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keep off to the right towards the Fifteenth Corps； as the woods referred
to were full of Rebels。 The officer saluted Logan； and shouted across：
〃General Sherman directs me to inform you of the death of General
McPherson； and orders you to take command of the Army of the Tennessee；
have Dodge close well up to the Seventeenth Corps； and Sherman will
reinforce you to the extent of the whole army。'
〃Logan； standing in his stirrups； on his beautiful black horse； formed a
picture against the blue sky as we looked up the ravine at him； his black
eyes fairly blazing and his long black hair waving in the wind。
He replied in a ringing； clear tone that we all could hear：
〃Say to General Sherman I have heard of McPherson's death； and have
assumed the command of the Army of the Tennessee； and have already
anticipated his orders in regard to closing the gap between Dodge and the
Seventeenth Corps。'
〃This； of course； all happened in one quarter of the time I have been
telling you。 Logan put spurs to his horse and rode in one direction；
the staff officer of General Sherman in another； and we started on a
rapid step toward the front。 This was the first we had heard of
McPherson's death； and it made us feel very bad。 Some of the officers
and men cried as though they had lost a brother； others pressed their
lips； gritted their teeth； and swore to avenge his death。 He was a great
favorite with all his Army； particularly of our Corps； which he commanded
for a long while。 Our company； especially； knew him well； and loved him
dearly； for we had been his Headquarters Guard for over a year。 As we
marched along； toward the front； we could see brigades； and regiments；
and batteries of artillery； coming over from the right of the Army； and
taking position in new lines in rear of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth
Corps。 Major Generals and their staffs； Brigadier Generals and their
staffs； were mighty thick along the banks of the little ravine we were
following； stragglers and wounded men by the hundred were pouring in to
the safe shelter formed by the broken ground along which we were rapidly
marching； stories were heard of divisions； brigades and regiments that
these wounded or stragglers belonged； having been all cut to pieces；
officers all killed； and the speaker； the only one of his command not
killed； wounded or captured。 But you boys have heard and seen the same
cowardly sneaks； probably； in fights that you were in。 The battle raged
furiously all this time； part of the time the Sixteenth Corps seemed to
be in the worst； then it would let up on them and the Seventeenth Corps
would be hotly engaged along their whole front。
〃We had probably marched half an hour since leaving Logan； and were
getting pretty near back to our main line of works； when the Colonel
ordered a halt and knapsacks to be unslung and piled up。 I tell you it
was a relief to get them off； for it was a fearful hot day； and we had
been marching almost double quick。 We knew that this meant business
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 Co