Volume1
GENERALW。T。SHERMAN
HISCOMRADESINARMS,VOLUNTEERSANDREGULARS。
NearlytenyearshavepassedsincethecloseofthecivilwarinAmerica,andyetnosatisfactoryhistorythereofisaccessibletothepublic;norshouldanybeattempteduntiltheGovernmenthaspublished,andplacedwithinthereachofstudents,theabundantmaterialsthatareburiedintheWarDepartmentatWashington。
Theseareinprocessofcompilation;but,attherateofprogressforthepasttenyears,itisprobablethatanewcenturywillcomebeforetheyarepublishedandcirculated,withfullindexestoenablethehistoriantomakeajudiciousselectionofmaterials。
Whatisnowofferedisnotdesignedasahistoryofthewar,orevenasacompleteaccountofalltheincidentsinwhichthewriterboreapart,butmerelyhisrecollectionofevents,correctedbyareferencetohisownmemoranda,whichmayassistthefuturehistorianwhenhecomestodescribethewhole,andaccountforthemotivesandreasonswhichinfluencedsomeoftheactorsinthegranddramaofwar。
Itrustaperusalofthesepageswillproveinterestingtothesurvivors,whohavemanifestedsooftentheirintenseloveofthe\"cause\"whichmovedanationtovindicateitsownauthority;and,equallyso,totherisinggeneration,whotherefrommaylearnthatacountryandgovernmentsuchasoursareworthfightingfor,anddyingfor,ifneedbe。
Ifsuccessfulinthis,Ishallfeelamplyrepaidfordepartingfromtheusageofmilitarymen,whoseldomattempttopublishtheirowndeeds,butrestcontentwithsimplycontributingbytheiractstothehonorandgloryoftheircountry。
WILLIAMT。SHERMAN,GeneralSt。Louis,Missouri,January21,1875。
PREFACETOTHESECONDEDITION。
AnothertenyearshavepassedsinceIventuredtopublishmyMemoirs,and,beingoncemoreatleisure,Ihaverevisedtheminthelightofthemanycriticismspublicandprivate。
Myhabithasbeentonoteinpencilthesuggestionsofcritics,andtoexaminethesubstanceoftheirdifferences;forcriticsmustdifferfromtheauthor,tomanifesttheirsuperiority。
WhereIhavefoundmaterialerrorIhavecorrected;andIhaveaddedtwochapters,oneatthebeginning,anotherattheend,bothofthemostgeneralcharacter,andanappendix。
IwishmyfriendsandenemiestounderstandthatIdisclaimthecharacterofhistorian,butassumetobeawitnessonthestandbeforethegreattribunalofhistory,toassistsomefutureNapier,Alison,orHumetocomprehendthefeelingsandthoughtsoftheactorsinthegrandconflictsoftherecentpast,andtherebytolessenhislaborsinthecompilationnecessaryforthefuturebenefitofmankind。
Inthisfreecountryeverymanisatperfectlibertytopublishhisownthoughtsandimpressions,andanywitnesswhomaydifferfrommeshouldpublishhisownversionoffactsinthetruthfulnarrationofwhichheisinterested。Iampublishingmyownmemoirs,nottheirs,andweallknowthatnothreehonestwitnessesofasimplebrawlcanagreeonallthedetails。Howmuchmorelikelywillbethedifferenceinagreatbattlecoveringavastspaceofbrokenground,wheneachdivision,brigade,regiment,andevencompany,naturallyandhonestlybelievesthatitwasthefocusofthewholeaffair!Eachofthemwonthebattle。Noneeverlost。
Thatwasthefateoftheoldmanwhounhappilycommanded。
InthiseditionIgivethebestmapswhichIbelievehaveeverbeenprepared,compiledbyGeneralO。M。Poe,frompersonalknowledgeandofficialsurveys,andwhatIchieflyaimtoestablishisthetruecauseoftheresultswhicharealreadyknowntothewholeworld;anditmaybearelieftomanytoknowthatIshallpublishnoother,but,liketheplayeratcards,will\"stand;\"notthatI
haveaccomplishedperfection,butbecauseIcandonobetterwiththecardsinhand。Ofomissionsthereareplenty,butofwilfulperversionoffacts,none。
