The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1862-05-21
ITHE BATTLE OF SHILOH.
GEN. BEAUREGARD's OFFICIAL REPORT
HEADQRs ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
CORINTu, Miss, April IL, 1862.

AEhDQ hS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI
CoRINru, Miss, April IL, 1862.
General On the &c ullimo, having
ascertained conclusiveIy from the move
,ments Of the enemy Oh the Tennessee
river, and from reliable sources Of infor.
nation, that his aim would bs to cut off
my communications IN West Tennessee
with the Eastern aud Southern States,
by operating from the Tennessee river,
between Crump's Landing and Esstpost,
as base, l determined to foil his design
by concentrating all my available forces
at and around Coriuth.
Meanwhile, having cal led on the Gov.
ernors of the States of Tennessee, Missile
s'ppi, Alabama, and Louisiana, 10 furnish
additional troops, some Of :hem, chiefly
regiments from Louisiana, soon reached
this vicinity, and with two divisions Of
General PoIk's command from Columbus
and fns corps Of troops from Mobile
and Pensacola, under Maj Gen. Bragg,
const'tu.ed the Army Of the Mississippi.
At the same time, Gen. Johnston being
at Murtreesboro, on the march TO :orm a
junction Of his forces with mine was call
cd on to send at Ieas. brigade by rail
road, 80 that we might fall on and crush
the enemy should be attempt An advanc.
from under his gunboa:s. The call on
Genera! Johnston was promptly complied
with. His entire. force was also FASTENED
IN This direction, and by the lst of April
our united forces were concentrated along
the Mobil and Ohio Railroad from Be,h
ell to Corintb, and on the Memphis and
,Charleston, Railroad from Corin,h to Iuks.
lIt was then determined TO assume the
offensive and strike sudden blow at the
enemy in position under General Grant.
on the west bank Of the Tennessee. At
P'ttsburs and in the direction Of Ssvan,
nah, before he was reinforced by the ar.
my under. General Buell., then known to
be advancing for that purpose by rapid
marches from Nashville via Columbia.
About the same time, General Johnston
was advised that such an operation con.
formed to the expectations of the Presi.
dent.
9y a rapid and vigorous attack on
,Nenera! Grant, it was expected lie would
be beaten back into his transports and
the river, or captured, in time 10 enable
us 10 profit by the victory and rsmaye
TO the rear all the stores and munitions
that would fall into our bands in such an
event, before the arrival of General BueIIs
army on the scene. 1t was never con.
tepplated, however, to retain the position
thus gained, and abandon ,Corintn, the
ssragetlc point Of The campaign.
Want Of general officers, needful for
the proper Organization Of divisions and
bngades Of an army brought thus sue.
denly together, and othe: difficulties in
the way Of an effective organization, de.
iayed The movement anlil the night OF the
"a inst, when il wss heard from a rslir.
bic quarter that the junction of the enc.
mys armies, was near at hand; II was
then, at a late hour. determined that the
attack should be attempted a. once, in
complete and imperfsct ss we're our p,e.
paration for such grave and momentous
adventure. Accordingly, that night, at
! o'clock A. N, The prsIiminsry orders
to the eemDanasrs Of corps we're issued
or the movement.
On the following rnosaiDg The detailed