memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第122章
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ters 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 something to do with the matter； and； on following it up； I learned that the Kentucky colonel before mentioned had appealed for aid against the masked battery and invisible force of rebels； and that a regiment had been ordered to him。 This regiment； filing off into the timber； had been followed by Thayer's brigade； supposing it to be advancing to the front； and thus left a single brigade to attack a superior force of the enemy in an intrenched and naturally strong position。 By the time the mistake could be rectified； it was too late。 Our loss was from one hundred and fifty to two hundred killed； and about eleven hundred prisoners and wounded。 During the afternoon I went with a flag of truce； with reference to burying the dead。 I saw between eighty and one hundred of our men dead； all stripped。 There were others closer into the enemy's works than I was allowed to go。 On going later to where the Sixth Missouri crossed； I found that they were under the bank； and had dug in with their hands and bayonets； or anything in reach； to protect themselves from a vertical fire from the enemy overhead； who had a heavy force there。 With great difficulty they were withdrawn at night。 Next day arrangements were made to attempt a lodgment below Haines's Bluff： This was to be done by Steele's command； while the rest of the force attacked again where we had already tried。 During the day locomotives whistled； and a great noise and fuss went on in our front； and we supposed that Grant was driving in Pemberton； and expected firing any moment up the Yazoo or in the rear of Vicksburg。 Not hearing this； we concluded that Pemberton was throwing his forces into Vicksburg。 A heavy fog prevented Steele from making his movement。 Rain began to fall； and our location was not good to be in after a heavy rain； or with the river rising。 During the night （I think） of January； 1； 1863； our troops were embarked； material and provisions having been loaded during the day。 A short time before daylight of the 2d； I went by order of the general commanding； to our picket lines and carefully examined the enemy's lines； wherever a camp…fire indicated their presence。 They were not very vigilant； and I once got close enough to hear them talk； but could understand nothing。 Early in the morning I came in with the rear…guard； the enemy advancing his pickets and main guards only； and making no effort at all to press us。 Once I couldn't resist the temptation to fire into a squad that came bolder than the rest； and the two shots were good ones。 We received a volley in return that did come very close among us； but hurt none of my party。 Very soon after our rear…guard was aboard； General Sherman learned from Admiral Porter that McClernand had arrived at the month of the Yazoo。 He went； taking me and one other staff…officer； to see McClernand； and found that； under an order from the President； he had taken command of the Army of the Mississippi。 He and his staff； of whom I only remember two…Colonels Scates and Braham； assistant adjutant…general and aide…de…campseemed to think they had a big thing； and； so far as I could judge； they had just that。 All hands thought the country expected them to cut their way to the Gulf； and to us； who had just come out of the swamp； the cutting didn't seem such an easy job as to the new…comers。 Making due allowance for the elevation they seemed to feel in view of their job； everything passed off pleasantly； and we learned that General Grant's communications had been cut at Holly Springs by the capture of Murphy and his force （at Holly Springs）； and that he was either in Memphis by that time or would soon be。 So that； everything considered； it was about as well that we did not get our forces on the bluff's of Walnut Hill。〃
The above statement was sent to General Sherman in a letter dated 〃Chicago； February 5；1876；〃 and signed 〃John H。 Hammond。〃 Hammond was General Sherman's assistant adjutant…general at the Chickasaw Bayou。 J。 E。 TOURTELOTTE； Colonel and Aide…de…Camp。
On 29th December； 1862； at Chickasaw Bayo
