andersonville-第65章

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〃Now；　isn't　that　strange；〃　broke　in　Andrews；　who　was　given　to　fits　of
speculation　of　psychological　phenomena：　〃None　of　us　yearn　to　die；　but　the
surest　way　to　gain　the　affection　of　the　boys　is　to　show　zeal　in　leading
them　into　scrapes　where　the　chances　of　getting　shot　are　the　best。
Courage　in　action；　like　charity；　covers　a　multitude　of　sins。　　I　have
known　it　to　make　the　most　unpopular　man　in　the　battalion；　the　most
popular　inside　of　half　an　hour。　　Now；　M。（addressing　himself　to　me；）　you
remember　Lieutenant　H。；　of　our　battalion。　　You　know　he　was　a　very　fancy
young　fellow；　wore　as　snipish'　clothes　as　the　tailor　could　make；　had　gold
lace　on　his　jacket　wherever　the　regulations　would　allow　it；　decorated　his
shoulders　with　the　stunningest　pair　of　shoulder　knots　I　ever　saw；　and　so
on。　　Well；　he　did　not　stay　with　us　long　after　we　went　to　the　front。　　He
went　back　on　a　detail　for　a　court　martial；　and　staid　a　good　while。　　When
he　rejoined　us；　he　was　not　in　good　odor；　at　all；　and　the　boys　weren't　at
all　careful　in　saying　unpleasant　things　when　he　could　hear　them；　A　little
while　after　he　came　back　we　made　that　reconnaissance　up　on　the　Virginia
Road。　　We　stirred　up　the　Johnnies　with　our　skirmish　line；　and　while　the
firing　was　going　on　in　front　we　sat　on　our　horses　in　line；　waiting　for
the　order　to　move　forward　and　engage。　　You　know　how　solemn　such　moments
are。　　I　looked　down　the　line　and　saw　Lieutenant　H。
at　the　right　of　Company；　in　command　of　it。　　I　had　not　seen　him　since　he
came　back；　and　I　sung　out：

〃'Hello；　Lieutenant；　how　do　you　feel？'

〃The　reply　came　back；　promptly；　and　with　boyish　cheerfulness：

〃'Bully；　by　；　I'm　going　to　lead　seventy　men　of　Company　into　action
today！'

〃How　his　boys　did　cheer　him。　　When　the　bugle　sounded　…forward；　trot；'　his
company　sailed　in　as　if　they　meant　it；　and　swept　the　Johnnies　off　in
short　meter。　　You　never　heard　anybody　say　anything　against　Lieutenant
after　that。〃

〃You　know　how　it　was　with　Captain　G。；　of　our　regiment；〃　said　one　of　the
Fourteenth　to　another。　　〃He　was　promoted　from　Orderly　Sergeant　to　a
Second　Lieutenant；　and　assigned　to　Company　D。　　All　the　members　of　Company
D　went　to　headquarters　in　a　body；　and　protested　against　his　being　put　in
their　company；　and　he　was　not。　　Well；　he　behaved　so　well　at　Chickamauga
that　the　boys　saw　that　they　had　done　him　a　great　injustice；　and　all　those
that　still　lived　went　again　to　headquarters；　and　asked　to　take　all　back
that　they　had　said；　and　to　have　him　put　into　the　company。〃

〃Well；　that　was　doing　the　manly　thing；　sure；　but　go　on　about　Atlanta。〃

〃I　was　telling　about　our　brigade；〃　resumed　the　narrator。　　〃Of　course；　we
think　our　regiment's　the　best　by　long　odds　in　the　armyevery　fellow
thinks　that　of　his　regimentbut　next　to　it　come　the　other　regiments　of
our　brigade。　　There's　not　a　cent　of　discount　on　any　of　them。

〃Sherman　had　stretched　out　his　right　away　to　the　south　and　west　of
Atlanta。　　About　the　middle　of　August　our　corps；　commanded　by　Jefferson　C。
Davis；　was　lying　in　works　at　Utoy　Creek；　a　couple　of　miles　from　Atlanta。
We　could　see　the　tall　steeples　and　the　high　buildings　of　the　City　quite
plainly。　　Things　had　gone　on　dull　and　quiet　like　for　about　ten　days。
This　was　longer　by　a　good　deal　than　we　had　been　at　rest　since　we　left
Resaca　in　the　Spring。　　We　knew　that　something　was　brewing；　and　that　it
must　come　to　a　head　soon。

