第 25 节
作者:冥王      更新:2021-02-20 16:47      字数:9322
  blame; and many arrests and trials took place; but there had been
  such an interchanging of cap numbers and other insignia that it was
  next to impossible to identify the guilty; and so much crimination
  and acrimony grew out of the affair that it was deemed best to drop
  the whole matter。
  On August 27 about half of the command was absent reconnoitring; I
  having sent it south toward Tupelo; in the hope of obtaining some
  definite information regarding a movement to Holly Springs of the
  remainder of the Confederate army; under General Price; when about
  mid…day I was suddenly aroused by excited cries and sounds of firing;
  and I saw in a moment that the enemy was in my camp。  He had come in
  on my right flank from the direction of the Hatchie River; pell…mell
  with our picket…post stationed about three miles out on the Ripley
  road。  The whole force of the enemy comprised about eight hundred;
  but only his advance entered with my pickets; whom he had charged and
  badly stampeded; without; on their part; the pretense of a fight in
  behalf of those whom it was their duty to protect until proper
  dispositions for defense could be made。  The day was excessively hot;
  one of those sultry debilitating days that had caused the suspending
  of all military exercises; and as most of the men were lounging or
  sleeping in their tents; we were literally caught napping。  The alarm
  spread instantly through the camp; and in a moment the command turned
  out for action; somewhat in deshabille it is true; but none the less
  effective; for every man had grabbed his rifle and cartridge…box at
  the first alarm。  Aided by a few shots from Captain Henry Hescock's
  battery; we soon drove the intruders from our camp in about the same
  disorder in which they had broken in on us。  By this time Colonel
  Hatch and Colonel Albert L。 Lee had mounted two battalions each; and
  I moved them out at a lively pace in pursuit; followed by a section
  of the battery。  No halt was called till we came upon the enemy's
  main body; under Colonel Faulkner; drawn up in line of battle near
  Newland's store。  Opening on him with the two pieces of artillery; I
  hurriedly formed line confronting him; and quickly and with but
  little resistance drove him in confusion from the field。  The sudden
  turning of the tables dismayed Faulkner's men; and panic seizing
  them; they threw away every loose article of arms or clothing of
  which they could dismember themselves; and ran in the wildest
  disorder in a mad effort to escape。  As the chase went on the panic
  increased; the clouds of dust from the road causing an intermingling
  of friend and foe。  In a little while the affair grew most ludicrous;
  Faulkner's hatless and coatless men taking to the woods in such
  dispersed order and so demoralized that a good many prisoners were
  secured; and those of the enemy who escaped were hunted until dark。
  When the recall was sounded; our men came in loaded down with plunder
  in the shape of hats; haversacks; blankets; pistols; and shotguns; in
  a quantity which amply repaid for the surprise of the morning; but
  did not excuse the delinquent commander of our picket…guard; who a
  few days later was brought to a realizing sense of his duty by a
  court…martial。
  Shortly after this affair Captain Archibald P。 Campbell; of the
  Second Michigan Cavalry; presented me with the black horse called
  Rienzi; since made historical from having been ridden by me in many
  battles; conspicuously in the ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek;
  which has been celebrated in the poem by T。 Buchanan Read。  This
  horse was of Morgan stock; and then about three years old。  He was
  jet black; excepting three white feet; sixteen hands high; and
  strongly built; with great powers of endurance。  He was so active
  that he could cover with ease five miles an hour at his natural
  walking gait。  The gelding had been ridden very seldom; in fact;
  Campbell had been unaccustomed to riding till the war broke out; and;
  I think; felt some disinclination to mount the fiery colt。  Campbell
  had an affection for him; however; that never waned; and would often
  come to my headquarters to see his favorite; the colt being cared for
  there by the regimental farrier; an old man named John Ashley; who
  had taken him in charge when leaving Michigan; and had been his groom
  ever since。  Seeing that I liked the horseI had ridden him on
  several occasionsCampbell presented him to me on one of these
