太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > memoirs of general william t. sherman-1 >

第63节

memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第63节

小说: memoirs of general william t. sherman-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!



  Other heavy masses of the enemy's forces kept passing across the field to our left; and directing their course on General Prentiss。  I saw at once that the enemy designed to pass my left flank; and fall upon Generals McClernand and Prentiss; whose line of camps was almost parallel with the Tennessee River; and about two miles back from it。  Very soon the sound of artillery and musketry announced that General Prentiss was engaged; and about 9 A。 M。 I judged that he was falling back。 About this time Appler's regiment broke in disorder; followed by Mungen's regiment; and the enemy pressed forward on Waterhouse's battery thereby exposed。

The three Illinois regiments in immediate support of this battery stood for some time; but the enemy's advance was so vigorous; and the fire so severe; that when Colonel Raith; of the Forty…third Illinois; received a severe wound and fell from his horse; his regiment and the others manifested disorder; and the enemy got possession of three guns of this (Waterhouse's) battery。  Although our left was thus turned; and the enemy was pressing our whole line; I deemed Shiloh so important; that I remained by it and renewed my orders to Colonels McDowell and Buckland to hold their ground; and we did hold these positions until about 10 a。m。; when the enemy had got his artillery to the rear of our left flank and some change became absolutely necessary。  Two regiments of Hildebrand's brigadeAppler's and Mungtn'shad already disappeared to the rear; and Hildebrand's own regiment was in disorder。  I therefore gave orders for Taylor's batterystill at Shilohto fall back as far as the Purdy and Hamburg road; and for McDowell and Buckland to adopt that road as their new line。  I rode across the angle and met Behr's battery at the cross…roads; and ordered it immediately to come into battery; action right。  Captain Behr gave the order; but he was almost immediately shot from his horse; when drivers and gunners fled in disorder; carrying off the caissons; and abandoning five out of six guns; without firing a shot。  The enemy pressed on; gaining this battery; and we were again forced to choose a new line of defense。  Hildebrand's brigade had substantially disappeared from the field; though he himself bravely remained。  McDowell's and Buckland's brigades maintained their organizations; and were conducted by my aides; so as to join on General McClernand's right; thus abandoning my original camps and line。  This was about 10 1/2 a。m。; at which time the enemy had made a furious attack on General MoClernand's whole front。  He straggled most determinedly; but; finding him pressed; I moved McDowell's brigade directly against the left flank of the enemy; forced him back some distance; and then directed the men to avail themselves of every cover…trees; fallen timber; and a wooded valley to our right。  We held this position for four long hours; sometimes gaining and at others losing ground; General McClernand and myself acting in perfect concert; and struggling to maintain this line。 While we were so hard pressed; two Iowa regiments approached from the rear; but could not be brought up to the severe fire that was raging in our front; and General Grant; who visited us on that ground; will remember our situation about 3p。m。; but about 4p。m。 it was evident that Hurlbut's line had been driven back to the river; and knowing that General Lew Wallace was coming with reinforcements from Cramp's Landing; General McClernand and I; on consultation; selected a new line of defense; with its right covering a bridge by which General Wallace had to approach。  We fell back as well as we could; gathering in addition to our own such scattered forces as we could find; and formed the new line。

During this change the enemy's cavalry charged us; but were handsomely repulsed by the Twenty…ninth Illinois Regiment。  The Fifth Ohio Battery; which had come up; rendered good service in holding the enemy in check for some time; and Major Taylor also came up with another battery and got into position; just in time to get a good flank…fire upon the enemy's column; as he pressed on General McClernand's right; checking his advance; when General MeClernand's division made a fine charge on the enemy and drove him back into the ravines to our front and right。  I had a clear field; about two hundred yards wide; in my immediate front; and contented myself with keeping the enemy's infantry at that distance during the rest of the day。  In this position we rested for the night。

