memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第96章
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e behind their parapets； one of my staff； Captain Pitzman； receiving a dangerous wound in the hip； which apparently disabled him for life。 By night Blair's whole division had closed up against the defenses of Vicksburg； which were found to be strong and well manned； and； on General Steele's head of column arriving； I turned it still more to the right； with orders to work its way down the bluff； so as to make connection with our fleet in the Mississippi River。 There was a good deal of desultory fighting that evening； and a man was killed by the aide of General Grant and myself； as we sat by the road…side looking at Steele's division passing to the right。 General Steele's men reached the road which led from Vicksburg up to Haines's Bluff； which road lay at the foot of the hills； and intercepted some prisoners and wagons which were coming down from Haines's Bluff。
All that night McPherson's troops were arriving by the main Jackson road； and McClernand'a by another near the railroad； deploying forward as fast as they struck the rebel works。 My corps （the Fifteenth） had the right of the line of investment； McPherson's （the Seventeenth） the centre； and McClernand's （the Thirteenth） the left； reaching from the river above to the railroad below。 Our lines connected； and invested about three…quarters of the land…front of the fortifications of Vicksburg。 On the supposition that the garrison of Vicksburg was demoralized by the defeats at Champion Hills and at the railroad crossing of the Big Black； General Grant ordered an assault at our respective fronts on the 19th。 My troops reached the top of the parapet； but could not cross over。 The rebel parapets were strongly manned； and the enemy fought hard and well。 My loss was pretty heavy； falling chiefly on the Thirteenth Regulars； whose commanding officer； Captain Washington； was killed； and several other regiments were pretty badly cut up。 We； however； held the ground up to the ditch till night； and then drew back only a short distance； and began to counter…trench。 On the graveyard road； our parapet was within less than fifty yards of the rebel ditch。
On the 20th of May； General Grant called the three corps commanders together； viz。； McClernand； McPherson； and Sherman。 We compared notes； and agreed that the assault of the day before had failed； by reason of the natural strength of the position； and because we were forced by the nature of the ground to limit our attacks to the strongest parts of the enemy's line； viz。； where the three principal roads entered the city。
It was not a council of war； but a mere consultation； resulting in orders from General Grant for us to make all possible preparations for a renewed assault on the 22d； simultaneously； at 10 a。m。 I reconnoitred my front thoroughly in person； from right to left； and concluded to make my real attack at the right flank of the bastion； where the graveyard road entered the enemy's intrenchments； and at another point in the curtain about a hundred yards to its right （our left）； also to make a strong demonstration by Steele's division； about a mile to our right； toward the river。 All our field batteries were put in position； and were covered by good epaulements； the troops were brought forward； in easy support； concealed by the shape of the ground； and to the： minute； viz。； 10 a。m。 of May 22d； the troops sprang to the assault。 A small party； that might be called a forlorn hope； provided with plank to cross the ditch； advanced at a run； up to the very ditch； the lines of infantry sprang from cover； and advanced rapidly in line of battle。 I took a position within two hundred yards of the rebel parapet； on the off slope of a spur of ground； where by advancing two or three steps I could see every thing。 The rebel line； concealed by the parapet； showed no sign of unusual activity； but as our troops came in fair view； the enemy rose behind their parapet and poured a furious fire upon our lines； and； for about two hours； we had a severe and bloody battle； but at every point we were repulsed。 In the very midst of this； when shell and shot fell furious and fast； occurred that little episode which has been celebrated in song and story； of the boy Orion P。 Howe； badly wounded； bearing me a message for cartridges； calibre 54； described in my letter to the Hon。 E。 M。 Stanton； Secretary of War。 This boy was afterward appointed a cadet to the United States Naval Academy； at Annapolis； but he could not graduate； and I do not now know what has become of him。
After our men had been fairly beaten back from off the parapet； and had got cover behind the spurs of ground close up to the rebel works； General Grant came to where I was； on foot； having left his horse some distance to the rear。 I pointed out to him the rebel works； admitted that my assault had failed； and he said the result with McPherson and McClernand was about the name。 While he was with me； an orderly or staff…officer came and handed him a piece of paper； which he read and handed to me。 I think the writing was in pencil； on a loose piece of paper； and was in General McClernand's handwriting； to the effect that 〃his troops had captured the rebel parapet in his front；〃 that； 〃the flag of the Union waved over the stronghold of Vicksburg；〃 and asking him （General Grant） to give renewed orders to McPherson and Sherman to press their attacks on their respective fronts； lest the enemy should concentrate on him （McClernand）。 General Grant said； 〃I don't believe a word of it；〃 but I reasoned with him； that this note was official； and must be credited； and I offered to renew the assault at once with new troops。 He said he would instantly ride down the line to McClernand's front； and if I did not receive orders to the contrary； by 3 o'clock p。m。； I might try it again。 Mower's fresh brigade was brought up under cover； and some changes were made in Giles Smith's brigade； and； punctually at 3 p。m。； hearing heavy firing down along the line to my left； I ordered the second assault。 It was a repetition of the first； equally unsuccessful and bloody。 It also transpired that the same thing had occurred with General McPherson； who lost in this second assault some most valuable officers and men； without adequate result； and that General McClernand； instead of having taken any single point of the rebel main parapet； had only taken one or two small outlying lunettes open to the rear； where his men were at the mercy of the rebels behind their main parapet； and most of them were actually thus captured。 This affair caused great feeling with us； and severe criticisms on General McClernand； which led finally to his removal from the command of the Thirteenth Corps； to which General Ord succeeded。 The immediate cause； however； of General McClernand's removal was the publication of a sort of congratulatory order addressed to his troops； first published in St。 Louis； in which he claimed that he had actually succeeded in making a lodgment in Vicksburg； but had lost it； owing to the fact that McPherson and Sherman did not fulfill their parts of the general plan of attack。 This was simply untrue。 The two several assaults made May 22d； on the lines of Vicksburg； had failed； by reason of the great strength of the position and the determined fighting of its garrison。 I have since seen the position at Sevastopol； and without hesitation I declare that at Vicksburg to have been the more difficult of the two。
Thereafter our proceedings were all in the nature of a siege。 General Grant drew more troops from Memphis； to prolong our general line to the left； so as completely to invest the place on its land…side； while the navy held the river both above and below。 General Mower's brigade of Tuttle's division was also sent across the river to the peninsula； so that by May 31st Vicksburg was completely beleaguered。 Good roads were constructed from our camps to the several landing…places on the Yazoo River； to which points our boats brought us ample supplies； so that we were in a splendid condition for a siege； while our enemy was shut up in a close fort； with a large civil population of men； women； and children to feed； in addition to his combatant force。 If we could prevent sallies； or relief from
