memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第19节
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rapet； the Fifteenth Corps （General Logan's） came up that morning on the right of Blair； strongly refused； and began to prepare the usual cover。 As General Jeff。 C。 Davis's division was； as it were； left out of line； I ordered it on the evening before to march down toward Turner's Ferry； and then to take a road laid down on our maps which led from there toward East Point； ready to engage any enemy that might attack our general right flank； after the same manner as had been done to the left flank on the 22d。
Personally on the morning of the 28th I followed the movement； and rode to the extreme right； where we could hear some skirmishing and an occasional cannon…shot。 As we approached the ground held by the Fifteenth Corps； a cannon…ball passed over my shoulder and killed the horse of an orderly behind； and seeing that this gun enfiladed the road by which we were riding； we turned out of it and rode down into a valley； where we left our horses and walked up to the hill held by Morgan L。 Smith's division of the Fifteenth Corps。 Near a house I met Generals Howard and Logan； who explained that there was an intrenched battery to their front； with the appearance of a strong infantry support。 I then walked up to the ridge； where I found General Morgan L。 Smith。 His men were deployed and engaged in rolling logs and fence…rails； preparing a hasty cover。 From this ridge we could overlook the open fields near a meeting…house known as 〃Ezra Church；〃 close by the Poor…House。 We could see the fresh earth of a parapet covering some guns （that fired an occasional shot）； and there was also an appearance of activity beyond。 General Smith was in the act of sending forward a regiment from； his right flank to feel the position of the enemy； when I explained to him and to Generals Logan and Howard that they must look out for General Jeff。 C。 Davis's division； which was comming up from the direction of Turner's Ferry。
As the skirmish…fire warmed up along the front of Blair's corps； as well as along the Fifteenth Corps （Logan's）； I became convinced that Hood designed to attack this right flank； to prevent； if possible； the extension of our line in that direction。 I regained my horse； and rode rapidly back to see that Davis's division had been dispatched as ordered。 I found General Davis in person； who was unwell； and had sent his division that morning early； under the command of his senior brigadier； Morgan； but； as I attached great importance to the movement； he mounted his horse； and rode away to overtake and to hurry forward the movement； so as to come up on the left rear of the enemy； during the expected battle。
By this time the sound of cannon and musketry denoted a severe battle as in progress； which began seriously at 11。30 a。m。； and ended substantially by 4 p。m。 It was a fierce attack by the enemy on our extreme right flank； well posted and partially covered。 The most authentic account of the battle is given by General Logan； who commanded the Fifteenth Corps； in his official report to the Adjutant…General of the Army of the Tennessee； thus：
HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS BEFORE ATLANTA； GEORGIA； July 29； 1864
Lieutenant…Colonel WILLIAM T。 CLARK； Assistant Adjutant…General； Army of the Tennessee； present。
COLONEL： I have the honor to report that； in pursuance of orders； I moved my command into position on the right of the Seventeenth Corps； which was the extreme right of the army in the field； during the night of the 27th and morning of the 28th； and； while advancing in line of battle to a more favorable position； we were met by the rebel infantry of Hardee's and Lee's corps； who made a determined and desperate attack on us at 11 A。M。 of the 28th （yesterday）。
My lines were only protected by logs and rails； hastily thrown up in front of them。
The first onset was received and checked； and the battle commenced and lasted until about three o'clock in the evening。 During that time six successive charges were made； which were six times gallantly repulsed； each time with fearful loss to the enemy。
Later in the evening my lines were several times assaulted vigorously； but each time with like result。 The worst of the fighting occurred on General Harrow's and Morgan L。 Smith's fronts； which formed the centre and right of the corps。 The troops could not have displayed greater courage； nor greater determination not to give ground； had they shown less； they would have been driven from their position。
Brigadier…Generals C。 R。 Woods； Harrow； and Morgan L。 Smith； division commanders； are entitled to equal credit for gallant conduct and skill in repelling the assault。 My thanks are due to Major…Generals Blair and Dodge for sending me reenforeements at a time when they were much needed。 My losses were fifty killed； four hundred and forty…nine wounded； and seventy…three missing： aggregate； five hundred and seventy…two。
The division of General Harrow captured five battle…flags。 There were about fifteen hundred or two thousand muskets left on the ground。 One hundred and six prisoners were captured； exclusive of seventy…three wounded； who were sent to our hospital； and are being cared for by our surgeons。 Five hundred and sixty…five rebels have up to this time been buried； and about two hundred are supposed to be yet unburied。 A large number of their wounded were undoubtedly carried away in the night； as the enemy did not withdraw till near daylight。 The enemy's loss could not have been less than six or seven thousand men。 A more detailed report will hereafter be made。
I am； very respectfully； Your obedient servant；
JOHN A。 LOGAN； Major…General； commanding Fifteenth Army Corps。
General Howard； in transmitting this report； added：
I wish to express my high gratification with the conduct of the troops engaged。 I never saw better conduct in battle。 General Logan； though ill and much worn out； was indefatigable； and the success of the day is as much attributable to him as to any one man。
This was； of coarse； the first fight in which General Howard had commanded the Army of the Tennessee； and he evidently aimed to reconcile General Logan in his disappointment； and to gain the heart of his army； to which he was a stranger。 He very properly left General Logan to fight his own corps； but exposed himself freely； and； after the firing had ceased； in the afternoon he walked the lines； the men； as reported to me； gathered about him in the most affectionate way； and he at once gained their respect and confidence。 To this fact I at the time attached much importance； for it put me at ease as to the future conduct of that most important army。
At no instant of time did I feel the least uneasiness about the result on the 28th； but wanted to reap fuller results； hoping that Davis's division would come up at the instant of defeat； and catch the enemy in flank； but the woods were dense； the roads obscure； and as usual this division got on the wrong road； and did not come into position until about dark。 In like manner； I thought that Hood had greatly weakened his main lines inside of Atlanta； and accordingly sent repeated orders to Schofield and Thomas to make an attempt to break in； but both reported that they found the parapets very strong and full manned。
Our men were unusually encouraged by this day's work； for they realized that we could compel Hood to come out from behind his fortified lines to attack us at a disadvantage。 In conversation with me； the soldiers of the Fifteenth Corps； with whom I was on the most familiar terms； spoke of the affair of the 28th as the easiest thing in the world； that； in fact； it was a common slaughter of the enemy； they pointed out where the rebel lines had been； and how they themselves had fired deliberately； had shot down their antagonists； whose bodies still lay unburied； and marked plainly their lines of battle； which must have halted within easy musket…range of our men； who were partially protected by their improvised line of logs and fence…rails。 All bore willing testimony to the courage and spirit of the foe； who； though repeatedly repulsed； came back with increased determination some six or more times。
The next morning the Fifteenth Corps wheeled forward to the left over the battle…field of the day before； and Davis's division still farther prolonged the line； which reached nearly to the ever…to…be… remembered 〃Sandtown road。〃
Then； by further thinning out Thomas's line； which was well entrenched； I drew another division of Palmer's corps （Baird's） around to the right； to further strengthen that flank。 I was impatient to hear from the cavalry raid； then four days out； and was watching for its effect； ready to make a bold push for the possession of East Point。 General Garrard's division returned to Decatur on the 31st； and reported that General Stoneman had posted him at Flat Rock； while he （Stoneman） went on。 The month of July therefore closed with our infantry line strongly entrenched； but drawn out from the Augusta road on the left to the Sandtown road on the right； a distance of full ten measured miles。
The enemy； though evidently somewhat intimidated by the results of their defeats on the 22d and 28th； still presented a bold front at all points； w