Intheprefacetothefirstedition,in1875,Iusedthesewords:
\"NearlytenyearshavepassedsincethecloseofthecivilwarinAmerica,andyetnosatisfactoryhistorythereofisaccessibletothepublic;norshouldanybeattempteduntiltheGovernmenthaspublished,andplacedwithinthereachofstudents,theabundantmaterialsthatareburiedintheWarDepartmentatWashington。
Theseareinprocessofcompilation;but,attherateofprogressforthepasttenyears,itisprobablethatanewcenturywillcomebeforetheyarepublishedandcirculated,withfullindexestoenablethehistoriantomakeajudiciousselectionofmaterials\"
Anotherdecadeispast,andIaminpossessionofallthesepublications,mylastbeingVolumeXI,Part3,Series1,thelastdateinwhichisAugust30,1862。IamafraidthatifIassumeagainthecharacterofprophet,Imustextendthetimedeepintothenextcentury,andpraymeanwhilethattheofficialrecordsofthewar,UnionandConfederate,\"mayapproachcompletionbeforethe\"nextwar,\"orratherthatwe,asapeople,maybesparedanotherwaruntilthelastoneisofficiallyrecorded。Meantimetherisinggenerationmustbecontentwithmemoirsandhistoriescompiledfromthebestsourcesavailable。
InthissenseIoffermineastotheeventsofwhichIwasaneye—witnessandparticipant,orforwhichIwasresponsible。
WILLIAMT。SHERMAN,General(retired)。
St。Louis,Missouri,March30,1885。
MEMOIRSOFGENERALWILLIAMT。SHERMAN。
CHAPTERI。
FROM1820TOTHEMEXICANWAR。
1820—1846。
AccordingtoCothren,inhis\"HistoryofAncientWoodbury,Connecticut,\"theShermanfamilycamefromDedham,EssexCounty,England。ThefirstrecordednameisofEdmondSherman,withhisthreesons,Edmond,Samuel,andJohn,whowereatBostonbefore1636;andfartheritisdistinctlyrecordedthatHon。SamuelSherman,Rev。John,hisbrother,andCaptainJohn,hisfirstcousin,arrivedfromDedham,EssexCounty,England,in1634。
SamuelafterwardmarriedSarahMitchell,whohadcome(inthesameship)fromEngland,andfinallysettledatStratford,Connecticut。
Theothertwo(Johns)locatedatWatertown,Massachusetts。
>FromCaptainJohnShermanaredescendedRogerSherman,thesigneroftheDeclarationofIndependence,Hon。WilliamM。Evarts,theMessrs。Hoar,ofMassachusetts,andmanyothersofnationalfame。
OurownfamilyaredescendedfromtheHon。SamuelShermanandhisson;theRev。John,whowasbornin1650—’51;thenanotherJohn,bornin1687;thenJudgeDaniel,bornin1721;thenTaylorSherman,ourgrandfather,whowasbornin1758。TaylorShermanwasalawyerandjudgeinNorwalk,Connecticut,whereheresideduntilhisdeath,May4,1815;leavingawidow,BetseyStoddardSherman,andthreechildren,CharlesR。(ourfather),Daniel,andBetsey。
WhentheStateofConnecticut,in1786,cededtotheUnitedStatesherclaimtothewesternpartofherpublicdomain,asdefinedbyherRoyalCharter,shereservedalargedistrictinwhatisnownorthernOhio,aportionofwhich(fivehundredthousandacres)
composedthe\"Fire—LandDistrict,\"whichwassetaparttoindemnifythepartieswhohadlostpropertyinConnecticutbytheraidsofGeneralsArnold,Tryon,andothersduringthelatterpartoftheRevolutionaryWar。