  visits; and from that time till the close of the war I rode him
  almost continuously; in every campaign and battle in which I took
  part; without once finding him overcome by fatigue; though on many
  occasions his strength was severely tested by long marches and short
  rations。  I never observed in him any vicious habit; a nervousness
  and restlessness and switch of the tail; when everything about him
  was in repose; being the only indication that he might be
  untrustworthy。  No one but a novice could be deceived by this;
  however; for the intelligence evinced in every feature; and his
  thoroughbred appearance; were so striking that any person accustomed
  to horses could not misunderstand such a noble animal。  But Campbell
  thought otherwise; at least when the horse was to a certain degree
  yet untrained; and could not be pursuaded to ride him; indeed; for
  more than a year after he was given to me; Campbell still retained
  suspicions of his viciousness; though; along with this mistrust; an
  undiminished affection。  Although he was several times wounded; this
  horse escaped death in action; and living to a ripe old age; died in
  1878; attended to the last with all the care and surrounded with
  every comfort due the faithful service he had rendered。
  In moving from Corinth east toward Chattanooga; General Buell's army
  was much delayed by the requirement that he should repair the Memphis
  and Charleston railroad as he progressed。  The work of repair obliged
  him to march very slowly; and was of but little use when done; for
  guerrillas and other bands of Confederates destroyed the road again
  as soon as he had passed on。  But worst of all; the time thus
  consumed gave General Bragg the opportunity to reorganize and
  increase his army to such an extent that he was able to contest the
  possession of Middle Tennessee and Kentucky。  Consequently; the
  movement of this army through Tennessee and Kentucky toward the Ohio
  Riverits objective points being Louisville and Cincinnatiwas now
  well defined; and had already rendered abortive General Buell's
  designs on Chattanooga and East Tennessee。  Therefore extraordinary
  efforts on the part of the Government became necessary; and the
  concentration of National troops at Louisville and Cincinnati to meet
  the contingency of Bragg's reaching those points was an obvious
  requirement。  These troops were drawn from all sections in the West
  where it was thought they could be spared; and among others I was
  ordered to conduct thitherto Louisville or Cincinnati; as
  subsequent developments might demandmy regiment; Hescock's battery;
  the Second and Fifteenth Missouri; and the Thirty…sixth and Forty…
  fourth Illinois regiments of infantry; known as the 〃Pea Ridge
  Brigade。〃 With this column I marched back to Corinth on the 6th of
  September; 1862; for the purpose of getting railroad transportation
  to Columbus; Kentucky。
  At Corinth I met General Grant; who by this time had been
  reestablished in favor and command somewhat; General Halleck having
  departed for Washington to assume command of the army as General…in…
  Chief。  Before and during the activity which followed his
  reinstatement; General Grant had become familiar with my services
  through the transmission to Washington of information I had furnished
  concerning the enemy's movements; and by reading reports of my fights
  and skirmishes in front; and he was loth to let me go。  Indeed; he
  expressed surprise at seeing me in Corinth; and said he had not
  expected me to go; he also plainly showed that he was much hurt at
  the inconsiderate way in which his command was being depleted。  Since
  I was of the opinion that the chief field of usefulness and
  opportunity was opening up in Kentucky; I did not wish him to retain
  me; which he might have done; and I impressed him with my conviction;
  somewhat emphatically; I fear。  Our conversation ended with my wish
  gratified。  I afterward learned that General Granger; whom General
  Grant did not fancy; had suggested that I should take to Cincinnati
  the main portion of Granger's commandthe Pea Ridge Brigadeas well
  as the Second Michigan Cavalry; of which I was still colonel。
  We started that night; going by rail over the Mobile and Ohio road to
  Columbus; Ky。; where we embarked on steamboats awaiting us。  These
  boats were five in number; and making one of them my flag…ship;
  expecting that we might come upon certain batteries reported to be
  located upon the Kentucky shore of the Ohio; I directed the rest to
  follow my lead。  Just before reaching