TheFifteenth（Logan\'s）Corpsjoinedusontheright,thentheArmyoftheCumberlandfurthertotheright。WerunontotheRebsaboutsundownthe21st。Theyhadsomebreastworksonaridgeinfrontofus,andwehadaprettysharpfightbeforewedrovethemoff。Wewentrighttowork,andkeptatitallnightinchangingandstrengtheningtheoldRebelbarricades,frontingthemtowardsAtlanta,andbymorninghadsomegoodsolidworksalongourwholeline。Duringthenightwefanciedwecouldhearwagonsorartillerymovingawayinfrontofus,apparentlygoingSouth,ortowardsourleft。Aboutthreeorfouro\'clockinthemorning,whileIwasshovelingdirtlikeabeaveroutontheworks,theLieutenantcametomeandsaidtheColonelwantedtoseeme,pointingtoalargetreeintherear,whereIcouldfindhim。IreportedandfoundhimwithGeneralLeggett,whocommandedourDivision,talkingmightyserious,andBobWheeler,ofFCompany,standingtherewithhisSpringfieldataparaderest。AssoonasIcameup,theColonelsays:
\"Boys,theGeneralwantstwolevel—headedchapstogooutbeyondthepicketstothefrontandtowardtheleft。Ihaveselectedyoufortheduty。Goasquietlyaspossibleandasfastasyoucan;keepyoureyesandearsopen;don\'tfireashotifyoucanhelpit,andcomebackandtellusexactlywhatyouhaveseenandheard,andnotwhatyouimagineorsuspect。Ihaveselectedyoufortheduty。\'
\"Hegaveusthecountersign,andoffwestartedoverthebreastworksandthroughthethickwoods。Wesooncametoourskirmishorpickets,onlyafewrodsinfrontofourworks,andcautionedthemnottofireonusingoingorreturning。Wewentoutasmuchashalfamileormore,untilwecouldplainlyhearthesoundofwagonsandartillery。WethencautiouslycreptforwarduntilwecouldseethemainroadleadingsouthfromtheCityfilledwithmarchingmen,artilleryandteams。Wecouldhearthecommandsoftheofficersandseetheflagsandbannersofregimentafterregimentastheypassedus。Wegotbackquietlyandquickly,passedthroughourpicketlineallright,andfoundtheGeneralandourColonelsittingonalogwherewehadleftthem,waitingforus。Wereportedwhatwehadseenandheard,andgaveitasouropinionthattheJohnnieswereevacuatingAtlanta。TheGeneralshookhishead,andtheColonelsays:\'Youmayreturntoyourcompany。\'Bobsaystome:
\"\'TheoldGeneralshakeshisheadasthoughhethoughtthemd———dRebsain\'tevacuatingAtlantasomightysudden,butareuptosomedevilmentagain。Iain\'tsurebuthe\'sright。Theyain\'tgoingtokeepfallingbackandfallingbacktoalleternity,butarejustagoin\'togiveusarip—roaringgreatbigfightoneo\'thesedays——whentheygetagoodready。Youhearme！\'
\"Sayingwhichwebothwenttoourcompanies,andlaiddowntogetalittlesleep。Itwasaboutdaylightthen,andImusthavesnoozedawayuntilnearnoon,whenIheardtheorder\'fallin！\'andfoundtheregimentgettingintoline,andtheboysalltallyingaboutgoingrightintoAtlanta;thattheRebelshadevacuatedtheCityduringthenight,andthatweweregoingtohavearacewiththeFifteenthCorpsastowhichwouldgetintotheCityfirst。Wecouldlookawayoutacrossalargefieldinfrontofourworks,andseetheskirmishlineadvancingsteadilytowardsthemainworksaroundtheCity。Notashotwasbeing,firedoneitherside。
\"Tooursurprise,insteadofmarchingtothefrontandtowardtheCity,wefiledoffintoasmallroadcutthroughthewoodsandmarchedrapidlytotherear。Wecouldnotunderstandwhatitmeant。Wemarchedatquicktime,feelingprettymadthatwehadtogototherear,whentherestofourDivisionweregoingintoAtlanta。
\"WepassedtheSixteenthCorpslyingontheirarms,backinsomeopenfields,andthewagontrainsofourCorpsallcomfortablycorralled,andfinallyfoundourselvesoutbytheSeventeenthCorpsheadquarters。Twoorthreecompaniesweresentouttopicketseveralroadsthatseemedtocrossatthatpoint,asitwasreported\'RebelCavalry\'hadbeenseenontheseroadsbutashorttimebefore,andthisaccountedforourbeingrushedoutinsuchagreathurry。
