The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-06
LEADER.
An Incident IN the siege OF COrinflh-
How GeneFaI ebermsn's Life WAS
and HRVed.


An Incident in Ihe siege Of Corinfll-
How SeueEaA A1ermsn's Lille WAS
Endangered and saved.
The individual members of an srny are
seldom out of danger with an enterprsing
enemy in their front, and not 3 few Of
their perils arise from circumstances opera
ting in their rear and among individuals
wis are friends. Very frequently, during
the recent war, cur troops have been fired
upon, through mistake, BY portions Of the
command 70 which they belonged, and
many 3 brave soldier has thus received
his death wound from his own comrades.
During the advance upon Corinth, in
May Of 1862, sn event occurred which
placed General Sherman directly in range
and within easy gunshot Of the videttes
that covered the trent of the I'd Division
of the Army Of the Tennessee, at that
time commanded by General Davies, and
which, but for a doubt that existed in the
mind Of the officer commanding the guard,
would have deprived the army of that
General Wbs has since become so famous.
The line of videttes had been established
early in the morning, aAder fire Of the en-
emys pieksts, at q point where the main
COrinth and Purdy road was inkFsscted
by theroad leading from OhaWalla TO Ham,
burg. The line was not strong, being
composed merely of two companies of cav.
sElry, whose duty it was 10 watch the m0Ves
ments of the enemy ifaany were made,
and, in case Of attack, 10 gfvethe alarm.
The line hsd been pushed out far 70 theI
front. and nothing separated It from that
of the enemy save shallow valley thst
lay between 8 couple of rounded hiHops,
from the opposite side of which, through
out the entire day, the rebels kept up s
continual firing, cutting off the leaves over
the heads of our videttes, and occasionally
barking the trees behind which they were
posted. 49,.
The day hsd been one of alarms. Half
a dozen had occurred, and entire Volleys
had been sent ~ir1i!less from the enemy at
the handful that opposed them ct that
point; but scarcely a shot had been fred
in return. The rebels kept themselves
hidden, and only exposed their whereabouts
by the Puff of smoke that followed the
discharge of their pieces.
A battle at that time was not desirable
and the officer in command of this little
guard had given the ~strictest erder that no
shot should be fired save at his direct COM
mand. The men chsfed and frested some
what, but obeyed. It did not seem Just
right that they should be compelled to en-
dure sll that firing, being made targets of,
SIS it were, without theprivilege of replying
through the means of their own Lad.
Nevertheless, it was this fact hat we doubt
mo-, saved Gen. Shsrman's life.
The sky had been clondless throughout
the day, and late In the afternoon the firing
altogether ceased. Quiet reigned in those
grand cd woods, snd the rustic of the trees
music Of birds and hum Of insects, were
the only sounds thst we're heard. Twilight
approsched-the shadows that bad been
gradually frightening were thrown into
the shade rs the sun descended in the West
and lett a crimson halo all around the cirels
ing horizon. Suddenly the sharp, quick
report of q rifle was heard on the rignt of
the line, followed by q volley, apparently,
from an entire regiment. Then another
and another came quick upon the heels of
the last, and they approached nearer and
nesreF with each succeeding second.
The officer in command of the Videttes |
was with his reserves at that moment; but
the first shot found him on horseback, and
the next instant he wss galloping in the
direction of that portion of the line which
be believed to be attacked. Upon reaching
the front-there was nothing mythical in
tho word at that time-And looking down
the road, which was very straight for q dis.
lance of five hundred yslds or more, he
saw q couple of men cross the road, and,
in the dim twilight another ride up and
step just opposite TO him. Hat dozen
csrbines were brought to bear upon she
supposed enemy; bat the officer shouted:
"Wait ! Don't frel' Slowly the muzzles
of the carbines were lowered, and the sound
back from the increasing darkness:
sCome herel It is General Sherman y
The officer did not feel sure of that but he
seized his pistol and rode forward. As he
approached he recognized the dark bic uni
form of our troops, and soon after the we'll
known features of the commander Of the
right wing of the besiegiBg army.
General Sherman wanted a portion OF
the ground occupied by the enemy, and
placing himself AZ the head of a small de.
tschment Tor that purpose, made his ad-
vance from the right, struck thairlin upon
its flank, n drove them from the position
he wanted, and established his grand guard
upon the very ground they had occupied.
"Hslf a dozen csrbInes were aimed at
you q moment sgo, General"
"What is your division ?"
"Seeond Division, Gen. Davies"
"Remsin where you are for the night
a new line of videttes viii be established in
the morning by General Davies Adjutsnt,"
So it was. A few days after that our
army occupied Corinth, and when that oc-
CURED there was not an armed rebel in that
Department.
OF that which has happened, under the
eye of General Sherman, since that even
ing, somewhat more than two years ago,
our readers are well aware; but the most
vivid Imagination will not be able to con
ceive the difference in the result if any one
Of these six csrbines had been discharged.