TheFifteenth（Logan's）Corpsjoinedusontheright,thentheArmyoftheCumberlandfurthertotheright。WerunontotheRebsaboutsundownthe21st。Theyhadsomebreastworksonaridgeinfrontofus,andwehadaprettysharpfightbeforewedrovethemoff。Wewentrighttowork,andkeptatitallnightinchangingandstrengtheningtheoldRebelbarricades,frontingthemtowardsAtlanta,andbymorninghadsomegoodsolidworksalongourwholeline。Duringthenightwefanciedwecouldhearwagonsorartillerymovingawayinfrontofus,apparentlygoingSouth,ortowardsourleft。Aboutthreeorfouro'clockinthemorning,whileIwasshovelingdirtlikeabeaveroutontheworks,theLieutenantcametomeandsaidtheColonelwantedtoseeme,pointingtoalargetreeintherear,whereIcouldfindhim。IreportedandfoundhimwithGeneralLeggett,whocommandedourDivision,talkingmightyserious,andBobWheeler,ofFCompany,standingtherewithhisSpringfieldataparaderest。AssoonasIcameup,theColonelsays:
　　"Boys,theGeneralwantstwolevel—headedchapstogooutbeyondthepicketstothefrontandtowardtheleft。Ihaveselectedyoufortheduty。Goasquietlyaspossibleandasfastasyoucan;keepyoureyesandearsopen;don'tfireashotifyoucanhelpit,andcomebackandtellusexactlywhatyouhaveseenandheard,andnotwhatyouimagineorsuspect。Ihaveselectedyoufortheduty。'
　　"Hegaveusthecountersign,andoffwestartedoverthebreastworksandthroughthethickwoods。Wesooncametoourskirmishorpickets,onlyafewrodsinfrontofourworks,andcautionedthemnottofireonusingoingorreturning。Wewentoutasmuchashalfamileormore,untilwecouldplainlyhearthesoundofwagonsandartillery。WethencautiouslycreptforwarduntilwecouldseethemainroadleadingsouthfromtheCityfilledwithmarchingmen,artilleryandteams。Wecouldhearthecommandsoftheofficersandseetheflagsandbannersofregimentafterregimentastheypassedus。Wegotbackquietlyandquickly,passedthroughourpicketlineallright,andfoundtheGeneralandourColonelsittingonalogwherewehadleftthem,waitingforus。Wereportedwhatwehadseenandheard,andgaveitasouropinionthattheJohnnieswereevacuatingAtlanta。TheGeneralshookhishead,andtheColonelsays:'Youmayreturntoyourcompany。'Bobsaystome:
　　"'TheoldGeneralshakeshisheadasthoughhethoughtthemd———dRebsain'tevacuatingAtlantasomightysudden,butareuptosomedevilmentagain。Iain'tsurebuthe'sright。Theyain'tgoingtokeepfallingbackandfallingbacktoalleternity,butarejustagoin'togiveusarip—roaringgreatbigfightoneo'thesedays——whentheygetagoodready。Youhearme！'
　　"Sayingwhichwebothwenttoourcompanies,andlaiddowntogetalittlesleep。Itwasaboutdaylightthen,andImusthavesnoozedawayuntilnearnoon,whenIheardtheorder'fallin！'andfoundtheregimentgettingintoline,andtheboysalltallyingaboutgoingrightintoAtlanta;thattheRebelshadevacuatedtheCityduringthenight,andthatweweregoingtohavearacewiththeFifteenthCorpsastowhichwouldgetintotheCityfirst。Wecouldlookawayoutacrossalargefieldinfrontofourworks,andseetheskirmishlineadvancingsteadilytowardsthemainworksaroundtheCity。Notashotwasbeing,firedoneitherside。
　　"Tooursurprise,insteadofmarchingtothefrontandtowardtheCity,wefiledoffintoasmallroadcutthroughthewoodsandmarchedrapidlytotherear。Wecouldnotunderstandwhatitmeant。Wemarchedatquicktime,feelingprettymadthatwehadtogototherear,whentherestofourDivisionweregoingintoAtlanta。
　　"WepassedtheSixteenthCorpslyingontheirarms,backinsomeopenfields,andthewagontrainsofourCorpsallcomfortablycorralled,andfinallyfoundourselvesoutbytheSeventeenthCorpsheadquarters。Twoorthreecompaniesweresentouttopicketseveralroadsthatseemedtocrossatthatpoint,asitwasreported'RebelCavalry'hadbeenseenontheseroadsbutashorttimebefore,andthisaccountedforourbeingrushedoutinsuchagreathurry。