\"Wehadjuststackedarmsandweregoingtotakealittlerestafterourrapidmarch,whenseveralRebelprisonerswerebroughtinbysomeoftheboyswhohadstraggledalittle。TheyfoundtheRebelsontheroadwehadjustmarchedouton。Uptothistimenotashothadbeenfired。
Allwasquietbackatthemainworkswehadjustleft,whensuddenlywesawseveralstaffofficerscometearinguptotheColonel,whoorderedusto\'fallin！\'\'Takeaims！\'\'about,face！\'TheLieutenantColoneldasheddownoneoftheroadswhereoneofthecompanieshadgoneoutonpicket。
TheMajorandAdjutantgallopeddowntheothers。Wedidnotwaitforthemtocomeback,though,butmovedrightbackontheroadwehadjustcomeout,inlineofbattle,ourcolorsintheroad,andourflanksinopentimber。Wesoonreachedafenceenclosingalargefield,andtherecouldseealineofRebelsmovingbytheflank,andforming,facingtowardAtlanta,buttotheleftandintherearofthepositionoccupiedbyourCorps。Assoonaswereachedthefencewefiredaroundortwointothebacksofthesegraycoats,whobrokeintoconfusion。
\"Justthentheothercompaniesjoinedus,andwemovedoffon\'doublequickbytherightflank,\'foryouseewewerecompletelycutofffromthetroopsupatthefront,andwehadtogetwellovertotherighttogetaroundtheflankoftheRebels。JustaboutthetimewefiredontherebelstheSixteenthCorpsopenedupahotfireofmusketryandartilleryonthem,someoftheirshotcomingovermightyclosetowherewewere。
Wemarchedprettyfast,andfinallyturnedinthroughsomeopenfieldstotheleft,andcameoutjustintherearoftheSixteenthCorps,whowerefightinglikedevilsalongtheirwholeline。
\"JustaswecameoutintotheopenfieldwesawGeneralR。K。Scott,whousedtobeourColonel,andwhocommandedourbrigade,cometearingtowarduswithoneortwoaidsororderlies。Hewasonhisbigclay—bankhorse,\'OldHatchie,\'aswecalledhim,aswecapturedhimonthebattlefieldatthebattleof\'Matamora,\'or\'HellontheHatchie,\'asourboysalwayscalledit。HerodeuptotheColonel,saidsomethinghastily,whenallatonceweheardtheall—firedestcrashofmusketryandartillerywayupatthefrontwherewehadbuilttheworksthenightbeforeandlefttherestofourbrigadeandDivisiongettingreadytopranceintoAtlantawhenweweresentofftotherear。Scottputspurstohisoldhorse,whowasoneofthefastestrunnersinourDivision,andawayhewentbacktowardsthepositionwherehisbrigadeandthetroopsimmediatelytotheirleftwerenowhotlyengaged。HeroderightalonginrearoftheSixteenthCorps,payingnoattentionapparentlytotheshotandshellandbulletsthatweretearinguptheearthandexplodingandstrikingallaroundhim。Hisaidsandorderliesvainlytriedtokeepupwithhim。WecouldplainlyseetheRebellinesastheycameoutofthewoodsintotheopengroundstoattacktheSixteenthCorps,whichhadhastilyformedintheopenfield,withoutanysignsofworks,andwerestandinguplikemen,havingahand—to—handfight。
WewerejustfarenoughintherearsothateveryblastedshotorshellthatwasfiredtoohightohittheranksoftheSixteenthCorpscamerattlingoveramongstus。Allthistimeweweremarchingfast,followinginthedirectionGeneralScotthadtaken,whoevidentlyhadorderedtheColoneltojoinhisbrigadeupatthefront。Weweredownunderthecrestofalittlehill,followingalongthebankofalittlecreek,keepingundercoverofthebankasmuchaspossibletoprotectusfromtheshotsoftheenemy。WesuddenlysawGeneralLoganandoneortwoofhisstaffupontherightbankoftheravineridingrapidlytowardus。
Ashenearedtheheadoftheregimentheshouted:
\"\'Halt！Whatregimentisthat,andwhereareyougoing？\'\"TheColonel,inaloudvoice,thatallcouldhear,toldhim:\"TheSixty—EighthOhio;