〃I　belong　to　Company　C。　　Our　little　messnow　reduced　to　three　by　the
loss　of　two　of　our　best　soldiers　and　cooks；　Disbrow　and　Sulier；　killed
behind　head…logs　in　front　of　Atlanta；　by　sharpshootershad　one　fellow
that　we　called　'Observer；'　because　he　had　such　a　faculty　of　picking　up
news　in　his　prowling　around　headquarters。　　He　brought　us　in　so　much　of
this；　and　it　was　generally　so　reliable　that　we　frequently　made　up　his
absence　from　duty　by　taking　his　place。　　He　was　never　away　from　a　fight；
though。　　On　the　night　of　the　25th　of　August；　'Observer'　came　in　with　the
news　that　something　was　in　the　wind。　　Sherman　was　getting　awful　restless；
and　we　had　found　out　that　this　always　meant　lots　of　trouble　to　our
friends　on　the　other　side。

〃Sure　enough；　orders　came　to　get　ready　to　move；　and　the　next　night　we　all
moved　to　the　right　and　rear；　out　of　sight　of　the　Johnnies。　　Our　well
built　works　were　left　in　charge　of　Garrard's　Cavalry；　who　concealed　their
horses　in　the　rear；　and　came　up　and　took　our　places。　　The　whole　army
except　the　Twentieth　Corps　moved　quietly　off；　and　did　it　so　nicely　that
we　were　gone　some　time　before　the　enemy　suspected　it。　　Then　the　Twentieth
Corps　pulled　out　towards　the　North；　and　fell　back　to　the　Chattahoochie；
making　quite　a　shove　of　retreat。　　The　Rebels　snapped　up　the　bait
greedily。　　They　thought　the　siege　was　being　raised；　and　they　poured　over
their　works　to　hurry　the　Twentieth　boys　off。　　The　Twentieth　fellows　let
them　know　that　there　was　lots　of　sting　in　them　yet；　and　the　Johnnies　were
not　long　in　discovering　that　it　would　have　been　money　in　their　pockets　if
they　had　let　that　'moon…and…star'　（that's　the　Twentieth's　badge；　you
know）　crowd　alone。

〃But　the　Rebs　thought　the　rest　of　us　were　gone　for　good　and　that　Atlanta
was　saved。　　Naturally　they　felt　mighty　happy　over　it；　and　resolved　to
have　a　big　celebrationa　ball；　a　meeting　of　jubilee；　etc。　　Extra　trains
were　run　in；　with　girls　and　women　from　the　surrounding　country；　and　they
just　had　a　high　old　time。

〃In　the　meantime　we　were　going　through　so　many　different　kinds　of　tactics
that　it　looked　as　if　Sherman　was　really　crazy　this　time；　sure。　　Finally
we　made　a　grand　left　wheel；　and　then　went　forward　a　long　way　in　line　of
battle。　　It　puzzled　us　a　good　deal；　but　we　knew　that　Sherman　couldn't　get
us　into　any　scrape　that　Pap　Thomas　couldn't　get　us　out　of；　and　so　it　was
all　right。

〃Along　on　the　evening　of　the　31st　our　right　wing　seemed　to　have　run
against　a　hornet's　nest；　and　we　could　hear　the　musketry　and　cannon　speak
out　real　spiteful；　but　nothing　came　down　our　way。　　We　had　struck　the
railroad　leading　south　from　Atlanta　to　Macon；　and　began　tearing　it　up。
The　jollity　at　Atlanta　was　stopped　right　in　the　middle　by　the　appalling
news　that　the　Yankees　hadn't　retreated　worth　a　cent；　but　had　broken　out
in　a　new　and　much　worse　spot　than　ever。　　Then　there　was　no　end　of　trouble
all　around；　and　Hood　started　part　of　his　army　back　after　us。

〃Part　of　Hardee's　and　Pat　Cleburne's　command　went　into　position　in　front
of　us。　　We　left　them　alone　till　Stanley　could　come　up　on　our　left；　and
swing　around；　so　as　to　cut　off　their　retreat；　when　we　would　bag　every　one
of　them。　　But　Stanley　was　as　slow　as　he　always　was；　and　did　not　come　up
until　it　was　too　late；　and　the　game　was　gone。

〃The　sun　was　just　going　down　on　the　evening　of　the　1st　of　September；　when
we　began　to　see　we　were　in　for　it；　sure。　　The　Fourteenth　Corps　wheeled
into　position　near　the　railroad；　and　the　sound　of　musketry　and　artillery
became　very　loud　and　clear　on　our　front　and　left。　　We　turned　a　little　and
marched　straight　toward　the　racket；　becoming　more　excited　every　minute。
We　saw　the　Carlin's　brigade　of　regulars；　who　were　some　distance　ahead　of
us；　pile　knapsacks；　form　in　line；　fix　bayonets；　and　dash　off　with
arousing　cheer。

〃The　Rebel　fire　beat　upon　them　like　a　Summer　rain…storm；　the　ground　shook
with　the　noise；　and　just　as　we　reached　the　edge　of　the　cotton　field；　we
saw　the　remnant　of　the　brigade　come　flying　back　out　of　the　awful；
blasting　shower　of　bullets。　　The　whole　slope　was　covered　with　dead　and
wounded。〃