　　"Wehadjuststackedarmsandweregoingtotakealittlerestafterourrapidmarch,whenseveralRebelprisonerswerebroughtinbysomeoftheboyswhohadstraggledalittle。TheyfoundtheRebelsontheroadwehadjustmarchedouton。Uptothistimenotashothadbeenfired。
　　Allwasquietbackatthemainworkswehadjustleft,whensuddenlywesawseveralstaffofficerscometearinguptotheColonel,whoorderedusto'fallin！''Takeaims！''about,face！'TheLieutenantColoneldasheddownoneoftheroadswhereoneofthecompanieshadgoneoutonpicket。
　　TheMajorandAdjutantgallopeddowntheothers。Wedidnotwaitforthemtocomeback,though,butmovedrightbackontheroadwehadjustcomeout,inlineofbattle,ourcolorsintheroad,andourflanksinopentimber。Wesoonreachedafenceenclosingalargefield,andtherecouldseealineofRebelsmovingbytheflank,andforming,facingtowardAtlanta,buttotheleftandintherearofthepositionoccupiedbyourCorps。Assoonaswereachedthefencewefiredaroundortwointothebacksofthesegraycoats,whobrokeintoconfusion。
　　"Justthentheothercompaniesjoinedus,andwemovedoffon'doublequickbytherightflank,'foryouseewewerecompletelycutofffromthetroopsupatthefront,andwehadtogetwellovertotherighttogetaroundtheflankoftheRebels。JustaboutthetimewefiredontherebelstheSixteenthCorpsopenedupahotfireofmusketryandartilleryonthem,someoftheirshotcomingovermightyclosetowherewewere。
　　Wemarchedprettyfast,andfinallyturnedinthroughsomeopenfieldstotheleft,andcameoutjustintherearoftheSixteenthCorps,whowerefightinglikedevilsalongtheirwholeline。
　　"JustaswecameoutintotheopenfieldwesawGeneralR。K。Scott,whousedtobeourColonel,andwhocommandedourbrigade,cometearingtowarduswithoneortwoaidsororderlies。Hewasonhisbigclay—bankhorse,'OldHatchie,'aswecalledhim,aswecapturedhimonthebattlefieldatthebattleof'Matamora,'or'HellontheHatchie,'asourboysalwayscalledit。HerodeuptotheColonel,saidsomethinghastily,whenallatonceweheardtheall—firedestcrashofmusketryandartillerywayupatthefrontwherewehadbuilttheworksthenightbeforeandlefttherestofourbrigadeandDivisiongettingreadytopranceintoAtlantawhenweweresentofftotherear。Scottputspurstohisoldhorse,whowasoneofthefastestrunnersinourDivision,andawayhewentbacktowardsthepositionwherehisbrigadeandthetroopsimmediatelytotheirleftwerenowhotlyengaged。HeroderightalonginrearoftheSixteenthCorps,payingnoattentionapparentlytotheshotandshellandbulletsthatweretearinguptheearthandexplodingandstrikingallaroundhim。Hisaidsandorderliesvainlytriedtokeepupwithhim。WecouldplainlyseetheRebellinesastheycameoutofthewoodsintotheopengroundstoattacktheSixteenthCorps,whichhadhastilyformedintheopenfield,withoutanysignsofworks,andwerestandinguplikemen,havingahand—to—handfight。
　　WewerejustfarenoughintherearsothateveryblastedshotorshellthatwasfiredtoohightohittheranksoftheSixteenthCorpscamerattlingoveramongstus。Allthistimeweweremarchingfast,followinginthedirectionGeneralScotthadtaken,whoevidentlyhadorderedtheColoneltojoinhisbrigadeupatthefront。Weweredownunderthecrestofalittlehill,followingalongthebankofalittlecreek,keepingundercoverofthebankasmuchaspossibletoprotectusfromtheshotsoftheenemy。WesuddenlysawGeneralLoganandoneortwoofhisstaffupontherightbankoftheravineridingrapidlytowardus。
　　Ashenearedtheheadoftheregimentheshouted:
　　"'Halt！Whatregimentisthat,andwhereareyougoing？'"TheColonel,inaloudvoice,thatallcouldhear,toldhim:"TheSixty—EighthOhio;