Ourgrandfather,JudgeTaylorSherman,wasoneofthecommissionersappointedbytheStateofConnecticuttoquiettheIndiantitle,andtosurveyandsubdividethisFire—LandDistrict,whichincludesthepresentcountiesofHuronandErie。InhiscapacityascommissionerhemadeseveraltripstoOhiointheearlypartofthiscentury,anditissupposedthathethencontractedthediseasewhichprovedfatal。Forhislaborandlosseshereceivedatitletotwosectionsofland,whichfactwasprobablytheprimecauseofthemigrationofourfamilytotheWest。Myfatherreceivedagoodeducation,andwasadmittedtothebaratNorwalk,Connecticut,where,in1810,he,attwentyyearsofage,marriedMaryHoyt,alsoofNorwalk,andatoncemigratedtoOhio,leavinghiswife(mymother)foratime。HisfirstpurposewastosettleatZanesville,Ohio,buthefinallychoseLancaster,FairfieldCounty,whereheatonceengagedinthe,practiceofhisprofession。In1811hereturnedtoNorwalk,where,meantime,wasbornCharlesTaylorSherman,theeldestofthefamily,whowithhismotherwascarriedtoOhioonhorseback。
JudgeTaylorSherman’sfamilyremainedinNorwalktill1815,whenhisdeathledtotheemigrationoftheremainderofthefamily,viz。,ofUncleDanielSherman,whosettledatMonroeville,Ohio,asafarmer,wherehelivedanddiedquiterecently,leavingchildrenandgrandchildren;andanaunt,Betsey,whomarriedJudgeParker,ofMansfield,anddiedin1851,leavingchildrenandgrandchildren;
alsoGrandmotherElizabethStoddardSherman,whoresidedwithherdaughter,Mrs:BetseyParker,inMansfielduntilherdeath,August1,1848。
Thusmyfather,CharlesR。Sherman,becamefinallyestablishedatLancaster,Ohio,asalawyer,withhisownfamilyintheyear1811,andcontinuedtheretillthetimeofhisdeath,in1829。IhavenodoubtthathewasinthefirstinstanceattractedtoLancasterbythenaturalbeautyofitsscenery,andthecharmsofitsalreadyestablishedsociety。Hecontinuedinthepracticeofhisprofession,whichinthosedayswasnosinecure,fortheordinarycircuitwasmadeonhorseback,andembracedMarietta,Cincinnati,andDetroit。HardlywasthefamilyestablishedtherewhentheWarof1812causedgreatalarmanddistressinallOhio。TheEnglishcapturedDetroitandtheshoresofLakeEriedowntotheMaumeeRiver;whiletheIndiansstilloccupiedthegreaterpartoftheState。Nearlyeverymanhadtobesomewhatofasoldier,butI
thinkmyfatherwasonlyacommissary;still,heseemstohavecaughtafancyforthegreatchiefoftheShawnees,\"Tecumseh。\"
Perry’svictoryonLakeEriewastheturning—pointoftheWesterncampaign,andGeneralHarrison’svictoryovertheBritishandIndiansattheriverThamesinCanadaendedthewarintheWest,andrestoredpeaceandtranquillitytotheexposedsettlersofOhio。Myfatheratonceresumedhispracticeatthebar,andwassoonrecognizedasanableandsuccessfullawyer。When,in1816,mybrotherJameswasborn,heinsistedonengraftingtheIndianname\"Tecumseh\"ontheusualfamilylist。MymotherhadalreadynamedherfirstsonafterherownbrotherCharles;andinsistedonthesecondsontakingthenameofherotherbrotherJames,andwhenIcamealong,onthe8thofFebruary,1820,motherhavingnomorebrothers,myfathersucceededinhisoriginalpurpose,andnamedmeWilliamTecumseh。
Thefamilyrapidlyincreasedtillitembracedsixboysandfivegirls,allofwhomattainedmaturityandmarried;ofthesesixarestillliving。
Intheyear1821avacancyoccurredintheSupremeCourtofOhio,andIfindthispetition:
Somerset,Ohio,July6,1821。
MayitpleaseyourExcellency:
WeaskleavetorecommendtoyourExcellency’sfavorablenoticeCharlesR。Sherman,Esq。,ofLancaster,asamanpossessinginaneminentdegreethosequalificationssomuchtobedesiredinaJudgeoftheSupremeCourt。
>FromalongacquaintancewithMr。Sherman,wearehappytobeabletostatetoyourExcellencythatourmindsareledtotheconclusionthatthatgentlemanpossessesadispositionnobleandgenerous,aminddiscriminating,comprehensive,andcombiningaheartpure,benevolentandhumane。Mannersdignified,mild,andcomplaisant,andafirmnessnottobeshakenandofunquestionedintegrity。
ButMr。Sherman’scharactercannotbeunknowntoyourExcellency,andonthatacquaintancewithoutfurthercommentwemightsafelyresthispretensions。
