The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-23
Battle Of ShiIoal,.

Gen. BuELL's official report of the part ia.
ken by his command in the battle of Shiloah
is just published. 1t is very clear but con-
else statement of the topography of the
field and of the operations of the divisions
of CR1rrgNDEN, NELSON and McCooK, and
the several brigades of which they were
composed. The divisions of Gen. THcMAs
and Gen. WOOD did not arrive in time for
the battle.
The small loss in BUELL's command, com-
pared with its important services, shows
how well it was handled. The loss was
263 killed, 1916 wounded, IS missing to-
tai, 2,l67. The trophies are twenty pieces
of artillery, a greater number of caissons,
and q considerable number of small arms.
Many OF the cannon were recaptured from
the less of the previous day. Several
stands Of colors were ESQ recaptured.
Gen. BUELL. thus speaks Of the state of
affairs at Pittsburg Landing, OF the eyen~
ing OF MS arrival:
l determined to go to the scene of action
and accordingly started with my chief of staff,
Colonel Fry, on steamer which ordered to
get under steam. AS we proceeded up the
river groups of soldiers were seen upon the
west bank, and it soon became evident that
they were stragglers from the engaged army.
The groups increased in size and frequency,
until, as we approached the landing, they
amounted to whole companies, and almost
regiments; and ct the landing, the banks of
of the river swarmed with confused mass Of
men, of various regiments. The number could
not have been less than 1000 or 5000, and
late in the day it became much greater.
The throng Of dsorganized and demoralized
troops increased continually by fresh fugitives
from the battle, which steadily drew nearer
the landing; and with them were intermingled
great numbers Of teams, all striving to get as
near as possible to the river. With few eX.
ceptiOns, all efforts to form the troops and
move them forward to the fight utterly failed.
In the meantime the enemy had made such
| progress against our troops that his artillery
and musketry began to play into the vital spot
of the position, and some persons were killed
on the bank at the very landing. General
Nelson arrived with Colonel Ammon's brigade
| at this oppOrtune moment. 1t was imme-
| dately posted to meet the attack at that
point; and with a battery of artillery which
happened to be on the ground and was
pIouSHs Iuto dCtiou1 Opcucu ure Ou lie cuemy
and repulsed him.
Gen. NELSON'S report is short and well
written. He says during the long and
bloody action, the fortitude of the 4th Di-
vision was sorely tried, pressed, as it was,
by such superior numbers, but it maintain.
ed itself gloriously. Gen. NELSON devotes
one spicy paragraph to the panic stricken
fugitives on the bank of the river:
found covering under the river bank, when
crossed. from to 10000 men frantic with
fright, utterly demoralized, who received my
gallant division with cries "that we were
whipped" cut to pieces," etc. They were
insensible to shame and sarcasm, for tried
both on them, and indignant at such poltroon.
cry asked permission to open fire upon the
knaves.
The permission the choleric General asks
ed was not granted. Nelson's loss was
heavy. 1t went into action 4,54l strong,
of whom six officers and eighty.four enlist
ed men were killed; thirty three officers,
$50 enlisted men wounded, and fifty>eight
enlisted men missing, making total loss of
739.