goingtojoinourbrigadeoftheThirdDivision——youroldDivision,General,oftheSeventeenthCorps。\"
\"Logansays,\'youhadbettergorightinhereontheleftofDodge。
TheThirdDivisionhavehardlygroundenoughleftnowtoburytheirdead。
Godknowstheyneedyou。Buttryiton,ifyouthinkyoucangettothem。\'
\"JustatthismomentastaffofficercameridingupontheoppositesideoftheravinefromwhereLoganwasandinterruptedLogan,whowasabouttellingtheColonelnottotrytogotothepositionheldbytheThirdDivisionbytheroadcutthroughthewoodswhencewehadcomeout,buttokeepofftotherighttowardstheFifteenthCorps,asthewoodsreferredtowerefullofRebels。TheofficersalutedLogan,andshoutedacross:
\"GeneralShermandirectsmetoinformyouofthedeathofGeneralMcPherson,andordersyoutotakecommandoftheArmyoftheTennessee;
haveDodgeclosewelluptotheSeventeenthCorps,andShermanwillreinforceyoutotheextentofthewholearmy。\'
\"Logan,standinginhisstirrups,onhisbeautifulblackhorse,formedapictureagainsttheblueskyaswelookeduptheravineathim,hisblackeyesfairlyblazingandhislongblackhairwavinginthewind。
Herepliedinaringing,cleartonethatweallcouldhear:
\"SaytoGeneralShermanIhaveheardofMcPherson\'sdeath,andhaveassumedthecommandoftheArmyoftheTennessee,andhavealreadyanticipatedhisordersinregardtoclosingthegapbetweenDodgeandtheSeventeenthCorps。\'
\"This,ofcourse,allhappenedinonequarterofthetimeIhavebeentellingyou。Loganputspurstohishorseandrodeinonedirection,thestaffofficerofGeneralShermaninanother,andwestartedonarapidsteptowardthefront。ThiswasthefirstwehadheardofMcPherson\'sdeath,anditmadeusfeelverybad。Someoftheofficersandmencriedasthoughtheyhadlostabrother;otherspressedtheirlips,grittedtheirteeth,andsworetoavengehisdeath。HewasagreatfavoritewithallhisArmy,particularlyofourCorps,whichhecommandedforalongwhile。Ourcompany,especially,knewhimwell,andlovedhimdearly,forwehadbeenhisHeadquartersGuardforoverayear。Aswemarchedalong,towardthefront,wecouldseebrigades,andregiments,andbatteriesofartillery;comingoverfromtherightoftheArmy,andtakingpositioninnewlinesinrearoftheSixteenthandSeventeenthCorps。MajorGeneralsandtheirstaffs,BrigadierGeneralsandtheirstaffs,weremightythickalongthebanksofthelittleravinewewerefollowing;stragglersandwoundedmenbythehundredwerepouringintothesafeshelterformedbythebrokengroundalongwhichwewererapidlymarching;storieswereheardofdivisions,brigadesandregimentsthatthesewoundedorstragglersbelonged,havingbeenallcuttopieces;
officersallkilled;andthespeaker,theonlyoneofhiscommandnotkilled,woundedorcaptured。Butyouboyshaveheardandseenthesamecowardlysneaks,probably,infightsthatyouwerein。Thebattleragedfuriouslyallthistime;partofthetimetheSixteenthCorpsseemedtobeintheworst;thenitwouldletuponthemandtheSeventeenthCorpswouldbehotlyengagedalongtheirwholefront。
\"WehadprobablymarchedhalfanhoursinceleavingLogan,andweregettingprettynearbacktoourmainlineofworks,whentheColonelorderedahaltandknapsackstobeunslungandpiledup。Itellyouitwasarelieftogetthemoff,foritwasafearfulhotday,andwehadbeenmarchingalmostdoublequick。Weknewthatthismeantbusinessthough,andthatwewerestrippingforthefight,whichwewouldsoonbein。Justatthismomentwesawanambulance,withthehorsesonadeadrun,followedbytwoorthreemountedofficersandmen,comingrighttowardsusoutoftheverywoodsLoganhadcautionedtheColoneltoavoid。Whentheambulancegottowherewewereithalted。Itwasprettywelloutofdangerfromthebulletsandshelloftheenemy。