　　goingtojoinourbrigadeoftheThirdDivision——youroldDivision,General,oftheSeventeenthCorps。"
　　"Logansays,'youhadbettergorightinhereontheleftofDodge。
　　TheThirdDivisionhavehardlygroundenoughleftnowtoburytheirdead。
　　Godknowstheyneedyou。Buttryiton,ifyouthinkyoucangettothem。'
　　"JustatthismomentastaffofficercameridingupontheoppositesideoftheravinefromwhereLoganwasandinterruptedLogan,whowasabouttellingtheColonelnottotrytogotothepositionheldbytheThirdDivisionbytheroadcutthroughthewoodswhencewehadcomeout,buttokeepofftotherighttowardstheFifteenthCorps,asthewoodsreferredtowerefullofRebels。TheofficersalutedLogan,andshoutedacross:
　　"GeneralShermandirectsmetoinformyouofthedeathofGeneralMcPherson,andordersyoutotakecommandoftheArmyoftheTennessee;
　　haveDodgeclosewelluptotheSeventeenthCorps,andShermanwillreinforceyoutotheextentofthewholearmy。'
　　"Logan,standinginhisstirrups,onhisbeautifulblackhorse,formedapictureagainsttheblueskyaswelookeduptheravineathim,hisblackeyesfairlyblazingandhislongblackhairwavinginthewind。
　　Herepliedinaringing,cleartonethatweallcouldhear:
　　"SaytoGeneralShermanIhaveheardofMcPherson'sdeath,andhaveassumedthecommandoftheArmyoftheTennessee,andhavealreadyanticipatedhisordersinregardtoclosingthegapbetweenDodgeandtheSeventeenthCorps。'
　　"This,ofcourse,allhappenedinonequarterofthetimeIhavebeentellingyou。Loganputspurstohishorseandrodeinonedirection,thestaffofficerofGeneralShermaninanother,andwestartedonarapidsteptowardthefront。ThiswasthefirstwehadheardofMcPherson'sdeath,anditmadeusfeelverybad。Someoftheofficersandmencriedasthoughtheyhadlostabrother;otherspressedtheirlips,grittedtheirteeth,andsworetoavengehisdeath。HewasagreatfavoritewithallhisArmy,particularlyofourCorps,whichhecommandedforalongwhile。Ourcompany,especially,knewhimwell,andlovedhimdearly,forwehadbeenhisHeadquartersGuardforoverayear。Aswemarchedalong,towardthefront,wecouldseebrigades,andregiments,andbatteriesofartillery;comingoverfromtherightoftheArmy,andtakingpositioninnewlinesinrearoftheSixteenthandSeventeenthCorps。MajorGeneralsandtheirstaffs,BrigadierGeneralsandtheirstaffs,weremightythickalongthebanksofthelittleravinewewerefollowing;stragglersandwoundedmenbythehundredwerepouringintothesafeshelterformedbythebrokengroundalongwhichwewererapidlymarching;storieswereheardofdivisions,brigadesandregimentsthatthesewoundedorstragglersbelonged,havingbeenallcuttopieces;
　　officersallkilled;andthespeaker,theonlyoneofhiscommandnotkilled,woundedorcaptured。Butyouboyshaveheardandseenthesamecowardlysneaks,probably,infightsthatyouwerein。Thebattleragedfuriouslyallthistime;partofthetimetheSixteenthCorpsseemedtobeintheworst;thenitwouldletuponthemandtheSeventeenthCorpswouldbehotlyengagedalongtheirwholefront。
　　"WehadprobablymarchedhalfanhoursinceleavingLogan,andweregettingprettynearbacktoourmainlineofworks,whentheColonelorderedahaltandknapsackstobeunslungandpiledup。Itellyouitwasarelieftogetthemoff,foritwasafearfulhotday,andwehadbeenmarchingalmostdoublequick。Weknewthatthismeantbusinessthough,andthatwewerestrippingforthefight,whichwewouldsoonbein。Justatthismomentwesawanambulance,withthehorsesonadeadrun,followedbytwoorthreemountedofficersandmen,comingrighttowardsusoutoftheverywoodsLoganhadcautionedtheColoneltoavoid。Whentheambulancegottowherewewereithalted。Itwasprettywelloutofdangerfromthebulletsandshelloftheenemy。