memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第56章
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had been going on by the operation of the men themselves。 The ranks were thin and irregular； and we found a stream of people strung from the hospital across Bull Run； and far toward Centreville。 After putting in motion the irregular square in person； I pushed forward to find Captain Ayres's battery at the crossing of Bull Run。 I sought it at its last position； before the brigade had crossed over； but it was not there； then passing through the woods； where； in the morning； we had first formed line； we approached the blacksmith's shop； but there found a detachment of the secession cavalry and thence made a circuit； avoiding Cub Run Bridge； into Centreville； where I found General McDowell； and from him understood that it was his purpose to rally the forces； and make a stand at Centreville。
But； about nine o'clock at night； I received from General Tyler； in person； the order to continue the retreat to the Potomac。 This retreat was by night； and disorderly in the extreme。 The men of different regiments mingled together； and some reached the river at Arlington； some at Long Bridge； and the greater part returned to their former camp； at or near Fort Corcoran。 I reached this point at noon the next day； and found a miscellaneous crowd crossing over the aqueduct and ferries。。 Conceiving this to be demoralizing； I at once commanded the guard to be increased； and all persons attempting to pass over to be stopped。 This soon produced its effect； men sought their proper companies and regiments。 Comparative order was restored； and all were posted to the best advantage。
I herewith inclose the official report of Captain Belly； commanding officer of the New York Sixty…ninth； also； fall lists of the killed； wounded； and missing。
Our loss was heavy； and occurred chiefly at the point near where Rickett's battery was destroyed。 Lieutenant…Colonel Haggerty was killed about noon； before we had effected a junction with Colonel Hunter's division。 Colonel Cameron was mortally wounded leading his regiment in the charge； and Colonel Corcoran has been missing since the cavalry…charge near the building used as a hospital。
For names； rank； etc。； of the above； I refer to the lists herewith。
Lieutenants Piper and McQuesten； of my personal staff； were under fire all day； and carried orders to and fro with as much coolness as on parade。 Lieutenant Bagley； of the New York Sixty…ninth； a volunteer aide； asked leave to serve with his company； during the action； and is among those reported missing。 I have intelligence that he is a prisoner； and slightly wounded。
Colonel Coon； of Wisconsin； a volunteer aide； also rendered good service during the day。
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Colonel commanding Brigade。
This report； which I had not read probably since its date till now； recalls to me vividly the whole scene of the affair at Blackburn's Ford； when for the first time in my life I saw cannonballs strike men and crash through the trees and saplings above and around us； and realized the always sickening confusion as one approaches a fight from the rear； then the night…march from Centreville； on the Warrenton road； standing for hours wondering what was meant； the deployment along the edge of the field that sloped down to Bull…Run； and waiting for Hunter's approach on the other aide from the direction of Sudley Springs； away off to our right； the terrible scare of a poor negro who was caught between our lines； the crossing of Bull Run； and the fear lest we should be fired on by our own men； the killing of Lieutenant…Colonel Haggerty； which occurred in plain sight； and the first scenes of a field strewed with dead men and horses。 Yet； at that period of the battle； we were the victors and felt jubilant。 At that moment； also； my brigade passed Hunter's division； but Heintzelman'a was still ahead of us； and we followed its lead along the road toward Manassas Junction； crossing a small stream and ascending a long hill； at the summit of which the battle was going on。 Here my regiments came into action well； but successively； and were driven back； each in its turn。 For two hours we continued to dash at the woods on our left front； which were full of rebels； but I was convinced their organization was broken； and that they had simply halted there and taken advantage of these woods as a cover； to reach which we had to pass over the intervening fields about the Henry House； which were clear； open； and gave them a decided advantage。 After I had put in each of my regiments； and had them driven back to the cover of the road； I had no idea that we were beaten； but reformed the regiments in line in their proper order； and only wanted a little rest； when I found that my brigade was almost alone； except Syke's regulars； who had formed square against cavalry and were coming back。 I then realized that the whole army was 〃in retreat；〃 and that my own men were individually making back for the stone bridge。 Corcoran and I formed the brigade into an irregular square； but it fell to pieces； and； along with a crowd； disorganized but not much scared； the brigade got back to Centreville to our former camps。 Corcoran was captured； and held a prisoner for some time； but I got safe to Centreville。 I saw General McDowell in Centreville； and understood that several of his divisions had not been engaged at all； that he would reorganize them at Centreville； and there await the enemy。 I got my four regiments in parallel lines in a field； the same in which we had camped before the battle； and had lain down to sleep under a tree； when I heard some one asking for me。 I called out where I was； when General Tyler in person gave me orders to march back to our camps at Fort Corcoran。 I aroused my aides； gave them orders to call up the sleeping men； have each regiment to leave the field by a flank and to take the same road back by which we had come。 It was near midnight； and the road was full of troops； wagons； and batteries。 We tried to keep our regiments separate； but all became inextricably mixed。 Toward morning we reached Vienna； where I slept some hours； and the next day； about noon； we reached Fort Corcoran。
A slow； mizzling rain had set in； and probably a more gloomy day never presented itself。 All organization seemed to be at an end； but I and my staff labored hard to collect our men into their proper companies and into their former camps； and； on the 23d of July； I moved the Second Wisconsin and Seventy…ninth New York closer in to Fort Corcoran； and got things in better order than I had expected。 Of course； we took it for granted that the rebels would be on our heels； and we accordingly prepared to defend our posts。 By the 25th I had collected all the materials； made my report； and had my brigade about as well governed as any in that army； although most of the ninety…day men； especially the Sixty…ninth； had become extremely tired of the war； and wanted to go home。 Some of them were so mutinous； at one time； that I had the battery to unlimber； threatening； if they dared to leave camp without orders； I would open fire on them。 Drills and the daily exercises were resumed； and I ordered that at the three principal roll…calls the men should form ranks with belts and muskets； and that they should keep their ranks until I in person had received the reports and had dismissed them。 The Sixty…ninth still occupied Fort Corcoran； and one morning； after reveille； when I had just received the report； had dismissed the regiment； and was leaving； I found myself in a crowd of men crossing the drawbridge on their way to a barn close by； where they had their sinks； among them was an officer； who said： 〃Colonel； I am going to New York today。 What can I do for you？〃 I answered： 〃How can you go to New York？ I do not remember to have signed a leave for you。〃 He said； 〃No； he did not want a leave。 He had engaged to serve three months； and had already served more than that time。 If the Government did not intend to pay him； he could afford to lose the money； that he was a lawyer； and had neglected his business long enough； and was then going home。〃 I noticed that a good many of the soldiers had paused about us to listen； and knew that； if this officer could defy me； they also would。 So