WethinkwehazardlittleinassuringyourExcellencythathisappointmentwouldgivealmostuniversalsatisfactiontothecitizensofPerryCounty。
Withgreatconsideration,wehavethehonortobeYourExcellency’smostobedienthumbleservants,CHARLESA。HOOD,GEORGETREAT,PETERDITTOR,P。ODLIN,J。B。ORTEN,T。BECKWITH,WILLIAMP。DORST,JOHNMURRAY,JACOBMOINS,B。EATON,DANIELGRIGGS,HENRYDITTOE,NICHOLASMcCARTY。
HisExcellencyETHANA。BROWN,GovernorofOhio,Columbus。
HewassoonafterappointedaJudgeoftheSupremeCourt,andservedinthatcapacitytothedayofhisdeath。
Mymemoryextendsbacktoabout1827,andIrecallhim,returninghomeonhorseback,whenalltheboysusedtorunandcontendfortheprivilegeofridinghishorsefromthefrontdoorbacktothestable。Ononeoccasion,Iwasthefirst,andbeingmountedrodetothestable;but\"OldDick\"wasimpatientbecausethestable—doorwasnotopenedpromptly,sohestartedforthebarnofourneighborMr。King;there,also,noonewasinwaitingtoopenthegate,and,afterareasonabletime,\"Dick\"startedbackforhomesomewhatinahurry,andthrewmeamongapileofstones,infrontofpreacherWright’shouse,whereIwaspickedupapparentlyadeadboy;butmytimewasnotyet,andIrecovered,thoughthescarsremaintothisday。
Theyear1829wasasadonetoourfamily。Wewerethentenchildren,myeldestbrotherCharlesabsentattheStateUniversity,Athens,Ohio;mynextbrother,James,inastoreatCincinnati;andtherestwereathome,atschool。Fatherwasawayonthecircuit。
OnedayJaneSturgeoncametotheschool,calledusout,andwhenwereachedhomeallwaslamentation:newshadcomethatfatherwasilluntodeath,atLebanon,ahundredmilesaway。Motherstartedatonce,bycoach,butmetthenewsofhisdeathaboutWashington,andreturnedhome。HehadriddenonhorsebackfromCincinnatitoLebanontoholdcourt,duringahotdayinJune。Onthenextdayhetookhisseatonthebench,openedcourtintheforenoon,butintheafternoon,afterrecess,wasseizedwithaseverechillandhadtoadjournthecourt。Thebestmedicalaidwascalledin,andforthreedayswithapparentsuccess,butthefeverthenassumedamoredangeroustype,andhegraduallyyieldedtoit,dyingonthesixthday,viz。,June24,1829。
MybrotherJameshadbeensummonedfromCincinnati,andwaspresentathisbedside,aswasalsoHenryStoddard,Esq。,ofDayton,Ohio,ourcousin。Mr。Stoddardoncetoldmethatthecauseofmyfather’sdeathwascholera;butatthattime,1829,therewasnoAsiaticcholeraintheUnitedStates,andthefamily,attributedhisdeathtoexposuretothehotsunofJune,andaconsequentfever,\"typhoid。\"
>Fromtheresolutionsofthebench,bar,andpublicgenerally,nowinmypossession,hisdeathwasuniversallydeplored;moreespeciallybyhisneighborsinLancaster,andbytheSocietyofFreemasons,ofwhichhewastheHigh—PriestofArchChapterNo。11。
Hisdeathleftthefamilyverypoor,butfriendsroseupwithproffersofgenerouscareandassistance;foralltheneighborsknewthatmothercouldnotmaintainsolargeafamilywithouthelp。
Myeldestbrother,Charles,hadnearlycompletedhiseducationattheuniversityatAthens,andconcludedtogotohisuncle,JudgeParker,atMansfield,Ohio,tostudylaw。My,eldestsister,Elizabeth,soonaftermarriedWilliamJ。Reese,Esq。;JameswasalreadyinastoreatCincinnati;and,withtheexceptionofthethreeyoungestchildren,therestofuswerescattered。IfelltothechargeoftheHon。ThomasEwing,whotookmetohisfamily,andeveraftertreatedmeashisownson。
IcontinuedattheAcademyinLancaster,whichwasthebestintheplace;indeed,asgoodaschoolasanyinOhio。Westudiedallthecommonbranchesofknowledge,includingLatin,Greek,andFrench。