Theystopped,andwerecognizedMajorStrong,ofMcPherson'sStaff,whomtheallknew,ashewastheChiefInspectorofourCorps,andintheambulancehehadthebodyofGeneralMcPherson。MajorStrong,itappears,duringaslightlullinthefightingatthatpartoftheline,havingtakenanambulanceanddrivenintotheveryjawsofdeathtorecovertheremainsofhislovedcommander。Itseemshefoundthebodyrightbythesideofthelittleroadthatwehadgoneoutonwhenwewenttotherear。Hewasdeadwhenhefoundhim,havingbeenshotoffhishorse,thebulletstrikinghimintheback,justbelowhisheart,probablykillinghiminstantly。Therewasayoungfellowwithhimwhowaswoundedalso,whenStrongfoundthem。HebelongedtoourFirstDivision,andrecognizedGeneralMcPherson,andstoodbyhimuntilMajorStrongcameup。HewasintheambulancewiththebodyofMcPhersonwhentheystoppedbyus。
　　"Itseemsthatwhenthefightopenedawaybackintherearwherewehadbeen,andattheleftoftheSixteenthCorpswhichwasalmostdirectlyintherearoftheSeventeenthCorps,McPhersonsenthisstaffandorderlieswithvariousorderstodifferentpartsoftheline,andstartedhimselftorideoverfromtheSeventeenthCorpstotheSixteenthCorps,takingexactlythesamecourseourRegimenthad,perhapsanhourbefore,buttheRebelshaddiscoveredtherewasagapbetweentheSixteenthandSeventeenthCorps,andmeetingnooppositiontotheiradvancesinthisstripofwoods,wheretheywerehiddenfromview,theyhadmarchedrightalongdownintherear,andwiththeirlineatrightangleswiththelineofworksoccupiedbytheleftoftheSeventeenthCorps;theywerethusparallelandclosetothelittleroadMcPhersonhadtaken,andprobablyheroderightintothemandwaskilledbeforeherealizedthetruesituation。
　　"Havingpiledourknapsacks,andleftacoupleofouroldermen,whowereplayedoutwiththeheatandmostreadytodropwithsunstroke,toguardthem,westartedonagain。TheambulancewiththecorpseofGen。
　　McPhersonmovedofftowardstherightoftheArmy,whichwasthelastweeversawofthatbraveandhandsomesoldier。
　　"Weboreoffalittletotherightofalargeopenfieldontopofahighhillwhereoneofourbatterieswaspoundingawayatatremendousrate。
　　WecameuptothemainlineofworksjustaboutattheleftoftheFifteenthCorps。Theyseemedtobehavinganeasytimeofitjustthen——
　　nofightinggoingonintheirfront,exceptoccasionalshotsfromsomeheavygunsonthemainlineofRebelworksaroundtheCity。WecrossedrightovertheFifteenthCorps'worksandfiledtotheleft,keepingalongontheoutsideofourworks。WehadnotgonefarbeforetheRebelgunnersinthemainworksaroundtheCitydiscoveredus;andthewaytheydidtearlooseatuswasacaution。Theiraimwasratherbad,however,andmostoftheirshotswentoverus。Wesawoneofthem——Ithinkitwasashell——strikeanartillerycaissonbelongingtooneofour—batteries。
　　Itexplodedasitstruck,andthenthecaisson,whichwasfullofammunition,explodedwithanawfulnoise,throwingpiecesofwoodandironanditsownloadofshotandshellhighintotheair,scatteringdeathanddestructiontothemenandhorsesattachedtoit。Wethoughtwesawarmsandlegsandpartsofbodiesofmenflyingineverydirection;butweweregladtolearnafterwardsthatitwasthecontentsoftheknapsacksoftheBatteryboys,whohadstrappedthemonthecaissonsfortransportation。
　　"Justafterpassingthehillwhereourbatterywasmakingthingssolively,theystoppedfiringtoletuspass。WesawGeneralLeggett,ourDivisionCommander,comeridingtowardus。Hewasoutsideofourlineofworks,too。Youknowhowwebuildbreastworks——sortofzigzaglike,youknow,sotheycannotbeenfiladed。Well,that'sjustthewaytheworkswerealongthere,andyouneversawsuchacuriousshapeasweformedourDivisionin。Why,partofthemwereononesideoftheworks,andgoalongalittlefurtherandherewasaregiment,orpartofaregimentontheotherside,bothsetsfiringinoppositedirections。
