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！
umerical superiority was at the greatest； for he was picking up his detachments as he fell back； whereas I was compelled to make similar and stronger detachments to repair the railroads as we advanced； and to guard them。 I found at Cassville many evidences of preparation for a grand battle； among them a long line of fresh intrenchments on the hill beyoud the town； extending nearly three miles to the south； embracing the railroad…crossing。 I was also convinced that the whole of Polk's corps had joined Johnston from Mississippi； and that he had in hand three full corps； viz。； Hood's； Polk's； and Hardee's； numbering about sixty thousand men； and could not then imagine why he had declined battle； and did not learn the real reason till after the war was over； and then from General Johnston himself。
In the autumn of 1865； when in command of the Military Division of the Missouri； I went from St。 Louis to Little Rock； Arkansas； and afterward to Memphis。 Taking a steamer for Cairo； I found as fellow…passengers Generals Johnston and Frank Blair。 We were； of course； on the most friendly terms； and on our way up we talked over our battles again； played cards； and questioned each other as to particular parts of our mutual conduct in the game of war。 I told Johnston that I had seen his order of preparation； in the nature of an address to his army； announcing his purpose to retreat no more； but to accept battle at Cassville。 He answered that such was his purpose； that he had left Hardee's corps in the open fields to check Thomas； and gain time for his formation on the ridge； just behind Cassville； and it was this corps which General Thomas had seen deployed； and whose handsome movement in retreat he had reported in such complimentary terms。 Johnston described how he had placed Hood's corps on the right； Polk's in the centre； and Hardee's on the left。 He said he had ridden over the ground； given to each corps commander his position； and orders to throw up parapets during the night； that he was with Hardee on his extreme left as the night closed in； and as Hardee's troops fell back to the position assigned them for the intended battle of the next day； and that； after giving Hardee some general instructions； he and his staff rode back to Cassville。 As he entered the town； or village； he met Generals Hood and Polk。 Hood inquired of him if he had had any thing to eat； and he said no； that he was both hungry and tired； when Hood invited him to go and share a supper which had been prepared for him at a house close by。 At the supper they discussed the chances of the impending battle； when Hood spoke of the ground assigned him as being enfiladed by our （Union） artillery； which Johnston disputed； when General Polk chimed in with the remark that General Hood was right； that the cannon…shots fired by us at nightfall had enfiladed their general line of battle； and that for this reason he feared they could not hold their men。 General Johnston was surprised at this； for he understood General Hood to be one of those who professed to criticise his strategy； contending that； instead of retreating； he should have risked a battle。 General Johnston said he was provoked； accused them of having been in conference； with being beaten before battle； and added that he was unwilling to engage in a critical battle with an army so superior to his own in numbers； with two of his three corps commanders dissatisfied with the ground and positions assigned them。 He then and there made up his mind to retreat still farther south； to put the Etowah River and the Allatoona range between us； and he at once gave orders to resume the retrograde movement。
This was my recollection of the substance of the conversation； of which I made no note at the time； but； at a meeting of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland some years after； at Cleveland； Ohio； about 1868； in a short after…dinner speech； I related this conversation； and it got into print。 Subsequently； in the spring of 1870； when I was at New Orleans； on route for Texas； General Hood called to see me at the St。 Charles Hotel； explained that he had seen my speech reprinted in the newspapers and gave me his version of the same event； describing the halt at Cassville； the general orders for battle on that ground； and the meeting at supper with Generals Johnston and Polk； when the chances of the battle to be fought the next day were freely and fully discussed； and he stated that he had argued against fighting the battle purely on the defensive； but had asked General Johnston to permit him with his own corps and part of Polk's to quit their lines； and to march rapidly to attack and overwhelm Schofield； who was known to be separated from Thomas by an interval of nearly five miles； claiming that he could have defeated Schofield； and got back to his position in time to meet General Thomas's attack in front。 He also stated that he had then contended with Johnston for the 〃offensive… defensive〃 game； instead of the 〃pure defensive；〃 as proposed by General Johnston； and he said that it was at this time that General Johnston had taken offense； and that it was for this reason he had ordered the retreat that night。 As subsequent events estranged these two officers； it is very natural they should now differ on this point； but it was sufficient for us that the rebel army did retreat that night； leaving us masters of all the country above the Etowah River。
For the purposes of rest； to give time for the repair of the railroads； and to replenish supplies； we lay by some few days in that quarterSchofield with Stoneman's cavalry holding the ground at Cassville Depot； Cartersville； and the Etowah Bridge； Thomas holding his ground near Cassville； and McPherson that near Kingston。 The officer intrusted with the repair of the railroads was Colonel W。 W。 Wright； a rairoad…engineer； who； with about two thousand men； was so industrious and skillful that the bridge at Resaca was rebuilt in three days； and cars loaded with stores came forward to Kingston on the 24th。 The telegraph also brought us the news of the bloody and desperate battles of the Wilderness； in Virginia； and that General Grant was pushing his operations against Lee with terrific energy。 I was therefore resolved to give my enemy no rest。
In early days （1844）； when a lieutenant of the Third Artillery； I had been sent from Charleston； South Carolina； to Marietta； Georgia； to assist Inspector…General Churchill to take testimony concerning certain losses of horses and accoutrements by the Georgia Volunteers during the Florida War； and after completing the work at Marietta we transferred our party over to Bellefonte； Alabama。 I had ridden the distance on horseback； and had noted well the topography of the country； especially that about Kenesaw； Allatoona； and the Etowah River。 On that occasion I had stopped some days with a Colonel Tumlin； to see some remarkable Indian mounds on the Etowah River； usually called the 〃Hightower：〃 I therefore knew that the Allatoona Pass was very strong； would be hard to force； and resolved not even to attempt it； but to turn the position； by moving from Kingston to Marietta via。 Dallas； accordingly I made orders on the 20th to get r