Theystopped,andwerecognizedMajorStrong,ofMcPherson\'sStaff,whomtheallknew,ashewastheChiefInspectorofourCorps,andintheambulancehehadthebodyofGeneralMcPherson。MajorStrong,itappears,duringaslightlullinthefightingatthatpartoftheline,havingtakenanambulanceanddrivenintotheveryjawsofdeathtorecovertheremainsofhislovedcommander。Itseemshefoundthebodyrightbythesideofthelittleroadthatwehadgoneoutonwhenwewenttotherear。Hewasdeadwhenhefoundhim,havingbeenshotoffhishorse,thebulletstrikinghimintheback,justbelowhisheart,probablykillinghiminstantly。Therewasayoungfellowwithhimwhowaswoundedalso,whenStrongfoundthem。HebelongedtoourFirstDivision,andrecognizedGeneralMcPherson,andstoodbyhimuntilMajorStrongcameup。HewasintheambulancewiththebodyofMcPhersonwhentheystoppedbyus。
\"Itseemsthatwhenthefightopenedawaybackintherearwherewehadbeen,andattheleftoftheSixteenthCorpswhichwasalmostdirectlyintherearoftheSeventeenthCorps,McPhersonsenthisstaffandorderlieswithvariousorderstodifferentpartsoftheline,andstartedhimselftorideoverfromtheSeventeenthCorpstotheSixteenthCorps,takingexactlythesamecourseourRegimenthad,perhapsanhourbefore,buttheRebelshaddiscoveredtherewasagapbetweentheSixteenthandSeventeenthCorps,andmeetingnooppositiontotheiradvancesinthisstripofwoods,wheretheywerehiddenfromview,theyhadmarchedrightalongdownintherear,andwiththeirlineatrightangleswiththelineofworksoccupiedbytheleftoftheSeventeenthCorps;theywerethusparallelandclosetothelittleroadMcPhersonhadtaken,andprobablyheroderightintothemandwaskilledbeforeherealizedthetruesituation。
\"Havingpiledourknapsacks,andleftacoupleofouroldermen,whowereplayedoutwiththeheatandmostreadytodropwithsunstroke,toguardthem,westartedonagain。TheambulancewiththecorpseofGen。
McPhersonmovedofftowardstherightoftheArmy,whichwasthelastweeversawofthatbraveandhandsomesoldier。
\"Weboreoffalittletotherightofalargeopenfieldontopofahighhillwhereoneofourbatterieswaspoundingawayatatremendousrate。
WecameuptothemainlineofworksjustaboutattheleftoftheFifteenthCorps。Theyseemedtobehavinganeasytimeofitjustthen——
nofightinggoingonintheirfront,exceptoccasionalshotsfromsomeheavygunsonthemainlineofRebelworksaroundtheCity。WecrossedrightovertheFifteenthCorps\'worksandfiledtotheleft,keepingalongontheoutsideofourworks。WehadnotgonefarbeforetheRebelgunnersinthemainworksaroundtheCitydiscoveredus;andthewaytheydidtearlooseatuswasacaution。Theiraimwasratherbad,however,andmostoftheirshotswentoverus。Wesawoneofthem——Ithinkitwasashell——strikeanartillerycaissonbelongingtooneofour—batteries。
Itexplodedasitstruck,andthenthecaisson,whichwasfullofammunition,explodedwithanawfulnoise,throwingpiecesofwoodandironanditsownloadofshotandshellhighintotheair,scatteringdeathanddestructiontothemenandhorsesattachedtoit。Wethoughtwesawarmsandlegsandpartsofbodiesofmenflyingineverydirection;butweweregladtolearnafterwardsthatitwasthecontentsoftheknapsacksoftheBatteryboys,whohadstrappedthemonthecaissonsfortransportation。
\"Justafterpassingthehillwhereourbatterywasmakingthingssolively,theystoppedfiringtoletuspass。WesawGeneralLeggett,ourDivisionCommander,comeridingtowardus。Hewasoutsideofourlineofworks,too。Youknowhowwebuildbreastworks——sortofzigzaglike,youknow,sotheycannotbeenfiladed。Well,that\'sjustthewaytheworkswerealongthere,andyouneversawsuchacuriousshapeasweformedourDivisionin。Why,partofthemwereononesideoftheworks,andgoalongalittlefurtherandherewasaregiment,orpartofaregimentontheotherside,bothsetsfiringinoppositedirections。
