memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第103章
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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…night till I record an expression of the deep feelings of my heart to you； and to the officers and soldiers of the battalion； for their kind behavior to my poor child。 I realize that you all feel for my family the attachment of kindred； and I assure you of full reciprocity。 Consistent with a sense of duty to my profession and office； I could not leave my post； and sent for the family to come to me in that fatal climate； and in that sickly period of the year； and behold the result！ The child that bore my name； and in whose future I reposed with more confidence than I did in my own plan of life； now floats a mere corpse； seeking a grave in a distant land； with a weeping mother； brother； and sisters； clustered about him。 For myself； I ask no sympathy。 On； on I must go； to meet a soldier's fate； or live to see our country rise superior to all factions； till its flag is adored and respected by ourselves and by all the powers of the earth。
But Willie was； or thought he was； a sergeant in the Thirteenth。 I have seen his eye brighten； his heart beat； as he beheld the battalion under arms； and asked me if they were not real soldiers。 Child as he was； he had the enthusiasm； the pure love of truth； honor； and love of country； which should animate all soldiers。
God only knows why he should die thus young。 He is dead； but will not be forgotten till those who knew him in life have followed him to that same mysterious end。
Please convey to the battalion my heart…felt thanks； and assure each and all that if in after…years they call on me or mine； and mention that they were of the Thirteenth Regulars when Willie was a sergeant； they will have a key to the affections of my family that will open all it has； that we will share with them our last blanket； our last crust！ Your friend；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…general。
Long afterward； in the spring of 1867； we had his body disinterred and brought to St。 Louis； where he is now buried in a beautiful spot； in Calvary Cemetery； by the side of another child； 〃Charles；〃 who was born at Lancaster； in the summer of 1864； died early； and was buried at Notre Dame； Indiana。 His body was transferred at the same time to the same spot。 Over Willie's grave is erected a beautiful marble monument； designed and executed by the officers and soldiers； of that battalion which claimed him as a sergeant and comrade。
During the summer and fall of 1863 Major…General S。 A。 Hurlbut was in command at Memphis。 He supplied me copies of all dispatches from Washington； and all the information he possessed of the events about Chattanooga。 Two of these dispatches cover all essential points：
WASHINGTON CITY； September 15； 18635 p。m。
Major…General S。 A。 HURLBUT； Memphis：
All the troops that can possibly be spared in West Tennessee and on the Mississippi River should be sent without delay to assist General Rosecrans on the Tennessee River。
Urge Sherman to act with all possible promptness。
If you have boats； send them down to bring up his troops。
Information just received indicates that a part of Lee's army has been sent to reenforce Bragg。
H。 W。 HALLECK； General…in…Chief。
Washington； September 19； 18684 p。m。
Major…General S。 A。 HURLBUT； Memphis； Tennessee：
Give me definite information of the number of troops sent toward Decatur； and where they are。 Also； what other troops are to follow； and when。
Has any thing been heard from the troops ordered from Vicksburg？
No efforts must be spared to support Resecrans's right； and to guard the crossings of the Tennessee River。
H。 W。 HALLECK； General…in…Chief。
My special orders were to repair the Memphis & Charleston Railroad eastward as I progressed； as far as Athens； Alabama； to draw supplies by that route； so that； on reaching Athens； we should not be dependent on the roads back to Nashville； already overtaxed by the demand of Rosecrans's army。
On reaching Memphis； October 2d； I found that Osterhaus's division had already gone by rail as far as Corinth； and than John E。 Smith's division was in the act of starting by cars。 The Second Division； then commanded by Brigadier…General Giles A。 Smith； reached Memphis at the same time with me； and the Fourth Division； commanded by Brigadier…General John M。 Corse； arrived a day or two after。 The railroad was in fair condition as far as Corinth； ninety…six miles； but the road was badly stocked with locomotives and cars； so that it took until the 9th to get off the Second Division； when I gave orders for the Fourth Division and wagon…trains to march by the common road。
On Sunday morning； October 11th； with a special train loaded with our orderlies and clerks； the horses of our staff； the battalion of the Thirteenth United States Regulars； and a few officers going forward to join their commands； among them Brigadier…General Hugh Ewing； I started for Corinth。
At Germantown； eight miles； we passed Corse's division （Fourth） on the march； and about noon the train ran by the depot at Colliersville； twenty…six miles out。 I was in the rear car with my staff； dozing； but observed the train slacking speed and stopping about half a mile beyond the depot。 I noticed some soldiers running to and fro； got out at the end of the car； and soon Colonel Anthony （Silty…sixth Indiana）； who commanded the post； rode up and said that his pickets had just been driven in； and there was an appearance of an attack by a large force of cavalry coming from the southeast。 I ordered the men to get off the train； to form on the knoll near the railroad…cut； and soon observed a rebel officer riding toward us with a white flag。 Colonel Anthony and Colonel Dayton （one of my aides） were sent to meet him； and to keep him in conversation as long as possible。 They soon returned； saying it was the adjutant of the rebel general Chalmers； who demanded the surrender of the place。 I instructed them to return and give a negative answer； but to delay him as much as possible； so as to give us time for preparation。 I saw Anthony； Dayton； and the rebel bearer of the flag； in conversation； and the latter turn his horse to ride back； when I ordered Colonel McCoy to run to the station； and get a message over the wires as quick as possible to Memphis and Germantown； to hurry forward Corse's division。 I then ordered the train to back to the depot； and drew back the battalion of regulars to the small earth redoubt near it。 The depot…building was of brick； and had been punctured with loop…holes。 To its east； about two hundred yards； was a small square earthwork or fort； into which were put a part of the regulars along with the company of the Sixty…sixth Indiana already there。 The rest of the men were distributed into the railroad…cut； and in some shallow rifle… trenches near the depot。 We had hardly made these preparations when the enemy was seen forming in a long line on the ridge to the south； about four hundred yards off； and soon after two parties of cavalry passed the railroad on both sides of us； cutting the wires and tearing up some rails。 Soon they opened on us with artillery （of which we had none）； and their men were dismounting and preparing to assault。 To the south of us was an extensive cornfield； with the corn still standing； and on the other side was the town of Colliersville。 All the houses near； that could give shelter to the enemy； were ordered to be set on fire； and the men were instructed to keep well under cover and to reserve their fire for the assault； which seemed inevitable。 A long line of rebel skirmishers came down through the cornfield； and two other parties approached us along the railroad on both sides。 In the fort was a small magazine containing some cartridges。 Lieutenant James； a fine； gallant fellow； who was ordnance…officer on my staff； asked leave to arm the orderlies and clerks with some muskets which he had found in the depot； to which I consented； he marched them into the magazine； issued cartridges； and marched back to the depot to assist in its defense。 Afterward he came to me； said a party of the enemy had