My command had become decidedly of a mixed character。  Buckland's brigade whs the only one that retained its organization。  Colonel Hildebrand was personally there; but his brigade was not。  Colonel McDowell had been severely injured by a fall off his horse; and had gone to the river; and the three regiments of his brigade were not in line。  The Thirteenth Missouri; Colonel Crafts J。 Wright; had reported to me on the field; and fought well; retaining its regimental organization; and it formed a part of my line during Sunday night and all Monday。  Other fragments of regiments and companies had also fallen into my division; and acted with it during the remainder of the battle。  General Grant and Buell visited me in our bivouac that evening; and from them I learned the situation of affairs on other parts of the field。  General Wallace arrived from Crump's Landing shortly after dark; and formed his line to my right rear。  It rained hard during the night; but our men were in good spirits; lay on their arms; being satisfied with such bread and meat as could be gathered at the neighboring camps; and determined to redeem on Monday the losses of Sunday。

At daylight of Monday I received General Grant's orders to advance and recapture our original camps。  I dispatched several members of my staff to bring up all the men they could find; especially the brigade of Colonel Stuart; which had been separated from the division all the day before; and at the appointed time the division; or rather what remained of it; with the Thirteenth Missouri and other fragments; moved forward and reoccupied the ground on the extreme right of General McClernand's camp; where we attracted the fire of a battery located near Colonel McDowell's former headquarters。  Here I remained; patiently waiting for the sound of General Buell's advance upon the main Corinth road。  About 10 a。m。  the heavy firing in that direction; and its steady approach; satisfied me; and General Wallace being on our right flank with his well…conducted division; I led the head of my column to General McClernand's right; formed line of battle; facing south; with Backland'a brigade directly across the ridge; and Stuart's brigade on its right in the woods; and thus advanced; steadily and slowly; under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery。  Taylor had just got to me from the rear; where he had gone for ammunition; and brought up three guns; which I ordered into position; to advance by hand firing。  These guns belonged to Company A; Chicago Light Artillery; commanded by Lieutenant P。 P。 Wood; and did most excellent service。  Under cover of their fire; we advanced till we reached the point where the Corinth road crosses the line of McClernand's camp; and here I saw for the first time the well…ordered and compact columns of General Buell's Kentucky forces; whose soldierly movements at once gave confidence to our newer and less disciplined men。  Here I saw Willich's regiment advance upon a point of water…oaks and thicket; behind which I knew the enemy was in great strength; and enter it in beautiful style。 Then arose the severest musketry…fire I ever heard; and lasted some twenty minutes; when this splendid regiment had to fall back。  This green point of timber is about five hundred yards east of Shiloh meeting…home; and it was evident here was to be the struggle。  The enemy could also be seen forming his lines to the south。  General McClernand sending to me for artillery; I detached to him the three guns of Wood's battery; with which he speedily drove them back; and; seeing some others to the rear; I sent one of my staff to bring them forward; when; by almost providential decree; they proved to be two twenty…four pound howitzers belonging to McAlister's battery; and served as well as guns ever could be。

This was about 2 p。m。  The enemy had one battery close by Shiloh; and another near the Hamburg road; both pouring grape and canister upon any column of troops that advanced upon the green point of water…oaks。  Willich's regiment had been repulsed; but a whole brigade of McCook's division advanced beautifully; deployed; and entered this dreaded wood。  I ordered my second brigade (then commanded by Colonel T。 Kilby Smith; Colonel Smart being wounded) to form on its right; and my fourth brigade; Colonel Bnekland; on its right; all to advance abreast with this Kentucky brigade before mentioned; which I afterward found to be Rousseau's brigade of McCook's division。  I gave personal direction to the twenty…four pounder guns; whose well…directed fire first silenced the enemy's guns to the left; and afterward at the Shiloh meeting…house。


Rousseau's brigade moved in splendid order steadily to the front; sweeping every thing before it; and at 4 p。m。  we stood upon th

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的