　　"Nosir'ee,theywerenotdemoralizedorinconfusion,theywerecoolandassteadyasonparade。ButtheoldDivisionhad,youknow,neverbeendrivenfromanypositiontheyhadoncetaken,inalltheirlongservice,andtheydidnotproposetoleavethatridgeuntiltheygotordersfromsomeonebesidetheRebs。
　　"Thereweretimeswhenafellowdidnotknowwhichsideoftheworkswasthesafest,fortheJohnnieswereinfrontofusandinrearofus。
　　Yousee,ourFourthDivision,whichhadbeentotheleftofus,hadbeenforcedtoquittheirworks,whentheRebsgotintotheworksintheirrear,sothatourDivisionwasnowatthepointwhereourlineturnedsharplytotheleft,andrear——inthedirectionoftheSixteenthCorps。
　　"Wegotintobusinessbeforewehadbeenthereoverthreeminutes。
　　AlineoftheRebstriedtochargeacrosstheopenfieldsinfrontofus,butbythehelpoftheoldtwenty—fourpounders（whichprovedtobepartofCooper'sIllinoisBattery,thatwehadbeenalongsideofinmanyahardfightbefore）,wedrovethembacka—flying,onlytohavetojumpoverontheoutsideofourworksthenextminutetotackleaheavyforcethatcameforourrearthroughthatblastedstripofwoods。Wesoondrovethemoff,andthefiringonbothsidesseemedtohaveprettymuchstopped。
　　"'OurBrigade,'whichwediscovered,wasnowcommandedby'OldWhiskers'
　　（ColonelPiles,oftheSeventy—EighthOhio。I'llbethe'sgotthelongestwhiskersofanymanintheArmy。）YouseeGeneralScotthadnotbeenseenorheardofsincehehadstartedtotherearafterourregimentwhenthefightingfirstcommenced。Weallbelievedthathewaseitherkilledorcaptured,orhewouldhavebeenwithhiscommand。Hewasasplendidsoldier,andabull—dogofafighter。Hisabsencewasagreatloss,butwehadnotmuchtimetothinkofsuchthings,forourbrigadewasthenorderedtoleavetheworksandtomovetotherightabouttwentyorthirtyrodsacrossalargeravine,wherewewereplacedinpositioninanopencorn—field,forminganewlineatquiteananglefromthelineofworkswehadjustleft,extendingtotheleft,andgettingusbacknearerontoalinewiththeSixteenthCorps。Thebatteryofhowitzers,nowreinforcedbyapartoftheThirdOhioheavyguns,stilloccupiedtheoldworksonthehighestpartofthehill,justtotherightofournewline。
　　Wetookourpositionjustonthebrowofahill,andwereorderedtoliedown,andtherearranktogoforrails,whichwediscoveredafewrodsbehindusintheshapeofagoodten—railfence。Everyrear—rankchapcamebackwithalltherailshecouldlug,andwebarelyhadtimetolaythemdowninfrontofus,formingalittlebarricadeofsixtoeightortenincheshigh,whenweheardthemostunearthlyRebelyelldirectlyinfrontofus。Itgrewlouderandcamenearerandnearer,untilwecouldseeasolidlineofthegraycoatscomingoutofthewoodsanddowntheoppositeslope,theirbattleflagsflying,officersinfrontwithdrawnswords,armsatrightshoulder,andeveryoneofthemyellinglikesomanySiouxIndians。Thelineseemedtobemassedsixoreightranksdeep,followedcloselybythesecondline,andthatbythethird,each,ifpossible,yellinglouderandappearingmoredesperatelyrecklessthantheoneahead。Attheirfirstappearanceweopenedonthem,andsodidthebullyoldtwenty—four—pounders,withcanister。
　　"Ontheycame;thefirstlinestaggeredandwaveredbackontothesecond,whichwascomingonthedoublequick。Sucharakingaswedidgivethem。Oh,Lordy,howwedidwishthatwehadthebreechloadingSpencersorWinchesters。ButwehadtheoldreliableSpringfields,andwepoureditinhotandheavy。Bythetimethechargingcolumngotdowntheoppositeslope,andwerestrugglingthroughthethicketofundergrowthintheravine,theywereoneconfusedmassofofficersandmen,thethreelinesnowformingonesolidcolumn,whichmadeseveraldesperateeffortstorushuptothetopofthehillwherewewerepunishingthemso。OneoftheirfirstsurgescamemightyneargoingrightovertheleftofourRegiment,astheywerelyingdownbehindtheirlittlerailpiles。Buttheboysclubbedtheirgunsandtheofficersusedtheirrevolversandswordsanddrovethembackdownthehill。
