memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第114章
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It will thus appear that we have been constantly in motion since our departure from the Big Black； in Mississippi； until the present moment。 I have been unable to receive from subordinate commanders the usual full； detailed reports of events； and have therefore been compelled to make up this report from my own personal memory； but； as soon so possible； subordinate reports will be received and duly forwarded。
In reviewing the facts； I must do justice to the men of my command for the patience； cheerfulness； and courage which officers and men have displayed throughout； in battle； on the march； and in camp。 For long periods； without regular rations or supplies of any kind； they have marched through mud and over rocks； sometimes barefooted； without a murmur。 Without a moment's rest after a march of over four hundred miles； without sleep for three successive nights； we crossed the Tennessee； fought our part of the battle of Chattanooga； pursued the enemy out of Tennessee； and then turned more than a hundred and twenty miles north and compelled Longstreet to raise the siege of Knoxville； which gave so much anxiety to the whole country。 It is hard to realize the importance of these events without recalling the memory of the general feeling which pervaded all minds at Chattanooga prior to our arrival。 I cannot speak of the Fifteenth Army Corps without a seeming vanity； but as I am no longer its commander； I assert that there is no better body of soldiers in America than it。 I wish all to feel a just pride in its real honors。
To General Howard and his command； to General Jeff。 C。 Davis and his； I am more than usually indebted for the intelligence of commanders and fidelity of commands。 The brigade of Colonel Bushbeck； belonging to the Eleventh Corps； which was the first to come out of Chattanooga to my flank； fought at the Tunnel Hill； in connection with General Ewing's division； and displayed a courage almost amounting to rashness。 Following the enemy almost to the tunnel…gorge； it lost many valuable lives； prominent among them Lieutenant…Colonel Taft； spoken of as a most gallant soldier。
In General Howard throughout I found a polished and Christian gentleman； exhibiting the highest and most chivalric traits of the soldier。 General Davis handled his division with artistic skill； more especially at the moment we encountered the enemy's rear…guard； near Graysville； at nightfall。 I must award to this division the credit of the best order during our movement through East Tennessee； when long marches and the necessity of foraging to the right and left gave some reason for disordered ranks：
Inasmuch as exception may be taken to my explanation of the temporary confusion； during the battle of Chattanooga； of the two brigades of General Matthias and Colonel Raum； I will here state that I saw the whole； and attach no blame to any one。 Accidents will happen in battle； as elsewhere； and at the point where they so manfully went to relieve the pressure on other parts of our assaulting line； they exposed themselves unconsciously to an enemy vastly superior in force； and favored by the shape of the ground。 Had that enemy come out on equal terms； those brigades world have shown their mettle； which has been tried more than once before and stood the test of fire。 They reformed their ranks； and were ready to support General Ewing's division in a very few minutes； and the circumstance would have hardly called for notice on my part； had not others reported what was seen from Chattanooga； a distance of nearly five miles； from where could only be seen the troops in the open field in which this affair occurred。
I now subjoin the best report of casualties I am able to compile from the records thus far received：
Killed； Wounded； and Missing。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 1949
No report from General Davis's division； but loss is small。
Among the killed were some of our most valuable officers： Colonels Putnam； Ninety…third Illinois； O'Meara； Ninetieth Illinois； and Torrence； Thirtieth Iowa； Lieutenant…Colonel…Taft； of the Eleventh Corps； and Major Bushnell； Thirteenth Illinois。
Among the wounded are Brigadier…Generals Giles A。 Smith； Corse； and Matthias； Colonel Raum； Colonel Waugelin； Twelfth Missouri； Lieutenant…Colonel Partridge； Thirteenth Illinois； Major P。 I。 Welsh； Fifty…sixth Illinois； and Major Nathan McAlla； Tenth Iowa。
Among the missing is Lieutenant…Colonel Archer； Seventeenth Iowa。
My report is already so long； that I must forbear mentioning acts of individual merit。 These will be recorded in the reports of division commanders； which I will cheerfully indorse； but I mnst say that it is but justice that colonels of regiments； who have so long and so well commanded brigades； as in the following cases； should be commissioned to the grade which they have filled with so much usefulness and credit to the public service； viz。： Colonel J。 R。 Cockerell； Seventieth； Ohio； Colonel J。 M。 Loomis； Twenty…sixth Illinois； Colonel C。 C。 Walcutt； Forty…sixth Ohio； Colonel J。 A。 Williamson； Fourth Iowa； Colonel G。 B。 Raum； Fifty…sixth Illinois； Colonel J。 I。 Alexander； Fifty…ninth Indiana。
My personal staff； as usual； have served their country with fidelity； and credit to themselves； throughout these events； and have received my personal thanks。
Inclosed you will please find a map of that part of the battle…field of Chattanooga fought over by the troops under my command； surveyed and drawn by Captain Jenney； engineer on my staff。 I have the 。honor to be； your obedient servant；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General commanding。
＇General Order No。 68。＇
WAR DEPARTMENT ADJUTANT…GENERAL'S OFFICE WASHINGTON； February 21； 1884
Joint resolution tendering the thanks of Congress to Major…General W。 T。 Sherman and others。
Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled； That the thanks of Congress and of the people of the United States are due； and that the same are hereby tendered； to Major…General W。 T。 Sherman； commander of the Department and Army of the Tennessee； and the officers and soldiers who served under him； for their gallant and arduous services in marching to the relief of the Army of the Cumberland； and for their gallantry and heroism in the battle of Chattanooga； which contributed in a great degree to the success of our arms in that glorious victory。
Approved February 19； 1864。 By order of the Secretary of War：
E。 D。 TOWNSEND； Assistant Adjutant…General。
On the 19th of December I was at Bridgeport； and gave all the orders necessary for the distribution of the four divisions of the Fifteenth Corps along the railroad from Stevenson to Decatur； and the part of the Sixteenth Corps； commanded by General Dodge； along the railroad from Decatur to Nashville； to make the needed repairs； and to be in readiness for the campaign of the succeeding year； and on the 21st I went up to Nashville； to confer with General Grant and conclude the arrangements for the winter。 At that time General Grant was under the impression that the next campaign would be up the valley of East Tennessee； in the direction of Virginia； and as it was likely to be the last and most important campaign of the war； it became necessary to set free as many of the old troops serving along the Mississippi River as possible。 This was the real object and purpose of the Meridian campaign； and of Banks's expedition up Red River to Shreveport during that winter。
CHAPTER XV。
MERIDIAN CAMPAIGN。
JANUARY AND FEBRUARY； 1864。
The winter of 1863…'64 opened very cold and severe； and it was manifest after the battle of Chattanooga； November 25； 1863； and the raising of the siege of Knoxville； December 5th； that military operations in that quarter must in a measure cease； or be limited to Burnside's force beyond Knoxville。 On the 21st of December General Grant had removed his headquarters to Nashville； Tennessee； leaving General George H。 Thomas at Chattanooga； in command of the Department of the Cumberland； and of the army round about that place； and I was at Bridgeport； with orders to distribute my troops along the railroad from Stevenson to Decatur； Alabama； and from Decatur up toward Nash
