fortifying," I was directing the laying out of the new work at the
most important part of the line, and the men had been ordered to
commence digging, when I heard an old volunteer, as he laid aside
his gun and put off his accoutrements with manifest reluctance,
say, _sotto voce:_ "Well, if digging is the way to put down the
rebellion, I guess we will have to do it." Our old soldiers had
a "mind of their own," and were not afraid to let their commanders
know it; yet they were essentially as thoroughly subordinate and
reliable as any troops any general ever had the honor to command.

I now recall another incident which occurred a few days earlier,
in which a young Indiana volunteer was somewhat less respectful,
though he had no idea whom he was addressing, nor, probably, any
thought whatever about "relative rank." I had come out from my
tent, before sunrise in the morning, and was performing my morning
ablutions in the ordinary camp basin, preparatory to putting on my
outer clothing. None of my "people" were yet up, and the night
sentinel of my camp was a little way off. There came up a weary,
belated soldier who had, perhaps, been trudging along much of the
night, trying to overtake his regiment. I heard him ask in a loud
voice: "Where is the 128th Indiana?" Not supposing the question
was addressed to me, I did not look up. Then came in still louder
tones and in an amended form which left no room for doubt as to
whom it was addressed: "I mean you old fellow there with the red
shirt! Where is the 128th Indiana?"

If from lapse of time my memory may not be exact as to the number
of the regiment, I am sure no apology is necessary to the gallant
128th. It was, anyhow, one of those very high-numbered new Indiana
regiments which had recently joined the army. The young soldier
was sent to the headquarters escort, given his breakfast, and
carried along until his regiment was overtaken.

The Twenty-third Corps reached the railroad about the close of day
on August 31, having time to do no more than intrench our positions.
The orders that day and night were urgent to make the destruction
of the railroad thorough and extensive. This was evidently General
Sherman's primary object, showing a doubt in his mind whether the
effect of his movement would be the speedy abandonment of Atlanta,
or whether he would have to trust to his destruction of the railroad
to accomplish that object.

Late in the night of the 31st, a