memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第94章
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n this or any other occasion； but I thought then that he had lost an opportunity； which cost him and us six months' extra… hard work； for we might have captured Vicksburg from the direction of Oxford in January； quite as easily as was afterward done in July； 1863。
General Grant's orders for the general movement past Vicksburg； by Richmond and Carthage； were dated April 20； 1863。 McClernand was to lead off with his corps； McPherson next； and my corps （the Fifteenth） to bring up the rear。 Preliminary thereto； on the night of April 16th； seven iron…clads led by Admiral Porter in person； in the Benton； with three transports； and ten barges in tow； ran the Vicksburg batteries by night。 Anticipating a scene； I had four yawl…boats hauled across the swamp； to the reach of the river below Vicksburg； and manned them with soldiers； ready to pick up any of the disabled wrecks as they floated by。 I was out in the stream when the fleet passed Vicksburg； and the scene was truly sublime。 As soon as the rebel gunners detected the Benton； which was in the lead； they opened on her； and on the others in succession； with shot and shell； houses on the Vicksburg side and on the opposite shore were set on fire； which lighted up the whole river； and the roar of cannon； the bursting of shells； and finally the burning of the Henry Clay； drifting with the current； made up a picture of the terrible not often seen。 Each gunboat returned the fire as she passed the town； while the transports hugged the opposite shore。 When the Benton had got abreast of us； I pulled off to her； boarded； had a few words with Admiral Porter； and as she was drifting rapidly toward the lower batteries at Warrenton； I left； and pulled back toward the shore； meeting the gunboat Tuscumbia towing the transport Forest Queen into the bank out of the range of fire。 The Forest Queen； Captain Conway； had been my flag…boat up the Arkansas； and for some time after； and I was very friendly with her officers。 This was the only transport whose captain would not receive volunteers as a crew； but her own officers and crew stuck to their boat； and carried her safely below the Vicksburg batteries； and afterward rendered splendid service in ferrying troops across the river at Grand Gulf and Bruinsburg。 In passing Vicksburg； she was damaged in the hull and had a steam…pipe cut away； but this was soon repaired。 The Henry Clay was set on fire by bursting shells； and burned up； one of my yawls picked up her pilot floating on a piece of wreck； and the bulk of her crew escaped in their own yawl…boat to the shore above。 The Silver Wave； Captain McMillan； the same that was with us up Steele's Bayou； passed safely； and she also rendered good service afterward。
Subsequently； on the night of April 26th； six other transports with numerous barges loaded with hay； corn； freight； and provisions； were drifted past Vicksburg； of these the Tigress was hit； and sunk just as she reached the river…bank below； on our side： I was there with my yawls； and saw Colonel Lagow； of General Grant's staff； who had passed the batteries in the Tigress； and I think he was satisfied never to attempt such a thing again。 Thus General Grant's army had below Vicksburg an abundance of stores； and boats with which to cross the river。 The road by which the troops marched was very bad； and it was not until the 1st of May that it was clear for my corps。 While waiting my turn to march； I received a letter from General Grant； written at Carthage； saying that he proposed to cross over and attack Grand Gulf； about the end of April； and he thought I could put in my time usefully by making a 〃feint〃 on Haines's Bluff； but he did not like to order me to do it； because it might be reported at the North that I had again been 〃repulsed； etc。〃 Thus we had to fight a senseless clamor at the North； as well as a determined foe and the obstacles of Nature。 Of course； I answered him that I would make the 〃feint；〃 regardless of public clamor at a distance； and I did make it most effectually； using all the old boats I could get about Milliken's Bend and the mouth of the Yazoo； but taking only ten small regiments； selected out of Blair's division； to make a show of force。 We afterward learned that General Pemberton in Vicksburg had previously dispatched a large force to the assistance of General Bowers； at Grand Gulf and Port Gibson； which force had proceeded as far as Hankinson's Ferry； when he discovered our ostentatious movement up the Yazoo； recalled his men； and sent them up to Haines's Bluff to meet us。 This detachment of rebel troops must have marched nearly sixty miles without rest； for afterward； on reaching Vicksburg； I heard that the men were perfectly exhausted； and lay along the road in groups； completely fagged out。 This diversion； made with so much pomp and display； therefore completely fulfilled its purpose； by leaving General Grant to contend with a minor force； on landing at Bruinsburg； and afterward at Port Gibson and Grand Gulf。
In May the waters of the Mississippi had so far subsided that all our canals were useless； and the roads had become practicable。 After McPherson's corps had passed Richmond； I took up the route of march； with Steele's and Tuttle's divisions。 Blair's division remained at Milliken's Bend to protect our depots there； till relieved by troops from Memphis； and then he was ordered to follow us。 Our route lay by Richmond and Roundabout Bayou； then； following Bayou Vidal we struck the Mississippi at Perkins's plantation。 Thence the route followed Lake St。 Joseph to a plantation called Hard Times； about five miles above Grand Gulf。 The road was more or less occupied by wagons and detachments belonging to McPherson's corps； still we marched rapidly and reached Hard Times on the 6th of May。 Along the Bayou or Lake St。 Joseph were many very fine cotton plantations； and I recall that of a Mr。 Bowie； brother…in…law of the Hon。 Reverdy Johnson； of Baltimore。 The house was very handsome； with a fine； extensive grass…plot in front。 We entered the yard； and； leaving our horses with the headquarters escort； walked to the house。 On the front…porch I found a magnificent grand…piano； with several satin…covered arm…chairs； in one of which sat a Union soldier （one of McPherson's men）； with his feet on the keys of the piano； and his musket and knapsack lying on the porch。 I asked him what he was doing there； and he answered that he was 〃taking a rest；〃 this was manifest and I started him in a hurry； to overtake his command。 The house was tenantless； and had been completely ransacked； articles of dress and books were strewed about； and a handsome boudoir with mirror front had been cast down； striking a French bedstead； shivering the glass。 The library was extensive； with a fine collection of books； and hanging on the wall were two full…length portraits of Reverdy Johnson and his wife； one of the most beautiful ladies of our country； with whom I had been acquainted in Washington at the time of General Taylor's administration。 Behind the mansion was the usual double row of cabins called the 〃quarters。〃 There I found an old negro （a family servant） with several women； whom I sent to the house to put things in order； telling the old man that other troops would follow； and he must stand on the porch to tell any officers who came along that the property belonged to Mr。 Bowie； who was the brother…in…law of our friend Mr。 Reverdy Johnson； of Baltimore； asking them to see that no further harm was done。 Soon after we left the house I saw some negroes carrying away furniture which manifestly belonged to the house； and compelled them to carry it back； and after reaching camp that night； at Hard Times； I sent a wagon back to Bowie's plantation； to bring up to Dr。 Hollingsworth's house the two portraits for safe keeping； but before the wagon had reached Bowie's the house was burned； whether by some of our men or by negroes I have never learned。
At the river there was a good deal of scrambling to get across； because the means of ferriage were inadequate； but by the aid of the Forest Queen and several gunboats I got my command across during the 7th of May； and marched out to Hankiuson's Ferry （eighteen miles）； relieving Gen
