　two　hundred　and　eighteen　remained　at　Andersonville；　and
these　were　mostly　too　sick　to　be　moved；　two　thousand　seven　hundred　died
in　September；　fifteen　hundred　and　sixty　in　October；　and　four　hundred　and
eighty…five　in　November；　so　that　at　the　beginning　of　December　there　were
only　thirteen　hundred　and　fifty…nine　remaining。　　The　larger　part　of　those
taken　out　were　sent　on　to　Charleston；　and　subsequently　to　Florence　and
Salisbury。　　About　six　or　seven　thousand　of　us；　as　near　as　I　remember；
were　brought　to　Savannah。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。

We　were　all　exceedingly　anxious　to　know　how　the　Atlanta　campaign　had
ended。　　So　far　our　information　only　comprised　the　facts　that　a　sharp
battle　had　been　fought；　and　the　result　was　the　complete　possession　of　our
great　objective　point。　　The　manner　of　accomplishing　this　glorious　end；
the　magnitude　of　the　engagement；　the　regiments；　brigades　and　corps
participating；　the　loss　on　both　sides；　the　completeness　of　the　victories；
etc。；　were　all　matters　that　we　knew　nothing　of；　and　thirsted　to　learn。

The　Rebel　papers　said　as　little　as　possible　about　the　capture；　and　the
facts　in　that　little　were　so　largely　diluted　with　fiction　as　to　convey　no
real　information。　　But　few　new；　prisoners　were　coming　in；　and　none　of
these　were　from　Sherman。　　However；　toward　the　last　of　September；　a
handful　of　〃fresh　fish〃　were　turned　inside；　whom　our　experienced　eyes
instantly　told　us　were　Western　boys。

There　was　never　any　difficulty　in　telling；　as　far　as　he　could　be　seen；
whether　a　boy　belonged　to　the　East　or　the　west。　　First；　no　one　from　the
Army　of　the　Potomac　was　ever　without　his　corps　badge　worn　conspicuously；
it　was　rare　to　see　such　a　thing　on　one　of　Sherman's　men。　　Then　there　was
a　dressy　air　about　the　Army　of　the　Potomac　that　was　wholly　wanting　in　the
soldiers　serving　west　of　the　Alleghanies。

The　Army；　of　the　Potomac　was　always　near　to　its　base　of　supplies；　always
had　its　stores　accessible；　and　the　care　of　the　clothing　and　equipments　of
the　men　was　an　essential　part　of　its　discipline。　　A　ragged　or　shabbily
dressed　man　was　a　rarity。　　Dress　coats；　paper　collars；　fresh　woolen
shirts；　neat…fitting　pantaloons；　good　comfortable　shoes；　and　trim　caps　or
hats；　with　all　the　blazing　brass　of　company　letters　an　inch　long；
regimental　number；　bugle　and　eagle；　according　to　the　Regulations；　were　as
common　to　Eastern　boys　as　they　were　rare　among　the　Westerners。

The　latter　usually　wore　blouses；　instead　of　dress　coats；　and　as　a　rule
their　clothing　had　not　been　renewed　since　the　opening；　of　the　campaign…
and　it　showed　this。　　Those　who　wore　good　boots　or　shoes　generally　had　to
submit　to　forcible　exchanges　by　their；　captors；　and　the　same　was　true　of
head　gear。　　The　Rebels　were　badly　off　in　regard　to　hats。　　They　did　not
have　skill　and　ingenuity　enough　to　make　these　out　of　felt　or　straw；　and
the　make…shifts　they　contrived　of　quilted　calico　and　long…leaved　pine；
were　ugly　enough　to　frighten　horned　cattle。

I　never　blamed　them　much　for　wanting　to　get　rid　of　these；　even　if　they
did　have　to　commit　a　sort　of　highway　robbery　upon　defenseless　prisoners
to　do　so。　　To　be　a　traitor　in　arms　was　bad　certainly；　but　one　never
appreciated　the　entire　magnitude　of　the　crime　until　he　saw　a　Rebel
wearing　a　calico　or　a　pine…leaf　hat。　　Then　one　felt　as　if　it　would　be　a
great　mistake　to　ever　show　such　a　man　mercy。

