personal memoirs-1-第23部分
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Campbell had been unaccustomed to riding till the war broke out; and;
I think; felt some disinclination to mount the fiery colt。 Campbell
had an affection for him; however; that never waned; and would often
come to my headquarters to see his favorite; the colt being cared for
there by the regimental farrier; an old man named John Ashley; who
had taken him in charge when leaving Michigan; and had been his groom
ever since。 Seeing that I liked the horseI had ridden him on
several occasionsCampbell presented him to me on one of these
visits; and from that time till the close of the war I rode him
almost continuously; in every campaign and battle in which I took
part; without once finding him overcome by fatigue; though on many
occasions his strength was severely tested by long marches and short
rations。 I never observed in him any vicious habit; a nervousness
and restlessness and switch of the tail; when everything about him
was in repose; being the only indication that he might be
untrustworthy。 No one but a novice could be deceived by this;
however; for the intelligence evinced in every feature; and his
thoroughbred appearance; were so striking that any person accustomed
to horses could not misunderstand such a noble animal。 But Campbell
thought otherwise; at least when the horse was to a certain degree
yet untrained; and could not be pursuaded to ride him; indeed; for
more than a year after he was given to me; Campbell still retained
suspicions of his viciousness; though; along with this mistrust; an
undiminished affection。 Although he was several times wounded; this
horse escaped death in action; and living to a ripe old age; died in
1878; attended to the last with all the care and surrounded with
every comfort due the faithful service he had rendered。
In moving from Corinth east toward Chattanooga; General Buell's army
was much delayed by the requirement that he should repair the Memphis
and Charleston railroad as he progressed。 The work of repair obliged
him to march very slowly; and was of but little use when done; for
guerrillas and other bands of Confederates destroyed the road again
as soon as he had passed on。 But worst of all; the time thus
consumed gave General Bragg the opportunity to reorganize and
increase his army to such an extent that he was able to contest the
possession of Middle Tennessee and Kentucky。 Consequently; the
movement of this army through Tennessee and Kentucky toward the Ohio
Riverits objective points being Louisville and Cincinnatiwas now
well defined; and had already rendered abortive General Buell's
designs on Chattanooga and East Tennessee。 Therefore extraordinary
efforts on the part of the Government became necessary; and the
concentration of National troops at Louisville and Cincinnati to meet
the contingency of Bragg's reaching those points was an obvious
requirement。 These troops were drawn from all sections in the West
where it was thought they could be spared; and among others I was
ordered to conduct thitherto Louisville or Cincinnati; as
subsequent developments might demandmy regiment; Hescock's battery;
the Second and Fifteenth Missouri; and the Thirty…sixth and Forty…
fourth Illinois regiments of infantry; known as the 〃Pea Ridge
Brigade。〃 With this column I marched back to Corinth on the 6th of
September; 1862; for the purpose of getting railroad transportation
to Columbus; Kentucky。
At Corinth I met General Grant; who by this time had been
reestablished in favor and command somewhat; General Halleck having
departed for Washington to assume command of the army as General…in…
Chief。 Before and during the activity which followed his
reinstatement; General Grant had become familiar with my services
through the transmission to Washington of information I had furnished
concerning the enemy's movements; and by reading reports of my fights
and skirmishes in front; and he was loth to let me go。 Indeed; he
expressed surprise at seeing me in Corinth; and said he had not
expected me to go; he also plainly showed that he was much hurt at
the inconsiderate way in which his command was being depleted。 Since
I was of the opinion that the chief field of usefulness and
opportunity was opening up in Kentucky; I did not wish him to retain
me; which he might have done; and I impressed him with my conviction;
somewhat emphatically; I fear。 Our conversation ended with my wish
gratified。 I afterward learned that General Granger; whom General
Grant did not fancy; had suggested that I should take to Cincinnati
the main portion of Granger's commandthe Pea Ridge Brigadeas well
as the Second Michigan Cavalry; of which I was still colonel。
We started that night; going by rail over the Mobile and Ohio road to
Columbus; Ky。; where we embarked on steamboats awaiting us。 These
boats were five in number; and making one of them my flag…ship;