　　"TheSeventy—EighthandTwentiethOhio,ourrightandleftbowers,whohadbeenbrigadedwithuseversince'Shiloh,'wereintoitashotandheavyaswehadbeen,andhadlostnumbersoftheirofficersandmen,butwerehangingontotheirlittlerailpileswhenthefightwasover。
　　AtonetimetheRebswererightinontopoftheSeventy—Eighth。OnebigRebgrabbedtheircolors,andtriedtopullthemoutofthehandsofthecolor—bearer。ButoldCaptainOrr,alittle,short,dried—upfellow,aboutsixtyyearsold,struckhimwithhisswordacrossthebackoftheneck,andkilledhimdeaderthanamackerel,rightinhistracks。
　　"Itwasnowgettingdark,andtheJohnniesconcludedtheyhadtakenabiggercontractintryingtodriveusoffthathillinonedaythantheyhadcountedon,sotheyquitchargingonus,butdrewbackundercoverofthewoodsandalongtheoldlineofworksthatwehadleft,andkeptupapeckingawayandsharp—shootingatusallnightlong。Theyopenedfireonusfromanumberofpiecesofartilleryfromthefront,fromtheleft,andfromsomeheavygunsawayovertotherightofus,inthemainworksaroundAtlanta。
　　"Wedidnotfoolawaymuchtimethatnight,either。Wegotourshovelsandpicks,andwhilepartofusweresharpshootingandtryingtokeeptheRebelsfromworkinguptooclosetous,therestoftheboyswereputtingupsomegoodsolidearthworksrightwhereourrailpileshadbeen,andbymorningwewereinsplendidshapetohavereceivedourfriends,nomatterwhichwaytheyhadcomeatus,fortheykeptupsuchanall—firedshellingofusfromsomanydifferentdirections;thattheboyshadbuilttraversesandbomb—proofsatallsortsofanglesandinalldirections。
　　"Therewasonepointofftoourright,afewrodsupalongouroldlineofworkswheretherewasacrowdofRebelsharpshootersthatannoyedusmorethanalltherest,bytheirconstantfiringatusthroughthenight。
　　TheykilledoneofCompanyH'sboys,andwoundedseveralothers。FinallyCaptainWilliams,ofDCompany,camealongandsaidhewantedacoupleofgoodshotsoutofourcompanytogowithhim,soIwentforone。Hetookabouttenofus,andwecrawleddownintotheravineinfrontofwherewewerebuildingtheworks,andgotbehindalargefallentree,andwelaidthereandcouldjustfirerightupintotherearofthosefellowsastheylaybehindatraverseextendingbackfromouroldlineofworks。Itwassodarkwecouldonlyseewheretofirebytheflashofguns,buteverytimetheywouldshoot,someofuswouldletthemhaveone。Theystaidthereuntilalmostdaylight,whenthey,concludedasthingslooked,sinceweweregoingtostay,theyhadbetterbegoing。
　　"Itwasanawfulnight。DownintheravinebelowuslayhundredsofkilledandwoundedRebels,groaningandcryingaloudforwaterandforhelp。Wediddowhatwecouldforthoserightaroundus——butitwassodark,andsomanyshellburstingandbulletsflyingaroundthatafellowcouldnotgetaboutmuch。Itellyouitwasprettytoughnextmorningtogoalongtothedifferentcompaniesofourregimentandhearwhowereamongthekilledandwounded,andtoseethelongrowofgravesthatwerebeingdugtoburyourcomradesandourofficers。TherewastheCaptainofCompanyE,NelsonSkeeles,ofFultonCounty,O。,oneof——thebravestandbestofficersintheregiment。ByhissidelayFirstSergeantLesnit,andnextwerethetwogreat,powerfulShepherds——cousinsbutmorelikebrothers。One,itseems,waskilledwhilesupportingtheheadoftheother,whohadjustreceivedadeathwound,thusdyingineachother'sarms。
　　"ButIcan'tbegintothinkortellyouthenamesofallthepoorboysthatwelaidawaytorestintheirlast,longsleeponthatgloomyday。
