The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-04-30
The 18th Ohio Regiment.
CAMP SHILOH. Ten

The 77th Ohio Regiment
CAMP SHILOH, TENN, April Is, 81.
EDS CoM:-In your issue of the 18th
inst. great injustice is done to the 77th
regiment y. v. I. in which the charge
is made, chat the '77th retreated without
firing a gun" Permit me to correct this,
as it does gross injustice to meritorious
officers and men who, Throughout. this
fierce and unnatural struggle, have made
untold sacrifices to preserve the Gov
ernment of their fathers. I state now
simrle facls, and have right to do so,
for in the great battle" most of which
I saw, and part of which was" no one
had better opportunity of knowing
| these.
The 77th Ohio occupied. at the time
of the battle, the most advanced position
of our army on the Tennessee. Its
camp was and is at Shiloh Chapel-an
unpretending church, in the deep Sc
clusion of the wild Southern woods.
The enemy were known to be how
ering upon the border of the camp, and
the pickets had been repeatedly attack
ed On Friday evening before the battle,
Col. Taylor's Ohio Fifth Cavalry had a
brush with the rebel cavalry, killing
some and capturing several.
Ga Saturday evening preceding the
battle Col Hldebrand, commanding 81
Brigade; Col Boch!an. commanding ID
Brigade; Lieut. Col. De Hass. and Maj
Fearing. of the 77th Ohio, accompanied
by an infantry company, made a recon
noissance on the Corinth road. The pick.
cts announced the presence of rebel cav
airy, and securing COOL position, by
the aid of glass, the enemy were seen
ia great force.
Early on Sunday morning the pickets
announced that firing was heard on our
left. in the direction Of Gen. Prentiss'
Division. About 7 A. M. the 71th
pickets were driven in, aud Immediately
The enemy commenced the battle. They
had arrived within three hundred yards
of the camp, aud commenced vigorous
FIRE with muskesry and shell. Col. Hill.
debrand, who had already ordered cut the
Brigade in line of battle, rode from regi.
ment to regiment, and ordered them to
advance and meet the foe, who presented
themselves 10 columns of regiments. sup.
ported by batteries placed in advantage.
Gus positions. The Brigade, unfortunate.
Iy was not supported by artillery, AM
this gave the enemy great advantage
The 77th and 57th were thrown boldly
down the hill side, and for time wer,
within 100 yards of the enemy. wht
fought in thick wood The superior
forces, however, finally compelled thes,
regiments to fall back, hut rot until the,
had combatted the foe for at least thre,
hours.
No officer could have behaved viii
| more undaunted bravery than Col. j
Hidebraud. He appeared perfectly reck
! less Of danger, and rode hither and thith
er with the utmost cOolness aud self.pos
session. 1t is most miraculous he wa
Gen Sherman aud staff were on tn,
grouud, close to the fight, AID bore him
self as a brave man and true soldier. HI
personally directed the movements of his
Division, which, for the entire forenoon
of SuDda was in the thckest of the
fight, and bore the brunt of battle.
1t is an Infamous SANDER to say such
officers would have allowed their com
maEds to waver or fall back.
The 57th also bore itself well. but the
53d. under calling fire, in an open field
d.d retreat after firing a couple of rounds
( Ii was a terrible hour, however, when
the enemy pressed up the hill from the
iiue of attack. and the only wonder is
green troops. who only had their arms
three or four weeks should have stood
up SD well AS they did
Let the list of The killed wounded anG
missing from The three days lighting, at
test the bravery of TIE 77lh. /. mum
bers 22l, embracing Il large nnmber o
Fcomm ssioued and noa-commissioned off
GERS. Few regiments can show a mot,
fearful list than this
On Sunday the Brigades of Coils
Hildebrand and Bochlan, with larg'
body of Cavalry were ordered out on
reconnaissance toward Corinth, March
ing about four and half miles, we holtet
in an opeh6eId. Skirmishers were de
ployed, who discovered rebel cavalry
in considerable number. The 77th wa
ordered up to support the skirmishers
1t Col De Hess. commanding The regi
ment led the men forward, when a heavy
fire was opened upon the skirmisers ant
regiment by the foe, who had been con
cealed. Immediately, large force O.
rebel cavalry came up, and made a bolt
and dashing charge. killing twenty OF
the spot, Wounds over thirty, andtakins
prisoners ten including two Captain.
and one Lieutenant. This has published