AtfirsttheschoolwaskeptbyMr。Parsons;hewassucceededbyMr。Brown,andhebytwobrothers,SamuelandMarkHow。Thesewereallexcellentteachers,andwemadegoodprogress,firstattheoldacademyandafterwardatanewschool—house,builtbySamuelHow,intheorchardofHughBoyle,Esq。
Timepassedwithusaswithboysgenerally。Mr。EwingwasintheUnitedStatesSenate,andIwasnotifiedtoprepareforWestPoint,ofwhichinstitutionwehadlittleknowledge,exceptthatitwasverystrict,andthatthearmywasitsnaturalconsequence。In1834Iwaslargeformyage,andtheconstructionofcanalswastherageinOhio。AcanalwasprojectedtoconnectwiththegreatOhioCanalatCarroll(eightmilesaboveLancaster),downthevalleyoftheHockHockingtoAthens(forty—fourmiles),andthencetotheOhioRiverbyslackwater。
PreacherCarpenter,ofLancaster,wasappointedtomakethepreliminarysurveys,andselectedthenecessaryworkingpartyoutoftheboysofthetown。Fromourschoolwerechosen____Wilson,EmanuelGeisy,WilliamKing,andmyself。GeisyandIweretherod—men。Weworkedduringthatfallandnextspring,markingtwoexperimentallines,andforourworkweeachreceivedasilverhalf—dollarforeachday’sactualwork,thefirstmoneyanyofushadeverearned。
InJune,1835,oneofourschool—fellows,WilliamIrvin,wasappointedacadettoWestPoint,and,asitrequiredsixteenyearsofageforadmission,Ihadtowaitanotheryear。Duringtheautumnof1835andspringof1836IdevotedmyselfchieflytomathematicsandFrench,whichwereknowntobethechiefrequisitesforadmissiontoWestPoint。
Sometimeinthespringof1836IreceivedthroughMr。Ewing,thenatWashington,fromtheSecretaryofWar,Mr。Poinsett,theletterofappointmentasacadet,withalistofthearticlesofclothingnecessarytobetakenalong,allofwhichwereliberallyprovidedbyMrs。Ewing;andwithorderstoreporttoMr。Ewing,atWashington,byacertaindate,IleftLancasteraboutthe20thofMayinthestage—coachforZanesville。TherewetransferredtothecoachesoftheGreatNationalRoad,thehighwayoftravelfromtheWesttotheEast。Thestagesgenerallytravelledingangsoffromonetosixcoaches,eachdrawnbyfourgoodhorses,carryingninepassengersinsideandthreeorfouroutside。
Inaboutthreedays,travellingdayandnight,wereachedFrederick,Maryland。Thereweweretoldthatwecouldtakerail—carstoBaltimore,andthencetoWashington;buttherewasalsoatwo—horsehackreadytostartforWashingtondirect。Nothavingfallfaithinthenovelanddangerousrailroad,Istucktothecoach,andinthenightreachedGadsby’sHotelinWashingtonCity。
ThenextmorningIhuntedupMr。Ewing,andfoundhimboardingwithamessofSenatorsatMrs。Hill’s,cornerofThirdandCStreets,andtransferredmytrunktothesameplace。IspentaweekinWashington,andthinkIsawmoreoftheplaceinthattimethanI
everhavesinceinthemanyyearsofresidencethere。GeneralJacksonwasPresident,andwasatthezenithofhisfame。Irecalllookingathimafullhour,onemorning,throughthewoodrailingonPennsylvaniaAvenue,ashepacedupanddownthegravelwalkonthenorthfrontoftheWhiteHouse。HeworeacapandanovercoatsofullthathisformseemedsmallerthanIhadexpected。IalsorecalltheappearanceofPostmaster—GeneralAmosKendall,ofVice—PresidentVanBuren,Messrs。Calhoun,Webster,Clay,Cass,SilasWright,etc。
