Captain George W. Pepper - 31 July

Personal Recollections of Shermans Campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas

Captain George W. Pepper

Captain George W. Pepper 1866.

First published by Hugh Dunne.

This edition published in 2018 by Sharpe Books.

To The

Hon. David Tod,

Distinguished No More For Faithful Services

In Public Trusts Than By Exalted

Patriotism During The

Recent War;

To The

Hon. L. C. Davis,

And J.W. Fitzghirald, ESQ,

The Tried and Trusted Friends of The Union,

This Volume Is Respectfully Dedicated.

PREFACE

This volume is composed of the personal recollections of the author, from the time that General Sherman took command of the Army of the Tennessee, to the end of the rebellion. The history of this gallant army is a history of individual valor, splendid courage, hardships and victories. Its camps have been innumerable, and its battles and campaigns are those of the Southwest. The author of these war sketches does not pretend to give a complete narration of all the movements of Sherman's army, but he does claim to have prepared and arranged an impartial and reliable history of the most prominent engagements and campaigns, in the States of Georgia and the Carolinas. It is to be hoped that someone, capable of doing full justice to this renowned army, will yet write its history. In this volume are included two or three letters from Captain Miller, of the Cincinnati Commercial, and Doyle, of the New York Herald, two well-known army correspondents, whose contributions to the "war literature " of the country equal in xuquancy and descriptive power the productions of Napier or Russell. In placing this book before the public, I do it with the assurance that it has been prepared with a conscientious regard to truth.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

En-route to Sherman's Army Character of Kentucky Louisville Amusing conversation between two Englishmen The foot-prints of war Nashville The eloquent Priest Incident of the Embargo The Defences and Fort of Nashville Sketch of Tennessee.

In the fall of 1863, I was commissioned with the rank of Captain, by Governor Tod, of Ohio, having formerely served in the same capacity under General Halleck, in Mississippi. Adjutant General Cowan, an able and faithful public officer, furnishing the necessary passes and transportation, I proceeded to join Sherman's army, then cantoned in and around Chattanooga. In addition to my professional duties, I acted as war correspondent for two or three prominent journals.

En-route to our regiment, we passed through Cincinnati and Indianapolis, two fine cities, which in wealth, commercial activity and literary ambition, are behind none of their more ambitious sisters in the West. The citizens of both these cities were greeting with shoutsings and hosannahs, returning veteran regiments, bronzed, battle-scarred patriots, how proudly they walk the streets, how enthusiastically they are welcomed, and how lovingly and respectfully saluted by every passer-by. The day was beautiful, inviting, the breeze bracing, the sky clear and splendid.

We ride at a rapid rate over the country. Onward is the word. A place called Seymour is reached, a mere collection of houses. This part of Indiana is utterly destitute of any handsome towns or villages. To be sure they have them in name, and marked upon the map, but such caricatures are they in fact, that they are only causes of laughter when seen by the eye. The character of the country, the population, their pursuits, their politics, their surroundings, all these furnish one with food for mental digestion. We soon arrive at Jeffersonville, a thriving place, and for this part of the world, probably an improving town. Getting nearer rebeldom, we enter old Kentucky, cautiously, carefully, and circumspectfully.

Kentucky is a State for which nature has done everything, and man nothing. Her fertile soil and genial climate, her immense forests of timber and boundless pasture are some of the advantages which might make it the abode of a numerous, prosperous and happy people. The healthiness of the climate is seen in the vigor, robust manhood and physical beauty of its sons. The State is well timbered. The magnolia bears a rich and beautiful blossom, of an exquisite fragrance. Such is the variety and beauty of the blooming shrubs and plants which grow spontaneously in this State, that in the proper season the wilderness appears in blossom. In various portions of the State caves are to be found, amazingly large, in some of which you may travel several miles, under nooks, sustained by extraordinary arches and pillarswhilst Mammoth Cave, with its dark, wild, gloomy caverns, gigantic pits and domes, a splendid group of wonders, crowns the whole.

The smile of heaven has fallen nowhere more softly and sweetly than it has fallen upon Kentucky. It rests upon her mountain brows like a crown of glory; the eye lingers rapturously upon the landscape where nature's pencil has left its most delicate touches and tints. In mid-winter over her variegated fields of wild flowers, steals an air "soft and balmy as the perfumed atmosphere of an Arcadian Heaven. In the transparent bosom of the quiet lakes, millions upon millions of the finny tribe sport, while along the shady shores the air is often darkened with the wings of the canvass-back and other aquatic fowls, the flesh of which epicureans praise as a delicious delicacy. Fruits, rich in the voluptuous juices that delight the thirsty palate, are indigenous to the soil, and it is there you will find the throne of the vegetable kingdom. In her hill-sides is found every variety of mineral ore. Her rivers are broad and navigable enough to furnish commerce highways, while thousands of her small streams tempt enterprise to speculate in the wasting of her spendthrift waters. From her mountain sides mineral fountains gush, the medicinal force of which arrests the attention and attracts the weary footsteps of affliction's weary pilgrims from all parts of the world. Why is it that Kentucky, with near mineral wealth and vast resources, her beautiful woodlands and meadows, does not compare today, in population, wealth and enterprise, with her sister States north? Can you give any other reason than that slavery's withering touch has fallen heavily upon this land.

Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky, is situated on the banks of the Ohio, and is surrounded by a rich and picturesque region of country. The older part of the city appears to have been huddled together without regard to order, cleanliness or convenience, and, while the modern parts present an appearance of wealth, gaiety and splendor, the older parts exhibit, in many places, the most squalid misery.

The public buildings are the admiration of every stranger: the bank edifices and the courthouse are not excelled in any city of the country, while the post office is a chaste specimen of architecture. Among the various places of worship which the city contains, for almost every sect of Christians, we can only notice the Cathedral of the Catholics, which is, in grandeur, the most remarkable.

Several veteran regiments were here on their way home. The bronzed faces, the shattered banners, and the decimated ranks, eloquently spoke of the worthy and patriotic part they had played in the deadly strife. The march, even though homeward, was both successful and brilliant; the enthusiasm was cordial, hearty, and friendly.

Louisville carries on an extensive trade! Some of the largest contracts for the army have been undertaken here. The retail trade is extensive, and the value of imports and exports immense. At this time it is crowded with soldiers and army followers. There is a vast force of sutlers, pedlars, sharp Jewish faces many of them, very birds of prey some of them, intent on turning an honest or dishonest penny.

I visited the Negro quarters and found the women and children basking in the sun. They were of all ages, from tottering decrepitude to prattling infancy, and for the most part all of the same dusky hue. One little girl, about ten years of age, attracted my notice. She looked as if she belonged to another race. Her hair was flaxen and curly. The color of her skin was like house-painters palm off as imitation of oak. She was barefooted and ragged. Presently seven stood about me all of the same sickly, pale yellow complexion, with the same long fine hair, and a similarity of features most remarkable. A middle aged woman of unmixed African blood told me she was their mother and gave me the name of their father, but I will not print it. Let it rot. The father of the children was a man of great wealth, reputed to be a millionaire. A little while before his death, he made his will in which he bequeathed his money and lands to distant relatives, and to these his seven sons and daughters he pretended to give that which neither nature, or nature's God ever gave him any title their freedom.