memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第108节
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l Kilby Smith； and myself； managed； by getting on the piles of drift； to see over the levee through the cleared fields beyond； even to the foot of the bluff。 The chips and twigs flew around lively enough； but we staid up long enough to make sure that the enemy had as many men behind the levee as could get cover。 We saw； also； a line of rifle…pits in the rear； commanding the rear of the levee； and still beyond； winding along the foot of the bluff； a road worn by long use deep into the side…hill； and with the side next us strengthened with a good earthwork； affording a covered line of communication in the rear。 The fire of our men was so well maintained that we were able to see all these things； say a minute or more。 Some of those who ventured were wounded； but those mentioned and myself escaped unhurt。 I advised that men enough to hold the position； once acrosssay three hundredshould make a rush （protected as our lookout had been by a heavy fire） across the sand…bar； and get a footing under the other bank of the bayou； as the nucleus of an attacking force； if General Sherman decided to attack there； or to make a strong diversion if the attack was made at the head of Chickasaw Bayou； in front of Morgan。 General A。 J。 Smith； commanding First and Second Divisions； approved of this。 While returning to General Sherman； I passed along the Second and part of the Third Division。 On the left of the Second I found a new Illinois regiment； high up in numbers； working its way into position。 The colonel； a brave but inexperienced officer； was trying to lead his men according to the popular pictorial idea； viz。； riding in advance waving his sword。 I was leading my horse； and taking advantage of such cover as I could find on my course； but this man acted so bravely that I tried to save him。 He did not accept my expostulations with very good grace； but was not rough about it。 While I was begging him to dismount； he waved his sword and advanced。 In a second he was shot； through the chest； and dropped from his horse； plucky to the last。 He died； I was told； within the hour。 Many of the regiments were new and inexperienced； but as a rule behaved well。 The fire along the bayou was severe； but not very fatal； on account of the cover。 I was constantly asked what news from Grant； for from the moment of our arrival in the Yazoo we were in expectation of either hearing his guns in the rear； or of having communication with him。 This encouraged the men greatly； but the long waiting was disappointing； as the enemy was evidently in large force in the plenty of works； and a very strong position。 Careful estimates and available information placed their force at fifteen to twenty thousand men。 I returned to headquarters about the middle of the afternoon； and made my report to the general。 We were busy till after midnight； and again early in the morning of the 29th； in preparing orders for the attack。 These were unusually minute in detail。 It seemed as though no contingency was left unprovided for。 Urgent orders and cautions as to rations and ammunition were given。 Drawings of the line of attack； orders for supports； all and everything was foreseen and given in writing； with personal explanations to commanders of divisions； brigades； and even commanders of regiments。 Indeed； the commanding general； always careful as to detail； left nothing to chance； and with experienced and ordinate officers we would have succeeded； for the troops were good。 The general plan involved a feint on our left toward Haines's Bluff； by the navy； under Admiral Porter； with whom we were in constant communication； while between him and General Sherman perfect harmony existed。 On the right a demonstration by A。 J。 Smith was to be made。 The Second Division （Stuart's） was to cross the sand…bar； and the Third （General Morgan's） was to cross on a small bridge over the dough at the head of Chickasaw Bayou； and； supported by Steele； was to push straight for the Bluff at the nearest spur where there was a battery in position； and to effect a a lodgment there and in the earthworks。 General Sherman gave his orders in person to Morgan and Steele。 I understood Morgan to promise that he would lead his division in person； and be seemed to expect an easy victory； and expressed himself freely to that effect。 The aides were sent out； until I was left alone with the general and a couple of orderlies。 He located himself in a position easy of access； and the most convenient afforded to the point of attack。 He directed me to see what I could； and report if I met anything that he should know。 I galloped as fast as possible to the right； and found part of the Sixth Missouri pushing over the sand…bar covered by the Thirteenth Regulars with a heavy fire。 We supposed； if once across； they could get up the bank and turn the levee against the enemy； and left with that impression。 Being in heavy timber； I was not quite sure of my way back to the general； his location being new； and therefore pushed full gallop for Morgan's front； catching a good many stray shots from the sharpshooters behind the levee； as I was compelled to keep in sight of the bayou to hold direction。 Something over half…way along Morgan's division front； the commander of a Kentucky regiment hailed me and said he must have support； as he was threatened by a masked battery； and the enemy was in force in his front； and might cross any moment。 I answered； rather shortly； 'How the devil do you know there is a masked battery？ If you can't get over； how can the rebels get at you？' He insisted on the battery； and danger。 I finally told him the bayou was utterly impassable there； but； if he insisted the enemy could cross； I would insist on an advance on our side at that point。 Hurrying on to make up lost time； I soon reached Morgan。 He was making encouraging speeches in a general way； but stopped to ask me questions as to Steele's rank； date of commission； etc。 I was very much disturbed at this； fearing want of harmony； and rode on to Steele； whom I found cursing Morgan so fiercely that I could not exactly make out the source of the trouble； or reason why； but saw want of concert clearly enough。 I hastened back to General Sherman； and endeavored to impress my ideas on him and my fears； but； while he admitted the facts； he could not be made to believe that any jealousy or personal quarrel could lead to a failure to support each other； and a neglect of duty。 The signal for attack had already been given； and the artillery had opened； when I left him again for Morgan's front。 I found Morgan where I left him； and the troops advancing。 I had understood that he was to lead his division； and asked about it； but； getting no satisfaction； pushed for the front； crossing the slough at the little bridge at the head of the bayou。 I found the willows cut off eighteen inches or two feet long； with sharp points above the mud； making it slow and difficult to pass； save at the bridge。 I overtook the rear of the advance about two or three hundred feet up the gentle slope； and was astonished to find how small a force was making the attack。 I was also surprised to find that they were Steele's men instead of Morgan's。 I also saw several regiments across the bayou； but not advancing； they were near the levee。 A heavy artillery and infantry fire was going on all this time。 While making my way along the column； from which there were very few falling back； a shell burst near me； and the concussion confused me at the time and left me with a headache for several months。 When I got my wits about me again I found a good many coming back； but the main part of the force was compact and keeping up the fight。 I did not get closer to the woods than about five hundred feet； and found that a large number had penetrated into the enemy's works。 When our men fell back； very few ran； but came slowly and sullenly； far more angry than frightened。 I found General Frank Blair on foot； and with him Colonel Sea； of Southwest Missouri； and learned that Colonel Thomas Fletcher； afterward Governor of Missouri； was captured with many of his men。 They both insisted there on the spot； with those around us； that if all the men ordered up had gone up； or even all that crossed the bayou had moved forward； we could have readily established ourselves in the enemy's works。 I was firmly of the same opinion at the time on the ground； and； an entrance effected； we could have brought the whole force on dry ground； and had a base of operations against Vicksburgthough probably； in view of later events； we would have had to stand a siege from Pemberton's army。 After explanations with Blair； I rode to where the men were； who had crossed the bayou； but had not advanced with the others。 I found them to be De Courcey's brigade； of Morgan's division； which General Sherman supposed to be in advance。 In fact； it was the intended support that made the attack。 A correspondence and controversy followed between General Blair and Colonel De Courcey； most of which I have； but nothing came of it。 On reaching the bayou； I found that Thayer's brigade； of Steele's division； had in some way lost its direction and filed off to the right。 Remembering the masked battery； I suspected that had
