memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第7章
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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 quarterSchofield 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 rairoad…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 lif
