memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第102章
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s and reviews of the time。 He then had the promise of as long a life as any of my children； and displayed more interest in the war than any of them。 He was called a 〃sergeant〃 in the regular battalion； learned the manual of arms； and regularly attended the parade and guard…mounting of the Thirteenth； back of my camp。 We made frequent visits to Vicksburg； and always stopped with General McPherson； who had a large house； and boarded with a family （Mrs。 Edwards'a） in which were several interesting young ladies。 General Grant occupied another house （Mrs。 Lum's） in Vicksburg during that summer； and also had his family with him。 The time passed very agreeably； diversified only by little events of not much significance； among which I will recount only one。
While； we occupied the west bank of the Big Black； the east bank was watched by a rebel cavalry…division； commanded by General Armstrong。 He had four brigades； commanded by Generals Whitfield； Stark； Cosby； and Wirt Adams。 Quite frequently they communicated with us by flags of truce on trivial matters； and we reciprocated； merely to observe them。 One day a flag of truce； borne by a Captain B。。。。； of Louisville； Kentucky； escorted by about twenty…five men； was reported at Messinger's Ferry； and I sent orders to let them come right into my tent。 This brought them through the camps of the Fourth Division； and part of the Second； and as they drew up in front of my tent； I invited Captain B。。。。 and another officer with him （a major from Mobile） to dismount； to enter my tent； and to make themselves at home。 Their escort was sent to join mine； with orders to furnish them forage and every thing they wanted。 B。。。。 had brought a sealed letter for General Grant at Vicksburg； which was dispatched to him。 In the evening we had a good supper； with wine and cigars； and； as we sat talking； B。。。。 spoke of his father and mother； in Louisville； got leave to write them a long letter without its being read by any one； and then we talked about the war。 He said： 〃What is the use of your persevering？ It is simply impossible to subdue eight millions of people；〃 asserting that 〃the feeling in the South had become so embittered that a reconciliation was impossible。〃 I answered that； 〃sitting as we then were； we appeared very comfortable； and surely there was no trouble in our becoming friends。〃 〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃that is very true of us； but we are gentlemen of education； and can easily adapt ourselves to any condition of things； but this would not apply equally well to the common people； or to the common soldiers。〃 I took him out to the camp…fires behind the tent； and there were the men of his escort and mine mingled together； drinking their coffee； and happy as soldiers always seem。 I asked B。。。。 what he thought of that； and he admitted that I had the best of the argument。 Before I dismissed this flag of truce； his companion consulted me confidentially as to what disposition he ought to make of his family； then in Mobile； and I frankly gave him the best advice I could。
While we were thus lying idle in camp on the big Black； the Army of the Cumberland； under General Rosecrans； was moving against Bragg at Chattanooga； and the Army of the Ohio； General Burnside； was marching toward East Tennessee。 General Rosecrans was so confident of success that he somewhat scattered his command； seemingly to surround and capture Bragg in Chattanooga； but the latter； reenforced from Virginia； drew out of Chattanooga； concentrated his army at Lafayette； and at Chickamauga fell on Rosecrans； defeated him； and drove him into Chattanooga。 The whole country seemed paralyzed by this unhappy event； and the authorities in Washington were thoroughly stampeded。 From the East the Eleventh Corps （Slocum）； and the Twelfth Corps （Howard）； were sent by rail to Nashville； and forward under command of General Hooker； orders were also sent to General Grant； by Halleck； to send what reenforcements he could spare immediately toward Chattanooga。
Bragg had completely driven Rosecrans's army into Chattanooga； the latter was in actual danger of starvation； and the railroad to his rear seemed inadequate to his supply。 The first intimation which I got of this disaster was on the 22d of September； by an order from General Grant to dispatch one of my divisions immediately into Vicksburg； to go toward Chattanooga； and I designated the First； General OsterhausSteele meantime having been appointed to the command of the Department of Arkansas； and had gone to Little Rock。 General Osterhaus marched the same day； and on the 23d I was summoned to Vicksburg in person； where General Grant showed me the alarming dispatches from General Halleck； which had been sent from Memphis by General Hurlbut； and said； on further thought； that he would send me and my whole corps。 But； inasmuch as one division of McPherson's corps （John E。 Smith's） had already started； he instructed me to leave one of my divisions on the Big Black； and to get the other two ready to follow at once。 I designated the Second； then commanded by Brigadier…General Giles A。 Smith； and the Fourth； commanded by Brigadier…General Corse。
On the 25th I returned to my camp on Big Black； gave all the necessary orders for these divisions to move； and for the Third （Tittle's） to remain； and went into Vicksburg with my family。 The last of my corps designed for this expedition started from camp on the 27th； reached Vicksburg the 28th； and were embarked on boats provided for them。 General Halleck's dispatches dwelt upon the fact that General Rosecrans's routes of supply were overtaxed； and that we should move from Memphis eastward； repairing railroads as we progressed； as far as Athens； Alabama； whence I was to report to General Rosecrans； at Chattanooga； by letter。
I took passage for myself and family in the steamer Atlantic； Captain Henry McDougall。 When the boat was ready to start； Willie was missing。 Mrs。 Sherman supposed him to have been with me； whereas I supposed he was with her。 An officer of the Thirteenth went up to General McPherson's house for him； and soon returned； with Captain Clift leading him； carrying in his hands a small double…barreled shot gun； and I joked him about carrying away captured property。 In a short time we got off。 As we all stood on the guards to look at our old camps at Young's Point； I remarked that Willie was not well； and he admitted that he was sick。 His mother put him to bed； and consulted Dr。 Roler； of the Fifty…fifth Illinois； who found symptoms of typhoid fever。 The river was low； we made slow progress till above Helena； and； as we approached Memphis； Dr。 Roler told me that Willie's life was in danger； and he was extremely anxious to reach Memphis for certain medicines and for consultation。 We arrived at Memphis on the 2d of October； carried Willie up to the Gayoso Hotel； and got the most experienced physician there； who acted with Dr。 Roler； but he sank rapidly； and died the evening of the 3d of October。 The blow was a terrible one to us all； so sudden and so unexpected； that I could not help reproaching myself for having consented to his visit in that sickly region in the summer…time。 Of all my children； he seemed the most precious。 Born in San Francisco； I had watched with intense interest his development； and he seemed more than any of the children to take an interest in my special profession。 Mrs。 Sherman； Minnie； Lizzie； and Tom； were with him at the time； and we all； helpless and overwhelmed； saw him die。 Being in the very midst of an important military enterprise； I had hardly time to pause and think of my personal loss。 We procured a metallic casket； and had a military funeral； the battalion of the Thirteenth United States Regulars acting as escort from the Gayoso Hotel to the steamboat Grey Eagle； which conveyed him and my family up to Cairo； whence they proceeded to our home at Lancaster； Ohio； where he was buried。 I here give my letter to Captain C。 C。 Smith； who commanded the battalion at the time； as exhibiting our intense feelings：
GAYOSO HOUSE； MEMPHIS； TENNESSEE October 4； 1863； Midnight
Captain C。 C。 SMITH； commanding Battalion Thirteenth United States Regulars。
MY DEAR FRIEND： I cannot sleep to…