　　OurMajorwasseverelywounded,andseveralotherofficershadbeenhitmoreorlessbadly。
　　"Itwasafrightfulsight,though,togooverthefieldinfrontofourworksonthatmorning。TheRebeldeadandbadlywoundedlaidwheretheyhadfallen。Thebottomandoppositesideoftheravineshowedhowdestructiveourfireandthatofthecanisterfromthehowitzershadbeen。Theunderbrushwascut,slashed,andtornintoshreds,andthelargertreeswerescarred,bruisedandbrokenbythethousandsofbulletsandothermissilesthathadbeenpouredintothemfromalmosteveryconceivabledirectionduringthedaybefore。
　　"AlotofusboyswentwayovertotheleftintoFuller'sDivisionoftheSixteenthCorps,toseehowsomeofourboysovertherehadgotthroughthescrimmage,fortheyhadaboutasnastyafightasanypartoftheArmy,andifithadnotbeenfortheirbeingjustwheretheywere,IamnotsurebutwhattheoldSeventeenthCorpswouldhavehadadifferentstorytotellnow。WefoundourfriendshadbeenwayoutbyDecatur,wheretheirbrigadehadgotintoaprettylivelyfightontheirownhook。
　　"Wegotbacktocamp,andthefirstthingIknewIwasdetailedforpicketduty,andwewerepostedoverafewrodsacrosstheravineinourfront。Wehadnotbeenoutbutashorttimewhenwesawaflagoftruce,bornebyanofficer,comingtowardsus。Wehaltedhim,andmadehimwaituntilareportwassentbacktoCorpsheadquarters。TheRebelofficerwasquitechattyandtalkativewithourpicketofficer,whilewaiting。
　　HesaidhewasonGeneralCleburne'sstaff,andthatthetroopsthatchargedussofiercelytheeveningbeforewasCleburne'swholeDivision,andthataftertheirlastrepulse,knowingthehillwherewewerepostedwasthemostimportantpositionalongourline,hefeltthatiftheywouldkeepclosetousduringthenight,andkeepupashowoffight,thatwewouldpulloutandabandonthehillbeforemorning。Hesaidthathe,withaboutfiftyoftheirbestmen,hadvolunteeredtokeepupthedemonstration,anditwashispartythathadoccupiedthetraverseinouroldworksthenightbeforeandhadannoyedusandtheBatterymenbytheirconstantsharpshooting,whichwefellowsbehindtheoldtreehadfinallytiredout。Hesaidtheystaiduntilalmostdaylight,andthathelostmorethanhalfhismenbeforeheleft。HealsotoldusthatGeneralScottwascapturedbytheirDivision,ataboutthetimeandalmostthesamespotaswhereGeneralMcPhersonwaskilled,andthathewasnothurtorwounded,andwasnowaprisonerintheirhands。
　　"Quitealotofour,staffofficerssooncameout,andasnearaswecouldlearntheRebelswantedatrucetoburytheirdead。Ourfolkstriedtogetupanexchangeofprisonersthathadbeentakenbybothsidesthedaybefore,butforsomereasontheycouldnotbringitabout。
　　Butthetruceforburyingthedeadwasagreedto。AlongaboutdusksomeoftheboysonmypostgottotellingaboutalotofsilverandbrassinstrumentsthatbelongedtooneofthebandsoftheFourthDivision,whichhadbeenhungupinsomesmalltreesalittlewayoverinfrontofwherewewerewhenthefightwasgoingonthedaybefore,andthatwhen,abulletwouldstrikeoneofthehornstheycouldhearitgo'pin—g'andinafewminutes'pan—g'wouldgoanotherbulletthroughoneofthem。
　　"Anewpicketwasjustcoming'on,andIhadpickedupmyblanketandhaversack,andwasaboutreadytostartbacktocamp,when,thinksI,'I'lljustgooutthereandseeaboutthemhorns。'ItoldtheboyswhatIwasgoingtodo。Theyallseemedtothinkitwassafeenough,sooutI
　　started。Ihadnotgonemorethanahundredyards,Ishouldthink,whenhereIfoundthehornsallhangingaroundonthetreesjustastheboyshaddescribed。Someofthemhadlotsofbulletholesinthem。ButIsawabeautiful,nicelookingsilverbuglehangingofftoonesidealittle。
　　'IThinks,'saysI,'I'lljusttakethatlittletoothorninoutofthe—
