Wallace's division was garrisoning the city, but now relieved by Sherman, it embarked to reinforce the army of General Curtis at Helena. General Sherman disposed his troops so as to environ the city and guard all the approaches to it. Our regiment being on the right of the line was camped on the south side of the city and near the river. We had a delightful camping ground, greensward beneath our feet, and noble shade trees waving over our heads.
The period we spent here was one of rest but not of idleness. It was a period of discipline and duty. We were still in the presence of an enterprising enemy, who constantly menaced our extended line with attack. General Sherman was no less a general in camp than in the field. There his great bravery, his splendid tactical combinations in the face of the enemy, his unwearying energy, and his industrious attention to details, had impressed his soldiers with a kind of reverence for him as a military commander, which they felt for no other general. All could see that in genius and in spirit, he was a complete soldier. Though he could add nothing to the patriotism and bravery of the men he commanded, he was now to see they were better supplied, better drilled, better disciplined, and that there be infused into them more of the esprit de corps. Every one will recollect his fine figure on review—how keenly he scrutinized every thing; not a man, nor a uniform, nor a gun seemed to escape his notice. He exercised the closest supervision over the different departments, punished corruption and saw that justice was meted out to all. He administered martial law in the city of Memphis with justice and rigor, but without violence or cruelty. A young soldier studying the profession and practice of arms might well think himself fortunate in being under the tuition of such a general.
It was at Memphis that we first were allowed to admit negroes within our lines. At LaGrange and Moscow and all along the march from those places hither, they had flocked to join us in great numbers. General Halleck's celebrated General Orders No. 3 being then in force, General Sherman was compelled to issue an order forbidding his soldiers from encouraging negroes in leaving their homes, and teamsters from giving them transportation. This order was written by Captain Hammond, his Assistant Adjutant General, and was couched in poor and undignified terms. As soon, however, as orders from Washington allowed him to do so, General Sherman issued orders authorizing the employment of negroes as cooks, teamsters and laborers in the various departments and on the fortifications. Large numbers were put to work on Fort Pickering, an important field work which was projected for the defense of Memphis. Contrabands thronged the camps in large numbers, and soon became an important element in the materiel of the army. All that came within our lines were received and put to work, and supplied with clothing and subsistence. This policy was viewed by the soldiers with very general approbation.
While we were thus resting, our comrades in the East were struggling, through prodigious marches, uncommon hardships, and bloody battles to check the advance of a superior enemy, and his invasion of our soil. Reports from that quarter of disaster crowding upon disaster, disturbed in no small degree the quietude of our camp life, and embittered the sweets of the comparative repose we were enjoying. In addition to this, the enemy began to make demonstrations in the neighborhood of Bolivar, Tenn., and we were not surprised to find our spell of easy soldiering broken, when, on the 5th of September, orders came to march at 3 o'clock next morning, in what direction we could only conjecture.
The two divisions which had been so long together were now to be separated. They who had grown to consider each other comrades, had marched and fought together perhaps for the last time. General Sherman expressed his feelings on this separation in the following letter to General Hurlbut, which, after we had reached Bolivar, was published to us in General Orders. We esteemed it a great honor to receive such compliments from such a general:—
Headquarters, 5th Division, }
Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 6, 1862.}Brigadier General Hurlbut, Commanding 4th Division, Army of the Tennessee,—
Dear Sir:—Permit me through you to convey to the officers and men of your division an expression of my deep regret that the necessities of the service should at this time separate our commands. Our divisions were the first to disembark at Pittsburg Landing, in the early part of March, and through storm and sunshine, adverse and prosperous times, we have been side by side. Not only have social ties arisen between us, but the habit of acting together has made us one command; and I feel in parting with you as though my own division was divided.
I need not express to you my high personal and official respect; for I hope to have evinced it on all occasions. I must say that no officers could have been more zealous, close, and attentive to their important duties than they have been. I can not recall an instance of their being absent from their posts for even an hour. Indeed, with very few exceptions, your division is composed of a class of steady good men, who by their behavior in camp, on guard, on the march and in battle, reflect honor and credit on themselves and their country.
Be pleased to convey to all my hearty thanks; and assure them that I will hail the change in events which will bring us again together.
With sentiments of high respect,
Your friend and servant,
(Signed) W. T. Sherman.
[CHAPTER XXI.]
Lt. Col. Trumbull—Preparations to march—Leaving Sherman and Memphis—Heat, dust and straggling—Night on Wolf River—Second day's march—House burning—Annoyances—Halt for the night at last—Next day's March—Reach the Hatchie—Bridging the stream—Guarding the working parties—Hardships and murmurs—March toward Bolivar—Our situation there—A reconnoissance toward Grand Junction—Attempt of the enemy to get in our rear—Masterly retreat—Make a stand and shell back his advance guard—Arrive at Bolivar—Reinforcements—Vigilance.