memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第49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！
osition at Savannah。
On the 8th； as I rode along； I found the column turned out of the main road； marching through the fields。 Close by； in the corner of a fence； was a group of men standing around a handsome young officer； whose foot had been blown to pieces by a torpedo planted in the road。 He was waiting for a surgeon to amputate his leg； and told me that he was riding along with the rest of his brigade…staff of the Seventeenth Corps； when a torpedo trodden on by his horse had exploded； killing the horse and literally blowing off all the flesh from one of his legs。 I saw the terrible wound； and made full inquiry into the facts。 There had been no resistance at that point； nothing to give warning of danger； and the rebels had planted eight…inch shells in the road； with friction…matches to explode them by being trodden on。 This was not war； but murder； and it made me very angry。 I immediately ordered a lot of rebel prisoners to be brought from the provost…guard； armed with picks and spades； and made them march in close order along the road； so as to explode their own torpedoes； or to discover and dig them up。 They begged hard； but I reiterated the order； and could hardly help laughing at their stepping so gingerly along the road； where it was supposed sunken torpedoes might explode at each step； but they found no other torpedoes till near Fort McAllister。 That night we reached Pooler's Station； eight miles from Savannah； and during the next two days； December 9th and 10th； the several corps reached the defenses of Savannahthe Fourteenth Corps on the left； touching the river； the Twentieth Corps next； then the Seventeenth； and the Fifteenth on the extreme right； thus completely investing the city。 Wishing to reconnoitre the place in person； I rode forward by the Louisville road； into a dense wood of oak； pine； and cypress； left the horses； and walked down to the railroad…track； at a place where there was a side…track； and a cut about four feet deep。 From that point the railroad was straight； leading into Savannah； and about eight hundred yards off were a rebel parapet and battery。 I could see the cannoneers preparing to fire； and cautioned the officers near me to scatter； as we would likely attract a shot。 Very soon I saw the white puff of smoke； and； watching close； caught sight of the ball as it rose in its flight； and； finding it coming pretty straight； I stepped a short distance to one side； but noticed a negro very near me in the act of crossing the track at right angles。 Some one called to him to look out； but； before the poor fellow understood his danger； the ball （a thirty…two…pound round shot） struck the ground； and rose in its first ricochet； caught the negro under the right jaw； and literally carried away his head； scattering blood and brains about。 A soldier close by spread an overcoat over the body； and we all concluded to get out of that railroad…cut。 Meantime； General Mower's division of the Seven… teenth Corps had crossed the canal to the right of the Louisville road； and had found the line of parapet continuous； so at Savannah we had again run up against the old familiar parapet； with its deep ditches； canals； and bayous； full of water； and it looked as though another siege was inevitable。 I accordingly made a camp or bivouac near the Louisville road； about five miles from Savannah； and proceeded to invest the place closely； pushing forward reconnoissances at every available point。
As soon as it was demonstrated that Savannah was well fortified； with a good garrison； commanded by General William J。 Hardee； a competent soldier； I saw that the first step was to open communication with our fleet； supposed to be waiting for us with supplies and clothing in Ossabaw Sound。
General Howard had； some nights previously； sent one of his best scouts； Captain Duncan； with two men； in a canoe； to drift past Fort McAllister； and to convey to the fleet a knowledge of our approach。 General Kilpatrick's cavalry had also been transferred to the south bank of the Ogeechee； with orders to open communication with the fleet。 Leaving orders with General Slocum to press the siege； I instructed General Howard to send a division with all his engineers to Grog's Bridge； fourteen and a half miles southwest from Savannah； to rebuild it。 On the evening of the 12th I rode over myself； and spent the night at Mr。 King's house； where I found General Howard； with General Hazen's division of the Fifteenth Corps。 His engineers were hard at work on the bridge； which they finished that night； and at sunrise Hazen's division passed over。 I gave General Hazen； in person； his orders to march rapidly down the right bank of the Ogeechee； and without hesitation to assault and carry Fort McAllister by storm。 I knew it to be strong in heavy artillery； as against an approach from the sea； but believed it open and weak to the rear。 I explained to General Hazen； fully； that on his action depended the safety of the whole army； and the success of the campaign。 Kilpatrick had already felt the fort； and had gone farther down the coast to Kilkenny Bluff； or St。 Catharine's Sound； where； on the same day； he had communication with a vessel belonging to the blockading fleet； but； at the time； I was not aware of this fact； and trusted entirely to General Hazen and his division of infantry； the Second of the Fifteenth Corps； the same old division which I had commanded at Shiloh and Vicksburg； in which I felt a special pride and confidence。
Having seen General Hazen fairly off； accompanied by General Howard； I rode with my staff down the left bank of the Ogeechee； ten miles to the rice…plantation of a Mr。 Cheevea； where General Howard had established a signal…station to overlook the lower river； and to watch for any vessel of the blockading squadron； which the negroes reported to be expecting us； because they nightly sent up rockets； and daily dispatched a steamboat up the Ogeechee as near to Fort McAllister as it was safe。
On reaching the rice…mill at Cheevea's； I found a guard and a couple of twenty…pound Parrott gone； of De Gres's battery； which fired an occasional shot toward Fort McAllister； plainly seen over the salt…marsh； about three miles distant。 Fort McAllister had the rebel flag flying； and occasionally sent a heavy shot back across the marsh to where we were； but otherwise every thing about the place looked as peaceable and quiet as on the Sabbath。
The signal…officer had built a platform on the ridge…pole of
the rice…mill。 Leaving our horses behind the stacks of rice…straw； we all got on the roof of a shed attached to the mill； wherefrom I could communicate with the signal…officer above； and at the same time look out toward Ossabaw Sound； and across the Ogeechee River at Fort McAllister。 About 2 p。m。 we observed signs of commotion in the fort； and noticed one or two guns fired inland； and some musket…skirmishing in the woods close by。
This betokened the approach of Hazen's division； which had been anxiously expected； and soon thereafter the signal…officer discovered about three miles above the fort a signal…flag； with which he conversed； and found it to belong to General Hazen； who was preparing to assault the fort； and wanted to know if I were there。 On being assured of this fact； and that I expected the fort to be carried before night； I received by signal the assurance of General Hazen that he was making his preparations； and would soon attempt the assault。 The sun was rapidly declining； and I was dreadfully impatient。 At that very moment some one discovered a faint cloud of smoke； and an object gliding； as it were； along the horizon above the tops of the sedge toward the sea； which little by little grew till it was pronounced to be the smoke…stack of a steamer coming up the river。 〃It must be one of our squadron！〃 Soon the flag of the United States was plainly visible； and our attention was divided between this approaching steamer and the expected assault。 When the sun was about an hour high； another signal…message came from General Hazen that he was all ready； and I replied to go ahead； as a friendly steamer was approaching from below。 Soon we made out a group of officers on the deck of this vessel； signali
