memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第16章
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h； crossed the Coosa below the 〃Ten Islands〃 and the Tallapoosa below 〃Horseshoe Bend；〃 having passed through Talladega。 He struck the railroad west of Opelika； tore it up for twenty miles； then turned north and came to Marietta on the 22d of July； whence he reported to me。 This expedition was in the nature of a raid； and must have disturbed the enemy somewhat； but； as usual； the cavalry did not work hard； and their destruction of the railroad was soon repaired。 Rousseau； when he reported to me in person before Atlanta； on the 28d of July； stated his entire loss to have been only twelve killed and thirty wounded。 He brought in four hundred captured mules and three hundred horses； and also told me a good story。 He said he was far down in Alabama； below Talladega； one hot； dusty day； when the blue clothing of his men was gray with dust； he had halted his column along a road； and he in person； with his staff； had gone to the house of a planter； who met him kindly on the front…porch。 He asked for water； which was brought； and as the party sat on the porch in conversation he saw； in a stable…yard across the road； quite a number of good mules。 He remarked to the planter； 〃My good sir； I fear I must take some of your mules。〃 The planter remonstrated； saying he had already contributed liberally to the good cause； that it was only last week he had given to General Roddy ten mules。 Rousseau replied； 〃Well； in this war you should be at least neutralthat is； you should be as liberal to us as to Roddy〃 （a rebel cavalry general）。 〃Well； ain't you on our side？〃 〃No；〃 said Rousseau； 〃I am General Rousseau； and all these men you see are Yanks。〃 〃Great God！ is it possible！ Are these Yanks！ Who ever supposed they would come away down here in Alabama？〃 Of course； Rousseau took his ten mules。
Schofield effected his crossing at Soap's Creek very handsomely on the 9th； capturing the small guard that was watching the crossing。 By night he was on the high ground beyond； strongly intrenched； with two good pontoon…bridges finished； and was prepared； if necessary； for an assault by the whole Confederate army。 The same day Garrard's cavalry also crossed over at Roswell； drove away the cavalry…pickets； and held its ground till relieved by Newton's division of Howard's corps； which was sent up temporarily； till it in turn was relieved by Dodge's corps （Sixteenth） of the Army of the Tennessee； which was the advance of the whole of that army。
That night Johnston evacuated his trenches； crossed over the Chattahoochee； burned the railroad bridge and his pontoon and trestle bridges； and left us in full possession of the north or west bank…besides which； we had already secured possession of the two good crossings at Roswell and Soap's Creek。 I have always thought Johnston neglected his opportunity there； for he had lain comparatively idle while we got control of both banks of the river above him。
On the 13th I ordered McPherson； with the Fifteenth Corps； to move up to Roswell； to cross over； prepare good bridges； and to make a strong tete…du…pont on the farther side。 Stoneman had been sent down to Campbellton； with orders to cross over and to threaten the railroad below Atlanta； if he could do so without too much risk； and General Blair； with the Seventeenth Corps； was to remain at Turner's Ferry； demonstrating as much as possible； thus keeping up the feint below while we were actually crossing above。 Thomas was also ordered to prepare his bridges at Powers's and Paice's Ferries。 By crossing the Chattahoochee above the railroad bridge； we were better placed to cover our railroad and depots than below； though a movement across the river below the railroad； to the south of Atlanta； might have been more decisive。 But we were already so far from home； and would be compelled to accept battle whenever offered； with the Chattahoochee to our rear； that it became imperative for me to take all prudential measures the case admitted of； and I therefore determined to pass the river above the railroad…bridge…McPherson on the left； Schofield in the centre； and Thomas on the right。 On the 13th I reported to General Halleck as follows：
All is well。 I have now accumulated stores at Allatoona and Marietta； both fortified and garrisoned points。 Have also three places at which to cross the Chattahoochee in our possession； and only await General Stoneman's return from a trip down the river； to cross the army in force and move on Atlanta。
Stoneman is now out two days； and had orders to be back on the fourth or fifth day at furthest。
》From the 10th to the 15th we were all busy in strengthening the several points for the proposed passage of the Chattahoochee； in increasing the number and capacity of the bridges； rearranging the garrisons to our rear； and in bringing forward supplies。 On the 15th General Stoneman got back to Powder Springs； and was ordered to replace General Blair at Turner's Ferry； and Blair； with the Seventeenth Corps； was ordered up to Roswell to join McPherson。 On the 17th we began the general movement against Atlanta； Thomas crossing the Chattahoochee at Powers's and Paice's； by pontoon… bridges； Schofield moving out toward Cross Keys； and McPherson toward Stone Mountain。 We encountered but little opposition except by cavalry。 On the 18th all the armies moved on a general right wheel； Thomas to Buckhead； forming line of battle facing Peach…Tree Creek； Schofield was on his left； and McPherson well over toward the railroad between Stone Mountain and Decatur； which he reached at 2 p。m。 of that day； about four miles from Stone Mountain； and seven miles east of Decatur； and there he turned toward Atlanta； breaking up the railroad as he progressed； his advance…guard reaching Ecatur about night； where he came into communication with Schofield's troops； which had also reached Decatur。 About 10 A。M。 of that day （July 18th）； when the armies were all in motion； one of General Thomas's staff…officers brought me a citizen； one of our spies； who had just come out of Atlanta； and had brought a newspaper of the same day； or of the day before； containing Johnston's order relinquishing the command of the Confederate forces in Atlanta； and Hood's order assuming the command。 I immediately inquired of General Schofield； who was his classmate at West Point； about Hood； as to his general character； etc。； and learned that he was bold even to rashness； and courageous in the extreme； I inferred that the change of commanders meant 〃fight。〃 Notice of this important change was at once sent to all parts of the army； and every division commander was cautioned to be always prepared for battle in any shape。 This was just what we wanted； viz。； to fight in open ground； on any thing like equal terms； instead of being forced to run up against prepared intrenchments； but； at the same time； the enemy having Atlanta behind him； could choose the time and place of attack； and could at pleasure mass a superior force on our weakest points。 Therefore； we had to be constantly ready for sallies。
On the 19th the three armies were converging toward Atlanta； meeting such feeble resistance that I really thought the enemy intended to evacuate the place。 McPherson was moving astride of the railroad； near Decatur； Schofield along a road leading toward Atlanta； by Colonel Howard's house and the distillery； and Thomas was crossing 〃Peach…Tree〃 in line of battle； building bridges for nearly every division as deployed。 There was quite a gap between Thomas and Schofield； which I endeavored to close by drawing two of Howard's divisions nearer Schofield。 On the 20th I was with General Schofield near the centre； and soon after noon heard heavy firing in front of Thomas's right； which lasted an hour or so； and then ceased。
I soon learned that the enemy had made a furious sally； the blow falling on Hooker's corps （the Twentieth）； and partially on Johnson's division of the Fourteenth； and Newton's of the Fourth。 The troops had crossed Peach…Tree Creek； were deployed； but at the time were resting for noon； when； without notice； the enemy came pouring out of their trenches down upon them； they became commingled； and fought in many places hand to hand。 General Thomas happened