〃Yes；〃　interrupts　one　of　the　Fourteenth；　〃　and　they　made　that　charge
right　gamely；　too；　I　can　tell　you。　　They　were　good　soldiers；　and　well
led。　　When　we　went　over　the　works；　I　remember　seeing　the　body　of　a　little
Major　of　one　of　the　regiments　lying　right　on　the　top。　　If　he　hadn't　been
killed　he'd　been　inside　in　a　half…a…dozen　steps　more。　　There's　no　mistake
about　it；　those　regulars　will　fight。〃

〃When　we　saw　this；〃　resumed　the　narrator；　〃it　set　our　fellows　fairly
wild；　they　became　just　crying　mad；　I　never　saw　them　so　before。　　The　order
came　to　strip　for　the　charge；　and　our　knapsacks　were　piled　in　half　a
minute。　　A　Lieutenant　of　our　company；　who　was　then　on　the　staff　of　Gen。
Baird；　our　division　commander；　rode　slowly　down　the　line　and　gave　us　our
instructions　to　load　our　guns；　fix　bayonets；　and　hold　fire　until　we　were
on　top　of　the　Rebel　works。　　Then　Colonel　Este　sang　out　clear　and　steady
as　a　bugle　signal：

〃'Brigade；　forward！　　Guide　center！　MARCH！！'

〃and　we　started。　　Heavens；　how　they　did　let　into　us；　as　we　came　up　into
range。　　They　had　ten　pieces　of　artillery；　and　more　men　behind　the
breastworks　than　we　had　in　line；　and　the　fire　they　poured　on　us　was
simply　withering。　　We　walked　across　the　hundreds　of　dead　and　dying　of　the
regular　brigade；　and　at　every　step　our　own　men　fell　down　among　them。
General　Baud's　horse　was　shot　down；　and　the　General　thrown　far　over　his
head；　but　he　jumped　up　and　ran　alongside　of　us。　　Major　Wilson；　our
regimental　commander；　fell　mortally　wounded；　Lieutenant　Kirk　was　killed；
and　also　Captain　Stopfard；　Adjutant　General　of　the　brigade。　　Lieutenants
Cobb　and　Mitchell　dropped　with　wounds　that　proved　fatal　in　a　few　days。
Captain　Ugan　lost　an　arm；　one…third　of　the　enlisted　men　fell；　but　we　went
straight　ahead；　the　grape　and　the　musketry　becoming　worse　every　step；
until　we　gained　the　edge　of　the　hill；　where　we　were　checked　a　minute　by
the　brush；　which　the　Rebels　had　fixed　up　in　the　shape　of　abattis。　　Just
then　a　terrible　fire　from　a　new　direction；　our　left；　swept　down　the　whole
length　of　our　line。　　The　Colonel　of　the　Seventeenth　New　Yorkas　gallant
a　man　as　ever　lived　saw　the　new　trouble；　took　his　regiment　in　on　the　run；
and　relieved　us　of　this；　but　he　was　himself　mortally　wounded。　　If　our
boys　were　half…crazy　before；　they　were　frantic　now；　and　as　we　got　out　of
the　entanglement　of　the　brush；　we　raised　a　fearful　yell　and　ran　at　the
works。　　We　climbed　the　sides；　fired　right　down　into　the　defenders；　and
then　began　with　the　bayonet　and　sword。　　For　a　few　minutes　it　was　simply
awful。　　On　both　sides　men　acted　like　infuriated　devils。　　They　dashed　each
other's　brains　out　with　clubbed　muskets；　bayonets　were　driven　into　men's
bodies　up　to　the　muzzle　of　the　gun；　officers　ran　their　swords　through
their　opponents；　and　revolvers；　after　being　emptied　into　the　faces　of　the
Rebels；　were　thrown　with　desperate　force　into　the　ranks。　　In　our　regiment
was　a　stout　German　butcher　named　Frank　Fleck。　　He　became　so　excited　that
he　threw　down　his　sword；　and　rushed　among　the　Rebels　with　his　bare　fists；
knocking　down　a　swath　of　them。　　He　yelled　to　the　first　Rebel　he　met

〃Py　Gott；　I've　no　patience　mit　you；'　and　knocked　him　sprawling。
He　caught　hold　of　the　commander　of　the　Rebel　Brigade；　and　snatched　him
back　over　the　works　by　main　strength。　　Wonderful　to　say；　he　escaped
unhurt；　but　the　boys　will　probably　not　soon　let　him　hear　the　last　of

〃Py　Gott；　I've　no　patience　mit　you。'

〃The　Tenth　Kentucky；　by　the　queerest　luck　in　the　world；　was　matched
against　the　Rebel　Ninth　Kentucky。　　The　commanders　of　the　two　regiments
were　brothers…in…law；　and　the　men　relatives；　friends；　acquaintances　and
schoolmates。　　They　hated　each　other　accordingly；　and　the　fight　between
them　was　more　bitter；　if