　　wet,andtakeitbacktocamp。'IwasjustreachingupafteritwhenI
　　heardsomeonesay,'Halt！'andI'llbedog—Bonediftherewasn'ttwoofthemeanestlookingRebels,standingnottenfeetfromme,withtheirgunscockedandpointedatme,and,ofcourse,IknewIwasagoner;theywalkedmebackaboutonehundredandfiftyyards,wheretheirpicketlinewas。FromthereI
　　waskeptgoingforanhourortwountilwegotovertoaplaceontherailroadcalledEastPoint。ThereIgotinwithabigcrowdofourprisoners,whoweretakenthedaybefore,andwehavebeenfoolingalonginalotofoldcattlecarsgettingdownhereeversince。
　　"Sothisis'Andersonville,'isitaWell,by———！"
　　CHAPTERXLI。
　　CLOTHING:ITSRAPIDDETERIORATION,ANDDEVICESTOREPLENISHIT——DESPERATE
　　EFFORTSTOCOVERNAKEDNESS——"LITTLEREDCAP"ANDHISLETTER。
　　Clothinghadnowbecomeanobjectofrealsolicitudetousolderprisoners。Theveteransofourcrowd——thesurvivingremnantofthosecapturedatGettysburg——hadbeenprisonersoverayear。Thenextinseniority——theChickamaugaboys——hadbeenintenmonths。TheMineRunfellowswereeightmonthsold,andmybattalionhadhadsevenmonths'
　　incarceration。Noneofusweremodelsofwell—dressedgentlemenwhencaptured。Ourgarmentstoldthewholestoryofthehardcampaigningwehadundergone。Now,withmonthsofthewearandtearofprisonlife,sleepingonthesand,workingintunnels,diggingwells,etc。,weweretatteredandtorntoanextentthatasecond—classtrampwouldhaveconsidereddisgraceful。
　　ThisisnoreflectionuponthequalityoftheclothesfurnishedbytheGovernment。Wesimplyreachedthelimitofthewearoftextilefabrics。
　　Iamparticulartosaythis,becauseIwanttocontributemylittlemitetowardsdoingjusticetoabadlyabusedpartofourArmyorganization——
　　theQuartermaster'sDepartment。Itisfashionabletospeakof"shoddy,"
　　anduttersomestereotypedsneersabout"brownpapershoes,"and"musketo—nettingovercoats,"whenanydiscussionoftheQuartermasterserviceisthesubjectofconversation,butIhavenohesitationinaskingtheindorsementofmycomradestothestatementthatwehaveneverfoundanywhereelseasdurablegarmentsasthosefurnishedusbytheGovernmentduringourserviceintheArmy。Theclotheswerenotasfineintexture,norsostylishincutasthoseweworebeforeorsince,butwhenitcametoweartheycouldbereliedontothelastthread。Itwasalwaysmarveloustomethattheylastedsowell,withtheroughusageasoldierinthefieldmustnecessarilygivethem。
　　Buttoreturntomysubject。Icanbestillustratethewayourclothesdroppedoffus,piecebypiece,likethepetalsfromthelastroseofSummer,bytakingmyowncaseasanexample:WhenIenteredprisonIwascladintheordinarygarbofanenlistedmanofthecavalry——stout,comfortableboots,woolenpocks,drawers,pantaloons,witha"reenforcement,"or"ready—madepatches,"astheinfantrycalledthem;
　　vest,warm,snug—fittingjacket,underandovershirts,heavyovercoat,andaforage—cap。Firstmybootsfellintocurelessruin,butthiswasnospecialhardship,astheweatherhadbecomequitewarm,anditwasmorepleasantthanotherwisetogobarefooted。Thenpartoftheunderclothingretiredfromservice。Thejacketandvestfollowed,theirendbeinghastenedbyhavingtheirbestportionstakentopatchupthepantaloons,whichkeptgivingoutatthemostembarrassingplaces。Thenthecapeoftheovercoatwascalledupontoassistinrepairingthesecontinually—recurringbreachesinthenethergarments。Thesameinsatiatedemandfinallyconsumedthewholecoat,inavainattempttopreventanexposureofpersongreaterthanconsistentwiththeusagesofsociety。Thepantaloons——orwhat,bycourtesy,Icalledsuch,wereamonumentofcarefulandingenious,buthopeless,patching,thatshouldhavecalledforththeadmirationofaFlorentineartistinmosaic。