MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. MCPHERSON, U. S. V. KILLED JULY 22, 1861.
before the firing began. I then rode to General Harrow’s division, next on the right, but he had no reserve troops to spare. Proceeding to General Morgan L. Smith’s division, I met General John A. Logan, commander of the Fifteenth Corps, and he directed General Smith to weaken his front line by sending Martin’s brigade to General Dodge’s left.
Perhaps no better disposition of General Dodge’s corps could have been made, if the intentions of General Hood had been known. But so much cannot be said of the position of General Blair’s left. It has not escaped attention that Hood’s ability to throw Hardee’s corps into the position where it struck General Dodge that noonday was aided materially by the fact that General Sherman’s usual cavalry flanking pickets were wanted. The cavalry had nearly all been sent to break railroads in Flood’s rear. Nor does it appear that General Blair’s infantry outposts were far enough
the rebel infantry, although their movement was covered by a heavy and well-directed fire of artillery, which was posted in the woods and on higher ground, and which enabled the guns to bear upon our troops with solid shot and shell by firing over the attacking column. It seemed impossible, however, for the enemy to face the sweeping, deadly fire from Fuller’s and Sweeny’s divisions, and the guns of Laird’s 14th Ohio and Welker’s batteries fairly mowed great swaths in the advancing columns. They showed great steadiness, and closed up the gaps and preserved their alignments; but the iron and leaden hail that was poured upon them was too much for flesh and blood to stand, and before reaching the center of the open fields the columns were broken and thrown into great confusion. Taking advantage of this, a portion of Fuller’s and Sweeny’s divisions, with bayonets fixed, charged the enemy and drove them back to the woods, taking many prisoners. The 81st Ohio (Colonel Adams) charged first, then the 39th Ohio (Colonel McDowell) and the 27th Ohio (Colonel Churchill). General McPherson’s admiration for the steadiness and determined bravery of the Sixteenth Corps was unbounded.”
While I was riding to find General McPherson, he had just taken his eyes from the view of this splendid victory described by Colonel Strong, and had started ahead of me in the direction of Blair’s left. Of course I did not find him. In a very few minutes after leaving Colonel Strong the brave general was dead, while I, following, was forced to deflect to the right, and reached our line at Giles A. Smith’s division, at the point known then as Bald Hill. While in the act of asking there for a brigade for General Dodge’s left, I heard a terrific yelling toward the left and rear, and, looking around, I saw a full Confederate line rushing out of the dense timber within easy hailing distance. I perceived at once that no brigade could be spared from that position for General Dodge. General Smith’s troops quickly jumped to the other side of their works, prepared to meet this rear attack. The mounted officers, myself included, found some difficulty in getting their horses over the works
foe, fell upon our ears as the assurance of safety to us and to our flag.
General McPherson, from a point farther on, had witnessed the same scene. Lieut.-Col. W. E. Strong, his ehief-of-staff, and the only staff-officer with him at that time, thus describes what they then saw:
“ The enemy, massed in columns three or four lines deep, moved out of the dense timber several hundred yards from Dodge’s position, and, after gaining fairly the open fields, halted and opened fire rapidly on the Sixteenth Corps. They, however, seemed surprised to find our infantry in line of battle prepared for attack, and, after facing for a few minutes the destructive fire from the divisions of Generals Fuller and Sweeny, fell back in disorder to the cover of the woods. Here, however, their lines were quickly re-formed, and they again advanced, evidently determined to carry the position. The scene at this time was grand and impressive. It seemed to us that every mounted officer of the attacking column was riding at the front or at the right or left of the first line of battle. The regimental colors waved and fluttered in advance of thelines, and not a shot was fired by
a Confederate gun. His sturdy saddle-horse was worn out early in the afternoon, and was replaced by another. There was not a soldier who did not feel that he ought to equal his general in courage, and no fight of the war exhibited greater personal bravery on the part of an entire command than was shown here. Nor can I restrain a tribute to the bravery of the enemy. We had an advantage in artillery ; they in numbers. Their assaults were repulsed, only to be fearlessly renewed, until the sight of dead and wounded lying in. their way, as they charged again and again to break our lines, must have appalled the stoutest hearts. So persistent were their onslaughts that numbers were made prisoners by rushing.directly into our lines.
When General Dodge rode from General Fuller’s lunch toward the sound of the firing I rode with him. The first order he gave me was to return to General Fuller and direct him to close up his line on General Sweeny’s right. Beturning as soon as I could after delivering this order, I met General Dodge riding at full speed. As soon as he got within hearing distance he called out to me, “ Go at once to General McPherson, on Blair’s left, and tell him I need troops to cover my left. The enemy is flanking us.” Wheeling my horse, I startedback. As I went, the attack on Dodge’s corps was in full force. Out in open ground, in full view as it was, I could not resist checking my horse for a moment to see the grand conflict. I remember yet how the sight of our banners advancing amid the smoke thrilled me as it gave them a new beauty, and the sound of our artillery, though it meant death to the
SCENE OF GENERAL MCPHERSON'S DEATH, ON THE BATTLE-FIELD OF JULY 22.
From war-time photograph.
A 32-pounder cannon, set upon a granite block, now marks the spot of General McPherson’s death. A large pine stands within a few feet of the monument, which faces a partly improved roadway that is called McPherson Avenue.
267