andersonville-第48节
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though； and that we were stripping for the fight； which we would soon be
in。 Just at this moment we saw an ambulance； with the horses on a dead
run； followed by two or three mounted officers and men； coming right
towards us out of the very woods Logan had cautioned the Colonel to
avoid。 When the ambulance got to where we were it halted。 It was pretty
well out of danger from the bullets and shell of the enemy。 They
stopped； and we recognized Major Strong； of McPherson's Staff； whom the
all knew； as he was the Chief Inspector of our Corps； and in the
ambulance he had the body of General McPherson。 Major Strong；
it appears； during a slight lull in the fighting at that part of the
line； having taken an ambulance and driven into the very jaws of death to
recover the remains of his loved commander。 It seems he found the body
right by the side of the little road that we had gone out on when we went
to the rear。 He was dead when he found him； having been shot off his
horse； the bullet striking him in the back； just below his heart；
probably killing him instantly。 There was a young fellow with him who
was wounded also； when Strong found them。 He belonged to our First
Division； and recognized General McPherson； and stood by him until Major
Strong came up。 He was in the ambulance with the body of McPherson when
they stopped by us。
〃It seems that when the fight opened away back in the rear where we had
been； and at the left of the Sixteenth Corps which was almost directly in
the rear of the Seventeenth Corps； McPherson sent his staff and orderlies
with various orders to different parts of the line； and started himself
to ride over from the Seventeenth Corps to the Sixteenth Corps； taking
exactly the same course our Regiment had； perhaps an hour before； but the
Rebels had discovered there was a gap between the Sixteenth and
Seventeenth Corps； and meeting no opposition to their advances in this
strip of woods； where they were hidden from view； they had marched right
along down in the rear； and with their line at right angles with the line
of works occupied by the left of the Seventeenth Corps； they were thus
parallel and close to the little road McPherson had taken； and probably
he rode right into them and was killed before he realized the true
situation。
〃Having piled our knapsacks； and left a couple of our older men； who were
played out with the heat and most ready to drop with sunstroke； to guard
them； we started on again。 The ambulance with the corpse of Gen。
McPherson moved off towards the right of the Army； which was the last we
ever saw of that brave and handsome soldier。
〃We bore off a little to the right of a large open field on top of a high
hill where one of our batteries was pounding away at a tremendous rate。
We came up to the main line of works just about at the left of the
Fifteenth Corps。 They seemed to be having an easy time of it just then
no fighting going on in their front； except occasional shots from some
heavy guns on the main line of Rebel works around the City。 We crossed
right over the Fifteenth Corps' works and filed to the left； keeping
along on the outside of our works。 We had not gone far before the Rebel
gunners in the main works around the City discovered us； and the way they
did tear loose at us was a caution。 Their aim was rather bad； however；
and most of their shots went over us。 We saw one of themI think it was
a shellstrike an artillery caisson belonging to one of our…batteries。
It exploded as it struck； and then the caisson； which was full of
ammunition； exploded with an awful noise； throwing pieces of wood and
iron and its own load of shot and shell high into the air； scattering
death and destruction to the men and horses attached to it。 We thought
we saw arms and legs and parts of bodies of men flying in every
direction； but we were glad to learn afterwards that it was the contents
of the knapsacks of the Battery boys； who had strapped them on the
caissons for transportation。
〃Just after passing the hill where our battery was making things so
lively； they stopped firing to let us pass。 We saw General Leggett； our
Division Commander； come riding toward us。 He was outside of our line of
works； too。 You know how we build breastworkssort of zigzag like； you
know； so they cannot be enfiladed。 Well； that's just the way the works
were along there； and you never saw such a curious shape as we formed our
Division in。 Why； part of them were on one side of the works； and go
along a little further and here was a regiment； or part of a regiment on
the other side； both sets firing in opposite directions。
〃No sir'ee； they were not demoralized or in confusion； they were cool and
as steady as on parade。 But the old Division had； you know； never been
driven from any position they had once taken； in all their long service；
and they did not propose to leave that ridge until they got orders from
some one beside the Rebs。
〃There were times when a fellow did not know which side of the works was
the safest； for the Johnnies were in front of us and in rear of us。
You see； our Fourth Division； which had been to the left of us； had been
forced to quit their works； when the Rebs got into the works in their
rear； so that our Division was now at the point where our line turned
sharply to the left； and rearin the direction of the Sixteenth Corps。
〃We got into business before we had been there over three minutes。
A line of the Rebs tried to charge across the open fields in front of us；
but by the help of the old twenty…four pounders （which proved to be part
of Cooper's Illinois Battery； that we had been alongside of in many a
hard fight before）； we drove them back a…flying； only to have to jump
over on the outside of our works the next minute to tackle a heavy force
that came for our rear through that blasted strip of woods。 We soon
drove them off； and the firing on both sides seemed to have pretty much
stopped。
〃'Our Brigade；' which we discovered； was now commanded by 'Old Whiskers'
（Colonel Piles； of the Seventy…Eighth Ohio。 I'll bet he's got the
longest whiskers of any man in the Army。） You see General Scott had not
been seen or heard of since he had started to the rear after our regiment
when the fighting first commenced。 We all believed that he was either
killed or captured； or he would have been with his command。 He was a
splendid soldier； and a bull…dog of a fighter。 His absence was a great
loss； but we had not much time to think of such things； for our brigade
was then ordered to leave the works and to move to the right about twenty
or thirty rods across a large ravine； where we were placed in position in
an open corn…field； forming a new line at quite an angle from the line of
works we had just left； extending to the left； and getting us back nearer
onto a line with the Sixteenth Corps。 The battery of howitzers； now
reinforced by a part of the Third Ohio heavy guns； still occupied the old
works on the highest part of the hill； just to the right of our new line。
We took our position just on the brow of a hill； and were ordered to lie
down； and the rear rank to go for rails； which we discovered a few rods
behind us in the shape of a good ten…rail fence。 Every rear…rank chap
came back with all the rails he could lug； and we barely had time to lay
them down in front of us； forming a little barricade of six to eight or
ten inches high； when we heard the most unearthly Rebel yell directly in
front of us。 It grew louder and came nearer and nearer； until we could
see a solid line of the gray coats coming out of the woods and down the
opposite slope； their battle flags flying； officers in front with drawn
swords； arms at right shoulder； and every one of them yelling like so
many Sioux Indians。 The line seemed to be massed six or eight ranks
deep； followed closely by the second line； and that by the third； each；
if possible； yelling louder and appearing more desperately reckless than
the one ahead。 At their first appearance we opened on them； and so did
the bully old twenty…four…pounders； with canister。
〃On they came； the first line staggered and wavered back on to the
second； which was coming on the double quick。 Such a raking as we did
give them。 Oh； Lordy； how we did wish that we had the breech loading
Spencers or Winchesters。 But we had the old reliable Springfields； and
we poured it in hot and heavy。 By the time the charging column got down
the opposite slope； and were struggling through the thicket of
undergrowth in the ravine； they were one confused mass of officers and
men； the three lines now forming one solid column； which made several
desperate efforts to rush up to the top of the hill where we were
punishing them so。 One of their first surges came mighty near going
right over the left of our Regiment； as they were lying down behind their
little rail piles。 But the boys clubbed their guns and the officers used
their revolvers and swords and drove them back down the hill。
〃The Seventy…Eighth and Twentieth Ohio； our right and left bowers； who
had been brigaded with us ever since 'Shiloh；' were into it as hot and
heavy as we had been； and had lost