\"Nosir\'ee,theywerenotdemoralizedorinconfusion,theywerecoolandassteadyasonparade。ButtheoldDivisionhad,youknow,neverbeendrivenfromanypositiontheyhadoncetaken,inalltheirlongservice,andtheydidnotproposetoleavethatridgeuntiltheygotordersfromsomeonebesidetheRebs。
\"Thereweretimeswhenafellowdidnotknowwhichsideoftheworkswasthesafest,fortheJohnnieswereinfrontofusandinrearofus。
Yousee,ourFourthDivision,whichhadbeentotheleftofus,hadbeenforcedtoquittheirworks,whentheRebsgotintotheworksintheirrear,sothatourDivisionwasnowatthepointwhereourlineturnedsharplytotheleft,andrear——inthedirectionoftheSixteenthCorps。
\"Wegotintobusinessbeforewehadbeenthereoverthreeminutes。
AlineoftheRebstriedtochargeacrosstheopenfieldsinfrontofus,butbythehelpoftheoldtwenty—fourpounders（whichprovedtobepartofCooper\'sIllinoisBattery,thatwehadbeenalongsideofinmanyahardfightbefore）,wedrovethembacka—flying,onlytohavetojumpoverontheoutsideofourworksthenextminutetotackleaheavyforcethatcameforourrearthroughthatblastedstripofwoods。Wesoondrovethemoff,andthefiringonbothsidesseemedtohaveprettymuchstopped。
\"\'OurBrigade,\'whichwediscovered,wasnowcommandedby\'OldWhiskers\'
（ColonelPiles,oftheSeventy—EighthOhio。I\'llbethe\'sgotthelongestwhiskersofanymanintheArmy。）YouseeGeneralScotthadnotbeenseenorheardofsincehehadstartedtotherearafterourregimentwhenthefightingfirstcommenced。Weallbelievedthathewaseitherkilledorcaptured,orhewouldhavebeenwithhiscommand。Hewasasplendidsoldier,andabull—dogofafighter。Hisabsencewasagreatloss,butwehadnotmuchtimetothinkofsuchthings,forourbrigadewasthenorderedtoleavetheworksandtomovetotherightabouttwentyorthirtyrodsacrossalargeravine,wherewewereplacedinpositioninanopencorn—field,forminganewlineatquiteananglefromthelineofworkswehadjustleft,extendingtotheleft,andgettingusbacknearerontoalinewiththeSixteenthCorps。Thebatteryofhowitzers,nowreinforcedbyapartoftheThirdOhioheavyguns,stilloccupiedtheoldworksonthehighestpartofthehill,justtotherightofournewline。
Wetookourpositionjustonthebrowofahill,andwereorderedtoliedown,andtherearranktogoforrails,whichwediscoveredafewrodsbehindusintheshapeofagoodten—railfence。Everyrear—rankchapcamebackwithalltherailshecouldlug,andwebarelyhadtimetolaythemdowninfrontofus,formingalittlebarricadeofsixtoeightortenincheshigh,whenweheardthemostunearthlyRebelyelldirectlyinfrontofus。Itgrewlouderandcamenearerandnearer,untilwecouldseeasolidlineofthegraycoatscomingoutofthewoodsanddowntheoppositeslope,theirbattleflagsflying,officersinfrontwithdrawnswords,armsatrightshoulder,andeveryoneofthemyellinglikesomanySiouxIndians。Thelineseemedtobemassedsixoreightranksdeep,followedcloselybythesecondline,andthatbythethird,each,ifpossible,yellinglouderandappearingmoredesperatelyrecklessthantheoneahead。Attheirfirstappearanceweopenedonthem,andsodidthebullyoldtwenty—four—pounders,withcanister。
\"Ontheycame;thefirstlinestaggeredandwaveredbackontothesecond,whichwascomingonthedoublequick。Sucharakingaswedidgivethem。Oh,Lordy,howwedidwishthatwehadthebreechloadingSpencersorWinchesters。ButwehadtheoldreliableSpringfields,andwepoureditinhotandheavy。Bythetimethechargingcolumngotdowntheoppositeslope,andwerestrugglingthroughthethicketofundergrowthintheravine,theywereoneconfusedmassofofficersandmen,thethreelinesnowformingonesolidcolumn,whichmadeseveraldesperateeffortstorushuptothetopofthehillwherewewerepunishingthemso。OneoftheirfirstsurgescamemightyneargoingrightovertheleftofourRegiment,astheywerelyingdownbehindtheirlittlerailpiles。Buttheboysclubbedtheirgunsandtheofficersusedtheirrevolversandswordsanddrovethembackdownthehill。