The　Army　of　Northern　Virginia　seemed　to　have　supplied　themselves　with
head…gear　of　Yankee　manufacture　of　previous　years；　and　they　then　quit
taking　the　hats　of　their　prisoners。　　Johnston's　Army　did　not　have　such
good　luck；　and　had　to　keep　plundering　to　the　end　of　the　war。

Another　thing　about　the　Army　of　the　Potomac　was　the　variety　of　the
uniforms。　　There　were　members　of　Zouave　regiments；　wearing　baggy　breeches
of　various　hues；　gaiters；　crimson　fezes；　and　profusely　braided　jackets。
I　have　before　mentioned　the　queer　garb　of　the　〃Lost　Ducks。〃　　（Les　Enfants
Perdu；　Forty…eighth　New　York。）

One　of　the　most　striking　uniforms　was　that　of　the　〃Fourteenth　Brooklyn。〃
They　wore　scarlet　pantaloons；　a　blue　jacket　handsomely　braided；　and　a　red
fez；　with　a　white　cloth　wrapped　around　the　head；　turban…fashion。
As　a　large　number　of　them　were　captured；　they　formed　quite　a　picturesque
feature　of　every　crowd。　　They　were　generally　good　fellows　and　gallant
soldiers。

Another　uniform　that　attracted　much；　though　not　so　favorable；　attention
was　that　of　the　Third　New　Jersey　Cavalry；　or　First　New　Jersey　Hussars；
as　they　preferred　to　call　themselves。　　The　designer　of　the　uniform　must
have　had　an　interest　in　a　curcuma　plantation；　or　else　he　was　a　fanatical
Orangeman。　　Each　uniform　would　furnish　occasion　enough　for　a　dozen　New
York　riots　on　the　12th　of　July。　　Never　was　such　an　eruption　of　the
yellows　seen　outside　of　the　jaundiced　livery　of　some　Eastern　potentate。
Down　each　leg　of　the　pantaloons　ran　a　stripe　of　yellow　braid　one　and　one…
half　inches　wide。　　The　jacket　had　enormous　gilt　buttons；　and　was
embellished　with　yellow　braid　until　it　was　difficult　to　tell　whether　it
was　blue　cloth　trimmed　with　yellow；　or　yellow　adorned　with　blue。　　From
the　shoulders　swung　a　little；　false　hussar　jacket；　lined　with　the　same
flaring　yellow。　　The　vizor…less　cap　was　similarly　warmed　up　with　the　hue
of　the　perfected　sunflower。　　Their　saffron　magnificence　was　like　the
gorgeous　gold　of　the　lilies　of　the　field；　and　Solomon　in　all　his　glory
could　not　have　beau　arrayed　like　one　of　them。　　I　hope　he　was　not。　　I　want
to　retain　my　respect　for　him。　　We　dubbed　these　daffodil　cavaliers
〃Butterflies；〃　and　the　name　stuck　to　them　like　a　poor　relation。

Still　another　distinction　that　was　always　noticeable　between　the　two
armies　was　in　the　bodily　bearing　of　the　men。　　The　Army　of　the　Potomac　was
drilled　more　rigidly　than　the　Western　men；　and　had　comparatively　few　long
marches。　　Its　members　had　something　of　the　stiffness　and　precision　of
English　and　German　soldiery；　while　the　Western　boys　had　the　long；
〃reachy〃　stride；　and　easy　swing　that　made　forty　miles　a　day　a　rather
commonplace　march　for　an　infantry　regiment。

This　was　why　we　knew　the　new　prisoners　to　be　Sherman's　boys　as　soon　as
they　came　inside；　and　we　started　for　them　to　hear　the　news。　　Inviting
them　over　to　our　lean…to；　we　told　them　our　anxiety　for　the　story　of　the
decisive　blow　that　gave　us　the　Central　Gate　of　the　Confederacy；　and　asked
them　to　give　it　to　us。




CHAPTER；　LVI。

WHAT　CAUSED　THE　FALL　OF　ATLANTAA　DISSERTATION　UPON　AN　IMPORTANT
PSYCHOLOGICAL　PROBLEMTHE　BATTLE　OF　JONESBOROWHY　IT　WAS　FOUGHT
HOW　SHERMAN　DECEIVED　HOODA　DESPERATE　BAYONET　CHARGE；　AND　THE　ONLY
SUCCESSFUL　ONE　IN　THE　ATLANTA　CAMPAIGNA　GALLANT　COLONEL　AND　HOW　HE
DIEDTHE　HEROISM　OF　SOME　ENLISTED　MENGOING　CALMLY　INTO　CERTAIN　DEATH。

