memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第76章
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ed to his division in the Army of the Ohio； and that whole army under General Buell was turned east along the Memphis & Charleston road； to march for Chattanooga。 McClernand's 〃reserve〃 was turned west to Bolivar and Memphis。 General Halleck took post himself at Corinth； assigned Lieutenant…Colonel McPherson to take charge of the railroads； with instructions to repair them as far as Columbus； Kentucky； and to collect ears and locomotives to operate them to Corinth and Grand Junction。 I was soon dispatched with my own and Hurlbut's divisions northwest fourteen miles to Chewalla； to save what could be of any value out of six trains of cars belonging to the rebels which had been wrecked and partially burned at the time of the evacuation of Corinth。
A short time before leaving Corinth I rode from my camp to General Halleck's headquarters； then in tents just outside of the town； where we sat and gossiped for some time； when he mentioned to me casually that General Grant was going away the next morning。 I inquired the cause； and he said that he did not know； but that Grant had applied for a thirty days' leave； which had been given him。 Of course we all knew that he was chafing under the slights of his anomalous position； and I determined to see him on my way back。 His camp was a short distance off the Monterey road； in the woods； and consisted of four or five tents； with a sapling railing around the front。 As I rode up； Majors Rawlins； Lagow； and Hilyer； were in front of the camp； and piled up near them were the usual office and camp chests； all ready for a start in the morning。 I inquired for the general； and was shown to his tent； where I found him seated on a camp…stool； with papers on a rude camp…table； he seemed to be employed in assorting letters； and tying them up with red tape into convenient bundles。 After passing the usual compliments； I inquired if it were true that he was going away。 He said； 〃Yes。〃 I then inquired the reason； and he said 〃Sherman； you know。 You know that I am in the way here。 I have stood it as long as I can； and can endure it no longer。〃 I inquired where he was going to； and he said； 〃St。 Louis。〃 I then asked if he had any business there； and he said； 〃Not a bit。〃 I then begged him to stay； illustrating his case by my own。
Before the battle of Shiloh； I had been cast down by a mere newspaper assertion of 〃crazy；〃 but that single battle had given me new life； and now I was in high feather； and I argued with him that； if he went away； events would go right along； and he would be left out； whereas； if he remained； some happy accident might restore him to favor and his true place。 He certainly appreciated my friendly advice； and promised to wait awhile； at all events； not to go without seeing me again； or communicating with me。 Very soon after this； I was ordered to Chewalla； where； on the 6th of June； I received a note from him； saying that he had reconsidered his intention； and would remain。 I cannot find the note； but my answer I have kept：
Chewalla； Jane 6； 1862。
Major…General GRANT。
My DEAR SIR： I have just received your note； and am rejoiced at your conclusion to remain； for you could not be quiet at home for a week when armies were moving； and rest could not relieve your mind of the gnawing sensation that injustice had been done you。
My orders at Chewalla were to rescue the wrecked trains there； to reconnoitre westward and estimate the amount of damage to the railroad as far as Grand Junction； about fifty miles。 We camped our troops on high； healthy ground to the south of Chewalla； and after I had personally reconnoitred the country； details of men were made and volunteer locomotive engineers obtained to superintend the repairs。 I found six locomotives and about sixty cars； thrown from the track； parts of the machinery detached and hidden in the surrounding swamp； and all damaged as much by fire as possible。 It seems that these trains were inside of Corinth during the night of evacuation； loading up with all sorts of commissary stores； etc。； and about daylight were started west； but the cavalry…picket stationed at the Tuscumbia bridge had； by mistake or panic； burned the bridge before the trains got to them。 The trains； therefore； were caught； and the engineers and guards hastily scattered the stores into the swamp； and disabled the trains as far as they could； before our cavalry had discovered their critical situation。 The weather was hot； and the swamp fairly stunk with the putrid flour and fermenting sugar and molasses； I was so much exposed there in the hot sun； pushing forward the work； that I got a touch of malarial fever； which hung on me for a month； and forced me to ride two days in an ambulance； the only time I ever did such a thing during the whole war。 By the 7th I reported to General Halleck that the amount of work necessary to reestablish the railroad between Corinth and Grand Junction was so great； that he concluded not to attempt its repair； but to rely on the road back to Jackson （Tennessee）； and forward to Grand Junction； and I was ordered to move to Grand Junction； to take up the repairs from there toward Memphis。
The evacuation of Corinth by Beauregard； and the movements of General McClernand's force toward Memphis； had necessitated the evacuation of Fort Pillow； which occurred about June 1st； soon followed by the further withdrawal of the Confederate army from Memphis； by reason of the destruction of the rebel gunboats in the bold and dashing attack by our gun。 boats under command of Admiral Davis； who had succeeded Foote。 This occurred June 7th。 Admiral Farragut had also captured New Orleans after the terrible passage of Forts Jackson and St。 Philip on May 24th； and had ascended the river as high as Vicksburg； so that it seemed as though； before the end of June； we should surely have full possession of the whole river。 But it is now known that the progress of our Western armies had aroused the rebel government to the exercise of the most stupendous energy。 Every man capable of bearing arms at the South was declared to be a soldier； and forced to act as such。 All their armies were greatly reenforced； and the most despotic power was granted to enforce discipline and supplies。 Beauregard was replaced by Bragg； a man of more abilityof greater powers of organization； of action； and disciplinebut naturally exacting and severe； and not possessing the qualities to attract the love of his officers and men。 He had a hard task to bring into order and discipline that mass of men to whose command he succeeded at Tupelo； with which he afterward fairly outmanoeuvred General Buell； and forced him back from Chattanooga to Louisville。 It was a fatal mistake； however； that halted General Halleck at Corinth； and led him to disperse and scatter the best materials for a fighting army that； up to that date； had been assembled in the West。
During the latter part of June and first half of July； I had my own and Hurlbut's divisions about Grand Junction； Lagrange； Moscow； and Lafayette； building railroad…trestles and bridges； fighting off cavalry detachments coming from the south； and waging an everlasting quarrel with planters about their negroes and fences they trying； in the midst of moving armies； to raise a crop of corn。 On the 17th of June I sent a detachment of two brigades； under General M。 L。 Smith； to Holly Springs； in the belief that I could better protect the railroad from some point in front than by scattering our men along it； and； on the 23d； I was at Lafayette Station； when General Grant； with his staff and a very insignificant escort； arrived from Corinth en route for Memphis； to take command of that place and of the District of West Tennessee。 He came very near falling into the hands of the enemy； who infested the whole country with small but bold detachments of cavalry。 Up to that time I had received my orders direct from General Halleck at Corinth； but soon after I fell under the immediate command of General Grant and so continued to the end of the war； but； on the 29th； General Halleck notified me that 〃a division of troops under General C。 S。 Hamilton of 'Rosecrans's army corps；' had passed the Hatchie from Corinth；〃 and was dest