\"TheSeventy—EighthandTwentiethOhio,ourrightandleftbowers,whohadbeenbrigadedwithuseversince\'Shiloh,\'wereintoitashotandheavyaswehadbeen,andhadlostnumbersoftheirofficersandmen,butwerehangingontotheirlittlerailpileswhenthefightwasover。
AtonetimetheRebswererightinontopoftheSeventy—Eighth。OnebigRebgrabbedtheircolors,andtriedtopullthemoutofthehandsofthecolor—bearer。ButoldCaptainOrr,alittle,short,dried—upfellow,aboutsixtyyearsold,struckhimwithhisswordacrossthebackoftheneck,andkilledhimdeaderthanamackerel,rightinhistracks。
\"Itwasnowgettingdark,andtheJohnniesconcludedtheyhadtakenabiggercontractintryingtodriveusoffthathillinonedaythantheyhadcountedon,sotheyquitchargingonus,butdrewbackundercoverofthewoodsandalongtheoldlineofworksthatwehadleft,andkeptupapeckingawayandsharp—shootingatusallnightlong。Theyopenedfireonusfromanumberofpiecesofartilleryfromthefront,fromtheleft,andfromsomeheavygunsawayovertotherightofus,inthemainworksaroundAtlanta。
\"Wedidnotfoolawaymuchtimethatnight,either。Wegotourshovelsandpicks,andwhilepartofusweresharpshootingandtryingtokeeptheRebelsfromworkinguptooclosetous,therestoftheboyswereputtingupsomegoodsolidearthworksrightwhereourrailpileshadbeen,andbymorningwewereinsplendidshapetohavereceivedourfriends,nomatterwhichwaytheyhadcomeatus,fortheykeptupsuchanall—firedshellingofusfromsomanydifferentdirections;thattheboyshadbuilttraversesandbomb—proofsatallsortsofanglesandinalldirections。
\"Therewasonepointofftoourright,afewrodsupalongouroldlineofworkswheretherewasacrowdofRebelsharpshootersthatannoyedusmorethanalltherest,bytheirconstantfiringatusthroughthenight。
TheykilledoneofCompanyH\'sboys,andwoundedseveralothers。FinallyCaptainWilliams,ofDCompany,camealongandsaidhewantedacoupleofgoodshotsoutofourcompanytogowithhim,soIwentforone。Hetookabouttenofus,andwecrawleddownintotheravineinfrontofwherewewerebuildingtheworks,andgotbehindalargefallentree,andwelaidthereandcouldjustfirerightupintotherearofthosefellowsastheylaybehindatraverseextendingbackfromouroldlineofworks。Itwassodarkwecouldonlyseewheretofirebytheflashofguns,buteverytimetheywouldshoot,someofuswouldletthemhaveone。Theystaidthereuntilalmostdaylight,whenthey,concludedasthingslooked,sinceweweregoingtostay,theyhadbetterbegoing。
\"Itwasanawfulnight。DownintheravinebelowuslayhundredsofkilledandwoundedRebels,groaningandcryingaloudforwaterandforhelp。Wediddowhatwecouldforthoserightaroundus——butitwassodark,andsomanyshellburstingandbulletsflyingaroundthatafellowcouldnotgetaboutmuch。Itellyouitwasprettytoughnextmorningtogoalongtothedifferentcompaniesofourregimentandhearwhowereamongthekilledandwounded,andtoseethelongrowofgravesthatwerebeingdugtoburyourcomradesandourofficers。TherewastheCaptainofCompanyE,NelsonSkeeles,ofFultonCounty,O。,oneof——thebravestandbestofficersintheregiment。ByhissidelayFirstSergeantLesnit,andnextwerethetwogreat,powerfulShepherds——cousinsbutmorelikebrothers。One,itseems,waskilledwhilesupportingtheheadoftheother,whohadjustreceivedadeathwound,thusdyingineachother\'sarms。
\"ButIcan\'tbegintothinkortellyouthenamesofallthepoorboysthatwelaidawaytorestintheirlast,longsleeponthatgloomyday。
