memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第53章
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ss of the people on that occasion were simply curious spectators； though men were sprinkled through the crowd calling out； 〃Hurrah for Jeff Davis！〃 and others were particularly abusive of the 〃damned Dutch〃 Lyon posted a guard in charge of the vacant camp； and marched his prisoners down to the arsenal； some were paroled； and others held； till afterward they were regularly exchanged。
A very few days after this event； May 14th； I received a dispatch from my brother Charles in Washington； telling me to come on at once； that I had been appointed a colonel of the Thirteenth Regular Infantry； and that I was wanted at Washington immediately。
Of course I could no longer defer action。 I saw Mr。 Lucas； Major Turner； and other friends and parties connected with the road； who agreed that I should go on。 I left my family； because I was under the impression that I would be allowed to enlist my own regiment； which would take some time； and I expected to raise the regiment and organize it at Jefferson Barracks。 I repaired to Washington； and there found that the Government was trying to rise to a level with the occasion。 Mr。 Lincoln had； without the sanction of law； authorized the raising of ten new regiments of regulars； each infantry regiment to be composed of three battalions of eight companies each； and had called for seventy…five thousand State volunteers。 Even this call seemed to me utterly inadequate； still it was none of my business。 I took the oath of office； and was furnished with a list of officers； appointed to my regiment； which was still； incomplete。 I reported in person to General Scott； at his office on Seventeenth Street； opposite the War Department； and applied for authority to return West； and raise my regiment at Jefferson Barracks； but the general said my lieutenant…colonel； Burbank； was fully qualified to superintend the enlistment； and that he wanted me there； and he at once dictated an order for me to report to him in person for inspection duty。
Satisfied that I would not be permitted to return to St。 Louis； I instructed Mrs。 Sherman to pack up； return to Lancaster； and trust to the fate of war。
I also resigned my place as president of the Fifth Street Railroad； to take effect at the end of May； so that in fact I received pay from that road for only two months' service； and then began my new army career。
CHAPTER IX。
FROM THE BATTLE OF BULL RUN TO PADUCAH KENTUCKY AND MISSOURI
1861…1862。
And now that； in these notes； I have fairly reached the period of the civil war； which ravaged our country from 1861 to 1865an event involving a conflict of passion； of prejudice； and of arms； that has developed results which； for better or worse； have left their mark on the world's historyI feel that I tread on delicate ground。
I have again and again been invited to write a history of the war； or to record for publication my personal recollections Of it； with large offers of money therefor； all of which I have heretofore declined； because the truth is not always palatable； and should not always be told。 Many of the actors in the grand drama still live； and they and their friends are quick to controversy； which should be avoided。 The great end of peace has been attained； with little or no change in our form of government； and the duty of all good men is to allow the passions of that period to subside； that we may direct our physical and mental labor to repair the waste of war； and to engage in the greater task of continuing our hitherto wonderful national development。
What I now propose to do is merely to group some of my personal recollections about the historic persons and events of the day； prepared not with any view to their publication； but rather for preservation till I am gone； and then to be allowed to follow into oblivion the cords of similar papers； or to be used by some historian who may need them by way of illustration。
I have heretofore recorded how I again came into the military service of the United States as a colonel of the Thirteenth Regular Infantry； a regiment that had no existence at the time； and that； instead of being allowed to enlist the men and instruct them； as expected； I was assigned in Washington City； by an order of Lieutenant…General Winfield Scott； to inspection duty near him on the 20th of June； 1861。
At that time Lieutenant…General Scott commanded the army in chief； with Colonel E。 D。 Townsend as his adjutant…general；
Major G。 W。 Cullum； United States Engineers； and Major Schuyler Hamilton； as aides。…de…camp。 The general had an office up stairs on Seventeenth Street； opposite the War Department； and resided in a house close by； on Pennsylvania Avenue。 All fears for the immediate safety of the capital had ceased； and quite a large force of regulars and volunteers had been collected in and about Washington。 Brigadier…General J。 K。 Mansfield commanded in the city； and Brigadier…General Irvin McDowell on the other side of the Potomac； with his headquarters at Arlington House。 His troops extended in a semicircle from Alexandria to above Georgetown。 Several forts and redoubts were either built or in progress； and the people were already clamorous for a general forward movement。 Another considerable army had also been collected in Pennsylvania under General Patterson； and； at the time I speak of； had moved forward to Hagerstown and Williamsport； on the Potomac River。 My brother； John Sherman； was a volunteer aide…de…camp to General Patterson； and； toward the end of June； I went up to Hagerstown to see him。 I found that army in the very act of moving； and we rode down to Williamsport in a buggy； and were present when the leading division crossed the Potomac River by fording it waist…deep。 My friend and classmate； George H。 Thomas； was there； in command of a brigade in the leading division。 I talked with him a good deal； also with General Cadwalader； and with the staff…officers of General Patterson； viz。； Fitz…John Porter； Belger； Beckwith； and others； all of whom seemed encouraged to think that the war was to be short and decisive； and that； as soon as it was demonstrated that the General Government meant in earnest to defend its rights and property； some general compromise would result。
Patterson's army crossed the Potomac River on the 1st or 2d of July； and； as John Sherman was to take his seat as a Senator in the called session of Congress； to meet July 4th； he resigned his place as aide…de…camp； presented me his two horses and equipment； and we returned to Washington together。
The Congress assembled punctually on the 4th of July； and the message of Mr。 Lincoln was strong and good： it recognized the fact that civil war was upon us； that compromise of any kind was at an end； and he asked for four hundred thousand men； and four hundred million dollars； wherewith to vindicate the national authority； and to regain possession of the captured forts and other property of the United States。
It was also immediately demonstrated that the tone and temper of Congress had changed since the Southern Senators and members had withdrawn； and that we； the military； could now go to work with some definite plans and ideas。
The appearance of the troops about Washington was good； but it was manifest they were far from being soldiers。 Their uniforms were as various as the States and cities from which they came； their arms were also of every pattern and calibre； and they were so loaded down with overcoats； haversacks； knapsacks； tents； and baggage； that it took from twenty…five to fifty wagons to move the camp of a regiment from one place to another； and some of the camps had bakeries and cooking establishments that would have done credit to Delmonico。
While I was on duty with General Scott； viz。； from June 20th to about June 30th； the general frequently communicated to those about him his opinions and proposed plans。 He seemed vexed with the clamors of the press for immediate action； and the continued interference in details by the President； Secretary of War； and Congress。 He spoke of organizing a grand army of invasion； of which the regulars were to constitute the 〃iron column；〃 and seemed to intimate that he himself would take the field in person； though he