InduetimeItookmydepartureforWestPointwithCadetsBeltandBronaugh。ThesewereappointedcadetsasfromOhio,althoughneitherhadeverseenthatState。ButinthosedaystherewerefewerapplicantsfromOhiothannow,andnearthecloseofthetermthevacanciesunaskedforwereusuallyfilledfromapplicantsonthespot。Neitheroftheseparties,however,graduated,sotheStateofOhiolostnothing。WewenttoBaltimorebyrail,theretookaboatuptoHavredeGrace,thentherailtoWilmington,Delaware,anduptheDelawareinaboattoPhiladelphia。IstaidoverinPhiladelphiaonedayattheoldMansionHouse,tovisitthefamilyofmybrother—in—law,Mr。Reese。Ifoundhisfatherafinesampleoftheoldmerchantgentleman,inagoodhouseinArchStreet,withhisaccomplisheddaughters,whohadbeentoOhio,andwhomIhadseenthere。FromPhiladelphiawetookboattoBordentown,railtoAmboy,andboatagaintoNewYorkCity,stoppingattheAmericanHotel。IstaidaweekinNewYork。City,visitingmyuncle,CharlesHoyt,athisbeautifulplaceonBrooklynHeights,andmyuncleJames,thenlivinginWhiteStreet。MyfriendWilliamScottwasthere,theyounghusbandofmycousin,LouiseHoyt;aneatly—dressedyoungfellow,wholookedonmeasanuntamedanimaljustcaughtinthefarWest——\"fitfoodforgunpowder,\"andgoodfornothingelse。
AboutJune12thIembarkedinthesteamerCorneliusVanderbiltforWestPoint;registeredintheofficeofLieutenantC。F。Smith,AdjutantoftheMilitaryAcademy,asanewcadetoftheclassof1836,andatoncebecameinstalledasthe\"plebe\"ofmyfellow—townsman,WilliamIrvin,thenenteringhisThirdClass。
ColonelR。E。DeRussywasSuperintendent;MajorJohnFowle,SixthUnitedStatesInfantry,Commandant。TheprincipalProfessorswere:
Mahan,Engineering;Bartlett,NaturalPhilosophy;Bailey,Chemistry;Church,Mathematics;Weir,Drawing;andBerard,French。
Theroutineofmilitarytrainingandofinstructionwasthenfullyestablished,andhasremainedalmostthesameeversince。Togiveamereoutlinewouldswellthistoaninconvenientsize,andI
thereforemerelystatethatIwentthroughtheregularcourseoffouryears,graduatinginJune,1840,numbersixinaclassofforty—three。Theseforty—threewereallthatremainedofmorethanonehundredwhichoriginallyconstitutedtheclass。AttheAcademyIwasnotconsideredagoodsoldier,foratnotimewasIselectedforanyoffice,butremainedaprivatethroughoutthewholefouryears。Then,asnow,neatnessindressandform,withastrictconformitytotherules,werethequalificationsrequiredforoffice,andIsupposeIwasfoundnottoexcelinanyofthese。InstudiesIalwaysheldarespectablereputationwiththeprofessors,andgenerallyrankedamongthebest,especiallyindrawing,chemistry,mathematics,andnaturalphilosophy。Myaveragedemerits,perannum,wereaboutonehundredandfifty,which。
reducedmyfinalclassstandingfromnumberfourtosix。
InJune,1840,afterthefinalexamination,theclassgraduatedandwereceivedourdiplomas。Meantime,MajorDelafield,UnitedStatesEngineers,hadbecomeSuperintendent;MajorC。F。Smith,CommandantofCadets;butthecorpsofprofessorsandassistantsremainedalmostunchangedduringourwholeterm。Wewereallgrantedtheusualfurloughofthreemonths,andpartedforourhomes,theretoawaitassignmenttoourrespectivecorpsandregiments。IndueseasonIwasappointedandcommissionedsecond—lieutenant,ThirdArtillery,andorderedtoreportatGovernor’sIsland,NewYorkHarbor,attheendofSeptember。IspentmyfurloughmostlyatLancasterandMansfield,Ohio;towardthecloseofSeptemberreturnedtoNewYork,reportedtoMajorJustinDimock,commandingtherecruitingrendezvousatGovernor’sIsland,andwasassignedtocommandacompanyofrecruitspreparingforserviceinFlorida。