OurMajorwasseverelywounded,andseveralotherofficershadbeenhitmoreorlessbadly。
\"Itwasafrightfulsight,though,togooverthefieldinfrontofourworksonthatmorning。TheRebeldeadandbadlywoundedlaidwheretheyhadfallen。Thebottomandoppositesideoftheravineshowedhowdestructiveourfireandthatofthecanisterfromthehowitzershadbeen。Theunderbrushwascut,slashed,andtornintoshreds,andthelargertreeswerescarred,bruisedandbrokenbythethousandsofbulletsandothermissilesthathadbeenpouredintothemfromalmosteveryconceivabledirectionduringthedaybefore。
\"AlotofusboyswentwayovertotheleftintoFuller\'sDivisionoftheSixteenthCorps,toseehowsomeofourboysovertherehadgotthroughthescrimmage,fortheyhadaboutasnastyafightasanypartoftheArmy,andifithadnotbeenfortheirbeingjustwheretheywere,IamnotsurebutwhattheoldSeventeenthCorpswouldhavehadadifferentstorytotellnow。WefoundourfriendshadbeenwayoutbyDecatur,wheretheirbrigadehadgotintoaprettylivelyfightontheirownhook。
\"Wegotbacktocamp,andthefirstthingIknewIwasdetailedforpicketduty,andwewerepostedoverafewrodsacrosstheravineinourfront。Wehadnotbeenoutbutashorttimewhenwesawaflagoftruce,bornebyanofficer,comingtowardsus。Wehaltedhim,andmadehimwaituntilareportwassentbacktoCorpsheadquarters。TheRebelofficerwasquitechattyandtalkativewithourpicketofficer,whilewaiting。
HesaidhewasonGeneralCleburne\'sstaff,andthatthetroopsthatchargedussofiercelytheeveningbeforewasCleburne\'swholeDivision,andthataftertheirlastrepulse,knowingthehillwherewewerepostedwasthemostimportantpositionalongourline,hefeltthatiftheywouldkeepclosetousduringthenight,andkeepupashowoffight,thatwewouldpulloutandabandonthehillbeforemorning。Hesaidthathe,withaboutfiftyoftheirbestmen,hadvolunteeredtokeepupthedemonstration,anditwashispartythathadoccupiedthetraverseinouroldworksthenightbeforeandhadannoyedusandtheBatterymenbytheirconstantsharpshooting,whichwefellowsbehindtheoldtreehadfinallytiredout。Hesaidtheystaiduntilalmostdaylight,andthathelostmorethanhalfhismenbeforeheleft。HealsotoldusthatGeneralScottwascapturedbytheirDivision,ataboutthetimeandalmostthesamespotaswhereGeneralMcPhersonwaskilled,andthathewasnothurtorwounded,andwasnowaprisonerintheirhands。
\"Quitealotofour,staffofficerssooncameout,andasnearaswecouldlearntheRebelswantedatrucetoburytheirdead。Ourfolkstriedtogetupanexchangeofprisonersthathadbeentakenbybothsidesthedaybefore,butforsomereasontheycouldnotbringitabout。
Butthetruceforburyingthedeadwasagreedto。AlongaboutdusksomeoftheboysonmypostgottotellingaboutalotofsilverandbrassinstrumentsthatbelongedtooneofthebandsoftheFourthDivision,whichhadbeenhungupinsomesmalltreesalittlewayoverinfrontofwherewewerewhenthefightwasgoingonthedaybefore,andthatwhen,abulletwouldstrikeoneofthehornstheycouldhearitgo\'pin—g\'andinafewminutes\'pan—g\'wouldgoanotherbulletthroughoneofthem。
\"Anewpicketwasjustcoming\'on,andIhadpickedupmyblanketandhaversack,andwasaboutreadytostartbacktocamp,when,thinksI,\'I\'lljustgooutthereandseeaboutthemhorns。\'ItoldtheboyswhatIwasgoingtodo。Theyallseemedtothinkitwassafeenough,sooutI
started。Ihadnotgonemorethanahundredyards,Ishouldthink,whenhereIfoundthehornsallhangingaroundonthetreesjustastheboyshaddescribed。Someofthemhadlotsofbulletholesinthem。ButIsawabeautiful,nicelookingsilverbuglehangingofftoonesidealittle。
\'IThinks,\'saysI,\'I\'lljusttakethatlittletoothorninoutofthe—
