八喜电子书 > 经管其他电子书 > personal memoirs-1 >

第40部分

personal memoirs-1-第40部分

小说: personal memoirs-1 字数: 每页4000字

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!




suspected their purpose; knowing that they were not occasioned by a

fight; since they were too regular in their delivery。



I was much disappointed that my pursuit had not been supported; for I

felt that great results were in store for us should the enemy be

vigorously followed。  Had the troops under Granger's command been

pushed out with mine when Missionary Ridge was gained; we could have

reached Chickamauga Station by 12 o'clock the night of the 25th; or

had they been sent even later; when I called for them; we could have

got there by daylight and worked incalculable danger to the

Confederates; for the force that had confronted Sherman did not pass

Chickamauga Station in their retreat till after daylight on the

morning of the 26th。



My course in following so close was dictated by a thorough knowledge

of the topography of the country and a familiarity with its roads;

bypaths; and farm…houses; gained with the assistance of Mr。

Crutchfield; and sure my column was heading in the right direction;

though night had fallen I thought that an active pursuit would almost

certainly complete the destruction of Bragg's army。  When General

Grant came by my bivouac at the crossing of Chickamauga Creek on the

26th; he realized what might have been accomplished had the

successful assault on Missionary Ridge been supplemented by vigorous

efforts on the part of some high officers; who were more interested

in gleaning that portion of the battle…field over which my command

had passed than in destroying a panic…stricken enemy。



Although it cannot be said that the result of the two days'

operations was reached by the methods which General Grant had

indicated in his instructions preceding the battle; yet the general

outcome was unquestionably due to his genius; for the manoeuvring of

Sherman's and Hooker's commands created the opportunity for Thomas's

corps of the Army of the Cumberland to carry the ridge at the centre。

In directing Sherman to attack the north end of the ridge; Grant

disconcerted Braggwho was thus made to fear the loss of his depot

of supplies at Chickamauga Stationand compelled him to resist

stoutly; and stout resistance to Sherman meant the withdrawal of the

Confederates from Lookout Mountain。  While this attack was in process

of execution advantage was taken of it by Hooker in a well…planned

and well…fought battle; but to my mind an unnecessary one; for our

possession of Lookout was the inevitable result that must follow from

Sherman's threatening attitude。  The assault on Missionary Ridge by

Granger's and Palmer's corps was not premeditated by Grant; he

directing only the line at its base to be carried; but when this fell

into our hands the situation demanded our getting the one at the top

also。



I took into the action an effective force of 6;000; and lost 123

officers and 1;181 men killed and wounded。  These casualties speak

louder than words of the character of the fight; and plainly tell

where the enemy struggled most stubbornly for these figures comprise

one…third the casualties of the entire body of Union troops

Sherman's and all included。  My division captured 1;762 prisoners

and; in all; seventeen pieces of artillery。  Six of these guns I

turned over with caissons complete; eleven were hauled off the field

and appropriated by an officer of high rankGeneral Hazen。  I have

no disposition to renew the controversy which grew out of this

matter。  At the time the occurrence took place I made the charge in a

plain official report; which was accepted as correct by the corps and

army commanders; from General Granger up to General Grant。  General

Hazen took no notice of this report then; though well aware of its

existence。  Nearly a quarter of a century later; however; he

endeavored to justify his retention of the guns by trying to show

that his brigade was the first to reach the crest of Missionary

Ridge; and that he was therefore entitled to them。  This claim of

being the first to mount the ridge is made by other brigades than

Hazen's; with equal if not greater force; so the absurdity of his

deduction is apparent:



NOTE: In a book published by General Hazen in 1885; he endeavored to

show; by a number of letters from subordinate officers of his

command; written at his solicitation from fifteen to twenty years

after the occurrence; that his brigade was the first to mount

Missionary Ridge; and that it was entitled to possess these guns。

The doubtful character of testimony dimmed by the lapse of many years

has long been conceded; and I am content to let the controversy stand

the test of history; based on the conclusions of General Grant; as he

drew them from official reports made when the circumstances were

fresh in the minds of all。



General Grant says: 〃To Sheridan's prompt movement; the Army of the

Cumberland and the nation are indebted for the bulk of the capture of

prisoners; artillery; and small…arms that day。  Except for his prompt

pursuit; so much in this way would not have been accomplished。〃



General Thomas says: 〃We captured all their cannon and ammunition

before they could be removed or destroyed。  After halting a few

moments to reorganize the troops; who had become somewhat scattered

in the assault of the hill; General Sheridan pushed forward in

pursuit; and drove those in his front who had escaped capture across

Chickamauga Creek。〃



REPORT OF COLONEL FRANCIS T。 SHERMAN; COMMANDING FIRST BRIGADE:

〃When within ten yards of the crest; our men seemed to be thrown

forward as if by some powerful engine; and the old flag was planted

firmly and surely on the last line of works of the enemy; followed by

the men; taking one battery of artillery。〃



REPORT OF COLONEL MICHAEL GOODING; TWENTY…SECOND INDIANA:

。。。。〃I pushed men up to the second line of works as fast as possible;

on and on; clear to the top; and over the ridge they went; to the

hollow beyond; killing and wounding numbers of the enemy as we

advanced; and leaving the rebel battery in our rear。  We captured

great numbers of prisoners; and sent them to the rear without guards;

as we deemed the pursuit of the enemy of greater importance。。。。

〃I cannot give too much praise to Captain Powers; Company 〃H;〃

Lieutenant Smith; Company 〃K;〃 Lieutenant Gooding; Company 〃A;〃 and

Second Lieutenant Moser; Company 〃G;〃 for their assistance; and for

the gallant manner in which they encouraged their men up the side of

the mountain; and charging the enemy's works right up to the muzzles

of their guns。〃



REPORT OF COLONEL JASON MARSH; SEVENTY…FOURTH ILLINOIS:

。。。。〃The first on the enemy's works; and almost simultaneously; were

Lieutenant Clement; Company 〃A;〃 Captain Stegner; Company 〃I;〃

Captain Bacon; 〃Company 〃G;〃 and Captain Leffingwell; with some of

their men。  The enemy was still in considerable force behind their

works; but; for some unaccountable reason; they either fled or

surrendered instantly upon the first few of our men reaching them

not even trying to defend their battery; which was immediately

captured by Captain Stegner。〃



REPORT OF LIEUTENANT…COLONEL PORTER C。 OLSON; THIRTY…SIXTH ILLINOIS:

。。。。〃In connection with other regiments of this brigade; we assisted

in capturing several pieces of artillery; a number of caissons; and a

great quantity of small…arms。〃



REPORT OF COLONEL JOHN Q。 LANE:

。。。。〃At the house known as Bragg's headquarters; the enemy were

driven from three guns; which fell into our hands。〃



REPORT OF BRIGADIER…GENERAL G。 D。 WAGNER; SECOND BRIGADE:

。。。。〃I ordered the command to storm the ridge; bringing up the

Fifteenth Indiana and Ninety…seventh Ohio; which had not yet been

engaged; although suffering from the enemy's artillery。  The result

is a matter of history; as we gained the ridge; capturing artillery;

prisoners; and small…arms; to what amount; however; I do not know; as

we pushed on after the enemy as soon as I had re…formed the command 。

。。。。Captain Tinney; with his usual gallantry; dashed up the line with

the first troops; and with the aid of an orderly (George Dusenbury;

Fifteenth Indiana); turned the loaded gun of the enemy on his

retreating ranks。〃



REPORT OF CAPTAIN BENJAMIN F。 HEGLER; FIFTEENTH INDIANA:

。。。。〃Our captures amounted to prisoners not counted; representing

many different regiments; several pieces of artillery; and some

wagons。〃



REPORT OF LIEUTENANT…COLONEL ELIAS NEFF; FORTIETH INDIANA:

。。。。〃As the regiment reached the top of the ridge and swept for。

ward; the right passed through; without stopping to take possession;

the battery at General Bragg's headquarters that had fired so

venomously during the whole contest。〃



REPORT OF LIEUTENANT…COLONEL J。 MOORE; FIFTY…EIGHTH INDIANA:

。。。。〃In passing to the front from Missionary Ridge; we saw several

pieces of artillery which had been abandoned by the enemy; though I

did not leave any one in charge of them。〃



REPORT OF MAJOR C; M。 HAMMOND; ONE HUNDREDTH ILLINOIS:

。。。。〃I immediately organized my regiment; and while so doing

discovered a number of pieces of artillery in a ravine on my left。  I

sent Lieutenant Stewart; of Company A; to see if these guns which the

enemy had abandoned could not be turned upon them。  He returned and

reported them to be four ten…pound Parrotts and two brass Napoleons;

also that it would require a number of men to place them in position。

I ordered him to report the same to General Wagner; and ask

permission; but before receiving a reply was ordered by you to move

forward my regiment on the left of the Fifty…Eighth Indiana

Volunteers。〃



REPORT OF COLONEL CHARLES G。 HARKER; THIRD BRIGADE:

。。。。〃My right and Colonel Sherman's left interlocked; so to speak; as

we approached the summit; and it was near this point that I saw the

first part of my line gain the crest。  This was done by a few brave

men of my own and Colonel Sherman's command driving the enemy from

his intren

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的