The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-12-24
SHERMAN'S MEMOIRS.
Continued from first pagc.)

tured with loopholes. To its east, about
200 yards, was square earthwork or fort,
into which were put part OF the Regu-
lars along with the company of the Goth
Ind. already there. The rest Of the men
were distributed into the railroad cut,
aud in some shallow rife-trenches near
the depot. We had hardly made these
preparations when the enemy was seen
| forming in long line on the ridge to the
south, about 400 yards of, and soon
| after two parties Of cavalry passed the
railroad on both sides of us, cutting the
wires and tearing up some rails. Soon
they opened on us with artillery Cot
which we had money, and their men were
dismounting and preparing to assault
To the south of us was an extensive corn
field, with the corn still standing, and On
the other side was the town of Golfers
vile. All the houses near, that could
give shelter to the enemy, were ordered
to be set on fire, and the men we're In
structed to keep we'll under cover and
to reserve their fire for the assault, which
seemed inevitable. A long line of rebel
skirmishers came down through the corn
field, and two other parties approached
us along the railroad on both sides.
In the fort was a small magazine con-
tanning some cartridges. Lieut.. James,
a fine, gallant fellow, who was Ordnance
Officer on my staff, asked leave to arm
the Orderlies and clerks with some mus
kets which he had found in the depot,
to which consented. He marched them
into the magazine, issued cartridges, and
marched back to the depot to assist IN
it's defense. Afterward he came to rue,
said a party of the enemy had got into
the woods near the depot, and was an
moving him, and he wanted to charge
and drive it away. advised him to be
extremely cautious, as our enemy vastly
outnumLered us, and had every advan-
tage in position and artillery; but in
structed him, if they got too near, he
might make a sally. Soon after, l
heard
RAPID FIRE IN THAT QUARTER,
and Lieut.. James was brought i'll on a
stretcher. with ball through his breast,
which supposed to be fatal.'s The enemy
closed down on us several times, and
got possession of the rear Of our train,
from which they succeeded in getting five
of our horses, among them my iavorite
mare, Dolly; but our men were cool
and practiced shots with great expert
ence acquired at Vicksburg), and drove
them back. With their artillery they
knocked to pieces our locomotive and
several of the cars, and set fire to the
train; but we managed to get possession
again, and extinguished the fire. Col.
Audenreid, Aid de-Camp, was provoked
to find that his valise of nice shirts had
been used to kindle the fire. The fight
ing continued all round us for three OF
four hours, when we observed signs OF
drawing off, which / attributed to the
rightful cause.-The rapid approach Of
Corse's Division, which arrived about
dark, having marched the whole dis
tance from Memphis, 26 miles, on the
, double-quick. The next day we re
paired damages to the railroad and
locomotive, and went On to Corinth.
At Corinth, Oh the 10th, | received
the following
IMPORTANT DISPATCHES:
MEMPHIS, Oct. IA 1863; IL a. M
Arrived this morning. Will be off in a few
hours My orders are only to go to Cairo. ant
report from there by telegraph. Mcpherson
will DO in Canton to-day. He will remair
there until Sunday or Monday next, and re
connoiter as far eastward as possible with cav
airy in the meantime.
U. s. GRANT, Major General.
WASHINGTON, Oct. H. 1863; p. m.
Mai. Gen. w. T.. SHERMAN, Corinth:
Yours of the 10th is received. The i'm
portant matter to be attended to is that OF sup
. plies. When Eastport can be reached by boat
the use of the railroad can be dispensed with
but until that time it must be guarded as IA
as used The Kentucky Railroad can barrel.
supply Gen. Rosecrans. All these matters mus
be left to your judgment a. circumstances ma.
arise. Should the enemy be so strong as t
prevent your going to Athens. or connecting
5 with Gen. Rosecrans, you will nevertheless
have assisted MIN greatly Oy drawing ava,
! q part OF the eDemy's forces.
II. w. HALLEcK, Major.General.
1 On the 18th, with my staff and
small escort, I rode forward to Burns
Vile, and on the 10Th to Iuka, where, ol
the next day, / was most agreeabl
surprised to hear of the arrival at East
g port (only 10 miles Off Of two gun
boats, under the command of Cap
9 Phelps, which had been sent up tn
Tennessee River by Admiral Porter
help us.
Satisfied that, to reach Athens and t
communicate with Gen. Rosecrans, v
e should have to take the route north {
the Tennessee River, Oh the Oath / OF
1t dered the Fourth Division to cross 8
), Eastport with the aid of the gnnboat
and to move to Florence. About th
same time received the general order
y assigning Gen. Grant to command th