memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第25章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
heeler retreated northward toward Cleveland。 On the 16th another detachment of the enemy's cavalry appeared in force about Allatoona and the Etowah bridge； when I became fully convinced that Hood had sent all of his cavalry to raid upon our railroads。 For some days our communication with Nashville was interrupted by the destruction of the telegraph…lines； as well as railroad。 I at once ordered strong reconnoissances forward from our flanks on the left by Garrard； and on the right by Kilpatrick。 The former moved with so much caution that I was displeased； but Kilpatrick； on the contrary； displayed so much zeal and activity that I was attracted to him at once。 He reached Fairburn Station； on the West Point road； and tore it up； returning safely to his position on our right flank。 I summoned him to me； and was so pleased with his spirit and confidence； that I concluded to suspend the general movement of the main army； and to send him with his small division of cavalry to break up the Macon road about Jonesboro； in the hopes that it would force Hood to evacuate Atlanta； and that I should thereby not only secure possession of the city itself； but probably could catch Hood in the confusion of retreat； and； further to increase the chances of success。
I ordered General Thomas to detach two brigades of Garrard's division of cavalry from the left to the right rear； to act as a reserve in support of General Kilpatrick。 Meantime； also； the utmost activity was ordered along our whole front by the infantry and artillery。 Kilpatrick got off during the night of the 18th； and returned to us on the 22d； having made the complete circuit of Atlanta。 He reported that he had destroyed three miles of the railroad about Jonesboro； which he reckoned would take ten days to repair； that he had encountered a division of infantry and a brigade of cavalry （Ross's）； that he had captured a battery and destroyed three of its guns； bringing one in as a trophy； and he also brought in three battle…flags and seventy prisoners。 On the 23d； however； we saw trains coming into Atlanta from the south； when I became more than ever convinced that cavalry could not or would not work hard enough to disable a railroad properly； and therefore resolved at once to proceed to the execution of my original plan。 Meantime； the damage done to our own railroad and telegraph by Wheeler； about Resaca and Dalton； had been repaired； and Wheeler himself was too far away to be of any service to his own army； and where he could not do us much harm； viz。； up about the Hiawaesee。 On the 24th I rode down to the Chattahoochee bridge； to see in person that it could be properly defended by the single corps proposed to be left there for that purpose； and found that the rebel works； which had been built by Johnston to resist us； could be easily utilized against themselves； and on returning to my camp； at that same evening； I telegraphed to General Halleck as follows：
Heavy fires in Atlanta all day； caused by our artillery。 I will be all ready； and will commence the movement around Atlanta by the south； tomorrow night； and for some time you will hear little of us。 I will keep open a courier line back to the Chattahoochee bridge； by way of Sandtown。 The Twentieth Corps will hold the railroad…bridge； and I will move with the balance of the army； provisioned for twenty days。
Meantime General Dodge （commanding the Sixteenth Corps） had been wounded in the forehead； had gone to the rear； and his two divisions were distributed to the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps。 The real movement commenced on the 25th； at night。 The Twentieth Corps drew back and took post at the railroad…bridge； and the Fourth Corps （Stanley） moved to his right rear； closing up with the Fourteenth Corps （Jeff。 C。 Davis） near Utoy Creek； at the same time Garrard's cavalry； leaving their horses out of sight； occupied the vacant trenches； so that the enemy did not detect the change at all。 The next night （26th） the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps； composing the Army of the Tennessee （Howard）； drew out of their trenches； made a wide circuit； and came up on the extreme right of the Fourth and Fourteenth Corps of the Army of the Cumberland （Thomas） along Utoy Creek； facing south。 The enemy seemed to suspect something that night； using his artillery pretty freely； but I think he supposed we were going to retreat altogether。 An artillery…shot； fired at random； killed one man and wounded another； and the next morning some of his infantry came out of Atlanta and found our camps abandoned。 It was afterward related that there was great rejoicing in Atlanta 〃that the Yankees were gone；〃 the fact was telegraphed all over the South； and several trains of cars （with ladies） came up from Macon to assist in the celebration of their grand victory。
On the 28th （making a general left…wheel； pivoting on Schofield） both Thomas and Howard reached the Pest Point Railroad； extending from East Point to Red…Oak Station and Fairburn； where we spent the next day （29th） in breaking it up thoroughly。 The track was heaved up in sections the length of a regiment； then separated rail by rail； bonfires were made of the ties and of fence…rails on which the rails were heated； carried to trees or telegraph…poles； wrapped around and left to cool。 Such rails could not be used again； and； to be still more certain； we filled up many deep cuts with trees； brush； and earth； and commingled with them loaded shells； so arranged that they would explode on an attempt to haul out the bushes。 The explosion of one such shell world have demoralized a gang of negroes； and thus would have prevented even the attempt to clear the road。
Meantime Schofield； with the Twenty…third Corps； presented a bold front toward East Point； daring and inviting the enemy to sally out to attack him in position。 His first movement was on the 30th； to Mount Gilead Church； then to Morrow's Mills； facing Rough and Ready。 Thomas was on his right； within easy support； moving by cross…roads from Red Oak to the Fayetteville road； extending from Couch's to Renfrew's； and Howard was aiming for Jonesboro。
I was with General Thomas that day； which was hot but otherwise very pleasant。 We stopped for a short noon…rest near a little church （marked on our maps as Shoal…Creek Church）； which stood back about a hundred yards from the road； in a grove of native oaks。 The infantry column had halted in the road； stacked their arms； and the men were scattered aboutsome lying in the shade of the trees； and others were bringing corn…stalks from a large corn…field across the road to feed our horses； while still others had arms full of the roasting…ears； then in their prime。 Hundreds of fires were soon started with the fence…rails； and the men were busy roasting the ears。 Thomas and I were walking up and down the road which led to the church； discussing the chances of the movement； which he thought were extra…hazardous； and our path carried us by a fire at which a soldier was roasting his corn。 The fire was built artistically； the man was stripping the ears of their husks； standing them in front of his fire； watching them carefully； and turning each ear little by little； so as to roast it nicely。 He was down on his knees intent on his business； paying little heed to the stately and serious deliberations of his leaders。 Thomas's mind was running on the fact that we had cut loose from our base of supplies； and that seventy thousand men were then dependent for their food on the chance supplies of the country （already impoverished by the requisitions of the enemy）； and on the contents of our wagons。 Between Thomas and his men there existed a most kindly relation； and he frequently talked with them in the most familiar way。 Pausing awhile； and watching the operations of this man roasting his corn； he said； 〃What are you doing？〃 The man looked up smilingly 〃Why； general； I am laying in a supply of provisions。〃 〃That is right； my man； but don't waste your provisions。〃 As we resumed our walk； the man remarked； in a sort of musing way； but loud enough for me to hear： 〃There he goes； there goes the old man； economizing as usual。〃 〃Economizing〃 with corn； which cost only the labor of gathering