expecting that we might come upon certain batteries reported to be
located upon the Kentucky shore of the Ohio; I directed the rest to
follow my lead。 Just before reaching Caseyville; the captain of a
tin…clad gunboat that was patrolling the river brought me the
information that the enemy was in strong force at Caseyville; and
expressed a fear that my fleet could not pass his batteries。
Accepting the information as correct; I concluded to capture the
place before trying to pass up the river。 Pushing in to the bank as
we neared the town; I got the troops ashore and moved on Caseyville;
in the expectation of a bloody fight; but was agreeably surprised
upon reaching the outskirts of the village by an outpouring of its
inhabitantsmen; women; and childrencarrying the Stars and
Stripes; and making the most loyal professions。 Similar
demonstrations of loyalty had been made to the panic…stricken captain
of the gunboat when he passed down the river; but he did not stay to
ascertain their character; neither by landing nor by inquiry; for he
assumed that on the Kentucky bank of the river there could be no
loyalty。 The result mortified the captain intensely; and deeming his
convoy of little further use; he steamed toward Cairo in quest of
other imaginary batteries; while I re…embarked at Caseyville; and
continued up the Ohio undisturbed。 About three miles below
Cincinnati I received instructions to halt; and next day I was
ordered by Major…General H。 G。 Wright to take my troops back to
Louisville; and there assume command of the Pea Ridge Brigade;
composed of the Second and Fifteenth Missouri; Thirty…sixth and
Forty…fourth Illinois infantry; and of such other regiments as might
be sent me in advance of the arrival of General Buell's army。
When I reached Louisville I reported to Major…General William Nelson;
who was sick; and who received me as he lay in bed。 He asked me why
I did not wear the shoulder…straps of my rank。 I answered that I was
the colonel of the Second Michigan cavalry; and had on my appropriate
shoulder…straps。 He replied that I was a brigadier…general for the
Booneville fight; July 1; and that I should wear the shoulder…straps
of that grade。 I returned to my command and put it in camp; and as I
had no reluctance to wearing the shoulder…straps of a brigadier…
general; I was not long in procuring a pair; particularly as I was
fortified next day by receiving from Washington official information
of my appointment as a brigadier…general; to date from July 1; 1862;
the day of the battle of Booneville
CHAPTER XI。
GOOD ADVICE FROM GENERAL NELSONHIS TRAGIC DEATHPUTTING LOUISVILLE
IN A STATE OF DEFENSEASSIGNED TO THE COMMAND OF THE ELEVENTH
DIVISIONCAPTURE OF CHAPLIN HEIGHTSBATTLE OF PERRYVILLEREPORTED
AMONG THE KILLEDA THRILLING INCIDENTGENERAL BUELL RELIEVED BY
GENERAL ROSECRANS。
I reported to Major…General Nelson at the Galt House in Louisville;
September 14; 1862; who greeted me in the bluff and hearty fashion of
a sailorfor he had been in the navy till the breaking out of the
war。 The new responsibilities that were now to fall upon me by
virtue of increased rank caused in my mind an uneasiness which; I
think; Nelson observed at the interview; and he allayed it by giving
me much good advice; and most valuable information in regard to
affairs in Kentucky; telling me also that he intended I should retain
in my command the Pea Ridge Brigade and Hescock's battery。 This
latter assurance relieved me greatly; for I feared the loss of these
troops in the general redistribution which I knew must soon take
place; and being familiar with their valuable service in Missouri;
and having brought them up from Mississippi; I hoped they would
continue with me。 He directed me to take position just below the
city with the Pea Ridge Brigade; Hescock's battery; and the Second
Michigan Cavalry; informing me; at the same time; that some of the
new regiments; then arriving under a recent call of the President for
volunteers; would also be assigned to my command。 Shortly after the
interview eight new regiments and an additional battery joined me;
thus making good his promise of more troops。
A few days later came Nelson's tragic end; shocking the whole
country。 Those of us in camp outside of the city were startled on
the morning of September 29 by the news that General Jefferson C。
Davis; of the Union Army; had shot General Nelson at the Galt House;
and the wildest rumors in regard to the occurrence came thick and
fast; one to the effect that Nelson was dead; another having it that
he was living and had killed Davis; and still others reflecting on
the loyalty of both; it being supposed by the general public at first
that the difficulty between the two men had grown out of some
political rather than official or personal differences。 When the
news came; I rode into the city to the Galt House to learn the
particulars; reaching there about 10 o'clock in the forenoon。 Here I
learned that Nelson had been shot by D