wet,andtakeitbacktocamp。\'IwasjustreachingupafteritwhenI
heardsomeonesay,\'Halt！\'andI\'llbedog—Bonediftherewasn\'ttwoofthemeanestlookingRebels,standingnottenfeetfromme,withtheirgunscockedandpointedatme,and,ofcourse,IknewIwasagoner;theywalkedmebackaboutonehundredandfiftyyards,wheretheirpicketlinewas。FromthereI
waskeptgoingforanhourortwountilwegotovertoaplaceontherailroadcalledEastPoint。ThereIgotinwithabigcrowdofourprisoners,whoweretakenthedaybefore,andwehavebeenfoolingalonginalotofoldcattlecarsgettingdownhereeversince。
\"Sothisis\'Andersonville,\'isitaWell,by———！\"
CHAPTERXLI。
CLOTHING:ITSRAPIDDETERIORATION,ANDDEVICESTOREPLENISHIT——DESPERATE
EFFORTSTOCOVERNAKEDNESS——\"LITTLEREDCAP\"ANDHISLETTER。
Clothinghadnowbecomeanobjectofrealsolicitudetousolderprisoners。Theveteransofourcrowd——thesurvivingremnantofthosecapturedatGettysburg——hadbeenprisonersoverayear。Thenextinseniority——theChickamaugaboys——hadbeenintenmonths。TheMineRunfellowswereeightmonthsold,andmybattalionhadhadsevenmonths\'
incarceration。Noneofusweremodelsofwell—dressedgentlemenwhencaptured。Ourgarmentstoldthewholestoryofthehardcampaigningwehadundergone。Now,withmonthsofthewearandtearofprisonlife,sleepingonthesand,workingintunnels,diggingwells,etc。,weweretatteredandtorntoanextentthatasecond—classtrampwouldhaveconsidereddisgraceful。
ThisisnoreflectionuponthequalityoftheclothesfurnishedbytheGovernment。Wesimplyreachedthelimitofthewearoftextilefabrics。
Iamparticulartosaythis,becauseIwanttocontributemylittlemitetowardsdoingjusticetoabadlyabusedpartofourArmyorganization——
theQuartermaster\'sDepartment。Itisfashionabletospeakof\"shoddy,\"
anduttersomestereotypedsneersabout\"brownpapershoes,\"and\"musketo—nettingovercoats,\"whenanydiscussionoftheQuartermasterserviceisthesubjectofconversation,butIhavenohesitationinaskingtheindorsementofmycomradestothestatementthatwehaveneverfoundanywhereelseasdurablegarmentsasthosefurnishedusbytheGovernmentduringourserviceintheArmy。Theclotheswerenotasfineintexture,norsostylishincutasthoseweworebeforeorsince,butwhenitcametoweartheycouldbereliedontothelastthread。Itwasalwaysmarveloustomethattheylastedsowell,withtheroughusageasoldierinthefieldmustnecessarilygivethem。
Buttoreturntomysubject。Icanbestillustratethewayourclothesdroppedoffus,piecebypiece,likethepetalsfromthelastroseofSummer,bytakingmyowncaseasanexample:WhenIenteredprisonIwascladintheordinarygarbofanenlistedmanofthecavalry——stout,comfortableboots,woolenpocks,drawers,pantaloons,witha\"reenforcement,\"or\"ready—madepatches,\"astheinfantrycalledthem;
vest,warm,snug—fittingjacket,underandovershirts,heavyovercoat,andaforage—cap。Firstmybootsfellintocurelessruin,butthiswasnospecialhardship,astheweatherhadbecomequitewarm,anditwasmorepleasantthanotherwisetogobarefooted。Thenpartoftheunderclothingretiredfromservice。Thejacketandvestfollowed,theirendbeinghastenedbyhavingtheirbestportionstakentopatchupthepantaloons,whichkeptgivingoutatthemostembarrassingplaces。Thenthecapeoftheovercoatwascalledupontoassistinrepairingthesecontinually—recurringbreachesinthenethergarments。Thesameinsatiatedemandfinallyconsumedthewholecoat,inavainattempttopreventanexposureofpersongreaterthanconsistentwiththeusagesofsociety。Thepantaloons——orwhat,bycourtesy,Icalledsuch,wereamonumentofcarefulandingenious,buthopeless,patching,thatshouldhavecalledforththeadmirationofaFlorentineartistinmosaic。
