memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第11章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 thirtya 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 CAMPAIGNBATTLES 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 railroadone 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
