memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第72章
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and Breckenridge's divisions。 I think Johnston was killed by exposing himself in front of his troops； at the time of their attack on Buckland's brigade on Sunday morning； although in this I may be mistaken。
My division was made up of regiments perfectly new； nearly all having received their muskets for the first time at Paducah。 None of them had ever been under fire or beheld heavy columns of an enemy bearing down on them as they did on last Sunday。
To expect of them the coolness and steadiness of older troops would be wrong。 They knew not the value of combination and organization。 When individual fears seized them； the first impulse was to get away。 My third brigade did break much too soon； and I am not yet advised where they were during Sunday afternoon and Monday morning。 Colonel Hildebrand； its commander； was as cool as any man I ever saw； and no one could have made stronger efforts to hold his men to their places than he did。 He kept his own regiment with individual exceptions in hand； an hour after Appler's and Mungen's regiments had left their proper field of action。 Colonel Buckland managed his brigade well。 I commend him to your notice as a cool； intelligent； and judicious gentleman； needing only confidence and experience；to make a good commander。 His subordinates； Colonels Sullivan and Cockerill； behaved with great gallantry； the former receiving a severe wound on Sunday； and yet commanding and holding his regiment well in hand all day； and on Monday； until his right arm was broken by a shot。 Colonel Cookerill held a larger proportion of his men than any colonel in my division； and was with me from first to last。
Colonel J。 A。 McDowell； commanding the first brigade； held his ground on Sunday； till I ordered him to fall back； which he did in line of battle； and when ordered； he conducted the attack on the enemy's left in good style。 In falling back to the next position； he was thrown from his horse and injured； and his brigade was not in position on Monday morning。 His subordinates；。 Colonels Hicks and Worthington； displayed great personal courage。 Colonel Hicks led his regiment in the attack on Sunday； and received a wound； which it is feared may prove mortal。 He is a brave and gallant gentleman； and deserves well of his country。 Lieutenant…Colonel Walcutt； of the Ohio Forty…sixth； was severely wounded on Sunday； and has been disabled ever since。 My second brigade； Colonel Stuart； was detached nearly two miles from my headquarters。 He had to fight his own battle on Sunday； against superior numbers； as the enemy interposed between him and General Prentiss early in the day。 Colonel Stuart was wounded severely； and yet reported for duty on Monday morning； but was compelled to leave during the day； when the command devolved on Colonel T。 Kilby Smith； who was always in the thickest of the； fight； and led the brigade handsomely。
I have not yet received Colonel Stuart's report of the operations of his brigade during the time he was detached； and must therefore forbear to mention names。 Lieutenant…Colonel Kyle； of the Seventy…first； was mortally wounded on Sunday； but the regiment itself I did not see； as only a small fragment of it was with the brigade when it joined the division on Monday morning。 Great credit is due the fragments of men of the disordered regiments who kept in the advance。 I observed and noticed them； but until the brigadiers and colonels make their reports； I cannot venture to name individuals； but will in due season notice all who kept in our front line； as well as those who preferred to keep back near the steamboat…landing。 I will also send a full list of the killed； wounded； and missing； by name； rank； company； and regiment。 At present I submit the result in figures：
＇Summary of General Sherman's detailed table：＇ Killed 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 318 Wounded 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 1275 Missing 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 441 Aggregate loss in the division： 2034
The enemy captured seven of our guns on Sunday； but on Monday we recovered seven； not the identical guns we had lost； but enough in number to balance the account。 At the time of recovering our camps our men were so fatigued that we could not follow the retreating masses of the enemy； but on the following day I followed up with Buckland's and Hildebrand's brigade for six miles； the result of which I have already reported。
Of my personal staff； I can only speak with praise and thanks。 I think they smelled as much gunpowder and heard as many cannon…balls and bullets as must satisfy their ambition。 Captain Hammond； my chief of staff； though in feeble health； was very active in rallying broken troops； encouraging the steadfast and aiding to form the lines of defense and attack。 I recommend him to your notice。 Major Sanger's intelligence； quick perception； and rapid execution； were of very great value to me； especially in bringing into line the batteries that cooperated so efficiently in our movements。 Captains McCoy and Dayton； aides…de…camp； were with me all the time； carrying orders； and acting with coolness； spirit； and courage。 To Surgeon Hartshorne and Dr。 L'Hommedieu hundreds of wounded men are indebted for the kind and excellent treatment received on the field of battle and in the various temporary hospitals created along the line of our operations。 They worked day and night； and did not rest till all the wounded of our own troops as well as of the enemy were in safe and comfortable shelter。 To Major Taylor； chief of artillery； I feel under deep obligations； for his good sense and judgment in managing the batteries； on which so much depended。 I inclose his report and indorse his recommendations。 The cavalry of my command kept to the rear； and took little part in the action； but it would have been madness to have exposed horses to the musketry…fire under which we were compelled to remain from Sunday at 8 a。m。 till Monday at 4 p。m。 Captain Kossack； of the engineers； was with me all the time； and was of great assistance。 I inclose his sketch of the battle… field； which is the best I have seen； and which will enable you to see the various positions occupied by my division； as well as of the others that participated in the battle。 I will also send in； during the day； the detailed reports of my brigadiers and colonels； and will indorse them with such remarks as I deem proper。
I am； with much respect； your obedient servant；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Brigadier…General commanding Fifth Division。
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION Tuesday； April 8；1862
Sir： With the cavalry placed at my command and two brigades of my fatigued troops； I went this morning out on the Corinth road。 One after another of the abandoned camps of the enemy lined the roads； with hospital flags for their protection； at all we found more or less wounded and dead men。 At the forks of the road I found the head of General T。 J。 Wood's division of Buell's Army。 I ordered cavalry to examine both roads lending toward Corinth； and found the enemy on both。 Colonel Dickey； of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry； asking for reenforcements； I ordered General Wood to advance the head of his column cautiously on the left…hand road； while I conducted the head of the third brigade of my division up the right…hand road。 About half a mile from the forks was a clear field； through which the road passed； and； immediately beyond； a space of some two hundred yards of fallen timber； and beyond that an extensive rebel camp。 The enemy's cavalry could be seen in this camp； after reconnoiesance； I ordered the two advance companies of the Ohio Seventy…seventh； Colonel Hildebrand； to deploy forward as skirmishers； and the regiment itself forward into line； with an interval of one hundred yards。 In this order we advanced cautiously until the skirmishers were engaged。 Taking it for granted this disposition would clear the camp； I held Colonel Dickey's Fourth Illinois Cavalry ready for the charge。 The enemy's cavalry came down boldly at a charge； led by General Forrest in person； breaking through our line of skirmishers； when the regiment of infantry； without cause； broke； threw away their muskets； and fled。 The ground was admirably adapted for a defense of infantry
