memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第34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！


　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　beyoud。　　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　oncesome　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　thingseven　the　cabbages　and　vegetables　from　his　kitchen　and　cellarleaving　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