The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-04-25
Srmg Correspondence
LETTER FROM THE 10TH.
FIELDS OF SHILou. Tenn. Z
Anil lIth IG0


April 18th, 90.
Sunday morn, the 6ls, found us Is miles
from Savannah. 1t is clear, bright morn.
ing but, harkl in the distance, roars the au-
! cry cannon, one blast after another let us
know that hot work is ahead Where is the
the fghtG Who are engaged? What number
&c, pass from camp to camp, but oil is dark
ness.
We start on our days march and, as we ad.
vance slowly along, here comes an order to
abandon teams and press forward with haste.
that a terrible battle is raging; throw off
knapsaeks aud take nothing bot blankets
We do so and move forward with rapidity for
about 3 miles, and another order comes from
Gen. Buell., resume the march in the usual
order, bring teams with you, then we rest
until teams come up, all down at the heel,
thinking there was no fight for us, but still
the earth shakes with the peal of cannon.
We move on slowly with teams, as the roads
are almost impossible. At about O'Clock
z. NJ, another order comes, "abandon teams
and press forward with all possible haste. -
We obey orders and move onEwith rapidly
might comes on. the mud thickens, but
still the cannon keep up their work of de-
struotion.
After desperate struggle we reach Sa.
vannah at 10 O'Clock z. NJ, tired aud hun
cry; we learn that we cannot get up the riy.
er, by boat, before daylight, as there is two
Divisions and two Brigades before us, We
stack our arms and lay in the streets-the
rain falls in torrents, aud every house in
town is converted into a bospitnl--every heat
brings down her hundreds Of wounded SOL
diers. Not murmur is heard from one Of
them. Surgeons. citizens and soldiers do all
In their power to comfort them and case their
pains.
AT intervals the cannon still belehes forth
their messengers Of death. II Is understood
that the rebels have driven back our forces
to the waters edge, ard although that day
had been baptsed ia blood, tho next was to
crown the climax. II was indeed night to
try the bravery Of us all. but every boy
nerved himself for the conflict. Morning
came and still it rained and the dead ard
wounded still were brought down the river
We marched aboard tue "John |. Rox' and
were soon upon steam for the field Of danger
The conflict Of the dAy had already began,
and rs We moved up the river, We would
meet boat loads of wounded. The cry was,
"hurry on. they need YOU" passed around
am ong the boys, and although there was not
so much merriment as usnal, yes could see
that every man hae made up his mind to
drive the rebels from the field or die hero.
We soon reached the landing. and were hur-
ried to the field of danger, drawn in line of
battle and advanced to the right of Rosseau's
Brigade, as their cartridges had just given
out--the first thing the boys knew they were
in close range OF the enemy, and hot work
began.
We fought with eoOlness and Judgment
we fired into the rebel ranks constant sheet
Of lead, and they replied with vigOr and
courage worthy of a better cause. Twice
did they get upon our left flank. and force US
TO "ehange front on first company"
After desperate conflict of near 2 hours
the rebels were forced from the field and
compelled to give up the struggle. But oh!
what sight wao there. The wounded reb-
els were there, laying side by side with the
dead. 1t Is impossible for me 10 describe
the scene Often have stood on different
parts Of the "felds Of Shiloh" and counted
from one to flfty dead rebels. Itis yet i'm
possible to give correct account Of the loss
on either side.
My estimate is as follows: Our loss In kill
cd wounded and missing, $4,000. Rebel
'.oss In killed. wounded and missing. not less