EarlyinOctoberthiscompanywasdetailed,asoneoffour,toembarkinasailing—vesselforSavannah,Georgia,undercommandofCaptainandBrevetMajorPenrose。Weembarkedandsailed,reachingSavannahaboutthemiddleofOctober,wherewetransferredtoasmallsteamerandproceededbytheinlandroutetoSt。Augustine,Florida。WereachedSt。AugustineatthesametimewiththeEighthInfantry,commandedbyColonelandBrevetBrigadier—GeneralWilliamJ。Worth。AtthattimeGeneralZacharyTaylorwasinchiefcommandinFlorida,andhadhisheadquartersatTampaBay。Myregiment,theThirdArtillery,occupiedthepostsalongtheAtlanticcoastofFlorida,fromSt。AugustinesouthtoKeyBiscayne,andmyowncompany,A,wasatFortPierce,IndianRiver。AtSt。AugustineI
wasdetachedfromthecompanyofrecruits,whichwasdesignedfortheSecondInfantry,andwasorderedtojoinmypropercompanyatFortPierce。ColonelWilliamGatescommandedtheregiment,withLieutenantWilliamAustineBrownasadjutantoftheregiment。
LieutenantBraggcommandedthepostofSt。Augustinewithhisowncompany,E,andG(Garner’s),thencommandedbyLieutenantJudd。
In,afewdaysIembarkedinthelittlesteamerWilliamGastondownthecoast,stoppingonedayatNewSmyrna,heldbyJohnR。Vinton’scompany(B),withwhichwasservingLieutenantWilliamH。Shover。
IndueseasonwearrivedoffthebarofIndianRiverandanchored。
Awhale—boatcameoffwithacrewoffourmen,steeredbyacharacterofsomenote,knownasthePilotAshlock。Itransferredselfandbaggagetothisboat,and,withthemails,wascarriedthroughthesurfoverthebar,intothemouthofIndianRiverInlet。Itwasthendark;wetransferredtoasmallerboat,andthesamecrewpulledusupthroughachannelinthemiddleofMangroveIslands,theroosting—placeofthousandsofpelicansandbirdsthatroseincloudsandcircledaboveourheads。Thewaterbelowwasalivewithfish,whosecoursethroughitcouldbeseenbythephosphoricwake;andAshlocktoldmemanyataleoftheIndianwartheninprogress,andofhisadventuresinhuntingandfishing,whichhedescribedasthebestintheworld。Abouttwomilesfromthebar,weemergedintothelagoon,abroadexpanseofshallowwaterthatliesparallelwiththecoast,separatedfromitbyanarrowstripofsand,backedbyacontinuousseriesofislandsandpromontories,coveredwithadensegrowthofmangroveandsaw—palmetto。Pullingacrossthislagoon,inaboutthreemoremilesweapproachedthelightsofFortPierce。Reachingasmallwharf,welanded,andweremetbytheofficersofthepost,LieutenantsGeorgeTaylorandEdwardJ。Steptoe,andAssistant—SurgeonJamesSimons。Takingthemail—bag,wewalkedupasteepsand—bluffonwhichthefortwassituated,andacrosstheparade—groundtotheofficers’quarters。Theseweresixorsevenlog—houses,thatchedwithpalmetto—leaves,builtonhighposts,withaporchinfront,facingthewater。Themen’squarterswerealsooflogsformingthetwosidesofarectangle,opentowardthewater;theintervalsandflankswereclosedwithlogstockades。I
wasassignedtooneoftheserooms,andatoncebeganservicewithmycompany,A,thencommandedbyLieutenantTaylor。
TheseasonwashardlyyetcomeforactiveoperationsagainsttheIndians,sothattheofficerswerenaturallyattractedtoAshlock,whowasthebestfishermanIeversaw。Hesooninitiatedusintothemysteriesofshark—spearing,trollingforred—fish,andtakingthesheep’s—headandmullet。Theseaboundedsothatwecouldatanytimecatchanunlimitedquantityatpleasure。Thecompaniesalsoownednetsforcatchinggreenturtles。Thesenetshadmeshesaboutafootsquare,weresetacrosschannelsinthelagoon,theendssecuredtostakesdrivenintothemad,thelowerlinesunkwithleadorstoneweightsandtheupperlinefloatedwithcork。
