The Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Volume I., Part 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 365 pages of information about The Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Volume I., Part 2.

The Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Volume I., Part 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 365 pages of information about The Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Volume I., Part 2.

I have not yet received Colonel Stuart’s report of the operations of his brigade during the time he was detached, and must therefore forbear to mention names.  Lieutenant-Colonel Kyle, of the Seventy-first, was mortally wounded on Sunday, but the regiment itself I did not see, as only a small fragment of it was with the brigade when it joined the division on Monday morning.  Great credit is due the fragments of men of the disordered regiments who kept in the advance.  I observed and noticed them, but until the brigadiers and colonels make their reports, I cannot venture to name individuals, but will in due season notice all who kept in our front line, as well as those who preferred to keep back near the steamboat-landing.  I will also send a full list of the killed, wounded, and missing, by name, rank, company, and regiment.  At present I submit the result in figures: 

[Summary of General Sherman’s detailed  table:]
Killed ........................  318
Wounded ....................... 1275
Missing .......................  441
Aggregate loss in the division:  2034

The enemy captured seven of our guns on Sunday, but on Monday we recovered seven; not the identical guns we had lost, but enough in number to balance the account.  At the time of recovering our camps our men were so fatigued that we could not follow the retreating masses of the enemy; but on the following day I followed up with Buckland’s and Hildebrand’s brigade for six miles, the result of which I have already reported.

Of my personal staff, I can only speak with praise and thanks.  I think they smelled as much gunpowder and heard as many cannon-balls and bullets as must satisfy their ambition.  Captain Hammond, my chief of staff, though in feeble health, was very active in rallying broken troops, encouraging the steadfast and aiding to form the lines of defense and attack.  I recommend him to your notice.  Major Sanger’s intelligence, quick perception, and rapid execution, were of very great value to me, especially in bringing into line the batteries that cooperated so efficiently in our movements.  Captains McCoy and Dayton, aides-de-camp, were with me all the time, carrying orders, and acting with coolness, spirit, and courage.  To Surgeon Hartshorne and Dr. L’Hommedieu hundreds of wounded men are indebted for the kind and excellent treatment received on the field of battle and in the various temporary hospitals created along the line of our operations.  They worked day and night, and did not rest till all the wounded of our own troops as well as of the enemy were in safe and comfortable shelter.  To Major Taylor, chief of artillery, I feel under deep obligations, for his good sense and judgment in managing the batteries, on which so much depended.  I inclose his report and indorse his recommendations.  The cavalry of my command kept to the rear, and took little part in the action; but it would have been madness to have exposed horses

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The Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman, Volume I., Part 2 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.