An　intelligent；　quick…eyed；　sunburned　boy；　without　an　ounce　of　surplus
flesh　on　face　or　limbs；　which　had　been　reduced　to　gray…hound　condition　by
the　labors　and　anxieties　of　the　months　of　battling　between　Chattanooga
and　Atlanta；　seemed　to　be　the　accepted　talker　of　the　crowd；　since　all　the
rest　looked　at　him；　as　if　expecting　him　to　answer　for　them。　　He　did　so：

〃You　want　to　know　about　how　we　got　Atlanta　at　last；　do　you？　　Well；　if　you
don't　know；　I　should　think　you　would　want　to。　　If　I　didn't；　I'd　want
somebody　to　tell　me　all　about　it　just　as　soon　as　he　could　get　to　me；　for
it　was　one　of　the　neatest　little　bits　of　work　that　'old　Billy'　and　his
boys　ever　did；　and　it　got　away　with　Hood　so　bad　that　he　hardly　knew　what
hurt　him。

〃Well；　first；　I'll　tell　you　that　we　belong　to　the　old　Fourteenth　Ohio
Volunteers；　which；　if　you　know　anything　about　the　Army　of　the　Cumberland；
you'll　remember　has　just　about　as　good　a　record　as　any　that　trains　around
old　Pap　Thomasand　he　don't　'low　no　slouches　of　any　kind　near　him；
eitheryou　can　bet　500　to　a　cent　on　that；　and　offer　to　give　back　the
cent　if　you　win。　　Ours　is　Jim　Steedman's　old　regimentyou've　all　heard
of　old　Chickamauga　Jim；　who　slashed　his　division　of　7；000　fresh　men　into
the　Rebel　flank　on　the　second　day　at　Chickamauga；　in　a　way　that　made
Longstreet　wish　he'd　staid　on　the　Rappahannock；　and　never　tried　to　get　up
any　little　sociable　with　the　Westerners。　　If　I　do　say　it　myself；　I
believe　we've　got　as　good　a　crowd　of　square；　stand…up；　trust'em…every…
minute…in…your…life　boys；　as　ever　thawed　hard…tack　and　sowbelly。　　We　got
all　the　grunters　and　weak　sisters　fanned　out　the　first　year；　and　since
then　we've　been　on　a　business　basis；　all　the　time。　　We're　in　a　mighty
good　brigade；　too。　　Most　of　the　regiments　have　been　with　us　since　we
formed　the　first　brigade　Pap　Thomas　ever　commanded；　and　waded　with　him
through　the　mud　of　Kentucky；　from　Wild　Cat　to　Mill　Springs；　where　he　gave
Zollicoffer　just　a　little　the　awfulest　thrashing　that　a　Rebel　General
ever　got。　　That；　you　know；　was　in　January；　1862；　and　was　the　first
victory　gained　by　the　Western　Army；　and　our　people　felt　so　rejoiced　over
it　that〃

〃Yes；　yes；　we've　read　all　about　that；〃　we　broke　in；　〃and　we'd　like　to
hear　it　again；　some　other　time；　but　tell　us　now　about　Atlanta。〃

〃All　right。　　Let's　see：　where　was　I？　　O；　yes；　talking　about　our　brigade。
It　is　the　Third　Brigade；　of　the　Third　Division；　of　the　Fourteenth　Corps；
and　is　made　up　of　the　Fourteenth　Ohio；　Thirty…eighth　Ohio；　Tenth
Kentucky；　and　Seventy…fourth　Indiana。　　Our　old　ColonelGeorge　P。　Este
commands　it。　　We　never　liked　him　very　well　in　camp；　but　I　tell　you　he's　a
whole　team　in　a　fight；　and　he'd　do　so　well　there　that　all　would　take　to
him　again；　and　he'd　be　real　popular　for　a　while。〃

〃Now；　isn't　that　strange；〃　broke　in　Andrews；　who　was　given　to　fits