Weusuallyvisitedthesenetstwiceaday,andfoundfromonetosixgreenturtlesentangledinthemeshes。Disengagingthem,theywerecarriedtopens,madewithstakesstuckinthemud,wheretheywerefedwithmangrove—leaves,andourcookshadatalltimesanamplesupplyofthebestofgreenturtles。Theyweresocheapandcommonthatthesoldiersregardeditasanimpositionwhencompelledtoeatgreenturtlesteaks,insteadofpoorFloridabeef,ortheusualbarrelledmess—pork。Idonotrecallinmywholeexperienceaspotonearthwherefish,oysters,andgreenturtlessoaboundasatFortPierce,Florida。
InNovember,MajorChildsarrivedwithLieutenantVanVlietandadetachmentofrecruitstofillourtwocompanies,andpreparationswereatoncebegunforactiveoperationsinthefield。AtthattimetheIndiansinthePeninsulaofFloridawerescattered,andthewarconsistedinhuntingupandsecuringthesmallfragments,tobesenttojointheothersoftheirtribeofSeminolesalreadyestablishedintheIndianTerritorywestofArkansas。Ourexpeditionsweremostlymadeinboatsinthelagoonsextendingfromthe\"Haul—over,\"neartwohundredmilesabovethefort,downtoJupiterInlet,aboutfiftymilesbelow,andinthemanystreamswhichemptiedtherein。Manysuchexpeditionsweremadeduringthatwinter,withmoreorlesssuccess,inwhichwesucceededinpickingupsmallpartiesofmen,women,andchildren。Ononeoccasion,nearthe\"Haul—over,\"whenIwasnotpresent,theexpeditionwasmoresuccessful。ItstruckapartyofnearlyfiftyIndians,killedseveralwarriors,andcapturedothers。Inthisexpeditionmyclassmate,lieutenantVanVliet,whowasanexcellentshot,killedawarriorwhowasrunningatfullspeedamongtrees,andoneofthesergeantsofourcompany(Broderick)wassaidtohavedispatchedthreewarriors,anditwasreportedthathetookthescalpofoneandbroughtitintothefortasatrophy。Broderickwassoelatedthat,onreachingthepost,hehadtocelebratehisvictorybyabigdrunk。
Therewasatthetimeapoor,weaklysoldierofourcompanywhosewifecookedforourmess。Shewassomewhatofaflirt,andratherfondofadmiration。SergeantBroderickwasattractedtoher,andhungaroundthemess—housemorethanthehusbandfancied;sohereportedthemattertoLieutenantTaylor,whoreprovedBroderickforhisbehavior。Afewdaysafterwardthehusbandagainappealedtohiscommandingofficer(Taylor),whoexclaimed:\"Haven’tyougotamusket?Can’tyoudefendyourownfamily?\"Verysoonafterashotwashearddownbythemess—house,andittranspiredthatthehusbandhadactuallyshotBroderick,inflictingawoundwhichprovedmortal。Thelawandarmyregulationsrequiredthatthemanshouldbesenttothenearestcivilcourt,whichwasatSt。
Augustine;accordingly,theprisonerandnecessarywitnessesweresentupbythenextmonthlysteamer。AmongthelatterwerelieutenantTaylorandthepilotAshlock。
Aftertheyhadbeengoneaboutamonth,thesentinelontheroof—
topofourquartersreportedthesmokeofasteamerapproachingthebar,and,asIwasactingquartermaster,Itookaboatandpulleddowntogetthemail。Ireachedthelog—butinwhichthepilotslived,andsawthemstartwiththeirboatacrossthebar,boardthesteamer,andthenreturn。Aahlockwasathisoldpostatthesteering—oar,withtwoladies,whosooncametothelanding,havingpassedthroughaveryheavysurf,andIwaspresentedtooneasMrs。Ashlock,andtheotherashersister,averyprettylittleMinorcangirlofaboutfourteenyearsofage。Mrs。Ashlockherselfwasprobablyeighteenortwentyyearsold,andaveryhandsomewoman。IwashurriedlyinformedthatthemurdertrialwasinprogressatSt。Augustine;thatAshlockhadgivenhistestimony,andhadavailedhimselfofthechancetotakeawifetosharewithhimthesolitudeofhisdesolatehutonthebeachatIndianRiver。
Hehadbroughtashorehiswife,hersister,andtheirchests,withthemail,andhadorderstoreturnimmediatelytothesteamer(GastonorHarney)tobringashoresomesoldiersbelongingtoanothercompany,E(Braggs),whichhadbeenorderedfromSt。