memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第57章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rs had paused about us to listen； and knew that； if this officer could defy me； they also would。 So I turned on him sharp； and said： 〃Captain； this question of your term of service has been submitted to the rightful authority； and the decision has been published in orders。 You are a soldier； and must submit to orders till you are properly discharged。 If you attempt to leave without orders； it will be mutiny； and I will shoot you like a dog！ Go back into the fort now； instantly； and don't dare to leave without my consent。〃 I had on an overcoat； and may have had my hand about the breast； for he looked at me hard； paused a moment； and then turned back into the fort。 The men scattered； and I returned to the house where I was quartered； close by。
That same day； which must have been about July 26th； I was near the river…bank； looking at a block…house which had been built for the defense of the aqueduct； when I saw a carriage coming by the road that crossed the Potomac River at Georgetown by a ferry。 I thought I recognized in the carriage the person of President Lincoln。 I hurried across a bend； so as to stand by the road…side as the carriage passed。 I was in uniform； with a sword on； and was recognized by Mr。 Lincoln and Mr。 Seward； who rode side by side in an open hack。 I inquired if they were going to my camps； and Mr。 Lincoln said： 〃Yes； we heard that you had got over the big scare； and we thought we would come over and see the 'boys。'〃 The roads had been much changed and were rough。 I asked if I might give directions to his coachman； he promptly invited me to jump in and to tell the coachman which way to drive。 Intending to begin on the right and follow round to the left； I turned the driver into a side…road which led up a very steep hill； and； seeing a soldier； called to him and sent him up hurriedly to announce to the colonel （Bennett； I think） that the President was coming： As we slowly ascended the hill； I discovered that Mr。 Lincoln was full of feeling； and wanted to encourage our men。 I asked if he intended to speak to them； and he said he would like to。 I asked him then to please discourage all cheering； noise； or any sort of confusion； that we had had enough of it before Bull Run to ruin any set of men； and that what we needed were cool； thoughtful； hard…fighting soldiersno more hurrahing； no more humbug。 He took my remarks in the most perfect good…nature。 Before we had reached the first camp； I heard the drum beating the 〃assembly；〃 saw the men running for their tents； and in a few minutes the regiment was in line； arms presented； and then brought to an order and 〃parade rest！〃
Mr。 Lincoln stood up in the carriage； and made one of the neatest； best； and most feeling addresses I ever listened to； referring to our late disaster at Bull Run； the high duties that still devolved on us； and the brighter days yet to come。 At one or two points the soldiers began to cheer； but he promptly checked them； saying： 〃Don't cheer； boys。 I confess I rather like it myself； but Colonel Sherman here says it is not military； and I guess we had better defer to his opinion。〃 In winding up； he explained that； as President； he was commander…in…chief； that he was resolved that the soldiers should have every thing that the law allowed； and he called on one and all to appeal to him personally in case they were wronged。 The effect of this speech was excellent。
We passed along in the same manner to all the camps of my brigade； and Mr。 Lincoln complimented me highly for the order； cleanliness； and discipline； that he observed。 Indeed； he and Mr。 Seward both assured me that it was the first bright moment they had experienced since the battle。
At last we reached Fort Corcoran。 The carriage could not enter； so I ordered the regiment； without arms； to come outside； and gather about Mr。 Lincoln； who would speak to them。 He made to them the same feeling address； with more personal allusions； because of their special gallantry in the battle under Corcoran； who was still a prisoner in the hands of the enemy； and he concluded with the same general offer of redress in case of grievances。 In the crowd I saw the officer with whom I had had the passage at reveille that morning。 His face was pale； and lips compressed。 I foresaw a scene； but sat on the front seat of the carriage as quiet as a lamb。 This officer forced his way through the crowd to the carriage； and said： 〃Mr。 President； I have a cause of grievance。 This morning I went to speak to Colonel Sherman； and he threatened to shoot me。〃 Mr。 Lincoln； who was still standing； said； 〃Threatened to shoot you？〃 〃Yes； sir； he threatened to shoot me。〃 Mr。 Lincoln looked at him； then at me； and stooping his tall； spare form toward the officer； said to him in a loud stage…whisper； easily heard for some yards around： 〃Well； if I were you； and he threatened to shoot； I would not trust him； for I believe he would do it。〃 The officer turned about and disappeared； and the men laughed at him。 Soon the carriage drove on； and； as we descended the hill； I explained the facts to the President； who answered； 〃Of course I didn't know any thing about it； but I thought you knew your own business best。〃 I thanked him for his confidence； and assured him that what he had done would go far to enable me to maintain good discipline； and it did。
By this time the day was well spent。 I asked to take my leave； and the President and Mr。 Seward drove back to Washington。 This spirit of mutiny was common to the whole army； and was not subdued till several regiments or parts of regiments had been ordered to Fort Jefferson； Florida； as punishment。
General McDowell had resumed his headquarters at the Arlington House； and was busily engaged in restoring order to his army； sending off the ninety…days men； and replacing them by regiments which had come under the three…years call。 We were all trembling lest we should be held personally accountable for the disastrous result of the battle。 General McClellan had been summoned from the West to Washington； and changes in the subordinate commands were announced almost daily。 I remember； as a group of officers were talking in the large room of the Arlington House； used as the adjutant…general's office； one evening； some young officer came in with a list of the new brigadiers just announced at the War Department； which…embraced the names of Heintzehvan； Keyes； Franklin； Andrew Porter； W。 T。 Sherman； and others； who had been colonels in the battle； and all of whom had shared the common stampede。 Of course； we discredited the truth of the list； and Heintzehvan broke out in his nasal voice； 〃Boys； it's all a lie！ every mother's son of you will be cashiered。〃 We all felt he was right； but； nevertheless； it was true； and we were all announced in general orders as brigadier…generals of volunteers。
General McClellan arrived； and； on assuming command； confirmed McDowell's organization。 Instead of coming over the river； as we expected； he took a house in Washington； and only came over from time to time to have a review or inspection。
I had received several new regiments； and had begun two new forts on the hill or plateau； above and farther out than Fort Corcoran； and I organized a system of drills； embracing the evolutions of the line； all of which was new to me； and I had to learn the tactics from books； but I was convinced that we had a long； hard war before us； and made up my mind to begin at the very beginning to prepare for it。
August was passing； and troops were pouring in from all quarters； General McClellan told me he intended to organize an army of a hundred thousand men； with one hundred field…batteries； and I still hoped he would come on our side of the Potomac； pitch his tent； and prepare for real hard work； but his headquarters still remained in a house in Washington City。 I then thought； and still think； that was a fatal mistake。 His choice as general…in…chief at the time was fully justified by his high reputation in the army and country； and； if he then had any political views or ambition； I surely did not suspect it。
About the middle of August I got a note from Brigadier…General Robert Anderson； asking me to come and see him at his room at W
